Difference between revisions of "Joan Blake"

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(19**-19**) Actress and cabaret artiste. Born in South Africa and was trained in drama and ballet. She tried her luck in Britian. Her first dancing lead in London was in ''[[Gory of Norway]]'', the life story of Grieg devised by [[Robert Helpmann]] and had a two year run at the [[Palace Theatre]]. From there she joined the cast of ''[[Cage me Peacock]]'' by [[Noel Langley]] and there she met [[Adam Leslie]] who was writing the lyrics for the music in the play. She spent an extensive period doing cabaret in the West End, principally at the [[Bagatelle]]. Breaking away from dancing she was seen with [[Andre van Gyseghem]]'s company at the Nottingham Playhouse by [[Sir Barry Jackson]] and his producer [[Douglas Seale]]. From there she went to the Birmingham Reps and worked for eight years, during which she assisted Douglas Seale in his productions at the Old Vic. She played in ''[[Angels in Love]]'' at the Alexander Theatre as well.* Apparently originally discovered by [[Adam Leslie]]. **Played in [[Adam Leslie]]'s ''[[Two's Company]]''. Over the years had roles in ''[[The Reluctant Debutante]]'' (the [[Brian Brooke Company]] in 1956), ''[[Adam and Joan]]'' at Cicero’s nightclub in Johannesburg (a cabaret with [[Adam Leslie]], 1957), ''[[Grab Me a Gondola]]'' ([[Brooke Theatre]] 1958), ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'' ([[NTO]], 1958), ''[[Let Your Hair Down]]'', ([[Intimate Theatre]], 1958 – 1959),  ''[[A Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' at the [[Intimate Theatre]] ([[Cockpit Players]], 1959), ''[[For Love or Money]]'' by [[Adam Leslie]] (the inaugural production of [[The Playhouse]] in October 1960), ''[[The Amorous Prawn]]'' at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1961 and played the role of Lady Fitzadam, [[Hamlet]] ([[PACT]] at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]], 1964), Shaw’s ''[[Heartbreak House]]'' ([[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre]], 1967). She starred in ''[[Music Hall Revue]]'', which was the opening show at The [[Adam Leslie Theatre]] August 1967. It also starred [[Adam Leslie]] and was directed and designed by [[Anthony Farmer]]. She starred in Adam Leslie’s revue ''[[Strike it Rich]]'' later that same year at the [[Adam Leslie Theatre]]. It also starred Leslie, [[George Korelin]] and [[Judy Layne]]. [[Marjorie Gordon]] replaced Joan during the run. She died in 1992.
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[[Joan Blake]] (19**-1992) was an actress and cabaret artiste.  
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==Biography==
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Born in South Africa and was trained in drama and ballet.  
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She tried her luck in Britain and her first dancing lead in London was in ''Gory of Norway'', the life story of Grieg devised by Robert Helpmann and had a two year run at the Palace Theatre. From there she joined the cast of ''[[Cage Me A Peacock]]'' by Noel Langley and Eve Lynd, where she met [[Adam Leslie]], who is said to have "discovered" her. He was writing the lyrics for the music in the play at the time.  
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She spent an extensive period doing cabaret in the West End, principally at the Bagatelle. Breaking away from dancing she was seen with [[André van Gyseghem]]'s company at the Nottingham Playhouse by Sir Barry Jackson and his producer Douglas Seale. From there she went to the Birmingham Reps and worked for eight years, during which she assisted Douglas Seale in his productions at the Old Vic.  
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She returned to South Africa in the 1950s, to become a regular performer here.
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== Performances in South Africa ==
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Over the years she had roles in ''[[The Reluctant Debutante]]'' (the [[Brian Brooke Company]], 1956), ''[[Adam and Joan]]'' (at [[Cicero's]] nightclub in Johannesburg , 1957), ''[[Grab Me a Gondola]]'' ([[Brooke Theatre]], 1958), ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'' ([[NTO]], 1958), ''[[Let Your Hair Down]]'', ([[Intimate Theatre]], 1958 – 1959),  ''[[A Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' at the [[Intimate Theatre]] ([[Cockpit Players]], 1959), ''[[For Love or Money]]'' by [[Adam Leslie]] (the inaugural production of [[The Playhouse]] in Durban, October 1960), ''[[The Amorous Prawn]]'' at the [[Alexander Theatre]], 1961), ''[[Hamlet]]'' ([[PACT]][[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]], 1964), Shaw's ''[[Heartbreak House]]'' ([[PACT]][[Alexander Theatre]], 1967)''[[Music Hall Revue]]'' (the opening show at the [[Adam Leslie Theatre]] August 1967), ''[[Strike it Rich]]'' (The [[Adam Leslie Theatre]] 1967). Other plays include  ''[[Angels in Love]]'' at the [[Alexander Theatre]] and [[Adam Leslie]]'s ''[[Two's Company]]''.
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[[Anthony Farmer]]'s ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'', ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'', ''[[You Can't Take it With You]]'' and ''[[The Male Animal]]''. She played the role of Fronsine in ''[[Mr. Skinflint]]''.
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She did the choreography for ''[[Little Mary Sunshine]]'' (1965).
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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''[[Hair Hair]]'' programme notes, 19**.
  
 
The [[Alexander Theatre]]'s programme of ''[[The Amorous Prawn]]'' of September, 1961.
 
The [[Alexander Theatre]]'s programme of ''[[The Amorous Prawn]]'' of September, 1961.
  
Tucker, 1997   
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Tucker, 1997: pp. 104, 111, 118, 121, 132, 153, 192, 205, 223, 242, 519.  
  
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

Latest revision as of 06:57, 19 December 2023

Joan Blake (19**-1992) was an actress and cabaret artiste.

Biography

Born in South Africa and was trained in drama and ballet.

She tried her luck in Britain and her first dancing lead in London was in Gory of Norway, the life story of Grieg devised by Robert Helpmann and had a two year run at the Palace Theatre. From there she joined the cast of Cage Me A Peacock by Noel Langley and Eve Lynd, where she met Adam Leslie, who is said to have "discovered" her. He was writing the lyrics for the music in the play at the time.

She spent an extensive period doing cabaret in the West End, principally at the Bagatelle. Breaking away from dancing she was seen with André van Gyseghem's company at the Nottingham Playhouse by Sir Barry Jackson and his producer Douglas Seale. From there she went to the Birmingham Reps and worked for eight years, during which she assisted Douglas Seale in his productions at the Old Vic.

She returned to South Africa in the 1950s, to become a regular performer here.

Performances in South Africa

Over the years she had roles in The Reluctant Debutante (the Brian Brooke Company, 1956), Adam and Joan (at Cicero's nightclub in Johannesburg , 1957), Grab Me a Gondola (Brooke Theatre, 1958), Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (NTO, 1958), Let Your Hair Down, (Intimate Theatre, 1958 – 1959), A Long Day's Journey into Night at the Intimate Theatre (Cockpit Players, 1959), For Love or Money by Adam Leslie (the inaugural production of The Playhouse in Durban, October 1960), The Amorous Prawn at the Alexander Theatre, 1961), Hamlet (PACT, Johannesburg Civic Theatre, 1964), Shaw's Heartbreak House (PACT, Alexander Theatre, 1967), Music Hall Revue (the opening show at the Adam Leslie Theatre August 1967), Strike it Rich (The Adam Leslie Theatre 1967). Other plays include Angels in Love at the Alexander Theatre and Adam Leslie's Two's Company. Anthony Farmer's Guys and Dolls, The Importance of Being Earnest, You Can't Take it With You and The Male Animal. She played the role of Fronsine in Mr. Skinflint.

She did the choreography for Little Mary Sunshine (1965).

Sources

Hair Hair programme notes, 19**.

The Alexander Theatre's programme of The Amorous Prawn of September, 1961.

Tucker, 1997: pp. 104, 111, 118, 121, 132, 153, 192, 205, 223, 242, 519.

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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