Lilian Baylis (1874-1937) is best remembered as the extraordinary woman who turned the Old Vic into the home of Shakespeare in London and one of the best known theatres in the world. The greatest British actors of the century – Olivier, Gielgud, Richardson, Ashcroft, Evans – played some of their greatest parts under her aegis, usually for very little money. Our unusual photograph shows that Miss Baylis was also a keen banjo player!

Sir Barry Jackson (1879-1961) was a figure of huge influence in British Theatre. Independently wealthy, he founded the Birmingham Repertory Theatre where Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, Peter Brook and Paul Scofield began their careers. It was under his management that modern dress Shakespeare productions had their beginnings in the century with CYMBELINE in khaki. He was knighted in 1925.

Charles Blake (C.B.) Cochran (1872-1951)
'Cockie' was one of the greatest producers and impresarios in the British theatre whose eventful life was turned into a West End musical some years ago. His shows were a byword for glamour, beauty, spectacle and star names, and he made and lost three large fortunes in his career. Our photograph, taken in the 1920's, shows him (second left) with Viola Tree, Sacha Guitry and Yvonne Printemps.

Peter Hall (1930-)
One of the most significant figures in post-war British theatre. Peter's Hall's directorship of the Arts Theatre, London and his ground-breaking production of Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT led to his becoming the director of the National Theatre, leading the company into its new home on London's South Bank.

Leontine Sagan (1889-?)
Leontine Sagan is that relatively rare creature, a woman director. Born in Austria, she studied with Max Reinhardt and came to England in the 1930's. She appeared as an actress and directed plays and musicals as varied as CHILDREN IN UNIFORM and THE DANCING YEARS; she also directed several films.