Let's Be Frank!
About Frank Vickery
Frank Vickery was born in 1951 in the Rhondda Valley, where he lived and worked as a playwright until his passing in June 2018.
Frank started writing whilst still in school and had his first major success at the age of twenty one when his first comedy ‘After I’m Gone’ won the Howard De Waldon Trophy for the best one act play in Great Britain.
He quickly followed this with another short play called ’See you Tomorrow’, which won him the best playwright award from the Drama Association of Wales. Since that time, he wrote extensively for the theatre, radio and television, steadily building a reputation as a pioneering Welsh playwright and a leading name on the Welsh touring circuit from the early 1990’s.
For many years Frank had a successful association with Park and Dare Theatre Company, which fuelled his ambition to create his own production company Grassroots. Prior to this, he had an eight-year association with the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
He is the author of over thirty plays (most of which are published by Samuel French Limited) including the hugely successful Welsh musical ‘Amazing Grace’ and the critically acclaimed comedy ‘Tonto Evans’.
In recent years, Frank concentrated on performing as well as writing, and he enjoyed a highly successful season at Ludlow in William Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ as Sir Andrew and Philario in ‘Cymberline’, both directed by Michael Bogdanov, as well as appearing numerous times in pantomime at the Swansea Grand Theatre. He was also the subject of a major documentary by BBC Television called ‘On Show: Kiss and Tell’ .
Following on from this, in 2007, Frank's hilarious comedy ‘Granny Annie’ successfully completed a major theatrical tour to many sell out audiences, together with another tour of South Wales venues with Erogenous Zones. Directed by Phil Clarke and staring Ian H Watkins, this was widely considered to be one of Frank Vickery’s most slick and sophisticated writing.
Frank was a massive success in Tonto Evans in autumn 2009, and due to public demand was back starring in a touring spring production of Loose Ends. Autumn 2010 then saw Frank touring a brand new play, supported by the Arts Council of Wales. A dark comedy peppered with his unique and totally recognisable humour, Barkin’ again toured throughout Wales.
Frank was latterly widely-known for his annual pantomime performances with RCT Theatres, entertaining hundreds of families every year with the company since 2011 until his final performances in 2017.
Frank started writing whilst still in school and had his first major success at the age of twenty one when his first comedy ‘After I’m Gone’ won the Howard De Waldon Trophy for the best one act play in Great Britain.
He quickly followed this with another short play called ’See you Tomorrow’, which won him the best playwright award from the Drama Association of Wales. Since that time, he wrote extensively for the theatre, radio and television, steadily building a reputation as a pioneering Welsh playwright and a leading name on the Welsh touring circuit from the early 1990’s.
For many years Frank had a successful association with Park and Dare Theatre Company, which fuelled his ambition to create his own production company Grassroots. Prior to this, he had an eight-year association with the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
He is the author of over thirty plays (most of which are published by Samuel French Limited) including the hugely successful Welsh musical ‘Amazing Grace’ and the critically acclaimed comedy ‘Tonto Evans’.
In recent years, Frank concentrated on performing as well as writing, and he enjoyed a highly successful season at Ludlow in William Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ as Sir Andrew and Philario in ‘Cymberline’, both directed by Michael Bogdanov, as well as appearing numerous times in pantomime at the Swansea Grand Theatre. He was also the subject of a major documentary by BBC Television called ‘On Show: Kiss and Tell’ .
Following on from this, in 2007, Frank's hilarious comedy ‘Granny Annie’ successfully completed a major theatrical tour to many sell out audiences, together with another tour of South Wales venues with Erogenous Zones. Directed by Phil Clarke and staring Ian H Watkins, this was widely considered to be one of Frank Vickery’s most slick and sophisticated writing.
Frank was a massive success in Tonto Evans in autumn 2009, and due to public demand was back starring in a touring spring production of Loose Ends. Autumn 2010 then saw Frank touring a brand new play, supported by the Arts Council of Wales. A dark comedy peppered with his unique and totally recognisable humour, Barkin’ again toured throughout Wales.
Frank was latterly widely-known for his annual pantomime performances with RCT Theatres, entertaining hundreds of families every year with the company since 2011 until his final performances in 2017.
Let's Be Frank! takes place at the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT) for one night only on Wednesday June 19th, 7:30pm at the Park & Theatre, Treorchy. Tickets are available direct from the Park & Dare Theatre at www.rct-theatres.co.uk
EVENT DETAILS
Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy
Theatr Y Parc a’r Dâr, Treorci
Theatr Y Parc a’r Dâr, Treorci
Wednesday 19th June
Nos Fercher 19 Mehefin
Nos Fercher 19 Mehefin
19:30 to 21:30
