The University Archive holds the internationally significant Michael Peto photographic collection. From the 1950s until his death in 1970 Michael Peto regularly photographed theatre, television and film productions and as result the Peto Collection contains many images of major stars. These include images of actors who were at the height of their fame, but also snaps of others who were in the early stages of their careers.
2024 saw the passing of three well-known faces of stage and screen who had been photographed by Peto. New Zealand born James Laurenson died in April 2024 at the age of 84. He had begun his acting career in his homeland in the early 1960s before coming to the UK. He would have a long career on both stage and screen. He appeared in several major television series, with 1960s appearances in Z-Cars and Coronation Street. A role in the BBC’s acclaimed Elizabeth R in 1971 was followed up the next year with a major part in the first four episodes of the BBC’s next Tudor series The Shadow of the Tower which chronicled the reign of Henry VII. In this he gave a memorable performance as the ambitious Earl of Lincoln who rebels against the king. Another notable role came in the 1990s when he played the character of Major-General Ross, Wellington’s spymaster, in 4 episodes of ITV’s Sharpe. Work in the 21st century included parts in Spooks, The Hollow Crown, Father Brown and The Crown.
Michael Peto photographed Laurenson when he performed with the Prospect Theatre in productions of Shakespeare’s Richard II and Marlowe’s Edward II in 1968 and1969. Both starred Ian McKellen. The production of the latter was thought to be one of its first professional performances since the 17th century. Laurenson played Edward II’s lover Pier Gaveston and McKellen would later say kissing Laurenson “was a bonus throughout the run”. When the play was televised in 1970 the kiss between McKellen and Laurenson attracted some controversy, but is now seen as a ground-breaking moment in British television.
Also starring in Edward II and Richard II was Timothy West who would go on to become one of the most familiar faces on British television as well as being a highly respected stage actor. Peto had previously photographed him in the Prospect Theatre’s 1966 productions of “Madam”, Said Dr. Johnson and The Tempest.
Born in 1934 his career saw him take on such diverse roles as the unscrupulous anti-hero Bradley Hardacre in the 1980s comedy Brass, the title role in ITV’s acclaimed Edward VII, and Stan Carter in EastEnders. His final TV role, in BBC’s Doctors, was broadcast the day after his death on 12 November. On the big screen he appeared in several films ranging from the thriller The Day of the Jackal to the light-hearted 102 Dalmatians.
With the passing of Dame Maggie Smith, Britain lost one of its finest actors. Like West, she was born in 1934 and had a career on stage and screen that lasted from the 1950s to the 2020s. She won several awards for her roles in theatre, film and television. Among her most memorable roles were her acclaimed Oscar-winning performance as the title character in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and as Lady Hester Random in Tea with Mussolini. Her work in the Harry Potter films brought her to the attention of a younger generation, while her role in Downtown Abbey proved to be a massive hit. Michael Peto photographed her and her friend Kenneth Williams on stage in 1962 in Peter Shaffer’s The Public Eye which saw Smith win the Evening Standard Theatre Award for best actress. He also photographed her in August 1966 for the BBC series Acting in the Sixties.
To find out more about the Michael Peto collection visit the Archives website