The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Acting legend’s humble start
One of Courier Country’s best-known thespians features in Craigie’s triptych of images on the right today.
It features reproductions of the cover and cast list from the programme for Dundee Repertory Theatre’s production of The Dover Road in October 1961, along with a portrait picture of Churchill and Succession star Brian Cox, which was taken in 1992.
Looking back at the play, one of the last to be staged at the Rep’s original home of Foresters’ Hall straddling Nicholl Street and Rattray Street – the venue was burnt to the ground in June 1963 – Dundee University archivist Kenneth Baxter says: “The comedy was written by AA Milne, the creator of Winnie-the-pooh, and was first performed on Broadway in 1921.
“The last name in the cast list is Brian Cox, who aged just 15 was making his first on-stage appearance. As one of two ‘staff ’ this was a relatively minor role, but it would prove to be the start of a highly successful acting career.
“Brian was born in Dundee in 1946. After his early performances at the Rep he went on to train as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
“His subsequent career has seen him gain acclaim for a wide range of roles on both stage and screen and he is today known across the globe. He has retained close links with the city of his birth and he served as the rector of Dundee University from 2010-16.
“Although Brian Cox is the most recognisable name in the programme, many of his fellow cast members had notable acting careers. Ann Way would become a familiar face from her many TV and film
appearances, including as Miss Gaunt in the acclaimed 1969 film The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.
“Another name of note in the cast list is Jeffry Wickham. He would go on to have a long career as an actor, appearing in many films, TV series and stage productions over the next 50 years, and he also became a member of the council of the actors’ union Equity, becoming its president in 1992.”
Dr Baxter adds: “It was during his time at
the Rep that Wickham met Clare Stewart, who also appeared in The Dover Road – the two would marry the following year.”
The glory of the Dambusters
Poignant commemorations of the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise, one of wartime’s most daring aerial assaults on Third Reich territory, certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Thomas Brown.
The aviation enthusiast and social history buff writes: “Although soon a century past, events of the Second World War seem as fresh as when they happened, and many are legends which have inspired books and films.
“None more so than the Dambusters, of which I read further information – in particular the story of the flight engineer from Newport-on-tay – in last Thursday’s Courier. There is no doubt the film The Dambusters has added additional fame to the 1943 raid, especially with the character of Guy Gibson as portrayed by Richard Todd, but one hears different accounts.
“Last year as a birthday present I received a DVD of the film with a documentary told by some who were on the raid – most of them NCO aircrew – and they told of how little they actually saw of Wg Cdr Gibson.
“He was mostly with officers, but just occasionally when all together their leader was present – they did admire him, but he was just a young man amongst many.”
Bankfoot resident Thomas goes on: “I purchase an aviation magazine each month dealing with past events, and always the Dambusters is present. One can pay to have tours of places associated with 617 Squadron when it was first formed, and aviation artists yet capture the legend of the dams raid.
“It still is in the pipeline to develop a remake of the film which would be in colour and with extra material, as when the original was made much was yet tied to the Official Secrets Act.”
He concludes: “Since 1943 and the days of the Lancaster, Squadron 617 has operated with the Lincoln, Canberra, the Vulcan, Tornado and now the Lightning.”
Great voices past and present
Memories of one of the 20th Century’s most iconic voices came flooding back to Michael Beattie during the historic royal events earlier this month.
The Broughty Ferry resident says: “Listening to Bryn Terfel’s beautiful singing at the coronation, I was reminded of one of the greatest singers of all time, Paul Robeson. I seem to recall seeing him perform in the Caird Hall in the late ’50s – no microphone needed and what a voice!”
Michael adds: “I was in a group from Webster’s Seminary, Kirriemuir, who had high tea in Franchi’s restaurant in the Overgate prior to the concert. Maybe another reader can verify these memories?”