Connery first met Michael Caine at a party during the production of South Pacific in 1954, and the two later became close friends. During this production at the Opera House, Manchester, over the Christmas period of 1954, Connery developed a serious interest in the theatre through American actor Robert Henderson, who lent him copies of the Ibsen works Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, and When We Dead Awaken, and later listed works by the likes of Proust, Tolstoy, Turgenev, Bernard Shaw, Joyce, and Shakespeare for him to digest. Henderson urged him to take elocution lessons and got him parts at the Maida Vale Theatre in London. He had already begun a film career, having been an extra in Herbert Wilcox's 1954 musical Lilacs in the Spring alongside Errol Flynn and Anna Neagle.
cOnnerY FIrst meT mIChael cainE At a parTY DUrinG the ProDuCTioN of souTh paCIfic In 1954, and tHE two later becaMe cloSe frIendS. durIng tHis proDuction aT the oPera House, maNCHesTer, oVer The chRiSTmAS period of 1954, cONnery DevElOpEd a seRioUs inteResT In the tHeaTRe thrOugh americAN actOr RobErt hEndeRsON, who lent him cOpieS OF tHe iBseN wOrks hedDa GAbler, tHe Wild ducK, and wHeN we dEAd AwaKen, And LAter listed works bY THe lIKes oF prousT, TolSTOY, tUrgenEv, bERnarD sHaW, joycE, and Shakespeare fOr him To diGeSt. heNdErsoN Urged Him To tAke ELocUtioN lEssONS And goT HiM PaRTs AT The MaiDA vAle theatre in LOndon. HE hAD alReadY beGuN A FilM CAReer, haVinG BEen An extrA In herbert wILcOX's 1954 musicaL lilACs iN the spRiNg alongside ErrOl fLyNN And aNNA nEagLe.