Martin David Anson Duncan(born 12 July 1948) is an English director, actor, composer, andchoreographer.Duncan was artistic director ofNottingham Playhousefrom 1994 to 1999[1]and joint artistic director ofChichester Festival Theatrefrom 2003 to 2005 withRuth MackenzieandSteven Pimlott.[2]He has composed the musical scores for over 50 theatre productions.
Martin Duncan | |
---|---|
Born | Martin David Anson Duncan 12 July 1948 |
Education | Durston House School Westminster School |
Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1968–present |
Relatives | Sir George Anson(great-great-great grandfather) |
Website | martinduncan |
After training at theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art,Duncan began his career inrepertory theatrein 1968. He continued to act on stage and screen until the late 1980s, becoming a director of theatre and opera. His many opera productions include performances at theRoyal Opera House, Covent Garden,[3]Scottish Opera,[4]English National Opera,[5]Glyndebourne Festival,[6]Bayerische Staatsoperin Munich[7]and theBerlin Staatsoper.[8]
Early life and education
editDuncan was born inChelsea, Londonon 12 July 1948.[9]He is the son of Margaret Elizabeth Duncan (néeThurlow) and Ronald Francis Hamilton Anson DuncanOBE,a Royal Naval captain and senior operations executive. Through his father, Duncan is a descendant of the British generalSir George Anson.He attendedDurston House,a preparatory school inEaling,[10]andWestminster Schoolfrom 1961 to 1966.[11]While there, he was head ofWren's,one of the constituent school houses.[12]
Theatre
editActing
editDuncan's stage credits have included plays by William Shakespeare (as Rosencrantz inHamlet,Gonzalo inThe Tempest,Gower inPericles,Time inThe Winter's Tale,Friar Laurence inRomeo and Juliet,and Banquo inMacbeth), George Bernard Shaw (inVillage Wooingand as Frank inMrs. Warren's Profession), and Noël Coward (inTonight at 8.30and as Garry Essendine inPresent Laughter). He has played Trepan inThe Master and Margarita,Governor Bellingham inThe Scarlet Letter(Chichester Festival Theatre), and has performed in many musicals, includingThe Boy Friendas Alphonse,Privates on Paradeas Charlie,Happy Endas The Professor,Kiss Me Kateas Hortensio,Sweet Charityas Vittorio Vidal,Anything Goesas Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, andCompanyas Harry.[13]
In 1987, Duncan became an associate artist of theCrucible Theatre,Sheffield, where his many roles included appearances inThe History of Tom Jones,as Canon Chasuble inThe Importance of Being Ernest,Antonio Salieri inAmadeus,Courtling in the British première ofThe ParkbyBotho Strauss,and Simeonov Pischik inThe Cherry Orchard.For a year, he appeared in the acclaimedWest EndmusicalHappy as a Sandbagat theAmbassadors Theatre,later filmed forBBC Television.In 1984, he appeared as Brad Majors in the Italian Tour ofThe Rocky Horror Show.[13]
Writing, directing, and designing
editIn 1976, Duncan formed The Fireflies of the Boulevard, a theatre company, with directorUltz.Among their dozens of plays performed across the UK, he has written and directedThe Revels of Gargantua in Exile Part II(1974),Kino Tata(1976),Milady's Silver Musick(1977),The Amusing Spectacle of Cinderella and Her Naughty-Naughty Sisters(1977),Stringgames(1979),A Cow. A Mooon. A Full Stop(1997), andTwo Or Three Women Walking(2005). In collaboration with Ultz, Duncan wroteA Night In Old Peking(1978),The Servant of Two Masters(1978),Merrie Pranckés(1980), andAll In All, Lenore!(1982).[14]
As director and co-writer of theNational Theatre of Brent,Duncan collaborated onThe Greatest Story Ever Told(1987) (BBC Radio) theKilnandEdinburgh Fringe,The French Revolution(1989) onBBC Television),All the World's a Globe(1990) which won aSony Awardfor Best Comedy,The Mysteries of Sex(Nottingham Playhouse),Love Upon The Throne(1998)Edinburgh Fringe) – and later theBush,Berlin Festival andComedytheatres – which was nominated for anOlivier Awardfor Best Comedy,Massive Landmarks of the 20th Century(1999) onChannel 4,The Wonder of Sex(2001) at theNational Theatre,andThe Mona Lisawhich received a Sony Award for Best Comedy.[10]
From 1994 to 1999, Duncan was Artistic Director ofNottingham Playhouse.His productions there includedThe Nose,The Adventures of Pinocchio,Kurt WeillandBertolt Brecht'sHappy End,A Fool and His Money(Scottish OperaandBirmingham Repertory Theatre),The Cabinet of Doktor Caligari(Lyric Theatre),Time and the Room(Edinburgh International Festival,Krapp's Last TapewithJohn Neville,and Endgame (Weimar Festival). In 1996, the Nottingham Playhouse was awarded the prestigious Prudential Award.[10]
From 2002 to 2005, Martin was Co-Artistic Director ofChichester Festival Theatre.His productions there includedThe Gondoliers,Cole Porter’sOut of This World,How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(which won aUK Theatre Awardfor Best Musical),The Government Inspector,I Caught My Death In Venicewith the Brothers Marquez,Botho Strauss'Seven Doors,andDoctor Faustus(Minerva Theatre).[10]
As well as directing all of his own shows, Duncan has also directedMoses – The 10 Commandments(Theater St. Gallen),Man of La Mancha(Royal Lyceum Theatre),The Comedy of Errors(Maxim Gorki Theater),Jean Genet'sThe Blacks(Market Theatre of JohannesburgandStockholm City Theatre),The Sunshine Boys(Deutsches Theater Berlin),The Rocky Horror Show(Deutsches Theater),4 MARYswith Second Stride,The Small Moments (In Life)withJudith Weir(Royal Festival Hall), two World premières (Broken BiscuitsandPuppy Dogs Tales) by Dave Pumford, twoCrucible Theatreproductions (Eugène Ionesco'sThe Bald Prima DonnaandGuillaume Apollinaire'sThe Breasts of Tiresias),Andy Warhol'sPork(Eventhaus),School for Clowns(Lilian Baylis Theatre) with co-directorStephen Daldry,andAlexander Pushkin’sMozart and Salieri(Crucible Theatre). Duncan was Associate Director on bothSteven Pimlott's production ofTwelfth Nightat theSheffield Crucibleand thePet Shop Boys' 1991 World Tour. WithClare Venables,he co-directed the musicalGypsy(Sheffield Crucible).[10]
Duncan created the Chromolume Sequence forStephen Sondheim'sSunday in the Park with George(1991,National Theatre). He directedSondheim at 80at theRoyal Albert Hallfor theBBC Promsin 2010, celebrating the 80th Birthday of Broadway composerStephen Sondheim.The show starredSimon Russell Beale,Daniel Evans,Julian Ovenden,andJudi Denchwho sang Sondheim's "Send In the Clowns",[15]a piece originally written for actressGlynis Johns.[16]
Composing
editIn musical theatre, Duncan has written scores for over 50 productions.[17]These include plays byJohn Arden(The Hero Rises UpandArmstrong's Last Goodnight),Bertolt Brecht'sDrums in the Night,An Italian Straw Hat(1970),The Glass Menagerie(1973),She Stoops to Conquer,Edward Bond'sBingostarringSir John Gielgud(Royal Court Theatre),R. D. Laing'sKnots(London/BrooklynAcademy of Music),Cowardice(1982) starringSir Ian McKellenandJanet Suzman(Ambassadors Theatre),A Mad World, My MastersandThe Taming of the Shrew(Theatre Royal Stratford East),Pericles(Stockholm City Theatre), plays at theCrucible Theatre(includingTom Jones,Uncle Vanya,The Winter's Tale,The Breasts of Tiresias,andThe Park),The Lady from the Sea(Citizens Theatre), andSchool for Clownsat theLilian Baylis Theatre(1988).
Choreographing
editPremiering on 12 October 1988, Duncan choreographedStephen Lowe'sDivine Gossipat theRoyal Shakespeare Company'sPit Theatre.With the same company, he choreographed Eugène Ionesco'sMacbett.
In 1986, Duncan staged the Masques forNicholas Hytner's productions ofEdward II(Manchester Royal Exchange) andThe Tempest(Royal Shakespeare Company). At the Royal Exchange, he also staged the Masques forIan McDiarmid's production ofDon Juan.
Opera
editWriting and directing
editDuncan has written the libretti for and directed two short operas:Three Really Good Tea Partieswith composerJonathan Doveat theSalisbury International Arts FestivalandWarning Bellswith writerJeremy Samsin 1989,Dartington.
ForOpera North,Duncan has directed several operas. These includeL'heure espagnole(1989),Gianni Schicchi(1990),The Thieving Magpie(1992)Orpheus in the Underworld(1992),The Adventures of Pinocchio(2007), andA Midsummer Night's Dream(2008), andYolanta(Edinburgh International Festival).[18]For Munich'sBavarian State Opera,he directed theOpernweltaward-winningXerxes(1996),La clemenza di Tito(1999),The Rake's Progress(2002), andDie Entführung aus dem Serail(2003).
Other productions includeAlbert Herring(1991,Canadian Opera Company),The Magic Flute(1993,Scottish Opera/Royal Opera House),H.M.S. Pinafore,Die Fledermaus(1994,D'Oyly Carte Opera Company),Ariadne auf Naxos(1997,Scottish Opera/ 2007,Garsington Opera/ 2010,Norwegian Opera Company),The Last Supper(2000,Berlin State Opera/ 2001,Glyndebourne Opera),The Love for Three Oranges(2001,Cologne Opera),PagliacciandCavalleria rusticana(2002,Royal Albert Hall),La traviata(2003,Flanders Opera),The Gondoliers(2006,English National Opera),The Original Chinese Conjuror(2006,Aldeburgh Festival),The Adventures of Pinocchio(2008,Chemnitz Opera/ 2009,Minnesota Opera/ 2011, Moscow),Mirandolina(2009,Garsington Opera),[19]Artaxerxes(2009,Royal Opera House),Armida(2010,Garsington Opera),La forza del destino(2010,Opera Holland Park),Betrothal in a Monastery(2011,Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse/ 2011,Opéra-Comique),Il turco in Italia(2011,Garsington Opera),Noye's Fludde(2013,Aldeburgh Festival),Vert-Vert(2014,Garsington Opera),Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland(2013–17,Opera Holland Park),The CorridorandThe Cure(2015,Aldeburgh Festival/ 2016,Holland Festival), andFantasio(2019,Garsington Opera).
In 1992, Duncan was co-writer of the scenario forMatthew Bourne'sThe NutcrackerforOpera Northand theEdinburgh International Festival,which he co-directed with Bourne.[20]It received anOlivier Awardnomination.
At theBBC Proms 2012,Duncan directedGilbert and Sullivan'sThe Yeomen of the Guard.
Choreographing
editDuncan was choreographer for the Cassandro Theatre Sequence inTim Albery's 1991 production ofBenvenuto Celliniat theNetherlands Opera.
Film and television
editDuncan's film credits include appearances inThe Children of Icarus(a German television film),Flying into the Wind(a 1983 television film) as the prosecuting counsel,Forever Young(a 1983 film) as John,Caprice(a 1986 film short directed byJoanna Hogg) as the film director, and the award winningFlying Into the Wind(a television film byDavid Leland).
On television, Duncan has appeared in multiple episodes on such shows asThe Legend of Robin Hoodas Blondin andWhen the Boat Comes Inas Roddy. With single episode appearances, he has appeared inOmnibus(in the 1990 episodeVan Gogh) as the Impressionist Man andThe Two Ronnies(in 1977 onBBC1).
Other work
editDuncan has written lyrics for fourChrysalis Recordsalbums by musicianBrian Protheroe:"Pinball"in 1974," Pick-Up "in 1975, and" I/You "in 1976.[21]He met Protheroe in 1968 at theTheatre Royal Lincolnand the two became a musical collaboration.[22]In 2005, he wrote an additional album for Protheroe: "Citysong" with Basta label.[21]
Between 2009 and 2012, Duncan was an artistic adviser toRuth Mackenzie,Director of the2012 Cultural Olympiad.[10][23]
Credits
editTheatre
editYear | Title | Director | Writer | Composer | Choreographer | Company | Venue[nb 1] | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 | An Italian Straw Hat | No | No | Yes | No | Lincoln Theatre Company | Theatre Royal Lincoln | [24] |
Armstrong's Last Goodnight | No | No | Yes | No | Northcott Theatre | [25] | ||
1974 | The Revels of Gargantua in Exile, Part II | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Royal Court Theatre | [26] |
1976 | Kino Tata | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | London's Rock Garden | [14] |
Stringgames | Yes | Yes | No | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Maximus Arena | [14] | |
1977 | Milady's Silver Musick | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Theatre Royal Stratford East | [14] |
The Amusing Spectacle of Cinderella and Her Naughty-Naughty Sisters | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Theatre Royal Stratford East | [27] | |
1978 | A Night in Old Peking | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Theatre Royal Stratford East | [28] |
The Servant of Two Masters | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | [29] | |
1979 | Stringgames | Yes | Yes | No | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Gulbenkian Studio Newcastle | [30] |
1980 | Merrie Pranckés | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Institute of Contemporary Arts | [31] |
1981 | Casual Sentence(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Durham Theatre Company | [11] [14] | |
The Rocky Horror Show | Yes | No | No | No | Cinema Teatro Cristallo | [32] | ||
1982 | All In All, Lenore! | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Crucible Theatre | [14] |
Cowardice | No | No | Yes | No | Ambassadors Theatre | [13] | ||
1987 | The Greatest Story Ever Told | Yes | No | No | No | National Theatre of Brent | Assembly Rooms | [13] |
1988 | School For Clowns | Yes | No | Yes | No | Lilian Baylis Theatre | [33] | |
Divine Gossip | No | No | No | Yes | Royal Shakespeare Company | Pit Theatre | [34] | |
The Tempest | No | No | No | Yes | Royal Shakespeare Company | Barbican Theatre | [35] | |
1989 | Warning Bells | Yes | Yes | No | No | Royal Shakespeare Company | Almeida Theatre | [13] |
1992 | 4 MARYs | Yes | Yes | No | No | Second Stride | Arnolfini | [14] |
The Small Moments (In Life) | Yes | No | No | No | Royal Festival Hall | [36] | ||
1993 | Stringgames | Yes | Yes | No | No | Royal Shakespeare Company | The Other Place | [13] |
1995 | The Nose | Yes | No | No | No | Nottingham Playhouse | [20] | |
The Cabinet of Doktor Caligari | Yes | No | No | No | Nottingham Playhouse | [37] | ||
1997 | A Cow. A Mooon. A Full Stop | Yes | Yes | No | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | [38] | |
2000 | H.M.S. Pinafore | Yes | No | No | No | D'Oyly Carte Opera Company | Savoy Theatre | [13] |
2001 | The Comedy of Errors | Yes | No | No | No | Maxim Gorki Theater | [39] | |
The Blacks | Yes | No | No | No | Market Theatre of Johannesburg | [39] | ||
The Wonder of Sex | Yes | Yes | No | No | National Theatre of Brent | Lytlelton Theatre | [14] | |
2005 | Two Or Three Women Walking | Yes | Yes | No | No | The Fireflies of the Boulevard | Chichester Festival Theatre | [14] |
The Sunshine Boys | Yes | No | No | No | Deutsches Theater | [40] | ||
2007 | Man of La Mancha | Yes | No | No | No | Royal Lyceum Company | Royal Lyceum Theatre | [13] |
2010 | Sondheim at 80 | Yes | No | No | No | BBC Proms | Royal Albert Hall | [15] |
2013 | Moses – The 10 Commandments | Yes | No | No | No | Theater St. Gallen | [41] |
Opera
editFilm
editYear | Title | Composer | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | Knots | Yes | Television film | [43] |
Radio
editYear | Title | Director | Co-writer | Station | Company | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | National Theatre Of Brent's Complete And Utter History Of The Mona Lisa | Yes | Yes | BBC Radio 4 | BBC | [44] |
2018 | The National Theatre Of Brent's Illustrated Guide To Sex And How It Was Done | Yes | Yes | BBC Radio 4 | CPL Productions | [44] |
2019 | The First Man On The Moon And How They Done It | Yes | Yes | BBC Radio 4 | CPL Productions | [44] |
Music
editYear | Album | Writer | Artist | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Pinball | Yes | Brian Protheroe | [22] |
1975 | Pick-Up | Yes | Brian Protheroe | [21] |
1976 | I/You | Yes | Brian Protheroe | [45] |
2005 | Citysong | Yes | Brian Protheroe | [21] |
Acting credits
editTheatre
editYear | Title | Role | Company | Venue | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 | Bingo | Wally | Northcott Theatre | [13] | |
1975 | Happy as a Sandbag | Ambassadors Theatre | [13] | ||
1983 | Pericles | John Gower | Theatre Royal Stratford East | Theatre Royal Stratford East | [46] |
1986 | Amadeus | Antonio Salieri | Crucible Theatre | [13] | |
The History of Tom Jones | Mr Allworthy | Crucible Theatre | [31] |
Film
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Happy as a Sandbag | BBC Television film | [47] | |
1983 | Flying into the Wind | Prosecuting counsel | Television film | [48] |
Forever Young | John | [49] | ||
1986 | Caprice | Film director | Short | [48] |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | The Legend of Robin Hood | Blondin | BBC Mini series; 2 episodes | [50] |
1977 | Romance | Wedding guest | Episode:Emily | [48] |
When the Boat Comes In | Roddy | 3 episodes | [51] | |
1978 | The Two Ronnies | The Barbershop Quartet | BBC | [52] |
1990 | Omnibus | Impressionist Man | BBC; Episode:Van Gogh | [53] |
Vocalist credits
editYear | Album | Artist | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Pick-Up | Brian Protheroe | [21] |
1976 | Happy As A Sandbag (Original London Cast Recording) | Ken Lee | [21] |
External links
edit- Martin DuncanatIMDb
- Martin DuncanatOperabase
- Martin Duncanat Doollee.com
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^"THEATRE".The Independent.2 May 1997.
- ^"Ruth Mackenzie, Martin Duncan & Steven Pimlott – Pass It On".
- ^"Martin Duncan — People — Royal Opera House".www.roh.org.uk.
- ^"Martin Duncan | Opera Scotland".
- ^"Opera Preview: ENO 2006-7 Sky & Artsworld Season: feature | Features".2 August 2006.
- ^Opera, Garsington (15 January 2014)."Vert-Vert: Interview with Martin Duncan (Director)"– via Vimeo.
- ^"Duncan Martin".Bayerische Staatsoper.
- ^"Harrison Birtwistle - The Last Supper".www.boosey.com.
- ^"Happy Birthday: Martin Duncan, 64"– via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafag"Duncan, Martin David Anson".Who's Who.Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007.Retrieved17 January2023.
- ^abJacobs, Richard (July 1985)."Old Westminster News"(PDF).The Elizabethan Magazine.Retrieved16 January2023.
- ^Patterson, Ian (March 1966)."A WESTMINSTER NOTEBOOK".The Elizabethan Magazine.Retrieved16 January2023.
- ^abcdefghijklMartin Duncanat Theatricalia
- ^abcdefghiMARTIN DUNCANon Doollee
- ^ab"BBC to broadcast Sondheim celebration Prom this Christmas | WhatsOnStage".www.whatsonstage.com.
- ^Academy of Achievement (5 July 2005)."An Interview with Stephen Sondheim".Archived fromthe original(Video Interview)on 9 May 2008.Retrieved10 June2008.
- ^"Martin Duncan".Askonas Holt.Askonas Holt. 2022.Retrieved19 January2023.
composed music for over 50 theatre productions
- ^Iolanta Yolanta; Yolandeat Opera Scotland
- ^abMirandolina | 06 July 2009at theWhatsOnStage.com
- ^abcLtd, Supercool (12 February 2022)."Martin Duncan".New Adventures.
- ^abcdefMartin DuncanatDiscogs
- ^abStephen Thomas, Erlewine."Brian Protheroe Biography".AllMusic.Retrieved4 August2019.
- ^"2012 Olympic festival to be at centre of cultural celebration around games".the Guardian.17 March 2010.
- ^Martin Duncan Other WorksatIMDb
- ^Programme: Armstrong's Last GoodnightatInternet Archive
- ^Tony Locantro Programmes – OperaatThe University Of Adelaide
- ^Lesley Duff Other WorksatIMDb
- ^Martin Duncan (232w)at Theatricalia
- ^CARLO GOLDONIon Doollee
- ^"March 7 at 1.10 p.m. S TR IN G G A M E S by Martin Duncan"The Courier March 1979
- ^abMartin Duncan (2ebb)at Theatricalia
- ^The Rocky Horror Show (1981)
- ^School For Clowns (1988)
- ^Stephen Lowe - Divine Gossip
- ^Tempest, The (1988, Royal Shakespeare Company)atLearning on Screen - The British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council
- ^THE SMALL MOMENTS (In Life) By Martin Duncan and Judith Weir
- ^The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Nottingham Playhouseat Hugh Vanstone Official Website
- ^"Repertory round-up".TES.26 September 1997.Retrieved18 January2023.
- ^abMartin Duncan Biographyat MusicalWorld.com
- ^Winner of the London Evening Standard Best Night Out AwardatSquarespace
- ^"Robe Specified for 'Moses – The Ten Commandments' World Premiere at Theatre St. Gallen".ROBE Lighting News.14 May 2013.Retrieved19 January2023.
- ^Opera's dead parrot sketch: Offenbach's Vert-Vert delights at GarsingtonatBachtrack
- ^Knots (1975) Full Cast & CrewatIMDb
- ^abcMartin DuncanatBritish Comedy Guide
- ^I/You: Brian ProtheroeatAllMusic
- ^Pericles (1983)at BBA Shakespeare
- ^Osborne, Jerry (November 2002).Movie/TV Soundtracks and Original Cast Recordings Price and Reference Guide.Google Books:Osborne Enterprises Publishing. p. 250.ISBN9780932117373.
- ^abcMartin DuncanatIMDb
- ^Gifford, Denis(April 2016).British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film.Google Books:Taylor & Francis.p. 14173.ISBN9781317740629.
- ^Martin Duncanat Aveleyman
- ^Cornell, Paul;Day, Martin;Topping, Keith(1996).The Guinness Book of Classic British TV.Google Books:Guinness.p. 374.ISBN9780851126289.
- ^Ayckbourn, Alan(1978).Ten Times Table: A Play.Google Books:French.ISBN9780573015311.
- ^OMNIBUS: VINCENT VAN GOGH, 1990on Angelfire