Jack Payne
Jack Payne (19**-). Actor and director.
Not to be confused with British musical conductor and director Jack Payne (1899-1969) [1] who performed at His Majesty's Theatre with his famous London Band in April 1936. (Rand Daily Mail, 21 February 1936).
Contents
Biography
Jack Payne was born in London, received his drama training at the Old Vic School [2].
Career
His first professional job was as an actor and stage director for the Dundee Repertory Company where he stayed for four years, during which time he was responsible for a Command Performance at Balmoral Castle. He then spent a year with the Embassy Theatre, Swiss Cottage, played in the West End production of Tobacco Road and did seasons with the Intimate Theatre, Palmers Green, the Grand Theatre, Croydon, and five years as producer and actor at the Ipswich Theatre. In 1958 he went to Nairobi's Donovan Maule Theatre where he spent six years as producer and actor, and came to South Africa in 1964 to join the Brian Brooke Company as company manager, and played in such productions as Mary, Mary and Barefoot in the Park and directed Brian Brooke in The Reluctant Debutante. In 1965 he joined NAPAC's permanent acting company and then became company manager for drama, followed by producton organiser of Opera and Ballet for the next eight years.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Jack had stage roles in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Brooke Theatre 1965), Barefoot in the Park (Brooke Theatre 1965) and in Dirty Linen as the Home Sectretary in 1977.
Company manager Distinguished Gathering 1964.
Performed in Equus (as the stable owner at the 7 Arts Theatre). Directed An Inspector Calls in Salisbury(?) with John le Mesurier [3] in the lead role.
Sources
SACD 1977/78.
Dirty Linen and New-Found-Land theatre programme (undated).
Tucker, 1997.
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