SEASON 17 (1945-46)
But Now I Am Returned
Heartbreak House
Invitation To A Voyage
The Arbitration
Thunder Rock
Ghosts
September 1945
BUT NOW I AM RETURNED
by Erik Hutchinson
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Set designed by Francis W Smith.
The first production of this season was a bit of a gamble. It was a new play by an unknown playwright. As Alfred Emmet explained: "[The play] deals with the problems of repatriated prisoners of war trying to fit in again to a life which has been going on without them for years.
"This is going to be an extremely interesting venture. The author is a young playwright, who has been crippled for years, during which he has written a number of plays, most of which show a promise out of the ordinary. A number of managements have expressed interest in his work, encouraged him to go on (it was Alec Clunes of the Arts Theatre who first introduced him to us), but nobody has so far been prepared to take the risk of a production.
"Having little opportunity of active work in the theatre, he is now at the stage where his work can hardly progress further until he can have an opportunity of seeing one of his plays working out on the stage. We have felt that it would be an intensely interesting and exciting thing for us, and a very valuable thing for him, to do his latest play. He is going to come down to be with us for part of the rehearsal period."
According to Alfred:
"[the production] went off very successfully and the Box Office results were highly satisfactory. It was the first time a run of six performances for our own members was arranged and we had, practically speaking, full houses except on the Sunday afternoon.
"A particularly well attended, and on the whole interesting discussion was held and I think that we all felt that the venture of putting on this new play by an untried dramatist was exceedinely worth while, and we have good reason to hope that Erik Hutchinson himself
derived a good deal of benefit from this production. The audience's reaction seems to be mostly favourable and indeed the reception was I think better than some of us dared to hope."
November 1945
HEARTBREAK HOUSE
by Bernard Shaw
Directed by Eric Voce.
Set designed by Honor O'Nians
Sadly there are no photographs for this production but it is interesting to note that for the first time we managed to achieve the long worked for ambition of rehearsing two productions simultaneously, this one and INVITATION TO A VOYAGE.
Alfred Emmet reported that the production broke all box office records but had received rather mixed responses.
"A particularly interesting and lively discussion was held attended by over 100 people and that too was rather divided into two camps, one side endeavouring to show what Shaw meant by the play and others flatly denying that it meant anything at all."
Many years later, Kit Emmet recalled:
"Captain Shotover was Tom Franklin (long deceased) and I can't remember anyone else - all long gone (either upwards or elsewhere!). I did the music and I used a Beethoven Symphony as the air raid. The one that has a very reiterated rhythm, blessed if I can remember the number and for some inexplicable reason the programme does not appear in Alfred's records (did you know that Alfred kept every programme of every play, film, concert or ballet that he saw from 1925 until he died, all mounted in volumes and I have the whole lot - catalogued*?).
[*This collection is now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, JD]
Diana Benn also remembered the production with affection.
"I made my acting debut with The Questors playing Ellie Dunn.
The cast included Tom Franklin (Capt. Shotover), Frank White (Boss Mangan),
Elizabeth Dixon (Lady Utterwood), Gwen Thomas (Hesione Hushabye) who
generously lent me a gorgeous beaded evening dress from her pre-war trousseau to wear in the 3rd Act, (remember it was war-time and clothing coupons were required for all dress materials, so we had to dress shows from stock or use ingenuity with our own wardrobe). Albert Hooper (Randall Utterwood) insisted on learning to play the flute for the part, and managed it very creditably."
January 1946
INVITATION TO A VOYAGE
by Jean-Jacques Bernard, translated by John Leslie Frith
Directed by Alfred Emmet & Barbara Hutchins (Kit Emmet).
Set designed by Honor O'Nians
"The subtle and delicate art of Jean-Jacques Bernard will need no introduction to those of our members who saw our production of "Martine" in August, 1944. His plays are peculiarly suited for production in the intimate conditions of The Questors' Theatre - perhaps that is one reason why they have been comparatively neglected by the larger, professional theatres."
Thus says the flier.
The press review (Middx County Times) was very complimentary on the acting and noted this production played to almost 1000 people.
February 1946
THE ARBITRATION
by Menander, translated by Gilbert Murray
Directed by Barbara Hutchins (Kit Emmet).
Designed by Ernest Ives
This was Questors' first Greek Comedy since 1936 and the first of any production to run for 7 performances.
The Middlesex County Times billed it as "Grecian Theatre Revival at Ealing". Read the whole review by clicking on the image to the left.
The main flier includes "News from other Little Theatres" which is significant because the inaugural meeting of The Little Theatre Guild was due to be held the following May.
April 1946
THUNDER ROCK
by Robert Ardrey
Directed by Alfred Emmet & Barbara Hutchins (Kit Emmet).
Designed by Honor O'Nians
Middlesex County Times:
"Perplexity and confusion may be as infectious as happiness or mirth, and perhaps the highest tribute that can be paid to the producers of "Thunder Rock" at the Questors' Theatre on Saturday was that they themselves became so steeped in the doubts that beset the author of the play that they were no more able to define its message than he was, and could only leave the audience profoundly moved but bewildered."
The production broke all box office records with 7 performances in Mattock Lane plus special performances for youth groups and the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen, as well as a trip to Greendford for 3 perfomances at Coston School for the Greenford Civic Association. A busy and successful show!
June 1946
GHOSTS
by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Alfred Emmet.
Designed by Honor O'Nians
The final show of the season was by necessity a small cast affair, running for 7 performances.
Alfred Emmet considered
"on the whole the show was a definite success and and several members of the cast by general acclaim acquitted themselves extremely well."
But he also noted in the run up :
"As usual we are likely to have a little difficulty getting the set built with the small amount of time available for working in the theatre."
- a reminder that still at this stage set building and rehearsing all had to go on in the same space.
Fortunately that was all about to change with the acquisition the following year of the school building at the back of the site currently occupied by Ye Olde Barn Club.
