Maurice “Jim” Stewart oak tree on Clapham Common, London
I’m happy to report that Maurice’s oak tree is thriving on Clapham Common. It had suffered storm damage a few years ago but now looks to be in good leaf and developing the classic oak tree profile; it’s grown to more than 6m. height and the main trunk is well over 10cm. diameter.
This oak tree was planted as a memorial to our friend who passed away in 2012, aged 79 years. I was honoured to be one of those invited to the tree planting, having known Maurice as a friend and mentor since 1980, when he was based in Fitzwilliam Road, Clapham.
A tribute by Simon Jenner to Maurice “Jim” Stewart-Addison was published in The Guardian dated Monday 30th July 2012.
Maurice Stewart was a founder of Fetters, a retailer of bondage products. He designed the straitjackets that appeared in Terry Gilliam's film Brazil
My friend Maurice Stewart, who has died aged 79, was a consummate theatre professional. He was a stage manager, company manager and director in many parts of British theatre, working on operas and West End productions of American musicals. He toured with "third-rate variety to the Folies Bergère in Paris" and travelled to America with the Old Vic company. Renowned in the West End as a script doctor, he also wrote plays for BBC TV.
Maurice was a prime mover in the Puppet Centre and Trust, which evolved from talks held at Wandsworth library in 1976. He championed puppetry and played a part in its renaissance in the 1970s and 80s. More recently, he lectured at colleges in Europe and the US on topics including "modern actors recreating the past" and British music hall and Gilbert and Sullivan. He built a substantial theatre archive and his interest in music hall led to a successful series of performances containing excerpts of adaptations of music-hall material, emphasising the socially subversive elements.
He was born James Maurice Stewart-Addison, in Leicester.
Full text and portrait at http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/jul/30/maurice-stewart-obituary