John Alden 1908-1962

In mid 1943 Alden was cast with Peter Finch in Red Sky at Morning, a film version of Dymphna Cusack’s 1935 play. A total disaster, it was withdrawn after a few country screenings, and drastically re-edited. Retitled Escape at Dawn, it resurfaced briefly in Britain a few years later, mainly to exploit Finch’s participation. In 1944 Alden unsuccessfully sought the Department of Education’s support for a ‘state touring dramatic company’.

For 2GB–Macquarie and J.C. Williamson’s Alden directed several plays in the innovative 5.30 p.m. series presented at the Theatre Royal during the war years. He returned to the Independent, directing and playing in The Royal Family of Broadway in 1941 and, the following year, tackling his first Shakespearean lead – Macbeth, opposite Doris Fitton. He directed The Merchant of Venice at the Independent in 1945. Alden also directed the ABC’s Children’s Session, and contributed a series of plays based on Greek mythology. After the war he spent 13 months in Japan, heading a company playing for the allied occupation forces.

In late 1948 Alden directed and played in Measure for Measure, the first of five significant ‘Wednesday night Shakespeare’ presentations at the Independent. In 1949 he was seen briefly in the film Into the Straight, a racing drama that made little impact. In 1950, with Arts Council support, Alden founded his own company and leased the St James’s Hall in Phillip Street, Sydney, opening with Lyndall Barbour in O’Neill’s Anna Christie. Then came The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and, most sensationally, King Lear, which was seen by 17,000 people. Alden directed and took the title role in a cast that included Dinah Shearing and Ruth Cracknell. Ms Cracknell recalled, ‘The play had quite an impact, particularly the eye gouging scene. People would rush out – hopefully making the street before throwing up.’ Lear ran for five months to capacity audiences, was broadcast by the ABC, and established Alden as a major figure of the Australian stage.

In 1951, with the backing of J.C. Williamson’s, Alden realised his dream: a national tour of The John Alden Jubilee Shakespeare Company. It opened on 5 December at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne with ‘the titanic tragedy’ of King Lear (inevitably!) and continued with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, The Tempest and The Winter’s Tale. The leading roles were played by Alden, Max Oldaker, Nancye Stewart and Neva Carr Glyn. Also in the 30-strong company were William Rees, Alistair Roberts, Owen Weingott, John Meillon, Ron Shand, Bill Akers and James Mills – with whom Aden had worked in Harrogate before the war.