Plays at CH 1945-75

[robwilton]

What plays were performed by pupils/staff at CH between 1945 and the opening of the CH Theatre in 1974?
Here is a partial list - can anyone provide corrections or additions?
(last update: 9 August 2025)

Dec 1945: HAMLET (?) School Play

Dec 1946: MACBETH (Big School) School Play, dir:Miss H Tyrell

1947: AUGUSTUS DOES HIS BIT (Coleridge) Coleridge House play
1947: MARIPOSA BUNG + SHIVERING SHOCKS + ERBERT'S ORRIBLE ERROR (Coleridge) Coleridge House play
1947: THE LAST OF CORPORAL MICKLASS + THE PERFECT ALIBI (Coleridge) Coleridge House play
1947: HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO DECLARE? + WORZEL FLUMMERY (Barnes A) Ba.A House Play
1947: CRIMSON COCONUT + THE UGLY DUCKLING (Maine A) Ma.A House Play

?1949: MACBETH (?) School Play
1949: THE DOVER ROAD (Peele) Peele House Play
1949: THE SMUGGLERS' CAVES + FRENCH LEAVE (Thornton) Th.A House Play
1949: THE PLAYGOERS + KING TILL TWELVE O'CLOCK + BADGERS' GREEN (Lamb A) La.A House Play

1950: THE WINSLOW BOY (Peele) Peele House Play
1950: HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO DECLARE? + THE CROOKED BILLET (Thornton) Th.B House Play
1950: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Middleton) Middleton House Play
1950: THE CHILTERN HUNDREDS (Barnes B) Ba.B House Play

?1951: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
1951: THE MAN IN THE BOWLER HAT (Lamb B) La.B House Play
1951: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Maine B) Ma.B House Play

?1952: JULIUS CAESAR (?) ?School Play
1952: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (Coleridge) Coleridge House Play
1952: THE GHOST TRAIN (Barnes B) Ba.B House Play
1952: TRIAL BY JURY + SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (Maine B) Ma.B House Play

?1953: DOCTOR FAUSTUS (?) ?School Play, dir:Edward Malins
1953: 30 MINUTES IN A STREET (Peele A) Pe.A House Play

25+26 May 1954: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
1954: 5 BIRDS IN A CAGE (Thornton A) Th.A House Play
1954: SHALL WE JOIN THE LADIES? (Maine) Maine House Play

26+28 Mch 1955: THE TEMPEST (Big School) School Play, dir:Edward Malins

1956: JULIUS CAESAR (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
1956: THE GODS OF THE MOUNTAIN (Lamb) Lamb House Play
1956: THE LOVES OF FOUR COLONELS (Barnes) Barnes House Play

1957: TWELFTH NIGHT (Big School) School Play, dir:Edward Malins

1958: MACBETH (Big School) School Play, dir:Mr Herbert

1959: RICHARD II (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
1959: THE HAUNTED BARN (Peele B) Pe.B House Play
1959: THE SHOPKEEPER TURNED GENTLEMAN (Lamb B) La.B House Play
1959: 1066 AND ALL THAT (Barnes A) Ba.A House Play
1959: THE LIAR (Maine A) Ma.A House Play

1960: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Big School) School Play, dir:Mr Herbert
1960: THE MONKEY'S PAW (Coleridge) Col.B House Play
1960: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Barnes) Barnes House Play

1961: ANDROCLES AND THE LION (Big School) Thornton Play, dir:Peter Austin Jones
1961: HENRY IV PT.1 (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
1961: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Prep Hall) Coleridge House Play
1961: THE AGE OF SPECIALISATION (Maine A) Ma.A House Play

27+28+30+31 Mch 1962: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
5+8 Dec 1962: A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY (Prep Hall) Prep Play, dir:Basil Gregory

16+17 Feb 1963: MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL (CH Chapel) Thornton Play, dir:Peter Austin Jones
26+27+28+30 Mch+1 Apr 1963: HENRY V (Big School) School Play, dir:Tim Law
18+20+25+27 Jul 1963: PAGEANT OF CHRIST'S HOSPITAL (Garden Quad) dir:David Jesson-Dibley, Olive Peto, Peter Austin Jones
4+7 Dec 1963: THE BEST OF WHAT WE'VE GOT (Prep Hall) Prep Play, dir:Basil Gregory
1963: ARMS AND THE MAN (Maine B) Ma.B play, dir:Michael Carrington
1963: MARIPOSA BUNG (?Thornton) Thornton Play, dir:Mr Fry
1963: THE BARBER AND THE DONKEY (Thornton) Thornton Play, dir:Scuffil
1963: TOAD OF TOAD HALL (Lamb A) La.A House Play, dir:Kennedy
1963: DICK WITTINGTON AT STRUTTON (Lamb B) La.B House Play, dir:Farrington
1963: CAPTAIN SCUTTLEBOOM'S TREASURE (Lamb B) La.B House Play, dir:Mr Rae
1963: RETURN JOURNEY (Barnes A) Ba.A House Play, dir:?
1963: THE DUMB WAITER (Barnes A) Ba.A House Play, dir:?
1963: THE LONG THE SHORT AND THE TALL (Big School) Ma.A House Play, dir:P N Cattermole
1963: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Prep Hall) Ma.B House Play, dir:J M Carrington
?1963: THE WINSLOW BOY (?)
?1963: WAITING FOR GODOT (?)

17+18+20+21 Mch 1964: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Big School) School Play, dir:Peter Austin Jones
22 Mch 1964: PASSION PLAY (Prep Hall) Prep Play, dir:Roger Martin
Jul 1964: DRAGONS SOMETIMES SHRINK (Prep Hall) dir:Andrew Wickes
Jul 1964: DR FAUSTUS (outside Music School) Leaving Grecians' Play, dir:K G Chandler
2+5 Dec 1964: BORKUM RIFF (Prep Hall) Prep Play, dir:Roger Martin
Dec 1964: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (Big School) Ma.A House Play, dir:M Cousins
1964: THE BALD PRIMA DONNA (Lamb A) La.A House Play, dir:Kennedy
1964: VOLPONE (?) Deputy Grecians' Play, dir:N G Jeffcoat
1964: ANTIGONE (?) Pe.A Seniors and Classical Grecians, dir:Mr Daunt
1964: WAITING FOR GODOT (Middleton B) Mid.B House Play

Feb 1965: WE'LL TILT TOGETHER + THE FARCE OF THE DEVIL'S BRIDGE (Mid.B) dir:John Robson
Feb 1965: THE HOLE + CAN DIE BUT ONCE (Mid.B) dir:G H James, S L Edginton
Mch 1965: ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
Lent 1965: A RESOUNDING TINKLE (Peele B) Pe.B House Play, dir:
Lent 1965: BILLY BUDD (Peele B) Pe.B House Play, dir:Fogden
Lent 1965: MARIPOSA BUNG (Coleridge A) Col.A House Play. dir:Mr Alan Bibby
Lent 1965: ??? (Coleridge A) Col.A House Play. dir:Mr Aitken
Lent 1965: SERGEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE (Prep Hall) La.A House Play, dir:C J Bolton
May 1965: LADY AUDLEY'S SECRET (Prep Hall) Col.A House Play, dir:Robert Bowditch
Jun 1965: SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (Big School) dir:S L Edginton
Jul 1965: THE CARETAKER (Big School) dir:Roger Martin
Summer 1965: UNDER MILK WOOD (?) Deputy Grecians' Play, dir:Schenk
Summer 1965: ENDGAME (?Peele A) Pe.A House Play, dir:J P Young
Summer 1965: ON THE FRONTIER (Lamb B) La.B House Play, dir:Springbett
Dec 1965: AND LAST OF ALL WE PRESENT (Prep Hall) Prep Play, dir:Basil Gregory
Dec 1965: THE PHYSICISTS (Big School) dir:R H Curtis

Feb 1966: BLUE MURDER (Mid B+Big School)
Feb 1966: A FOURTH FOR BRIDGE (Middleton B) Mid.B House Play, dir:Mr Glyn James
Feb 1966: ADD A PINCH OF SALT (Thornton B) Th.B House Play, dir:M N Schmidt + R Hafter
Mch 1966: THE PROPOSAL + PROFESSOR TARANNE (MidB) dir:Brian Lecky
Mch 1966: THE FIRE RAISERS (Prep Hall) dir:Roger Martin
22+23+25+26 Mch 1966: RICHARD III (Big School) School Play, dir:Peter Austin Jones
Mch 1966: THE KITCHEN (Thornton) Th.B House Play, dir:Mr Gallie
Mch 1966: THE PROPOSAL (Thornton) Th.B House Play, dir:?
Mch 1966: PROFESSOR TARANNE (Thornton) Mid.B House Play, dir:Brian Lecky
13+14 May 1966: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (Prep Hall) Col.A House Play, dir: Robert Bowditch
20+21 May 1966: THE GREEN PASTURES (Big School) La.B Play, dir: Ian Johnson
18+19 Jun 1966: CHANGE PARTNERS PLEASE! (Prep Hall) dir:Andrew Wickes
Jul 1966: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (Big School) Leaving Grecians' Play, dir:M Cousins
Summer 1966: WAITING FOR GODOT (?) [w.Swinton, Farrell, Forth, Keyes, Castle]
1966: EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES (Maine A) Ma.A House Play

Mch 1967: AS YOU LIKE IT (Big School) School Play, dir:David Jesson-Dibley
27 May 1967: THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE (Big School) Col.B House Play, dir:Robert Bowditch
24 Jun 1967: TEN LITTLE NIGGERS (Prep Hall) Ba.A House Play, dir:Roger Martin
21+22 Jul 1967: THE SHOEMAKER'S HOLIDAY (Big School) Staff Play, dir:Malcolm Drummond
Dec 1967: SERGEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE (Big School) Th.B House Play, dir:Peter Gallie
Dec 1967: THESPIS (Prep Hall) dir:Andrew Wickes

Mch 1968: THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD (Prep Hall) Pe.A House Play, dir:Robin Case
Mch 1968: PEER GYNT (Big School) School Play, dir:Reggie Watters
Mch 1968: THE QUARE FELLOW (Big School) Col.A+B Play, dir:Peter Bastick
Lent 1968: THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT (?Barnes B) Ba.B Play, dir:Mr Brotherton
10+13 July 1968: BLACKFELL MANOR (Big School) dir:Bill Schwarz
Summer 1968: THE MISER (?) Maine+LH play, dir:Mr Robert Bowditch
Summer 1968: THE DOCK BRIEF (?) [w.Robin Case, Tony Humphris]
23+25+26 Oct 1968: THE MISANTHROPE (Big School) Staff Play, dir:Malcolm Drummond
Nov 1968: THE HOLLOW CROWN (Dominions Library) dir:Andrew Wickes
15+16 Nov 1968: THE BIRTHDAY PARTY (Prep Hall) dir:Peter Bastick
Dec 1968: THE JEW OF MALTA (Big School) Thornton Play, dir:Peter Gallie
8 Dec 1968: GLADLY OTHERWISE (Mid B) Mid.B House Play

Jan 1969: EVERYMAN (CH Chapel) dir:Nick Plumley
20+22 Feb 1969: THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND (Prep Hall) La.A House Play, dir:Michael Cowdray + Simon Williams
Feb 1969: THE DUMB WAITER + KRAPP'S LAST TAPE (Prep Hall) dir:Guy Dawkins
11+12+14+15 Mch 1969: MACBETH (Big School) School Play, dir:Robert Bowditch
Summer 1969: 2002: A SPACE ODDITY (Prep Hall) dir:Mr Gallie
25 Nov 1969: ENDGAME (Prep Hall) La.A House Play
8+9+10 Dec 1969: A PENNY FOR A SONG (Big School) dir:Andrew Wickes

Feb 1970: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Prep Hall) Leigh Hunt Play, dir:John Shippen
13+14 Feb 1970: THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD/Concert Performance (Art School) Staff Play
17+18 Mch 1970: HAMLET (Big School) School Play, dir:Reggie Watters
Jun 1970: THE BOY WITH A CART (Prep Hall) Junior Play, dir:Chris Nicholson
Jul 1970: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (Prep Hall) Col.A Play, dir:Robert Bowditch
Jul 1970: THE SCEPTRE AND THE CROWN (Dominions Library and Tour) dir:Andrew Wickes
Aug 1970: THE SCEPTRE AND THE CROWN (Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead) dir:Andrew Wickes
29 Oct 1970: A PHOENIX TOO FREQUENT (Prep Hall) ?Leigh Hunt Play, dir:Mark Turvey
Nov 1970: BILLY BUDD (Big School) Deputy Grecians' Play, dir:Peter Cornish
Dec 1970: SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (Prep Hall) Thornton Play, dir:Michael Carrington
Dec 1970: THE PRINCESS AND THE SEWERMAN (Middleton B) Mid.B, House Play

15+17+18+19+20 Mch 1971: KING LEAR (Big School) School Play, dir:James Mason
Summer 1971: THE THWARTING OF BARON BOLLIGREW (?) Junior Play, dir:Mr Bussey
Oct 1971: THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Big School) Staff Play, dir:Malcolm Drummond
1971: SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (Thornton) Thornton House Play

Mch 1972: TWELFTH NIGHT (Big School) School Play, dir:Tim Swinton

1973: INDIANS (Big School)

1974: FAUSTUS (?Big School)

[Straz]

1973: Indians
1974: Faustus
1975:The Tempest

[MrEd]

That's a lot more theatrical activity than I recall, late 70s to mid-80s. The school play was quite a rarefied thing in my day, only a few regulars would be in it. I can't say I was interested that much, I had a part in a House play around LE. I seem to remember that the play at 6th Form was The Caucasian Chalk Circle, written by the hoary old Commie Brecht of (latterly) East Germany. I do remember a House production of another Brecht play about the rise of Hitler in which Mr Edwards got a picture of Tom Jeffers making a hand gesture (not a Roman salute) with a swastika flag in the background, which I believe unkindly made its way into The Blue, to general delight.

[Foureyes]

Wow - that is a very impressive list - where did you get all that info?
I was in Lamb B 1949-55 and my main memory of House plays is that (a) they were at the same time every year (Easter Term?) and (b) there was a set drill for converting the dayroom into an auditorium, which involved moving all the benches. I never took part as it was quickly proved that my acting ability is zero.The only recollection I have of an actual Lamb B house play is the name 'Mariposa Bung' which has resonated with me down the years.
David

[Foureyes]

Sorry, I misspelt the name - it is Maripoza with a 'z.' See Google 'Maripoza Bung, Or the Pirate's Daughter: a Play for Boys in One Act (French's Plays for Boys)'
I also now recall 'The Playboy of the Western World' presumably a Lamb B house play.
David

[ColA25]

I did lights at a house play in the Prep Block, so it was probably Barnes B and must have been between 1971-4. I remember it vividly to this day, because at the end of the first act I was supposed to plunge the stage into darkness just as the punchline was spoken - but somehow I did it one line too early I think it was some kind of whodunnit.

[sejintenej]

1961 Col A house play; Pirates of Penzance. Still remember it; I was running the electrics and one of the stage crew who added their voices to those on stage . So hot standing over the lighting controls I was permanantly soaked. Thoroughly enjoyed it after being forced nto abysmal in-house presentations of age old near rubbish

[SandysJ]

In response to Phil Naylor, I remember "Andocles and the Lion" in the Prep Hall, during our junior years 1970 to 73).
It's not mentioned above so maybe that was Barnes B.
I alsi remember watching "The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew" and was involved with some others in the list as Front of House and Stage Crew.