THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Arthur Richards as Sir Despard Murgatroyd in Ruddigore

Arthur Richards (1956-57)

[Born Liverpool c.1920]

Before joining the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in May 1956, Arthur Richards had one small part on the London Stage, as the Fourth Officer in Ivor Novello's The Dancing Years (Casino, 1947).

Richards had but one season (May 1956-May 1957) with the Company as principal baritone. That year, following the departure of Fisher Morgan, he appeared as the Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance, Archibald Grosvenor in Patience, Private Willis in Iolanthe, Pooh-Bah in The Mikado, Sir Despard Murgatroyd in Ruddigore, Wilfred Shadbolt in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers. Richards was in turn succeeded by Kenneth Sandford at the start of the following season, and returned to his former activities on the concert stage and in broadcasting.

Although he didn't record any of his roles with the D'Oyly Carte, he may be heard as the Sergeant of Police on the much-maligned 1966 RCA Victrola recording of The Pirates of Penzance produced and directed by Martyn Green. Richards later acted as master of ceremonies for cabarets at the Savoy Hotel, and served as toastmaster for the Gilbert & Sullivan Society's London Golden Jubilee Dinner in 1974.

R Index  |  "Who Was Who" Homepage