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Live stage performances

Fildes starred in several stage productions prior to her film and television career, performing at the Globe Theatre and the Embassy Theatre in London, Brighton's Theatre Royal, and The Playhouse in Liverpool, among others.

Her first stage appearance was as a servant in Shakespeare's Othello on 4 November 1942. She had studied with the Old Vic Dramatic School from 1940 to 1942 and stayed with the Old Vic company through June 1945. In that time she appeared in no less than thirteen productions.

She performed with both the Old Vic company and with Envoy Productions. She performed alongside stars such as John Gielgud, who, after working with her in Rodney Ackland's adaptation of Crime and Punishment, tried to get her cast alongside him in the role of Alison in The Lady's Not for Burning. Ultimately, she did not perform in that production.(multi ref the letters books) Fildes played the part of Sonia in this production, the London premiere which played at the New Theatre in London, now named the Noël Coward Theatre, on 26 June 1946.

Two versions of He Who Gets Slapped saw her performing the part of Consuelo. One was performed at the Liverpool Playhouse Repertory during the Blitz, under the title "Uneasy Laughter". The adaptation had been written by Judith Guthrie and reduced the play from four acts to two in an effort to make the performances manageable given London's wartime restrictions. She took the stage alongside Peter Glenville, Noel Wilman, Arnold Marle and Eileen Herlie.

The second production premiered 7 June 1947 at the original four acts, though translated as the play is originally in Russian. She reprised the role of Consuelo, performing alongside Robert Helpmann, Ernest Milton, Tyrone Guthrie, Margaret Diamond and Suzy Prim at the Dutchess Theatre where Helpmann co-directed with Michael Benthall that season.(multiref)

Likewise she played the part of Elise Berling in Noel Coward's first play, Point Valaine, twice in premiere productions. The first production, put on by the Old Vic company, premiered in Liverpool on 18 October 1944. The play ran for a total of 37 performances at the Playhouse in Liverpool.

The second production was staged at the Embassy Theatre, Swiss Cottage, in London by Envoy Productions and premiered 3 September 1947. It too ran only a total of 37 performances. Both the Boston and New York performances prior to World War II had also flopped, leading Coward to conclude __(that bit about his comment on his own characters; look it back up).

She played the part of Amanda in The Relapse at the Lyric in Hammersmith on 17 December 1947. On 28 January 1948,  the play opened at Phoenix Theatre on Charing Cross Road. In both productions, she played alongside stars Cyril Ritchard, Anthony Ireland, and Madge Elliott. Fildes' performance as Amanda inspired Sir W. Russell Flint to create a painting that sold for _X_ at international auction.

Her role as Diana Messerschmann in the 26 January 1950 premiere of Ring Round the Moon saw her on stage alongside Paul Scofield and Claire Bloom.(ref Getty images for both) The set was constructed by Oliver Messel. He built a wrought-iron conservatory, making this the first time that metal had been utilized in the set construction for a stage play.

Fildes starred in several premiere performances, including


 * The Rivals, as Lydia Languish. Premiered 25 September 1945.
 * Crime and Punishment, as Sonia. Premiered 26 June, 1946.
 * He Who Gets Slapped, as Consuelo. Premiered 7 June 1947.
 * Noel Coward's Point Valaine, as Elise Birling. Premiered in Liverpool, 18 October 1944. Premiered in London 3 September 1947.
 * The Relapse, as Amanda. Premiered 28 January 1948.
 * Ring Round the Moon, as Diana Messerschmann. Premiered 26 January 1950.

1945 - Ophelia in Hamlet with the Old Vic. Produced by Peter Ashmore. Settings by Tanya Moiseiwitsch. Starring Peter Glenville (Hamlet), Eileen Herlie (Gertrude) and Audrey Fildes (Ophelia). - - - - - - - - - -

---Test for multiref.