| George
Alexander Cassady Devine
(1910-66)
Honours
Commander of the British Empire, 1958
Biographical
An actor and theatre director, Devine was educated at Clayesmore School
which had been founded by his uncle, Alexander
Devine, and at Wadham College, Oxford, where he read modern
history. He was president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society in
his final year and became connected with professional theatre after inviting
Sir John Gielgud as director of the society's production of Romeo
and Juliet in 1932. Devine was part of the cast along with Peggy
Ashcroft, Edith Evans, and Christopher Hassall. He started his career
in theatre after leaving school and was the manager of the Motley firm
where his future wife, Sophia
Harris, was a partner. There, he also met the director
Michel Saint-Denis who was to have a profound influence on his career.
He established the London Theatre Studio in 1936 with the help of Saint-Denis
and others. His career was interrupted by the war in which he was
a captain in the Royal Artillery, stationed mostly in Burma. After the
war, he resumed his career and his collaboration with Saint-Denis at the
Old Vic Centre until it was closed down in 1952. He then turned to freelance
directing, and in 1956, became artistic director of the English Stage
Company at the Royal Court Theatre where he was committed to reviving
British drama by encouraging and inspiring new writers, directors, and
playwrights and giving them the opportunity to present their talents.
He spent his final years with his former pupil, the designer Jocelyn Herbert.
Place of birth: Hendon, near London
Place of death: London
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