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ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
The History of
Hamlet
at Teddies
By Nick Quartley, former Manager of
The North Wall
The last production of
Hamlet
at St Edward’s
was in 1979 (when it was still an all-boys’ school).
The director was Simon Taylor and the Hamlet
was Roger Wood (now a professional actor, stage
name Roger Moss). There were 40 in the cast:
36 male, 4 female (one adult and three girls from
local schools). It was performed exactly 100 years
after the School’s first play production in 1879.
The only other Teddies
Hamlet
production I
know of was in 1899, directed by WHA Cowell,
in which the part of Ophelia was cut entirely,
presumably because none of the boys were up to
it! I believe Cowell may have directed one other
Hamlet production in his 50 years at the school -
again without an Ophelia!
Between 1879 and 1930 all school plays
were Shakespearian.
Cast and ProductionTeam
Hamlet
Max Brennan (
Dragon
)
Claudius
Laurenz Claas (
Shiplake
)
Gertrude
Elsa Robinson
(
Home-schooled
)
Polonius
Harry Whattoff (
Stamford
)
Laertes
Jack Verschoyle (
Lambrook
)
Ophelia
Lara Paul
(
Broomwood Hall
)
Horatio
Matthew Wilkins
(
Cayman Prep and High
)
Marcellus
Emily Smart
(
Broomwood Hall
)
Francisco
Gwendoline Davenport
(
International School of
Belgrade
)
Barnardo
Nellie Bates
(
The Brigidine
)
Rosencrantz
Honor Allen (
Dragon
)
Guildenstern
Fergus Flory (
Pilgrims’
)
Fortinbras
Sassy Hammersley
(
Dragon
)
Player King
Benjamin Courtney-Guy
(
Cheam
)
Player Queen
Molly Machin
(
Marlston House
)
Lucianus
San Ittipakorn
(
d’Overbroecks
)
1st Clown/Grave Digger
Christina Kirkham (
Dragon
)
2nd Clown/Grave Digger’s
Assistant
Valentin Horak
(
Albertus Magnus
Gymnasium
)
Attendant/Courtier/
Ambassador
Finn Campbell
(
Eaton House
The Manor Prep
)
Director
Katrina Eden
Designer
Rosie Motion
Composer and
Sound Design
Jonathan Keeley
Production Manager
and Lighting Design
Clive Stevenson
Assistant Directors
Lauren Mackrell
and David Aldred
Stage Manager
Rebecca Welburn
Production Electrician
Will Webb (
Dragon
)
Lighting Operator
Thomas Glover
(
Fulham Prep
)
Sound Operator
Max Hinton (
Dragon
)
Cast photos
Will Webb (
Dragon
)