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- Brum Henderson Trust
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- Simon Callow in Conversation
- Lyric Theatre Snday 1st May 2005
When Simon Callow arrived at Queens
University Belfast at the age of 18 almost his first port of call was the Dramatic Society
Hut. Already inclined to the theatre, his time at Queens confirmed him in the view that
his future lay on the stage and so he departed after a year to start on a journey which
would take him to the position of being one of our finest and most respected actors on
stage and screen. His rich voice and jovial laughter have graced many productions over the
past thiry years.
- His stage successes have included the title
role in the original production of Amadeus and his solo performance in The Mystery of
Charles Dickens. His numerous appearances have included the film version of Amadeus, Four
Weddings and A Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, Howards End (and various other Merchant-Ivory
productions) and recently The Phantom Of The Opera. On television his appearances have
been legion, recent works include Marple and Doctor Who (where he reprised his Dickens
character).
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- Simon has directed for stage and screen and
television. In addition, he is a prolific author whose memoir "Being An Actor"
was described by Sir Ian McKellan as the most honest book ever written about us all. His
other writings include studies of Orston Wells and Charles Laughton and (not surprisingly)
Dickens Christmas.
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- In 1999 he was awarded a CBE
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- When Simon played Charles Dickens on
Broadway descriptions from critics included a fireball of energy with superior diction and
a Brit of inexhaustible enthusiasm. Such enthusiasm is both entertaining and infectious
and since his student days it has included the Ulster Theatre. Simon is delighted to be
back in Belfast to share his experience and vision.