Leslie Evershed-Martin

English theatre impresario and politician

Leslie Eric Evershed-Martin CBE
Born	(1903-05-25)May 25, 1903 Clapham, London
Died	January 7, 1994(1994-01-07) (aged 90)
Nationality	British
Occupation(s)	Theatre impresario, city councillor and optician

Leslie Eric Evershed-Martin, CBE (1903–1991) was a British theatre manager, city councillor and optician, and founder of the Chichester Festival Theatre.^[1]

Evershed-Martin was born in Clapham, London in 1903. His father was a bank manager, and he trained as an optician. He was twice Mayor of Chichester and founded Chichester Players in 1933.^[2] In 1959, Evershed-Martin founded the Chichester Festival Theatre, and then successfully raised the funding to see this 'Impossible theatre' built, in 1960.^[3] The theatre opened with Laurence Olivier as its first artistic director, and attracted a host of prominent directors during its first two decades.^[1] In July 1963 he was recognised with the award of member (serving brother) of the Order of Saint John. ^[4] He was awarded an OBE in June 1967,^[5] and a CBE in June 1990 for his services to theatre.^[6]

He was married with two sons and died in 1991.

Publications

"The Impossible Theatre"

References

^ ^a ^b "Obituary: Leslie Evershed-Martin". The Independent. 28 January 1994.
^ "1994: Leslie". Chichester Festival Theatre.
^ "Chichester Festival Theatre - how it all began..."
^ "Page 5648 | Issue 43045, 2 July 1963 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
^ "Page 6281 | Supplement 44326, 2 June 1967 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
^ "Page 8 | Issue 52173, 15 June 1990 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.