SEASON 28 (1956-57)
Gilgamesh
The Master Builder
Sacrifice to the Wind
Sweeney Todd
The Government Inspector
The Golden Cuckoo
Pygmalion
Things were getting busy in Mattock Lane. Our plans to build a new theatre were arousing local, national and international interest. The BBC featured it in a news item and, amongst a flurry of articles in journals and newspapers, there was a full page coverage in the Evening Standard .
The Shaw Room block (comprising a meeting hall, coffee bar, cloakroom and lavatories) was nearing completion, as was an unforeseen "extra" - a transformer house and electricity sub-station, necessitated by a change in policy of the Electricity Board - and thoughts were beginning to focus on the construction of the Stanislavsky Room.
All this work, remember, was being done by our own members! And we were still putting on plays in the Tin Hut! The season had to be compressed a little to accommodate the work and there was a lot of pressure on members to roll up their sleeves and pick up a trowel.
At the Annual General Meeting members were reminded that "Diversion of energy is becoming a serious problem because too many people are doing more than one job already and simply cannot cope with additional work...and in the season to come there will be more problems than ever. We go forward to meet them in the certain knowledge that they will be overcome. They might be dealt with more quickly though if everyone gave a little more money, a little more time and most of all a little more interest."
Plus ca change...!
Meanwhile, on stage...
September 1956
GILGAMESH
by Michael Kelly
Directed by Colette King
Designed by Norman Branson
Another landmark production I wish I had been around to see.
The set consisted of three large movable structures that carried the actors into a multitude of varying relationships, heightened by the use of directional and coloured lighting.
"The imaginative effect was often intense and great beauty was achieved," commented Alfred Emmet, adding, "Of at least equal significance is the fact that the audience enjoyed it."
You can read Alfred's fuller appreciation of this production here.
Written especially for our theatre by Michael Kelly, the production drew inspiration in its design and presentation from the work of theatrical legend Gordon Craig. Here is a Wikipedia link for those not familiar with his extraordinary life and work.
Gordon Craig, who at the age of 82 was living in France at the time, had already written to us in support of our New Theatre plans. You can read his rather eccentric letter here.
The players included Wilf Sharp, Paul Imbusch, John Howard, Ruth Tremayne-Smith, Ned Gethings, Eric Kirby, Doug Thomas, Jo Arundel (Irving), Ted Scrivener and Neville Bradbury.
October 1956
THE MASTER BUILDER
by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Billee Lawrence.
This was another production "ahead of it's time", using a thrust stage to bring the actors into intimate contact with the audience. Ffrangcon Price won their hearts with her performance as Hilda Wangel and was ably supported by Peter Whelan, Ed Pitt, Gerald Rawling, Diana Benn, Vincent McQueen and Maureen Price.
This production will also be remembered for the presence of Dame Sybil Thorndike who, after the final performance, officiated at the ceremonial hanging of a garland on the recently completed Shaw Room roof, using the same wreath that Master Builder Solness had used on stage just a short while earlier.
As noted in A Few Drops of Water, "The Questors architect, Norman Branson, was persuaded to do the honours; fortunately without the dramatic outcome which Solness suffered."
December 1956
SACRIFICE TO THE WIND
by Andre Obey
Directed by Harvey Unna
Designed by Marjorie McLachlan
It was thought that this production needed a curtain raiser. Two plays were considerd - THE MAN WITH A FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH (Pirandello) and ON THE HARMFULNESS OF TOBACCO (Chekhov) - but in the end it was decided once again to go with Fred Pateman's film about our plans for a new theatre.
The cast included Ruth Tremayne-Smith, Tony Worth and Gerald Rawling
December 1956
SWEENEY TODD
by George Dibdin Pitt
Directed by Michael Green.
This was Michael Green's first venture into directing at Questors, establishing melodrama as a regular Christmas fixture.
His stellar cast included Alan Drake, Alfred Emmet, Sylvia Estop, Jo Arundel (Irvin), Gerald Rawling, Vincent McQueen, Frank Smith, John Howard, Rena Rice, Carla Craik (Field), Harry Ives, Wilf Sharp with Eric Kirby at the piano.
I think the photos speak for themselves!
January 1957
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR
by Nicolai Gogol, translated and adapted by D J Campbell
Directed by John Clemow
Design by Jane Kingshill
Onstage: Peter Whelan, Vincent McQueen, Doug Thomas, Wilf Sharp, Paul Imbusch, Ned Gethings, Neville Bradbury, Jo Arundel (Irvin), Michael Green, Sylvia Estop and Alan Drake
March 1957
THE GOLDEN CUCKOO
by Denis Johnston
Directed by Pamela Richards
Designed by Madge Turnbul
Enter Larry Irvin and Bill Rudderham in their first Questors roles, alongside Neville Bradbury, Betty Ogden, Paul Imbusch (who couldn't resist drawing caricatures of Betty Ogden when he was in the same cast as her), Gerald Rawling, Ruth Tremayne-Smith, Lister Beck and Harry Ives.
It seems that all was not well behind the scenes. In a strident Memo to the Committee of Management, the director, Pamela Richards, complained of the "failure of the Stage Group to provide either set or efficient working conditions to enable the show to be put on as scheduled." She went so far as to describe the first night run as "a shambles".
May 1957
PYGMALION
by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by John Holbrook
Designed by Marjorie Golsby
As reported in the first of a series of Box Office Newlsetters (replacing the Forestage magazine which had proved too costly and ineffective at pulling in audiences), PYGMALION was "our most popular production ever. The run had to be extended by two additional performances to accomodate all those who wanted to see the show. If there were members who were disappointed we can only advise booking good and early next time!"
The play travelled to the open-air Torre Abbey Theatre in Torquay where it was"an even greater success. We kept our reputation for bringing good weather as well as a good show. Surely a feather in the cap of John Holbrook in his first production with us."
Ffrangcon Price (still yet-to-be Whelan) shone as Eliza Doolittle and was surrounded by (amongst others) Bill Rudderham. Alan Drake, Frank Smith. David Lorraine, Vincent McQueen, Betty Ogden and Paul Imbusch (who inevitably gave us another sketch of Betty Ogden - what was going on between these two?) - with Joannie McQueen stepping in as the housemaid for the trip to Torquay.