Here is the biography of Harold Goldblatt:
Harold Goldblatt was a prominent figure in Belfast's theatre scene for over five decades, excelling as an actor and manager. Born to a family of Jewish immigrants from the Baltic provinces of Russia, Goldblatt's ancestors settled in Belfast's Lower Crumlin Road area, near the Annesley Street synagogue. His mother's family, the Rosenzweigs, were Talmudic scholars.
Goldblatt founded, produced, and acted in the Jewish Institute Dramatic Society, which won the President's Cup at the 1929 Ulster Drama Festival for its production of "The Melting Pot" by Israel Zangwill. During the 1930s, his company staged plays by Ibsen, Shaw, Chekhov, and local writers like Joseph Tomelty.
In 1940, the Jewish Institute merged with the Northern Ireland Players and the Ulster Theatre to form the Group Theatre, of which Goldblatt was a key figure. He directed and acted in numerous productions, including works by local writers like Patrick Riddell, Joseph Tomelty, and Louis MacNeice.
However, controversy arose in the late 1950s when the Group's Board of Directors banned Gerald McLarnon's play "The Bonfire" due to its depiction of Orange Order traditions. Goldblatt directed the play at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, with a powerful local cast, and it enjoyed a successful run.
In 1959, Goldblatt relinquished his directorial posts at the Group Theatre after a new controversy surrounding Sam Thompson's play "Over The Bridge," which depicted sectarian relations in Belfast shipyards. The play was eventually performed elsewhere to positive acclaim.
In 1963, Goldblatt formed the Ulster Theatre Company, including former Group Theatre figures. He continued to work in radio and television, including an episode of the BBC science fiction series "Doctor Who" and a role in the film "A Night to Remember" about the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Goldblatt was proud of his Jewish heritage and served as an honorary secretary to the Belfast Hebrew Society. He received an honorary degree from Queen's University, Belfast, in 1976 for his services to theatre. Goldblatt passed away in London while working on a Barbra Streisand film. His family established the Goldblatt Archive of theatre-related material at the Linen Hall Library in Belfast.
