(Part 1)
Contents
The Gallery
Productions
1970s Part 1
|
Contents
|
One for the Grave (CGS) 1970 Caesar and Cleopatra December 1970 Patience December 1971 Let's Make an Opera! November/December 1972 The Importance of Being Earnest December 1973 Pirates of Penzance December 1974 The Crucible December 1975
One For the Grave
(CGS - 1970)
Photographs (3)
THE TELEVISION PEOPLE
EVERYMAN . . . . . . . . . GRAHAM SEAMAN
THE DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . MICHAEL HILL
THE FLOOR MANAGER . . . . . . CHRISTOPHER CHANDLER
CAMERA One . . . . . . . . . PAUL DURRANT
CAMERA Two . . . . . . . . . RUSSELL HILL
DIRECTOR'S SECRETARY . . . SHELAGH BAILEY
THE DESIGNER . . . . . . . . . ADRIAN KEELER
MAKE-UP . . . . . . . . . LESLEY ATTRILL and SARAH RANGER
WARDROBE . . . . . . . . . PATSY REEVE and JANICE APPLEBY
SOUND . . . . . . . . . . . . ANTHONY DREW and JOHN GODDARD
LIGHTING . . . . . . . . . PAUL FENTON and MICHAEL DANIELS
SINGERS . . . . . . . . . CATHERINE TRATTLES, NICHOLAS HARDY and DAVID COPSEY
STAGE HANDS . . . . . . . . . CHRISTINE HEMMING, SHARON SHELLEY, JEAN WESTERN, STEPHEN ELLIOTT-HUNTER, RICHARD HARDEN, PHILLIP HILLIER, ADRIAN KEELERTHE WORLD OF EVERYMAN
MAGGIE (a wife) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JULIE WESTROP
ELEANOR (another wife) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANN HARBOUR
HER LOVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MICHAEL SPICER
CAREER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STEPHEN REYNOLDS
CADDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHELAGH BAILEY
CONSCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PENNY TURNER
FILTHY LUCRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GEORGE STONE
COMMON SENSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JULIE WESTROP
EVERYMAN'S SON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID COPSEY
EVERYMAN'S DAUGHTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GILLIAN CLAXTON
DOREEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHELAGH BAILEY
MARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LINDA SPICER
FORGETFULNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANN HARBOUR
MOTHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PENNY TURNER
SACRIFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GILLIAN CLAXTON
PATRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LINDA SPICER
FREEWILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MICHAEL SPICER
THE ANALYST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAUL COGHLAN
THE MARXIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STEPHEN REYNOLDS
THE SCIENTIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NICHOLAS HARDY
THE GRAVEDIGGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GEORGE STONE
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID COPSEY
DOCTOR OF DIVINITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NICHOLAS HARDYTHE ENQUIRY OFFICE
THE OFFICIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANTHONY BRADSTREET
THE CLIENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAUL COGHLAN
Caesar and Cleopatra
(December 1970)
Pfatateeta is summoned Ptolemy holds court
|
RA JULIUS CAESAR CLEOPATRA FTATATEETA, her nurse PTOLEMY, her brother POTHINUS, Ptolemy's guardian THEODOTUS, Ptolemy's tutor ACHILLAS, an Egyptian general RUFIO, a Roman officer BRITANNUS, Caesar's secretary LUCIUS SEPTIMIUS, a Roman officer APOLLODORUS, a Sicilian A Sentinel A Centurion A Boatman CHARMIAN, lady of Cleopatra's Court IRAS, lady of Cleopatra's Court A Musician Major-Domo |
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
Michael Garton David Cox Teresa Willson-Pepper Anne Pond Mark Wren Simon Turtle John Herring Bruce Carman Stephen Booty Stephen Dobbin Robert Wassell Michael Barford Kevin Hathway Keith Sullivan Pietro Stasi Catherine Howard Sylvia Szczepanski Christopher Eddy Christopher Blakey |
OTHER LADIES OF CLEOPATRA'S COURT: Sandra Howard, Pamela Howe, Daryl Hughes, Sheridan Jeary
ROMAN SOLDIERS: Christopher Blakey, William Eddy, Kevin Emmerson, Graham Hitchcock, Bruce Horrex, Roger Kimp, Simon Marfleet, Alan Webb .
PORTERS: Simon Abbott, Ian Conolly, Marcus Ellis, Duncan Ferguson
Nubian Slave ....................... Pietro Stasi
Palace Officials ................... Robert Barnett, William Eddy
Slave Girl Harpist ............... Sandra Claxton
Priest .................................... Simon Abbott
Egyptian Citizens ................ Bruce Horrex, Christopher FulbrookCOSTUMES designed by Miss Colls, and made at the College by Sandra Claxton, Susan Hammond, Georgina Norman, Deborah Pigott, Shirley Rogotski, Sharon Skea, Lesley Stone, Christine Williamson, Jane Wright, Elizabeth Yardy.
SCENERY and PROPERTIES made by Mr. Mullenger and painted by Michele Obey, Caroline Waring and Stephen Dobbin, under the direction of Miss Johnson.
MAKE-UP: Mrs . Mills, Mrs . Noble, assisted by Jane Clarke, Margaret Cockburn, Monica Doy, Caroline Eddy, Julie Green, Lesley Jermy, Judith Linden-Ball .
LIGHTING and SOUND EFFECTS: Nicholas Wincott, Alexander Mullins, John Churchward, Anthony Southgate .
STAGE MANAGER: Caroline Waring .
HOUSE MANAGERS: Mr . Staveley, Mr . Noble, Miss Gasser .
PRODUCED BY MR. R. GARRARD
Patience
(December 1971)
The adoration of Mr Brand
Bring me sunshine ... Programme cover designed
by Robert Tuck1972 College Magazine Report
We all felt that the popular "Mikado" of two years ago might prove difficult to follow, but Mr. Garrard made light of it. His selection for this year, "Patience", is a genially satirical attack, by that ace detractor William Gilbert, on aestheticism, the cult of the beautiful, which in the latter part of the last century aimed to carry art into every home and sphere of life. The chief narcissus in the opera is Reginald Bunthorne, played by that mainstay of many previous productions, Mr. Brand. This year he was better than ever, which is saying a good deal - indeed, the Eastern Daily Press critic wrote that he doubted if an amateur could play it better, high praise indeed. Even a split in his trousers could not upset Mr. Brand's aplomb and insourciance!
Virginia Campbell played a summery Patience, all sweetness and innocence, and one got the impression she had never spent a day away from her churns. The pleasantness of both her voice and personality won her the admiration of audiences; let us hope she will be here for at least one more College opera. Mr. Rice-Oxley as Archibald Grosvenor, a rival to Bunthorne, was a fine foil to Mr. Brand, his beard and Van Gogh hat admirably suiting the clarity of his diction and deep singing voice.
The four principal maidens were all well-known College songstresses Joanna, Rosemary, Anne and Stella - and in addition to singing with verve and accuracy they acted the parts of lovelorn maidens with great conviction. The three Guards officers cut splendid figures, especially Simon Marfleet who coped admirably with some alarmingly high notes, and the chorus of rapturous maidens sang some of Sullivan's best songs with great charm. The resplendent dragoons stamped heartily and sang with gusto, their masculine bravura contrasting with Bunthorne's willowy droop.
In all one could find little fault with this production, and a particular advance on previous years was the movement and bearing of all the cast, particularly the girls. Mrs. Belmont is to be congratulated for her hard work in achieving this. Make-up also was much improved, and many other workers behind the scenes, whose names appear below, deserve congratulations for making this, by general acclaim, the best musical production the College has so far mounted.
Certainly most praise must go to the producer, Mr. Garrard, who as usual worked with skill and originality to give his audiences so much pleasure.
Simon D. Abbott
COLONEL CALVERLEY Officers of ... ... ... STEPHEN DOBBIN MAJOR MURGATROYD Dragoon ... ... ... DAVID COX LIEUT. THE DUKE OF DUNSTABLE Guards ... ... ... SIMON MARFLEET REGINALD BUNTHORNE, A Fleshly Poet
... ... ...
MR. M. BRAND
ARCHIBALD GROSVENOR, an Idyllic Poet ... ... ... MR. A. RICE-OXLEY THE LADY ANGELA
... ... ...
JOANNA BASSINGTHWAIGHTE
THE LADY SAPHIR Rapturous ... ... ... ANNE POND THE LADY ELLA Maidens ... ... ... ROSEMARY JACOBS THE LADY JANE ... ... ... STELLA SPARKS PATIENCE, a Dairy Maid
... ... ...
VIRGINIA CAMPBELL
CHORUS OF RAPTUROUS MAIDENS:
Angela Ash, Penelope Atkinson, Alison Birchall, Jayne Booking, Lesley Breese, Caroline Browne, Elizabeth Browning, dare Cooke, Caroline Crowe, Donna Curtis, Sara Dearden, Barbara Ferguson, Carolyn Frost, Louise Hambelton, Judith Harwood, Daryl Hughes, Ann Jones, Pamela Medlock, Ann Muncilla, Joanna Nicholls, Kathryn Oxiey, Sarah Riches, Dianne Sowerby, Anne Warner, Mary Weston, Claire Wolstenholrne, Tessa Wright.
CHORUS OF OFFICERS OF DRAGOON GUARDS:
Robert Barnett, John Boon, John Booty, Nicholas Elflett, Simon Gooch, Kevin Hewitt, Andrew Holmes, Malcolm Ireland, Anton Jeary, Charles Jenkins, Andrew Jones, Roger Keeley, Stephen Kidd, Christoper Maurer, Michael McDonnell, Stephen Nugus, Jonathon Parrott, Robin Richardson, lan Rippon, Andrew Rowland, Peter Sergeant, Richard Shearman, lan Smith, Rupert Somers-Joce, Stephen Spencer, Pietro Stasi, David Tudor, Peter Tudor, Mark Wren.
MR. BUNTHORNE'S SOLICITOR: Jack Wright.
Let's Make an Opera!
(29 November & 2/3 December 1972)Lyn Dobson writes: "This photo shows a dress rehearsal of Benjamin Britten's 'Let's Make An Opera' from approximately 1972/73, when an attempt was made at producing an opera that was other than of the Gilbert and Sullivan tradition. They did not try again!"
Dress Rehearsal
Click to enlarge programme pages & use your browser's <back> button to return
Front cover Page 1 Page 2
The Importance of Being Earnest
(December 1973)
Programme Cover Page 1 Page 2
Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3
Your photo Photo 4 Photo 5 From the 1974 College Magazine:
Even as early as the previous summer term, preparations for the school play began to take place, and just before Christmas the fruits of labour were realised by all those connected with this year's production, "The Importance of Being Earnest". The play received excellent reviews in the local papers, extracts from which are given below. The fact that five of the cast of nine were from the Fifth Year was noted, and the unusual seating arrangement, which gave everyone an unrestricted view, was also commented on favourably.
The set itself was unlike that of previous years. Designed by Mr. Chedgey, it enabled one scene to be followed rapidly by the next. There were many original touches, especially the "crazy paving" in the garden of Act II. On the whole the cast captured the subtleties of the dialogue, and Oscar Wilde's facetious wit was admirably projected. The famous character of Lady Bracknell, the awesome mother, was skilfully played by Alex Greaves, and Judy Hall was perfectly cast as her aristocratic daughter, Gwendolen. Her air of superiority towards Cecily (Ruth Green) was very well portrayed, and Ruth herself managed to achieve the necessary naivety, especially when she was proposed to by Algernon — Steve Betts. Both he and Paul Schofield, who played John Worthing, performed well, particularly with their facial expressions. Jenny Robertson was perhaps a little too cheerful and active in the part of Miss Prism, but otherwise was excellent. Her counterpart. Dr. Chasuble, played by David Booty, showed a nice sense of timing and certainly looked the part. Other members of the cast were Colin Farrington and Stephen Hyde.
There is no doubt that Mr. Pugh as producer did a highly professional job in so expertly recreating this Victorian production, which I am sure both the cast and the audiences enjoyed so much.
Alison Webb.
The 'Eastern Evening News' had the following to say:
Everybody had good reason to enjoy the production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Wymondham College, the second of three performances, being staged last night. Uncommonly staged, as far as an Oscar Wilde comedy is concerned, on a relatively small proportion of the floor within the very large games hall, it thereby posed a problem for the participants, facing the necessity of making themselves heard throughout the tiers of seating.
Mr. D. Pugh, the producer, was probably responsible for setting the steady pace which should have dealt satisfactorily with the audibility aspect. Projection in the first act was praiseworthy, and it was only during the following act that some of the voice levels sagged, with sad loss of quite a number of Wilde witticisms. But enjoyable it certainly was, the young players performing with intelligence and finding amusement in their own efforts. Perhaps Steven Belts as Algernon was apt to wrap a sly grin around some of his prankish plotting (a budding comedian?) but he and Paul Schofield as Jack, were alert with generally effective if somewhat measured timing.
The two young ladies, played by Judith Hall and Ruth Green, were quite charming, expressing in contrast the self assured society belle and the determined country miss. And what a dragon the Lady Bracknell — imperiously portrayed by Alexandra Greaves with superb authority and totally disguised as far as her real age was concerned. All highly important to the proceedings, the other members of the cast included the simpering Miss Prism (Jennifer Robertson), the gentle canon (David Booty), both rather softly spoken and the dignified man-servants of Stephen Hyde and Colin Farrington.
In an almost hitch-proof evening, with nothing to cause a major disruption, one cannot forget the many unseen and invisible helpers who contributed - especially the car park stewards on an unpleasantly wet night.
A.G.W.The following was published in the "Eastern Daily Press':
FINE WILDE PERFORMANCE BY COLLEGE
Wymondham College's production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' on Friday proved an exception to the rule that school plays are enjoyed only by the proud mums of embarrassing performers. Oscar Wilde's play, which above all relies on the
timing and subtlety of its repartee was superbly performed by the cast of nine, five of whom are only fifth form pupils. Wilde's gentle scorn of frivolous late Victorian high class society was well brought out by the cast.
A lively confrontation between Lady Bracknell, the fearful matriarch, and John Worthing, played by Alexandra Greaves and Paul Schofield, was one of the highlights. Stephen Belts admirably played the dashing dandy and Judith Hall and Ruth Green were delightfully amusing as the ladies. The producer was Mr. David Pugh, an English lecturer (sic) at the college, who used a novel spacing approach whereby the audience was raised above the stage.
Bring us another cabin boy Jim ...
Front cover Overview & Acts The Cast Production & support
Wymondham College Remembered - Rolls neater, smokes sweeter
