Questopics
June 1975
It is summer. And summer at The Questors means only one thing: it's Festival time! And this year the Festival is a real bumper.
When, sixteen years ago, we first decided to have a festival, two ideas were prominent: firstly, that it should be a genuinely festive climax to the season; secondly that it should be a festival of new plays, thus spotlighting one of The Questors' most essential but frequently underestimated functions—that of encouraging new playwrights.
Over the years, it must be admitted, some festivals have been somewhat akin to the proverbial damp squib. But many others have been outstandingly successful and have encouraged us to continue with them.
So what are we doing this year to ensure it's the latter rather than the former type of festival? Well, two things. First, we have new plays by three of the most successful authors from past festivals; and second we have a really full programme of fringe activities to build up the Festival atmosphere. There will be a performance in the theatre every night of the sixteen day season, with late night events every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and numerous permanent attractions.
Writing in the September issue of Questopics, Alan Chambers detected a growing lack of confidence in the New Plays Festivals among The Questors’ active membership.
"The conditions in the middle 1970s are not those of the time when the Festival started. Cellar and Studio theatres make it easier for experimental plays to be produced professionally, so that good new plays are becoming harder to find. Perhaps the time has come when all of us, not just the Artistic Directorate, need to reconsider the principles on which the Festival is based. James Saunders' play got the extremely high standard of casting and presentation that it did because he is known to us all. The Questors' support of John Norman as a resident playwright is a good move, but we need more ideas to put the fire back into us and I don't think the answer lies in expanding the side shows, splendidly managed as they were this year."
FRINGE EVENTS
Late Night Shows in Redgrave Room
THE TWELVE POUND LOOK
by J M Barrie
Directed by David Pearson
Cast:
Sonia Pearson, Peter Whelan, John Wilbourne, Ffrangcon Whelan
THE GENTLE ART OF SEDUCTION
by David Pearson
Directed by David Pearson
Cast:
Ruth Lister, Norah Wade, David Crewes, Aland Drake, Michael Langridge.
Late Night Show in the Theatre
MINI MUSIC HALL
Devised and Chaired by Vincent McQueen
In the Shaw Room
POEMS YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW
Devised and performed by
Lyn Langridge, Estelle Longmore, Frances Martin, Ben Keen, Don Kincaid, Michael Langridge
EXHIBITIONS
Paintings by William Barnes
Attic Finds - The Questors Wardrobe
The Questors Year - Last Year's productions
Ealing Arts School - sculpture, pottery and paintings
Theatrical personalities leading the after show discussions included:
Michael Billington, Kitty Black, E. Martin Browne, Ronald Bryden, John Elsom, Martin Esslin, Richard Imeson, Catherine Itzin, Roger Jerome, John Kershaw, Roger Manvell, Garry O'Connor, Robert Rietty, Guy Vaesen, Sam Walters