This Is Your Life: Gillian Lynne

Gillian LYNNE (1926-2018)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Gillian Lynne, choreographer and dancer, was surprised by Michael Aspel at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, having been led to believe she was there for a television interview about her work on the new musical Aspects of Love.

Gillian, who was born in Bromley, joined Sadler's Wells Ballet at the age of 17 and spent several years as a dramatic ballerina in leading roles. Having left the ballet in 1951, she became a star dancer at the London Palladium, appeared in West End shows such as Can-Can and later, in the 1960s, introduced jazz dance to Britain at the Edinburgh Festival.

In a long career as a choreographer and director, she worked on many productions, including those from the Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company and English National Opera, in addition to many television shows, including The Muppet Show. She worked on many West End and Broadway shows, notably the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

"Don't! It's not my life... it's not my life! But we'll all be there forever! My god!"

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