Janet Slade

Janet joined the Garrick in 1986. She appeared in over 70 plays on the Mainstage, in the Studio and at the Edinburgh Fringe.

She was a primary school teacher who, for 14 very successful years, became heavily involved in gymnastics, primarily as a choreographer to international level.  Her first protégé, Kathy Williams MBE, competed at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

After she retired from the sport, and because she had studied Drama and Dance at Didsbury College, it was natural that she should try her hand at acting.

Following a successful Garrick audition, she very quickly showed her versatility by being cast in 4 productions in her first season including as 15-year-old Ruby in 'When we are Married' and as 60-year-old Aunt Edie in 'Sailor Beware'.

Known as a director's dream, with immaculate comic timing, she was cast in many comedies and farces, and she used to say that one of her greatest thrills on stage was delivering a laugh line and then waiting a split second to hear the audience explode with laughter.

A GMDF and NODA award winning actress, she was also heavily involved off-stage, prompting many productions, serving pints behind the bar, choreographing several musicals, and serving on the Play Selection and Casting Committee.

One theatre critic wrote 'Janet Slade might be small in stature but she absolutely fills the stage'. Audiences agreed.