1911 Speech Day
Feb 23rd

L'Avocat Patelin

Dyet and Hunt acted in a most spirited manner as Patelin and Guillaume; Dalziel lent an air of dignity to M Martholin the justice, and Wright played his small part in telling fashion.

The Frogs (Aristophanes)
(scene from beginning)

King, as Xanthias, was excellent. He delivered his lines in most forcible fashion, the dialogue between Kirwan and Dionysus and himself being most amusing. Wylie delivered Aeacus' speech in truculent fashion, Weston made the most of the part of the landlady, and Forrest i, Anderson, Thompson and Reed lent valuable aid in minor parts.

Midsummer Night's Dream
Rehearsal of Pyramus and Thisbe

Leybourne played the part of Bottom with much humour, and was ably seconded by Thompson. Forrest ii as Flute, on whom, in spite of protests mute and otherwise, the part of Thisbe was forced, had a part which fitted him to the life. Norman, Anderson and Reed added to the fun of the rehearsal scene, and Tindle spoke his lines most clearly as Puck.

1921 Speech Day
Nov 16th

Le Voyage de Monsieur Perrichon
(extracts)

The chief part was taken by Young, who acted remarkably well; such realistic acting has not been seen in the French Play for many years. Madame Perrichon and her daughter Henriette in their feminine garb were received with much laughter, while London delighted the audience with his acting as Armand. Read more in the ATOM

Twelfth Night (extract)

The English Play did not come up to expectations, although it was well appreciated by the audience because of the splendid costumes. The speaking was very poor, and the majority of the audience were unable to hear. The fault was due to the lack of experience on the part of all the actors. We must thank Mr Wood who had an exceptionally difficult task in managing the inexperiences actors of the fifth. Read more in the ATOM

1927 Speech Day
Nov 7th

The Smile He Left Behind Him

Acted by the pupils of Ia and Ib, and prepared by Miss Madden. It formed an apt subject for the junior members of the School, who entered into the performance of it with spirit and enjoyment.

The Death of Siegfried
(first scene)

Specially written and acted by the Vu German class, and based on the legend of the Nibelungs. Such a theme as this in tragedy needs, of course, extensive scenery and stage equipment to be strictly accurate, but without these things we cannot help saying that the representation was impressive and spectacular.

A Little Elopement
(from Dickens' "Boots at the Holly tree Inn")

Each person seemed to be particularly fitted for his role, and there must have been some characters in this play who have acted in English plays before and for whose appearance the visitors look forward every year. It would have been almost impossible to find more appropriate persons to fill the parts.

1929 Speech Day
Nov 23rd

The Brigands of Bragenza

La Dive Bouteille

Fidelitas

1930 Dramatic Evening
Oct 30th

unknown

This was the Amateur Dramatic Club's First Dramatic Evening. The ATOM does not record what was performed.

1931 Speech Day
Nov 26th

Foiling the Reds

1932
Feb 4th, 5th & 6th

None But The Brave

1932
Mar 17th & 18th

8 one-act plays including
The Revenge of the Lansdales

Performed in the school Gym.

1932
Jun

Macbeth

Was planned to be performed outdoors (according to the ATOM)

1933
Feb 22nd, 24th & 25th

Unknown

1934
Mar

The Rivals

One of the best performances was given by IC Storey, who took the part of Mrs Malaprop. Owing to an injury received in a rugby match a week before the performance, he had great difficulty in walking and his pluck in playing his part is worthy of special mention. Perhaps the biggest laugh of all was caused by HD Lea in the part of Julia, who took his place in one scene without his wig. The sight of boyish hair caused no little amusement. The play was a financial success, no doubt due to the whole-hearted support of a well-known gitls' school in the neighbourhood.

1935
June

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Performed in the grounds of Undercliffe, in Cleadon, as part of a fete to raise money for an organ for the new school to be built at Harton.

1937 Speech Day

The Discovery

1938
Jul?

The Centurion's Bullet at Swacking Bulphen
AJ Talbot

The Old Bull
Bernard Gilbert

The Last War
Neil Grant

1937
(summer term)

Twelfth Night

This was planned (according to the March, 1937 ATOM) to be staged in the school grounds.

1938 Speech Day
Nov 26th

Katherine Parr

1948
Feb 4th & 6th

Once Aboard the Lugger
(Comic Operetta)

There were splendid audiences each night and great appreciation of the efforts of the boys was shown. It was through the splendid cooperation of the Staff and boys that we were able to put on such successful performances. We should like to record out appreciation of the valuable help given by members of the Staff of the Girls' High School.

1950 Speech Day
Mar 10th

Merry Wives of Windsor
(wooing scenes)

1955
May 25th & 26th

The Great Bell of Burley
(Opera by Armstrong Gibbs)

This opera for children was newly written by Dr Armstrong Gibbs. Mr Jackaman reported that "The acting, singing, stage settings and teh colourful costumes of the middle ages allc ombined to create grand entertainment. All who worked for the success of this show are to be congratulated.
Photograph of the cast

1956

She Stoops To Conquer

As is almost usual, the producer experienced a wide range of emotions - sometimes not far removed from despair - before the public presentation but, in the end, I am sure he must have felt it was all very worthwhile. Sometimes things went wrong and situations arose which Goldsmith never intended, but to recover from these contretemps is one of the chief glories of amateur theatricals. Read more in the ATOM

1956
Nov 28th, 29th & 30th

The Importance of Being Earnest

It was manifestly clear that this undertaking was a source of considerable enjoyment to all the members of the team. The sequence of dramatic situations forces James Blance and Roy Thompson - as Lady Bracknell and Algernon Moncrieff - into constant prominence. Lady Bracknell, to say the least, looked a formidable old dragon, and in that character rather spate her lines at the footlights. Read more in the ATOM

1957
November 29th

Scuttleboom's Treasure

Junior boys' play

1959
Jan

The Government Inspector
Gogol

This year', the School Dramatic Society explored for the first time the potentialities of Russia's dramatic resources. The choice fell upon Gogol'sThe Government Inspector, which led no small proportion of the school to expect a sort of Hancock's Half House in fancy dress. The played of the longest part retired from the play because of ill-health, and the presentation was postponed for two months. Read more in the ATOM

1960

A Merchant of Venice

Few theatres present quite such acute acoustic problems as our stage. From ancient experience we know how totally inadequate is an ordinary conversational tone on stage. Matthews captures the spirit of Shylock, although did not sustain his standard throughout. The other actors fell short of this standard, but seemed to be much happier in the make-up room than on the stage. Read more in the ATOM

1960

The Old Bull

The success of the evening was undoubtedly MJ Snaith, who dominated the stage with an expert and vigorous rendering of a Lincolnshire auctioneer. Read more in the ATOM

The Invisible Duke
(A Gothic farce)

This was well-received by our audiences. This amusing play was well-served by MR Wilson in the title role of an arrogant, conceited and invisible grandee. Read more in the ATOM

What Weather!

The part of a zealous but unsuccessful Government Minister of Weather, was taken with a surprising expertise by EW Wilson, a boy whose ability augurs well for the future [little did the person who wrote this know that Ed Wilson was to go on to be a professional actor on TV, and eventually director of the National Youth Theatre]. Read more in the ATOM

1961
Nov 29th, 30th & Dec 1st

The Rivals

It is many years since the School Play was so near to being an unqualified success. Skillfully staged and lavishly dressed, The Rivals offered scope for a considerable measure of dramatic success. EW Wilson has exception histrionic ability and it was quite astonishing how much he got out of the relatively insignificant Lucy. For diction he ran away wit the laurels, but his whole stage presence was splendid. Read more in the ATOM

1962
Nov 28th, 29th & 30th

The Servant of Two Masters
Carlo Goldoni

This play made a refreshing change from the well known circus of "classics" which seems to have become the accepted hunting ground of school producers. Mr Seaword had wrung pace, audibility and attack from even the least experienced of his band. What a memorable performance this was a Edward Wilson's - he was Truffaldino (and of course, Pasquale too) Read more in the ATOM

1963
Mar 18th, 19th & 20th

The Stolen Prince
D Totheroh

This Junior School play had a Chinese setting. All members of the cast acted excellently, particularly D Charlton. Read more in the ATOM

The Grand Cham's Diamond
A Monkhouse

This was admirably performed by the Middle School. Local accents turned the suburban London setting to that of Tyneside. Read more in the ATOM

The Monkey's Paw
WW Jacobs

The Senior Play made a strong contrast to the earlier comedies. The acting of D Levy, F Finch, E Macnamee and A Jones was most convincing, and EW Wilson have a very credible performance. Read more in the ATOM

1964
Dec 2nd, 3rd & 4th

The Miser
Molière

The choice was an ambitious one and there were certainly times when the producer, Mr Seaword, felt that the Drama Society had bitten off more than it could chew. In the event, it was not only "all right on the night" but, in my opinion, the most enjoyable production at School for many years. As the eponymous miser, Wilson produced the excellent character we have come to expect from him. Read more in the ATOM | Photographs of the cast

1965
Dec 1st, 2nd & 3rd

Scuttleboom's Treasure
Ronald Gow

Lower School play

The Dumb Wife of Cheapside (Ashley Dukes)

Upper School play

1966
April 1st

Spring Concert

For programme, see Spring Concert, 1966

1966
July 21st

Summer Concert

For programme, see Summer Concert, 1966

1966
Nov 30, Dec 1 & 2

The Strong Are Lonely

An ambitious choice, which would have daunted a less experienced and enthusiastic producer than Mr Seaword. Geoff Waite brought authority and anguished zeal to the role of the Father Provincial. The cold authority of the Jesuit legate was sketched in well by West. Burnett had the tricky task of portraying the strong, honourable Don Pedro. Read more in the ATOM

1967
Mar 17th

Spring Concert

For programme, see Spring Concert, 1967

1967
July 20th

Summer Concert

For programme, see Summer Concert, 1967

1968
Mar 22nd

Spring Concert
(including "The Bespoke Overcoat" by Wolf Makowitz)

For programme, see Spring Concert, 1968

1969
Mar 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st

The Pirates of Penzance

This production (a joint production with the Girls' Grammar) was a triumph. I have no hesitation in stating that, from the point of view of sheer entertainment, this was the finest thing yet seen on the School stage. I have never seen the patter song of the Major-General done better, and the whole interpretation by Malcolm Taylor was thoroughly professional. Read more in the ATOM

1970
July 23rd

Summer Concert
(including "Any Body", by G. Whitehead)

For programme, see Summer Concert, 1970

1968
Jul

Summer Concert
(including "Pyramus and Thisbe" from Midsummer Night's Dream)

In the 1968 House Drama Competition, all three plays (Fenwick House did not produce a play) were of such high quality that they were performed before the entire school at a special assembly on the afternoon of July 17th. The winning play, produced by Clifford Burnett, was of such a particularly high standard that, at the last minute, it was decided to include it in the Summer Concert. Read more in the ATOM

1970
July 23rd

Summer Concert
(including "Any Body", by G. Whitehead)

For programme, see Summer Concert, 1970

1971
Mar 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th

The Mikado

In this year's Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera, a joint production by the Girls' and Boys' Grammar Schools, everyone jumped to it, but no-one jumped harder, higher or more breathlessly than David Hails, who revealed unsuspected springs in his heels. Near-professionalism was the hallmark of this year's production - music, staging, performance, make up (especially the Mikado's, whose pigtail never wilted even during Kevin Hicklin's most blood-curdling yells). Read more in the ATOM

1973
July 19th

Summer Concert
(including "The Canal", adapted from the Goon Show)

For programme, see Summer Concert, 1973

1974
Apr 3rd

Spring Concert (including "The Substitute")

Over five hundred people attended the concert, despite thick fog. The orchestra, strengthened by a number of visitors and conducted by Robert Todd, proved most enjoyable. The Junior Drama Group product, The Substitute, was an Easter play based upon the Jesus for Barrabas choice proposed by Pilate and was most successful.

1975

Luther
(Selected scenes)
John Osborne

There were only selected scenes performed, but they were carefully chosen and the main plot was always distinct. David Kennedy acted the role of the Prior with great reverence and conviction, and Mark Blacklock similarly showed restraint and sensitivity in his portrayal of Luther. Mrs Melvin's Junior Drama Group contributed to the fight scene.

1976 Spring Concert
Apr 7th

The Interrogation
Margaret Wood