Tribute to puppeteer John Wright who created Little Angel theatre in a bombed-out hall
People’s Plaque will honour South African’s vision
THE man behind Islington’s world-famous Little Angel theatre is to be honoured with the unveiling of a plaque tomorrow (Saturday).
John Wright opened the theatre in 1961 in the shell of a bombed-out temperance hall, after more than 25 years working with puppets in Europe and Africa.
He spent the rest of his life establishing the theatre in Dagmar Passage, creating a unique place where puppets could cast their spell over audiences. He died in 1991.
It is one of only three dedicated building-based puppet theatres in Britain.
Peter Glanville, artistic director of the Little Angel, said: “For the past 50 years, it has been an embodiment of John Wright’s dedication, skill and vision for the art-form of puppetry.
“His beautifully crafted puppets and artfully choreographed productions will, I’m sure, continue to inspire and set the benchmark for the work we create for the next 50 years.”
John Wright was born in South Africa in 1906, and tried his hand at farming before studying art in Cape Town.
He worked his passage to England in 1935 and became an assistant stage manager for the Ballet Rambert, where he was inspired by a performance by Podrecca’s Piccoli, then a famous puppet company.
His first performances were in an old farmhouse in South Africa, and his company travelled across the continent before reaching England in 1946. He toured again in Europe and southern Africa before settling in London in 1959.
He bought the ruined temperance hall with his life savings, and devoted the last 30 years of his life to the theatre. He was awarded the MBE.
The company’s work with marionettes has become world-renowned, with shows on New York’s Broadway and at some 25 international festivals.
This will be the second Islington People’s Plaque to be unveiled, and follows a memorial in Highbury to the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381.
Later this year plaques will be unveiled to author Douglas Adams, suffragette Edith Garrud and boat club pioneer Crystal Hale.
The plaque will be unveiled at the theatre at 2.30pm.
Published: 8th July, 2011
by PETER GRUNER