John Tracey's Theatre Gallery is a collection of my continued fascination with British and Irish Theatre that started on the 6th of November, 1989. Note that I am Canadian, live in Canada and all visits to Britain and Ireland have been and continue to be for sheer pleasure.
My goal is to open a permanent gallery in Ottawa, Canada showcasing posters, programmes/programs, autographs, newspaper reviews, journal notebooks and other mementos from the now 75 trips (so far) in 36 consecutive years made across the pond to see the best plays and musicals in the world performed by the best actors in the world.
SPECIAL NOTE: THE WORLD PANDEMIC OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS THAT STARTED IN JANUARY 2020 RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF ALL BRITISH AND IRISH THEATRES ON OR AROUND 17-MARCH-2020. I finally returned to in person theatre visits in October 2021 after watching about 130 British and Irish streamed productions during the theatre lockdown.
My most recent trip to Britain was Number 76 (8 Oct. - 25 Oct. 2024). At that time I ventured out to another 22 plays and musicals in 18 days in 13 different cities in England, Scotland and Wales.
The total number of plays and musicals I have seen to date currently stands at 1821. This does include:
a) a number of National Theatre Live (NT Live) productions and Digital theatre productions that were recorded in HD and then transmitted to North American cinemas shorty afterwards. Globe on Screen productions shown in cinemas take much longer to be released in Canada.
b) plays that were streamed online (the bulk of which occurred during the COVID closure of the theatres)
c) in rare circumstances I have purchased a dvd released by the theatre to see the play or musical that was recorded for dvd release (as this was my only way to see that production)
To date I have seen 206 of these "electronically transmitted productions in Canada where I live: 11% of the total listed above. The remaining 1615 (89%) had me in an actual theatre seat in Britain or Ireland watching the play or musical live.
All of these exceptions noted above are noted with an * on the "Collection Tab" beside the play number.
As well, as of May 2014, I have decided to also include in the collection any British/Irish touring productions that I see anywhere in the world.
The majority of the plays and musicals I have seen have been in London, England but I have also ventured to Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Cities have included Stratford-upon-Avon, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Chichester, Manchester, Brighton, York, Aylesbury, Birmingham, Kingston, Windsor, Bristol, Oxford, Bath, Glasgow, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol, Richmond, Bromley.... and many others.
I promised myself that when I could return to IN PERSON plays after COVID conditions permitted the theatres to reopen, that I would travel more outside London to support regional theatres as I knew that they were the theatres that needed "bums in seats" with paying customers more that the London theatres.
As such, in the 10 trips I made from October 2021 to July 2024 I saw a total of 204 plays and musicals with 118 of them being outside of London (mega train travel).
The range of productions I've seen over the decades run the gambit: from Shakespeare to farce, gut wrenching war dramas to an over the top Bollywood musical and as many different versions of A Christmas Carol (my favourite play) I could find. Comedies, dramas, murder mysteries, stage versions of films and TV shows and of course the classics: Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Chekhov, Ibsen and many more.
The ACTORS are and continue to be BRILLIANT. From the seasoned veterans (Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi, David Suchet, Patrick Stewart and the late Peter O'Toole, etc.) to those you might not realize actually appear live on the stage (Andrew Scott, Felicity Jones, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Rosamund Pike, Damian Lewis, etc.) to those names that you will know soon if you don't now (Katy Owen, Patsy Ferran, Jonjo O'Neil, Kate O'Flynn, Joshua McGuire, Pippa Nixon, Kristen Atherton, Emily Tucker, Jennifer Kirby, Lydia Wilson and more) ... there is a never ending pool of talent that just keeps getting better.
Two of my favourite British actors are Simon Russell Beale and Nicola Walker. The former I have now seen in 18 different productions. From a campy War comedy (Privates on Parade) to Bernard Shaw to multiple Shakespeare productions and even playing Joseph Stalin [not to be confused with his film role in the Death of Stalin], to a gut busting Harold Pinter Farce (Hot House), Mr. Beale is the consummate professional and can assume any role. It has and continues to be an honour to see him on stage and speak with him at theatre stage doors whenever I can.
The latter I have seen in 8 plays now. Ms. Walker continues to be one of the most recognizable faces on British television in various shows but she always keen to return to the stage, much to my delight. She has proven herself to excel at deadpan comedy (Alan Ayckbourn's Season's Greetings which I had to see twice), to cast shadows in the darker dramas like Relocated and The Cane (both at the Royal Court) and to be at the forefront of new productions (The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time) or modern stagings of classics (A View from the Bridge). It is always a special moment when i get the opportunity to speak with Ms. Walker at stage doors and it is even more exciting when I get word of a new play she has been cast in that I can see her yet again.
For those outside of Britain and Ireland who only get to see these wonderful actors in movies and television shows note that "these actors" do it all.... Stage, Films, TV, radio, Audio books and voice overs. So if you have ever seen Game of Thrones, Unforgotten, Poldark, The Crown, Outlander, Harlots, Star Wars films, Downton Abbey, The Hobbit Films, Marvel Comic films, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Agatha Christie on film and tv (including Poirot and Miss Marple), Doctor Who [7 Doctors + 6 Companions and counting], Harry Potter films, Mr. Selfridge, Are You Being Served, Cranford, On the Buses, Dad's Army, Dinner ladies, Fawlty Towers, The Forsyte Saga, Lord of the Rings films, Upstairs Downstairs (original and new versions), Happy Valley, The Jewel in the Crown, Last Tango in Halifax, Last of the Summer Wine, MI-5/Spooks, One Foot in the Grave, Rising Damp, Pride and Prejudice, A Touch of Frost, Allo Allo, Absolutely Fabulous, As Time goes by, Father Ted, Keeping Up Appearances, The Thin Blue Line, The Vicar of Dibley, Mr. Bean, The Graham Norton Show.... and so many, many more.... then chances are that I have seen actors from these shows/movies live on stage. And there is even a chance that I have met them a lot of them and have their autograph. Actor autographs will form a key part of my gallery.
Expected one day (In Ottawa) will be one or two day Exhibitions of a selection from my collection: about 50-100 or so different productions on display at each set of dates.
I will be looking for volunteers (high school and older) to be stationed at all Exhibition tables to provide information (I will provide) on about 2-3 different productions. Check out the Collection tab to see which productions interest you. If interested please email me.
As well, In taking the first steps towards setting up a permanent gallery in Ottawa I will also be looking for donors: both individual and corporate. If you are interested in being a one time or annual donor please email me.
My goal is to open a permanent gallery in Ottawa, Canada showcasing posters, programmes/programs, autographs, newspaper reviews, journal notebooks and other mementos from the now 75 trips (so far) in 36 consecutive years made across the pond to see the best plays and musicals in the world performed by the best actors in the world.
SPECIAL NOTE: THE WORLD PANDEMIC OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS THAT STARTED IN JANUARY 2020 RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF ALL BRITISH AND IRISH THEATRES ON OR AROUND 17-MARCH-2020. I finally returned to in person theatre visits in October 2021 after watching about 130 British and Irish streamed productions during the theatre lockdown.
My most recent trip to Britain was Number 76 (8 Oct. - 25 Oct. 2024). At that time I ventured out to another 22 plays and musicals in 18 days in 13 different cities in England, Scotland and Wales.
The total number of plays and musicals I have seen to date currently stands at 1821. This does include:
a) a number of National Theatre Live (NT Live) productions and Digital theatre productions that were recorded in HD and then transmitted to North American cinemas shorty afterwards. Globe on Screen productions shown in cinemas take much longer to be released in Canada.
b) plays that were streamed online (the bulk of which occurred during the COVID closure of the theatres)
c) in rare circumstances I have purchased a dvd released by the theatre to see the play or musical that was recorded for dvd release (as this was my only way to see that production)
To date I have seen 206 of these "electronically transmitted productions in Canada where I live: 11% of the total listed above. The remaining 1615 (89%) had me in an actual theatre seat in Britain or Ireland watching the play or musical live.
All of these exceptions noted above are noted with an * on the "Collection Tab" beside the play number.
As well, as of May 2014, I have decided to also include in the collection any British/Irish touring productions that I see anywhere in the world.
The majority of the plays and musicals I have seen have been in London, England but I have also ventured to Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Cities have included Stratford-upon-Avon, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Chichester, Manchester, Brighton, York, Aylesbury, Birmingham, Kingston, Windsor, Bristol, Oxford, Bath, Glasgow, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol, Richmond, Bromley.... and many others.
I promised myself that when I could return to IN PERSON plays after COVID conditions permitted the theatres to reopen, that I would travel more outside London to support regional theatres as I knew that they were the theatres that needed "bums in seats" with paying customers more that the London theatres.
As such, in the 10 trips I made from October 2021 to July 2024 I saw a total of 204 plays and musicals with 118 of them being outside of London (mega train travel).
The range of productions I've seen over the decades run the gambit: from Shakespeare to farce, gut wrenching war dramas to an over the top Bollywood musical and as many different versions of A Christmas Carol (my favourite play) I could find. Comedies, dramas, murder mysteries, stage versions of films and TV shows and of course the classics: Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Chekhov, Ibsen and many more.
The ACTORS are and continue to be BRILLIANT. From the seasoned veterans (Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi, David Suchet, Patrick Stewart and the late Peter O'Toole, etc.) to those you might not realize actually appear live on the stage (Andrew Scott, Felicity Jones, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Rosamund Pike, Damian Lewis, etc.) to those names that you will know soon if you don't now (Katy Owen, Patsy Ferran, Jonjo O'Neil, Kate O'Flynn, Joshua McGuire, Pippa Nixon, Kristen Atherton, Emily Tucker, Jennifer Kirby, Lydia Wilson and more) ... there is a never ending pool of talent that just keeps getting better.
Two of my favourite British actors are Simon Russell Beale and Nicola Walker. The former I have now seen in 18 different productions. From a campy War comedy (Privates on Parade) to Bernard Shaw to multiple Shakespeare productions and even playing Joseph Stalin [not to be confused with his film role in the Death of Stalin], to a gut busting Harold Pinter Farce (Hot House), Mr. Beale is the consummate professional and can assume any role. It has and continues to be an honour to see him on stage and speak with him at theatre stage doors whenever I can.
The latter I have seen in 8 plays now. Ms. Walker continues to be one of the most recognizable faces on British television in various shows but she always keen to return to the stage, much to my delight. She has proven herself to excel at deadpan comedy (Alan Ayckbourn's Season's Greetings which I had to see twice), to cast shadows in the darker dramas like Relocated and The Cane (both at the Royal Court) and to be at the forefront of new productions (The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time) or modern stagings of classics (A View from the Bridge). It is always a special moment when i get the opportunity to speak with Ms. Walker at stage doors and it is even more exciting when I get word of a new play she has been cast in that I can see her yet again.
For those outside of Britain and Ireland who only get to see these wonderful actors in movies and television shows note that "these actors" do it all.... Stage, Films, TV, radio, Audio books and voice overs. So if you have ever seen Game of Thrones, Unforgotten, Poldark, The Crown, Outlander, Harlots, Star Wars films, Downton Abbey, The Hobbit Films, Marvel Comic films, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Agatha Christie on film and tv (including Poirot and Miss Marple), Doctor Who [7 Doctors + 6 Companions and counting], Harry Potter films, Mr. Selfridge, Are You Being Served, Cranford, On the Buses, Dad's Army, Dinner ladies, Fawlty Towers, The Forsyte Saga, Lord of the Rings films, Upstairs Downstairs (original and new versions), Happy Valley, The Jewel in the Crown, Last Tango in Halifax, Last of the Summer Wine, MI-5/Spooks, One Foot in the Grave, Rising Damp, Pride and Prejudice, A Touch of Frost, Allo Allo, Absolutely Fabulous, As Time goes by, Father Ted, Keeping Up Appearances, The Thin Blue Line, The Vicar of Dibley, Mr. Bean, The Graham Norton Show.... and so many, many more.... then chances are that I have seen actors from these shows/movies live on stage. And there is even a chance that I have met them a lot of them and have their autograph. Actor autographs will form a key part of my gallery.
Expected one day (In Ottawa) will be one or two day Exhibitions of a selection from my collection: about 50-100 or so different productions on display at each set of dates.
I will be looking for volunteers (high school and older) to be stationed at all Exhibition tables to provide information (I will provide) on about 2-3 different productions. Check out the Collection tab to see which productions interest you. If interested please email me.
As well, In taking the first steps towards setting up a permanent gallery in Ottawa I will also be looking for donors: both individual and corporate. If you are interested in being a one time or annual donor please email me.
