Ricky Arden
Ricky Arden (fl. 1950s and 1960s) was an actor and professional director
Contents
Biography
His sister, Shirley Arden was an actress and singer.
In 1966 he accepted a teaching post at the University of San Diego in the USA, after his wife, the model Kay Dewdney, had committed suicide.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He started acting circa 1950, appearing in productions such as Home of the Brave and Under the Sycamore Tree. From about 1960 established himself as one of South Africa's foremost directors, also directing plays for amateur societies including the Johannesburg REPS and the Bloemfontein Repertory Society.
As film performer he appeared in No Road Back (1957), The Hellions (1961) and All the Way to Paris (1966).
As a stage director Ricky has about 30 productions to his credit, including his first major production, The Lower Depths (1959), See How They Run (1960), Come Blow Your Horn (Johannesburg REPS , 1962), Revolt (1962), The Tunnel of Love (1962/1964?), Policy for Murder (Johannesburg REPS , 1963), Dear Me, The Sky is Falling (1963), Adam's Rib (a revue, 1963), Epitaph for George Dillon (Osborne and Creighton, 1963), Jean Anouilh's Ring Round the Moon (PACT, 1964), Bartho Smit's Man met 'n lyk om sy nek (PACT, 1966), Frank Wedekind’s The Love Potion (PACT, 1966), Travelling Light (PACT, 1966), Don't Stop the Carnival, Adam's Apple, The Rainmaker and The Rape of the Belt, Little Mary Sunshine (for JODS), in ???, Barmy Days, Travelling Light (Alexander Theatre, 1966).
A number of his productions appear the name under his own company, Ricky Arden Productions.
His last productions before he left for the USA were Policy for Murder and According to the Evidence (PACT, Alexander Theatre, 1966).
Sources
Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Programme of a run of Adam's Rib by Adam Leslie in 1966.
Ring Round the Moon programme notes, 1964.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
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