Leslie French

Leslie French (1904-1999) was a British actor, singer, dancer and director for stage, TV and film.

Biography and career

Born Leslie Richard French on 23 April 1904 in Bromley, Kent and was educated at the London School of Choristers. Started in theatre on December 14, 1914, as a boy chorister at the London College of Choristers. In 1918, he joined Ben Greet's Shakespeare Company and for the next five years toured England in many classical pieces, the company returning annually to play a season in London. He went on to star in Lillian Bayliss' Old Vic productions and also celebrated for his work with the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park from 1952 onwards. Famous in England for is portrayals of Shakespearean characters such as "Puck" and "Ariel" (he was the nude model for the statue of Ariel on the facade of the BBC's Broadcasting House in London).

In 1934 he began a new career as a director, commencing with The Traitor's Gate at the Duke of York's Theatre. He directed his ftrst full-length ballet, Everyman, for the International Ballet Company, appearing in the title role in London at the Coliseum, the Adelphi, His Majesty's, the Lyric Apollo and the Savoy theatres, and following this with a tour of England.

His film work includes roles in The Scapegoat (1959), The Singer Not the Song (1961), Death in Venice (1971) , etc, and many TV dramas and series. TV appearances in the UK included Silence in Henry IV, Part II, The Judge in Crown Court and Noddy in The Singing Detective.

He died in Ewell, Surrey, on the 21" January 1999. He was ninety-four.

Contributions to South African theatre

French’s chief connection with South African theatre came through his close relationship with Cecilia Sonnenberg and René Ahrenson’s Maynardville Open-air Theatre, a venue he helped found and develop, also directing the first production there. He was later also instrumental in the establishment of the Mannville Open-air Theatre in Port Elizabeth in association with Helen Mann.

He went on to visit South Africa regularly between 1956 and 1975, to work for various companies, beginning with The Tempest for the Johannesburg Reps in 1956, starring David Crichton, and going on to act in and especially direct many other memorable Shakespeare productions for companies and venues such as Maynardville, Mannville, The Johannesburg Reps, and PACOFS (in conjunction with the Bloemfontein Shakespeare Circle).

As actor

His one-man show, An Evening with Leslie French, was a great success in England, America and South Africa and was last performed at the Nico on February 28, 1993.

He played Feste in Twelfth Night (1970, Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society).

He played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (1971, Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society)

As director

The plays he directed include:

1956: The Taming of the Shrew (Spotlight Theatre, Maynardville)

1956: The Tempest (Johannesburg Reps)

1957: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Maynardville)

1958: As You Like It (Maynardville)

1959: The Winter's Tale (Maynardville)

1961: Twelfth Night (Maynardville)

1962: Much Ado About Nothing (Maynardville)

1963: The Merchant of Venice (Maynardville)

1964: Hamlet (Maynardville)

1964: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Maynardville)

1965: The Taming of the Shrew (Maynardville)

1967: Macbeth (Maynardville)

1969: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Maynardville)

1970: The Tempest (PACOFS/the Bloemfontein Shakespeare Circle)

1970: Twelfth Night (Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society)

1970: The Way of the World (CAPAB)

1971: The Winter's Tale (Maynardville)

1971: The Merchant of Venice (Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society)

1972: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

1973: The Tempest (Maynardville)

1973: As You Like It (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

1974: The Tempest (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

1975: Hamlet (Maynardville)

1975: Macbeth (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

1980: Romeo and Juliet (with Roy Sargeant, Maynardville)

1991: Love's Labour's Lost (Maynardville)

Awards

In January 1963 he received the Key to the City of Cape Town in recognition of his services to Cape Town’s cultural and educational life. He was presented with the 1820 Settlers Memorial Celebrations medal in 1970 in recognition of his contribution to Art and Culture in Port Elizabeth. He was awarded the Andre Huguenot Memorial Medal for his outstanding contribution to classical theatre in South Africa.