Theatres in Leicester

Title

Theatres in Leicester

Subject

Theatres in Leicester

Description

John Graham describes the main theatres in Leicester after the Second World War.

Creator

Charlotte Wei

Source

Interview with John Graham, recorded in 1986, held by the East Midlands Oral History Archive. Ref: 948, LO/303/254

Publisher

East Midlands Oral History Archive

Date

1950s

Rights

You may use this item in accordance with the licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/uk/

Format

.mp3

Language

English

Type

Oral history

Original Format

.wav

Duration

1 min 32 secs

Bit Rate/Frequency

151kbps

Transcription

The Theatre Royal was still going and that was running, I think, a weekly rep when I first came here in ‘47. It later went on to fortnightly rep and became more reputable and of a higher standard. And of course, the Royal Opera House was still going then, that had mostly travelling shows. So, a number of interesting things there. And there was the Palace, which, well, was a sort of variety theatre and later specialised in nude shows.

Can you remember any reviews?

Well, I've only kept the good ones. We used to have two lots, of course, in those days, the Mercury and the Leicester Evening Mail. And they didn't always agree with one another, as is usually the case with reviewers.

How did you feel when you didn't get a favourable review?

Well, I suppose it was disappointing earlier, but it was a thing you became hardened to in the course of time and didn't worry too much about, I think. It never worried me very greatly. I suppose one was more concerned for other people, really. Because you knew if you had someone inexperienced in the cast, something like that, they might be a bit upset.

Interviewer

Lee, L.

Interviewee

Graham, John

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