Leslie Evershed-Martin
Leslie Eric Evershed-Martin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 May 1903 |
| Died | 7 January 1994 (aged 90) |
| Occupations | Theatre impresario, city councillor and optician |
| Spouse |
Caroline Hull (m. 1929) |
| Children | 2 |
Leslie Eric Evershed-Martin, CBE (1903–1994) was a British theatre manager, city councillor and optician, and founder of the Chichester Festival Theatre.[1]
Evershed-Martin was born in Clapham, London in 1903. His father was a bank manager, and he trained as an optician. He was twice Mayor of Chichester and founded Chichester Players in 1933.[2] In 1959, Evershed-Martin founded the Chichester Festival Theatre, and then successfully raised the funding to see this 'Impossible theatre' built, in 1960.[3] The theatre opened with Laurence Olivier as its first artistic director, and attracted a host of prominent directors during its first two decades.[1] In July 1963 he was recognised with the award of member (serving brother) of the Order of Saint John.[4] He was awarded an OBE in June 1967,[5] and a CBE in June 1990 for his services to theatre.[6]
He married Caroline Hull in 1929; they had two sons. He died in 1994.[1]
Publications
- Evershed-Martin, Leslie. 1971. The Impossible Theatre: The Chichester Festival Theatre Adventure. Bognor Regis: Philimore & Co. ISBN 9780900592171.
References
- 1 2 3 "Obituary: Leslie Evershed-Martin". The Independent. 28 January 1994.
- ↑ "1994: Leslie". Chichester Festival Theatre.
- ↑ "Chichester Festival Theatre - how it all began..." 8 April 2022.
- ↑ "Page 5648 | Issue 43045, 2 July 1963 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- ↑ "Page 6281 | Supplement 44326, 2 June 1967 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- ↑ "Page 8 | Issue 52173, 15 June 1990 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.