Sarah Craze (born 1948 in Leeds) is a British actress who appeared on stage and television during the 1970s and 1980s, and was known for the command[1] and sensitivity[2] of her performances.

Career

Craze studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London,[3][4][5] graduating in 1969.[6] The following year, she appeared in two television mini-series, playing Beth in Little Women,[7][8][9] and Kate Meyrick in the 1970 version of Daniel Deronda. In 1971, she had a regular part as the secretary in the series Hine.[10] When this ended after one series, one reviewer commented, "we shall miss some attractive actors ... [including] a strangely attractive girl in Sarah Craze".[11] Stage appearances in the following years included a modern play, Children of the Wolf, of which one reviewer commented, "Quite the most startling and striking performance of the evening .. comes from Sarah Craze, whose menace as the daughter, Linda, is quickly established and never relents in its unmerciful progress to climactic inevitability. She is an actress of whom we should hear more."[12] In 1973, she appeared with the Oxford Playhouse Company[2][13][14] and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.[15] Her performance with the former in J.M. Barrie's Dear Brutus was described as "an exceptionally sensitive characterisation."[2] Television appearances included the 1973 film of Christopher Hampton's Total Eclipse,[16][17] and significant roles in an episode of the series Colditz (1974)[18] and Softly, Softly (1975).[19] In 1977, Craze worked with London Contemporary Productions[20] and with the Worcester Repertory Company.[21] A review of the Worcester Repertory's performance of Mrs Warren's Profession in 1977 said, "The evening is a triumph for Sarah Craze ... She is emphatic, brusque, matter-of-fact ... Yet there is never much doubt of the warm, desperate person beneath the surface."[22]

Selected stage performances

YearTitleTheatreRole
1972Children of the WolfBelgrade Theatre, CoventryLinda[1][12]
1977Mrs Warren's ProfessionSwan Theatre, WorcesterVivie[22]
1978An Inspector CallsShaw Theatre, LondonSheila Birling[23][24]
1973Dear BrutusOxford PlayhouseMargaret[2]
1973The Merchant of VeniceOxford PlayhouseJessica[13][25]
1973Much Ado About NothingRoyal Lyceum TheatreHero[15]
1977Funny PeculiarSwan Theatre, Worcester[26][27]

Selected television performances

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973Total EclipseMathilde Verlaine[16][17]movie
1970Little WomenBeth[7][8]mini-series
1971HineSusannah Grey (secretary)[10]series
1975Softly, SoftlySamantha (girl who blackmails firms with incendiary devices)1 episode[19]
1974ColditzGerda1 episode[18]

References

  1. 1 2 J.F.C. (16 August 1972). "Children of the Wolf". Birmingham Daily Post. p. 14. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Distinguished 'Dear Brutus'". The Stage. 16 August 1973. p. 45. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. L.G.S. (25 January 1968). "'The Maids' at RADA". The Stage. p. 13. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  4. H.G.M. (31 October 1968). "RADA 'Semi-Detached'". The Stage. p. 15. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  5. H.G.M. (20 February 1969). "Absurd Chekhov". The Stage. p. 14. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  6. "Student and Graduate Profiles - Sarah Craze". RADA. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  7. 1 2 Mustazza, Leonard (2006). The Literary Filmography: Preface, A-L. McFarland. p. 315. ISBN 9780786425037. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  8. 1 2 Hischak, Thomas S. (2014). American Literature on Stage and Screen: 525 Works and Their Adaptations. McFarland. p. 125. ISBN 9780786492794. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. Lupack, Barbara Tepa (1 November 1999). Nineteenth-century Women at the Movies: Adapting Classic Women's Fiction to Film. Popular Press. ISBN 9780879728052 via Google Books.
  10. 1 2 Davis, Clifford (3 October 1970). "Power switch, but ... The Game's The Same". Daily Mirror. p. 9. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. Wiggin, Maurice (4 July 1971). "Uncommon riches". The Sunday Times. No. 7726. London, England. p. 21. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  12. 1 2 Isaacs, David (21 August 1972). "Taut Tightrope of Torment". Coventry Evening Telegraph. p. 20. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  13. 1 2 Plays and Players, Issue 21. Hansom Books. 1973. p. 73. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  14. "Festival Productions - Oxford Playhouse". The Stage. 13 September 1973. p. 26. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  15. 1 2 "On this week in Edinburgh". The Stage. 15 November 1973. p. 23. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  16. 1 2 British Broadcasting Corporation (1974). "Total Eclipse". Radio Times. 204: 35. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  17. 1 2 Francis, Ben (1996). Christopher Hampton: Dramatic Ironist. Amber Lane Press. p. 23. ISBN 9781872868196. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  18. 1 2 "Mirror TV - Sarah Craze stars in Colditz". Daily Mirror. 18 February 1974. p. 18. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  19. 1 2 Elkan, Allan (12 October 1975). "TV Wednesday - Best of the Rest". The Sunday Times. No. 7948. London, England. p. 52. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  20. "Current Production". The Stage. 17 February 1977. p. 23. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  21. Slim, John (12 September 1977). "Arts Review - Funny Peculiar at the Swan Theatre, Worcester". Birmingham Daily Post. p. 6. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  22. 1 2 Slim, John (3 October 1977). "Arts Review: Mrs Warren's Profession". Birmingham Daily Post. p. 6. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  23. Blake, Douglas (26 January 1978). "Play Reviews. Shaw - An Inspector Calls". The Stage. p. 11. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  24. Herbert, Ian; Baxter, Christine; Finley, Robert E. (1981). Who's who in the Theatre, Volume 2. Pitman. p. 48. ISBN 9780810302365. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  25. Nurse, Keith (18 July 1973). "Shylock like a baited bear". The Daily Telegraph. No. 36752. London, England. p. 15. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  26. Plumley, C. Murray (1 September 1977). "Regional Theatre". The Stage. p. 18. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  27. "Other Plays: 1970-1979". Rob Wilton Theatricalia. Retrieved 3 January 2019.


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