Terry Hands

4 February 2020

“We were young, arrogant, naïve, totally mad.”

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Everyman co-founder Terry Hands at the age of 79.

Terry, alongside Peter James, Michael Freeman and Martin Jenkins, opened the Everyman in 1964 with a production of Henry IV Part I. The first two weeks saw another two productions on the Everyman’s newly created stage – Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, followed by Pinter’s The Caretaker two days later.

Terry’s legacy at the Everyman cannot be understated. We simply would not be here without the vision of Terry, Peter, Michael and Martin. However, Terry’s legacy stretches much further than our four walls. His work with the RSC and Theatr Clwyd cements him as a giant of British theatre. 

Everyone at the Everyman & Playhouse would like to extend our thoughts to Terry’s family and friends.

E&P artistic director Gemma Bodinetz said:  "As a schoolgirl I went to see Terry Hands’ celebrated production of Cyrano de Bergerac at the RSC. As I stood to applaud I realised I was crying tears of joy. It was something of an epiphany- theatre could break your heart with wonder. This was in 1984, exactly 20 years after he, along with Peter James, Martin Jenkins  and Michael Freeman had founded the Everyman in a converted chapel in Hope Street, Liverpool.

Terry was a remarkable director, artistic director of three great theatres and a passionate friend of the Everyman long after he left Liverpool. He came to all our anniversaries and was thrilled with the new physical incarnation of his beloved theatre.

My first real meeting with Terry was at the funeral of Blodwen, a much loved former cleaner of the Everyman, who had worked there when he was Artistic Director some 40 years before. The funeral was in Liverpool but Terry journeyed from Clwyd to be there and commiserate with her family.

I was in awe of him then and I remain so today. He was everything you hope a great director can be- a visionary, a formidable artist and a wonderful human being.

On behalf of everyone here at the Everyman & Playhouse I’d like to give him another standing ovation for giving us the Everyman and for bringing theatre filled with humanity to thousands of people.

There isn’t a week that goes by that we’re not grateful for his legacy."

Peter James, Everyman co-founder said:  “Terry was one of the four originals - his talent and determination became obvious when he was a student at Birmingham and he remained a passionate theatre man all his life. Now our circle has been broken. Now we are three. Terry’s was a proud and distinguished life. He will be greatly missed.”

Martin Jenkins, Everyman co-founder: “I first met Terry in the early 1960s, during one of the Sunday Times/National Union of Students annual drama festivals when he was in a production of The Great God Brown.  With Peter James and others, we developed the idea for a new kind of theatre, establishing direct contact with younger audiences and presenting plays on the then GCSE syllabuses.  With my Liverpool connections, I was able to talk to the owner of the Everyman about using the space for part of the week as a theatre with the bulk of the performances being matinees for schools.  With his drive, focus and boundless energy, Terry played a significant part in our determination to open on time.  Subsequently, he went on to become one of our leading theatre directors.”

From the bottom of our hearts – thank you for everything Terry.