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Mary Ure

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West End & Broadway

1954-1975

Taking a closer look at the distinguished stage career of Mary Ure which included appearing in two plays with Robert.

Time Remembered

Mary Ure as Amanda

 a young prince is madly in love with a Romanian opera singer, Léocadia Gardi. The young man only knew her for three days: like Isadora Duncan, she died strangled by her shawl. Inconsolable, he lives in his memory of the young woman.

His aunt—the Duchesse d'Andinet d'Andaine—reconstructs the setting and places of those three days like a theater director. Actors play the parts of the butler and servants during those days of happiness. Amanda, a poor milliner and look-alike of the singer, is called upon to seduce the prince, in the hope that life will prevail over memory.

At first, the young man clings desperately to his dream, but eventually comes to realize through Amanda that his memory of Léocadia corresponds to his fear of life being so ephemeral. His anguish at leaving an illusory memory yields soon to the call of real life.

The rigid, theatrical world imagined by the duchess falls apart, becoming a false comedy. The prince leaves his illusions and discovers that Léocadia was only an ideal, devoid of substance. His love of Amanda helps him return to real life.

Based on the play "Léocadia" by Jean Anouilh

Translated by Patricia Moyes

Director: William Chappell

Produced by H.M. Tennent

Incidental Music by Leslie Bridgewater

Lighting Joe Davis

Settings and costumes by Peter Rice

Chief Costume Supervisor: Lily Taylor

Company Manager: Reginald Gosse

Hats by Desmond Heeley

Manager: Betty Woolfe

Master Carpenter: George Page

Miss Mary Ure’s hair dressed by Phyllis Earle

Press Representative: Vivienne Byerley

Sound: Stagesound (London) Ltd

Stage Manager: Alfred Hyslop

Stage Manager: Alice Lidderdale

Wardrobe Mistress: Mrs Wyndham

Wigs by Wig Creations



CAST

1st footman / 2nd gipsy: Paul Anstee
1st gipsy / 2nd footman: Dennis Chinnery
3rd gipsy: Catherine Coulton
A waiter: Tristram Butt
An Ice Cream Man / The Landlord: Hugh Pryse
Ferdinand, a head waiter: Geoffrey Dunn
Lord Hector: Richard Goolden
Prince Albert Troubiscoi: Paul Scofield
The Cloakroom Attendant: Aithna Gover
The Duchess of Pont-au-Bronc: Margaret Rutherford
The Taxi Driver / A ghilly: Norman Bird
Theophilus, a butler: Stringer Davis


WEST END

Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
December 2nd 1954 - April 2nd 1955

New Theatre, London
April 9th - May 14th 1955


NATIONAL TOUR


Theatre Royal, Brighton (25th October – 6th November 1954)
King’s Theatre, Southsea (8th – 13th November 1954) 
Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth (15th – 20th November 1954)
Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (22nd – 27th November 1954
New Theatre, Oxford (16th – 21st May 1955)
Streatham Hill Theatre, London (23rd – 28th May 1955)
Golders Green Hippodrome (30th May – 4th June 1955) 
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool (13th – 18th June 1955) 
Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne (20th – 25th June 1955) 
Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (27th June – 9th July 1955) 
King’s Theatre, Glasgow (11th – 16th July 1955)
Grand Theatre & Opera House, Leeds (18th – 23rd July 1955)  
Opera House, Manchester (25th – 30th July 1955)

Production Gallery

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Mary Ure as Ophelia

Directed by Peter Brook


Produced by Tennent Productions Ltd.


Designed by Georges Wakhevitch


Music composed by Thomas Eastwood


Fights arranged by Bernard Hepton



CAST

Bernardo / Fifth Player: Gareth Jones
Claudius: Alec Clunes
Cornelius: Anthony Service
Francisco / Norwegian Captain: Michael Allinson
Gentleman: Robert Robinson
Ghost: John Phillips
Guildenstern: David De Keyser
Hamlet: Paul Scofield
Horatio: Michael David
Lady in Waiting: Beryl Andrews
Lady in Waiting: Catherine Feller
Lady in Waiting: Greta Watson
Laertes: Richard Johnson
Lucianus / Gravedigger: Harry H Corbett
Marcellus: John Turner
Osric: Timothy Findley
Polonius: Ernest Thesiger
Priest: Norman Bird
Reynaldo: Norman Scace
Rosencrantz: Gerald Flood
Sailor: Churton Fairman
Second Player: Aubrey Woods
Voltemand: Peter Whitbread


WEST END


Phoenix Theatre, London
(8th December 1955 – 24th March 1956)


NATIONAL TOUR

Theatre Royal, Brighton (started 25th October 1955)
New Theatre, Oxford (7th – 12th November 1955)
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (started 14th November 1955)
Moscow Art Theatre, Russia (started 23rd November 1955)

 

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Mary Ure as Abigail Williams

Directed by George Devine & Tony Richardson

Written by Arthur Miller

Produced by The English Stage Company

Designed by Stephen Doncaster

Costumes by Motley


Cast


Betty Parris - Marcia Manolesceu
Deputy Governor Danforth - George Devine
Elizabeth Proctor - Rosalie Crutchley
Ezekiel Cheever - Christopher Fettes
Francis Nurse - Stephen Dartnell
Hopkins - Alan Bates
John Proctor - Michael Gwynn
John Willard - George Selway
Judge Hathorne - Robert Stephens
Mary Warren - Joan Plowright
Mercy Lewis - Josee Richard
Mrs Ann Putnam - Rachel Kempson
Rebecca Nurse - Agnes Lauchlan
Reverend John Hale - Kenneth Haigh
Reverend Samuel Parris - John Welsh
Sarah Good - Barbara Grimes
Susanna Walcott - Helena Hughes
Thomas Putnam: Nigel Davenport
Tituba - Connie Smith


Venue: The Royal Court Theatre, London
(April 9th - May 5th 1956)

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Mary Ure as Alison Porter

Directed by Tony Richardson

Written by John Osborne

Produced by The English Stage Company

Designed by Alan Tagg

Music by Thomas Eastwood


Cast


Cliff Lewis: Alan Bates
Colonel Redfern: John Welsh
Helena Charles: Helena Hughes
Jimmy Porter: Kenneth Haigh


Alison Porter (replacement) Tarn Bassett
(started September
1956)
Helena Charles (replacement) Vivienne Drummond
(started September
1956)
Alison Porter (replacement) Doreen Aris
(started
5th November 1956)
Colonel Redfern (replacement) Kenneth Edwards
(started
5th November 1956)
Jimmy Porter (replacement) Richard Pasco
(started
5th November 1956
)

Venues

The Royal Court Theatre, London
(May
 8th - October 27th 1956)

Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London
(November
5th - December 7th 1956)

Richmond Theatre, London
(December
9th - 14th 1956)
 

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A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Mary Ure as Catherine

Directed and Designed by Peter Brook

Produced by New Watergate Theatre Club and Watergate Presentations Ltd.

Written by Arthur Miller

Lighting Supervision by Joe Davis

Stage Manager: Judith Spearman

Technical Supervision by Ian Dow

Assistant Stage Manager: Carmen Vickers

Assistant to Designer: Michael Northen

Chief Costume Supervisor: Lily Taylor

Company Manager: Frank Stevens

Press Representative: Ian Purvis

Scenery built by Brunskill & Loveday

Scenery painted by Alick Johnstone



CAST

1st immigration officer: John Stone
2nd immigration officer: Colin Rix
A ‘Submarine’: Peter James
Alfieri: Michael Gwynn
Beatrice: Megs Jenkins
Eddie: Anthony Quayle
Louis: Richard Harris
Marco: Ian Bannen
Mike: Norman Mitchell
Mr. Lipari: Mervyn Blake
Mrs. Lipari: Catherine Wilmer
Rodolpho: Brian Bedford
Tony: Ralph Nossek

 
 
VENUE: Comedy Theatre, London 
(11th October 1956 – 20th April 1957)

 

 

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Mary Ure as Alison Porter

Directed by Tony Richardson

Written by John Osborne

Produced by David Merrick

Costumes by Motley

Designed by Alan Tagg

Music by Thomas Eastwood

General Manager: Jack Schlissel

Stage Manager: Howard Stone

Press Representatives: Harvey Sabinson, Lewis Harmon and Sol Jacobson

Advertising: Blaine-Thompson and Fred Golden

Setting, lighting and costumes supervised by Howard Bay


Cast

Cliff Lewis: Alan Bates
Colonel Redfern: Jack Livesey
Helena Charles: Vivienne Drummond
Jimmy Porter: Kenneth Haigh


Venues

Lyceum Theatre, Broadway, New York, USA
(Octber 
1st 1957 - March 15th 1958)

John Golden Theatre, Broadway, New York, USA
(March
17th 1958 - September 20th 1958)

 

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Mary Ure as Desdemona

Directed by Tony Richardson


Produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company


Written by William Shakespeare


Designed by Loudon Sainthill


Lighting by Michael Northen


Music by Leslie Bridgewater



CAST

Bianca  Zoe Caldwell
Brabantio  Paul Hardwick
Cassio  Albert Finney
Duke of Venice  Ian Holm
Emilia  Angela Baddeley
Gratiano  Donald Layne
-Smith
Herald  Stephen Thorne
Iago  Sam Wanamaker
Lodovico  Edward De Souza
Montano  Julian Glover
Montano Officer 1  David Buck
Montano Officer 2  Roy Dotrice
Montano Officer 3  Kenneth Gilbert
Othello  Paul Robeson
Roderigo  Peter Woodthorpe
Unnamed parts  Georgine Anderson
Unnamed parts  Roger Bizley
Unnamed parts  Charles Borromel
Unnamed parts  Michael Graham Cox
Unnamed parts  Christopher Cruise
Unnamed parts  Jon Dennis
Unnamed parts  Mavis Edwards
Unnamed parts  Nicholas Hawtrey
Unnamed parts  Norman Henry
Unnamed parts  Edna Landor
Unnamed parts  Peter Mason
Unnamed parts  Dan Meaden
Unnamed parts  Vanessa Redgrave
Unnamed parts  Diana Rigg
Unnamed parts  Richard Rudd
Unnamed parts  Robert Russell
Unnamed parts  Don Smith
Unnamed parts  Roy Spencer
Unnamed parts  Malcolm Taylor
Unnamed parts  Dave Thomas
Unnamed parts  Stephen Thorne



Venue: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre
, Stratford-upon-Avon


Press Night:
7th April 1959







 

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Mary Ure as Tatiana

Directed by Peter Hall


Produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company

Written by William Shakespeare

Designed by Lila De Nobili

Lighting by Michael Northen

Music by Raymond Leppard


Choreography by Pauline Grant


CAST

Bottom - Charles Laughton
Demetrius - Edward De Souza
Egeus - Roy Dotrice
Fairy - Georgine Anderson
Fairy - Zoe Caldwell
Fairy - Judith Downes
Fairy - Mavis Edwards
Fairy - Margaret O’Keefe
Fairy - Jean Owen
Fairy - Malcolm Ranson
Fairy - Michael Scoble
Flute - Peter Woodthorpe
Helena - Vanessa Redgrave
Hermia - Priscilla Morgan
Hippolyta - Stephanie Bidmead
Lysander -  Albert Finney
Oberon - Robert Hardy
Philostrate - Donald Layne-Smith
Puck - Ian Holm
Quince - Cyril Luckham
Snout - Michael Blakemore
Snug - Julian Glover
Starveling - Donald Eccles
Theseus -  Anthony Nicholls
Unnamed parts - Roger Bizley
Unnamed parts - Charles Borromel
Unnamed parts - David Buck
Unnamed parts - Michael Graham Cox
Unnamed parts - Christopher Cruise
Unnamed parts - Jon Dennis
Unnamed parts - Nicholas Hawtrey
Unnamed parts - Norman Henry
Unnamed parts - Edna Landor
Unnamed parts - Peter Mason
Unnamed parts - Dan Meaden
Unnamed parts - Diana Rigg
Unnamed parts - Richard Rudd
Unnamed parts - Robert Russell
Unnamed parts - Don Smith
Unnamed parts - Dave Thomas
Unnamed parts - Stephen Thorne



Venue: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Press Night: 2nd June 1959



A film of Peter Hall’s staging of the play intended for screening on NBC television in America but never shown. The RSCs archive copy is a complete cut of the programme (c90 mins)with a 9-minute filmed interview by Laughton and a brief prefatory word by Peter Hall (shot in the theatre.

It was shot on videotape, with cameras brought over from France. The RSC’s copy is a kinescope copy of the tape. There are no commercials or sponsor or station identification.

An apron stage was built over the stalls of the theatre to accommodate camera movement. Hubball Robinson, the producer, appears to have intended it as part of a series of specials to be broadcast with Ford as sponsor and on NBC.










 

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CORIOLANUS

Mary Ure as Virgilia

Directed by Peter Hall


Produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company

Written by William Shakespeare

Designed by Boris Aronson

Lighting by Michael Northen

Music by Roberto Gerhard


Choreography by Pauline Grant

Fights arranged by Bernard Hepton and John Greenwood

Costumes by Riette Sturge Moore



CAST

Aedile 1 - Kenneth Gilbert
Aedile 2 - Peter Mason
Aufidius Servant 1 - Michael Graham Cox
Aufidius Servant 2 - Roy Dotrice
Aufidius Servant 3 - Ian Holm
Cominius - Paul Hardwick
Coriolanus - Laurence Olivier
Gentlewoman - Mavis Edwards
Junius Brutus - Peter Woodthorpe
Lieutenant - Edward De Souza
Menenius - Harry Andrews
Roman Citizen - Georgine Anderson
Roman Citizen - Stephanie Bidmead
Roman Citizen - Edna Landor
Roman Citizen - Diana Rigg
Roman Citizen - Michael Scoble
Roman Citizen 1 - Albert Finney
Roman Citizen 2 - Julian Glover
Roman Citizen 3 - Roy Dotrice
Roman Citizen 4 - Ian Holm
Roman Citizen 5 - Michael Graham Cox
Roman Citizen 6 - Stephen Thorne
Roman Citizen 7 - Dan Meaden
Roman Senator - Michael Blakemore
Roman Soldier - Christopher Cruise
Roman Soldier - Jon Dennis
Roman Soldier - Richard Rudd
Roman Soldier - Don Smith
Roman Soldier - Roy Spencer
Roman Soldier - Malcolm Taylor
Senate Officer - Edward De Souza
Senate Officer - Donald Layne-Smith
Sicinius Velutus - Robert Hardy
Titus Lartius - Donald Eccles
Tullus Aufidius - Anthony Nicholls
Valeria - Vanessa Redgrave
Volscian Citizen - Nicholas Hawtrey
Volscian Conspirator - Roger Bizley
Volscian Conspirator - David Buck
Volscian Senator 1 - Donald Layne-Smith
Volscian Senator 2 - Charles Borromel
Volscian Senator 3 - Norman Henry
Volscian Sentinel 1 - Dave Thomas
Volscian Sentinel 2 - Robert Russell
Volumnia - Edith Evans
Young Marcius - Malcolm Ranson



Venue: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Press Night: 7th July 1959







 

Production Gallery

Duel of Angels

Mary Ure as Lucile

directed by robert helpmann


Produced by Roger L. Stevens and S. Hurok

written by jean giraudoux

translated by christopher fry

designed by roger k. furse

costumes by christian dior

lighting by paul morrison

production stage manager: john maxtone-graham

Stage Manager: Jonathan Anderson

Press Representative: William Fields

Company Manager: Oscar Olesen

Casting: Terry Fay



CAST

Vivien Leigh - Paola
Margaret Braidwood - Barbette
Ludi Claire - Eugenie
Felix Deebank - Mace-Bearer
Alan MacNaughtan - Mr. Justice Blanchard
Key Meersman - Customer at the Cafe
John Merival - eArmand
Byron Mitchell - Customer at the Cafe
Donald MoffatClerk of the Court
Customer at the Cafe
Aina Niemela - Gilly
Virginia Robinson - Customer at the Cafe
Ken Edward Ruta - Servant
Theodore Tenley - Servant
Alicia Townsend - Customer at the Cafe
James Valentine - Joseph
Peter Wyngarde - Count Marcellus



VENUE: Helen Hayes Theatre, BROADWAY, NEW YORK
(AprIL 19th 1960 - June 1st 1960)

ALCAZAR THEATRE, BROADWAY, NEW YORK

HUNTINGTON HARTFORD THEATRE, LOS ANGELES


MARY ALSO APPEARED FOR A LIMITED RUN IN THE LONDON PRODUCTION IN 1958 AS LUCILE







 

Production Gallery

Trials by Logue

Mary Ure as Antigone and Mabel Cob

Directed by Lindsay Anderson

Produced by the Royal Court Theatre Company

Two Playlets written by Christopher Logue

Designed by Jocelyn Herbert

Music by Bill Le Sage

Choreography by Eleanor Fazan

CAST (ANTIGONE)

Zoe Caldwell (Ismene)
Morris Perry (Head Steward)
Trevor Martin (Second Steward)
Third Steward (Murray Evans)
Creon (George Rose)
Dickie Owen (Head Guard)
Peter Fraser (Second Guard)
Tony Selby (Third Guard)
Peter Duguid (Sentry)
Laurence Harrington (Fourth Guard)
Peter Holmes (Haemon)


CAST (COB AND LEACH)

George Rose (Magistrate)
Peter Duguid (Clerk of the Court)
Morris Perry (First Policeman)
Murray Evans (Second Policeman)
Zoe Caldwell (Whore)
Peter Fraser (Henry Leach)
Hazel Hughes (Miss Edith Peaches)
Trevor Martin (Sergeant Pokesdown)
Tony Selby and Dickie Owen (Police Horse Charlotte)
Peter Holmes (Plato, a dog)
Tony Stone (Policewoman Suet, Bass)
Brain Pickles (Constable Mogg, Drums)
Stanley Myers (Sergeant Posey, Piano)

VENUE: ROYAL COURT THEATRE, LONDON

PREMIERE: NOVEMBER 23rd 1960

















 

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Production Gallery

The 
Changeling

Mary Ure as Beatrice-Joanna

Directed by Tony Richardson


Written by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley

Produced by The Royal Court Theatre Company

Designed by Jocelyn Herbert

Music by Raymond Leppard


Choreography by Eleanor Kazan

CAST

Alibus - John Blatchley
Alonzo de Piraquo - Alan Howard
Anselmo - Jeremy Brett
Antonio - Robin Ray
De Flores - Robert Shaw
Diaphania - Annette Crosbie
Ensemble - Robin Chapman
Ensemble - Derek Fuke
Ensemble - Basil Moss
Ensemble - Pauline Munro
Ensemble - Morris Perry
Ensemble - Rita Tushingham
Franciscus - Charles Kay
Isabella - Zoe Caldwell
Jasperino - Derek Newark
Lollio - Norman Rossington
Pedro - Roland Curram
Tomazo de Piraquo - David William
Vermandero - Peter Duguid


Venue: The Royal Court Theatre, London

Press Night: 21st February 1961


















 

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Harold Pinter's

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mary ure as kate

When Deeley and his wife Kate are visited by her old friend Anna, tensions bubble up as memories are used for more than just reminiscing. 

 

Directed by Peter Hall

Produced by Roger L. StevensRobert Whitehead and Robert W. Dowling

Written by Harold Pinter

Scenic Design by John Bury

 

 Costume Design by Beatrice Dawson

Lighting Design by John Bury

cast

robert shaw as deeley

rosemary harris as anna

General Manager: Oscar E. Olesen

 

 Assistant Co. Mgr: Robert P. Cohen

Production Stage Manager: Frederic de Wilde

 

 Stage Manager: Wayne Carson

 

Press Representative: Seymour Krawitz

 

 Press Associate: Patricia Krawitz

 

 Casting: Wayne Carson

 

 Advertising: Fred Golden and The Blaine Thompson Agency

 

 Photographer: Sy Friedman

Venue: The Billy Rose Theatre, Broadway, New York

Dates: November 16th 1971 - February 26th 1972

Number of Previews: 4

Number of Performances: 120

Production Gallery

THE EXORCISM

mary ure as RACHAEL

Directed By Peter Coe


Written By Don Taylor


Produced by Frederick Granville




cast

Dan 
-  Ronald Hines
Edmund  
-  Brian Blessed
Margaret 
 Honor Blackman

Rachael 
- Margo Mayne
((
started 3rd April 19
75)
Rachael 
-  Anna Cropper

(started 9th April 19



75)VENUE: COMEDY THEATRe, LONDON

2nd April 10th May 1975



Mary Ure died directly after the first night. her role was taken over initially by her understudy and then by the roles TV originator,Anna Cropper..
 

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