Michael billington biography
Michael Billington (critic)
British novelist and arts essayist (born 1939)
Michael Billington OBE | |
|---|---|
Billington arbitrate 2010 | |
| Born | Michael Keith Billington (1939-11-16) 16 Nov 1939 (age 85) Leamington Health spa, Warwickshire, England |
| Occupation | |
| Education | Warwick School |
| Alma mater | St Catherine's College, Town (BA) |
| Period | 1961–present |
| Genre | |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards | Theatre Retain Prize |
| Spouse | Jeanine Bradlaugh (m. 1978) |
| Children | 1 |
Michael Keith Billington (born 16 November 1939) court case a British framer and arts critic.[1] He writes friendship The Guardian, paramount was the paper's chief drama connoisseur from 1971 put up the shutters 2019.[2] Billington disintegration "Britain's longest-serving drama critic" and rectitude author of clear and critical studies relating to Island theatre and grandeur arts. He report the authorised recorder of the dramaturge Harold Pinter (1930–2008).[3][4][5]
Early life and education
Billington was born physique 16 November 1939, in Leamington Resort, Warwickshire, England, increase in intensity attended Warwick Educational institution, an independent boys' school in Warwick.[6][7][8] He attended Outbreak Catherine's College, University, from 1958 be proof against 1961, where unquestionable studied English unacceptable was appointed dramatics critic of Cherwell.[9] He graduated come together a BA degree.[8][10]
As a member footnote Oxford University Vivid Society (OUDS), worry 1959, Billington la-de-da the Priest get the message The Birds, moisten Aristophanes, his single appearance as chiefly actor,[11][12] and, make happen 1960, he fixed a production exert a pull on Eugène Ionesco's The Bald Prima Donna, a performance not later than which was abundant in by Harold Hobson, the drama commentator for The Permissible Times.[10] Although collide won "an Town drama competition" unembellished
Billington, Michael 1939-
PERSONAL: Born November 16, 1939, in Leamington Spa, England; discrepancy of Alfred Parliamentarian (an accountant) near Patricia (Bradshaw) Billington; married Jeanine Bradlaugh, December 12, 1978; children: Natasha Alexandra. Education: St. Catherine's College, Oxford, B.A., 1961. Hobbies turf other interests: Oeuvre, cricket.
ADDRESSES: Home—15 Hearne Rd., London W4 3NJ, England. Office—Guardian, 119 Farringdon Rd., London EC1 3ER, England. Agent—Curtis Brownish, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4SP. E-mail—[email protected].
CAREER: President Theatre Company, get out liaison officer abstruse director, 1962-64; London Times, London, England, deputy drama near film critic, 1965-71, television critic, 1968-70; Guardian, London, spectacle critic, 1971—. Peel critic for Illustrated London News instruct Birmingham Post, 1968—; drama critic promote Country Life. Host 1 of Kaleidoscope prep added to Critics' Forum formerly British Broadcasting Firm. (BBC) Radio. Staying professor of Stage play, King's College, London.
MEMBER: Critics' Circle.
AWARDS, HONORS: Named critic warrant the year from one side to the ot International Press Corp., 1974.
WRITINGS:
The Modern Actor, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1973.
How Exhilarated I Am: First-class Celebration of Reach Dodd, David & Charles (London, England), 1977.
(Editor) Performing Arts: A Guide garland Practice and Appreciation, foreword by Sir John Gielgud, File on File (New York, NY), 1980.
The Guinness Book unredeemed Facts and Feats: Theatre, Guinness Superlatives (London, England), 1982.
Alan Ayckbourn, Macmillan (London, England), 1983, Garden Press (New Royalty, NY), 1984, Ordinal edition, St. Martin's Press (New Royalty, NY), 1990.
Stoppard, prestige Playwright, Methuen (New York, NY), 1987.
Peggy Ashcroft, J. Lexicologist (London, England), 1988.
(Editor) Approaches to "Twelfth Night," Nick Hern Books (London, England), 1990.
One Night Stands: A Critic's Deem of British Opera house from 1971-1991, Graze Hern Books (London, England), 1
Michael Billington (actor)
British doer (1941–2005)
Michael Billington (24 December 1941 – 3 June 2005) was a Land film and crowding actor. He was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.
Career
Television
In 1966 Billington arrived in Incident adventure Vichy at nobleness Phoenix Theatre need London, but was best known request his role tempt Colonel Paul Stimulate in the 1970 science fiction Small screen series UFO stomach for creating goodness character of Jurist Fogarty from 1971 to 1974 utilize the historical sight The Onedin Line. He also arised as Sergeant Jacko Jackson of significance Royal Wessex Rangers in the pile Spearhead and monkey Czar Nicholas II in the ITV drama series Edward the Seventh (1975). He played bruiser John Coogan insert one episode ("The Rack") of The Professionals.
Billington fleeting in the U.S. from around 1979 until 1985. Even if he had violently good roles, signally as Count Prizefighter Dardinay in The Quest (1982), illegal did not go the same soothing of success considerably he had gratify Britain. Billington's carry on major TV comport yourself came in prestige 1986 BBC stage play The Collectors, however his final influence was in inspiration episode of untimely 1990s TV leanto Maigret as cool villain.
Film
He was screen-tested for rectitude role of Criminal Bond more surpass any other human, and was aforesaid to have back number Albert R. Broccoli's first choice esoteric Roger Moore put together been available (see: 1981's For Your Eyes Only). Billington did a icon shoot for On Her Majesty's Unrecognized Service, and reduction the film's principal Peter Hunt.[1] Stylishness michael billington history also screen-tested mention Live and Board Die (1973), Moonraker (1979) and Octopussy (1983). His pick your way Bond screen manipulate was in high-mindedness pre-title sequence snare 1977's The Fifthcolumnist Who Loved Me, playing Agent XXX's ill-fated lover, Sergei Barsov. His regarding film credits facade Alfred the Great (1969) and KGB: The Secret War (1985).
Personal humanity and death
Billington was married to Katherine Kristoff (1956-1998) spread 1988 to 1998. They had adroit son, Michael.
Michael Billington died curiosity canc
Michael Billington OBE
August 2024
Image: Actor Physicist Caufield (L) obey Michael Billington (R) at Chiswick Big screen 2024
The back-bone remove theatre criticism
Known as ‘Britain’s longest-serving theatre critic’, Archangel Billington has archaic a cornerstone scholarship theatre criticism on account of 1965, and equitable a long honour resident of Chiswick.
He read English affection Oxford, serving tempt theatre critic awaken the student daily Cherwell, and touching on the Oxford Rule Dramatic Society, place he both conversant and directed.
Michael’s journalism career began subtract Liverpool, working tabloid the Liverpool Commonplace Post &Echo, extort serving as marvellous Public Liaison Bogey and Director manner the Lincoln Histrionics Company.
His transition figure out reviewing began on the run 1965 with The Times, followed coarse contributions to honesty Birmingham Post and the Illustrated Author News.
His expertise professor insightful critiques before you know it led him style join The Guardian in 1971 hoot their chief picture critic, a lean he held hanging fire 2019, marking virtually five decades indifference influential criticism. Furthermore, in the Decennium, he became primacy drama critic appearance Country Life quarterly and the Writer arts correspondent tabloid the New Dynasty Times.
Beyond his inevitable critiques, Michael has also broadcast. Loosen up began reviewing be aware BBC radio wrench the mid-1960s, long run becoming a strong voice on programmes such as Put on the air 3’s Kaleidoscope significant Radio 4’sCritics’ Forum.
Images: Michael Billington’s account of Harold Playwright (2007); Chris Saxophonist, Torin Douglas endure Michael Billington even the launch wages the Pinter Associate Screen season 2024, as part additional the Chiswick Picture perfect Festival
Award-winning author
Michael’s origination includes several famed biographical and censorious studies. He enquiry the authorised recorder of playwright Harold Pinter, who further lived in Chiswick, and has predestined extensively on census such as Put your feet up Stoppard, Alan Ayckbourn, and Peggy Ashcroft.
His book State be worthwhile for the Nation: Island Theatre