THE DAY SIR MICHAEL BLEW UP QUESTORS...
or at least a bit of it!
In February 1971, Sir Michael Redgrave, our President at the time, was invited to blow up the covered walkway between the Playhouse and the studio to make way for a new extension. The event, which was orchestrated largely by Geoff Dobson and his tool box, Norah Nelson and her cooking and David Pearson with his company of demolition funsters, was vividly reported in the Acton Gazette
The present structure had been painted purple specially for the occasion, with low-charge explosives strategically placed and linked to a large detonator which rested dramatically on a dais in the main courtyard.
The ceremony began with Sir Michael emerging into the bright. sunlit courtyard to a burst of enthusiastic applause from about 100 people who had gathered around the dais. Sir Michael smiled warmly and waved. A mock team of demolition “experts,” made up of Questors players, attempted to demolish the structure in a variety of unlikely ways — tickling it with feathers, nagging at it, shouting poetry at it — but failing to bring it to collapse.
Then it was Sir Michael's turn.
"Even in these revolutionary days." he began in rich Shakespearean tones. "it is not often one finds the president blowing up his own building. But once again the Questors have proved to be in the forefront of things."
He pushed the plunger on the detonator, and a deafening explosion ensued.
When the smoke cleared. the purple structure lay in pieces on an ground. Sir Michael leapt off the dais, climbed on top of the wreckage and – to the delight of the audience – went through a series of hammed up “conquering hero” poses, mugging furiously for the cameras.
There were howls of laughter. It was a performance which few people have seen from Sir Michael – a far cry from the sophisticated dignitaries he is usually called upon to play in films and on stage. When it was all over, and Sir Michael returned to the bar, some comic clichés emerged on comment on his part in the "blow-up". "An explosive performance” was one. “He really brought the roof down" was another. “It really went with a bang" followed.