'This handsome, kind, fun-loving, talented, beautiful man - adored husband of Joyce, Louise's adored Daddy - died peacefully on Saturday 29th November, 2008.
Joyce Rae Frith
Roger on the roof of Wimbledon Theatre
Roger's death came as a huge shock to everyone who knew him. Although he would have been 70 next year, he never grew old and had an inexhaustible zest for life.
Earlier this year, on his 69th birthday, he went paragliding with Joyce and was looking forward to doing a parachute jump.
Two months ago, Roger was diagnosed with cancer and although an operation seemed initially successful, he suffered from complications that were ultimately fatal.
Roger never wanted to grow old, but he did look forward to many more years with Joyce, friends and family and those of us who knew him will miss him greatly.
This blog is a celebration of Roger's life and an opportunity for those who knew him to add comments at the bottom of this page.
Roger's Work
Roger started his career at Sadler’s Wells, moving with the company to the Coliseum to become resident lighting designer/supervisor for English National Opera. He then worked as a freelancer. Although still specialising in lighting for opera, Roger’s freelance work encompassed a wide range of productions, including commercial plays, musicals and ballet in
Roger designed numerous productions for English Bach Festival including: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Dido and Aeneas and The Fairy Queen, all at the Royal Opera House; Telemaco at Sadler’s Wells and the Herod Atticus amphitheatre near the Acropolis; and Platee at the Alexandra Trianti Opera House in Athens. He also lit other productions for English Bach Festival in
In
Other productions included La Boheme on a floating stage in
Roger's lighting design and the finished result at the Tower of London
Although Roger specialised in lighting operas, he was extremely versatile and also lit straight drama and farce, as well as many pantomimes and musicals.
Roger worked extensively with students at RADA, ArtsEd and, most recently, the Drama Centre at The Cochrane Theatre,
'What was striking was how well - especially latterly, with Roger Frith's lighting - this opera came across'. – The Independent, reviewing Anna Bolena
Roger the child prodigy
Before Roger became a lighting designer, he achieved a certain amount of fame as Britain's youngest puppeteer:
Roger toured the country, first with his parents, then with a company called the Hogarth Puppets. His puppet shows received rave reviews and his reputation grew to the point where he was offered television work. For a brief spell, Roger operated Muffin the Mule.
Roger at 14
Roger left the world of puppets to study art at Goldsmith's College, where he showed considerable promise. However, Roger left after a year as he was made an offer he couldn't refuse: to train as a lighting designer at Sadler's Wells. Roger had apparently got the job as it was felt that his artist's understanding of colour made him an ideal candidate for the position.
Tributes
Joyce has received many emails during the last few days. It is not possible to publish all of them, but here are a few extracts, accompanied by photos from Roger's life:
You were the perfect couple. True soul mates. And the world is duller - and dimmer - without Roger.
David Wood OBE
The beginning of 30 very happy years
Andrew Killan
Joyce and Roger in the Maldives
I was only thinking of him the other day I was going through some old photographs, and I found the one where me and Roger were sitting in the back of an old viscount airplane going to Vichy France on one of Lena’s jaunts.
I said to Roger 'I am not getting on that bloody thing. It's got propellers'. Roger reassured me it would be okay, so we sat together in the back and smoked our way through the flight. We ended up in hysterics as when we landed, the cleaning truck consisted of a little French lady with a bucket and mop. Then (I am not sure) I think we went for a beer. Just for a change.
Susan Ashley (nee Hartfree)
Roger's laughter was infectious
Gary Diomandes
Roger with his grandson Harry
He will be leaving an amazing legacy of young designers behind to carry on with his wonderful teaching and skills that he has left them with. So I guess in one way his 'Light' will still be shining for many years to come.
Hugh Halliday
Roger in Sri Lanka
Alex and I will never think of Roger without smiling; his sense of fun, stories, and wisdom will be sorely missed.
We must all go on believing in what we do for his sake, knowing that he should have been allowed to go on rendering our work so much more beautiful and to have continued to enrich our lives as a valued friend and colleague.
Di Fraser
Please convey my sympathy to Joyce and tell her I have very fond memories of Roger, who was always generous with his friendship, when I was living and working in London in the early seventies.
I will always remember Roger coming to me one day, all those years ago and telling me that he had taken a phone call at the Coliseum from my Mother, who asked (and here he mimicked my Mother, by putting-on a high pitched Welsh accent) "Have you seen my Stephen, as he didn't come home last night" (I sometimes slept on the floor of the lighting box after too many lagers with him at The Lemon Tree).
He told her that he expected to see me later that day and he would make sure I phoned her. I was rightly admonished by Roger for not being more considerate to my poor Mother!
Stephen Hancock
Roger with his grandson Toby
Toby Boakes, aged nine
Paul Jerricho
Much of my childhood was spent backstage with Dad, mainly at the Coliseum. One of my favourite memories is of watching the production of 'Peter Pan' which Dad lit every Christmas. I loved watching it in the lighting box with Dad.
Three weeks ago, I met Dad before he went into hospital for the operation. We had a drink in the pub, then went home for lunch with Joyce. When it was time for me to catch my train home, Dad insisted on walking me to the station. He talked about the forthcoming operation as we walked.
"In a funny sort of way", he said, looking into the distance, "I am looking forward to it. It's a challenge. An awfully big adventure."
Dad loved adventure. Like Peter Pan, he retained a childlike love of new experiences. He never tired of meeting new people, travelling, trying new things, having fun. In Joyce, he found his perfect partner - someone who shared his love of theatre and had an equal thirst for adventure.
Those who know 'Peter Pan' will know what 'an awfully big adventure' means. It was far too early for Dad to embark on his last big adventure, but I take comfort in the fact that he lived his life to the full right to the end and was loved by so many.
Louise Frith
Roger with Louise and Anne
As you say, he was such a big personality, so loved by all who knew him, that to take him away seems so impossible. There will be tears all over the world tonight for him.
Jenny Ranson, OBE
Roger was such a pleasure to work with, and lots of people I've told say the same. You'll get messages from people you barely know with the same message - Roger helped me get to where I am now.
Kate Reynolds
I designed several productions at Drama Centre which Roger lit. As well as being a fantastic lighting designer, he was such good fun to be with. The last time we worked together, he proudly showed photos of the both of you paragliding in Greece. He certainly knew how to enjoy life. He was always talking about you too. I liked him instantly, even before we actually met. I loved the way he introduced himself on the phone as "Roger the Frith". I will miss him very much indeed and am lucky to have known him.
Mark Friend
As well as being great fun, Roger was also the consummate pro, pulling all sorts of effects out of the bag which one had no right to expect on the budget and timescale available. He was also brilliant with the students, tirelessly enlisting those 1st year acting students to help with all the technical work needed to produce a professional standard show.
He’s irreplaceable; I’m going to miss him as a colleague and a pal.
Chris Ettridge
