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{{Short description|British actor, theatre director, and playwright (1937–2016)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
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[[Image:Michael Napier Brown.jpg|thumb|right|Michael Napier Brown]]
[[Image:Michael Napier Brown.jpg|thumb|right|Michael Napier Brown]]
'''Michael Patrick Napier Brown''' (17 March 1937 – 18 August 2016) was a British actor, [[theatre director]], and [[playwright]] who was the chief executive and [[artistic director]] of the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Royal Theatre]] in [[Northampton]] for over 20 years.
'''Michael Patrick Napier-Brown''' (17 March 1937 – 18 August 2016) was a British actor, [[theatre director]], and [[playwright]] who was the chief executive and [[artistic director]] of the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Royal Theatre]] in [[Northampton]] for over 20 years.


==Early years==
==Early years==
Born in [[Bournemouth]], Napier Brown was the fifth and youngest child of Bessie and Arthur Napier Brown. His siblings are Betty, David, Margaret and Vera. He was educated at Bournemouth Grammar School for Boys where he developed a love for theatre and took part in various school productions. In 1953 he began a career in journalism with the ''[[Bournemouth Daily Echo]]'' while continuing to take part in amateur dramatics. From 1955 to 1957 he served his [[Conscription in the United Kingdom#After 1945|National Service]] with the [[Royal Air Force]] and on leaving the RAF he won a place at The Hampshire School of Drama, washing up in a [[Forte Group|Forte]]'s restaurant in the mornings to pay for his drama lessons. In 1958 Napier Brown won 'Most Promising Actor', the prize for which was a small silver cup, an agent and a summer season at [[Guernsey]].<ref name=Brown>Information supplied to researcher Glenn Christodoulou by Michael Napier Brown</ref>
Born in [[Bournemouth]], Napier Brown was the fifth and youngest child of Bessie and Arthur Napier Brown. His siblings are Betty, David, Margaret and Vera. He was educated at Bournemouth Grammar School for Boys where he developed a love for theatre and took part in various school productions. In 1953 he began a career in journalism with the ''[[Bournemouth Daily Echo]]'' while continuing to take part in amateur dramatics. From 1955 to 1957 he served his [[Conscription in the United Kingdom#After 1945|National Service]] with the [[Royal Air Force]] and on leaving the RAF he won a place at The Hampshire School of Drama, washing up in a [[Forte Group|Forte]]'s restaurant in the mornings to pay for his drama lessons. In 1958 Napier Brown won 'Most Promising Actor', the prize for which was a small silver cup, an agent and a summer season in [[Guernsey]].<ref name=Brown>Information supplied to researcher Glenn Christodoulou by Michael Napier Brown</ref>


==Acting career==
==Acting career==
He joined The Penguin Players in 1959, meeting his wife [[Vilma Hollingbery]] in the same year, and marrying her in 1961 at [[Eastbourne]]. From 1959 to 1964 the couple acted together in over 200 plays. It was during this period that he began directing for the first time.<ref name=Brown/>
He joined The Penguin Players in 1959, meeting his wife [[Vilma Hollingbery]] in the same year, and marrying her in 1961 at [[Eastbourne]]. From 1959 to 1964 the couple acted together in over 200 plays. It was during this period that he began directing for the first time.<ref name=Brown/>


Napier Brown's television appearances include ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'' for the [[BBC]] (1963), ''[[Les Misérables (1967 UK TV series)|Les Misérables]]'' (1967), ''[[The Golden Shot]]'' (1968), the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story [[The War Games]] (1969), ''[[The Borderers]]'' (1970), ''[[Ivanhoe (1970 TV series)|Ivanhoe]]'' (1970), ''[[Doctor in the House (TV series)|Doctor in the House]]'' (1970), ''[[The Troubleshooters]]'' (1970), ''[[Casanova '73]]'' (1973), ''[[Doctor on the Go (TV series)|Doctor on the Go]]'' (1975), ''[[Dick Emery|The Dick Emery Show]]'' (1976–79), ''[[Secret Army (TV series)|Secret Army]]'' (1977), ''[[1990 (TV series)|1990]]'' (1977), ''[[Happy Ever After (UK TV series)|Happy Ever After]]'' (1978) and ''[[Terry and June]]'' (1980).<ref name=IMDb>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0114287/ Michael Napier Brown on the [[Internet Movie Database]]]</ref>
Napier Brown's television appearances include ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]'' for the [[BBC]] (1963), ''[[Les Misérables (1967 UK TV series)|Les Misérables]]'' (1967), ''[[The Golden Shot]]'' (1968), the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story [[The War Games]] (1969), ''[[The Borderers]]'' (1970), ''[[Ivanhoe (1970 TV series)|Ivanhoe]]'' (1970), ''[[Doctor in the House (TV series)|Doctor in the House]]'' (1970), ''[[The Troubleshooters (British TV series)|The Troubleshooters]]'' (1970), ''[[Casanova '73]]'' (1973), ''[[Doctor on the Go (TV series)|Doctor on the Go]]'' (1975), ''[[Dick Emery|The Dick Emery Show]]'' (1976–79), ''[[Secret Army (TV series)|Secret Army]]'' (1977), ''[[1990 (TV series)|1990]]'' (1977), ''[[Happy Ever After (British TV series)|Happy Ever After]]'' (1978) and ''[[Terry and June]]'' (1980).<ref name=IMDb>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0114287/ Michael Napier Brown] on the [[Internet Movie Database]]</ref>


His theatre appearances include Mr Honeyman in ''Alibi for a Judge'' at the [[Savoy Theatre]] (1966–68); [[Athos (fictional character)|Athos]] in ''The Four Musketeers'' with [[Harry Secombe]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] (1970); George Lyman in ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'' at the [[Albery Theatre]] (1971–74); Sheriff Vallon in ''[[Show Boat]]'' with [[Cleo Laine]] at the [[Adelphi Theatre]] (1975): ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'' with [[Alfred Marks]] at the [[Greenwich Theatre]] (1976), and [[Cardinal Wolsey]] in ''Kings and Clowns'' with [[Frank Finlay]] at the [[Phoenix Theatre (London)|Phoenix Theatre]] (1978).<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_k/kingsclowns.htm ''Kings and Clowns'' on ''The Guide to Musical Theatre'']</ref>
His theatre appearances include Mr Honeyman in ''[[Alibi for a Judge]]'' at the [[Savoy Theatre]] (1966–68); [[Athos (fictional character)|Athos]] in ''The Four Musketeers'' with [[Harry Secombe]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] (1970); George Lyman in ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'' at the [[Albery Theatre]] (1971–74); Sheriff Vallon in ''[[Show Boat]]'' with [[Cleo Laine]] at the [[Adelphi Theatre]] (1975): ''[[Zorba (musical)|Zorba]]'' with [[Alfred Marks]] at the [[Greenwich Theatre]] (1976), and [[Cardinal Wolsey]] in ''Kings and Clowns'' with [[Frank Finlay]] at the [[Phoenix Theatre (London)|Phoenix Theatre]] (1978).<ref>[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_k/kingsclowns.htm ''Kings and Clowns'' on ''The Guide to Musical Theatre'']</ref>


==Theatre director==
==Theatre director==
''Kings and Clowns'' was not a success, so Napier Brown decided to try [[theatre director|theatre directing]]. He wrote to Malcolm Farquhar (with whom he and his wife had worked at [[Harare]] in Zimbabwe), artistic director at the [[Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham|Everyman Theatre]] in [[Cheltenham]], who appointed him as associate director. Here Napier Brown directed 11 productions before moving to [[Derby Playhouse]].
''Kings and Clowns'' was not a success, so Napier Brown decided to try [[theatre director|theatre directing]]. He wrote to Malcolm Farquhar (with whom he and his wife had worked at [[Harare]] in Zimbabwe), artistic director at the [[Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham|Everyman Theatre]] in [[Cheltenham]], who appointed him as associate director. Here Napier Brown directed 11 productions before moving to [[Derby Playhouse]].


In 1981 Napier Brown became chief executive and [[artistic director]] of the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Royal Theatre]] in [[Northampton]]. Here he discovered [[Gian Sammarco]] and [[Lindsey Stagg]] and cast them in productions at that theatre; he later recommended them to [[Thames Television]] when they were casting for ''[[The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (TV series)|The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾]]''. After successful auditions they appeared as [[Adrian Mole]] and [[Pandora Braithwaite]] in two series.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+strange+secret+life+of+Adrian+Mole,+29+3+%252F4%253B+GROWING+PAINS%253A+TWICE...-a060329543 'The Strange Secret Life of Adrian Mole, 29 3 /4; Growing Pains: Twice Married Giancarlo Sammarco Goes From Child Star to Geriatric Nurse' ''[[Scottish Daily Record]]'' 1999]</ref>
In 1981 Napier Brown became chief executive and [[artistic director]] of the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Royal Theatre]] in [[Northampton]]. Here he discovered [[Gian Sammarco]] and [[Lindsey Stagg]] and cast them in productions at that theatre; he later recommended them to [[Thames Television]] when they were casting for ''[[The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (TV series)|The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾]]''. After successful auditions they appeared as [[Adrian Mole]] and [[Pandora Braithwaite]] in two series.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+strange+secret+life+of+Adrian+Mole,+29+3+%252F4%253B+GROWING+PAINS%253A+TWICE...-a060329543 'The Strange Secret Life of Adrian Mole, 29 3 /4; Growing Pains: Twice Married Giancarlo Sammarco Goes From Child Star to Geriatric Nurse'] ''[[Scottish Daily Record]]'' 1999</ref>


Napier Brown remained at the Royal Theatre for over 20 years (where he directed over 130 productions) and wrote the plays ''Is This the Day?'' (1990), co-written with his wife [[Vilma Hollingbery]] and which won the Eileen Anderson Central TV award for Best New Play. He also wrote dramatisations based on ''[[Wuthering Heights]]'' (1994), ''[[An Old Man's Love]]'' (1996), ''[[Northanger Abbey]]'' (1998), ''[[The Turn of the Screw]]'' (1999) and ''[[Emma (novel)|Emma]]'' (2000).<ref>[http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=331546 'Set Play' – ''Emma'' -''[[Times Educational Supplement]]'' 25 February 2000]</ref><ref>[http://www.northampton.gov.uk/news/article/1284/wuthering_heights_performed_at_northampton_museum ''Wuthering Heights'' on the Northampton Borough Council website]</ref><ref>[http://doollee.com/PlaywrightsN/napier-brown-michael.html The Plays of Michael Napier Brown on doollee.com]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=R5zBHvImFtQC&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=michael+napier+brown&source=bl&ots=NldBUWAt3H&sig=muZnyRrA0wz6MzEGbj_GxNlSWH8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JuMPUrPqLbC10QXl4YCwCg&ved=0CGUQ6AEwCDhG#v=onepage&q=michael%20napier%20brown&f=false [[Beryl Bainbridge]] ''Front Row: Evenings at The Theatre'' Continuum Books (2005) pg 105 '[[Google Books]]'']</ref> He directed 14 pantomimes, all of which had book, music and lyrics by his wife. In 1995 he was nominated as Best Director for the Martini Regional Awards for ''The Day After the Fair''.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
Napier Brown remained at the Royal Theatre for over 20 years (where he directed over 130 productions) and wrote the plays ''Is This the Day?'' (1990), co-written with his wife [[Vilma Hollingbery]] and which won the Eileen Anderson Central TV award for Best New Play. He also wrote dramatisations based on ''[[Wuthering Heights]]'' (1994), ''[[An Old Man's Love]]'' (1996), ''[[Northanger Abbey]]'' (1998), ''[[The Turn of the Screw]]'' (1999) and ''[[Emma (novel)|Emma]]'' (2000).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=331546 |title='Set Play' – ''Emma'' -''&#91;&#91;Times Educational Supplement&#93;&#93;'' 25 February 2000 |access-date=29 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213721/http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=331546 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.northampton.gov.uk/news/article/1284/wuthering_heights_performed_at_northampton_museum ''Wuthering Heights'' on the Northampton Borough Council website]</ref><ref>[http://doollee.com/PlaywrightsN/napier-brown-michael.html The Plays of Michael Napier Brown on doollee.com]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=R5zBHvImFtQC&dq=michael+napier+brown&pg=PA105 ''Front Row: Evenings at The Theatre''], [[Beryl Bainbridge]] Continuum Books (2005) pg 105, via [[Google Books]]</ref> He directed 14 pantomimes, all of which had book, music and lyrics by his wife. In 1995 he was nominated as Best Director for the Martini Regional Awards for ''The Day After the Fair''.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}


As the Royal Theatre was combining with the nearby Derngate concert hall to create the [[Royal & Derngate]], Napier Brown relinquished his post and he and his wife returned to their home at [[Ham, London|Ham]] in [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames|Richmond]] in Surrey.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} He was director of the [[Ludlow Shakespeare Festival]] for three years, and also directed at the [[Orange Tree Theatre]]<ref>[http://www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/people/director/michael-napier-brown Michael Napier Brown on the ''[[Orange Tree Theatre]] website]</ref> in [[Richmond, London|Richmond]] and the [[Theatre Royal, Bath|Theatre Royal]] in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]].<ref name=Brown/>
As the Royal Theatre was combining with the nearby Derngate concert hall to create the [[Royal & Derngate]], Napier Brown relinquished his post and he and his wife returned to their home at [[Ham, London|Ham]] in [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames|Richmond]] in Surrey.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} He was director of the [[Ludlow Shakespeare Festival]] for three years, and also directed at the [[Orange Tree Theatre]]<ref>[http://www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/people/director/michael-napier-brown Michael Napier Brown] on the [[Orange Tree Theatre]] website</ref> in [[Richmond, London|Richmond]] and the [[Theatre Royal, Bath|Theatre Royal]] in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]].<ref name=Brown/>


He directed several final year productions at the [[Arts Educational Schools, London|Arts Educational Schools]] and [[Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts]] in London, and was an examiner for the New Era Academy. He was a member of the audition panels for entry into Webber Douglas and Arts Educational schools.<ref>[http://directory.thestage.co.uk/adverts/2401 Michael Napier Brown on ''The Stage Directory'' website]</ref>
He directed several final year productions at the [[Arts Educational Schools, London|Arts Educational Schools]] and [[Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts]] in London, and was an examiner for the New Era Academy. He was a member of the audition panels for entry into Webber Douglas and Arts Educational schools.<ref>[http://directory.thestage.co.uk/adverts/2401 Michael Napier Brown on ''The Stage Directory'' website]</ref>


In 1999 he was awarded an honorary [[Master of Arts]] degree by the [[University of Northampton]] for developing a thriving Theatre-in-Education programme at the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Royal Theatre]] in Northampton.<ref>[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/alumni/honorary-and-notable-alumni/honorands-1997-1999 Honorands 1997–1999 of the [[University of Northampton]]] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915184636/http://www.northampton.ac.uk/alumni/honorary-and-notable-alumni/honorands-1997-1999 |date=15 September 2013 }}</ref>
In 1999 he was awarded an honorary [[Master of Arts]] degree by the [[University of Northampton]] for developing a thriving Theatre-in-Education programme at the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Royal Theatre]] in Northampton.<ref>[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/alumni/honorary-and-notable-alumni/honorands-1997-1999 Honorands 1997–1999] of the [[University of Northampton]] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915184636/http://www.northampton.ac.uk/alumni/honorary-and-notable-alumni/honorands-1997-1999 |date=15 September 2013 }}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Napier Brown was married to the actress [[Vilma Hollingbery]] from 1961 until his death. The couple had one daughter together who also became an actress.
⚫
Napier Brown died at the Princess Alice Hospice in [[Esher]] after a long illness.<ref>[http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/giant-of-northampton-theatre-scene-dies-in-hospital/story-29637326-detail/story.html#FtpfFqB3jk7TEKbQ.99 'Giant of Northampton theatre scene dies in hospital' - ''[[Northampton Herald & Post]]'' - 19 August 2016]</ref> He is survived by his wife and daughter.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

⚫
He died on 18 August 2016, aged 79, at the Princess Alice Hospice in [[Esher]] after a long illness.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/giant-of-northampton-theatre-scene-dies-in-hospital/story-29637326-detail/story.html#FtpfFqB3jk7TEKbQ.99 |title='Giant of Northampton theatre scene dies in hospital' - ''&#91;&#91;Northampton Herald & Post&#93;&#93;'' - 19 August 2016 |access-date=22 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821181249/http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/giant-of-northampton-theatre-scene-dies-in-hospital/story-29637326-detail/story.html#FtpfFqB3jk7TEKbQ.99 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hollingbery died in 2021.

==Selected filmography==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Doctor Who]]''
| Arturo Villar
| Episode: ''[[The War Games]]''
|-
| rowspan=3|1970
| ''[[The Borderers]]''
| Fergus
| Episode: ''To the Gallows Tree''
|-
| ''[[Ivanhoe (1970 TV series)|Ivanhoe]]''
| Miller
| Miniseries
|-
| ''[[The Troubleshooters (British TV series)|The Troubleshooters]]''
| Ralph Grant
| Episode: ''The Price of a Bride''
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Secret Army (TV series)|Secret Army]]''
| Husband
| Episode: ''Lisa - Codename Yvette''
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Terry and June]]''
| Police Inspector
| Episode: ''Uncle Terry, Auntie June''
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 34: Line 75:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2bb1a6ddab Michael Napier Brown on the [[British Film Institute]] website]
*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140810180734/https://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2bb1a6ddab Michael Napier Brown] on the [[British Film Institute]] website
*{{IMDb name|id=0114287|name=Michael Napier Brown}}


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[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:20th-century British dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:English male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:English male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century British male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century English male writers]]

Latest revision as of 19:27, 6 July 2024

Michael Napier Brown

Michael Patrick Napier-Brown (17 March 1937 – 18 August 2016) was a British actor, theatre director, and playwright who was the chief executive and artistic director of the Royal Theatre in Northampton for over 20 years.

Early years

[edit]

Born in Bournemouth, Napier Brown was the fifth and youngest child of Bessie and Arthur Napier Brown. His siblings are Betty, David, Margaret and Vera. He was educated at Bournemouth Grammar School for Boys where he developed a love for theatre and took part in various school productions. In 1953 he began a career in journalism with the Bournemouth Daily Echo while continuing to take part in amateur dramatics. From 1955 to 1957 he served his National Service with the Royal Air Force and on leaving the RAF he won a place at The Hampshire School of Drama, washing up in a Forte's restaurant in the mornings to pay for his drama lessons. In 1958 Napier Brown won 'Most Promising Actor', the prize for which was a small silver cup, an agent and a summer season in Guernsey.[1]

Acting career

[edit]

He joined The Penguin Players in 1959, meeting his wife Vilma Hollingbery in the same year, and marrying her in 1961 at Eastbourne. From 1959 to 1964 the couple acted together in over 200 plays. It was during this period that he began directing for the first time.[1]

Napier Brown's television appearances include Julius Caesar for the BBC (1963), Les Misérables (1967), The Golden Shot (1968), the Doctor Who story The War Games (1969), The Borderers (1970), Ivanhoe (1970), Doctor in the House (1970), The Troubleshooters (1970), Casanova '73 (1973), Doctor on the Go (1975), The Dick Emery Show (1976–79), Secret Army (1977), 1990 (1977), Happy Ever After (1978) and Terry and June (1980).[2]

His theatre appearances include Mr Honeyman in Alibi for a Judge at the Savoy Theatre (1966–68); Athos in The Four Musketeers with Harry Secombe at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (1970); George Lyman in 1776 at the Albery Theatre (1971–74); Sheriff Vallon in Show Boat with Cleo Laine at the Adelphi Theatre (1975): Zorba with Alfred Marks at the Greenwich Theatre (1976), and Cardinal Wolsey in Kings and Clowns with Frank Finlay at the Phoenix Theatre (1978).[3]

Theatre director

[edit]

Kings and Clowns was not a success, so Napier Brown decided to try theatre directing. He wrote to Malcolm Farquhar (with whom he and his wife had worked at Harare in Zimbabwe), artistic director at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, who appointed him as associate director. Here Napier Brown directed 11 productions before moving to Derby Playhouse.

In 1981 Napier Brown became chief executive and artistic director of the Royal Theatre in Northampton. Here he discovered Gian Sammarco and Lindsey Stagg and cast them in productions at that theatre; he later recommended them to Thames Television when they were casting for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾. After successful auditions they appeared as Adrian Mole and Pandora Braithwaite in two series.[4]

Napier Brown remained at the Royal Theatre for over 20 years (where he directed over 130 productions) and wrote the plays Is This the Day? (1990), co-written with his wife Vilma Hollingbery and which won the Eileen Anderson Central TV award for Best New Play. He also wrote dramatisations based on Wuthering Heights (1994), An Old Man's Love (1996), Northanger Abbey (1998), The Turn of the Screw (1999) and Emma (2000).[5][6][7][8] He directed 14 pantomimes, all of which had book, music and lyrics by his wife. In 1995 he was nominated as Best Director for the Martini Regional Awards for The Day After the Fair.[citation needed]

As the Royal Theatre was combining with the nearby Derngate concert hall to create the Royal & Derngate, Napier Brown relinquished his post and he and his wife returned to their home at Ham in Richmond in Surrey.[citation needed] He was director of the Ludlow Shakespeare Festival for three years, and also directed at the Orange Tree Theatre[9] in Richmond and the Theatre Royal in Bath.[1]

He directed several final year productions at the Arts Educational Schools and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, and was an examiner for the New Era Academy. He was a member of the audition panels for entry into Webber Douglas and Arts Educational schools.[10]

In 1999 he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by the University of Northampton for developing a thriving Theatre-in-Education programme at the Royal Theatre in Northampton.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Napier Brown was married to the actress Vilma Hollingbery from 1961 until his death. The couple had one daughter together who also became an actress.

He died on 18 August 2016, aged 79, at the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher after a long illness.[12] Hollingbery died in 2021.

Selected filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1969 Doctor Who Arturo Villar Episode: The War Games
1970 The Borderers Fergus Episode: To the Gallows Tree
Ivanhoe Miller Miniseries
The Troubleshooters Ralph Grant Episode: The Price of a Bride
1977 Secret Army Husband Episode: Lisa - Codename Yvette
1980 Terry and June Police Inspector Episode: Uncle Terry, Auntie June

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Information supplied to researcher Glenn Christodoulou by Michael Napier Brown
  2. ^ Michael Napier Brown on the Internet Movie Database
  3. ^ Kings and Clowns on The Guide to Musical Theatre
  4. ^ 'The Strange Secret Life of Adrian Mole, 29 3 /4; Growing Pains: Twice Married Giancarlo Sammarco Goes From Child Star to Geriatric Nurse' Scottish Daily Record 1999
  5. ^ "'Set Play' – Emma -[[Times Educational Supplement]] 25 February 2000". Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  6. ^ Wuthering Heights on the Northampton Borough Council website
  7. ^ The Plays of Michael Napier Brown on doollee.com
  8. ^ Front Row: Evenings at The Theatre, Beryl Bainbridge Continuum Books (2005) pg 105, via Google Books
  9. ^ Michael Napier Brown on the Orange Tree Theatre website
  10. ^ Michael Napier Brown on The Stage Directory website
  11. ^ Honorands 1997–1999 of the University of Northampton Archived 15 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "'Giant of Northampton theatre scene dies in hospital' - [[Northampton Herald & Post]] - 19 August 2016". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
[edit]
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