As patron of the Frinton Summer Theatre, Jane Asher continues a long tradition of iconic names in British theatre supporting this jewel of the arts. Here she shares just some of what makes FST so special
You’ve had an incredible career spanning 70 years, starting as a child actress. Can you pick out a few highlights?
As far as theatre goes, I always think of a play called Festen as probably the most memorable for several reasons. It was a 2004 production at the Almeida based on the Dogme 95 film of the same name: an upsetting but brilliantly told story of familial child abuse. I had seen the film (twice) when I was offered the part of the mother in the theatrical version, to be directed by Rufus Norris, and I jumped at it. It was a terrific production and included Johnny Lee Miller and Tom Hardy in a wonderful cast.
Your career took something of a sweet turn when you started baking. How did this come about, and do you still find time to bake today?
Baking was a childhood hobby, and I think early on I brought my ‘showbiz’ side into the cakes I used to make. I made them more and more ornate – sometimes funny and often with personal touches in the decoration. A good friend suggested I wrote a book about how to make them; this was in around 1981.
That book became a bestseller and led on to other books and eventually to opening a shop making and selling the cakes (fitting perfectly with the time when I had very young children and I didn’t want to be away acting). Of course, I still bake at home; the pleasure of putting a homemade cake on the table is out of all proportion to the minimal time and effort involved.
You took over patronage of Frinton Summer Theatre last year from Richard Wilson. What attracted you to working with the theatre?
Frinton as a town – and a theatre – was a very special part of my childhood. For a while, my parents had a small house there, which they let out as a holiday home and where we had regular family holidays for many years. It’s a magic place, and I have such happy memories of walking barefoot around the town; of chilly swims in the sea and running up the sand to the beach hut to be greeted by my mum holding out an iced bun.
Going to the theatre was a magical part of the holiday; it was run as a weekly rep then, and I loved seeing the same actors playing completely different parts from week to week. When artistic director Clive Brill invited me to be the patron of the theatre I was honoured and delighted. To have this special connection with a theatre that has meant so much to me is wonderful.
Do you have happy memories of performing in Housemaster at Frinton Summer Theatre when you were just 13?
I remember being shown how to apply stage make-up by one of the other actors; in those days, it was true greasepaint, smelly, oily sticks of paint that you smeared onto your face and attempted to even out. I did discover the joy of making an audience laugh at Frinton, and that, as with most actors, has never left me. I wish I could remember more about the production, but I only know that I loved every minute and made a lot of good friends.
What are you looking forward to most about the theatre’s 2023 season?
What a fantastic season Clive has put together – it’s impossible to pick out a favourite. I know the town will be supporting this unique and world-famous little theatre as wholeheartedly as it always does, but for sure we must never take it for granted. Since lockdown, so many wonderful theatres have had to close, and we are so lucky that Frinton has survived. Long may it continue to bring the town and its visitors the joy and magic of live theatre.
For almost 90 years, Frinton Summer Theatre has been bringing the West End to the Essex coast and this summer sees another incredible season of comedy, music and theatre.
A series of six shows will be performed at McGrigor Hall Theatre in Frinton on Sea this summer.
The King’s Speech – July 11 to 15
Barefoot in the Park – July 18 to 22
Folk – July 25 to 29
The Ladykillers – August 1 to 5
Bette & Joan – August 8 to 12
Don’t Dress for Dinner – August 15 to 19
Inside the Big Top Tent on the famous Frinton Greensward, there will be a stunning performance of My Fair Lady, running from August 22 to September 3, while the 2023 season is complemented by a Comedy Night on July 8 at McGrigor Hall and two Music Nights on July 16 and August 13 at The Frinton Lawn Tennis Club.
For tickets, visit frintonsummertheatre.org, call 01255 775 727 or email boxoffice@frintonsummertheatre.org. You can also visit the main box office at 60 Connaught Avenue or The Little Yellow Hut at The McGrigor Hall.
