John Barrett (actor)

Jack Elvyn Barrett (18 February 1910 – 22 May 1983) was a British actor on film, television and stage, best known for his roles as Smellie Ibbotson in The Dustbinmen and Hylda Baker's father in Not On Your Nellie.

John Barrett
Born
Jack Elvyn Barrett[1]

18 February 1910
Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Died22 May 1983(1983-05-22) (aged 73)[2]
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1958–1983

Biography

Born in Rochdale in 1910, Barrett worked in a family business there, and in the 1930s began working in the theatre.[3] He started as an assistant stage manager, and at different times worked as an actor, stage manager, director and actor-manager.[3] Before and during World War II he produced and acted in local productions in Rochdale.[4][5][6] Following the war, he joined weekly repertory companies across England, working in places such as Birmingham,[7] Rugby,[7] Bexhill-on-Sea[8] and Hastings[9] in Sussex, Portsmouth in Hampshire,[10] Bournemouth in Dorset,[11] and Burnley in Lancashire.[12]
In the mid 1950s, he made his first appearances on screen and thereafter had frequent roles on television and in films. In the 1960s and 1970s, he acted in London at the Royal Court Theatre,[3][13] Savoy Theatre[14] and the National Theatre[15] under directors like William Gaskill,[16] Michael Wearing,[17] Lindsay Anderson,[13] Richard Eyre[18] and Bill Bryden.[15]

The Daily Mirror wrote in 1976 that Barrett, then aged 63, "has the sort of career that makes him the envy of many younger actors".[19] In 1968, he played the lead role in a revival of D. H. Lawrence's play A Collier's Friday Night, with reviewers saying, "The director, Peter Gill, elicits admirable style and even ensemble from a first-rate cast including John Barrett as the collier, Anne Dyson as his wife, Victor Henry as the son, and Jenifer Armitage as Maggie."[20] "The characters have the ring of truth about them. Old Lambert (John Barrett) is marked physically and mentally by his work at the coalface. ... All are excellently portrayed in this first-rate production."[21] In 1970, Barrett played the lead role in Barry Hines's play Billy's Last Stand. One reviewer wrote, "Both John Barrett as Billy and Ian McKellen as Darkly give powerful performances, each sombre, thoughtful, balanced and real, though, by the end, the melodrama seems even to have seeped through to their performances." [17] Another said, "The acting is first-rate. ... John Barrett is wonderfully solid and self-satisfied at the start as an innocent faced by capitalism; and in his final gritty resignation to his fate the actor never puts an eyelid wrong."[22]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1959 Jack the Ripper Onlooker at 2nd Murder Scene Uncredited
1960 Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Man in Cafe Uncredited
1965 City Under the Sea Third Fisherman Uncredited
1966 The Witches Mr. Glass Uncredited [1]
1966 The Trygon Factor Guide [1]
1967 Far from the Madding Crowd Joseph Poorgrass [1]
1968 Star! Speaker at Hyde Park Uncredited
1972 Up the Chastity Belt 1st Peasant [1]
1972 Nearest and Dearest Joshua Pledge [1]
1973 O Lucky Man! Bill
1973 Malachi's Cove Polwarth
1974 Smokey Joe's Revenge Bill Bassett
1976 Robin and Marian Jack [19]
1976 It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet Crump [23]
1976 The Eagle Has Landed Laker Armsby
1979 Porridge Hedley
1979 Tess Old Dairyhand
1979 The Quiz Kid Old Man
1981 The French Lieutenant's Woman Dairyman
1982 Remembrance Jimmy
1982 The Missionary Old Man outside Hotel
1988 Rikky and Pete Barracks Man
1989 Options Bob (final film role)

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1958 Quatermass and the Pit [1]
1964 The Massingham Affair [1]
1966–1970 Mystery and Imagination [1]
1969–1970 The Dustbinmen Smellie Ibbotson (main role) [1][19][24][25]
1971 Play for Today Billy (main role) Billy's Last Stand [26][27]
1971 One More On Top ITV play by Jonathan Hales [28]
1973 The Jensen Code Mr. Buckle
1974–1975 Not On Your Nellie Jed Pickersgill (main role) Series 1 and 2, 13 episodes [1][19]
1976 Play for Today Ben Packman (main role) Packman's Barn [19]
1976 Shadows Eli (main role) The Inheritance [29]
1978–80 All Creatures Great and Small Kitson / Mr. Dent
1980 God's Wonderful Railway Robbie Grant (main role) Clear Ahead, 3 episodes [30]
1980 Juliet Bravo Mr.Israel Smethurst (Lollipop man) (Series 1, Ep. 5 – 'Trouble At T’Mill')
1961,1980 Coronation Street Mr. Stark / Monty Shawcross
1982 Objects of Affection (Alan Bennett plays) Mr. Joey Wyman (main role) Rolling Home [1][31][32]

Selected stage performances
YearTitleAuthorTheatreRoleDirector
1939The BearAnton ChekhovThe Curtain Theatre, RochdaleJack E. Barrett [4]
1939LaodiceWallace B. NicholsThe Curtain Theatre, RochdaleEuphorion, Lord of the Syrian CourtE. Nuttall Butterworth [5]
1942The Two Gentlemen of VeronaWilliam ShakespeareThe Curtain Theatre, RochdaleJack E. Barrett [6]
1946While the Sun ShinesTerence RattiganDe La Warr Pavilion,
Bexhill-on-Sea		Duke[8]
1952A Streetcar Named DesireTennessee WilliamsWhite Rock Pavilion, Hastings[9]
1953Charley's AuntBrandon ThomasTheatre Royal, PortsmouthBrassettCarl Clopet [10]
1954Grand National NightCampbell Christie and
Dorothy Christie		Victoria Theatre, BurnleyMorton
(the butler)		John Barrett [33]
1954White Sheep of the FamilyJohn Hay Beith and
L. du Garde Peach		Victoria Theatre, BurnleyJames WinterJohn Barrett [12]
1954Piccadilly AlibiGuy Paxton and Edward HoileVictoria Theatre, Burnley[34]
1954When We Are MarriedJ. B. PriestleyVictoria Theatre, BurnleyJohn Barrett [35]
1954Dial M for MurderFrederick KnottVictoria Theatre, BurnleyJohn Barrett [36]
1954Babes in the Wood
(pantomime)		Victoria Theatre, BurnleyRobberMorris Parsons [37]
1968A Collier's Friday NightD. H. LawrenceRoyal Court Theatre, LondonOld Lambert, collier
(main role)		Peter Gill [20][21]
1969SavedEdward BondRoyal Court Theatre, Londonmain roleWilliam Gaskill [16]
1969Early MorningEdward BondRoyal Court Theatre, LondonGladstoneWilliam Gaskill [16]
1970Billy's Last StandBarry HinesTheatre Upstairs, Royal Court, LondonBilly (main role)Michael Wearing [17][22]
1971The Changing RoomDavid StoreyRoyal Court Theatre, LondonHarryLindsay Anderson [13][38]
1972Lloyd George Knew My FatherWilliam Douglas-HomeSavoy Theatre, LondonRobertsonRobin Midgley[14]
1974BingoEdward BondRoyal Court Theatre, LondonOld manJane Howell & John Dove[39]
1978Lark RiseFlora ThompsonCottesloe, National TheatreBill Bryden and Sebastian Graham-Jones [3][15]
1980HamletWilliam ShakespeareRoyal Court Theatre, LondonGravediggerRichard Eyre [18]
1981The CrucibleArthur MillerComedy Theatre, LondonBill Bryden [3][40]

References
  1. Maxford, Howard (2018). Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company. McFarland. pp. 36–37. ISBN 9781476670072. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  2. "Deaths". The Stage (5328): 22. 26 May 1983. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  3. "Obituaries – John Barrett". The Stage (5331): 8. 16 June 1983. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  4. "The Crompton Stage Society – A Four-Play Bill". Rochdale Observer. Rochdale, Lancashire. 25 February 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  5. R.H. (4 March 1939). "The Curtain Theatre. "Laodice"". Rochdale Observer. Rochdale, Lancashire. p. 10. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  6. "The Shakespeare Society. "Two Gentlemen of Verona"". Rochdale Observer. Rochdale, Lancashire. 9 May 1942. p. 4. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  7. "Rugby Repertory Season". Rugby Advertiser. Rugby, Warwickshire. 16 March 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  8. ""While the Sun Shines". Gay Rattigan Comedy at the De La Warr Pavilion". Bexhill-on-Sea Observer. Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. 21 September 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. "Calls for next week". The Stage (3702): 2. 27 March 1952. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  10. "Ubiquitous". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire. 20 January 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  11. "Advertisement: John Barrett, Producer/Stage Director". The Stage (3883): 9. 15 September 1955. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  12. A.H. (3 February 1954). "'Rep.' company display their versatility". Burnley Express. Burnley, Lancashire. p. 4. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  13. Roberts, Philip (2015). The Royal Court Theatre (Routledge Revivals): 1965–1972. CRC Press. ISBN 9781317515463. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  14. L.G.S. (2 November 1972). "Celia Johnson takes over". The Stage (4777): 9. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  15. Say, Rosemary (2 April 1978). "Lark's eye view". The Sunday Telegraph (887). London, England. p. 14.
  16. Hastings, Ronald (25 January 1969). "Twelfth Night Rock". The Daily Telegraph (35379). London, England. p. 17.
  17. P.W.B. (9 July 1970). "At the Theatre Upstairs". The Stage (4656): 13. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  18. "Theatre Week". The Stage (5163): 12. 27 March 1980. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  19. "A Journey Into the Past". Daily Mirror. London, England. 27 January 1976. p. 16. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  20. Samuel, Graham (9 March 1968). "London Theatre. Some rot in this Under Milk Wood". Reading Evening Post. Reading, Berkshire. p. 4. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  21. Thirkell, Arthur (1 March 1968). "Theatre by Arthur Thirkell". Daily Mirror. London, England. p. 18. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  22. Shorter, Eric (1 July 1970). "Barry Hines' triumph with 'Billy'". The Daily Telegraph (35818). London, England. p. 14.
  23. Shorter, Eric (9 April 1976). "Something of a dog's breakfast". The Daily Telegraph (37594). London, England. p. 13.
  24. Towler, James (2 April 1970). "Has its moments". The Stage (4642): 11. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  25. "Dustbinmen and BBC girl". The Stage (4623): 12. 20 November 1969. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  26. "BBC1". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool, England. 4 February 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  27. "BBC1 Highlight". Reading Evening Post. Reading, Berkshire. 20 April 1972. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  28. M.H. (1 August 1971). "Look out for . . ". The Sunday Telegraph (545). London, England. p. 13.
  29. "TV and Radio". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham, England. 11 August 1976. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  30. "What is the BBC offering children this autumn?". The Stage (5135). 13 September 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  31. "BBC2 highlight: Wall watch". Aberdeen Evening Express. Aberdeen, Scotland. 3 December 1982. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  32. Day-Lewis, Sean (4 December 1982). "Making their last exits". The Daily Telegraph (39649). London, England. p. 10.
  33. "Gratitude on both sides of the footlights". Burnley Express. Burnley, Lancashire. 27 January 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  34. "Mystery of an unusual kind". Burnley Express. Burnley, Lancashire. 7 April 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  35. "Yorkshire comedy is first of 'request' plays". Burnley Express. Burnley, Lancashire. 17 April 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  36. "New thriller at the Vic". Burnley Express. Burnley, Lancashire. 3 July 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  37. "Pantomime Fun at the Victoria". Burnley Express. Burnley, Lancashire. 29 December 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  38. Trewin, J.C. (11 November 1971). "Arts Review: The Changing Room at the Royal Court Theatre, London". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham, England. p. 2. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  39. "Production of Bingo | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  40. "Theatre Week". The Stage (5211): 30. 26 February 1981. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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