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The Cold War's Impact on Theatre
There is no clear evidence that the Cold War had any affect on Jeremy Irons but I believe it must have due to it being such a historical event. Propaganda must have had a big role during the 20th century due to governments trying to promote their political views. I also believe that during this time there was a rise of politics in theatre and and themes related to ideologies started to be incorporated more in theatre. I believe the Cold War changed theatre forever. -
Birth
Jeremy Irons was born on September 19, 1948, in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. Irons was born into the upper middle class and was the son of Barbara Anne Brereton (Sharpe) and Paul Dugan Irons, an accountant. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremy-Irons -
Education
Jeremy attended multiple schools as a kid, including Sherborne School, Dorset, where he learned his favorite sport, horse riding. He later joined Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he was given training for his first two years and then was given the opportunity to join Bristol Old Vic repertory company. He was able to gain lots of experience which helped him start his incredible career. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm -
Theatre Debut
Jeremy Irons made his stage debut in 1969 for "The Winter’s Tale." He played the role of Florizel, the son of Polixenes, the King of Bohemia, and plays a vital role in the progression of the narrative. His love for Perdita leads to crucial events such as his rebellion and more, influencing the progression of the story. https://www.shakespearegeek.com/shakespeare_characters/the_winters_tale_florizel.html -
Breakthrough
Jeremy Irons' theater breakthrough was in 1971 when he appeared in the original London cast of the musical "Godspell". "Godspell" had a variety of music genres, including pop, folk rock, gospel, and vaudeville. He would portray John the Baptist and Judas Iscariot in Wyndham's Theatre. This would help him begin his illustrious career in both theatre and film. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/otherworks/ -
The Diary of a Madman
In 1973 Jeremy Irons got the opportunity to have the lead role of Poprishchin in "Diary of a Madman". The play shows the descent of the character Poprishchin, into insanity and him eventually turning into the Madman. Just like all of his other roles this one also garnered critical acclaim and increased his status as a illustrious actor. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000460/otherworks/ -
The Caretaker
"The Caretaker" is one of the many plays he participated in. In the play, he showcased many skills and his talent due to being able to handle such a complex and emotional character.
https://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/caretaker.html -
The Taming of the Shrew
Jeremy has performed in many of William Shakespeares' projects. "The Taming of the Shrew" is a comedy about the character Lucentio who loves Bianca but cannot court her until her shrewish older sister Katherina marries. Jeremy played the role of Petruchio. Petruchio is a loud, stubborn, and boisterous character that Jeremy was able to successfully play and bring out the true meaning behind the character. https://theatricalia.com/play/1f/the-taming-of-the-shrew/production/126y -
The Rear Column
Jeremy has performed in many plays and won many awards. His performance for "The Rear Column" as Jameson was incredible. "The Rear Column" is a fictional account inspired by real events about the exploits of British officers. Jeremy Irons plays the role of one of the Officers, and his portrayal of the character was rewarded with an award called the Clarence Derwent Award for this role. https://jeremyirons.net/jeremy-irons/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rear_Column -
The Real Things
In 1984, Irons made his Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Things." He portrayed Henry, a playwright who, at the beginning of the play, is married to Charlotte and conducting an affair with Annie (the other lead). This play has been considered one Jeremy Irons' best performances due to being ability to convey the emotional depth and the complexity of the Character Henry. This brought Jeremy recognition for his acting abilities and secured his status as a respected actor. -
Family
In 1969, Jeremy irons married Julie Hallam, but later divorced the same year. Nine years later, he would go on to marry his current wife, Sinéad Cusack. They would go on to have two children: Samuel Irons, who was born in 1978, and Max Irons, who was born 1985. -
The Winter’s Tale
Irons apeared in "The Winter's Tale" in the 1986 production, directed by Terry Hands. This was his second time performing in the play, but he portrayed a different character. This time he was the character Leontes. Leontes is a big character in the development of the story. He believes his wife is having an affair and this leads to many consequences. Jeremy Irons shows his abilities by being able to portray a character that goes through many emotions and many events in the play. -
West End Productions
During Jeremy Irons career West End Productions has has a significant role in helping him with his career. Just like they have helped him he has helped them as well by contributing to the success and acclaim of the West End Theater. Some of the productions he's been in are the Shakespeare plays The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, and Richard II. https://rb.gy/gsepua -
Broadway Career
His Broadway career was very successful, due to most of his notable performances coming from Broadway. His most memorable, as mentioned, was "The Real Thing." Additionally, other significant roles he has also starred in were "Impressionism" and "The Country Wife." Most, if not all his roles have required a great level of skill which Jeremy Irons has. He is a very versatile actor who is able to perform multiple genres of theatre. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jeremy-Irons/ -
Embers
On February 15, 2006, Jeremy Irons would play the role of Henrick in the play "Embers." The play had a cast of only three, with Jeremy Irons having a lot of dialogue. Irons' character was a wealthy retired general who hadn't seen his friend in over 41 years. The play brings complex relationships and how our youth can still keep secrets that haunt us. Jeremy was able to showcase his abilities as an actor and show how great he can truly be. https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/embers -
Environmental Conservation
Jeremy Irons has been very open on his environmental views. He has spoken about climate change, deforestation, and wild life conservation. He has used his platform to spread information about his view. Not only has he talked about the issues around the world concerning the environment, but he has also helped out by contributing and donating to many originations that are tying to conserve out environment. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2012/dec/11/jeremy-irons-trashed-film-waste -
Bristol Old Vic
One of Jeremy Irons most impactful theatre companies he worked with was Bristol Old Vic. They had a signinifciant role in helping him his career as he appeared in various productions, and was able to show his true abilities and establish himself as a true actor. He was in many projects such as The Winter’s Tale (1969), Macbeth (1969), and his most recent with the theatre company being Long Day’s Journey into Night (2016). -
Long Day's Journey into Night
His most recent play "Long Day's Journey into Night" was performed at The Bristol Old Vic theatre. He had the role of James Tyrone, a former matinee star who is also high functioning alcoholic grappling with his family's dysfunctions. As his most recent role, he was able to use all of his past experiences and employ multiple techniques to perfect this role. Due to his great performance as James Tyrone, Jeremy Irons was praised for his depth and emotional resonance. -
Achievments
Jeremy Irons has had an illustrious career full of awards and nominations, earning him the title of one of the most respected actors of his generation.
He has won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play. Additionally, he has also won other awards outside of his theatre career, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Primetime Emmy Awards. -
Technology
Jeremy made his debut in 1969, and since then, technology has advanced. This has made it easier not only for him but for everyone in theatre. Production has become more efficient due to rehearsal tools being more accessible and helping provide digital scripts or recordings of how to improve. Technology has also helped in the advancement of stage technology, including lighting, sound, and set design. Technology has also helped him reach a bigger audience and, in return helped his career. -
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Cite
https://rb.gy/gsepua
https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-winters-tale/past-productions/production-history#:~:text=Jeremy%20Irons%20appeared%20in%20the,in%20Act%203%2C%20Scene%202.&text=This%20production%20of%20The%20Winter's%20Tale%20was%20directed%20by,and%20designed%20by%20Robert%20Jones.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jeremy-Irons/
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/long-day-s-journey-into-night/characters/james-tyrone