Paul Frecknall
1953 – 2021
Sadly, our good friend Paul passed away on 27th September. He will be a huge loss to many people. Here, his friends from The Swan share some of their memories.
Paul joined the Swan in the mid nineties. He shone as a performer but his simply outstanding talent was in directing and he quickly became known, not just with Swan but with other local companies for his exceptional skills as a director.
Equus and Bent in the late nineties stand out as examples of the hard hitting plays he would choose and the quality of those performances stand out in our memories.
He was exuberant and creative, full of ideas and with a meticulous attention to detail. I remember in one production the actors adjusting the time on their watches to match the exact time in the performance.
In 2007 I was lucky to work with him as an assistant when he directed Journey’s End. The scale of the production was immense. His direction was simply flawless and it was an honour to be a part of such a moving and powerful production. We still talk about this show in hushed tones as it is recognised at the greatest production any of us have been involved with.
He gave his all to every single show, creating many of the most memorable productions in the Swan’s history, in recent years these include Art, Dinner, Blackbird, Whose Life Is It Anyway? & Copenhagen. What these productions had in common was Paul’s sense of style, his artistic vision applied to every aspect of each production, his attention to detail and his respect for his actors.
He also never failed to support others in their endeavours. Every show was attended and praised and supported. I remember him coming along to help out at get-ins for numerous productions and volunteering at The Place for many years.
In 2019, for one reason or another, we were unable to cast a production so Paul suggested producing David Hare’s Amy’s View. I am so very glad that this happened. It was an opportunity for me to work under Paul’s direction for the first time since 2004. We got to spend a lot of time together, eating Portuguese custard tarts, talking theatre, and celebrating his daughter’s Olivier Award with fizz at rehearsal one evening. One thing I will always think of is Paul glowing with pride every time we talked about his daughters and what they were up to. He was a wonderful friend, a loving Father and Grandfather and a much loved part of our theatrical community. The world is definitely a darker place without him.
Lissy Malt / Matt Baker / Bill Lay
“Directed by Paul Frecknall!”
I always loved that he wanted that adding to the posters of our shows. He cast me in Midsummer Nights Dream and I loved it all: I made lifelong friends during that show. I was so scared and overwhelmed in the read through, having just dipped my toe in the water previously as a last minute stand in under the watchful eye of one Bill Lay. I had been injured playing rugby a year or two before and was searching for a new ‘hobby’, it became way more than that of course. Paul was engaging and charismatic. His knowledge and vision made being a part of ‘the dream’ the highlight of my weeks. Rehearsals and afters at the Devvie for a debrief formed the backbone of my life for years to come. Had Paul not cast me who knows what direction I may have gone in. Paul also directed me in my last show with Swan: Journeys End. This was my favourite show during my time with Swan and the fact that a decade on it is still regarded as the finest show to be staged at The Place just about does it justice in my opinion. Paul was amazing and without him and Bev Looker, who was also taken from us far too soon, the show just wouldn’t have been what it was. Reading the lines is easy compared to having the ability Paul had in truck loads. I got to act along side him just once in Death and the Maiden along with his great friend Jo Phillimore. Under Rae Levene’s exacting direction we made a tough play speak to the audiences. I’ll never forget Paul’s hilarious fillers and repeated threats of ‘never acting again’. It was wordy and advanced but Paul was the glue that held it together whether on script or, dare I say, freestyling!! A great friend he helped me when I was between jobs and gave me work around his garden in Rushden. He was always the first to smile and wave with a cheeky sparkle in his eye that could put me at ease at revels, in the pub or just a chance meeting anywhere. I shall miss him always
Dan Thomas
I met Paul through Journey’s End, an experience that entirely changed the course of my life, bringing me to a kind, loving, talented group of people from which so many forever friends have emerged. One of those was Paul. To start with our friendship involved a lot of me nodding my head and pretending I understood everything he said, but as time went on we shared tales and meals and, particularly after his retirement, shows. It was not uncommon to decide in the morning on a show to see that evening. He’d jump on a train to London, we’d take a stroll to a restaurant, chat endlessly, then watch something that we might one or both love, hate or be entirely indifferent to. As the world reopens, and things return to some version of normal, I realise that “Have you seen this? Are you going to see that? I have tickets for such and such tonight – are you free?” are messages that will now remain unsent. I will forever be grateful for those simple, unfettered moments of joy.
John Handscombe
I remember being at the auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2004. We were all sitting in a huge circle and I (so young and insolent) was making a cigarette in preparation for a break. Paul asked me to continue rolling whilst reading a scene between Puck and a faerie. I got the part and he kept the cigarette-rolling in the performance. Paul was always watching, waiting for inspiration, seeing beauty in the banal and weaving it into his dramatic world. Among all his expertly delivered shows, his production of Journey’s End was, in my opinion, the greatest play ever staged at The Place. As a director he was kind and positive, exacting and demanding. The perfect director, really. He was also a supremely lovely man. Supportive, interested, a brilliant listener and a great story teller. But more than anything, he was a proud and devoted father and grandfather. He would speak of his 3 girls at every opportunity. I was so very fond of him. The last time I saw him was at The Place. He spoke very openly about his illness with his usual positive air. It was hard to imagine that he was poorly. It’s also hard to imagine never seeing him at the theatre again. He was part of the foundations. He still is. Goodbye Paul. X
Lizzie Thomas
In the days when we had a lock-up garage off Aylesbury Rd I remember driving a van back late after our not very successful appearance at the Hertford Theatre Festival. Arrived at the lock-up well after midnight to find Paul asleep in the car waiting to help unload. He never shirked!!
Bill Lay
What an amazing man Paul was. Something emanated from him that very few people I have ever known possessed and if I had to boil it down to a single quality I would call it joy. Joy in people, in situation, in the moment and in art. He spread joy to whomsoever he was with at the time. It was pervasive, always welcome and inescapable. Now that he has escaped us all I find a light has gone out in my life. His smile will stay with me forever. Joy.
Many months ago, when I first heard that Rebecca was directing Cabaret, I messaged Paul, one dad to another, saying ‘You must be so proud of her’. With his dad hat on his reply mostly went ‘I’m proud of all of my daughters’.
How could you not but love that man?
So: who’s organising the trip to London?
Albert Welling
Paul’s boundless generosity, creativity, positivity and genuine kindness touched all of us who have been blessed to know him.
Working together on ‘Duet for One’ was a profoundly special experience in so many ways. Not least the cherished friendship that developed during our days rehearsing together.
His constant curiosity and passion for culture in all its forms saw him filling his retirement with spontaneous travel adventures as well as theatre trips, art exhibitions, and anything that could inform and inspire his life.
As for his 3 daughters, they meant everything to him. He talked about Hannah, Alice, and Rebecca – in equal measure – all the time! His pride for everything they do in their lives was extraordinary. And he showed up for them in any way that he could. I remember saying to him one day that all a daughter could ever want was to have a father like him to encourage and support her life.
Paul was a shining example that love is all that matters. It’s endless. Infinite. And there’s enough for everyone. He loved every single one of us and we loved him. That’s what survives. xx
Lisa Stenhouse
That’s lovely. I’m not as articulate as you lot and my memory isn’t very good either. But I just remember about Paul that no matter what event we were at, I would always gravitate towards him because of his magnetic personality and the fabulous stories that he had to tell. He really was an amazing soul, I regret bitterly that I hadn’t seen him since the first lockdown. He will be so missed x
Helen Etherington
