IN FONDEST MEMORYNEVILE CRUTTENDEN |
It is not every Acting or Active Member who really understands what The Questors is all about. Nevile was one of those who did and what he gave to The Questors during 27 years of active membership was all the greater for that (as, I fancy, was what The Questors gave to him). He will be sorely missed. Joining us more or less fresh from University, he quickly made his mark as an actor in his first role of the Major in Shaw's The Devil's Disciple in 963. From then on he was seldom off The Questors' stage for long, playing over 40 widely varied roles right up to the time of his death. These ranged from the great classical roles such as King Lear (1975) and Othello (1981) to the light comedy of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce (1985), rich character parts such as Shpigelsky in A Month in the Country (1983), or modern roles like Cliff in Look Back in Anger (1966). He always welcomed the challenge of trying something new, including experimental work as when he played Claire in Alan Clarke's production of Genet's The Maids (1965) with an all-male cast. In consequence he developed a range far wider than that of most of our actors. Nevile always played with an assurance based upon his painstaking work, which nevertheless concealed a nervous feeling of insecurity, which he shared with (I think) all creative actors. Nevile soon entered fully into the life of the theatre. He was elected to the Committee of Management in 1968 and served until 1982, for most of the time as Vice-Chairman. As Publicity Director from 1968 to 1974 he brought a fresh life and vigour to our standards of publicity and public relations at that time and he was closely involved in re-examining, redrafting and up-dating our Statement of Aims, which were approved in 1972. He subsequently chaired the Working Party to implement those Aims and, when the system was changed in 1973, he became The Questors' first Director of Productions, serving in that capacity until 1976 with great judgment and flair. To whatever Nevile touched he brought a great integrity and a true
understanding of the value of artistic standards, coupled with an enormous and lively zest. He will be remembered with affection by his many friends, and with deep gratitude by The Questors. A LIVING MEMORIAL FOR NEVILE CRUTTENDEN The acting future of our theatre depends to a very large extent on the continued success of the Nevile Cruttenden on Stage |