SEASON 26(1954-55)
A Jig for a Gypsy
Better a Dead Hero
The World's Wonder
The English Captain
Fanfaronade
The Night Before Spring
This was a Festival Season of New Plays in celebration of our Jubilee Year.
September 1954
European Premiere of
A JIG FOR A GYPSY
by Robertson Davies
Directed by Stephen Joseph
Designed by Jane Kingshill
We had hoped to give the World Premiere of this piece but were beaten to it by the Crest Theatre, Toronto, who opened their production just eleven days before ours. The author Robertson Davies managed, with the help of British Overseas Airways, to be present at both first nights!
This was our first real contact with Stephen Joseph, who at the time was busy planning his Studio Theatre Club which pioneered theatre-in-the-round in London. Later, when he was established at the Library Theatre at Scarborough, (now renamed the Stephen Joseph Theatre) he brought his own company to Questors to play in the Stanislavsky Room on several occasions
November 1954
World Premiere of
BETTER A DEAD HERO
by R B Rigby
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Madge Turnbull
This production saw the emergence of Ed Pitt as a fully fledged acting member.
It also featured another stalwart who I should have picked up earlier, David Lorraine. His first appearance on our stage had been back in 1951 as Launce in TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. He became one of our most prolific and respected peformers, clocking up nearly 70 shows over the next twenty odd years.
January 1955
English Premiere of
THE WORLD'S WONDER
by Alexander Reid
Directed by Pamela Richards
Designed by Elisabeth Wellman
Alexander Reid (1914–1982) was a Scottish playwright and poet whose two best known plays were THE LASS WI' THE MUCKLE MOU, based on the legend of Thomas the Rhymer, and THE WORLD'S WANDER, about the famous magician Michael Scot and which the author had "translated" into english as THE WORLD'S WONDER.
Three graduates of the 1952 Student Group graced this production, Carla Craik (Field) and Ruth Tremayne who had both been in the student production of CORINTH HOUSE with Jo Arundel, and Dennis Estop who had been in the Student One Acts, also with Jo.
Another newcomer was Dennis's wife Sylia Estop.
March 1955
World Premiere of
THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN
by Lydia Ragosin
Directed by John Clemow
Designed by Dennis Farr
The second play of Lydia Ragosin's to be premiered by The Questors. It was aso entered for the Charles Henry Foyle New Plays Award.
April 1955
World Premiere of
FANFARONADE
by Rodney Diak
Directed by Barbara Hutchins (Kit Emmet)
Designed by Juliette Howard
This won the British Drama League Full Length Play Festival award of £25!
The star-studded cast includes Wilf Sharp, Jo Arundel, Sylvia Estop, Ed Pitt, Harry Ives and new boy John Hines (opposite).
June 1955
World Premiere of
THE NIGHT BEFORE SPRING
by Richard Whitehall
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Jane Kingshall
This production saw the welcome return after a long absence of an actress who had been with The Questors almost from the very begininng, Gwen Thomas (left).
One of her first roles was as Dolly Clandon in YOU NEVER CAN TELL in 1932 (right) and her most recent appearance before this had been as Hesione Hushabye in HEARTBREAK HOUSE in 1945.
Paul Imbusch often drew caricatures of his fellow cast members. Here's one he did of Betty Ogden and Catherine Scrivener.