Michael Blakemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Blakemore
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| Born |
Michael Howell Blakemore
18 June 1928 Sydney, Australia
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| Died | 10 December 2023 (aged 95) |
| Years active | 1951–2023 |
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Michael Blakemore (born June 18, 1928 – died December 10, 2023) was a talented Australian actor, writer, and director for plays and movies. He was very special because in 2000, he won two big awards, called Tony Awards, in the same year! He won for directing a play called Copenhagen and a musical called Kiss Me, Kate. He used to be a director at the famous National Theatre.
Contents
Michael Blakemore's Life and Career
Early Life and Acting
Michael Blakemore was born in Sydney, Australia. He went to The King's School, Sydney and later studied medicine at the University of Sydney. He married an English actress named Shirley Bush.
His first job in theatre was helping promote a play. Someone told him he should try drama school. So, in 1950, he moved to London. He studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art until 1952. His first acting job was in 1952 in a play called The Barretts of Wimpole Street.
He spent several years acting in different theatre groups. He performed in London for the first time in 1958. He also acted in plays by William Shakespeare in 1959. There, he met and worked with famous actors like Laurence Olivier and Peter Hall.
Becoming a Director
Michael Blakemore acted in many plays for about 15 years. He realized that he really wanted to direct plays instead. In 1966, he started directing for the Citizens' Theatre in Glasgow. He directed several plays there, including Little Malcolm and Rosmersholm.
In 1968, he became a co-artistic director at the Citizens' Theatre. He had great success with a play called A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. He directed this play in London and then on Broadway in New York. This was his first time being nominated for a Tony Award for directing.
Working at the National Theatre
In 1969, Blakemore joined the National Theatre in London. He directed The National Health. Later, he directed the famous actor Laurence Olivier in Long Day's Journey into Night in 1971.
In 1970, Olivier asked Blakemore to become one of the National Theatre's Associate Directors. Blakemore thought he might become the main Artistic Director one day. However, in 1973, the theatre's board chose Peter Hall instead. Blakemore eventually left the National Theatre.
While at the National Theatre, he directed many other plays. These included The Front Page (1972), Macbeth (1972), and The Cherry Orchard (1973).
Later Directing Work
After leaving the National Theatre, Blakemore continued to direct many successful plays. In 1977, he directed Privates on Parade for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He became a director at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith in 1980. There, he directed Make and Break and the very popular play Noises Off in 1982. Noises Off later moved to the Savoy Theatre and was a big hit.
Blakemore worked often with the playwright Michael Frayn. He directed Frayn's plays like Benefactors (1984) and Here (1993).
He returned to the National Theatre in 1998 to direct Frayn's play Copenhagen. This play was very successful and moved to the Duchess Theatre. He also directed Democracy (2003) and Afterlife (2008) at the National Theatre.
Blakemore directed many plays in London's West End and on Broadway in New York. Some of these included Design for Living (1973) with Vanessa Redgrave and Lettice and Lovage (1987) with Maggie Smith. He also directed musicals like City of Angels (1989) and the revival of Kiss Me, Kate (1999).
In 2007, he directed a play by Mark Twain called Is He Dead? which had never been performed before. In 2014, he directed Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit. His last play was The Life in 2017.
Film Work
Michael Blakemore also directed and wrote some films. In 1981, he made a documentary called A Personal History of the Australian Surf: The Confessions of a Straight Poofter. He also directed the film version of his play Privates on Parade in 1982.
In 1994, he wrote and directed Country Life. This film was based on Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya, but it was set in Australia. Blakemore also acted in this film. The movie was nominated for five awards in Australia.
Death
Michael Blakemore passed away on December 10, 2023. He was 95 years old.
Filmography
Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | The Captain's Table | Steward | Uncredited |
| Operation Amsterdam | British Officer | Uncredited | |
| The Heart of a Man | Man | Uncredited | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Tom Snout | TV film | |
| 1965 | Catch Us If You Can | Officer | |
| 1981 | A Personal History of the Australian Surf | Self | Autobiographical documentary |
| 1994 | Country Life | Alexander Voysey |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | The Adventures of Sir Lancelot | Cedric | Episode: "The Black Castle" |
| 1958 | Armchair Theatre | Bradley | Episode: "The Pillars of Midnight" |
| ITV Playhouse | Peter Gilbert | Episode: "The Browning Version" | |
| 1959 | The Larkins | Shop Manager | Episode: "Gift Horse Power" |
| ITV Play of the Week | Makepeace 'Pym' Lovell | Episode: "No Time for Comedy" | |
| 1960 | Walter Clavering | Episode: "Vitriol" | |
| Armchair Mystery Theatre | Newscaster | Episode: "Free Fall" | |
| 1961 | The Skewbald | Mr. Blair | Episode: "Surprise Encounters" |
| Our Mister Ambler | Episode: "The Old Master" | ||
| ITV Playhouse | Lewis | Episode: "The Reception" | |
| ITV Play of the Week | Public Relations Officer | Episode: "Countdown at Woomera" | |
| 1963 | Suspense | Stephen | Episode: "The Man on the Bicycle" |
| 1964 | Redcap | Captain Jameson | Episode: "Misfire" |
| Dixon of Dock Green | Matthews | Episode: "Routine" | |
| 1984 | The Last Bastion | John Curtin | Mini-series |
Awards and Recognitions
Michael Blakemore won many awards for his directing work.
- Awards he won
- 1967 – Evening Standard Award Best Play – A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
- 1971 – Variety Magazine London Drama Critics Best Director – Forget-Me-Not Lane
- 1972 – Plays and Players Award for Best Director – Long Day's Journey into Night
- 1972 – Plays and Players Award for Best Director – The Front Page
- 2000 – Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play – Copenhagen
- 2000 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – Copenhagen
- 2000 – Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical – Kiss Me, Kate
- 2000 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Kiss Me, Kate
- 2003 – Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play – Copenhagen
- 2010 – He was added to the American Theater Hall of Fame.
- Awards he was nominated for
- 1968 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
- 1984 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – Noises Off
- 1984 – Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Play – Noises Off
- 1990 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – Lettice and Lovage
- 1990 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – City of Angels
- 1990 – Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical – City of Angels
- 1997 – Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – The Life
- 1997 – Drama Desk Award Outstanding Direction of a Musical – The Life
- 2002 – Laurence Olivier Award Best Director – Kiss Me, Kate
- 2003 – London Evening Standard Sydney Edwards Award – Democracy
- 2005 – Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play – Democracy
