1940s
Druid’s Rest
Burton makes his first professional stage appearance as Glan, the elder son of publicans in a comedy set in the back parlour of a small public house in Wales, early in the 20th century. Gladys Henson and Roddy Hughes play his parents.
- Writer:
- Emlyn Williams
- Director:
- Emlyn Williams
- Theatre:
- Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
Druid’s Rest
A comedy set in the back parlour of a small public house in Wales, early in the 20th century. Burton is cast as Glan, the elder son of publicans. Gladys Henson and Roddy Hughes play his parents.
- Writer:
- Emlyn Williams
- Director:
- Emlyn Williams
- Theatre:
- St Martin’s Theatre, London
Measure for Measure
Originally the understudy to Angelo in this Oxford University Dramatic Society production, Burton takes over the role when the actor cast as Angelo falls ill.
- Writer:
- William Shakespeare
- Director:
- Nevill Coghill
- Theatre:
- Christ Church, Cloisters, Oxford
Castle Anna
Set in the drawing room of a country house in Ireland at the turn of the 20th century, Burton plays Mr Hicks, young officer stationed nearby. Hazel Terry, Richard Leech and Arthur Sinclair also star in this drama.
- Writer:
- Elizabeth Bowen, John Perry
- Director:
- Daphne Rye
- Theatre:
- Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
The Lady’s Not For Burning
Burton plays an orphaned clerk in Christopher Fry’s period comedy, set in the house belonging to the Mayor of Cool Clary, a small market town. John Gielgud and Claire Bloom are also cast in this production.
- Writer:
- Christopher Fry
- Director:
- John Gielgud, Esme Percy
- Theatre:
- Globe Theatre, London
1950s
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
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
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
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.
- Writer:
- Anthony Quayle, John Kidd, Michael Redgrave
- Director:
- Theatre:
- Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
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
© NYPL
Legend of Lovers
Happy to return to Broadway, and happier still when the US critics applaud the young Welsh actor’s work. 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
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
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
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
Henry V
Burton takes the title role with John Neville as the Chorus.
- Writer:
- William Shakespeare
- Director:
- Michael Benthall
- Theatre:
- The Old Vic
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
© NYPL
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
1960s
Camelot
Burton plays King Arthur in the Lerner and Loewe musical. Originally based on T H White’s version of the legend of King Arthur, The Once and Future King. Julie Andrews stars as Guinevere.
- Writer:
- William Shakespeare
- Director:
- Moss Hart
- Theatre:
- Majestic Theatre, New York
New York Drama Critics Award for the best performance
Hamlet
Burton stars in the title role of John Gielgud’s production. The cast includes Hume Cronyn as Polonius, Linda Marsh as Ophelia, Alfred Drake as Claudius, John Cullum as Laertes, Eileen Herlie as Gertrude and Gielgud plays the ghost. This production was filmed and shown across the USA during one weekend.
- Writer:
- William Shakespeare
- Director:
- John Gielgud
- Theatre:
- Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York
A Poetry Reading
Burton and Elizabeth Taylor appear on stage reading a selection of poetry including Marvell, DH Lawrence, Hardy, Frost and Barrett Browning. It is the first time Elizabeth appeared ‘live’ and on stage.
- Writer:
- Director:
- Theatre:
- Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York
Doctor Faustus
In this Oxford University Dramatic Society production Burton plays the title role with Elizabeth Taylor as Helen of Troy. Later this year Burton co-directed and co-produced the film version of the production in Rome.
- Writer:
- Philip Marlowe
- Director:
- Nevill Coghill
- Theatre:
- Oxford Playhouse
1970s/80s
© NYPL
Equus
Burton takes over the role of the psychoanalyst Martin Dysart from Anthony Perkins. He later re-creates the part for the film version.
- Writer:
- Peter Shaffer
- Director:
- John Dexter
- Theatre:
- Plymouth Theatre, New York
Special Tony Award, ‘Welcome Back to Broadway’
Camelot
Burton plays King Arthur with Christine Ebersol as Guinevere and Richard Muenz as Lancelot.
- Writer:
- William Shakespeare
- Director:
- Frank Dunlop
- Theatre:
- American tour including New York State Theatre, Lincoln Centre, New York
Private Lives
Burton appears as Elyot Chase with Elizabeth Taylor as Amanda Prynne in this comedy about a divorced couple who fall in love with each other even though they are on honeymoon with new partners.
- Writer:
- Noël Coward
- Director:
- Milton Katselas
- Theatre:
- Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York