Old Vic Voices - working with Laurence Olivier

On the 22 October 2013, 50 years since the first performance by the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner hosted a special Platform event with a group of actors who were in the original NT company at the Old Vic - Michael Gambon, Gawn Grainger, James Hayes, Geraldine McEwan, Ronald Pickup and Sheila Reid all share their memories and experiences working with Olivier and the National Theatre.
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[@davidlogan4329]

How wonderful to have such a fantastic collection of actors together sharing their experiences and also thoughts on the magnificent Sir Laurence Olivier.

[@joepalooka2145]

It's wonderful to hear all these distinguished actors talking about Sir Laurence. I had the fantastic experience of seeing Olivier in "The Merchant Of Venice" in 1971 at the Old Vic. His performance as Shylock is something I will never forget as long as I live. I distinctly recall how his amazing voice filled the entire theatre. You heard everything he said from a whisper to a loud scream, and everything in between. Then there was his physical presence, which was electric because of who he was, and the history that he represented. He was the star, and all the actors around him clearly respected him immensely.

[@MS-zu8ds]

They didn't need microphones then.

[@Aubury]

I saw Laurence Olivier at the Old Vic, his last stage play. The Party. He was quite magnificent.

[@oldvillager2218]

Wonderful memories. Good to see Geraldine McEwan on stage again.

[@tomnorton4277]

It sounds like Laurence Olivier knew what was going to be his last performance in the theatre, even if everyone else didn't. From the way it was described, it seemed like saying "Is this for me?" and then kissing the stage was his way of saying goodbye to not only the audience, but to his stage acting career. Olivier knew how to give an impressive finale. His performance in King Lear was very similar, and critic Steve Vineberg described it like this: Olivier seems to have thrown away technique this time-his is a breathtakingly pure Lear. In his final speech, over Cordelia's lifeless body, he brings us so close to Lear's sorrow that we can hardly bear to watch, because we have seen the last Shakespearean hero Laurence Olivier will ever play. But what a finale! In this most sublime of plays, our greatest actor has given an indelible performance. Perhaps it would be most appropriate to express simple gratitude.

[@martinobrien7110]

Derrick Jacobi on Larry always Sir . A Class Act in every sense .

[@keybawd4023]

For those of us who accompanied the start of the National Theatre from it's first days as the Chichester company, who saw it into the Old Vic and then into the new building, this program was wonderful to watch. I have seen all these artists giving superb performances in some great productions. And I can say that never since those days have I seen such glorious company acting. The RSC was academic and virtuous and their one style just finished up boring. The Nat T was vibrant with foreign directors and brilliant young ones. And that meant the company had to adapt to and learn different styles of acting. A policy that produced very fine actors indeed. You never know what you were going to see at the Nat T. And any of you who saw Olivier on the stage? Do you know goose-pimples and the hairs standing up on the back of your neck? That was LO. Magnetic, challenging. You could not take your eyes or ears off him. So this clip was both fascinating and nostalgic. Thank you.

[@mariahcarey9470]

Alan Rickman said he ran screaming from the RSC because he said it was like a sausage factory and like " screaming in the dark". He returned happily later though.

[@bernardoschmidt]

Sweet Geraldine... I wish she would have said more about Dance of Death... what an extraordinary performance from both!

[@IrishEyes1989]

The story about Michael Gambon's mother was hilarious! :D

[@ashleyartus]

Happy Memories with Ronald Pickup..x

[@SublimeStuff]

What a wonderful evening.

[@judithkelly1841]

The great Laurence Olivier

[@MrKC23]

Judith Kelly Laurence Olivier was a really bad film actor He was awful, all technical, and no soul. blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harrymount/100070586/laurence-olivier-was-a-really-bad-film-actor/

[@foxyMamaIdaho]

+Jay John In my research I came across the idea that while Vivien instinctively knew how to make love to the camera, while Laurence found it more difficult. His forte was as a stage actor who did not, for whatever the reason, enjoy playing to the camera like his wife did . Opinion on this? I must add that my first experience with Shakespeare on film was seeing his Hamlet. I fell in love instantly.

[@02087895726]

You absolute numbskull ! Hamlet ? Henry V ? Marathon Man ? etc..etc.. You dolt !

[@tomnorton4277]

Anyone who thinks Laurence Olivier was a bad actor in film or stage is, quite frankly, an idiot. Whether you like his technique of building a character from tiny details or not, it doesn't change the fact that he was damn good at doing it. He may not have had as much natural talent as Marlon Brando but he made up for that through sheer dedication to his craft. Watch Olivier in his onscreen adaptation of King Lear. He deliberately portrayed Lear as "a stupid old fart" using a perfect blend of both stage acting, fitting for a Shakespearean play, and film acting, fitting for a play that's being adapted for the screen. It's hard enough to do one of those types of performances, never mind both. Olivier was better known for the theatre but he was perfectly capable of adapting his technique to film as well.

[@mariahcarey9470]

@@02087895726 have you ever met Alan Rickman?

[@romeaffair]

What a cast! Many thanks and Happy Birthday x

[@marachime]

oh how lovely

[@dcvao]

Oh, Michael. We will miss you. Some of his stories are hilarious!

[@cmtippens9209]

Geraldine McEwan has been gone a couple of years now, and we've just recently lost Ronald Pickup. 😕

[@billyb37]

Some people can be so cruel about shiela good little actress or she wouldnt be in demand is it because they are being snobbish because she plays in Benidorm? Great to see Geraldine great actress

[@MrTonyInchpractice]

Maggie getting the biggest laugh of the night and she's not even there.

[@ilovelondon66]

Wow. Sheila Reid is completely posh in real life. Nothing like Madge in benidorm!

[@rayjohnson5314]

Yes, It's called Acting!

[@tombombadyl4535]

I'm wondering if someone can help me find a video of Laurence Olivier that I saw several years ago but can't seem to find now. Olivier was doing a stage performance, I don't remember which one. At the end of the performance, he comes back on stage from behind the curtain and addresses the audience. And he says something like: "Yes, yes that was very nice, very nice. Thank you very much." And then with dripping irony: "Maybe sometime I can return the favor and come and watch you work." I probably don't have the words verbatim but it was something like that. The audience gasps. The effect was very dramatic.

[@tombombadyl4535]

+Quintus Beckmesser Was it part of the play or something he ad-libbed at the end?

[@keybawd4023]

It's Laurence Olivier as Archie Rice in the film of John Osborn's THE ENTERTAINER

[@2msvalkyrie529]

As kEYBAWD said : the Entertainer.

[@obionekenobi7401]

Not to be crude but did someone break wind at the 18second mark?

[@perniciouspete4986]

That was me. Sorry.

[@daledavis768]

Who is the male actor sitting at the very end ?

[@danielbisson8032]

u wont see anybody kiss the stage again

[@th8257]

Laurence Olivier seems to have been very encouraging towards young actors, but those of his own generation, or anyone else he felt threatened by, tell a very different story. Alec Guiness said of Olivier: "Like so many people whose ambition drive them to great eminence, he had a cruel and destructive streak. Side by side with his generosity, he could be unpleasant, possibly even vindictive. Consciously or not, he made attempts to destroy John G [Gielgud], [Michael] Redgrave, [Paul] Scofield and if he had been given the chance, me."

[@dianeanderson6104]

I would add Vivien Leigh to the list. He was very jealous of her success in GWTW.

[@kathiebrobeck3426]

wish they could be more honest - some of the juicy stories. . .

[@timsan55]

It's very good but barely audible even with the volume fully up.

[@robertjackson5645]

Remember when theatre had a heroic romance? Admittedly, it may still but....

[@johnnywhite58]

OK - so he must be OK because if you're an asshole or whatever it always comes out when you're dead ?

[@oksygin]

sound issues + British accent + not using full voice = I can't understand them at all.... :(

[@michellekeeling3392]

I wear a hearing aid and can hear every word as clear as a bell.

[@oksygin]

@@michellekeeling3392 lol you are funny. On that note, I gave the video another listen - I'm not sure what device I was using at the time, but you are right, I can hear it just fine :).

[@Steve-km3nt]

Not a balanced view.

[@perniciouspete4986]

I didn't know Michael Gambon could act. I still don't.

[@dcasey77]

What is wrong with Sheila Reid??? e.g.21:24 - 21:38. Does she think that by acting downright weird people will think she's a funny crazyyyyyyyyy character? The whole interview seems very awkward and most stories aren't worth repeating except for Michael Gambon who rises above the pretentiousness and manages to be both interesting and funny.

[@mariahcarey9470]

I think she had a crush on him. All her stories with him were a little scandalous 1. Her hair getting caught on his watch and it looked inappropriate 2. He massaged her hand and gave her champagne 3. He unbuttoned his clothes to show them it was inappropriate.

[@veronicawhatley5044]

Off putting including the actress Sheila Reid in this discussion - it does not do anyone credit to wheel out a actress with no talent to talk about a great.

[@toff358]

Such an extraordinary, not to say very silly and poorly informed statement. Sheila Reid was a prominent member of the original National Theatre cast from 1965. Her stage credits in vehicles often directed by Olivier and often playing opposite him, included Othello, The Master Builder, The Crucible, Love For Love, Three Sisters, and Loves labours Lost. She continued her career both in the theatre, film and television thereafter, the last theatre appearance I`m aware of being at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre in 2015. "An actress with no talent"? A very subjective opinion, seemingly prejudiced for some reason, and one that Olivier clearly did not share.

[@Steviepics]

Can you tell me the last time you walked up to an actor, an actress or any variety of performer and said, 'I think you're appalling ... you can't act for toffee ... you're a disgrace to you profession'? Probably never is the answer. I'm not sure why you think it is appropriate now and why you want to go and sour what had been a beautiful 45 mins of reminiscence of Larry Olivier.

[@boheamfilms1279]

All white, of course.

[@brandonburrell8517]

Boheam Films Wow. That's what you took away from this? Please grow ☝.

[@keybawd4023]

I recently saw a performance of African drumming - and do you know - shock of shocks - none of the performers were white. How terribly racist.

[@rayjohnson5314]

Get that chip off your shoulder you areshole!

[@vincentparisi2644]

What should the quota be of people who really shouldn't be there?

[@perniciouspete4986]

Didn't Olivier play Othello? Doesn't that count?