It's quite some jump to the next newspaper report of a production by the Stonesfield Dramatic Society, April 1968 - I guess there probably were other performances in between but were just note sent to the newspaper?!
Date: April 1968 Performance: Jean Anouilh's 'Antigone' Producer: Norman Wyers
Cast: Pamela Warne - Antigone Robert Hain - Creon George Hickman - Chorus Dennis Barham - First Guard Ivy Moss Dawn Huckins Diana Dore David Warne David Chambers Elsie Barrett Timothy Evins
It's then March 1963 that I find the next performance recorded in the Witney Gazette, a new production, a new producer and three new cast members!
Date: March 1963 Performance: E Percy's 'Dr Brent's Household' Producer: John Audubert Set Designers, Lighting and Sound: George Dawe and Ronald Evins
Cast: John Audubert - Dr Brent Robert Hain - Dr Paterson Barbara Harris - Hazel Wisden David Pickard - Michael Grace Griffin - Mildred Dawn Huckins - Pamela Diana Dawe - Claire Hutton Ivy Moss - Bertha
Some quotes from the newspaper: 'Grace Griffin, as Dr Brent's wife Mildred, who has recently been discharged from an asylum, acted superbly. She conveyed the deteched manner of a barely-cured schizophrenic to perfection and in her final outburst she reached a pitch of dramatic tension that is rare indeed in amateur production' 'Barbara Harris was charmingly natural as Hazel Wisden, the girl engaged to Dr Brents son Michael'
Spurred on by the success a drive was initiated to get more male cast members involved.
Thanks for the post, and first things first, congratulations on 100 posts to this mesageboard - welcome to the 100+ club!
Thank you for being so interested and contributing so much to the conversations, it really is hugely appreciated and you've offered so much helpful information from your early years in Stonesfield and your continued connection thereafter, I think I'm right that you still and probably will always think of Stonesfield as home.
Now, it was very interesting to hear that you had gone along to many of the performances, and as my next post will reveal, you were even more than a audience member for at least one performance! I wonder if that might bring back a memory or two??
Thanks,
Shane
PS: Will check out Beatrice Griffin and report back.
I remember going to the plays put on by the Stonesfield Dramatic Society. They were always well attended and much enjoyed. One name caught my attention from the cast lists - Beatrice Griffin. Beatrice, Rosemary and Stephen Griffin were the children of Vic Griffin. I think his wife was Mary. They lived in Woodstock Road and Vic had a second-hand furniture "shop" in one of the lanes off Churchfields. I was wondering if there is an Oliver connection there. I don't think this family has been mentioned before but I do remember that Vic often stopped by my Gran's house for a cup of tea.
I'm not sure that Mary Hayley Bell's ''Duet for Two Hands' ever reach performance either, as the next reference I find is an actual performance, but of Patrick Hamilton's 'Gaslight' and this is in April 1962.
There seems to be a change in producer also from the former Charles Groves to Norman Wyers.
Date: April 1962 Performance: Patrick Hamiltons 'Gaslight' Producer: Norman Wyers Set Designers: George Dawe and Ronald Evins
Cast: Dawn Huckins - Mrs Manningham George Hickman - Mr Manningham Ivy Moss - Elizabeth Ann Carter - Nancy Michael Goves - Rough
Some quotes from the newspaper:
'Michael Goves also had his largest part so far as Rough, the detective. His rapidly developing ability to handle a character part was clearly demonstrated, and in this case it was a formidably exactly character that he had to play' 'Dawn Huckins who is more usually seen in modern roles made a very good job of the tortured Mrs. Manningham. Her mobility of facial expressions was praiseworthy, so was the blending of the Victorian wife's submissiveness with a mounting - and finally triumphant - spirit of rebellion' '
From what I can gather it seems that no production actually took place in 1961 and indeed the society appears close to collapsing completely - Michael Brett's 'This Happy Home' was added to the list of productions not to reach a performance.
There is no mention of the society again until October 1961 when a 'reforming' of the society is announced along with 'Duet for Two Hands' as the next performance. A shortage of male participants appears to have a been a big issue.
September 1960 now and re-elections for the Stonesfield Dramatic Society Committee take place.
The Committee included:
Chairman - Mr E Bishop Secretary - Mr G Hickman Treasurer - Miss S Woodward Producer - Mr C Groves Committee - Mrs I Moss, Mr G Dawe, Mrs D Dawe, Mrs P Davis and Mrs D Pickard, Mr S Taylor
Announcements are also made for the next production, D Ogden's 'The Peaceful Inn' scheduled for November 1960.
This production would never come to be however, due casting issues per the following Witney Gazette entry in October.
It does appear the society were experiencing some difficulties with number of members though in December we see a further announcement confirming that the society would be continuing and that the next production would be in February 1961, Michael Brett's 'This Happy Home'.
Date: May 1960 Performance: Falkland L Cary and Philip King's comedy 'Crystal Clear' Producer: Charles Groves Stage Manager: Phyllis Davis Set Designers: Eneas Bishop, George Dawe, Ronald Evins and Alan Moss Lighting: Joe Hutter
Cast: Grace Griffin - Jane Ann Shore George Hickman - Reluctant Suiter, William Wilkinson Tony Lambourne - Craig Shore Dawn Huckins - Penny Beatrice Griffin - Mrs Cronely Charles Groves - The Visitor
Some quotes from the newspaper:
'Notable among the nearly word-perfect cast were Grace Griffin as Jane Ann Shore, the mother who dominated her family and friends' 'Dawn Huckins gave an excellent performance as his long suffering girlfriend Penny'
Now into May 1960 and evidence of the fifth production appears in the local press, the production being Falkland L Cary and Philip King's comedy 'Crystal Clear'.
Date: March 1960 Performance: Emlyn Williams 'Someone Waiting' Producer: Charles Groves Backroom Boys and Girls: Joe Hutter, George Dawe, Phyllis Davis and Shirley Woodward Set Designers: Eneas Bishop and Alan Moss
Cast: George Hickman - Walter Fenn Rodney Groves - Martin Nedlow Ivor Mollart - John Nedlow Diana Dawe - Vera Nedlow Dawn Huckins - Miss Lennie Grace Griffin - Mrs Danecourt Beatrice Griffin - Hilda Neighbours - Donald Baker and Ivy Moss
A quote from the newspaper: 'The smaller parts of Miss Lennie - the secretary - her garrulous mother Miss Danecourt, and two of Nedlow's neighbours all received commendable treatment at the respective hands of Dawn Huckins, Grace Griffin, Donald Baker and Ivy Moss'
Date: November 1959 Performance: L Du Garde Peach and Ian Hay's 'The White Sheep of the Family' Producers: Charles Groves Set Designers: Eneas Bishop and Alan Moss Lighting: Joe Hutter Sound: George Dawe
Cast: Charles Goves - The Vicar Ivor Mollart - James Winter Donald Baker - Police Commissioner Rodney Groves - Sam Jackson Michael Goves - Peter Winter (The White Sheep) Beatrice Griffin - Mrs Griffin Diana Dawe - Pat Dawn Huckins - Angela Preston Julie Oliver - Janet
Then in early 1960 here are some pre performance newspaper entries regarding the societies next production, 'Someone Waiting' by Emlyn Williams.
Date: May 1959 Performance: Warren Chetham Stode's 'Young Mrs. Barrington' Producers: Charles Groves, Phyllis Davis and Leonard Willey Set Designers: Eneas Bishop and Alan Moss
Cast: Ivor Mollart - Paul Barrington Donald Baker - Colonal Paul Renwick George Hickman - Tim Ackland Rodney Groves - Arthur Barrington Dawn Huckins - Josephine Barrington Diana Dawe - Nancy Barrington Beatrice Griffin - Mary Haddon Julie Oliver - Peggy Haddon Grace Griffin - Mrs. Barrington Senior Ivy Moss - Mrs. Porter
A quote from the newspaper: 'Dawn Huckins carried out the exacting role of Josephine Barrington with notable distinction. It was a part demanding of a wide variety of emotional expression and she was never at a loss for the right one'
April 1959 editions of the Witney Gazette saw the announcement of plans for the second Stonesfield Dramatic Society production, 'Young Mrs Barrington' by Warren Chetham Strode.
Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th were the planned performance nights, and per the below tickets were selling well nice and early!
Date: February 1959 Performance: Peter Blackmore's 'Miranda' Producers: Charles Groves, Phyllis Davis and Leonard Willey Set Designers: Eneas Bishop and Alan Moss Effects: George Dawe Life Like Tail: Shirley Woodward
Cast: Julie Oliver - Miranda Trewella (The Mermaid Heroine) Dawn Huckins - Claire Martin Beatrice Griffin - Isobel Lambert Grace Griffin - Betty Ivor Mollart - Paul Martin Donald Baker - Charles his Chauffeur Diana Dawe - Nurse Carey Rodney Groves - Nigel Hood
Some quotes from the newspaper:
'Julie Oliver, the youngest member of the company, had an exacting role as the mermaid heroine but carried it with the aplomb to be expected of one who thinks nothing of swimming form London Rover to the Mediterranean' 'Dawn Huckins as Claire Martin was equally successful in carrying a major portion of the action'
Prior to 1958 there appears to have been one or many incarnations of amateur dramatic groups in Stonesfield. In the mid 1950s activity seems to have dropped though in 1958 a group were reformed called the 'Stonesfield Dramatic Society' and a number of Oliver's and Oliver descendants were involved in the productions that followed. I have found a number of references to these productions and their cast's in the Witney Gazette newspaper of the time and will post them in this thread. Perhaps there may even be photographs or literature from some of these performance out there somewhere!?!?!
The Committee of the reformed group included:
Chairman - Mr E Bishop Secretary - Mrs J Moss Treasurer - Miss S Woodward Committee - Mr G Hickman, Miss B Griffin, Mr G Dawe, Mrs P Davis and Mrs D Pickard
Upon reforming the committee initially chose 'Candid Peel' as the first production, those this was subsequently changed to 'Miranda' with Mrs P Davis and Mr L J Willey as co-producers.
