Norman Fenner

  General Notes:

Richmond Theatre's archivist and tour guide Norman Fenner dies aged 91
3:08pm Friday 30th September 2011

A much-loved theatre designer and archivist, known for his great sense of humour, will be fondly remembered following his death aged 91.

Norman Fenner devoted his retirement to compiling the records of Richmond Theatre's history and led its guided tours for more than 25 years, sharing his wealth of stories and encyclopaedic knowledge as well as his enthusiasm and passion for theatre with many visitors.

With the help of Jane Baxter at Richmond library, he trawled through old newspaper cuttings, programmes and endless microfiches and has written a record of every play, ballet and pantomime and its cast since 1899.

He also acted as a consultant, advising the then little-known designer Lawrence Llewlyn-Bowen, for the refurbishment of Richmond Theatre, carried out by its then manager Sally Green in 1989 and 1990.

Mr Fenner died peacefully in his sleep at Trinity Hospice, in Clapham, on Saturday, September 17.

Born on December 13, 1919, he lived in the house that he was brought up in, in Burnfoot Avenue, Fulham, for his entire life.

Mr Fenner started work in the diamond and jewellery business and served in both the Army and the civil service, but he will be chiefly remembered for his lifelong dedication to the theatre, particularly his devotion and tireless study of the work of theatre architect Frank Matcham.

He worked as a designer at the Tavistock Theatre, now the Tower Theatre, for more than 100 productions over 20 years and, in the 1960s, helped train William Dudley, currently the most famous theatre designer in the UK and six times Olivier Award winner.

In 1970 Mr Fenner prepared a briefing note on Matcham for the Ministry of Arts. Realising the immense value of Matcham as an architect and designer of theatre interiors and buildings, he evangelised about Matcham's cantilever design of theatres, which allowed for great intimacy and fabulous acoustics while highlighting their beauty and decoration.

Mr Fenner's funeral will be at 11am on Thursday, October 6, at Mortlake Crematorium. It will be a celebration of his life so attendees should not wear dark colours. Rather than bring flowers please donate to the Trinity Hospice. Send to Fund Raising Department, Trinity Hospice, Freepost, SW4 0BR.