Tony Church 1930- 2008

Actor and Gentleman

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances” Shakespeare

Tony Church’s significant career in theatre spanned more than 60 years and the world was indeed his stage. A founding member and leading actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, he also acted with the National Theatre and numerous other notable companies and gave memorable performances throughout the United States, Europe, Russia and Japan in a wide range of leading roles.

In 1988 he played the title role in Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” in the  Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. This experience marked the beginning of his love affair with Greece and more particularly with the island of Hydra where he chose to spend the last years of his life.

He relished the beauty of Hydra – and here he met and fell in love with the artist Mary Gladstone whom he married in a moving ceremony in Hydra in 2003.  Together they loved to hike, swim and spend nights watching the sunsets and starry skies of Hydra. Tony worked on his memoirs, made serious attempts to learn Greek and hoped to play King Lear for the sixth time when he reached 80.  He was seen daily walking up and down the two hundred steps from his house in Kamini to the port to collect his post and groceries. Although perhaps the rakish angle of  his hat and the mischievious twinkle in his eye betrayed his artistry, few, if any, Hydriots realised the magnitude of his career – in keeping with all great men he was unassuming and modest – but we all recognised him as a true gentleman. He gave the  same courteous attention to the local mulemen as he had given to Lord Olivier,  Dame Judi Dench, Dame Edith Evans, Paul Scofield and the countless other theatre “giants” that he had shared the stage with. His final performance was less than a year ago, when, in spite of his failing health and sight, he insisted on accepting the Royal Shakespeare Company’s invitation to join a line up of famous actors on the Stratford stage before it was demolished for renovation. He was as nervous as a schoolboy as to whether he would manage to remember his lines. His worry was foundless – always “the pro”, Tony’s chosen speech - Prospero’s valedictory  from “The Tempest” -  was faultlessly delivered and had a profound effect on his illustrious audience.  Perhaps he knew it was  to be his swan-song:

                      “ Our revels now are ended.These our actors,
                         As I foretold you, were all spirits and
                         Are melted into air, into thin air….
                         … …………..We are such stuff
                         As dreams are made on, and our little life
                         Is rounded with a sleep”

Tony was increasingly frail - yet as soon as he stepped on stage in front of an audience – whether it was in Stratford,  Epidaurus or a little theatre in a fishing village - he was transformed – his magnificent voice boomed and  even when he paused we all were mesmerised by his presence - as audiences throughout the world  had been for the past 60 years.
 
One of my last memories of Tony was watching him being “mobbed” in Vlychos by my theatre students, who, after attending what turned out to be his penultimate performance, were clamouring to be photographed with him and queing up for his autograph. The  local villagers, who had seen him regularly over the years, were surprised at the adulation and asked if he was a star. Yes.

Tony Church was indeed a star.  A star who will be missed and who we will remember in Hydra as a great gentleman as well as a great actor. A star that I like to think will continue to twinkle, mischieviously, up in the Hydra sky that he so loved.

Tony Church passed away peacefully on March 25th in a nursing home in England
with his wife Mary by his side. The funeral will be held on April 4th at 11am in Stratford-upon-Avon

Corinna Seeds
Hydra.
Copyright CS - Athens News March 2008.

By kind permission of Athens News

For further biographical information and obituaries please see:

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/obituary/0,,2268826,00.html
 
http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_8696015?source=email
 
 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/outstanding-rsc-actor-tony-church-802752.html