Grand Theatre Halifax
On the 17th of March 1952 Frank made his full-time professional debut in Repertory Theatre at the Grand Theatre Halifax as part of Barney Lando's Command Players.The rep was once nightly on weekdays and twice nightly on Saturdays.
Productions known are listed below.
It was in this company that Frank met and worked with Arthur Young who played Henry VIII in A Rose Without A Thorn. Arthur was a great inspiration to Frank, helping him to grow as an actor. It was through Arthur that Frank first realised that 'thought' was as important as 'words'. That acting is not just about how you 'say the words' but rather it is about the intention, you as the character have, behind the words. That there is a subtext. We may say one thing but mean another. Perhaps it was this that lead Frank to want to train as an actor and apply to RADA.-
1952
Week beginning:DateProductionCharacter17th MarchTHE PARAGON
by Michael and Roland Pertwee1st AprilIF FOUR WALLS TOLD
by Edward Percy28th AprilNO TREES IN THE STREET
by Ted WillisAlf, a neighbour5th MaySIMPLE SIMON'S BABY
by G Carlton-WallaceThe Father12th MayNELL GWYNNOld Soldier21st MayFIRST NIGHT
By Reg DenhamProducer26th MaySCANDAL MONGERS9th JuneTHE SECOND MRS TANQUERAY
by Sir Arthur Wing PineroFrank Misquith, QC, MP
1952
Week beginning:DateProductionCharacter16th JunePYGMALION
by George Bernard Shaw
Kay Kendall and Wilfred Lawson Guest star23rd JuneMASTER CROOK
by Bruce WalkerMr. Jackson30th JuneIT WON'T BE A STYLISH MARRIAGE
by A P DearsleyTim Barton14th JulySEE HOW THEY RUN
by Philip KingRev Humphrey21st JulyA MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE
By John Parry4th AugustANYTHING BUT THE TRUTH11th AugustWILL I DOThe Producer18th AugustA ROSE WITHOUT A THORN
by Clifford Bax25th AugustCHARLEY'S AUNT
by Brandon Thomas1st SeptemberGOODBYE MR CHIPS
by James Hilton and Barbara Burnham8th SeptemberSWEENY TODDPearly, the Comic15th SeptemberTHE GHOST TRAIN
by Arnold RidleyStationmaster22nd SeptemberTHE OUTSIDER
by Dorothy Brandon29th SeptemberTRAVELLERS' JOY6th OctoberTHE LETTER
