Robert Gillespie

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Robert Gillespie
Gillespie in 2006
Born (1933-11-09) 9 November 1933 (age 90)
Lille, France
TelevisionKeep It in the Family
George and Mildred
Leave It to Charlie
Agony
The Professionals
Midnight Is a Place
Robin's Nest
Return of the Saint

Robert James Gillespie (born 9 November 1933 in Lille, France) is a British actor, director and writer. Notable acting credits include Keep It in the Family (1980), At the Earth's Core (1976) and Force 10 from Navarone (1978). Later, he appeared in Jimmy McGovern's Broken and Mike Leigh's film Peterloo about the Peterloo Massacre.[1] The first volume of his autobiography, Are You Going To Do That Little Jump?, was published in 2017.[2] A second volume, Are You Going To Do That Little Jump? The Adventure Continues followed in October 2021.[3] At the same time, Gillespie launched a new publicly-available and growing online archive of his extensive career, entitled Little Jump.[4]

Early life

Gillespie is the eldest child of Magdalena Katalin Singer, from

Hitler
's invasion of the country.

Education

Gillespie was educated at Sale Grammar School, and trained as an actor at RADA between 1951 and 1953.[5]

Career

Career overview

Robert Gillespie entered the theatrical profession at a time when every playscript had to be approved by the Lord Chamberlain's Office, or risk prosecution. The only platform for plays addressing controversial subjects like homosexuality, or contentious political topics, existed at club theatres like the New Lindsey, in Notting Hill, with a private membership. Gillespie witnessed the day Brendan Behan used the F-word on BBC Television (1956) which rocked the Corporation.[dubious ] But times changed. 70 years later Gillespie relished playing a repellent, paedophile priest opposite Sean Bean in an episode of Broken by Jimmy McGovern – at which no-one turned a hair. Robert Gillespie is especially interested in this period of enormous transition and has written about it.

Contributions to British theatre

From drama school, Gillespie joined the

Henry IV Parts 1 and 2.[6]

It is with gratitude that Gillespie views his hiring by

The English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre (1956–58). It is George Devine, in Gillespie's view, who should be credited with launching modern theatre in the UK. Devine dared to present the transforming play Look Back in Anger by John Osborne and brought Berthold Brecht
into mainstream drama.

In sharp contrast, Gillespie found Joan Littlewood's claim to ground-breaking innovation to be dubious and unfounded. He joined her Theatre Workshop company, based at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, for three productions in 1956 and left by mutual agreement while rehearsing a fourth. Littlewood's chief claim was that she could imbue the great classics with a fresh, accessible approach. The results were uniformly disappointing, a view supported by an almost uniformly bad press. (History suggests that her break-through to personal success rode on the new "kitchen-sink" style of play, viz. A Taste of Honey, and its musical equivalent.) Gillespie has written about his time at Theatre Workshop.[7]

In 1970, he appeared in Keep Out, Love in Progress by Walter Hall, at the Basement Theatre, Soho, taking the lead opposite Alex Marshall.[8] He performed in David Lan's Paradise at the Royal Court Theatre, John Arden's The Hero Rises Up at the Roundhouse, Peter Hall's Playhouse Theatre production of Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo (starring Julie Walters).

A cherished stage engagement was his appearance as Charlie in Mincemeat, with

Adrian Jackson MBE.[9]
He also played Luka in The Lower Depths.

He recalls his two and a half years with the Royal Shakespeare Company as "actor paradise" (1994–6) writing of the huge advance in general standard of performance, quality of backstage support and generosity of respect and care shown to the individual artist – in notable contrast to the hierarchical regime in place at The Old Vic, forty years before, when deference to one's "superiors" was still firmly expected. At the RSC, Tony Britton was very fine as Sir Toby Belch in Ian Judge's production of Twelfth Night and Desmond Barrit an excellent Malvolio – showing great professional curiosity as to how Michael Hordern had addressed the part.

Television

His first major television role was as the disciple

Jesus of Nazareth, directed by Joy Harington.[10]

Gillespie appeared in many British sitcoms, including

Napoleon Bonaparte), Butterflies, The Liver Birds, Beggar My Neighbour, Only When I Laugh (series one, “Let Them Eat Cake”), Agony, Terry and June and It Ain't Half Hot Mum. He often played deadpan police desk sergeants.[11]

Gillespie was the star of the Brian Cooke situation comedy Keep It in the Family, playing the harassed cartoonist Dudley Rush, a part that Cooke wrote especially for him. The show ran for five series transmitted between 1980 and 1983. It also starred Pauline Yates, Stacy Dorning, Jenny Quayle and Sabina Franklyn.[11]

Gillespie appeared in many British television series, mostly from the 1960s to 1980s. His credits include

Bonjour La Classe and Secret Army.[11] He has appeared in New Tricks, with James Bolam, as well as Jimmy McGovern's Broken, alongside Sean Bean
.

Film

Film appearances include the Pride segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), The National Health (1973), Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974), Force Ten From Navarone (1978), The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), and the 1996 Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.[11] He appeared in Woody Harrelson's ambitious live-action movie Lost in London, playing the part of the mystic cabbie([12]) and later took part in the Mike Leigh project Peterloo.

Writings

Gillespie has published two linked books charting the enormous changes undergone within the performing arts over three-quarters of a century, written from the point of view of a practising tradesman - Are You Going to do That Little Jump[13] (pub. 2017) and Are You Going to do That Little Jump - The Adventure Continues (pub. 2021).[14] The title comes from a moment in Terence Rattigan's Harlequinade, describing the unforgivable misdemeanour of upstaging. The author suggests that theatre practice changed to such an extent over this period that young performers of today will hardly recognise the profession they enter now as the same as the one he entered in 1947. The two volumes, which provide a personal reminiscence of living theatre history, are supported by unique photographs, illustrations, and letters unavailable in other archives.

Gillespie wrote a celebrated sketch for Ned Sherrin's BBC TV show That Was the Week That Was in 1963. Commonly entitled "A Consumer's Guide to Religion", it was performed by David Frost and proved to be a satirical landmark. It provoked questions in the House of Commons and fulminations from pulpits.

Theatre directing and writing

Gillespie has directed many plays for the stage, including seventeen productions at the

John Bott.[6]

Jane Nightwork Productions

Gillespie created his own production company, Jane Nightwork Productions, in 2000.

Trafalgar Studios
.

Gillespie toured a two-handed drama (largely comic) in London and the Home Counties on the topic of death (My Heart, 2000). On 6 April 2010, Gillespie's production of his own play Love, Question Mark opened at the New Diorama Theatre for a 4-week run. The play addresses our curious fixation with monogamy. Love, Question Mark is the first part of a trilogy entitled, Power of Three: Love, War and Death. The play starred Clare Cameron and Stuart Sessions and was produced by Lucy Jackson.[16]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Siege of the Saxons Soldier Uncredited
1968 Inspector Clouseau Senior Swiss Banker Uncredited
1969 Otley Policeman
1969 Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed Mortuary Attendant Uncredited
1971 A Severed Head Winking Patient
1971 To Catch a Spy Man in Elevator
1971 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins A.A. Man (segment "Pride")
1972 Rentadick Arab Porter
1972 Up the Front French Officer
1973 The National Health Tyler
1974 Barry McKenzie Holds His Own Dorothy
1976 At the Earth's Core Photographer
1978 Force Ten From Navarone Sergeant
1978 The Thirty Nine Steps Crombie
1979 The Prisoner of Zenda Andrews Uncredited
1994 Zorn Assistant
1996 A Midsummer Night's Dream Robin Starveling / Cobweb
2017 Lost in London Older Cabbie
2018 Peterloo Magistrate Warmley

References

  1. ^ "Robert Gillespie". IMDb. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Home - Jane Nightwork Productions". Jane Nightwork Productions. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Book - Little Jump". 21 September 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Home - Little Jump". 5 March 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Robert Gillespie Interview – Beginnings". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Robert Gillespie – Biography – Jane Nightwork Productions". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  7. ^ admin (6 January 2022). "Howard Goorney – A red gent - Little Jump". Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  8. ^ Otis L. Guernsey, The Best plays of 1970-1971 (Dodds, Mead, 1971), p. 76: Keep Out, Love in Progress by Walter Hall, at Basement Theatre, Soho, with Alex Marshall and Robert Gillespie.
  9. ^ "Theatre review: Mincemeat / Cordy House, London". the Guardian. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Robert Gillespie Interview – TV and Comedy". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d "IMDB Robert Gillespie". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  12. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (20 January 2017). "Lost in London review: Woody Harrelson's live movie is a miraculous oddity". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  13. ^ Jameson, Greg. "Robert Gillespie – Are You Going to do That Little Jump? review". Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Book - Little Jump". 21 September 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  15. ^ "About Us – Jane Nightwork Productions". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Love, Question Mark Review – Entertainment Focus". Retrieved 30 June 2013.

External links