Julian Slade

Julian Slade

Julian Penkivil Slade (28 May 1930 – 17 June 2006) was an English writer of musical theatre best known for the show Salad Days, which he wrote in six weeks in 1954 and became the UK's longest-running show of the 1950s with over 2,288 performances.

Born in London in 1930, he moved with his family in 1940 to Painswick, Gloucestershire, where he spent his formative years, becoming a young member of the village dramatic society. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge where he was the first Footlights Vice President. After leaving Cambridge he went on to the drama school at the Bristol Old Vic.

During his time at the Old Vic, Slade wrote incidental music for several productions including Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Duenna. In 1954 he was asked to write a musical for the Old Vic Christmas Season. It was then that he came up with Salad Days with Dorothy Reynolds. The show was such a success that it moved to London where it ran for over 2,288 performances - a record at the time. It was here in London that a young Cameron Mackintosh saw the show with his aunt and decided to become a theatrical producer. Slade and Mackintosh stayed close friends throughout his life.

Julian Slade's music is typified by being exceptionally melodious and enjoyable. An excellent example of his music is from his second successful musical, Free as Air he wrote with Dorothy Reynolds which opened at the Opera House in Manchester in 1957 before moving to the Savoy Theatre, London, where it ran for 417 performances, but is rarely revived.

Slade, a native of London, died of cancer on 17 June 2006, aged 76.

He had two brothers, Adrian Slade CBE (Liberal Party President) and Sir Christopher Slade (Lord Justice of Appeal, 1982–1991) and a sister.