Michael Harvey Teacher, Actor and Writer Arrives in Blackpool

Blackpool lost one of its greatest treasures on 22 June 2024, a marvellous thinker and fountain of literary and theatrical knowledge, and always happy to share the wealth of his insight. One of his many remarkable talents was his ability to recite countless lines of great prose from Dickens to Wordsworth, or dialogue from great movies, plays or musicals.

Michael was born in Oxford on 8 July 1935. His father was a percussionist in a theatre orchestra for all his working life, his mother a housewife; and happy to be that to care for Michael and his younger sister Margaret. His first school in Oxford was St Aloysius on St Giles in the heart of the city. At the outbreak of WW2 it was a concern to be so close to London and potential bombing raids so his parents made the decision to move North – Blackpool was an obvious choice because it was away from major cities and also on the coast. Importantly for Michael’s father there were several thriving theatres and ballrooms where work in an orchestra would not be an issue. So by 1940 they moved to a rented house in South King Street and Michael and his sister went to school at St Kentigern’s on Newton Drive; Michael would then go on to St Joseph’s Catholic College. On sports afternoons he would always play truant (he hated sports) and go into Blackpool to catch a matinee at one of the many theatres. It always amazed him he never got caught! So his love of theatre and Shakespeare began.

Michael & Partner Eric 2002

By the time he had left school he was working at the Grand Theatre and also the Winter Gardens where he could watch plays and shows to his hearts content. In the early 1950s he had met his life partner Eric, a Blackpool born man, who shared his love of theatre and especially Shakespeare. Sadly Michael became unwell suddenly and was rushed to hospital. When he emerged from surgery he was amazed to discover he had a benign brain tumour that was successfully removed. His mother, sister and Eric all nursed him back to health. Michael then auditioned for RADA in London and to his amazement and delight was accepted, but sadly could not take up the offer as he couldn’t afford to pay the fees. Eric, who was an English teacher, persuaded Michael to get his teaching degree from the training college near Chorley. This he did and graduated as an English and Drama teacher, thus beginning his long career teaching in schools in Blackpool, London and also New York on an exchange programme for 18 months.

Michael loved theatre and was often performing in Shakespeare roles and musical comedy for local amateur companies wherever he was working at the time. He also wrote plays professionally and had several produced in Manchester. Another passion was going to the RSC at Stratford Upon Avon to see all the Shakespeare productions over several decades – Michael’s favourite was the more intimate Swan Theatre, whereas Eric preferred the larger Royal Shakespeare Theatre. They both eventually retired and lived happily at their book filled house on Mere Road, Blackpool. Eric, who was a few years older than Michael, passed away in 2008, and Michael continued to enjoy life and theatre until frailty meant he was more or less housebound until he died in 2024.

When Eric died he had a seat with a plague dedicated to him in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and scattered his ashes there. Michael requested that when he passed he also wanted his ashes scattered at Stratford and that wish was carried out. He is also having a seat in the Swan Theatre dedicated to him including a quote from Hamlet:

Remembering Michael E Harvey (1935-2024)
“To sleep, perchance to dream…”

Michael’s house on Mere Road in Blackpool, near Stanley Park

His house was filled with books, CDs and DVDs. Being so close to it all must have helped it seep into his memory’s embrace.

Michael at home on Mere Road, Blackpool

Michael played Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice (1961) and proudly told anyone listening that his costume was actually made for Sir John Gielgud to play the same part at the RSC in Stratford. When Michael played the part (the featured image) the costume still had Gielgud’s name tags attached – but they had to alter it slightly to fit Michael as he was slightly smaller!