“Life is not a rehearsal” was the mantra by which Ros Liddiard lived.

However, in preparation for the hundreds of roles she played on stage in Winchester, Southampton and on UK tours, she did spend many happy and rewarding hours in rehearsal.

Ros, who died aged 78 in September, had her first experience aged 12 in the chorus of a pantomime at the newly built Weeke Community Centre. She progressed to leading roles and then Principal Boy, or villains such as the Wicked Witch.

Other memorable roles included Beattie in Roots, Estelle in Huis Clos and the deaf mute Belinda in Johnny Belinda. Ros used her body and facial expressions so eloquently the audience forgot Belinda could not speak.

Ros joined the Chesil Theatre in the 1970s. Her performances were numerous and varied. In Same Time Next Year, a two hander with Malcolm Brown, she was, as he remembers: “Supportive, adaptive, explorative; funny, warm, charming and above all dedicated.”

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As a director she was firm, decisive but open minded, always wanting to have a happy show. She had a forensic attention to, and perfectionism in, all aspects of a production, not just the acting. Sleuth with two in the cast had a team of 40 plus.

With the Southampton based Maskers company and later Motley Crew, Ros performed at the Nuffield Theatre and in open air productions, wielding a sword with aplomb in Fair Maid of the West. She won an Echo Curtain Call Award for her portrayal of Esme in Amy’s View.

Ros had little vanity and was as happy to portray the raucous criminal (and scene stealing), Diana Trapes in The Beggar’s Opera as the elegant Lady Aramanth in Wild Oats. She combined the two styles in Noises Off as the stylish diva Dotty Otley playing the char lady in the-play-within-the-play. A particularly outstanding performance was the title role in Prin.

Following two serious operations Ros decided to try, what people had long been urging her to do, and become a professional. She toured the country in an Alan Bleasdale’s Having A Ball, took over as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, learning the lines in less than 24 hours, and featured in Christmas entertainments at Salisbury Playhouse. With Peter, her husband, she set up a company Prime Theatre in 2007 for older actors, and audiences still in their prime. They toured with Old World and devised a popular evening of nostalgia. Thanks for the Memory.

Although she experienced many health problems, she directed Mindgame at the Chesil in 2021, and was in the audience enjoying The Government Inspector last July.

Ros is survived by Peter and her son Richard.

Ros Liddiard 1944 - 2022.