Burton, second from the right, gets noticed by those who matter in his first US role

Happy to return to Broadway, and happier still when the US critics applaud the young Welsh actor's work.

Season at The Old Vic

Burton, with his infectious energy, builds his reputation both on and off the stage in New York

Key 40s 50s 60s 70s/80s

1950 The Boy With a Cart This play is initially set in a Cornish village before moving on to Steyning in Sussex. Burton plays the role of Cuthman alongside Mary Jerrold, Hazel Terry and Diana Graves. This production is part of a double bill which includes Shall We Join The Ladies? by J M Barrie. Writer: Christopher Fry Director: John Gielgud Theatre: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

1950 A Phoenix Too Frequent As Tegeus the Roman soldier, Burton comforts a grieving widow in a mausoleum. Writer: Christopher Fry Director: Christopher Fry Theatre: Dolphin Theatre, Brighton

1950 The Lady’s Not For Burning This is Burton’s first stage appearance in New York. Writer: Director: John Gielgud Theatre: Royale Theatre, New York

1951 Henry IV, Henry V Burton plays Prince Hal, Henry IV and Henry V in the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre’s season for the Festival of Britain. Prodcuer: Anthony Quayle, John Kidd, Michael Redgrave Director: Theatre: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre

1951 The Tempest Burton plays Ferdinand, son of the King of Naples. Alan Badel plays Ariel. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Michael Benthall Theatre: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

1951 Legend of Lovers Burton is cast as the musician in Jean Anouilh’s adaptation of Eurydice. Dorothy McGuire and Hugh Griffith join him. Writer: Jean Anouilh Director: Peter Ashmore Theatre: The Plymouth Theatre, New York

1952 Montserrat This play is set in the Governor’s Palace in Valencia in Venezuela during its fight for independence in 1812. Burton takes the title role of Captain Montserrat with Noel Willman as Colonel Izquierdo. Writer: Emanuel Robles Director: Noel Willman, Nigel Green Theatre: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

1953 Hamlet Burton is cast for the first time as Hamlet in the Old Vic Company production for the Edinburgh Festival. Claire Bloom plays Ophelia. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Michael Benthall Theatre: Assembly Hall, Edinburgh

1953-1954 Coriolanus Burton plays Caius Martius (Coriolanus). William Squire is cast as Menenius Agrippa. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Michael Benthall Theatre: The Old Vic

Hamlet Burton plays the title role. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Michael Benthall Theatre: The Old Vic

King John Burton plays Philip, the Bastard, with Michael Hordern as King John. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: George Devine Theatre: The Old Vic

The Tempest Burton plays Caliban, Michael Hordern is Prospero with Claire Bloom as Miranda. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Robert Helpmann Theatre: The Old Vic

Twelfth Night Burton is cast as Sir Toby Belch alongside John Neville as Orsino and Claire Bloom as Viola. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Michael Benthall Theatre: The Old Vic

1955 Henry V Burton takes the title role with John Neville as the Chorus. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Michael Benthall Theatre: The Old Vic

1956 Othello In this production the roles of Othello and Iago were alternated between Burton and John Neville. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Denis Carey Theatre: The Old Vic

1957 Time Remembered Burton plays Prince Albert in Patricia Moyes' adaptation of Time Remembered from Jean Anouilh’s Leocadia. This romantic comedy is about a Duchess, a Prince, a ballerina and a milliner. Susan Strasberg is the milliner and Helen Hayes the Duchess of Pont-au-Bronc. Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Albert Marre Theatre: Morosco Theatre, New York

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