Q 01/05

In which Surrey town was Laurence Olivier born in 1907?

A) Guildford

B) Dorking

C) Reigate

D) Woking

Answer · why

B) Dorking

He was the youngest child of a high-church Anglican priest known as Father Olivier, and came from a long line of Protestant clergymen.

Q 02/05

Who decided that the young Olivier should become an actor?

A) His actress aunt

B) A talent scout at school

C) His headmaster

D) His clergyman father

Answer · why

D) His clergyman father

The family had no theatrical connections at all; the frugal Reverend Olivier also insisted his son win a scholarship to drama school.

Q 03/05

Which future Dame, Olivier's contemporary at the Central School, called him 'rather uncouth' with short sleeves?

A) Peggy Ashcroft

B) Edith Evans

C) Flora Robson

D) Sybil Thorndike

Answer · why

A) Peggy Ashcroft

Principal Elsie Fogerty later said that the two of them stood out among all her pupils.

Q 04/05

Olivier's first important West End success came in 1930 as Victor Prynne in which play?

A) Hay Fever

B) Private Lives

C) The Vortex

D) Journey's End

Answer · why

B) Private Lives

The author played Elyot opposite Gertrude Lawrence at the new Phoenix Theatre and called Victor and Sybil 'extra puppets'.

Q 05/05

In the famous 1935 Romeo and Juliet, Olivier and John Gielgud did what partway through the run?

A) Both quit in protest

B) Alternated as director

C) Took turns playing the Nurse

D) Exchanged their two leading parts

Answer · why

D) Exchanged their two leading parts

The production broke box-office records for the play, running for 189 performances, though Olivier was enraged by his reviews.