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Royce Thomas Carlisle Ryton (16 September 1924 – 14 April 2009)[1] was an English playwright.
He was educated atLancing College. DuringWorld War Two, he served in theRoyal Navy; afterwards, he went to train as an actor at theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. As an actor, he played in many repertory theatres, including inBromley,Minehead andWorthing. He also toured extensively. Over the years he worked less as an actor so he could concentrate on his writing. Initially, he had some success with comedies (which were particularly well received in Germany), but later, he became fascinated with the interaction of the private and public lives of royalty and politicians.
He was married to Morar Kennedy (sister ofLudovic Kennedy) from 1955[2] until his death, aged 84; they had a daughter, Charlotte. Morar had a son, Roderick Orr-Ewing, from her first marriage.[3]
WithCrown Matrimonial (1972), Ryton achieved a historical first: the serious portrayal of a living member of theRoyal family (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) on the stage. The play was about theAbdication crisis of 1936; it was Ryton's most successful work, and has been performed onBroadway and the West End. In the West End, the central portrayals ofQueen Mary andEdward VIII were played byWendy Hiller andPeter Barkworth.[3] Queen Mary was subsequently played byPatricia Routledge.
Ryton continued his 'Royal theme' in 1981 with the comedy (co-written withRay Cooney)Her Royal Highness, about a double having to stand-in forLady Diana Spencer when she loses her nerve and disappears, one week before theRoyal Wedding. It ran successfully at thePalace Theatre in London's West End from 1981 to 1982.
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