Jack de Leon

Jack de Leon (pseudonym Noel Doon; 12 August 1902 – 21 September 1956) was a Panamanian-born British theatre manager and impresario.

Early life Jack de Leon was born on 12 August 1902 in Colón, Panama, the second child of May Miriam (née Maduro) and Michael de Leon, a merchant. The family was Sephardic Jewish. As a child, he developed a love for drama from playing with a puppet theatre. In 1911, the family moved to London, settling in West Hampstead. He was educated at University College School in Hampstead. de Leon was articled to the solicitor firm Indermaur and Brown after brief stints in the import trade and publishing.

On 30 August 1921, he married actress and drama school founder Beatrice Lewisohn at St John's Wood Synagogue.

In March 1929, the de Leons relinquished control of the Q Theatre after drawing criticism of their contractual arrangements with new writers and an array of practical problems. The same year, alongside his sister Delia, he managed the newly opened Duchess Theatre. Two years later, the couple renewed their association with the Q when Beatrice reopened the theatre for a series of plays performed by her drama school students. Although still closely linked with the Q Theatre, de Leon became increasingly involved on his own projects as a playwright and an impresario. Again collaborating with Steve Donohue on The Silent Witness in April 1930.

Personal life and death Jack and Beatrice de Leon had one child, Jean.