Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Gay Soper


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. (non-admin closure) Linguist111 (talk) 16:54, 18 January 2023 (UTC)

Gay Soper

 * – ( View AfD View log | edits since nomination)

Actress with bit parts in various things. Only appears in credits lists, which is all the sourcing that's used in the article. No lasting in-depth coverage. Wes sideman (talk) 15:07, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: Actors and filmmakers, Women,  and England. Shellwood (talk) 15:25, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep. Passed WP:CREATIVE criterion 3 as the narrator of well-known works The Flumps. Also plenty to be found about her if you search google books, I was able to cite multiple aspects of her career that were uncited in the article CT55555 (talk) 17:00, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Also see https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/happy-memories-as-gay-soper-returns-to-chichester-festival-theatre-3783849 CT55555 (talk) 17:22, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the Article Rescue Squadron's list of content for rescue consideration. CT55555 (talk) 17:02, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * comment While it's true she's mentioned in a few books, that's all it is: mere mentions. It's not "significant coverage in reliable sources", as mandated by WP:GNG. Even the source I just added for her Flumps narration is just a quick mention of her name. While you've also done some work adding references, which is good, each of those references is just a mention of her name in a cast. There is no in-depth coverage of her; in fact, there's no coverage of her in independent reliable sources at all beyond lists of cast members. Wes sideman (talk) 17:42, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * comment on above claim of WP:CREATIVE criterion 3: she does not pass that criterion. She was not the creator or co-creator of The Flumps. She was hired as a narrator. Wes sideman (talk) 17:44, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * She played every voice role in the entire television production of The Flumps. I think it is fair for me to characterise that as satisfying played a major role in co-creating. She has played multiple lead roles, including in Godspell, to call these "bit parts" is inaccurate.
 * This actor has a 65 year stellar career that has spanned theatre, film, television and music and the productions she has played major roles in have won critical acclaim.
 * I've carefully read your rebuttal of my assessment, and I stand by my claims. I've further improved the article since my comments, and I am optimistic that a fresh review of the article might make it easier for you to agree. CT55555 (talk) 21:44, 11 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Comment - Soper appears to be more than 'an actress with bit parts in various things', and recordings of her work can be verified on e.g. Worldcat. She appears to have a well-established theater career, e.g. this 2012 Broadway World announcement includes a description of past credits, as does this 2013 Broadway World announcement; her role in Funny Girl also does not appear to be a 'bit part', according to these review roundups 1, 2 by Broadway World. Beccaynr (talk) 19:47, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Comment Her official website mentions The Telegraph, but the link doesn't work. Searching for her name there https://www.telegraph.co.uk shows two results.  Must be a subscriber to view them.   D r e a m Focus  20:06, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep per WP:BASIC and WP:NACTOR#1; her career appears fairly prolific and recognized by multiple independent and reliable sources (e.g. WhatsOnStage 1, and a review of Crazy For You). She was in the original cast of Godspell (Playbill, 2014), and there are "3,046 results for “Gay Soper”" on Playbill. The article can be further developed with available sources. Beccaynr (talk) 20:22, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * More sources: a review in Theatre Record, discussion of the recording of Les Misérables in Broadway's Prize-winning Musicals (she played Madame Thénardier), and a brief description of The Flumps with a highlight of her role in The Little Book of Great Britain. Some older sources are not fully accessible but suggest further secondary coverage is available, e.g. , , , . Beccaynr (talk) 21:05, 11 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep The Feltham Chronicle 21 May 1998, Thu Page 18 Hounslow, London, England gives her significant coverage. If you have access to it, its at https://www.newspapers.com/image/903665585/?terms=Gay%20Soper&match=1 and praises her throughout the article.  "Gay Soper's one woman cabaret show regularly captivates crowds as she sits alone on stage reciting excerpts from the homely Flumps programmes." and other such praise in that article.  There are 4,222 matches at Newspaper.com for "Gay Soper".   D r e a m Focus  01:54, 12 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep Due to the sources mentioned by Beccaynr. MrsSnoozyTurtle 11:17, 12 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep The following WP:RS reviews of different theatre productions over several years all single Soper out for praise: .  This WP:RS article  has a section devoted to the lead role she will be playing.  Together with the other sources above this is not a 'bit part' actor, but very obviously someone with a significant and reviewed WP:NACTOR repertoire.  I have added a selection of these refs to the article.ResonantDistortion 19:52, 12 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Keep for reasonings given by @Beccaynr. Remember WP:ARTN. Belichickoverbrady (talk) 19:05, 14 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Keep she has quite a career on Broadway. Passes WP:CREATIVE Lightburst (talk) 19:55, 14 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep per above mentions No need to add any more on this but multiple sources by the guardian are more than enough to show that this subject meets notability guidelines.  GR 86  (📱) 20:55, 14 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep per above discussion. I note that a simple newspaper search online will find lots of reliable sources, as would a look at Worldcat. WP:NACTOR does not require starring roles; being a character actor or supporting roles can be sufficient for notability if the subject's career has gained coverage for both individual roles and for a body of work. Bearian (talk)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.