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