{"id":16,"date":"2022-12-10T23:40:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T23:40:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-12-04T15:35:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T15:35:10","slug":"an-anthology-of-school-plays-1950-1980","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/wyrefarmed\/2022\/12\/10\/an-anthology-of-school-plays-1950-1980\/","title":{"rendered":"An Anthology of School Plays 1950 – 1980"},"content":{"rendered":"
An Anthology of School Plays 1950 – 1980<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n
This is a collection of photos, brochures, comments and information about the annual plays at the City of Coventry Boarding school. As there is so far no information available on any plays that were produced in the 1940s, we begin in the 1950’s.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
The 1950’s<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Photo 1<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n


<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

Photo2<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

Bill Vasper <\/b>says <\/span>“I was at the school from 1951 until 1954, The photograph is of a marionette performance organised by one of the teachers who was known as ‘ Potty Watts’ (a real nice guy).In the photograph the people are (from left to right) David Brown, Ken Andrews, Bill Vasper (that’s me) Gwyn Evans, Sparks, Watt, Bob Vasper and Maurice Quin.”<\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
Photo 3<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Photo 4<\/b>
<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

Michel Billings<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

“I remember I think it would have been 1956 or 1957 we performed a Poem inside a railway carriage. The Night Mail. She goes up Beattock a steady climb the gradients against here but she’s on time are some of the words I remember. The Night Mail was one of those British Railway films that were made in the late 40’s & 50’s. <\/span>Yates played a fairy is all i remember.<\/span>” <\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a link to the poem The Night Mail <\/i>https:\/\/www.oatridge.co.uk\/poems\/w\/wh-auden-night-mail.php<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Presumably this was an adaption of the nursery rhyme Old King Cole but no information if regard to the author – at least one that was available in the 1950’s.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

Terry Waddington<\/b><\/p>\n

“I was in one of those plays still remember the lines\u201d Strike a match and make a light, or in this house there\u2019ll be a fight\u201d! That was in 1955 I was 10 years old.”<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
1957 TOM SAWYER Review from Boarder Magazine July 1958 <\/b>(Some of you refer to this as Huckleberry Finn)<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n


<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
It seems that this play was done again in the 1970’s. <\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
1958 The Batsman’s Bride.<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Photo5<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n


<\/span>Tony Baker<\/b>
“I was in that. Think that’s me at the back. Batsman’s Bride was I think 1957 or 58. More likely 57. The fourth year lads were the batsmen and first years the brides. Cannot remember story details but it was a short playlet. On the same bill was another playlet called Dumb Boy put on by the 3rd year. Both were produced by Wally Clarke. The Batsman’s Bride. An operetta in one act. Libretto by Donald Hughes.”<\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
Photo 6<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Photo 7<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

Here is a review of The Batsman’s Bride (An Operetta) and A Tale Out of School (A musical fable) <\/b>from The Boarder <\/b>(The School Magazine) July 1959. There had been a production of Tom Sawyer<\/b> in 1957 referred to in this review and this production in 1958. To enlarge the review – download and expand in photos on your computer. Good review.<\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Michael McAvoy<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

“I was in Tale out of school, the new boy. I remember Field being the creeper. Bit of type casting there. The BBC TV came to record, I think, tale out of School. It was written by one of our Masters. Great fun. Three of us were offered apprenticeships at the Coventry Rep.My mother would not let me. Get a trade stuff. Frustrated me. I joined a band as a singer which ruined my apprenticeship. Played back up to Lulu the Stones, Manfred Man ,Tornadoes and a few other big bands. Life went on ” <\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
Tale Out Of School <\/i>could  have been written by Terry Walker.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Other plays from the 1950’s <\/b>might have included the WW1 play  All’s Quiet on the Western Front, (The Long, Short and the Tall). This play was also redone in the 1970’s.<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All_Quiet_on_the_Western_Front<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
The 1960’s<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Wind in the Willows (Toad of Toad hall) 1960<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Wind_in_the_Willows_(musical)<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

George Forrester<\/b><\/p>\n

“I was the washer woman in Wind in the Willows. 1 line was all that they trusted me with, \u201cI WASH\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n
Michael McAvoy<\/b><\/p>\n

“That was me Trev. I was Toad. Must have been 1960”<\/p>\n