View source for Percy Tucker

(1928-) Theatre booking agent and founder of [[Computicket]]. Born '''Percival Tucker''' in Benoni. In 1935 he saw Gracie Fields perform at the [[Criterion Cinema]], and was hooked on theatre, a feeling reinforced by his attendance of ''[[The Pageant of South Africa]]'' in the [[Empire Exhibition Arena]] in 1936. Started his theatrical career as an amateur working for the [[East Rand Theatre Club]] ***** After his retirement he became interested in documenting the history of theatre in South Africa. His 1997 autobiography, ''[[Just the Ticket!]]'', is a valuable reminiscence about theatre in South Africa in the second half of the twentieth century. TUCKER, Percival (Percy). Born 1928, Benoni. Started Computicket. Worked with [[Taubie Kushlick]] on virtually all her productions from 1940s until her death in 1991. ''[[The Guinea Pig]]'', directed by [[Taubie Kushlick]] was performed by the [[East Rand Theatre Club]]  in May 1948 starring [[Ethel London]]. [[Percy Tucker]] performed as lighting technician, yet an indiscretion saw him demoted for the run of the production. He was eventually put in charge of the box office, thus starting his ticket-selling career. Also worked backstage on [[Taubie Kushlick]]’s ''[[Love on the Dole]]'' in 1946. Graduated with a B. Com. Degree in 1948. Worked backstage on ''[[The Eagle Has Two Heads]]'', by [[Jean Cocteau]] which was performed in the [[Library Theatre]] in 1949. Starring [[Leon Gluckman]] and [[Taubie Kushlic]]. He acted as assistant stage manager for [[John van Druten]]’s comedy ''[[The Voice of the Turtle]]''. [[Leon Gluckman]] and [[Margaret Inglis]] co-directed and co-starred in this 1952 production which toured the East Rand. He acted as assistant stage manager, together with [[Barney Simon]] on [[James Ambrose Brown]]’s ''[[The Governor at Black Rock]]'' which was directed by [[Leon Gluckman]] for the [[East Rand Theatre Club]] in 1953. He filled the post of business manager in [[Leon Gluckman]]’s production of  [[Shakespeare]]’s ''[[King Lear]]'' at the [[Wits University Great Hall]] in 1954. The play was directed by [[Elizabeth Sneddon]], and Gluckman played Lear. [[Audrey Cobden]] assisted Gluckman. [[Leon Gluckman]] and [[Audrey Cobden]] became partners in his ticket selling venture ‘[[Show Service]]’. He attended the first meeting of  the [[South African Association of Theatrical Managements]] for [[Show Services]] in 1956, and stayed on the committee until it was dissolved. He now sits on the executive committee of a new organisation – the [[Theatre Managements of South Africa]]. [[David Bloomberg]] went into partnership with Tucker in the 1960’s, and started presenting tours of international artists and entertainers. They called this venture [[South African Theatrical Enterprises]]. [[Pat Bray]] joined [[Show Services]] as Tucker’s second-in-command in February 1960. Together with [[David Bloomberg]], he brought [[Murray Banks]] to South Africa in 1960 where he performed at the [[City Hall]] in Johannesburg, Benoni, the Transvaal , Rhodesia and the Cape Province. He sub-let office space to [[Sylvia Rich]], who ran a C.O.D. ticket delivery service, in 1967. He was a trustee of the [[Phoenix Players]] circa 1974. TUCKER, Percy,Started in 1954 with [[Show Service]] which was a centralized booking office for theatres and cinemas.  Situated in Jhb. Later [[Computicket]].

== Sources ==

[[Percy Tucker|Tucker]], 1997

Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

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