john halstead
my life at the queen's (1979 - 2007)
Having
written to the Queen's regarding playing there, and receiving negative
replies, I had given up the thought of ever working in my local community.
Until my friend Yvonne Edgell told me they were casting Something’s
Afoot, an Agatha Christie spoof musical. I rang, from her house,
met Paul Tomlinson, was cast as Colonel Gillweather, and had a role that
day. The show opened in July 1979.
I continued playing at the Queen's for most of the following year, and was pleased to work there on and off until 1996. During that time I appeared in over thirty plays, musicals, and Pantomime’s. Including works especially written for me by David Wood and Barrie Keefe, and was directed by; John Hole, Bob Tomson, Marina Caldarone, and Sean O’Connor, in a wide variety of different roles.
However it is as Dame that I am mostly remembered. My first was Bella, the uglier sister in Cinderella, followed by the mothers of: Jack, Dick, Willy, Bo Peep, Polly, Tommy and two other Ugly Sisters. Often playing over a hundred performances of each.
My favourite parts at the Queen's include; Arthur Lucan in On your Way Riley (1983), Emcee in Cabaret (1984) Van Helsing in Dracula (1984), and my own Mother Hubbard, in The Enchanted Lake (1992). I was very pleased when asked to revive one of her songs in the Ruby Jubilee (40th) Celebration show in 1993.
My
last appearance was as one of the narrators in The 50th
Anniversary Gala, directed by Bob Carlton in 2003.
I returned in September 05, when I directed Three Play Two in
the foyer before it transferred to The Jermyn Street Theatre in London.
In the autumn season 2007 my adaptation of The
Servant of Two Masters received a superb production by Bob Carlton.
I have made many l friends on and off stage at the Queen's, and it is always a pleasure to return to what my family and I consider our second home. My daughter Lisa has been associated as actress and director with the Community shows that developed from the local writers' group started by Marina Caldarone. My daughter Suzi appeared many times in the children’s chorus and like my wife Joan, in many amateur productions. While three granddaughters Katy, Zoe and Hannah were member of the Youth Group, my son David has kept well clear.
The
Grease Cast 1984
1.12.2007
