Adelaide theatre's two outstanding Harolds – Tidemann (singer and critic), Minear (actor, director and lyricist)

Harold Tidemann (left) and Harold Minear gave decades of service to Adelaide theatre. 
Images courtesy Adelaide Critics Circle

Harold Tidemann (1999) and Harold Minear (2009) were both Adelaide Critics Circle lifetime achievement award winners for their service to theatre.  Singer, journalist, critic and broadcaster Harold Tidemann was considered the elder statesman of Adelaide's theatre critics until he died in 2002 aged 96.

As a singer, Tidemann was a distinguished protege of South Australian-born international baritone Peter Dawson. His theatre performances included Dr T.D. Campbell’s Australian musical The Moon Dream in 1932 at the Theatre Royal in Hindley Street, Adelaide.

For two decades he wrote a regular Saturday column for The Advertiser on music, stage and screen happenings in Adelaide.

Harold Minear, director, actor, playwright, lyricist and revue writer, was immersed in Adelaide  theatre for most of his adult life. He worked during the day as a leading advertising man and at night as a director, actor, playwright, lyricist and, significantly, a writer of revues.

Minear directed productions for most all of the non-professional theatre companies of Adelaide and was guiding light to the busy and popular suburban company of St Jude’s Players based at Brighton He also was in the cast of one of the first productions mounted in The Arts Theatre, Romanoff and Juliet, directed by Ruby Litchfield.

As a life member, Minear was still working for St Jude’s as publicity officer well into his eighties.