OSAmag81

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1
inspire people to strive for a better world where every one would
be able to use his individual aptitudes to the full for the common
good, unhampered by any form of class or racial restrictions.
There are Shaw Theatres in Niagara on the Lake in Canada,
which are extremely popular. Ed.
LITTLE BROTHER, LITTLE SISTER
A macabre fairy tale, set in a deep shelter, where two adolescent
children have spent their entire lives. The play concerns the day
when they finally challenge the only authority they know:
ancient cook armed with a mincing machine. "A beguiling and
touching fable of innocence, (quote) with a fine flourish of of
Carrollian fantasy, and a nice ear for irony."
1978 MAN ALIVE by John Dighton, took place on the
13th,14th,15th December 1978. Waldorf was played by Mike
Howell, 1973-1980; the stage crew included Ian
Morrison,1970-1977; Mark Willison, 1973-1980; Paul
Clague,1973-1980. John Leeming on Sound. Mary Pryor on
Make-up. Dave Fuller, 1967-1974, printed the programmes.
1979 CABARET and UNMAN WITTERING ZIGO by
Giles Cooper.
1980 CATCH 22 by James Heller, and TOP TABLE by
Margaret Wood took place on 10th,11th, and 12th
December,1980. The time of action is World War II. The place
of the action is an air base on an island somewhere in the
Mediterranaen.
Richard Farrow took the part of the Patient's Father. Ian
Morrison as Stage Manager. John Leeming on Sound. Mary
Pryor on Make-up. Liam Gallagher and Richard Jenkins 1974-
1981 both on Front of House.
CATCH 22. Although comedy is uppermost, our theme this
evening is the futility of war. Catch 22 will be new to our
audience in this stage version and – as in the premier production
in America – many new roles are doubled or trebled.
1981 HERE IS YOUR LIFE by Bob Wilson took place on the
9th, 10th, and 11th December 1981.
Gabb was acted by Alan Dobbie, 1978-1983.
BLACK COMEDY by Peter Shaffer was performed the same
evening.
1982 CINDERELLA by Norman Robbins, took place on
December 15th,16th,17th 1982. Euthanasia was acted by Mike
Fitch; Stage Manager, Ian Morrison; Mary Pryor, Make-up;
Sound, John Leeming.
This was the last production in the School Hall at Stationers and
when Euthanasia, played by Mike Fitch, daughter of Baron and
Baroness Hardup of Stoneybroke Mansion, was caught with
stolen silver and about to be sent to prison, the lines that brought
the house down were 'Don't send me to the Langham, don't send
me to the Langham!!
The significance of the last sentence, is that the Langham School
was the new name for the amalgamation of Stationers' Company's
School with William Forster School!
SUMMARY OF PRODUCERS
S.C.Nunn had been Headmaster since 1936.
The 1963 production of 'Macbeth' was directed by Mr
P.L.B.Woodroffe, as well as producing 'The Government
Inspector' in December 1964.
In 1965 the 'Devil's Disciple' was produced by Mr Michael Hay.
In 1966 The Long, the Short and the Tall was produced by Mr
Jim Cooke.
1967 Mr Clive Blenkinsop produced 'The Alchemist'.
In 1968 'Serjeant Musgrave's Dance' was produced by Mr Jim
Cooke. Was he not a former pupil of the School?
In 1969 'Hobson's Choice' was produced was produced by Mr
Clive Blenkinsop with Martin Lawrence.
In 1970 'Servant of Two Masters' was produced by Mr Clive
Blenkinsop.
In April 1973, Ian Paterson directed,'Of Mice and Men',
followed in the December 1973 by 'Sweeny Todd' also directed
by Ian Paterson. 'Ghost Train' in December, 1974, and the
Double Bill of 'Ernie's Incredible Hallucinations' and 'The Real
Inspector Hound' in December, 1975, followed by 'Crackers' in
December 1976 were directed by Ian Paterson. In December,
1977, Derek Reid, directed 'Little Brother, Little Sister' in
another Double Bill with 'Androcles and the Lion' directed by
Ian Paterson. 'Man Alive' followed in December, 1978, 'Unman,
Wittering and Zigo' in 1979, and another Double Bill of 'Catch
22' and 'Top Table' in 1980 with direction again by Ian Paterson.
In 1981, the double Bill was 'Here is Your Life' and ' Black
Comedy'. The last production of Drama at Stationers' took place
in the School Hall was 'Cinderella' and marked this phenomenal
record of over 10 years of productions by Ian Paterson in the last
decade of the existence of the Stationers' Company's School,
now brought to a premature end!
These notes have been compiled with available evidence of
fourteen programmes. This is a start to have a fuller
documentation of those who contributed to the very successful
drama productions at Stationers'. I am aware that 'The Guest'
performed at Wisbech during the War, is missing, which has
been recorded in a recent magazine. Gaps from 1930 to 1960,
particularly are missing because programmes and magazines
need to be further researched. Also, there are a number of
teachers not necessary Drama Teachers who produced or
directed plays. Those who had a flair for Thespianism in the
wider meaning of the word, have not been included because they
did not appear in this sample. D.J.O'Connell is little mentioned
in this article and together with S.C.Nunn were very keen on
Drama directing many a production. Frank Dash, R.A.Robertson,
John Morris and Peter Huke et al. are missing in the credits at
this stage.
Old programmes and School Magazines will be the main source
for such information! While doing this exercise neither were
available to me Ed.
During the 1950s Mr S.C. Nunn and Mr D.J.O'Connell were
the producers of many of the drama productions. Mr
D.J.O'Connell had been on the Staff since circa 1930 and Mr
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