Donald Howarth
Encyclopedia
Donald Howarth is a playwright and theatre director. After training at Esme Church
's Northern Theatre School in Bradford
, he worked in various repertory theatres around England before writing his first play, Sugar in the Morning, which was selected by George Devine
for performance at the Royal Court Theatre
in 1959. Ian McKellen
's first starring role in London's West End
was in Howarth's third play, A Lily in Little India, and his fourth play, Three Months Gone starred Diana Dors
.
Donald Howarth now splits his time between London and a countryside property in Wales, in the garden of which George Goetschuis is buried.
Esme Church
Esme Church was a British actress and theatre director. In a long career she acted with the Old Vic Company, The Royal Shakespeare Company and on Broadway...
's Northern Theatre School in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, he worked in various repertory theatres around England before writing his first play, Sugar in the Morning, which was selected by George Devine
George Devine
George Alexander Cassady Devine CBE was an extremely influential theatrical manager, director, teacher and actor in London from the late 1940s until his death. He also worked in the media of TV and film.-Biography:...
for performance 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 1959. Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
's first starring role in London's 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...
was in Howarth's third play, A Lily in Little India, and his fourth play, Three Months Gone starred Diana Dors
Diana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
.
Personal life
He enjoyed a near fifty year relationship with American LSE academic George Goetschuis and entered into a civil partnership with him in February 2006 shortly after their introduction in the UK. Goetschuis died in October 2006 at the age of 83. They lived for most of their life together in George Devine's old Thameside house in London, theatre director Peter Gill sharing part of the property for many years. Donald Howarth is mentioned in the diary of Joe Orton when Orton visited Peter Gill.Donald Howarth now splits his time between London and a countryside property in Wales, in the garden of which George Goetschuis is buried.