Julian Slade
Encyclopedia
Julian Penkivil Slade was an English writer of musical theatre
best known for the show Salad Days, which he wrote in six weeks in 1954 and became the UK's longest-running show of the 1950s with over 2,288 performances.
He was born in London in 1930, and was educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
where he was the first Footlights Vice President. After leaving Cambridge he went on to the drama school at the Bristol Old Vic
.
During his time at the Old Vic, Slade wrote incidental music for several productions including Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Duenna
. In 1954 he was asked to write a musical for the Old Vic
Christmas Season. It was then that he came up with Salad Days with Dorothy Reynolds. The show was such a success that it moved to London where it ran for over 2,288 performances - a record at the time. It was here in London that a young Cameron Mackintosh
saw the show with his aunt and decided to become a theatrical producer
. Slade and Mackintosh stayed close friends throughout his life.
Julian Slade's music is typified by being exceptionally melodious and enjoyable. An excellent example of his music is from his second successful musical, Free as Air
he wrote with Dorothy Reynolds which opened at the Opera House in Manchester in 1957 before moving to the Savoy Theatre, London where it ran for 417 performances, but sadly it is rarely revived.
Slade, a native of London
, died of cancer
on 17 June 2006, aged 76.
He had two brothers, Adrian Slade
CBE (Liberal Party President) and Sir Christopher Slade (Lord Justice of Appeal, 1982–1991) and a sister.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
best known for the show Salad Days, which he wrote in six weeks in 1954 and became the UK's longest-running show of the 1950s with over 2,288 performances.
He was born in London in 1930, and was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
where he was the first Footlights Vice President. After leaving Cambridge he went on to the drama school at the Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
.
During his time at the Old Vic, Slade wrote incidental music for several productions including Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Duenna
The Duenna
The Duenna is a three-act comic opera, mostly composed by Thomas Linley the elder and his son, Thomas Linley the younger, to an English-language libretto by Richard Brinsley Sheridan...
. In 1954 he was asked to write a musical for the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
Christmas Season. It was then that he came up with Salad Days with Dorothy Reynolds. The show was such a success that it moved to London where it ran for over 2,288 performances - a record at the time. It was here in London that a young Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...
saw the show with his aunt and decided to become a theatrical producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
. Slade and Mackintosh stayed close friends throughout his life.
Julian Slade's music is typified by being exceptionally melodious and enjoyable. An excellent example of his music is from his second successful musical, Free as Air
Free as Air
Free as Air is a musical with lyrics by Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade and music by Julian Slade. They are the same team responsible for the much better known musical Salad Days, although Free as Air is said to be "more slick and professional by some critics"...
he wrote with Dorothy Reynolds which opened at the Opera House in Manchester in 1957 before moving to the Savoy Theatre, London where it ran for 417 performances, but sadly it is rarely revived.
Slade, a native of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on 17 June 2006, aged 76.
He had two brothers, Adrian Slade
Adrian Slade
Adrian Carnegie Slade, CBE, born 25 May 1936, is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advertising agency founder.He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became President of the Footlights, and famously recruited Peter Cook to the society....
CBE (Liberal Party President) and Sir Christopher Slade (Lord Justice of Appeal, 1982–1991) and a sister.
Shows
- Christmas in King Street (1952)
- The Merry Gentleman (1953)
- Salad Days (1954)
- Free As AirFree as AirFree as Air is a musical with lyrics by Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade and music by Julian Slade. They are the same team responsible for the much better known musical Salad Days, although Free as Air is said to be "more slick and professional by some critics"...
(1957) - Hooray For Daisy (1959)
- Follow That Girl (1960)
- Wildest Dreams (1960)
- Vanity Fair (1962)
- Nutmeg and Ginger (1963)
- Trelawny (1972)
- Out Of Bounds (1973)