Year |
Overview |
|
| 1900 |
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 9th October, the youngest of four children. His father is Alexander Sim and his mother is Isabella McIntyre. His father owns a Tailor shop in Lothian Road (just south of Princes Street in Edinburgh) and the family lives in rooms above. |
|
| 1906 |
Alastair goes to school in Bruntisfield. Moves to Gillespie's School (Alastair cannot remember at what age), where his father is a JP and a governor of the school. |
|
| 1914 |
Alastair leaves school aged 14 and works as a messenger in his father's tailoring shop and later works at Gieves, a men's outfitters, where he sells ties. The following few years are vague. |
|
| 1918 |
Studies to be an analytical chemist at Edinburgh University. |
|
| 1918 |
Joins the Officer's Training Corp. The Armistice arrives just before he is sent to the front. |
|
| 1919 |
When released from the OTC, Alastair lives rough for a year in the Highlands, finding employment with a group of migrants engaged as farm labourers, foresters, ghillies or poachers. |
|
| 1920 |
Eventually returns to Edinburgh and works in the Borough Assessor's Office. |
|
| 1921 |
In his early 20s, Alastair becomes a student at the Edinburgh Provincial Training Centre at Moray House . |
|
| 1925 |
Obtains post of Fulton Lecturer in Elocution at New College, Edinburgh University from 1925 through 1930, teaching budding parsons how to speak. |
|
| 1926 |
Meets his future wife, Naomi Plaskitt when they appear together in an amateur production of The Land Of Hearts Desire by William Butler Yeats. He is 26 and she is 12. |
|
| 1926 |
School of Drama and Speech Training in Manor Place. |
|
| 1929 |
Naomi enrolls at Alastair's own School of Drama and Speech Training where she also later works as his secretary. |
|
| 1929 |
Alastair hopes to become a professional director but is advised by John Drinkwater (poet, playwright, producer and general manager of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre) that his best chance is to try to become an actor first, and work up to directing in time. |
|
| 1930 |
In September Alastair moves to a flat in Golders Green with Naomi and her mother. Shares rent with Naomi's mother. |
|
| 1930 |
Through his contact with John Drinkwater he gets his first role in OTHELLO and moves to London. |
|
| 1930 |
Professional stage debut on 19th May as the Messenger in
Othello (with Paul Robeson and Peggy Ashcroft). Rehearsals start in Spring with
Alastair understudying Othello, Iago and Roderigo for £5 a week. Alastair lodges in the house
of John Thompson and Jessie Hall in Hampstead Garden (London suburb). |
|
| 1930 |
Performs in a review called Caviare at the Little Theatre (now
defunct). |
|
| 1931 |
Plays the Cardinal Ferdinando di Medici in a play called
The Venetian by Clifford Bax; a drama about the Medicis. Alastair is one of the principals for the
first time. The play was based upon one of the numerous romantic episodes in the history of the
Medici. A contemporary review in THEATRE WORLD singles out Alastair as giving "an impressive rendering
of the unscrupulous, scheming Cardinal." |
|
| 1931 |
At the end of the run in London, on October 31, Alastair makes his New York debut in this same role at the Masque Theatre. This is his only appearance in America. Although well received on tour the play is not appreciated in New York. Alastair returns
home by Christmas and never went back no matter what the financial inducement. There is a sad irony in
this in that, in time, America becomes particularly appreciative of his work. |
|
| 1932 |
Plays the Old Vic for a season where Harcourt Williams
is directing. Ralph Richardson and Phyllis Thomas are leads. The Old Vic is changing plays every
three weeks. Claudius in Hamlet. 2 x cameos in John Drinkwater's play Abraham Lincoln - the old negro
(Douglas) is doubled with John Wilkes Booth. |
|
| 1932 |
Marries Naomi (now turned 18) in August at a Registry
Office. Honeymoon in Sark for 2 weeks. |
|
| 1932 |
2nd Season at the Old Vic with Malcolm Kean and Peggy Ashcroft
as principals. |
|
| 1932 |
At the end of this year Naomi has a pregnancy terminated
due to illness. |
|
| 1932 |
Buys house in Garrick Avenue - a quiet street off Golders Green
Road - for �800. Plays in small theatre on the outskirts of London. |
|
| 1933 |
Towards the end of this year Alastair plays a comic Scotsman
in the play called The Man Who Was Fed Up (by Frederick Witney) at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss
Cottage. |
|
| 1934 |
In January of this year The Man Who Was Fed Up transfers to the
Vaudeville Theatre in the Strand. |
|
| 1934 |
In the autumn Alastair plays the part of a pompous bank manager
in the play Youth At The Helm at the Westminster Theatre. |
|
| 1934 |
In February Youth At The Helm Transfers to the Globe Theatre in the
West End. A number of offers start to come in from film companies. |
|
| 1934 |
Alastair is suddenly very ill with Sciatic trouble incurred
scrambling around with children on Hampstead Heath and has to leave the play. It is only after many months
of worry and pain that an Osteopath eventually cures the problem and Alastair is able to resume
work and able to take up the offers from film companies. |
|
| 1935 |
Alastair plays a Scottish Police Sergeant in his first film -
The Riverside Murder. This is one of a number of Fox Quickies. Fox British being a small
British film company. |
|
| 1936 |
Plays the Minister Angus Graham in the film The Wedding
Group. Naomi is given a small part as the maid. |
|
| 1936 |
Over the next few years Alastair acts in a great many films.
Alastair signs a three year film contract with Julius Hagen of Twickenham Studios. |
|
| 1936 |
In the winter of this year Alastair and Naomi go on a skiing
holiday in Arosa on the strength of this contract. Whilst on holiday Alastair finds out that
Julius Hagen has gone bust. After this, Alastair never signs a contract for more than one film at a
time. |
|
| 1936 |
Buys house on Wildwood Road on other side of Hampstead Heath.
Extension for three years. |
|
| 1936 |
Becomes a member of the Greenwood Club. Also, for leisure,
friends visit his house to play Bridge. |
|
| 1937 |
Early in this year Alastair is back in the theatre. Alastair
plays the crime reporter Collie in a revival of Edgar Wallace's thriller The Squeaker at the Prince's
Theatre. The play receives rapturous reviews. |
|
| 1937 |
In August of the same year and in the same theatre in
Ian Hay's adventure play The Gusher. The play concerns itself with an oil strike and Alastair plays
another comic Scotsman. |
|
| 1937 |
More films now. Alastair is with Jessie Matthews in Gangway.
Made in Pinewood Studios near Iver, Buckinghamshire. Alastair makes films for two years now - most of
them unmemorable. Plays Collie in the film of The Squeaker. He plays the Genie in Alf's Button
Afloat with the The Crazy Gang. Also plays the news editor in This Man Is News and the sequel This
Man In Paris. Also plays the Sergeant in the three Inspector Hornleigh films opposite Gordon
Harker's Inspector. |
|
| 1939 |
Early in the year Alastair ends a long spell of filming
because he is asked to go to the Malvern Festival to play in What Say They? by James Bridie. The
meeting with Bridie is brief but influential and is the start of a long, close friendship. |
|
| 1939 |
In November Alastair tours in a silly comedy starring Leslie Banks
and Margaret Rawlings. Alastair plays the part of the perfect butler. |
|
| 1939 |
Also during the War, Alastair tours with ENSA
(Entertainments National Service Association) which performs one play at a time and plays for only
one night at each service camp. |
|
| 1940 |
Naomi admitted to Samaritan Hospice in Marylebone
Hospital. |
|
| 1940 |
During WWII, Alastair and Naomi relocate to Egypt Cottage in the country. They intend to stay"just for the summer" away from the air raids but end up living there for seven years. Alastair still has a small flat in London from which he can work. |
|
| 1940 |
Alastair takes a part in Cottage To Let, the first spy thriller
of the war, at Wyndham's Theatre, with George Cole and Leslie Banks. |
|
| 1940 |
The Sim's take in children who are sent away from London
because of fear of the bombs dropping during the blitz. Among these is George Cole, who arrives aged
15 and stays until he is 27, practically becoming their foster son. |
|
| 1940 |
In August of this year Alastair and Naomi have a child
of their own - a daughter named Merlith who is born in a London nursing home. The Sim's house in
Wildwood Road is totally destroyed by a bomb. |
|
| 1941 |
Towards the end of the year Alastair directs (his original career choice) for the first
time in James Bridie's Holy Isle for a limited season at the Arts Theatre. At Christmas he plays Captain
Hook for the first time (doubling it with Mr. Darling). |
|
| 1942 |
Towards the end of the year Bridie sends Alastair a new play
- A Chink In The Blackout - which is to become Mr. Bolfry. This is the first of the Bridie plays in
which Alastair is to act as well as direct. Alastair plays the part of the Minister, Mr. McCrimmon,
though in a later revival he is to play the Devil. |
|
| 1944 |
It Depends What You Mean (Later filmed as Folly To Be Wise)
opens in London in November after a short tour starting in Glasgow. |
|
| 1945 |
The Forrigan Reel by James Bridie opens at Sadlers Wells
in October. |
|
| 1946 |
Green For Danger |
|
| 1947 |
In June the Sim's move to a new cottage they had built for
them located at Newnham Hill, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. They name it "Forrigan" after the James
Bridie play. |
|
| 1947 |
Alastair rehearses Dr. Angelus, a new play by James Bridie.
George Cole plays the part of Doctor Johnson. |
|
| 1947 |
After a short tour Dr. Angelus opens at the Phoenix Theatre
for a six month run. |
|
| 1948 |
In autumn Alastair is elected Rector of Edinburgh
University, beating out Harold MacMillan by 2078 votes to 802. |
|
| 1949 |
In April he is installed as Rector through to 1951. His
Rectorial Address is on "The Qualified Fool". |
|
| 1950 |
Performs the eponymous Mr Gillie at the Garrick Theatre;
another play by James Bridie and Alastair's favorite. |
|
| 1951 |
James Bridie dies. |
|
| 1951 |
Awarded honorary LLD at the conclusion of his term as
Rector. |
|
| 1951 |
Alastair begins a search for new playwrights to replace Bridie. He discovers:
Michael Gilbert (A Clean Kill, The Bargain, Windfall); William Golding (The Brass Butterfly); and William
Trevor (The Elephant's Foot). |
|
| 1951 |
Alastair is to appear in many films during the 1950's
including: The Happiest Days Of Your Life; Scrooge; An Inspector Calls; The Belle's of St. Trinian's; The Green Man; and two small scenes in Blue Murder at St. Trinian's. |
|
| 1951 |
Joins the Garrick Club. Alastair's portrait is painted
by Edward Seago and hangs in the Garrick. |
|
| 1951 |
Merlith, aged 19, is employed as Alastair's ASM in
Michael Gilbert's A Clean Kill at the Criterion Theatre. |
|
| 1953 |
Alastair is awarded the CBE. |
|
| 1960 |
Alastair directs and plays in The Bargain. |
|
| 1966 |
Plays Lord Ogleby in David Garrick's play The Clandestine
Marriage at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Alastair is aged 65 now. |
|
| 1969 |
Plays Mr. Posket in Pinero's play The Magistrate
at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The Magistrate comes to London and has a long run at the
Cambridge Theatre. |
|
| 1973 |
Plays Augustine Jedd in Pinero's play Dandy Dick
at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The play also has a good run in London after Chichester. |
|
| 197? |
Declines a knighthood. |
|
| 1976 |
Alastair discovers an ulcer on his tongue which is later
diagnosed as cancer. |
|
| 1976 |
Alastair dies of cancer at University College Hospital,
London on 19th August. He leaves his body for anatomical research. |
|
 |
