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A Piece of Theatre History CYGNET PRODUCTIONS 1961-1970
1961-62 The Importance of Being Earnest Look Back in Anger Under Milk Wood 1962-63 She Stoops to Conquer A Taste of Honey Doctor Faustus 1963-64 Arms and the Man You Won't Always be on Top Falstaff The Caretaker 1964-65 The Beaux' Stratagem The Rivals Roots A Winter's Tale Worm's Eye View Next Tme I'll Sing to You 1965-66 The Country Wife Waiting for Godot Dandy Dick Everything in the Garden Duchess of Malfi Standing Room Only 1966-67 The Twin Rivals The Hollow Crown The Silent Woman The Dock Brief A Phoenix too Frequent The Homecoming 1967-68 Candida Man & the Testament The Formation Dancers 1968-69 Private Lives The Critic & St.Patrick's Day The Confidential Clerk Sergeant Musgrave's Dance 1969-70 The Lady's Not for Burning John and Tyb and Sir John Priest The Lover Eh! The Tiger and the Horse The Two Noble Kinsmen The Double Dealer After the Rain	In the decade before 'fringe' theatre arrived on the London scene a number of theatre companies provided alternatives to the main stream. 'Sunday night productions' were one way of presenting plays not otherwise viable. One of these companies was,Cygnet Productions, using a student hostel owned by the British Council, housed in what had been an Edwardian hotel in Knightsbridge. It contained a small adaptable theatre space where in the nine years from 1961 to 1970 more than forty examples of British drama were presented. When the British Council opened their new centre in Portland Place the plays gained an additional venue and could be performed on two succesive Sundays. A small grant from the British Council covered hire of costumes and props, and royalty payments, but the actors, stage-management, directors and designers were unpaid. The stated aims were "to introduce some of the best British drama to overseas students in London. The Sunday night productions are cast mainly from West-End runs; the Companies give their services volunatarily" This page contains a number of items from my archives, but there are many gaps, particularly concerning the earliest productions. I should be very happy to hear from anyone who has material relating to Cygnet Productions which they can add. 19th May 2010 Thanks to Brian E.Cook for additional programme information Sunday 25th November 1962 SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER by Oliver Goldsmith at the Residence Theatre, 1 Hans Crescent S.W.1. Young Marlowe...............................................RIO FANNING Tony Lumpkin..................................................TERRY SCULLY Mr.Hardcastle..................................................ALAN BURTON Hastings...........................................................SHAUN HOWARD Sir Charles Marlowe........................................KENNETH McCLELLAN Kate Hardcastle...............................................AMANDA GRINLING Mrs.Hardcastle................................................PAULINE JEFFERSON Constance Neville............................................CECILY SMITH Servants, Rustics etc........................................REG TEMPLAR, NORMAN FURBER, GEOFFREY GUY, GILLIAN McCUTCHEON, JANE GUY The Play Directed by PETER C.JACKSON Designer SPENCER CHAPMAN Production Manager NICHOLAS LIGHT, Stage Manager MICHAEL FRIEND, DSM. GORDON McKECHNIE, ASM PATRICIA SAMUELS Chief Electrician DUDLEY OWEN Sunday 24th February 1963 A TASTE OF HONEY by Shelagh Delaney at The Residence Theatre 1 Hans Crescent S.W.1. Jo.....................................................................GERALDINE MOFFATT Helen...............................................................OLWEN GRIFFITHS Peter............................................................... RONALD PEMBER Boy...................................................................LOUIS MAHONEY Geof.................................................................KEN TYLLSEN The play Directed by MICHAEL DARLOW Production Manager DAVID GRANT, Stage Manager GORDON McKECHNIE, Deputy Stage Manager MIMI WHITFORD,Chief Electrician DUDLEY OWEN Band WILLIAM GREEN and his boys, Slides by HUGH McNIGHT, Song "The Black Boy" composed by RAY LUCK Sunday 5th May 1963 DOCTOR FAUSTUS by Christopher Marlowe at The Residence Theatre, 1 Hans Crescent S.W.1. Chorus.............................................................CLIVE ELLIOTT Doctor Faustus.................................................ROB INGLES Mephistophilis..................................................RONALD HURDMAN The Ensemble PETER ADRAN, ALAN BURTON, IVOR ELLIS, WILLIAM ELLIS, ROBERT HARVEY, GRAHAM LINES, DAVID PUGH,STEPHEN RICH, BARBARA STAVELY The Play Directed by RONALD PEMBER Production Manager MICHAEL FRIEND, Stage Manager IVAN DICKSON, DSM JAQUELINE MURRAY, ASM CAROLINE PARISH, Chief Electrician DUDLEY OWEN Sunday 4th April 1965 WORM'S EYE VIEW by R.F.Delderfield Pop..................................................................TIM BUCKLAND Duke................................................................JONATHAN FRYER Mark................................................................TIM CARLTON Mrs.Bounty.......................................................EDNA DORE Thelma..............................................................DINNY JONES Mr.Bounty........................................................ANTHONY HIGGINSON Sydney.............................................................PETER POLAK Porter...............................................................BEN ARIS Taff...................................................................REG TEMPLAR Bella.................................................................ISLA BLAIR Squadrn Leader................................................IAN TRIGGER Directed by HAROLD GOODWIN Production Manager JEREMY HYWEL-DAVIES, Stage Manager GERALD BEDRICH,ASM RUTH NAPOLITANO, Lighting by DENNIS SHARVILLE and SUSAN HILLIER-SMITH Sunday 30th May 1965 NEXT TIME I'LL SING TO YOU by James Saunders Meff...................................................................BRYAN MARSHALL Dust...................................................................PATRICK CARTER Lizzie.................................................................CORAL ATKINS Rudge................................................................HENRY MOXON The Hermit.........................................................IAN EAST Directed by JEREMY HYWEL-DAVIS Stage Manager GERALD BEDRICH, Lighting by MICHAEL FRIEND assisted by SUSAN HILLIER-SMITH Sunday 24th October 1965 at Hans Crescent and 31st October at Portland Place THE COUNTRY WIFE by William Wycherly Horner...............................................................RAY ROBERTS Harcourt............................................................BILLY BOYLE Dorilant..............................................................ROGER SWAINE Pinchwife...........................................................JOHN BEAVIS Sparkish............................................................BERNARD FINCH Sir Jasper Fidget................................................KENNETH SEEGER A Quack Doctor................................................ALAN MASON Boy...................................................................TIMOTHY HORTON Bookseller/Parson..............................................RONALD FORFAR Margery Pinchwife.............................................KATE BINCHY Alithea...............................................................ANNA PALK Lady Fidget.......................................................VALERY WILSON Dainty Fidget.....................................................SUSAN PITTS Mrs Squeamish..................................................PAMELA BINNS Lady Squeamish.................................................JOY RING Lucy..................................................................CAROLINE PARISH Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Designed by DAVID MYERSCOUGH-JONES, Production Managers JEREMY HYWL-DAVIES and GRAHAM LINES, Stage Manager DAVID RYLE 5th December 1965 at Hans Crescent and 12th December 1965 at Portland Place WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Becket Estragon............................................................TREVOR RAY Vladimir.............................................................PETER PORTEOUS Lucky................................................................DAVID PUGH Pozzo................................................................GRAHAM LINES Boy...................................................................DOMINIC WINTER Directed by JEREMY HYWEL-DAVIES Lighting by MICHAEL DAY, Stage Manager JENNIFER McEVOY, ASM ANDY BOWMAN Sunday 13th March 1966 EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN by Giles Cooper at Portland Place Jenny Acton........................................................GILLIAN BARGE Bernard Acton....................................................ROBERT TUNSTALL Leonie Pimosz....................................................JENNY LEE Jack...................................................................HENRY DAVIES Roger.................................................................MARK BRIDGES Bill......................................................................CLIVE GRAHAM Beryl..................................................................MERIEL FAIRBAIRN Stephen..............................................................JOHN JOYCE Laura.................................................................CAROL MAURAY Tom...................................................................DENNIS TYNSLEY Louise................................................................PATRICIA LEVENTON Directed by GRAHAM LINES, Setting by MARIAN BERRY-HART, Production Managers ARNOLD FRY and MAURICE PODBREY Sunday 24th April 1966 THE DUCHESS OF MALFI by John Webster at 1 Hans Crescent S.W.1. Antonio Bologna..................................................TERRY SEWARDS Delio....................................................................TREVOR RAY Daniel of Bosola...................................................LEONARD FENTON The Cardinal.........................................................HENRY MAGEE Ferdinand.............................................................PETER BALDWIN Castruccio............................................................GORDON FAITH Silvio....................................................................ROSHUN SETH Roderigo..............................................................DAVID REDMOND The Duchess of Malfi...........................................ANN DAVIES Julia.....................................................................ANNABEL BARTON Servant................................................................ROBERT CURRY Cariola.................................................................MAGGIE FITZGERALD Old Lady.............................................................ELAINE HOWELL Officers, Madmen etc.JOHN SHORTER, ROSHUN SETH, BRUCE HEIGHLY, DAVID REDMOND, GORDON FAITH, ROBERT CURRY Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Stage Manager DAVID RYLE, DSM MANDY DUCKETT, Lighting operated by ANDY BOWMAN, Sound operated by BRIAN FEELY Sunday 23rd October 1966 at Portland Place, and Sunday 30th October at Hans Crescent THE TWIN RIVALS by George Farquhar Ben Wouldbe.........................................................PETER PORTEOUSE Hermes Wouldbe...................................................BRIAN E.COOK Richmore...............................................................ALAN BENNION Captain Trueman....................................................TERRY SEWARDS Subtleman...............................................................DAVID STRONG Teauge...................................................................TIMOTHY HARLEY Clearaccount..........................................................DENNIS TYNSLEY Balderdash/Fairbank...............................................HENRY RAYNER Constable...............................................................DAVID REDMOND Footman.................................................................ARTHUR MARSH Jack.......................................................................ANDREW BOWMAN Constance...............................................................PAMELA BINNS Aurelia....................................................................PATRICIA LEVENTON Mrs.Mandrake.......................................................JOANNA DOUGLAS Mrs.Clearaccount...................................................JENNY LEE Maid......................................................................ELIZABETH HARDWICK Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Designed by EDNA AVERY, Lighting designed by JOHN BRENNAN, Stage Manager DAVID RYLE Sunday 4th (Portland Place)and Sunday 11th (Hans Crescent) December 1966 THE HOLLOW CROWN. An entertainment of the Kings and Queens of England, in their own words and from contemporary sources. Devised by John Barton The Readers: HILARY WOOD TOM MERCER DENNIS TYNSLEY ALAN BENNION COSSETTE MORRISEY Mezzo Soprano Pianist RAYMOND ADLAM. Directed by BRIAN E.COOK. Sunday 19th February 1967 at Hans Crescent and Sunday 26th February at Portland Place THE SILENT WOMAN by Ben Jonson Morose...................................................................MAURICE JONES Sir Dauphin Eugenie.................................................DAVID COLE Ned Clerimont.........................................................ANDREW CARR Truewit....................................................................ALAN BENNION Sir John Daw...........................................................NICHOLAS CRITCHLEY Sir Amorous La-Foole.............................................DAVID REDMOND Thomas Otter...........................................................RICHARD WILDING Cutbeard..................................................................GORDON FAITH Mute........................................................................PHILIP BECKER Parson.....................................................................ALAN MASON Page........................................................................GLORIA PARKINSON Epicoene..................................................................NADINE HANWELL Lady Haughty...........................................................CAROLINE MOODY Lady Centaure..........................................................DIANA BISHOP Mistress Dol Mavis...................................................JOANNA DOUGLAS Mistress Otter...........................................................GLORIA PARKINSON Mistress Trusty.........................................................PAULINE STROUD Directed by RAY ROBERTS Designed by ALAN GREEN, Lighting by ANDREW BOWMAN, Stage Manager DAVID RYLE Music and Song composed by GARRY KINNANE, Violinist JOHN NEAL DOCK BRIEFby John Mortimer Plaintiff..................................................................... ERIC LEROY Counsel.................................................................... DENNIS TYNSLEY A PHOENIX TOO FREQUENTby Christopher Fry Doto........................................................................ CAROLINE MOODIE Dynamenie............................................................... JILL JOHNSON Tegius Cronus.......................................................... GEORGE COOPER Directed by BRIAN E.COOK Designed by DAVID DEAN Lighting JOHN BRENNAN Stage Manager DAVID RYALL 22nd (Hans Crescent) and 29th (Portland Place) October 1967 CANDIDA by Bernard Shaw Revd Morrell............................................................ ALAN BENNION Miss Pross................................................................ LIZ GEBHARD Lexy Mill...................................................................GORDON GRIFFIN Burgess..................................................................... RICHARD WARDALE Marchbanks.............................................................. PETER McCANN Candida.................................................................... JENNIE LEE Directed by BRIAN E.COOK Diesigned by DAVID DEAN Lighting by JOHN BRENNAN Stage Manager MAUREEN MOORE Sunday 5th May and Sunday 12th May 1968 at Portland Place PRIVATE LIVES by Nöel Coward Sybil Chase...............................................................JANICE LINDEN Elyot Chase...............................................................DAVID BEALE Victor Prynne............................................................IAN REID Amanda Prynne.........................................................CAROLYN MOODY Louise.......................................................................HILDA MARVIN Directed by BRIAN E.COOK Designed by DAVID DEAN, Stage Director THOMAS MERCER, Stage Manager DAVID RYALL Sunday 27th October 1968 at Portland Place and 3rd November at Hans Crescent ST.PATRICK'S DAY by Richard Brinsley Sheridan First Soldier...............................................................MARK ROSE Second Soldier..........................................................WILLIAM FUTTER Corporal Flint............................................................CHRIS THOMAS Sergeant Trounce.......................................................DAVID BROWNING Lieutenant O'Connor..................................................BILLY BOYLE Dr.Rosy.....................................................................GEORGE RAISTICK Lauretta.....................................................................ANN DAVIES Mrs Bridget Credulous...............................................JOANNA DOUGLAS Justice Credulous.......................................................KENNETH McCLELLAN Susan, the Maid.........................................................DELATOUR HALL THE CRITIC by Richard Brinsley Sheridan Mr.Puff......................................................................HOWARD SOUTHERN Mr.Dangle..................................................................TERENCE BAYLER Mr.Sneer....................................................................ANTHONY AINLEY Sir.Fretful Plagiery.......................................................RICHARD OWENS Mrs.Dangle.................................................................HAL DYER Signor Ritornello.........................................................KENNETH McCLELLAN His First Daughter.......................................................WENDY POLLACK His Second Daughter..................................................HELEN BOSLEY Interpreter..................................................................MARK ROSE Under Prompter.........................................................WILLIAM FUTTER Servant to Mr.Dangle.................................................CHRIS THOMAS Characters of the Tragedy Sir Christopher Hatton................................................DAVID BROWNING Sir Walter Raleigh.......................................................GEORGE RAISTRICK Earl of Leicester..........................................................WILLIAM FUTTER Governor of Tilbury Fort.............................................KENNETH McCLELLAN Tilburina......................................................................PAMELA BINNS Her Confidant.............................................................JOANNA DOUGLAS Don Ferolo Wiskerandos............................................BILLY BOYLE Justice........................................................................GEORGE RAISTRICK Constable...................................................................KENNETH McCLELLAN Wife...........................................................................HAL DYER Son............................................................................DELATOUR HALL Beefeater....................................................................RICHARD OWENS Lord Burleigh..............................................................DAVID REDMOND First Niece..................................................................WENDY POLLACK Second Niece.............................................................ANNE DAVIS Thames/First Sentinel..................................................CHRIS THOMAS Second Sentinel..........................................................MARK ROSE Britannia.....................................................................HAL DYER The Musicians Violin....................................STEPHEN HAGUE, ROBIN BRIGHTMAN Viola.....................................JENNY REASON Cello.....................................CHRISTINE TROSKIE Flute......................................CHERRY WOODS Trumpet.................................STUART MORRIS Percussion..............................TIM BARRY Music specially composed and arranged by LEON LOVATT Plays directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Designed by COLIN TOWZER, Choreography by ALAIN VAUTRAIN, Stage Manager DAVID RYLE, Lighting BRIAN DALTON 1st (Portland Place and 8th (Hans Crescent) December 1968 THE CONFIDENTIAL CLERK by T.S.Eliot Colby Simpkins............................................................ ERIC LEROY Lucasta Angel............................................................. JANICE LINDEN Sir Claude Mulhammer................................................. PHILLIP NEWMAN Lady Elizabeth............................................................. SARAH RIVINGTON Eggerson...................................................................... RICHHARD WARDALE Mrs Guzzard ................................................................YVETTE BYRNE Directed by BRIAN E.COOK Designed by DAVID DEAN Lighting by JOHN BRENNAN Stage Manager DAVID RYLE Sunday 9th February 1969 at Hans Crescent and 16th February at Portland Place SERGEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE by John Arden Private Sparky............................................................ANTHONY MILNER Private Hurst...............................................................DON DRYDEN Private Attercliffe.........................................................DAVID SHAW Bludgeon.....................................................................ALAN JONES Sergeant Musgrave......................................................MICHAEL HAYNES The Parson..................................................................HENRY RAYNER Mrs.Hitchcock.............................................................BRENDA DUNCAN Annie...........................................................................JOANNA DAVID The Constable..............................................................KARL HOWARD The Mayor...................................................................KENNETH McCLELLAN A Slow Collier..............................................................REID ANDERSON A Pugnacoius Collier....................................................ROY NORTH Walsh..........................................................................GRAHAM BURROWS A Trooper of Dragoons................................................MICHAEL LANGRIDGE An Officer of Dragoons................................................JOHN TURNER Directed by BILL McLAUGHLIN Designed by DAVID WATERHOUSE, Stage Manager SARAH THOMAS, Lighting STEPHEN SHEDLOCK Sunday 26th October 1969 at Portland Place and 4th November at Hans Crescent JOHN AND TYB AND SIR JOHN THE PRIEST by Thomas Heywood John John the husband..................................................PETER KENVYN Tyb his wife..................................................................CAROLYN MOODY Sir John the priest.........................................................RICHARD OWENS THE LOVER by Harold Pinter Richard.........................................................................RICHARD OWENS Sarah............................................................................CAROLYN MOODY John..............................................................................PETER KENVYN Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Stage Manager DAVID RYLE Sunday 1st February and Sunday 8th February 1970 at Hans Crescent THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN Singer............................................................................HELEN SAVA Theseus.........................................................................GEORGE RAISTRICK Hippolyta.......................................................................DAVILLIA O'CONNOR Emilia.............................................................................KAREN FORD Pirithoud.........................................................................PETER KENVYN Waiting Woman..............................................................TRICIA THORNS Artesius..........................................................................GRANVILLE SAXTON First Widowed Queen....................................................PATRICIA LEVENTON Second Widowed Queen...............................................JANE EVERS Third Widowed Queen...................................................DIANA BISHOP Palamon.........................................................................RICHARD OWENS Arcite.............................................................................BILLY BOYLE Valarius/Jailer.................................................................KENNETH McCLELLAN The Jailers Daughter.......................................................FIONA DUNCAN Wooer/Master Gerald....................................................MARK ROSE Countrymen and wenches ROGER CAREY, GRANVILLE SAXTON, DAVID PUGH, PATRICIA LEVENTON, JOANNE ROSE, TRICIA THORNS Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Designed by COLIN TOWZER, Songs arranged by KEITH BOSLEY Dance coreographed by MARK ROSE Fight arranged by DEREK WARE, Production Manager DAVID RYLE Stage Manager JOANNE ROSE, ASM MARY PYKE THE DOUBLE DEALER by William Congreve Maskwell.........................................................................PETER BALDWIN Lord Touchwood.............................................................PETER ABBOTT Mellefont..........................................................................DEREK LORD Careless...........................................................................RICHARD OWENS Lord Froth.......................................................................LIONEL WHEELER Brisk................................................................................PETER KENVYN Sir Paul Plyant..................................................................GEORGE RAISTRICK Saygrace..........................................................................BILL FUTTER Tim..................................................................................DAVID RYLE Lady Touchwood.............................................................CAROLYN MOODY Cynthia............................................................................LESLEY NORTH Lady Froth.......................................................................ANNE DAVIS Lady Plyant......................................................................ANNABELLE LEE Singer...............................................................................MIRANDA DAVIES Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Purcell's original music played by CELIA HARPER and the TONY GIBBS STRING QUARTET Stage Manager DAVID RYLE AFTER THE RAIN by John Bowen The Lecturer......................................................................GEORGE RAISTRICK His Assistant......................................................................DAVID RYLE Captain Hunter...................................................................DAVID PUGH Arthur Henderson...............................................................LEONARD FENTON Gertrude Forbes-Cooper....................................................HAL DYER Tony Batch.........................................................................JULIAN GRANT Wesley Otterdale................................................................BRYANT WAKEFIELD Muriel Otterdale.................................................................CAROLYN MOODY Harold Banner....................................................................LEE FOX Alan Armitage.....................................................................LIONEL WHEELER Sonya Banks......................................................................JANE EVERS Directed by MICHAEL FRIEND Production Manager DAVID RYLE, Stage Manager BRIAN DALTON, ASM HUGH MARTIN
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A Piece of Theatre History CYGNET PRODUCTIONS 1961-1970