Revision as of 17:25, 9 December 2019 editGünniX (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users311,006 editsm brackets fixedTag: AWB← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 19:56, 27 November 2024 edit undoDragonflySixtyseven (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators87,408 edits filename | ||
(29 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} | {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} | ||
{{multiple issues| | |||
{{no footnotes|date=January 2013}} | |||
{{BLP no footnotes|date=January 2013}} | |||
] | |||
{{BLP sources|date=April 2021}} | |||
'''Roland Muldoon''' was born, in between air-raid warnings, in 1941 in ]. He left school in 1956 and worked in various jobs, ranging from City clerk to labourer, ] fish sorter to chainman on the new Victoria line. He studied Stage Management at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. It was in this city that he teamed up with life-time partner/wife, Claire. | |||
}} | |||
] | |||
'''Roland Muldoon''' (born 1942) is an English playwright and actor. | |||
== Life and career == | |||
In 1963 they joined the ] before setting up the legendary underground political theatre group CAST {{YouTube|bqZoszQYfHw|CAST}} (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre). Their debut was at the Peanuts Club off Liverpool St set up by ]. They claimed their work was Agit-Prop, frequently performing on the still existing ] circuit. Their short fast moving plays would feature Muggins characters who invariable are trying to make sense of the capitalist world. Their anti Vietnam play played in the Festival Hall and appeared in Peter Brooks U. S at the Roundhouse. CAST took Trials of Horatio Muggins and Mr Oligarchy's Circus to the Nancy Festival in 1969 they played student and factory occupations s. In 1970 the group split one half left and set up the Kartoon Klowns and later were the drive behind ]. Claire and Roland reformed CAST, rehearsing every evening while in the day time Roland helped set up C.I.S Counter Information Services where they exposed the goings on of major global companies. | |||
Muldoon was born, in between air-raid warnings, in 1941 in ]. He left school in 1956 and worked in various jobs, ranging from city clerk to labourer, ] fish sorter to chainman on the new Victoria line. He studied stage management at the ]. It was in this city that he teamed up with life-time partner/wife, Claire. | |||
In 1963 they joined London's ] before setting up the underground political theatre group CAST (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre). Their debut was at the Peanuts Club off Liverpool Street set up by ]. They claimed their work was Agit-Prop, frequently performing on the still-existing ] circuit. | |||
In 1976 CAST won an annual Arts Council Grant and they began a ten-year period of writing two plays a year; the most toured being The Return of Sam The Man M.P a comic tragedy of the decline of the Labour Party. 1980, Roland received a Village Voice ] award for his one-man play, "Confessions of a Socialist". In 1981, CAST set down a marker for the emerging comedy scene with its Sedition 81, a cabaret which executed the Monarchy, leading trade unionist amongst others, Roland gave a joint to the audience as a rebate from the state anticipating the arts cuts that the Tories planned in 1982, CAST created the New Variety circuit in London promoting a new wave of alternative comedy. Which went on to receive support from the ], enabling it to run eight venues throughout London and establish the first modern comedy circuit? With performers such as ] the Joeys, ], ] ] and others, too many to mention. In 1986, Roland, Claire and others from CAST took over the iconic Variety Theatre, the ]. Setting about modernising and restoring this jewel in the crown of the East End. The 1300 seat Hackney Empire became a permanent base for their operations and ambitions. Roland became Theatre Director and the building was re-opened on 9 December 1986. It went on to establish itself as one of the leading comedy venues in Britain, where many of today's top comedians got their first break. Notably through the pivotal national comedy and new variety competition The ] (NATY) | |||
Their short fast-moving plays would feature Muggins characters who invariable are trying to make sense of the capitalist world. Their anti-Vietnam play ''John D Muggins'' is dead played in the Festival Hall and appeared in Peter Brooks U. S at the Roundhouse. CAST took ''Trials of Horatio Muggins'' and ''Mr Oligarchy's Circus'' to the ] in 1969 they played student and factory occupations s. | |||
Roland went on to co-star in the US movie "Bucharest Express". | |||
When they parted company with the Empire in 2005, Roland and Claire left behind a fully refurbished theatre. Their company CAST Presentations took over the Cock Tavern in London's Kilburn High Road and presented nights of Comedy, Music and New Variety. With the Cocks Logo designed and donated to the company by the artist ]. | |||
He has written and self-published his first novel, a Political Detective story 'The White Van Papers' and has in March 2013 published with his Hackney Empire memoirs, (How we saved the Hackney Empire for Popular Theatre)", A rollicking, revealing tale of a rare phenomenon in arts history: how politically-inspired theatre group CAST saved an iconic East End building and held out for 20 years against the odds, presenting a unique program from New Variety to Jamaican Farce via opera and Hackney Hamlet. In this comically sharp account, Muldoon tells you everything you ever wanted to know about how to run a multicultural popular theatre in the face of pressure from the establishment, funders and the local council. | |||
In 1970, the group split. One half left and set up the Kartoon Klowns and later were the drive behind ]. Claire and Roland reformed CAST, rehearsing every evening while in the day time Roland helped set up C.I.S Counter Information Services where they exposed the goings on of major global companies. | |||
He has in collaboration with his partner Claire alongside ex-Hackney Empire colleagues Frank Sweeney and Tony Goodrick, established the entertainment company which produces and promotes the annual national comedy competition ] | |||
In 1976, CAST won an annual Arts Council Grant and they began a ten-year period of writing two plays a year; the most toured being ''The Return of Sam The Man M.P'', a comic tragedy of the decline of the Labour Party. | |||
Personal Section | |||
In 1980, Roland received a ''Village Voice'' ] award for his one-man play, ''Confessions of a Socialist''. | |||
In 1981, CAST set down a marker for the emerging comedy scene with its Sedition 81, a cabaret which executed the Monarchy, leading trade unionist amongst others, Roland gave a joint to the audience as a rebate from the state anticipating the arts cuts that the Tories planned in 1982, CAST created the New Variety circuit in London promoting a new wave of alternative comedy. Which went on to receive support from the ], enabling it to run eight venues throughout London and establish the first modern comedy circuit? With performers such as ] the Joeys, ], ] ] and others, too many to mention. | |||
In 1986, Roland, Claire and others from CAST took over the ] variety theatre. Setting about modernising and restoring this jewel in the crown of the East End. The 1,300-seat Hackney Empire became a permanent base for their operations and ambitions. Roland became theatre director and the building was re-opened on 9 December 1986. It went on to establish itself as one of the leading comedy venues in Britain, where many of today's top comedians got their first break. Notably through the pivotal national comedy and new variety competition The ] (NATY) | |||
Roland went on to co-star in the US movie ''Bucharest Express''. | |||
When they parted company with the Empire in 2005, Roland and Claire left behind a fully refurbished theatre. Their company CAST Presentations took over the Cock Tavern in London's Kilburn High Road and presented nights of comedy, music and new variety. The cocks logo was designed and donated to the company by the artist ]. | |||
He has written and self-published his first novel, a political detective story ''The White Van Papers'' and in March 2013 published with Just Press his Hackney Empire memoirs, ''Taking on the Empire (How we saved the Hackney Empire for Popular Theatre)'', A rollicking, revealing tale of a rare phenomenon in arts history: how politically-inspired theatre group CAST saved an iconic East End building and held out for 20 years against the odds, presenting a unique program from new variety to Jamaican farce via opera and Hackney Hamlet. In this comically sharp account, Muldoon tells you everything you ever wanted to know about how to run a multicultural popular theatre in the face of pressure from the establishment, funders and the local council. | |||
He has in collaboration with his partner Claire alongside ex-Hackney Empire colleagues Frank Sweeney and Tony Goodrick, established the entertainment company New Variety Lives which produces and promotes the annual national comedy competition ] | |||
== Personal life == | |||
Claire and Roland have two children, Laura Jane and Alison Claire, and have two grandchildren, Ruby, Lucia and Silvia. | Claire and Roland have two children, Laura Jane and Alison Claire, and have two grandchildren, Ruby, Lucia and Silvia. | ||
They |
They live in London and escape to Buckinghamshire accompanied by their Balloon Juggling Dog ]. | ||
__notoc__ | |||
== See also == | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically --> | |||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
* ] | |||
* | |||
* | |||
Facebook * | |||
The Stage * | |||
Hackney Solidarity Network * | |||
Camden New Journal * | |||
East London Theatre Archive * | |||
== Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||
*{{cite journal|last=McDonnell|first=Bill|title=The People's Impresario: Roland Muldoon at the Hackney Empire|journal=Theatre Notebook|date=2013|volume=67|issue=2|pages=103–117|doi=10.1353/thn.2013.0010}} | *{{cite journal|last=McDonnell|first=Bill|title=The People's Impresario: Roland Muldoon at the Hackney Empire|journal=Theatre Notebook|date=2013|volume=67|issue=2|pages=103–117|doi=10.1353/thn.2013.0010|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 }} | ||
* Bill McDonnell. Jesters to the Revolution, a CAST casebook. Commonstage Press. 2022 | |||
https://www.amazon.co.uk | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* | |||
New Variety Lives * | |||
* | |||
Confessions of a Socialist * | |||
* | |||
1979 -1980 Obie Awards * * | |||
* | |||
'Reds under the Beds' * | |||
* | |||
AIM 25 Archives in London and the M25 area * | |||
* {{YouTube|bqZoszQYfHw|CAST}} | |||
Warwick University Dept.of History * | |||
Red Pepper * | |||
AGIT PROP-from Encyclopaedia of British Culture * | |||
Chortle (alternative oomedy) * | |||
Letter from England – The Drama Review * | |||
The Village Voice – New York Obies * | |||
British Library – The Theatre Archive Project * | |||
Hackney Empire Collection Archives * | |||
Marylebone Journal | |||
* Political Theatre * ] | |||
* Alternative Comedy * ] | |||
* New Variety/New act of the Year * ] | |||
{{authority control}} | {{authority control}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muldoon, Roland}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Muldoon, Roland}} | ||
] | |||
<!--- Categories ---> | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 19:56, 27 November 2024
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Roland Muldoon (born 1942) is an English playwright and actor.
Life and career
Muldoon was born, in between air-raid warnings, in 1941 in Weybridge, Surrey. He left school in 1956 and worked in various jobs, ranging from city clerk to labourer, Brixham fish sorter to chainman on the new Victoria line. He studied stage management at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. It was in this city that he teamed up with life-time partner/wife, Claire.
In 1963 they joined London's Unity Theatre before setting up the underground political theatre group CAST (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre). Their debut was at the Peanuts Club off Liverpool Street set up by Jeff Nuttall. They claimed their work was Agit-Prop, frequently performing on the still-existing folk club circuit.
Their short fast-moving plays would feature Muggins characters who invariable are trying to make sense of the capitalist world. Their anti-Vietnam play John D Muggins is dead played in the Festival Hall and appeared in Peter Brooks U. S at the Roundhouse. CAST took Trials of Horatio Muggins and Mr Oligarchy's Circus to the Nancy Festival in 1969 they played student and factory occupations s.
In 1970, the group split. One half left and set up the Kartoon Klowns and later were the drive behind Rock against Racism. Claire and Roland reformed CAST, rehearsing every evening while in the day time Roland helped set up C.I.S Counter Information Services where they exposed the goings on of major global companies.
In 1976, CAST won an annual Arts Council Grant and they began a ten-year period of writing two plays a year; the most toured being The Return of Sam The Man M.P, a comic tragedy of the decline of the Labour Party.
In 1980, Roland received a Village Voice Obie award for his one-man play, Confessions of a Socialist.
In 1981, CAST set down a marker for the emerging comedy scene with its Sedition 81, a cabaret which executed the Monarchy, leading trade unionist amongst others, Roland gave a joint to the audience as a rebate from the state anticipating the arts cuts that the Tories planned in 1982, CAST created the New Variety circuit in London promoting a new wave of alternative comedy. Which went on to receive support from the Greater London Council, enabling it to run eight venues throughout London and establish the first modern comedy circuit? With performers such as Paul Merton the Joeys, Harry Enfield, Jo Brand Julian Clary and others, too many to mention.
In 1986, Roland, Claire and others from CAST took over the Hackney Empire variety theatre. Setting about modernising and restoring this jewel in the crown of the East End. The 1,300-seat Hackney Empire became a permanent base for their operations and ambitions. Roland became theatre director and the building was re-opened on 9 December 1986. It went on to establish itself as one of the leading comedy venues in Britain, where many of today's top comedians got their first break. Notably through the pivotal national comedy and new variety competition The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year (NATY)
Roland went on to co-star in the US movie Bucharest Express.
When they parted company with the Empire in 2005, Roland and Claire left behind a fully refurbished theatre. Their company CAST Presentations took over the Cock Tavern in London's Kilburn High Road and presented nights of comedy, music and new variety. The cocks logo was designed and donated to the company by the artist Ralph Steadman.
He has written and self-published his first novel, a political detective story The White Van Papers and in March 2013 published with Just Press his Hackney Empire memoirs, Taking on the Empire (How we saved the Hackney Empire for Popular Theatre), A rollicking, revealing tale of a rare phenomenon in arts history: how politically-inspired theatre group CAST saved an iconic East End building and held out for 20 years against the odds, presenting a unique program from new variety to Jamaican farce via opera and Hackney Hamlet. In this comically sharp account, Muldoon tells you everything you ever wanted to know about how to run a multicultural popular theatre in the face of pressure from the establishment, funders and the local council.
He has in collaboration with his partner Claire alongside ex-Hackney Empire colleagues Frank Sweeney and Tony Goodrick, established the entertainment company New Variety Lives which produces and promotes the annual national comedy competition 'The New Acts of The Year' (The NATYS)
Personal life
Claire and Roland have two children, Laura Jane and Alison Claire, and have two grandchildren, Ruby, Lucia and Silvia. They live in London and escape to Buckinghamshire accompanied by their Balloon Juggling Dog Sid Russell.
See also
References
Further reading
- McDonnell, Bill (2013). "The People's Impresario: Roland Muldoon at the Hackney Empire". Theatre Notebook. 67 (2): 103–117. doi:10.1353/thn.2013.0010 (inactive 1 November 2024).
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link) - Bill McDonnell. Jesters to the Revolution, a CAST casebook. Commonstage Press. 2022
External links
- Confessions of a Socialist
- AIM 25 Archives in London and the M25 area
- Red Pepper
- Chortle (alternative comedy)
- Letter from England – The Drama Review
- CAST on YouTube
- 1941 births
- Living people
- 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights
- 20th-century English male actors
- 20th-century English male writers
- 20th-century English memoirists
- 21st-century English dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male writers
- 21st-century English memoirists
- Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
- English comedy writers
- English founders
- English male dramatists and playwrights
- English male stage actors
- English theatre directors
- English theatre managers and producers
- Male actors from Bristol
- Male actors from Devon
- Male actors from London
- Male actors from Surrey
- Obie Award recipients
- Organization founders
- People from Brixham
- Actors from Weybridge
- Writers from Bristol
- Writers from Devon
- Writers from London
- Writers from Surrey