John Buchan's gripping thriller was filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. It is now adapted for the stage having transferred to the West End after a sensational run at the Tricycle Theatre.
John Buchan, the writer of The Thirty Nine Steps, was a Scottish author born on 26th August, 1875. He is noted for his horror fictional works, for example the book Witch Wood, The Wind in the Portico and The Green Wildebeest. He was formerly Governor General of Canada. In 1915, he published his most famous book. It is a spy thriller set prior to the outbreak of World War One. It includes his main character Richard Hannay. It is said that Hannay was influenced by an acquaintance from his period in South African, Edmund Ironside.
The 39 Steps stands out as the first of several works of fiction that includes Richard Hannay. He is an action hero and a amazing custom of getting himself out of discomforting predicaments. The book influenced Alfred Hitchcock's classic film of the same title. The stage version truly does credit to the exhilaration and drama of the unique storyline.
Do you know? Robert Donat played Richard Hannay as well as Madeleine Carroll performed Pamela in The 39 Steps in 1935. The real 39 steps are located at North Foreland, not very far from Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet. They are a set of tunnelled stairways leading down to the seashore out of a privately owned estate. The creator had been staying in the town recovering from sickness in a villa in the time of 1914.
In 1870 following the acquisition of the 17th century White Bear Inn site, and adjoining properties between Jermyn Street and Piccadilly Circus (known as Regent Circus), caterers Spiers and Pond commissioned Thomas Verity to design a new development consisting of a large restaurant, dining rooms, ballroom, and galleried concert hall. Having commenced building work it was decided to alter the proposed concert hall, (though retaining the composers names which still line the tiled staircases to this day), to a theatre which opened on 21st March, 1874.
The first production consisted of An American Lady, written and performed by the manager Henry J Byron and a piece by W.S. Gilbert (part of the Gilbert and Sullivan) titled Topseyturveydom. Under the management of Charles Wyndham, The Criterion became the leading comedy house in London. Between the 1st and 2nd World Wars productions included Musical Chairs with John Gielgud, and in 1936 a three year run of French Without Tears which launched the career of Terence Rattigan.
In the course of World War 2 The Criterion was requisitioned by the BBC, as an underground theatre it was an perfect studio pertaining to light entertainment both recorded and live. Right after the war works such as Beckett's Waiting for Godot and pieces by Anouilh, Dario Fo and others were produced.
In the 1970's the whole of the Criterion Theatre location was suggested for redevelopment, which in turn caused enormous demonstration as people anticipated the theatre would be lost permanently. All through the 70's and early 80's the Equity Save London's Theatre Committee organised high profile demonstrations.
Campaigners included John Gielgud, Diana Rigg, Edward Woodward, Robert Morley and Prunella Scales. Eventually the theatre's foreseeable future was secured although afterwards, the theatre closed from 1989, until reopening in October 1992 while the Criterion block that stands today, was constructed around it. Having gone through significant repairs both back, and front of house, The Criterion Theatre maintains an almost perfectly preserved Victorian auditorium, with all of its intimacy and ambiance.
The theatre reopened with Ennio Marchetto. From 1996 to 2005 The Reduced Shakespeare Company nailed audiences with their 30+ 'snippets' from Shakespeare, along with one performance being carried out 'backwards'! The theatre retains its Victorian auditorium which gives this theatre an personal and atmospheric presence for artistes and audiences.
John Buchan, the writer of The Thirty Nine Steps, was a Scottish author born on 26th August, 1875. He is noted for his horror fictional works, for example the book Witch Wood, The Wind in the Portico and The Green Wildebeest. He was formerly Governor General of Canada. In 1915, he published his most famous book. It is a spy thriller set prior to the outbreak of World War One. It includes his main character Richard Hannay. It is said that Hannay was influenced by an acquaintance from his period in South African, Edmund Ironside.
The 39 Steps stands out as the first of several works of fiction that includes Richard Hannay. He is an action hero and a amazing custom of getting himself out of discomforting predicaments. The book influenced Alfred Hitchcock's classic film of the same title. The stage version truly does credit to the exhilaration and drama of the unique storyline.
Do you know? Robert Donat played Richard Hannay as well as Madeleine Carroll performed Pamela in The 39 Steps in 1935. The real 39 steps are located at North Foreland, not very far from Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet. They are a set of tunnelled stairways leading down to the seashore out of a privately owned estate. The creator had been staying in the town recovering from sickness in a villa in the time of 1914.
In 1870 following the acquisition of the 17th century White Bear Inn site, and adjoining properties between Jermyn Street and Piccadilly Circus (known as Regent Circus), caterers Spiers and Pond commissioned Thomas Verity to design a new development consisting of a large restaurant, dining rooms, ballroom, and galleried concert hall. Having commenced building work it was decided to alter the proposed concert hall, (though retaining the composers names which still line the tiled staircases to this day), to a theatre which opened on 21st March, 1874.
The first production consisted of An American Lady, written and performed by the manager Henry J Byron and a piece by W.S. Gilbert (part of the Gilbert and Sullivan) titled Topseyturveydom. Under the management of Charles Wyndham, The Criterion became the leading comedy house in London. Between the 1st and 2nd World Wars productions included Musical Chairs with John Gielgud, and in 1936 a three year run of French Without Tears which launched the career of Terence Rattigan.
In the course of World War 2 The Criterion was requisitioned by the BBC, as an underground theatre it was an perfect studio pertaining to light entertainment both recorded and live. Right after the war works such as Beckett's Waiting for Godot and pieces by Anouilh, Dario Fo and others were produced.
In the 1970's the whole of the Criterion Theatre location was suggested for redevelopment, which in turn caused enormous demonstration as people anticipated the theatre would be lost permanently. All through the 70's and early 80's the Equity Save London's Theatre Committee organised high profile demonstrations.
Campaigners included John Gielgud, Diana Rigg, Edward Woodward, Robert Morley and Prunella Scales. Eventually the theatre's foreseeable future was secured although afterwards, the theatre closed from 1989, until reopening in October 1992 while the Criterion block that stands today, was constructed around it. Having gone through significant repairs both back, and front of house, The Criterion Theatre maintains an almost perfectly preserved Victorian auditorium, with all of its intimacy and ambiance.
The theatre reopened with Ennio Marchetto. From 1996 to 2005 The Reduced Shakespeare Company nailed audiences with their 30+ 'snippets' from Shakespeare, along with one performance being carried out 'backwards'! The theatre retains its Victorian auditorium which gives this theatre an personal and atmospheric presence for artistes and audiences.
About the Author:
Learn about where to buy good value London Theatre Tickets. Stop by Kenneth Cheesman's suggested website where you can find great value such as The 39 Steps Tickets, one of the top comedy plays in London.
No comments:
Post a Comment