A Birthday Conversation with Dame Siân Phillips

In celebration of her 90th birthday, Dame Siân Phillips comes to the Tabard to discuss the highlights and thoughts about her illustrious career with renowned theatre director Richard Digby Day. This intimate conversation offers a unique insight into the life of a remarkable actress, suitable for theatre lovers and fans alike.

Siân Phillips was born and brought up in Wales. She won the National Eisteddfod at the age of 11 and started broadcasting the same year. She took a degree at the University of Wales and at the same time became an announcer and newsreader at the BBC, as well as a leading member of the Arts Council’s company in an attempt to found a national theatre of Wales. She toured playing Welsh versions of Chekhov and new plays by Saunders Lewis.

Subsequently, she trained at RADA, where she was awarded the Bancroft Gold Medal. Her many stage roles at the RSC, the National, and in the West End have ranged from Shakespeare, Wilde, and Shaw to new plays and musicals such as Pal Joey, Cabaret, and A Little Night Music. She is a multiple Olivier, Tony, and Drama Desk nominee and has been awarded Baftas for her television work, along with Lifetime Achievement awards for radio drama and Welsh television.

Her acclaimed two-part autobiography, Private Faces and Public Places, was published in 1999 and 2001. She was made CBE and DBE and is a Member of the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards of Great Britain. Siân's long career has included many films and television programs, but she is perhaps best known for starring as Livia in the popular BBC adaptation of Robert Graves's novel I, Claudius (BBC2, 1976) and for many appearances on the original run of Call My Bluff.

The conversation will be about 60 minutes long, with an opportunity for a Q&A with the audience afterwards.

Reviews

“An unforgettable evening with one of the true legends of the stage.” – Theatre Monthly

“Dame Siân Phillips continues to inspire with her wit and wisdom.” – Guardian

Practical info

This special one-off event is expected to be popular, so be sure to secure your seats early.