Comments on: So Long, Rodney Archer

By: Danny Maher

Danny Maher — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:58:26 +0000

Rodney love, he was the best teacher and wittiest man I ever met. My days at City Lit are some of my most treasured memories. He always knew just the right advice to give me. So sad to hear of Rodney’s passing. I can picture him and Oscar up there somewhere, taking the piss out of all and sundry.
Forever in my heart.
Big Mad Danny x

By: Barbara Schofield

Barbara Schofield — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 01:22:31 +0000

Rodney was my acting teacher and dear friend. He taught me from 1974 to 1976 at Schiller University in London, and I fell in love with him immediately–as did all the ladies –sigh. He got me my first job in the city as a book editor at J.M Dent and Sons and directed me in my first play there: Beatrice Joanna in The Changeling. It was a truly memorable experience! I still have wonderful photos of him and I at the glorious parties then going on in London in the mid 70’s. I returned to American in 1978, but we visited back and forth for a while, and kept in correspondence. The last time I saw him was in the early 90’s. I was in England doing research for my Ph.D. in Theatre, and I got to see his beautiful home in Spitalfields, and enjoy a great home-cooked meal. Sadly, after that we lost touch. He was such a lovely, gracious and generous man, and I will miss his presence always. Thank you for posting this. It is so good to feel close to him again.

By: Charles Hanley

Charles Hanley — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 22:21:03 +0000

Rodney was my acting teacher at the City Literature Institute in 1994/95. Great classes and memories. Lovely guy. Charles

By: Russ Nash

Russ Nash — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 19:41:32 +0000

He was one of my drama teachers at the City Lit in the late 80’s. I was often nervous before his classes but he brought out the best in people and was incredibly sensitive to individual personalities.
A really funny and very kind man with an incredibly sharp wit. I’m very grateful to have met him.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 22:05:36 +0000

I was one of Rodney’s acting students at the City Lit for several years in the 80’s.

I remember the first time I met him at an audition.I was reciting a Shakespeare speech in a boring, static way.He stopped me and told me to start again but this time he shouted the names of characters at me.The whole speech took off as i jumped between characters.It was a brilliant idea and the first time I felt i had done something special.Although he could be critical he also had a wonderful ability to be patient and allow you the space to be creative.

By: Gerry Slamon

Gerry Slamon — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 10:05:31 +0000

All last week I had been trying to contact Rodney. I had hoped to take my Florida State students to meet him in his wonderful house on Fournier Street. I was very surprised when I didn’t receive a reply. Rodney was always most conscientious and efficient in answering messages. On Monday morning I decided to check for him online and discovered that he had left us in November.

Rodney was my drama teacher from 1993 to 1995. I later worked with him on the Two-Year Drama program at the City Lit, teaching the very same voice course that I had changed my own life. Ever since that time, we have been friends. Last year I acted with him in the wonderful production of Edward II that he directed at The Water Poet. In September we worked together again at a play-reading in his beautiful house. That very wet and miserable day was to be the last time we met.

On Monday afternoon, I took my Florida students to his house. I sang Handel’s ‘Silent Worship’ as a tribute to Rodney. I had been inspired to sing this song when I first visited him at Fournier Street. The spirit of the house seemed to call for this lovely song that I hadn’t sung in years. Rodney was overjoyed. Singing it again this week seemed the perfect way to say goodbye.

Last night, I read again a wonderful letter he sent me way back in 1995. It brought tears to my eyes but made me proud and happy to have known this very special man.

By the way, I am trying to get in touch with Trevor Newton who was the Curator of 31 Fournier Street. If Trevor sees this, I would very much like him to make contact. If anyone knows how I can get in touch with Trevor, then please let me know.

My email address is gerryslamon@yahoo.com

Farewell Rodney

Farewell to thee! but not farewell
To all my fondest thoughts of thee:
Within my heart they still shall dwell;
And they shall cheer and comfort me.

O, beautiful, and full of grace!
If thou hadst never met mine eye,
I had not dreamed a living face
Could fancied charms so far outvie.

If I may ne’er behold again
That form and face so dear to me,
Nor hear thy voice, still would I fain
Preserve, for aye, their memory.

That voice, the magic of whose tone
Can wake an echo in my breast,
Creating feelings that, alone,
Can make my tranced spirit blest.

That laughing eye, whose sunny beam
My memory would not cherish less; —
And oh, that smile! whose joyous gleam
Nor mortal language can express.

Adieu, but let me cherish, still,
The hope with which I cannot part.
Contempt may wound, and coldness chill,
But still it lingers in my heart.

And who can tell but Heaven, at last,
May answer all my thousand prayers,
And bid the future pay the past
With joy for anguish, smiles for tears?

Anne Brontë

By: Garry Brooking

Garry Brooking — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 14:07:27 +0000

I’ve just read this news of Rodney’s passing while writing about the people who inspired me with their teaching. Back in 1974 it was Rodney and his colleague Powell Jones at the City Lit who first challenged me to take risks and encouraged me to be myself and give it a go. Just two years later, I joined Stirabout Theatre Company, performing comedy in prisons. Then I worked for years with Professor Dogg’s Troupe, Inter-Action’s community theatre company. In both situations the skills Rodney gave me were essential for ad-libbing and interacting with audiences. He gave me the start I needed. I now work as a drama teacher and I hope I am passing on the light that Rodney sparked off in me. Thank you so much. With Love, Garry x

By: Fraser James

Fraser James — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 22:18:33 +0000

Have only just heard this sad news. Interestingly from one of my fellow classmates who Rodney taught acting and improvisation at City Lit 1988/9. We’ve only just reconnected via social media and when we met for coffee last week for the first time in over twenty years we were both gushing over how good Rodney was as a teacher. His class prepared me in the best way possible for drama school and I’ve always carried with me the fearless attitude he instilled in me for just jumping into the magic space without consideration or fear. I’m feel very sorry now that I never managed to say thank you. Thank you Rodney. Rest well. Fraser x

By: Austin hardiman

Austin hardiman — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 21:26:40 +0000

I last saw Rodney just before he passed. He was my first acting teacher/guru in London and inspired me to go to drama school. In his class at city lit I met one of my best friends and feel absolutely owe him the world.
I actually phoned him in December to invite him to my show at the Royal court. I wondered why he never called back. He always did!
Rodney you were a magical and wonderful teacher. We will miss you! Austin x

By: John Watts aka Paul Hellyer

John Watts aka Paul Hellyer — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 01:21:46 +0000

It happens all the time, then you regret it and it’s too late: I lost touch with Rodney soon after he and I were at University of Toronto (I hailed from the UK and returned there to theatre school) in a production of the two-act version of N.F. Simpson’s ‘A Resounding Tinkle’ (anyone remember the one-act version which had some longevity?). Rodney played a scientist (geneticist?) who presented an elegant lecture on the nature of laughter. The play was wildly funny, involving a suburban couple worried about their new pet delivered to them in the garden, a couple of clowns who kept appearing in their hatch, and a critics’ circle who discussed the play ‘so far’. Rodney’s was a solo stand-up turn, performed with aplomb and discipline.
Thank you, Rodney, for the fun – I hardly knew you but through the above I feel ‘caught up’ a bit!