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Christopher Morahan

March 02, 2023

Christopher Thomas Morahan CBE (9 July 1929 – 7 April 2017) was a British stage and television director and production executive.

Christopher Morahan

CBE
Morahan at the National Theatre Studio in 2010
Born
Christopher Thomas Morahan

(1929-07-09)9 July 1929
London, England
Died7 April 2017(2017-04-07) (aged 87)
Guildford, England
OccupationDirector
Years active1957–2017
Spouse(s)Joan Murray (her death)
Anna Carteret
Children5, including Andy and Hattie

Biography

Early life and career

Morahan was born on 9 July 1929 in London, the son of film production designer Tom Morahan (1906-1969) and his wife, Nancy Charlotte Barker (1904-1977), an artist.[1][2]

He was educated at Highgate School followed by his national service. Originally thinking about a career as an architect, he realised it would be some years before he could earn a living and thus settled on working in the film industry. The director Thorold Dickinson advised him to learn about acting and the theatrical repertoire instead.[2] He trained for the stage at the Old Vic Theatre School from 1947 with actor/director Michel Saint-Denis, designer Margaret Harris, and director George Devine.

Initially an actor, he briefly worked as a stage manager on Orson Welles' touring production of Othello, but refused to work on Welles' next production and found the theatre of the time unenthusing.[2] In a career change of sorts, he joined ATV as a floor manager and, subsequently became a television director from 1957, on Emergency Ward 10,[1] a new ITV series.

At the BBC and in the theatre

Later, he developed a rapport with writer John Hopkins while working together on Z-Cars. This led to Morahan directing Hopkins' Fable (1965), a Wednesday Play parable locating a reversed South African apartheid in Britain, and the BBC's version of Talking to a Stranger (1966). Morahan gained "brilliant performances from all his cast" wrote Michael Billington of Talking to a Stranger, Michael Bryant, Maurice Denham and Margery Mason being three of the four leads, "but it was Judi Dench as the daughter, forced to reveal her pregnancy to her tight-lipped parents, who astonished everyone.[1] Morahan's first stage production was Jules Feiffer's Little Murders for the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Aldwych Theatre in July 1967, starring Brenda Bruce, Barbara Jefford, Derek Godfrey and Roland Curram.

From 1972 to 1976, he was the Head of Plays for BBC Television, a department responsible for such series as Play for Today and Play of the Month. In this role he commissioned Days of Hope (1975), a four-part serial written by Jim Allen and directed by Ken Loach which covers proletarian life from 1916 to 1926.[1] He managed to appoint Roy Battersby as the director of Colin Welland's Leeds United (1974) despite negative vetting from MI5 which rejected Battersby because of his membership of the Trotskyist Workers Revolutionary Party. While working for the BBC, Peter Nichols was another dramatist with whom Morahan had a successful partnership, but another project with John Hopkins, the six-part play cycle Fathers and Families (1977), was a major disappointment.[2]

Later career

Morahan joined the National Theatre in 1977 as Deputy Director and was appointed Co-Director of the Olivier Theatre.[citation needed]

He was involved in creating the 14-part television drama The Jewel in the Crown (1984), of which he was co-director and producer. The series won a Primetime Emmy Award and a BAFTA TV Award in 1985.[3] The film Clockwise (1986), with John Cleese in the lead, was a minor hit.[2]

Personal life and honours

Morahan's first wife was Joan Lucie Murray (d. 1973), with whom he had two sons, including director Andy Morahan; a daughter from the marriage predeceased him.[1][4] After his first wife died, Morahan married actress Anna Carteret; the couple have two daughters: theatre director Rebecca,[5] also involved in human rights activism,[2] and actress Hattie Morahan.[6]

Morahan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to drama.[7][8]

Morahan died on 7 April 2017, the same day as Tim Pigott-Smith, one of the leads in The Jewel in the Crown.[1][9]

Selected directing credits

Television

Film

Theatre

References

  • Simon Callow The National: The Theatre and its Work 1963–1997 by Nick Hern Books/NT, 1997 ISBN 1-85459-323-4
  • Leslie Halliwell and Philip Purser Halliwell's Television Companion, Third edition, Grafton, 1986 ISBN 0-246-12838-0
  • Theatre Record and Theatre Record annual indexes
  • John Walker (ed) Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies, Fourth edition, HarperCollins, 2006 ISBN 0-00-716957-4
  • Who's Who in the Theatre 17th edition, Gale, 1981 ISBN 0-8103-0235-7

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Billington, Michael (11 April 2017). "Christopher Morahan". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Christopher Morahan". The Times. London. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Christopher Morahan Awards". Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  4. ^ Morahan, Andy. "andy morahan about". AndyMorahan.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Hattie Morahan pulls it off at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards". London Evening Standard. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  6. ^ Ann McFerran Interview with Anna Carteret and Hattie Morahan, The Sunday Times Magazine, 30 November 2008
  7. ^ "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 8.
  8. ^ "Main list of the 2011 Queen's birthday honours recipients" (PDF). BBC News UK. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  9. ^ McKee, Ruth; Billington, Michael (7 April 2017). "Actor Tim Pigott-Smith dies aged 70". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  10. ^ British Theatre Guide review
  11. ^ "The Daily Telegraph article re production of Legal Fictions". from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.

External links

March 02, 2023
christopher, morahan, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, octob. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Christopher Morahan news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Christopher Thomas Morahan CBE 9 July 1929 7 April 2017 was a British stage and television director and production executive Christopher MorahanCBEMorahan at the National Theatre Studio in 2010BornChristopher Thomas Morahan 1929 07 09 9 July 1929London EnglandDied7 April 2017 2017 04 07 aged 87 Guildford EnglandOccupationDirectorYears active1957 2017Spouse s Joan Murray her death Anna CarteretChildren5 including Andy and Hattie Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and career 1 2 At the BBC and in the theatre 1 3 Later career 1 4 Personal life and honours 2 Selected directing credits 2 1 Television 2 2 Film 2 3 Theatre 3 References 4 Notes 5 External linksBiography EditEarly life and career Edit Morahan was born on 9 July 1929 in London the son of film production designer Tom Morahan 1906 1969 and his wife Nancy Charlotte Barker 1904 1977 an artist 1 2 He was educated at Highgate School followed by his national service Originally thinking about a career as an architect he realised it would be some years before he could earn a living and thus settled on working in the film industry The director Thorold Dickinson advised him to learn about acting and the theatrical repertoire instead 2 He trained for the stage at the Old Vic Theatre School from 1947 with actor director Michel Saint Denis designer Margaret Harris and director George Devine Initially an actor he briefly worked as a stage manager on Orson Welles touring production of Othello but refused to work on Welles next production and found the theatre of the time unenthusing 2 In a career change of sorts he joined ATV as a floor manager and subsequently became a television director from 1957 on Emergency Ward 10 1 a new ITV series At the BBC and in the theatre Edit Later he developed a rapport with writer John Hopkins while working together on Z Cars This led to Morahan directing Hopkins Fable 1965 a Wednesday Play parable locating a reversed South African apartheid in Britain and the BBC s version of Talking to a Stranger 1966 Morahan gained brilliant performances from all his cast wrote Michael Billington of Talking to a Stranger Michael Bryant Maurice Denham and Margery Mason being three of the four leads but it was Judi Dench as the daughter forced to reveal her pregnancy to her tight lipped parents who astonished everyone 1 Morahan s first stage production was Jules Feiffer s Little Murders for the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Aldwych Theatre in July 1967 starring Brenda Bruce Barbara Jefford Derek Godfrey and Roland Curram From 1972 to 1976 he was the Head of Plays for BBC Television a department responsible for such series as Play for Today and Play of the Month In this role he commissioned Days of Hope 1975 a four part serial written by Jim Allen and directed by Ken Loach which covers proletarian life from 1916 to 1926 1 He managed to appoint Roy Battersby as the director of Colin Welland s Leeds United 1974 despite negative vetting from MI5 which rejected Battersby because of his membership of the Trotskyist Workers Revolutionary Party While working for the BBC Peter Nichols was another dramatist with whom Morahan had a successful partnership but another project with John Hopkins the six part play cycle Fathers and Families 1977 was a major disappointment 2 Later career Edit Morahan joined the National Theatre in 1977 as Deputy Director and was appointed Co Director of the Olivier Theatre citation needed He was involved in creating the 14 part television drama The Jewel in the Crown 1984 of which he was co director and producer The series won a Primetime Emmy Award and a BAFTA TV Award in 1985 3 The film Clockwise 1986 with John Cleese in the lead was a minor hit 2 Personal life and honours Edit Morahan s first wife was Joan Lucie Murray d 1973 with whom he had two sons including director Andy Morahan a daughter from the marriage predeceased him 1 4 After his first wife died Morahan married actress Anna Carteret the couple have two daughters theatre director Rebecca 5 also involved in human rights activism 2 and actress Hattie Morahan 6 Morahan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to drama 7 8 Morahan died on 7 April 2017 the same day as Tim Pigott Smith one of the leads in The Jewel in the Crown 1 9 Selected directing credits EditTelevision Edit The Road First Night 1963 Fable The Wednesday Play 1965 Talking to a Stranger BBC 1966 10 Lay Down Your Arms ITV Sunday Night Theatre 1970 Uncle Vanya Play of the Month BBC 1970 Old Times Fathers and Families BBC series 1977 The Jewel in the Crown Granada 1984 three episodes also producer In the Secret State 1985 After Pilkington BBC 1987 The Heat of the Day 1989 Ashenden 1991 Unnatural Pursuits Simon Gray two part play 1992 A Dance to the Music of Time four part mini series 1997 Film Edit Diamonds for Breakfast 1968 All Neat in Black Stockings 1969 Clockwise 1986 Paper Mask 1990 Element of Doubt 1996 Theatre Edit This Story of Yours John Hopkins Royal Court December 1968 Flint David Mercer Criterion Theatre May 1970 The Caretaker Harold Pinter starring Leonard Rossiter at the Mermaid Theatre March 1972 State of Revolution Robert Bolt National Lyttelton 1977 Sir Is Winning Shane Connaughton National Cottesloe 1977 The Lady from Maxim s Georges Feydeau National Lyttelton 1977 Brand Ibsen National Olivier 1978 The Philanderer George Bernard Shaw National Lyttelton 1978 Strife John Galsworthy National Olivier 1978 The Fruits of Enlightenment Tolstoy National Olivier 1979 Richard III National Olivier 1979 The Wild Duck Ibsen Nartional Olivier 1979 Line Em Nigel Williams National Cottesloe 1980 Man and Superman Shaw National Olivier 1980 Wild Honey Chekhov Michael Frayn National Lyttelton Evening Standard Best Director Award 1984 and New York 1986 Melon Simon Gray Theatre Royal Haymarket 1987 The Devil s Disciple Shaw National Olivier 1994 A Letter of Resignation Hugh Whitemore Comedy Theatre October 1997 Ugly Rumours Tariq Ali Howard Brenton Tricycle Theatre Kilburn November 1998 Semi Detached David Turner Chichester Festival Theatre May 1999 The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket 1999 Quartet Ronald Harwood Albery Theatre September 1999 Heartbreak House Shaw Chichester May 2000 Naked Justice John Mortimer West Yorkshire Playhouse and tour January 2001 The Importance of Being Earnest Savoy Theatre 2001 The Dwarfs Pinter novel adapted by Kerry Lee Crabbe Tricycle Theatre April 2003 The Linden Tree J B Priestley Orange Tree Theatre February 2006 Legal Fictions double bill The Dock Brief Edwin by John Mortimer Richmond Theatre and touring November 2007 11 References EditSimon Callow The National The Theatre and its Work 1963 1997 by Nick Hern Books NT 1997 ISBN 1 85459 323 4 Leslie Halliwell and Philip Purser Halliwell s Television Companion Third edition Grafton 1986 ISBN 0 246 12838 0 Theatre Record and Theatre Record annual indexes John Walker ed Halliwell s Who s Who in the Movies Fourth edition HarperCollins 2006 ISBN 0 00 716957 4 Who s Who in the Theatre 17th edition Gale 1981 ISBN 0 8103 0235 7Notes Edit a b c d e f Billington Michael 11 April 2017 Christopher Morahan The Guardian Retrieved 12 April 2017 a b c d e f Christopher Morahan The Times London 18 April 2017 Retrieved 18 April 2017 subscription required Christopher Morahan Awards Retrieved 9 April 2017 Morahan Andy andy morahan about AndyMorahan com Retrieved 28 October 2015 Hattie Morahan pulls it off at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards London Evening Standard 27 November 2012 Retrieved 17 April 2017 Ann McFerran Interview with Anna Carteret and Hattie Morahan The Sunday Times Magazine 30 November 2008 No 59808 The London Gazette Supplement 11 June 2011 p 8 Main list of the 2011 Queen s birthday honours recipients PDF BBC News UK Retrieved 11 June 2011 McKee Ruth Billington Michael 7 April 2017 Actor Tim Pigott Smith dies aged 70 The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 8 April 2017 British Theatre Guide review The Daily Telegraph article re production of Legal Fictions Archived from the original on 20 November 2007 Retrieved 20 November 2007 External links EditChristopher Morahan at IMDb Christopher Morahan at the Internet Broadway Database Christopher Morahan Aveleyman Morahan family tree Christopher Morahan The British Entertainment History Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christopher Morahan amp oldid 1087723626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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