The Ruffian on the Stair

SHEILA BALLANYINE first joined the English Stage Company for "Cards of Identity" and "The Good Woman of Setzuan". She then played Mrs. Dainty Fidget in "The Country Wife" and created the parts of Uncle Ted in "A Resounding Tinkle", Patty in "The Sport of My Mad Mother" and Mrs. Meso in "The Hole".

BERNARD GALLAGHER joined the Royal Court company a year ago. He played Andreyevsky in , "The Cresta Run", the pugnacious Collier in "Serjeant Musgrave's Dance" , the title role in "The Performing Giant" , Mr .Colpus in "The Voysey Inheritance" and is at present appearing as Captain Bordure in "Ubu Roi" at the Royal Court.

KENNETH CRANHAM left R.A.D.A. in the spring of this year. He joined the English Stage Company for "Their Very Own and Golden, City". His next part is in Joe Orton's "Loot" at the Jeanetta Cochrane Theatre.

PETER GILL's last production for the English Stage Society was "The Local Stigmatic" by Heathcote Williams. His own play , "The Sleepers' Den" was performed at the Royal Court in 1965. He directed "A Collier's Friday Night", D.H. Lawrence's first play, aa a Sunday Night production last year. His next production will be Shaw's "O'Flaherty V .C." at the Mermaid Theatre.

JOE ORTON was born in 1933. He won a scholarship to R..A.D.A. where he spent two years, but afer six months in repertory he retired from the stage. He served a six-month jail sentence forr larceny and when he left prison he began to write "The Ruffian on the Stair" . His second play, "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" won the London Critics' Award for the best British play of 1964. His next play, "Loot" goes into rehearsal at the Jeanetta Cochrane Theatre this week.