Henry Irving, the Knight from Nowhere

Performed at the Turner Sims Concert Hall on 27th April, 1975

By Salisbury Playhouse and the Maskers

An entertainment based.on the life and work of thegreat Victorian actor-manager

Devised and directed by Knight Mantell

The programme includes extracts from the following Dramatic Works.

                                                                                        Henry Irving

1838                Born: John Henry Brodribb

1871                The, Bells - A Triumph

1874                Hamlet

1895                Knighthood

1905                Death In Bradford

Knight Mantell As HenryIrving With Roger Clissold Sonia Woolley

Knight Mantell

After leaving Manchester University with an Honours Degree in Drama, he joined the Liverpool Playhouse Company to play Gary Essendine and other leading roles.Hle came next to Salisbury Playhouse for two seasons, during which his interest in the Victorian Theatre led to the writing, and first performance ofThe Knight from Nowhere. His supporting players on that occasion were Roger Hume and Sonia Woolley, of whom the latter has appeared in the majority of the performances of the entertainment which Knight Mantell has given in many parts of this country. Knight Mantell is currently appearing with Sir Alec Guinness and Margaret Leighton in A Family and It’s Fortune, which has just opened at The Apollo Theatre.

The Other Players

Roger.Clissold is Director of Productions of the Salisbury Playhouse;There his production of Peter King’s All Together Now is the current attraction. His wife, Sonia Woolley, appears with the Company at regular intervals, and was last seen as The Mother in Equus. They have a son and a daughter, whose Godfather is Knight Mantell.

The Salisbury Playhouse And The Maskers

This performance is being given in aid of the New Salisbury Playhouse Appeal and is presented as part of a local campaign by TheMaskers to raise£2,500 for a Green Room in the new theatre. The next event in this campaign is The Merry Wives of Windsor to be presented by The Maskers at Salisbury Playhouse on Sunday llth May, 1975