Michael Irving

Michael Irving is an actor of both stage and screen born in 1943 in Ipswich, Suffolk.

In 1972 he was one of the co-founders of the Half Moon Theatre with Maurice Colbourne and Guy Sprung, which survived until 1990 when it became the Half Moon Young People's Theatre, a specialist theatre for young people. He performed in many productions at Half Moon Theatre, including In the Jungle of the Cities, Will Wat, If Not, What Will?, Sawdust Caesar, Silver Tassie, Alkestis, The Mother and Female Transport. He directed and performed in Heroes of the Iceberg Hotel and Dan Dare (which he also wrote). He returned in 1977 to play the Dame in Dick Whittington, or the City of Fear.

In the theatre, his recent work includes performance in the play "Apart from George"and "Rough Music"in London.

He has appeared in films such as "Personal Services" (1987). He also played a headmaster in an episode of The Bill. His most recent film rolewas as the father of Robert Pattinson's character in How To Be.

In autumn 2016 Michael became a patron of Half Moon Theatre (previously called Half Moon Young People's Theatre). This coincided with the launch of Stages of Half Moon, a digital archive of the theatre's history.

On becoming a patron, Michael said: “I am flattered and honoured to be asked to be a patron of the Half Moon Theatre. The connection, through time, with the original venue in Alie Street is rather poetic. The work that the company does today is amazing and admirable, rooted in the same ethos of community engagement and nurturing local early career artists when we founded the company. I am happy to offer my support and to champion the excellent professional theatre and participatory work Half Moon does on a daily basis today.”