ANGUS McBEAN : SECOND COMING : AT ART ON THE HILL, NEWPORT, SOUTH WALES

 

ANGUS McBEAN’S SECOND COMING

IN ART ON THE HILL : ST MARKS CHURCH 

NEWPORT, SOUTH WALES NP20 4PH

SAT 29 NOVEMBER –SUN 30 NOVEMBER

12pm-5pm

FREE ENTRANCE

ST MARKS CHURCH NEWPORT NP20 4PH

ANGUS McBEAN ORIGINALS FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT

SOME THEATRE ICONS

PHOTOS ON  BACK ROW :   NAMES  OF ACTORS/ ACTRESSES AND SETTING

PAUL ROGERS, (1917-2013),  in “JB’,  by Alexander Macleish  at the Phoenix Theatre,  London, 1961.

VIVIEN LEIGH, (1913-1967), in 1955,  as Viola   in Shakespeare’s  “ TWELFTH NIGHT” .

LAURENCE OLIVER,  (1907-1989 ) as  “ Titus Andronicus”  Stratford,  1955 Season.  

RICHARD BURTON, (1925-1984 ), as King Henry  V at Stratford Memorial Theatre, 1951.

PATRICK LUDLOW, (1903-1996). Best known for his roles in Noel Coward Comedies.

PHOTOS IN MIDDLE ROW : NAMES OF ACTORS/ACTRESSES AND SETTING

OKLAHOMA’. DRURY LANE, LONDON. 1948.  Howard Keel ( 1919-2004) as “Curly”.

DONALD SINDEN, (1923-2014),  as “JB’  at the Phoenix Theatre , London,  with  CONSTANCE CUMMINGS, ( 1910-2005). 

DONALD SINDEN, (1923-2014),  as “JB’  with PAUL ROGERS, ( 1917-2013),  as Nickles, Phoenix Theatre, London, 1961. 

Two Unknown Players in a Kodak reproduction. May be MICHAEL GOODLIFFE (  1914-1976) and ROSEMARY LEACH ( 1935-2017)  c1961. Kodak Image. found in a junk shop.

Appearing left to right   RODDY MAUDE –ROXBY (born 1930 ),  DONALD SINDEN,  (1923-2014),   GEOFFREY CHATER, (1921-2021),  &  FELIX FELTON,  ( 1911-1972), “ JB”, London. 

PHOTOS ON BOTTOM ROW: NAMES OF ACTORS/ ACTRESSES AND SETTING

Actress/ Fashion Icon AUDREY HEPBURN ( 1919-1993)  Poster Girl.  c 1950 Audrey in an  advert for LACTO-CALAMINE.

A Personal Christmas Card  Image from Angus and his partner David Ball to a friend, Marika. The message  reads “ For Marika Happy Christmas Love Angus and David”.

From 1936, Actors  IVOR  NOVELLO ( 1892-1951)  and MARIUS GORING ( 1912-1998)  in the play   “ The Happy Hypocrite” ,  HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, LONDON. 

VIVIEN LEIGH,  (1913-1967), as Blanche de Bois in  Laurence Olivier’s English  Premier production of “ STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE”, in 1950, at the Aldwych Theatre, London.

GERALDINE McEWAN, (1932-2015) , in 1954,  as Annie in  “For Better, For Worse”, Comedy Theatre, London and on UK Tour. Studio Photograph by McBean.

QUENTIN CRISP, (1908-1990). Raconteur, Author and art model. Lover of  McBean in the 1930s.  The 1968 cover for Crisp’s  memoir “ The Naked Civil Servant”  is based on a photograph by Angus  McBean.

BEATRIX LEHMANN, (1903- 1979) Actress.  Studio Work,  London, 1938.

IVOR  NOVELLO,  (1892-1951) : Playwright  & Actor.  1930s.   Studio  Portrait. Portsmouth.

IVOR NOVELLO,  (1892-1951):  2nd image (c1930s) Studio Portrait. Portsmouth.

FRASER CAMERON LOWDEN, ( 1932-2003). Producer & Actor. Worked with Angus  McBean  in the 1958 Manchester production of “ WEST SIDE STORY”.

Further information/ contact William Cross on email

williecross@aol.com

Angus McBean Exhibition : Cwtsh Gallery, Newport, South Wales, Until 5 October 2025 : What You'll See

 

McBEANIA

 WHAT IS ON THE WALLS AT CWTSH 

These are the images that festoon the walls at Cwtsh Art Gallery  Newport, until 5 October 2025.

In addition there are dozens of other Angus McBean photographs, theatre programmes, magazines and artefacts, to ogle. 

1. Actress VERA PEARCE, ( 1895-1966) : Surreal Image. 1938

2. Actress BEATRIX LEHMANN,  ( 1903-1979): Surreal Image. 1937

3. Actress and Aristocrat, RENE RAY, ( 1911-1993): Surreal Image. 1938

4. Actress PAMELA STANLEY, ( 1909-1991) :  Surreal Image. 1938

5. Film Director, JEAN RENOIR,  ( 1894-1979):1959

6. US- born Actress,  FRANCES DAY,  ( 1908-1994). Surreal Image. 1938

7. Actress HERMIONE GINGOLD, ( 1897-1987): Surreal Image. 1952

8. Actress HERMIONE BADDELEY, ( 1906-1986) : Surreal Image. 1938

9. US-born Actress, DOROTHY DICKSON, (1893-1995): Surreal Image 1938

AND Actress /Icon AUDREY HEPBURN, (1929-1993). Surreal Image. 1949

10.  QUENTIN CRISP, (1908-1990). Raconteur/ Author: Studio. 1930s

11. Actress, AMANDA BARRIE,( born 1935):  Film Studio. 1964

12. Actress GERALDINE McEWAN, (1932-2015): London Theatre. 1954

13. Actress  BEATRIX LEHMANN, (1903- 1979). Studio. 1938

14. Actress  VIVIEN LEIGH, (1913-1967): Stratford. 1955

15. Actress VANESSA REDGRAVE,  ( born 1937): London Theatre 1964

16. Actress/ Icon AUDREY HEPBURN, (1919-1993) : Poster. 1950

17. US Actress/Dancer MARY ELLIS, ( 1897-2003): London Theatre. 1954

18. Actor PAUL ROGERS, (1917-2013) : London Theatre.  1961

19.  Singer/ Actor TOMMY STEELE, ( born 1936).  Old Vic  Theatre. 1960

20. Actor IVOR  NOVELLO, ( 1892-1951):  Reprint/ Studio. 1930s

21. THE  BEVERLEY SISTERS :  Promotional for an LP Record.  1959.

22. Actor DOUGLAS TROW.  Born c1920s. Died 1992. Studio.    1950s

23. Actor  IVOR NOVELLO, ( 1892-1951):  Reprint / Studio.  1930s

24. Musical duo MICHAEL FLANDERS (1922-1975) & DONALD SWANN (1923-1994) c 1959

25. Actress VANESSA REDGRAVE, ( born 1937):  On Stage. 1960 

26. Actress  EDITH EVANS, ( 1888-1976). London Theatre.  1930s

27. Actress, MAGGIE SMITH, ( 1934-2024). Stage/ promotion. 1963

28.  Actress  EDITH EVANS,( 1888-1976).  London Theatre. 1949

29.  STAMPS ETC ON THE BACK OF PROOF PHOTOS by McBean

30. Actress, Dorothy Tutin, ( 1930-2001).  Studio.  1963

31.  Christmas Card  sent by  CHERRY  McBEAN. Angus’ mother

32.  Christmas Card  sent by  ANGUS  McBEAN to a friend 

33.  Another Christmas Card Sent by  CHERRY McBEAN. Angus’ mother

34-37.     Actress MARLENE DIETRICH, ( 1901-1992).  Film Studio. 1951

38. Actors DONALD SINDEN, ( 1923-2014)  &  PAUL ROGERS, (1917-2013). Stage 1961

39.  Actress ROSAMUND JOHN,  (1913- 1998).  Brighton Theatre. 1938

40.  Actors DENNIS PRICE, (1915-1973) & ROSAMUND JOHN (1913-1998). Stage. 1938 

41.   Actors in verse play “ JB”  by Archibald Macleish. London Theatre.  1961

42. Actress DAME  GWEN FRANGCON-DAVIES,  ( 1891-1992). Studio. 1950s 

43. EDITH EVANS (1888-1976)& ZOE CALDWELL ( 1933-2020). On Stage.  1959    

44. DONALD SINDEN, ( 1923-2014) &  CONSTANCE CUMMINGS, ( 1910-2005) Stage. 1961

45. Actor  RONALD LEWIS, ( 1928-1982).  London Theatre. 1955

46. Actor STEPHEN MURRAY, (1912-1983). London Theatre 1937

47. LAURENCE OLIVIER (1907-1989) & VIVIEN LEIGH( 1913-1967), Stratford. 1951

48. MICHAEL REDGRAVE (1908-1995 ) & YVONNE MITCHELL. RSC Stratford.  1953

49. LAURENCE OLIVIER,  (1907-1989 ).  RSC  Stratford.  1955

50. Actor RALPH RICHARDSON, ( 1902-1983). AND COMPANY RSC Stratford. 1956

51. MARIUS GORING (1912-1998) & YVONNE MITCHELL, ( 1925-1979). RSC 1953

52.  British-US Actor CHARLES LAUGHTON, (1899-1962). RSC  Stratford. 1959-60

53. RICHARD BURTON, (1925-1984 ). RSC Stratford. 1951

54. Actress  JOAN PLOWRIGHT, (1929-2025) & MAX ADRIAN (1903-1973), Chichester 1963

55. RICHARD BURTON, (1925-1984 ).   RSC Stratford. 1951

56. ROBERT HELPMANN, (1909-1986 ).  RSC Stratford. 1948

57.  May be MICHAEL GOODLIFFE (  1914-1976) and ROSEMARY LEACH ( 1935-2017)  c1961

58. RONALD LEWIS, ( 1928-1982). London Theatre. 1963

59. Actor  JOHN GIELGUD, ( 1904-2000).  RSC  Stratford. 1957-8

60. PATRICK LUDLOW, ( 1903-1996).  Studio. Post WW2.

61.  IVOR  NOVELLO ( 1892-1951)  and MARIUS GORING ( 1912-1998). London Theatre. 1936

62.  US Musical ‘OKLAHOMA’. DRURY LANE,  Howard Keel ( 1919-2004). London Stage. 1948 

63-65. US Musical “WEST SIDE STORY”  On  Stage Manchester/ London. 1958

66. VIVIEN LEIGH,  (1913-1967), London Theatre. 1950

 

RSC= Royal Shakespeare Company . Performances were staged at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, The Old Vic, London and The Aldwych Theatre, London.

RECORDS : LPs/ EPs/46s records on display are :

Flanders and Swan ( LP & 45);  South Pacific; Spike Milligan; Paul Robeson;  Maria Callas; Max Jaffe;  Shirley Bassey ( Showboat);  Mrs Mills; Amy Shuard;  Another of Mrs Mills; Noel Coward & Joan Sutherland;  Memories of Ivor Novello ( Vanessa Lee);  Danny Williams:  Freddie  &  the Dreamers;  T S Eliot;  Cliff Richard 1; Cliff Richard 2;  Cliff [ Richard] Me & My Shadows;  Russ Conway x 2; The Beverley Sisters; More Russ Conway; Helen Shipiro;  The Fabulous Shirley Bassey; Matt Monro; West Side Story; The Beatles ( Red Album); The Beatles Hits; The Beatles ( Blue Album); The Beatles: Love Me Do; The Beatles : Please, Please Me.  

 

WINDOW DISPLAYS

 

THEATRE PROGRAMMES  & MAGS:  A SELECTION OF SHOWS PHOTOGRAPHED BY McBEAN

Actor FRASER CAMERON LOWDEN, ( 1932-2003): Studio 1959. The images from “ West Side Story”  originate from Fraser’s Archive.

Audrey Hepburn : Collage by various photographers.

The book on display beneath The Hepburn  Collage  is “Angus McBean: Portraits”  by Terence Pepper. National Portrait Gallery Publications. ( 2006).

Actress MARGARET LEIGHTON, (1922-1976), as Ariel in Shakespeare’s  “ THE TEMPEST” Stratford Memorial Theatre,   1952  Season.

 

Acknowledgements :

Angus McBean: MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES: Adrian Woodhouse. Macdonald. (1985)

Angus McBean “Facemaker” : by  Adrian Woodhouse. Alma Books ( 2006).

British Newspapers in particular “ The Sketch” and “The Tatler” Archives.

With much thanks to everyone at  Cwtsh Arts Centre, Newport , and  in particular  John Briggs.

Further Enquiries  Contact Will Cross by email   williecross@aol.com