Binkie Beaumont
Encyclopedia
Hugh 'Binkie' Beaumont was a British theatre manager and producer, referred to as the "Eminence Grise" of the West End Theatre
. He was one of the most successful manager-producers in the West End
during the middle of the 20th century. The director Tyrone Guthrie
commented that, in his prime, Beaumont had the power to make or break just about any theatrical career in London. His company, H. M. Tennent, was based at the Globe Theatre (now re-named The Gielgud Theatre
).
Beaumont's true surname and place of birth are both somewhat uncertain, although it is generally thought that he was born in south Wales
. (Charlotte Mosley, editor of Love from Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford
names him therein as 'Hughes Griffiths Beaumont'.) He was universally known by his nickname 'Binkie'.
His long career began in Cardiff
, where he was assistant manager of a theatre. He gained further experience at the Barnes Theatre in London
, which was run by the producer Philip Ridgeway.
Beaumont then teamed up with H. M. Tennent, a former colleague, and the two men went into stage production and management on their own. They shared a common dissatisfaction with the quality of the offerings around them, and decided that they could do better. Their first production at the Queen's Theatre
in 1936 was a failure. However, this was to be no more than a temporary setback. Tennent died in 1941, leaving Beaumont as managing director and the sole man in charge.
In this capacity, Binkie Beaumont oversaw a remarkable string of successes. His operation dominated West End theatre for nearly two decades; by 1960, it was by far the largest and most important production company in London. Beaumont's success derived not just from his ability to manage a business properly; he also had an unerring eye for artistic quality, and was forceful in ensuring that high standards were met. The Times
reported on his death that he had once forced the eminent American playwright Thornton Wilder
to rewrite.
His company was particularly adept at turning out polished comedies with big-name casts. Although he preferred to wield his power and influence from behind the scenes, he was friends with some of the biggest names of the stage, John Gielgud
, Noël Coward
and Terence Rattigan
among them.
Nevertheless, Beaumont represented a certain kind of conservatism in theatre. He was, in the words of a modern critic, "camp baron of the profitable comedy and well-made play". As such, he is said to have been less than receptive to the arrival of the Angry Young Men
and their kitchen sink dramas in the 1950s. On 8 May 1956, John Osborne
's play Look Back in Anger
premiered at the Royal Court Theatre
in London. While it has long been regarded as a seminal work in post-war British theatre, Beaumont walked out during the interval.
He had a close association with the National Theatre
, being one of the founder members of the board in 1963. He continued to run his own production company until his death at the age of 64.
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
. He was one of the most successful manager-producers in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
during the middle of the 20th century. The director Tyrone Guthrie
Tyrone Guthrie
Sir William Tyrone Guthrie was an English theatrical director instrumental in the founding of the Stratford Festival of Canada, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, at his family's home, Annaghmakerrig, in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Life and career:Guthrie...
commented that, in his prime, Beaumont had the power to make or break just about any theatrical career in London. His company, H. M. Tennent, was based at the Globe Theatre (now re-named The Gielgud Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
The Gielgud Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, London, at the corner of Rupert Street. The house currently has 889 seats on three levels.-History:...
).
Beaumont's true surname and place of birth are both somewhat uncertain, although it is generally thought that he was born in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. (Charlotte Mosley, editor of Love from Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford
Nancy Mitford
Nancy Freeman-Mitford, CBE , styled The Hon. Nancy Mitford before her marriage and The Hon. Mrs Peter Rodd thereafter, was an English novelist and biographer, one of the Bright Young People on the London social scene in the inter-war years...
names him therein as 'Hughes Griffiths Beaumont'.) He was universally known by his nickname 'Binkie'.
His long career began in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, where he was assistant manager of a theatre. He gained further experience at the Barnes Theatre in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which was run by the producer Philip Ridgeway.
Beaumont then teamed up with H. M. Tennent, a former colleague, and the two men went into stage production and management on their own. They shared a common dissatisfaction with the quality of the offerings around them, and decided that they could do better. Their first production at the Queen's Theatre
Queen's Theatre
The Queen's Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. It opened on 8 October 1907 as a twin to the neighbouring Gielgud Theatre which opened ten months earlier. Both theatres were designed by W.G.R...
in 1936 was a failure. However, this was to be no more than a temporary setback. Tennent died in 1941, leaving Beaumont as managing director and the sole man in charge.
In this capacity, Binkie Beaumont oversaw a remarkable string of successes. His operation dominated West End theatre for nearly two decades; by 1960, it was by far the largest and most important production company in London. Beaumont's success derived not just from his ability to manage a business properly; he also had an unerring eye for artistic quality, and was forceful in ensuring that high standards were met. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
reported on his death that he had once forced the eminent American playwright Thornton Wilder
Thornton Wilder
Thornton Niven Wilder was an American playwright and novelist. He received three Pulitzer Prizes, one for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and two for his plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth, and a National Book Award for his novel The Eighth Day.-Early years:Wilder was born in Madison,...
to rewrite.
His company was particularly adept at turning out polished comedies with big-name casts. Although he preferred to wield his power and influence from behind the scenes, he was friends with some of the biggest names of the stage, John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
, Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
and Terence Rattigan
Terence Rattigan
Sir Terence Mervyn Rattigan CBE was one of England's most popular 20th-century dramatists. His plays are generally set in an upper-middle-class background...
among them.
Nevertheless, Beaumont represented a certain kind of conservatism in theatre. He was, in the words of a modern critic, "camp baron of the profitable comedy and well-made play". As such, he is said to have been less than receptive to the arrival of the Angry Young Men
Angry young men
The "angry young men" were a group of mostly working and middle class British playwrights and novelists who became prominent in the 1950s. The group's leading members included John Osborne and Kingsley Amis.The phrase was originally coined by the Royal Court Theatre's press officer to promote John...
and their kitchen sink dramas in the 1950s. On 8 May 1956, John Osborne
John Osborne
John James Osborne was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor and critic of the Establishment. The success of his 1956 play Look Back in Anger transformed English theatre....
's play Look Back in Anger
Look Back in Anger
Look Back in Anger is a John Osborne play—made into films in 1959, 1980, and 1989 -- about a love triangle involving an intelligent but disaffected young man , his upper-middle-class, impassive wife , and her haughty best friend . Cliff, an amiable Welsh lodger, attempts to keep the peace...
premiered at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in London. While it has long been regarded as a seminal work in post-war British theatre, Beaumont walked out during the interval.
He had a close association with the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, being one of the founder members of the board in 1963. He continued to run his own production company until his death at the age of 64.
External links
- University of Bristol Theatre Collection, University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...