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drinks Monday 1 September 08 Edinburgh Reunion in London
Topping And Butch Hit Leicester Square 26-27 September 08
Dan Crawford - obituary
Dan Crawford, theatre proprietor.
Dan Crawford, the remarkable founder and artistic director of the King's Head Theatre, London died of cancer on 13 July 05. As Ninon Jerome, King's Head General Manager, says: 'Dan will be tremendously missed. He was a unique character. We will sorely miss him.'
'Dan Crawford really was the heart of the King's Head,' says Eloise Emanuel, a theatre director who knew him well, 'He was dedicated to saving the theatre and rallied endlessly to raise money and produce shows.
'He could often be found in the office above the theatre dressed in his perpetual kit of maroon jumper, cords and one of his many tweeds; phone glued to one ear, American baseball in the other, drumming up interest late into the night. Every-ready with a smile and an attentive nod to one of the legions of young directors who passed though his doors, he will be greatly missed by many.'
According to Alan Strachan, writing in The Independent (16 July 05), Dan Crawford was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on 11 December 1942. He founded the King's Head Theatre 'London's first fringe pub theatre' in 1970, and ran it (and the pub) till his death. He 'married first 1963 Susan Nonne (marriage dissolved), second Joan Corry (marriage dissolved), third 1980 Victoria Buirski (marriage dissolved), fourth 1985 Stephanie Sinclair (one stepdaughter)'.
And still had time to run one of London's premiere venues.
Jemma Gross, another director who knew Dan well, says 'The first thing I think of when I hear Dan Crawford's name is his cheeky smile and the devilish glint that he got in his eye whenever he had an idea. As a young and very scared TAD (trainee assistant director), I was dragged into the limelight by becoming his AD and eventually stage manager for Women Laughing.
'He yelled, mockingly banged fists, and leapt over the King's Head roof many times in the name of getting the sound and lighting right when I was in the SM box.
'Patience was not a virtue for Dan, but when you got it right, he always let you know. He was the soul of the King's Head, from serving the drinks, to cleaning the auditorium, to bustling the drunks out of the door. Dawn till dusk, he jumped and leapt about that building as only he had the energy to do.'
'A true gentleman and sweetheart of the theatre may have gone, but there are hundreds who are left to remember passionately the impact he left on all of us. With incredibly fond memories - Jemma'.
END
(c) 2005 (for their segments): Ninon Jerome, Eloise Emanuel, Alan Stachan, The Independent, Jemma Gross.
ps. Another friend of Dan's adds: 'He was a cantankerous old bastard in many, many ways. But also passionate, kind and always with a huge wry smile'.
Fringe Report welcomes your personal recollections of Dan Crawford for inclusion on this page. Please send them to reviews@fringereport.com
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2005
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
