Philip King

Philip King was born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, on 30 October 1904, and died on 9 February 1979. He became an English playwright and actor celebrated for his high-spirited comic farces. King is best known as the author of the classic wartime play See How They Run (first produced in 1944), a hit comedy that provided audiences with much-needed laughter during World War II. He discovered his passion for theatre early, launching his career on his sixteenth birthday as an actor with a touring company in Northern England. He soon joined the repertory troupe at the Opera House in Harrogate, Yorkshire, where he directed plays and had his first original comedy, Without the Prince, professionally produced – a show that later opened in London’s West End in April 1940. During his service in the Royal Air Force, King saw See How They Run debut to great acclaim in London in January 1945. Not even falling German V-1 “doodlebug” bombs could stop the show – as King later recalled, no one left the theatre during one performance despite three bombs dropping nearby. The next morning, he bought every newspaper and read the glowing reviews over a mug of tea and a Spam sandwich, jokingly comparing his humble celebration to Noël Coward’s more luxurious traditions. See How They Run proved to be a resounding success and is now regarded as “a cornerstone of the well-made English farce tradition”. Decades later, it continues to be revived as a beloved British comedy classic – a 2006 West End production was hailed as a welcome return of King’s “wartime classic” to the stage . Following this triumph, King wrote a string of other popular plays that bolstered mid-20th-century British theatre. His repertoire as sole author included lively comedies such as On Monday Next (1949), Pools Paradise (1961), and I’ll Get My Man (1966), among others. He also co-authored a number of West End farces – most notably Sailor Beware! (1955) and its sequel Watch It, Sailor! (1960) – further cementing his reputation for crowd-pleasing entertainment. Throughout his career, King often returned to the stage as a performer. He appeared in many London productions (sometimes in his own plays) alongside celebrated stars like comedian Sid Field and actress Frances Day, never losing his first love for acting even as his writing prospered. King’s work, with its fast-paced misunderstandings and quintessentially English humour, kept alive the tradition of British stage farce and influenced the post-war comedic scene. His plays became staples of repertory theatres and amateur companies, ensuring that generations of theatregoers continued to enjoy the mischievous wit of his storytelling. King’s legacy extends beyond the footlights. In the late 1990s (around 1997–98), the charity Disability Action Yorkshire (DAY) formerly Yorkshire Association for Disabled People – a Harrogate-based organisation that provides care and support, employment support and solutions to ensure better access and inclusion for disabled people – began receiving the royalties from several of his plays, including See How They Run, I’ll Get My Man, Pools Paradise, and others. For reasons unknown, King had designated this generous gift as a lasting endowment to the charity. The organisation has expressed profound gratitude for this bequest, as the steady royalty income helps to fund its vital services for disabled individuals. Jackie Snape, Chief Executive said “We are truly thankful to Philip King for his generosity, which is giving the charity a steady foundation of support and lasting impact.” Today, DAY proudly partners with Concord Theatricals – the publishing company that licenses King’s works – to promote productions of his plays, ensuring that Philip King’s joyful theatrical legacy continues to reach and delight new audiences.