THE ROAD TO SIDMOUTH REP - An interview with John Atterbury by Paul Smith.

THE ROAD TO SIDMOUTH REP

An interview with John Atterbury

by Paul Smith

The idea of writing a book with a theatre at its core was something I blithely suggested one day. “Of course, you must” was the regular response. All before I had really thought deeply about the full scale of the project which faced me.

Since 2019 I have been the regular reviewer at the Summer Repertory Season in Sidmouth, Devon. A 12-week season of 12 plays; currently the longest of its kind in the UK. The basics of a weekly repertory (‘rep’) season are that a company of actors rehearse a play for a week and then perform it in the evenings; and during the daytimes they are rehearsing the next play in the season and so on. As with any aspect of the theatre, ‘rep’ has had to develop and alter to meet the current needs of the public and of the economics of theatre. The Manor Pavilion Theatre opened to the public in 1891 as a purpose-built arts complex and from the first half of the 20th Century, repertory companies have visited and performed – many impressarios coming and going, actors too – not least Margaret Rutherford who appeared in 1933 in a production of ‘Rope’ by Patrick Hamilton. In the 1950s actor/manager, Ronald Govey set up shop and stayed until 1986; 28 years of summer weekly rep. The redoubtable Charles Vance took over in 1987 and ended his tenure in 2012 with Paul Taylor-Mills following in 2013 where he remains the season producer to this day.

As the original training ground for actors, Sidmouth has more than played its part and even today, young actors come to Devon, fresh from drama school and are offered a number of roles in the summer line-up; when they leave CV is no longer empty and that, coupled with an experience of quick learning which cannot be found elsewhere, is invaluable.

Recording the history of rep at the Manor Pavilion has become something of a passion; the theatre has little in the way of archives and so in-depth research and meetings with many people are forming the basis of this rather niche project. There is nothing dull in the work and surprises crop up here and there all the time, as do the delights of meeting people, keen to recount their memories of the joy and madness of rep theatre by the Devon seaside.

Interviewing actor, John Atterbury, has been a particular delight. Now aged 87, John has had a long and varied career in theatre, film and TV and from his South London home of 53 years, he was full of the most wonderful anecdotes about his life and his time on stage at Sidmouth. Hailing from South Wales, John’s first experience of rep – and from which he gained his equity card - was at the Swansea Grand Theatre in 1963 under John Chilvers where there was a 39-week season – John appeared in 34 one of them as well as being Stage Manager. During the season, John had a falling out with the Stage Director and went to see Chilvers to say he couldn’t put up with it any longer. Chilvers offered a salary increase – from £6 per week to £6 10 shillings! John took the extra money and stayed. By 1979 in Sidmouth he was commanding the princely sum of £55 a week.

John auditioned for Ronald Govey in the late 1970s and made his debut at the Manor Pavilion Theatre in 1978 in the play ‘Castle in the Air’ by Alan Melville. It was the first production in a 17-week season. But all was not well in that first play as John recounts; “I was appalled when I went on the set for the first dress rehearsal. This stately home was decked out with ornaments bearing the words ‘Present from Brighton’. I had to go and speak to Ronald and said “I’m not going to do it!” Reluctantly some money was found and an ASM was despatched to an antique shop for something more appropriate. I said I would do the play but It wasn’t a good start! That was my introduction to Sidmouth. After that I just loved it.” Subsequently, John would pack his car with items from his home and take then down to Sidmouth where he would dress the sets himself.

John waxes lyrical about his summers in Devon; “it was what I wanted to do; rehearse a play, get it on and enjoy it and not worry too much about the critics or anything else. Lovely! Plus the fact that you were by the sea and, as long as the weather was good, you could take your script and learn your lines while getting a tan! What could be better?”

John continued at Sidmouth with Ronald Govey until 1986 and during that time chalked up a wide range of roles in plays such as ‘Sleuth’, ‘Absent Friends’, ‘Pack of Lies’ and ‘Dangerous Corner’ amongst many others. Although he never worked with Charles Vance at the Manor Pavilion, John would work with him at Chelmsford Rep and elsewhere.

The most important asset for any actor in weekly rep? A good memory and the ability to learn quickly and retain at least one other role in the head while performing another. Without the memory you were finished.

While continuing his theatre work, John he moved into both TV and film roles including ‘Dr Who’ and a ‘Harry Potter’ film – both of which generate fan mail to this day – and he rather enjoyed the small role as Maggie Smith’s chauffeur in the movie ‘Gosford Park’.

The memories of an actor who has worked across eras of the theatre are lucid, funny, moving and inspiring and, ultimately full of love for a career which has provided him with great joy. For John Atterbury, the Manor Pavilion Theatre summer repertory seasons were very special and his memories of them are full of affection.

The final book will be a celebration of the Manor Pavilion Theatre and the longevity of its Summer Repertory Season, but also of the actors, directors and technicians who have brought great pleasure to countless people.

More information and snippets of the book can be found at - https://theatreplays.uk/rep-the-history-of-the-sidmouth-summer-repertory-season-at-the-manor-pavilion-theatre/