The Literary Actor

Black and white photograph. Yvonne Mitchell/Robert Shaw.

The acting cast of the 1953 season at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre not only had a talented troupe of actors and actresses but would produce a group of talented writers. Written publications through the years that followed from Yvonne Mitchell, Robert Shaw, and Michael Redgrave are substantial. Donald Pleasance, also of that group of Shakespeare actors, wrote a children’s book. Between them all, an oeuvre of written work which covers playwriting, screenplays, children’s books, novels, and biographies.

I came across Yvonne Mitchell’s novels and other written works via another author and actor, Robert Shaw. Fascinated by Shaw’s books and after reading Robert’s five novels, this caused a desire in me to research Shaw’s background. I had seen Robert principally as an actor when I was young. A film viewing based on Peter Shaffer's' stage play ‘The Royal Hunt of the Sun’ being my introduction to Robert, the actor. This perception of Robert changed through reading first, Shaw’s ‘The Flag,’ thereafter the other four novels written by him. I now saw Robert Shaw as a novelist, playwright, and actor.

When trying to locate a published copy of ‘Cato Street’, a stage play penned by Robert brought my research, then led me to an article on Shaw in the Daily Mirror newspaper. The focus of this article was on the 1953 season's production of Shakespeare at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Mentioned in the article, a look at the male British actors with descriptions of them compared with American actors. In the cast, a young Robert Shaw, described as the most attractive man in the company when compared with US actors. The actress who made the comment was Yvonne Mitchell. Also in this company of actors was Michael Redgrave.

Now discovering Yvonne Mitchell as with Shaw from her acting career and now knowing she and Robert shared the stage together, my intrigue led me to look deeper into this connection. I made a discovery of quality and quantity in the written word by Yvonne. As I delved into her books, beginning with her initial publication, ‘Actress,’ my admiration for her work grew.

The novels have distinct styles and diverse settings. Yvonne also integrates her acting background experience into her storytelling. This is at its most obvious in ‘A Year in Time’ and ‘The Family.’

Yvonne Mitchell is exceptional in her ability to express what it is to be human in her storytelling. Changing her many writing styles, Yvonne skillfully brings to life through her writing events and experiences. She shows all aspects of the human condition. She creates emotional complexities through her characters’ interactions with one another. A theme Yvonne writes upon with skill. Through her writing, she skillfully expresses the wit, sadness, joy, love, and knocks that we all experience.

Yvonne Mitchell, we know predominantly as an actress. As an author and biographer of Colette and a playwright, Yvonne accomplished an extensive body of work in her writing that is as engaging for the reader as her screen and theatre performances.

Thankfully, there is still a wealth of Yvonne’s books accessible through secondary sources. My initial exposure to her writing was through her biographical book, ‘Actress.’ This introduction, now looking back after reading her later novels, gives the reader insight into her written characters. The actress at work, putting her hand to nursing, stagehand and acting, which the reader, as with a theatre audience ‌, connects with. Yvonne, as an author, masterfully brings that connection through her novels.