Fred Betts was rare asset in theatre

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 2

Fred Betts was rare asset in theatre

Fred Betts, the Christchurch actor who died suddenly on Tuesday night, was a senior trouper — a rare commodity in the New Zealand theatre, said Mr Randall Wackrow, director of the Court Theatre yesterdav. ! Mr Betts, who was 63, was described by Mr Wackrow as an excellent influence in the theatre, particularly upon young actors. They liked him, and all regarded him as a friend as well as a fine technician. “He was professional in his attitude,” said Mr Wackrow, "and that is everything in the theatre. He is going to be missed.” Fred Betts had been on stage at the Court in Ibsen’s “Ghosts” the night he died. Bryan Aitken, director of the play, stepped in and read the lines for last evening’s performance, pending the selection of a replacement. Mr Betts’s career began in London, where he was a gold medallist at the Guild-

hall School of Music and J Drama before World War 11. < He started at the Unity ' Theatre, creating the role of ■ Red Jim in a play by Sean : O’Casey, under the direction of Lord Ted Willis. He gave up acting in 1948 to take a regular job as a i teacher in the East End, and came to New Zealand in 1955. He taught briefly at Westerfield School near Ashburton, then tried several different jobs including that of fund-raiser for the Ferrymead Trust and national secretary of t|ie Youth Hostels Association. Mr Betts had many roles in radio plays, and was cho-sen-to “front” the “Tonight” show when television started here. He acted with the Repertory Theatre, with the Children'.. Theatre, and with Downstage, Wellington. A genial character off-, stage, he had a humorous approach to life. Describing his part as God in a creation production for the Pan-

Pacific Arts Festival,' he recalled recently that he “created the world, complete with .Adam and Eve, then rushed round to the television station to do my bit, then ran back in time to send everyone to hell and damnation." Mr Betts went to Australia in 1971 and landed regular employment with Crawford Productions in the crime series “Matlock”, “Homicide," and “Division 4.” He was chosen for the role of Sir Henry Usher in the Australian soap Opera, “The Box," which brought his face back to New Zealand audiences via TV2. After five years in Australia, Mr Betts was brought back to appear in the Court Theatre’s first production at its new quarters at the Arts Centre, “Hadrian the Seventh.” He returned again to New Zealand last December. Mr Betts is survived by his wife, a son, and two daughters.