Saint-Denis dead

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 8

Saint-Denis dead

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 3. . Michel Jacques SaintDenis, who has died, at the age of 73, exercised an influence on the British theatre from 1931, When a French company under his direction I first visited England, “The Times” recorded today. “Residing in London, he was responsible for several productions and initiated two drama schools in the years immediately preceding and following the Second World War, and the value of his example, and of his interest in their own work, has more recently been acknowledged by some of our most enterprising producers and players,” the newspaper said in a long obituary. “From 1961 he shared the direction of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and in 1966 became consultant director. “He himself was trained at the Theatre du Vieux Colombier, in Paris, the founder of which; Jacques Copeau, is now regarded as having been the great pioneer of twentieth century play production in France ... As Andre Barsacq has it, all contemporary French directors are Copeau’s children or grandchildren. ■ Saint-Denis was, literally, 1 Copeau’s nephew.”