'Much Ado About Nothing'
venue
Derby School
Dates
12th - 14th September 1955
Director
William Wright
This 1955 production of Shakespeare's timeless story of bickering lovers Beatrice and Benedick was staged by the 'Junior Section' of what was then known as the British Empire Shakespeare Society (Derby Branch). The Junior Section produced several plays during the 1950s, often staged at local schools.
This particular production featured incidental music specially composed by Leon Coates and performed live by an ensemble lead by Paul Buxton.
We hope to be able to add more information and photographs from this production soon.
Crew
Director - William Wright
Stage Director - Bryan Izzard
Director's Assistant - Stuart Graham
Stage Manager - Michael Eyre
Assistants - Michael Say, Peter Daniells, Raymond Bamsey & Anita Beck
Properties - Michael Wake
Prompter - Ruth Taylor
Costumes - Mrs. D. McGregor, Miss B. Mellor & Mrs. I. Sisson
Headdresses - Mrs. R. H. Dyer
Set Construction - Michael Eyre Michael Say
Painting & Lighting Setup - Stuart Graham
Honourable Secretary & House Manager - Mrs. C. R. Lawrence
Music Composition - Leon Coates
ENSEMBLE
Conductor - Leon Coates
Leader - Paul Buxton
Members - Helen Coates, Peter Heffernan, Ian Calderhead, Ian Brown, David Hopper, Christopher Hood, John Wright, Garth Freeman, Christopher Rogers, Eileen Gobbett, Geoffrey Wragg & Geoffrey Turner
Cast
Don Pedro - Eric Clark
Don John - Alan Hancock
Claudio - Frank Shekleton
Benedick - Brian Thomson
Leonato - Iain McNab
Antonio - Stephen Orchard
Balthasar - Alan Harrison
Conrade - Neville Colledge
Borachio - Roger Swaine
Friar Francis - Donald Shaw
Dogberry - Bryan Izzard
Verges - Peter Wrenn
Sexton - Christopher Carter
Messenger & Boy - John Chivers
Hero - Janet Goodwin
Beatrice - Eleanor Capp
Margaret - Mary Gilman
Ursula - Judith Marsden
The Watch - Martin Sykes, Raymond Partridge & Michael Say
Other Parts Played By - Carolyn Stiven & Julian Cope