John Standing is one of England's most distinguished stage, film and television actors with equal measures of success on both sides of the Atlantic. He has starred extensively on both the London and New York stage, with leading, high comedy parts in Oscar Wilde's ‘The Importance of Being Earnest', ‘A Sense of Detachment' by John Osborne and, most notably, in Noel Coward's ‘Private Lives' with Dame Maggie Smith. He made his film debut in ‘The Wild and The Willing' (1962), going on to appear in ‘King Rat' (1965), ‘The Psychopath' (1966), ‘The Eagle Has Landed' (1976), ‘The Elephant Man' (1980), ‘Mrs. Dalloway' (1997) and ‘A Good Woman' (2004). He also appeared in the Hollywood movies, ‘V for Vendetta' and the comedy ‘Walk Don't Run' with Cary Grant. Standing also played the lead role in director Peter Greenaway's film ‘8 ½ Women' (1999).
His prestigious U.K. television roles have included the classic mini-series ‘The First Churchills' (1969), ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' (1979), ‘The Choir' (1995), ‘A Dance to the Music of Time' (1997) and King Solomon's Mines' (2004). In the U.S. he has graced numerous weekly programs including ‘L.A. Law' (1986), ‘Civil Wars' (1991) and ‘Murder She Wrote' (1984), and co-starred with Robert Wagner in the action series ‘Lime Street' (1985). John also starred in an ‘NYPD Blue' TV Special.
He also makes spoken contribution to tracks ‘Elements' and ‘Ramblin' Man' on electronica duo Lemon Jelly's album ‘Lost Horizons' (2002).
Standing was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance in Simon Gray's ‘Close of Play' at the National Theatre (1979).
In March 2009, Standing took to the London stage for an extended run of his critically acclaimed one-man show ‘Singing Noel Coward'. He presented a razor sharp program of the composer and dramatist's beloved repertoire, peppered with a plethora of wonderful anecdotes (as a ten year old, he first met Coward when his actress mother was playing opposite ‘the Master' in ‘Blithe Spirit'). Songs included ‘I've Been to a Marvellous Party', ‘The Stately Homes of England', ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen' and ‘Don't Put Your Daughter on the Stage, Mrs Worthington'. VIP guests at the sold-out shows included Joan Collins, Peter O'Toole, Carol Thatcher, William Boyd and Bryan Forbes.
London's National Theatre was host for a week in November 2009 to ‘Standing Up For Coward' where, in his racy style, Standing again performed a witty and affectionate selection of Noel Coward's songs, interwoven with his reminiscences of ‘the Master' and fascinating personal anecdotes.
Standing comes from a distinguished acting dynasty that includes his mother, actress Kay Hammond, his grandfather Sir Guy Standing and his great-grandfather Herbert Standing. He succeeded his father, Sir Ronald George Leon, as the 4th baronet in 1964. His family once owned Bletchley Park, the country house in Buckinghamshire famous as the World War II Enigma code-breaking centre. John is married to Sarah Forbes, the daughter of film director Bryan Forbes and actress Nanette Newman. They have three children, India, Archie and Tilly, together with Alexander from John's first marriage to actress Jill Melford.
Barb Jungr, the recipient of rave reviews internationally and two New York awards (2008 Nightlife Award for Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist and Best International Artist 2003 Backstage Award), is renowned for her unique vocal style, approach to arrangements and interpretation of song. Her acclaimed releases on Linn Records and performances have brought her to the world stage and revealed her to be one of Europe's most exciting voices.
Critics have compared Jungr to Nina Simone and Peggy Lee, called her "a British Edith Piaf"," one of the best interpreters of Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today" (The Village Voice) and "mesmerizing" (The New York Times). 2008 brought Jungr's 6th CD release for Glasgow-based Linn Records, Just Like A Woman - Hymn to Nina. A celebration of Nina Simone's repertoire, it launched with a sellout season at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London and subsequently toured the UK. In January, Barb received the 2008 Nightlife Award at New York's Town Hall, having completed a sellout season at The Metropolitan Room. She returned to New York in autumn 2008 for another sellout season, heralded by a feature about her work in The New York Times.
In 2007 Barb toured the UK, Australia and Ireland, and performed several times in New York. She collaborated with the acclaimed contemporary classical composer Mark Anthony Turnage and performed his composition "About Water" with The London Sinfonietta for the reopening of the The South Bank. She performed her collection of Bob Dylan songs in sellout shows at The Almeida Theatre in Islington and The Queen's Hall in Edinburgh.
Singer, performer and writer Barb Jungr was born and raised in the northwest of England. She moved to London in the mid 1970's and became part of the early alternative cabaret circuit performing and recording with the cult vocal harmony group "The Three Courgettes" after which she formed a 12 year songwriting and musical partnership with the blues guitarist, songwriter and singer Michael Parker. Together they played all over the world, recording and releasing a number of albums and touring and collaborating with comedians Julian Clary and Arnold Brown (with whom they won a Perrier Award), supporting Alexei Sayle on two national tours, and appearing on radio and television.
In the early 1990's Jungr created the harmony shows 'Hell Bent Heaven Bound' with Parker, Christine Collister, Ian Shaw and Helen Watson. In 1995 she recorded the CD Durga Rising with Bhangra producer and percussionist Kuljit Bhamra and pianist Russell Churney. After creating a series of shows and releasing the album Bare (Irregular Records) in 1999 she was invited to record for Glasgow-based Linn Records, releasing a collection of largely new English translations of classic French songs, "Chanson: The Space In Between" in 2000. In 2002 Linn released Every Grain Of Sand, Jungr's highly acclaimed album of new arrangements of Bob Dylan's songs, followed by Waterloo Sunset in 2003. In 2005 she released Love Me Tender, an album of songs previously recorded by Elvis Presley. Walking In The Sun, Jungr's interpretations of blues and gospel songs was released in 2006 and launched at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
In 2002 with support from The British Council Jungr had a three week run at New York's Flea Theatre, for which she won the 2003 Backstage Award for Best International Artist. She has since appeared regularly in New York, performing several times at Joe's Pub and at the Metropolitan Room.
As well as her solo recordings, performances and tours, Jungr has worked with the Amici multi-disciplinary dance troupe, directed and produced the work of other artists and collaborated with composers including Jonathan Cooper. She was featured in Simon Armitage's award-winning, millennial poem Channel 4 film, directed by Brian Hill (for whom she also worked on the Bafta winning prison docu-musical Feltham Sings and the Sundance screened "Songbirds") and created the sell-out cabaret show Girl Talk with her friends, top British singers Mari Wilson and Claire Martin, which toured the UK for 10 years, with one release on Linn Records.
In autumn 2005 Barb appeared alongside Billy Bragg, Odetta and K.T. Tunstall as part of a Tribute to Bob Dylan at The Barbican, in London. The concert was filmed and shown on BBC national television. In 2006 Girl Talk appeared at the Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of EuroPride after a short UK tour and Barb appeared at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June with a sellout run of her Bob Dylan repertoire, Every Grain of Sand, followed by a sellout season in New York in the Brits Off Broadway festival with her Elvis Presley tribute, Love Me Tender.
Barb Jungr is a respected lyricist, writer and songwriter for a number of productions and producers including The Birmingham Stage Company, Newbury Corn Exchange and others. She is currently developing a children's musical with The Little Angel Puppet Theatre, in collaboration with composer Jonathan Cooper. She is writing the book and lyrics celebrating the circus star tiger tamer, Mabel Stark, (work in progress shown as part of the Greenwich Theatre's Musical Futures weekend in November 2008) and in collaboration with physical theatre practitioner John Paul Zaccarini, she is working on The Art Of Falling Gracefully supported by Newbury Corn Exchange. She writes regularly for the music publication, The Singer.
Barb currently lives in London.
