The Laurence Olivier Centenary Edition

This week, The Stage marks the hundredth anniversary of Laurence Olivier’s birth with a special commemorative edition.

Rupert Rhymes, who was theatre manager at the Old Vic under Olivier, recalls working with ‘Sir’, and how the great man ensure eveything was to his satisfaction. Nicholas Hytner, the National Theatre’s current artistic director, examines the legacy left by Olivier’s vision. Chichester Festival Theatre’s Jonathan Church does the same for his theatre, of which Olivier was artistic director from 1962-5.

Geoff Colman, head of acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama, where Olivier studied, examines the lasting effects Olivier has made on today’s aspiring actors, while actor Robert Lindsay, currently following in his idol’s footsteps as Archie Rice in The Entertainer, on his memories of working with the man.

Also in this week’s issue:

• As theatre and live music employees face a damaging lack of trained technicians unless 30,000 new staff can be recruited over the next decade, Susan Elkin examines the steps Creative and Cultural Skills and drama schools are taking to address this shortage

• Anthony Field argues that when Arts Council England considers how it should spend its money, it should take note of how its predecessor defended creativity and did not depend upon the public to make its decisions for it

• Dear John comes to the aid of a reader who started their acting career 15 years ago, but left to become a parent. Is it too late to rejoin the profession?

• Stephen Fry’s work schedule is as busy as it’s ever been and, as he tells Phil Penfold, while he had to reluctantly turn down the chance to write episodes for Doctor Who, he has found primetime success again with Kingdom

• Meanwhile, Fry’s Kingdom costar Karl Davies talks to Matthew Hemley about his role in the series and his aspirations for theatre work in the future

• As variety show Let Me Entertain You prepares to return to BBC daytime TV, presenter Brian Conley talks to Mark Ritchie about reality TV, his near miss presenting Deal or No Deal, and hopes for his latest game show venture

• Michael Quinn talks to the designers of the Wexford Festival Opera’s summer residence — the largest purpose-built temporary theatre space in Ireland

• Fred Dellar looks back at the history of the sports-entertainment phenomenon of The Harlem Globetrotters

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