KIDDERMINSTER PLAYHOUSE
1946 - 1968 A Souvenir
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1962 - 1963
Looking back on 25 years before the public, the Nonentities reflected that more than 200 theatres had closed in that time but the Playhouse remained open - if only just - and new theatres, including a National Theatre, were being born.
There was still no help from the Arts Council and nothing more from television (which had contributed £750 over three years). The subscription card was put up to 25s., the top price seats went up by a shilling and the theatre rental increased from £285 to £300 a week.
The Nonentities led off with Watch It, Sailor! with Robert Barclay in his first non-singing role and Robin Flack. Hotel Paradiso introduced Pamela Bickerton and Susan Hanglin. Winter Journey was a major play with a demanding role for Maurice Pound but it was not popular.
Salad Days was a great success, with Janet Cubbage and John Lewis making first appearances and producer Kenneth Rose taking over the part of the tramp. The season ended with The Gazebo and The Irregular Verb To Love.
Musical offerings were Wild Violets by Carpet Trades, Chrysanthemum (a triumph for Margaret Macaulay) by the KAOS and an exceptional production of The Gondoliers by the Stourbridge Gilbert and Sullivan Club.
Repertory plays in a longer series were The Big Killing; Wolf's Clothing; Love on the Never-Never; The Deep Blue Sea; Roots (Wesker's language upset some theatre goers and made the head lines); Towards Zero; Don't Tell Father; Verdict; Billy Liar; The Secret Tent; WhiZe Parents Sleep and an outstanding production, Photo-Finish, which had a major part for Sheila Price.
Opera for All brought The Barber of Seville and La Traviata. Instead of pantomime two Christmas plays were staged, Circus Adventure at matinees and The Love Birds in the evenings. The worst winter -in memory made them a ruinous speculation.
As usual a good year had been followed by a bad one. The Nonentities' plays lost money and subscribers were down by 200. The Playhouse lost nearly £2,000 and the debt rose to £5,777.
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