George Hall at 100 is a special series celebrating the life and career of one of the most important, influential and inspirational acting teachers in the history of British theatre.
To mark George’s 100th birthday on February 5th 2025, his friends recorded new, fascinating and often very funny conversations with him, resulting in five episodes full of star names and fabulous anecdotes.
In episode four, the distinguished actor and director Nickolas Grace, who left the Central School of Speech and Drama in 1969, chats with George about his memories of watching theatre productions since the 1930s.
George recalls working with many acting giants including Dame Edith Evans, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Wilfred Lawson, Dame Flora Robson, Sir Donald Wolfit and Phyllida Law.
And he talks about being part of incredible creative team during the 1950s and ‘60s, along with Michael Elliott, Casper Wrede and Richard Negri who formed several highly influential organisations including The 59 Theatre Company and The Piccolo Theatre Company.
George studied alongside Joan Plowright and Prunella Scales at the Old Vic School 1949–51, and during his subsequent eight-decade career, he has also been an actor, cabaret artist, BBC television music director, voice coach, writer, theatre director, music hall performer, international lecturer and a composer of film and TV scores. He even wrote a song with Clive Dunn that was produced by George Martin and then banned by the BBC!
George was Director of the legendary acting course at Central for nearly a quarter of a century, taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for another 22 years, Yale University for over a decade and is still teaching the history of musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music after more than 30 years with the prestigious organisation.
Sir Tony Robinson, Neil Pearson, Leonie Mellinger, Belinda Lang and Nigel Lilley have also recorded conversations with George for the other four episodes in the series.
And you’ll hear from Tessa Peake-Jones, Peter Davison, Kevin Whately, Lalla Ward, Fern Britton, Johanna Adams Farley, Janet Ellis, Peter Guinness, Michael Grandage, Freddie Fox, Dave Clark, Sara Kestelman, Priscilla Morgan, Lindsay Duncan, Rufus Sewell, James Purefoy, Peter Chelsom, Harriet Thorpe, Christopher Eccleston, James Nesbitt, Zoe Wanamaker, David Horovitch, David Robb, Amanda Barrie, Tom Read Wilson, Mary Hammond and Wendy Allnutt.
George Hall at 100 is produced by Square Elephant Productions with Danny Garlick.
The series has been generously supported by Steve Moreschi whose great uncles, the theatrical agents Sonny and Hyman Zahl, worked with George in the 1950s.
For more information please contact info@electric-owl.co.uk
Or follow the show on Instagram @GeorgeHallat100
Music by Maksym Malko from Pixabay