John Sichel

Who was John Sichel?

John Peter Sichel was a British director of film, stage and television, and, later in life, a film, television, and theatre trainer.

Early in his career, he became known for translating the classical theatre repertoire to the screen. After he directed Alec Guinness and Ralph Richardson in a television version of Twelfth Night, he was asked by Laurence Olivier to direct the National Theatre Company in the film of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters with Olivier, Joan Plowright and Alan Bates. He subsequently directed Olivier in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, again from a National Theatre Company production. This was remounted for CBC in Canada in 1976 with a Canadian cast which included A. E. Holland as Shylock, Allan Grey, Micki Maunsell, Jack Rigg and Barney O'Sullivan. He also produced the first three series of Thriller for the British Associated Television company for whom the two Shakespeare adaptations had also been produced.

His experience as a commissioner and director of drama and drama-documentaries enabled him to work with numerous prominent performers including Derek Jacobi, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery and Michael Caine.