Impresario to the stars
THE documentary film The Last Impresario looks at the life of British entertainment industry icon Michael White, and some of the stars who featured in more than 200 shows and movies that he made during the past 50 years.
White – the Jewish impresario, playboy and friend of the rich and famous – was responsible for hit shows such as Oh! Calcutta!, The Rocky Horror Show and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
White was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1936 to a Russian-Jewish mother and an Irish father, and lived most of his life in London. At 26, he produced his first West End play.
Known as “Chalky” by his friends, he is now 78 and still enjoys partying like there’s no tomorrow.
Following a chance encounter with White in Cannes 2010, Australian filmmaker Gracie Otto started working on the documentary, which took her to four countries as she discovered the significant role White played in film and theatre history, while remaining enigmatic.
The film features interviews with 50 stars that White worked with, including John Cleese, Yoko Ono, Naomi Watts and Barry Humphries, and offers a fascinating insight into the spectacular highs and lows of White’s career.
The Last Impresario is currently screening.
REPORT by Danny Gocs
PHOTO: Impresario Michael White has his hair cut by actress Debra Winger in The Last Impresario.
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