Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Saturday 12 July 1952, page 3


as to , a s? p e 2 i -> is, it is

COMPANY TO PRESENT 11 PERFORMANCES

The John Alden Shakespearean ( company is living up to itsiNren-, venturesome reputation, by present-

ing; an 11 performance season in Canberra starting on Monday

night. '(- he's, in'. a ,, '

It reduced former plans for a longer season on the advice of

J. local? theatre lovers, many of whom are still convinced that

Canberra, 'and > district may not I ' usefully support three Shakespearean

'an plays"in'10'days during winter. ter at Albert Hall.-

It. has been suggested, that poor ( houses may dissuade the company from returning when Canberra, is better able to support to such a programme.

The Alden company arrives in Canberra today ariel on Monday with a background of mounting popularity and success.

Its programme in Canberra comprises "King Lear which is

regarded as its finest presenta] tion; the better-known "The Merchant of Venice" and the near - farce, "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

The company also plays "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and hopes to add Othello" to its repertoire- shortly.

'It will be the first professional Shakespearean company to visit enverra for many years.

The company first took shape

as a sci/ii-pi'oiessional group in < 1949, but became a fully pro- i fessional Venture last year. (

John Alden, after three years J in England, including parts, at

Old Vic, produced plays -at the '' Theatre Royal,., Sydney After the war he took a group to Ja- ' pan to entertain the' occupation ,

forces - ' i ' ' (

On his return he started

Shakespearean productions at the Independent Theatre, North ] Sydney. <- I

His work was noted by Miss -, I Elsie Beyer, who toured with Olivier's Old, Vic Company as a general manager, When she re- 1 turned to Australia on a holiday.

in 1949 < j; | In 1950, Alden' established a a'

little theatre at St. James J Hall, Sydney, where the players, | ^ although often well-known in the ;: j

stage and radio fields, acted without payment. I by

Miss Beyer, who felt that Australia

would support a professor sional company, persuaded Al- j den to carry out such a plan.,

She succeeded in raising suffici- I ent financial backing for Alden ( to prepare for a Commonwealth

The tour started nightly at J tour as a professional company. Melbourne, but' has more than ' recompensed those losses by suc- cessful seasons at Adelaide, Bris- t bane and Toowoomba, i

co-producer and actor with

John 'Alden is" James Mills, whom 1 Alden" met When a member of the

lEngTßh Harrogate "Reports very Company. Mills was producer and director of production,

of this group. He joined th,e"A.l->M den company last year; leaving- 4? ed that here is a real need for tralia, particularly' for the prés

entation of Shakespeare. . <