Jan Ryan worked at Half Moon from 1979 – 1982, first as Administrator of Half Moon on Alie Street and Publicity Manager for both Alie Street and Mile End Road. In 1982, she became Administrator and Director of Half Moon Young People’s Theatre.
I worked at Half Moon from 1979 – 1982. It was at the time when the organisation was transitioning from Alie Street to Stepney Green. My role initially was Administrator of the Old Half Moon and Publicity Manager for both theatres. In 1982, I moved from these roles to being Administrator and Director of Half Moon Young People’s Theatre. Rob Walker was a larger than life character – irreverent, inclusive and affable, as well as a creative and intellectual force in the organisation. He made you feel that anything was possible. My strongest memories of the Half Moon are probably the people who hung out there – especially the locals, many of whom had shady East End pasts! The shows I particularly remember were Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay, Trafford Tanzi (my son saw it when he was 6 weeks old!) and Ezra, since it was a privilege to work with Bernard Kops. I also have very fond memories of Ragged Trousered Philanthropists which was directed by John Adams…I don’t remember a lot about the arson attack but I guess it happened because it was a socialist theatre and the East End was a very divided place politically. I went from the Half Moon to Women’s Theatre Group. At the Half Moon I learnt to be a risk taker, to turn my hand to a wide range of things and to always choose work that had a political dimension.