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Sir Barry Vincent Jackson, (1879–3 April 1961), was a distinguished theatre director and the founder of the
Birmingham Repertory TheatreBirmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
.
Life and career
He was the son of George Jackson of
BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and was educated privately.
He was the founder and Governing Director of the
Birmingham Repertory TheatreBirmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
and was also a director of the
Royal Opera HouseThe Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in
LondonLondon 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...
.
He directed the Malvern Summer Festivals from 1929 to 1937 and was Director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in
Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
in 1947-48. He was awarded the
Freedom of the City of BirminghamHonorary Freemen of the City of BirminghamThe City of Birmingham, England has granted Honorary Freedom to individuals and military organisations since 1888. Designation as a Freeman of the City is an honorary title and, subject to a two thirds majority of the Council, is granted to persons of...
on 16 April 1955.
In 1960, Jackson's health began to deteriorate as a result of leukaemia. He spent time between the hospital in
BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, is home in
MalvernMalvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
and his office at the theatre. The final play he saw was "
Antony and Cleopatra" at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, however, he was unable to stay longer than the first intermission.
Letters written by Sir Barry Jackson and other materials are held at the
University of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
Special Collections and at Birmingham Central Library Archives.
Honours
- Birmingham Civic Society Gold Medal, 1922
- Hon M.A. (Birmingham), 1922
- Knighted, 1925
- Hon LL.D. (St.Andrews), 1937
- Hon D.Litt (Birmingham), 1950
- Freedom of the City of Birmingham
Honorary Freemen of the City of BirminghamThe City of Birmingham, England has granted Honorary Freedom to individuals and military organisations since 1888. Designation as a Freeman of the City is an honorary title and, subject to a two thirds majority of the Council, is granted to persons of...
, 1955
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