FRINGE REPORT

RAPPORT FRINGE ... MARGINAAL VERSLAG ... FRINGE BERICHT Reviewing fringe theatre, film, art and performance in London and internationally credits Please email your views on Fringe Report venues | awards | interviews | features | fashion | newsletter | recipes | news | gossip | home | about | dublin | edinburgh | links | contact | drinks Monday 1 September 08 Edinburgh Reunion in London Search Fringe Report Topping And Butch Hit Leicester Square 26-27 September 08 Jinny McCallister - obituary Jinny McCallister, playwright and theatre manager. Those who were in any way connected with Jinny McCallister, theatre manager at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, London, will be both shocked and saddened by her death. Trained as an actor in Sydney, Jinny went on to become theatre manager at Sydney Opera House and subsequently Sydney Theatre Company. Her production company Hamcat Productions staged the Sydney premiere of Anthony Neisen's The Censor (previously premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre) - in which she also appeared. It is perhaps, however, as theatre manager of the Almeida that she will best be remembered. Jinny had a warmth and generosity of soul. Her passion and love of theatre were obvious to all who either met or worked alongside her. Jinny's desire to become a respected playwright drew enormous challenges for her. As many artists in the theatre industry know, the difficulty of doing this requires faith and bravery. Her play About Face premiered at Edinburgh’s Café Royal (8 August 04) as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2004. About Face is an intercourse of loss, absence and love - which is perhaps the most fitting of epitaphs. (c) DFFM-F 6 April 05 +++ Fringe Report editor adds +++ Jinny McCallister was a lovely person - charming, funny, intellectual and popular. She wrote the superb comedy of contemporary romance About Face, reviewed here at Edinburgh 04. It played at the Café Royal, running with Alison Trower's Sketching Lucian. The two shows shared a cast, and the actors were good friends with Jinny. Jinny enjoyed the social life of theatre - events like the We Could Be Heroes after-show party. As ever, she was pretty and sparkling - enjoying herself and being great company. Her sudden and unexpected death will come as both a shock and distress to her many friends - and theatregoers who met her at the Almeida. She will be very sadly missed. John Park / Tuesday 5 April 05 +++ Helen Devine - Old Red Lion Theatre - adds +++ I had the pleasure of meeting Jinny McCallister when she came to the Old Red Lion to rehearse her play About Face before last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2004). I found her a delight to work with, so passionate about her writing - and so committed to producing theatre that truly came from her heart. I found her enthusiasm inspiring, as I'm sure many did, and will remember those weeks we spent together with a smile in my heart. Helen Devine / 8 April 05 Other information It is thought (at 7/4/5) that Jinny McCallister took her own life on Thursday 31 March 05, and that her body was discovered on Sunday 3 April 05. The Independent's warmly-regarded Arts Correspondent Louise Jury reported Jinny's death on 7 April 05 (p 22) and online. The Evening Standard had an article by arts writer and former The Stage reporter Alexa Baracaia. Fringe Report welcomes any personal recollections from Jinny's friends and colleagues - please send them to reviews@fringereport.com Fringe Report Editor / April 05 END (c) Fringe Report 2005 Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008