Edward Alan Talbot
We are saddened to learn of Ted’s passing on 14 August. Ted was an active member of GEDS for many years. He served on the committee twice from 1982-87 and again from 2002-2009. He held the post of treasurer for a total of 10 years but also turned his hand to Business Manager one season and Newsletter Editor another.
Whilst on the committee he would willingly skipper us in his motorboat across the lake from Nyon to Messery for our annual summer committee meeting chez Nathalie.
One of his major contributions to the society was taking on and running the GEDS youth group THE EDGE , initially started as a playreading group for young people by Malcolm Grant passed to Beverley Rousset then in 2004 taken on by Ted. He went on to produce 5 full stage productions for them between 2005 and 2009, The Magical Voyage of Ulysses, Carpe Jugulum , ‘Allo ‘Allo, A Flea in her Ear, and St Trinians.
See Beverley Rousset’s piece about Ted and The Edge below.
From 1978 to 2009 he acted in 14 GEDS plays, his first was Richard III in 1978 and the last time he appeared on stage was in It Runs in the Family. He also helped build many sets for both GEDS and GAOS.
From 2010 onwards he devoted more of his time to Friends of India, as treasurer, doing much of the administrative work and also travelling for the charity.
He will also be remembered for his Musical Drop Ins which he held in his home once a month on Sunday evenings to listen to live music and which over the years were enjoyed by many.
He didn’t let the Parkinson’s that took away his ability to walk and stand deter from him coming along to enjoy the GEDS barn BBQ and the summer playreadings in our garden, though sadly we didn’t see him attend either this year.
Our sincere condolences go to his 3 children, Greg, Emilie and Laura
The Funeral will take place on Saturday 9 September at 4pm in the Gingins Temple.
It is the family’s wish that to reflect their father’s personality, those attending wear light or colourful clothing.
Jane Easton
TED and THE EDGE
GEDS youth drama group was initially started by Malcolm Grant who brought together a group of young people enthusiastic about the theatre. Due to professional commitments Malcolm persuaded Beverley Rousset to take over this initiative and a new group, many of whom were family of GEDS members, met on Saturday afternoons to rehearse small pieces to be presented at a GEDS playreading evening.
The success of this group among English-speaking 14 – 17 year olds encouraged the Committee to establish a stronger basis for young actors, and Ted stepped up to take over the leadership with a view to directing and producing the group in their own full productions .
One of Ted’s initial tasks was to draw up a “Charter” which members and their parents were required to sign and which ensured that parents were informed about, and happy with, allowing the extra homework activity and presence at rehearsals, etc. which membership of the group required.
Ted then recruited directors from among GEDS members and among those who stepped up were Richard Walsh and Jenny Buffle.
Perhaps the most memorable of THE EDGE’s productions were :
St. Trinians – for which Ted undertook extensive special effects and part of which was filmed at the Geneva English School.
Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear – a very different kind of production for members, who found it a difficult play in rehearsal but who rose to the challenge and produced superb performances.
And the runaway success, the comedy Allo, Allo which was blessed with a particularly talented and committed cast who delighted their audiences.
Ted’s enthusiasm ensured that he always got the best out of the young actors and his imagination, theatrical knowledge and commitment took THE EDGE forward to being a group where members – and their parents – learned not only about drama but also about backstage. Young people joined who wanted to know how about sound and lights and stage management. – and many of their parents also became interested and joined GEDS.
Beverley Rousset
From Roland Nathaniel (played René in Allo Allo )
“ I am very sorry to hear of Ted’s passing. I have fond memories of him and his leadership of Edge. The plays that he directed brought such joy to me and my loved ones. I also continue to count among my closest friends some of the people I met through Edge – Gabriella and Alex Docherty, Peter Barrow, Alex Salvi. All thanks to Ted. I am living in London now and regretfully won’t be able to attend the memorial service.”
From Gabriella Doherty (Madame Edith in Allo Allo )
“ I’m extremely saddened to hear this news about Ted. Please pass my condolences onto his family. I have so many fond memories of Ted and The Edge drama club. Having moved to Geneva from the UK, for a long time I found it difficult to feel settled and to feel like Switzerland was home. Joining Edge in my teens was a real turning point for me and life became much happier. Ted worked so hard to make Edge the success that it was, even organising boat trips for us to go on – I’ll always remember his generosity, passion and love for theatre. I’m still in regular contact with a number of friends from Edge and I’ve passed the news along to them. I now live and work in London so it will be difficult for me to join the memorial, but if I can make it work I would love to be there.”
From Alexander Doherty, a member of The Edge
It is with great sadness that I recently heard of the passing of Ted Talbot. I had the privilege of working with him during the productions of Carpe Jugulum and Allo Allo (perhaps you remember the German Colonel von Ström with chips in his ears?).
Edge was always a safe space for me and looking back I only now realise the value and importance it held in my life. I regret not having reached out to Ted and thanking him personally, but I wanted you and his close relations to know how many happy moments he brought to me and my family.
In the back of my mind, Ted stood perhaps in the illusion that he was impermanent to the changes of time, skiing with his hip replacements, continuously working on new shows and projects, organising trips and holidays for others without end. I will always carry his memory with great care and fondness in my heart.
From Malcolm Grant
I met Ted properly when we were both cast in a revival of Habeas Corpus in the early 2003, directed by Julian Finn. He played Mr Shanks, a salesman and “fitter” of false boobs, having to handle the goods in situ. A farce of course but Ted brought his enormous physical comedy to the role, amplifying the text with arms flailing and larger than life double takes. All exactly what the role required. He was a joy to be around, well read and in permanent good humour.
I was so pleased he took over the role of the youth group and produced great work with them and I recall discussing and loaning him various potential scripts for the project. His production of “Allo Allo” with The Edge was a joy.
I last saw Ted at the summer playreading in 2020, at which time his illness had impacted his mobility but seemed not to have diminished his positivity and humour.