HAMLET 1964

HAMLET

PRINCE OF DENMARK

in celebration of quater-centenary of the birth

of William Shakespeare

Thursday 19th March, Friday 20th March, Saturday 21st March 1964

Hamlet is possibly the greatest and certainly the best-known play in the English language; yet obscurity surrounds its writing, its first performance, its text and its interpretation. It was written some time between 1598 and 1602, and first performed in 1601 or perhaps 1602. There are enormous variations between the first three printed versions of the text: and yet these variations are minor compared with the range of interpretations which have been put upon the play as a whole. It has been called "the mightiest play in the language" and "an artistic failure"; and its central character has been seen as everything from a somewhat indecisive paragon of humanity to a half-crazed egotist, ripe for the psychiatrist's couch. Such extremes are not for the amateur. It is sufficient to say that of contradictory indications in the text we have picked out that which makes Hamlet an undergraduate: for the rest, let the production speak for itself. The action takes place in and around the royal castle of Elsinore.

CAST

in order of speaking

Francisco, a soldier W. J. BATTY

Barnardo, a solider B. H. C. ASHBEE

Horatio, a student, and friend of Hamlet F. CONLEY

Marcellus, a soldier D. W. FLEMING

Claudius, King of Denmark. P. R. COX

Voltemand, a courtier D. B. YANDELL

Laertes, son of Polonius J. WOOLFORD

Polonius, a courtier P. A. LYONS

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark E. J. DANE

Gertrude, Queen of Denmark RUTH MOUSDALE

Understudy. JACQUELINE HARTLEY

Ophelia, daughter to Polonius  RUTH EDWARDS

Understudy. CHERYL WRIGHT

Ghost of Hamlet's father. J. NEWMAN

Reynaldo, servant to Polonius J. W. EVANS

Rosencrantz, a friend of Hamlet. J. P. LUSK

Guildenstern, a friend of Hamlet. C. SANDERS

First Player. S. PINNOCK

Player King. D. E. HOPPER

Player Queen. G. H. EDWARDS or A. W. RICHARDSON

Fortinbras, Prince of Norway M. J. STYLES.

Captain in Fortinbras' army K. A. D. AKEHURST

Osric, a courtier. J. BISHOP

A Sailor. E. G. J. ELPHICK

First Gravedigger D. J. BELFIELD

Second Gravedigger J. G. LANGFORD or J. A. REDMAN

Priest. N. C. SNELL

Other parts are played by PAULINE CHAPMAN, G. H. EDWARDS, E. G. J. ELPHICK, J. W. EVANS, JACQUELINE HARTLEY, D. E. HOPPER, P. N. LONG, A. W. RICHARDSON, P. J. SMITH, R. WOODLAND, CHERYL WRIGHT

Our thanks are due to the Headmaster of Astor Secondary School for allowing five of the girls of his School to take part in this production.

Above showing from left to right:-

John Newman, David Fleming, John Dane, Frank Conley.

Kindly supplied by John Newman 30 Aug 2010.

Above showing from left to right:-

John Dane, Ruth Mousedale (who was then a pupil at Astor school), John Newman.

Kindly supplied by John Newman 30 Aug 2010.

All photos produced by Ray Warner.

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