Bruce Montague

Bruce Montague's recent West End theatre credits include Monsieur Firmin in the stage musical The Phantom of the Opera at The Her Majesty's Theatre, London.

Bruce was born in Kent. After National Service in 656 Squadron he trained at the RADA.

Early years in rep included Birmingham and Colchester. In the early 60s he was contracted to the Old Vic and H.M. Tennant. He appeared in five plays with Vivien Leigh (including her last in England - La Contessa) all directed by Robert Helpmann; was leading man with the Welsh National Theatre (D.O.P: Warren Jenkins); directed stage plays for some years including Australian version of Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'be; played Squeezum in Lock up Your Daughters; succeeded Trevor Nunn as Anthony Richardson's Associate Director and co-founded the Mercury Theatre, Auckland.

Television credits include over two hundred programmes, including Crane (Rediffusion series), Dimensions of Fear (ABC series), The Alpha Plan (NZBC series), Whoops Apocalypse! (as the Shah - LWT series), For Maddie - With Love (Thames serial), Secret Army, Onedin Line, The Vision (BBC), Ex (ITV), Canned Carrott, Keeping Up Appearances, Doctors and many others.

Amongst Bruce's numerous theatre credits are Touch of Spring (Comedy Theatre, then toured by Cameron Mackintosh), In the Red (Whitehall), Ross (Old Vic), Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Strand Theatre), Two for the Seesaw, The Division Belle, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Educating Rita, Hobson's Choice (winner of the Martini/TMA Theatre award), Don't Dress for Dinner, A Marginal Affair, Fiddler on the Roof (London Palladium - with Topol), Oliver! (London Palladium and tour - over 800 performances). He toured three times with Eric Sykes: The 19th Hole, Rough Crossing and Charley's Aunt (2001).

He has collaborated with Kenny Clayton, the jazz pianist, on a number of projects, including a musical about Emma Hamilton called The Mistress. He has appeared in more than 20 pantomimes and has had half a dozen plays produced by the BBC.