QUESTSTORIES
THE QUESTORS NEW PLAYS FESTIVALS
6th Festival 1965

The settings for all three plays in this festival were designed by David Burrows on a three-sided open stage.

WHY A NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL? 
Alfred Emmet writes:
"To rehearse three plays simultaneously and present them in repertoire, to have three first nights within four days, is a substantial undertaking for any theatre. Why, then, make this big annual effort? For this is the sixth year of our New Plays Festival..."
Alfred Emmet's full article

THE PLAYS

  • HOW I ASSUMED THE ROLE OF THE POPULAR DANDY... (Derek Marlowe)
  • THE SHED (Charles Hatton)
  • THE IGLOO (Kon Fraser)
  • Fringe Events at this Festival included:

    LATE NIGHT REVUE
    OOH! (or HOW I ASSUMED THE ROLE OF THE POPULAR IGLOO FOR THE PRUPOSE OF BECOMING A SHED)

    by Vincent McQueen

    FESTIVAL POETRY

    Patric Dickinson, M. L. Rosenthal, and Alan Sillitoe reading from their poems, introduced by Dannie Abse.

    FESTIVAL MUSIC 

    A chamber concert of new works by young composers including first performances of several pieces by David Charlton, Patrick Dailly, Peter Hastings, David Pope and Robert Stephenson. 
    The concert arranged by John Railton

    FESTIVAL ART 

    An exhibition of paintings by John Collier.

    FESTIVAL BOOKSTALL 
    Including the published works of the various contributors to the Festival. 

    FESTIVAL FILM 
    The Questors film, THIS IS A BEGINNING show each evening during the Festival. This film, with a commentary spoken by Richard Baker, tells the story of the New Theatre Project from its inception up to the Gala Opening Night in the presence of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in April 1964



    Theatrical personalities leading the after show discussions included:
    John Russell Taylor, Arnold Wesker, Leo Lehman, Martin Esslin, Michael Warre, Hugh Willatt, Owen Holder, John Allen, Kitty Black, Robert Rietty