Ian Hendry – Central School Of Speech And Drama (1954) : Gallery

When Ian finished his period of National Service in 1951, he returned to work again on ‘civvy’ street. But this time it was  in London, working for a firm of estate agents in Edgware. Whilst there, he had occupied some of his spare time performing with a local amateur dramatics group, but by the end of 1952 he had finally made the decision to change his career path and follow his heart. After a long discussion with his parents in Ipswich, they finally accepted his decision and offered to back him through college.

He applied for a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama, based at that time in rooms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He was accepted and joined the course in January 1953, somewhat later than that years autumn intake students, but he would soon make up for lost time.

Whilst there, Ian was also the subject of his very FIRST press article in the Picture Post publication (27th March, 1954). Perhaps the School already thought that he would go onto much bigger things and put him forward as one of the two drama students included to illustrate the article on the precarious nature of the acting profession and life at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Helen Dorward was the lady selected to also ‘star’ in the piece. Full article below:

1954 – Picture Post – March 27th Edition – Ian Hendry and Helen Dorward

Many thanks to Sharon Kynaston for contacting the website and donating this very rare and interesting magazine.

Further Reading

This stage in Ian’s life is is detailed in the new biography ‘Send in the Clowns – The Yo Yo Life Of Ian Hendry’ by Gabriel Hershman