It has been a while since he was involved in British theatre, but Julian More will be remember for the book and lyrics of three of the biggest musical comedy shows of the 1950s, Irma La Douce, Expresso Bongo and Grab Me a Gondola.
Songbook was his last West End success, written with composer Monty Norman. Songbook opened at the Globe theatre in 1979 and ran for six months, earning the Evening Standard award for best musical.
More attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he performed with the Footlights and wrote Puss in Red Riding Breeches, though not X-rated, but a pantomime for adults, which played at the Watergate theatre in 1954.
After graduation, he married Sheila and they set up housekeeping in London. More’s Grab Me a Gondola, with music by James Gilbert, opened at the Lyric two years later and ran for more than 600 performances. with Joan Heal giving a virtuoso performance as a Diana Dors-style film star at the Venice festival.
Expresso Bongo (April 1958) opened at the old Saville theatre, with a book by More and Wolf Mankowitz and lyrics by More and the composers Norman and David Heneker, starred Paul Scofield and Hy Hazell.
Irma La Douce, directed by Peter Brook, opened to rave reviews at the Lyric theatre in July 1958.
More moved to France in 1976 and became a travel writer. He is survived by Sheila, Carey and her sister Camilla, and three grandchildren. Julian Bensley More, born 15 June 1928; died 15 January 2010
