ROB WILTON
THEATRICALIA
HOME
SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL THEATRE
Stratford-upon-Avon
1920-39
1940-49
1950-54
1955-60
 The old Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, built in 1879. |
1920 STRATFORD BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL (Apr 19 to May 8)
Director: W.Bridges-Adams; with Murray Carrington, Phyllis Relph, Charles G Carson, Edmund Willard, Mark Stanley, Gwen Richardson, Henzie Raeburn, Ethel Warwick, George Cooke, Stanley Lathbury, Harvey Adams
1920: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Murray Carrington, Phyllis Relph, Charles G Carson, Edmund Willard, Mark Stanley, Gwen Richardson, Henzie Raeburn; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; light creases, slightly rumpled; an unusual early programme] (£4) SOLD
1920: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Edmund Willard, Ethel Warwick, George Cooke, Phyllis Relph; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; light creases, slightly rumpled; an unusual early programme] (£4) SOLD
1920: HAMLET (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Murray Carrington, Edmund Willard, Phyllis Relph, Ethel Warwick, Stanley Lathbury, Harvey Adams, Charles G Carson, George Cooke; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; very rumpled, but an unusual early programme] (£3) SOLD
1920 STRATFORD SUMMER FESTIVAL (Jul 19 to Aug 28)
Director: W.Bridges-Adams; with Murray Carrington, Ethel Warwick, Phyllis Relph, Harvey Adams, Mark Stanley, Edmund Willard, Stanley Lathbury, George Cooke, Charles G Carson, Gwen Richardson
1920: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Murray Carrington, Ethel Warwick, Phyllis Relph, Harvey Adams, Mark Stanley, Edmund Willard, Stanley Lathbury; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; creased and slightly rumpled, but an unusual early programme] (£3) SOLD
1920: TWELFTH NIGHT (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Phyllis Relph, Edmund Willard, Ethel Warwick, Murray Carrington, George Cooke, Stanley Lathbury, Charles G Carson, Gwen Richardson; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; creased and a few marks, but an unusual early programme] (£3) SOLD
1921 STRATFORD BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL (Apr 23 to May 21)
Director: W.Bridges-Adams; with Baliol Holloway, Percy Rhodes, Dorothy Green, Arthur Keane, Edmund Willard, George Zucco, Gwen Richardson, Margaret Scudamore, Mabel Todd, Maurice Colbourne, Vivienne Bennett, Rosa Burgess, Natalie Moya
1921: THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Baliol Holloway, Dorothy Green, Edmund Willard, Margaret Scudamore, Maurice Colbourne, Gwen Richardson, George Zucco, Vivienne Bennett, Rosa Burgess; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; light creases, slightly rumpled; an unusual early programme] (£4) SOLD
1921: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Baliol Holloway, Edmund Willard, Arthur Keane, Natalie Moya, Vivienne Bennett, Maurice Colbourne, George Zucco, Gwen Richardson, Dorothy Green, Margaret Scudamore; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; creased, slightly rumpled; an unusual early programme] £4
1921: MACBETH (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Edmund Willard, Dorothy Green, Baliol Holloway, Percy Rhodes, Maurice Colbourne, George Zucco, Arthur Keane, Margaret Scudamore, Mabel Todd; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; rumpled and creased, but an unusual early programme] £4
1921: THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Edmund Willard, Gwen Richardson, George Zucco, Baliol Holloway, Margaret Scudamore, Rosa Burgess; dir:Bridges-Adams [4pp, 8.25x10.5; rumpled and creased, but an unusual early programme] (£4) SOLD
1923 STRATFORD SUMMER FESTIVAL (Jul 21 - Sep 1)
Director: W.Bridges Adams
1923: REPERTOIRE BOOKLET (Shakespeare Memorial Theatre)
Detailed Performance Schedule for the six weeks of the 1923 Shakespeare Summer Festival; nine plays were in the repertoire, and there were performances by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company of MARY STUART by John Drinkwater, and GETTING MARRIED and HEARTBREAK HOUSE by G.B.Shaw; the booklet includes Prices of Admission, Booking Information, Travel Information, Company List; folded inside the booklet is a small seating plan of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, measuring 8x5 [3x4.6, 12pp; printed on high-quality cream paper; a highly unusual survivor, and in excellent condition!] £6
   On 6th March 1926, the old Memorial Theatre was destroyed by fire. |
 Until 1932, performances took place at the Stratford- upon-Avon Picture House, a converted cinema. |
1927 STRATFORD SUMMER FESTIVAL (Jul 11 - Sep 10)
Director: W.Bridges Adams
1927: REPERTOIRE BOOKLET (Stratford Picture House)
Detailed Performance Schedule for the nine weeks of the 1927 Shakespeare Summer Festival; nine plays were in the repertoire; also includes Prices of Admission, Booking Information, details of Vouchers for Cheap Railway Tickets, Travel Information, Company List [3x4.6, 16pp; printed on high-quality cream paper; a highly unusual survivor, and in excellent condition!] £5
1929 STRATFORD SUMMER FESTIVAL (Jul 1 to Sep 7)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham, George Hayes, Joyce Bland, Kenneth Wicksteed, Roy Byford, Mary Holder
1929: HAMLET (Stratford Picture House)
George Hayes, Wilfrid Walter; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease, slightly tatty] £4
1929: MACBETH (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease] £4
1929: MERCHANT OF VENICE (Stratford Picture House)
George Hayes, Dorothy Massingham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease] £3
1929: TAMING OF THE SHREW (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease] £3
1929: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; Birthday Play; crease, some edge damage] £3
1929: ROMEO AND JULIET (Stratford Picture House)
George Hayes, Joyce Bland, Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease, some edge damage] £3
1929: SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL (Stratford Picture House)
Wicksteed, Holder, Roy Byford, Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease] (£3) SOLD
1929: TWELFTH NIGHT (Stratford Picture House)
Dorothy Massingham, Wilfrid Walter; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; crease, slight edge damage] £3
1929: RICHARD II (Stratford Picture House)
George Hayes, Wilfrid Walter, Wicksteed; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5] £3
1930 STRATFORD BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL (Apr 21 to May 24)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Wilfrid Walter, George Hayes, Fabia Drake, Noel Iliff, Mary Holder, Roy Byford, Joyce Bland
1930: THE TEMPEST (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, George Hayes, Joyce Bland; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease] £3
1930: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, Fabia Drake; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease, small corner bite] £2.50
1930: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Stratford Picture House)
Iliff, Holder, Roy Byford, Fabia Drake; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease, tiny tear] £3
1930: ROMEO AND JULIET (Stratford Picture House)
George Hayes, Joyce Bland, Wilfrid Walter; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease] £3
1930: OTHELLO (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, George Hayes, Joyce Bland; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; Birthday Play; light crease, small tear] £3
1930 STRATFORD SUMMER FESTIVAL (Jul 7 to Sep 13)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Fabia Drake, Joyce Bland, Wilfrid Walter, George Hayes, Roy Byford, Eric Maxon, Kenneth Wicksteed
1930: REPERTOIRE BOOKLET (Stratford Picture House)
Detailed Performance Schedule for the ten weeks of the 1930 Shakespeare Summer Festival; twelve plays were in the repertoire; also includes Prices of Admission, Booking Information, details of Vouchers for Cheap Railway Tickets, Travel Information, Company List [3x4.6, 16pp; printed on high-quality cream paper; a highly unusual survivor, and in excellent condition!] (£5) SOLD
1930: TWELFTH NIGHT (Stratford Picture House)
Fabia Drake, Wilfrid Walter; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease] £3
1930: MACBETH (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, Fabia Drake, George Hayes; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease] £3
1930: RICHARD II (Stratford Picture House)
George Hayes, Wilfrid Walter; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease, 2 small tears] £3
1930: MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (Stratford Picture House)
Roy Byford, Wilfrid Walter, Fabia Drake; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease] £3
1930: JULIUS CAESAR (Stratford Picture House)
Wilfrid Walter, George Hayes, Eric Maxon; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease] (£3) SOLD
1931 STRATFORD BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL (Apr 13 to May 16)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Randle Ayrton, Dorothy Massingham, Eric Maxon, Roy Byford, Gyles Isham
1931: HENRY IV PT.I (Stratford Picture House)
Randle Ayrton, Maxon, Roy Byford, Gyles Isham; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 8.25x10.5; light crease, tatty edges] (£2) SOLD
1932 STRATFORD BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL (Apr 23 to May 28)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Wilfrid Walter, Randle Ayrton, Roy Byford, Gyles Isham, Dorothy Massingham, Fabia Drake
The new
Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (SMT) opened on 23 April, 1932.
1932: HENRY IV PT.I (SMT)
Randle Ayrton, Gyles Isham, Roy Byford, Wilfrid Walter, Fabia Drake; dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold; OPENING PLAY] (£5) SOLD
1932: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (SMT)
Gyles Isham, Roy Byford, Wilfrid Walter, Dorothy Massingham, Fabia Drake; dir:Bridges Adams, des:Norman Wilkinson [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£4) SOLD
1932 STRATFORD SUMMER FESTIVAL (Jun 27 to Sep 10)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Wilfrid Walter, Randle Ayrton, Roy Byford, Gyles Isham, Dorothy Massingham, Fabia Drake
1932: MERCHANT OF VENICE (SMT)
Randle Ayrton, Fabia Drake, Wilfrid Walter; dir:Komisarjevsky (first time at Stratford) [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold, corner bite] (£1) SOLD
1932: TWELFTH NIGHT (SMT)
Fabia Drake, Randle Ayrton; dir:Bridges Adams, des:George Sheringham [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1933 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Apr 17 to Sep 9)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with George Hayes, Anew McMaster, John Wyse, Rachel Kempson, Fabia Drake, Madge Compton, Laidman Browne, Alice O'Day
1933: CORIOLANUS (SMT)
Anew McMaster, Laidman Browne, Alice O'Day, Rachel Kempson (Virgilia); dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 7.5x10; Birthday Play; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1933: RICHARD II (SMT)
George Hayes, Anew McMaster, Rachel Kempson (Attendant); dir:Guthrie [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1933: MACBETH (SMT)
George Hayes, Fabia Drake, Rachel Kempson (Witch), Stephen Murray (Seyton); dir:Komisarjevsky- the "aluminium Macbeth" [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold; photos not included] (£5) SOLD
1933: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (SMT)
George Hayes, Fabia Drake, Rachel Kempson (Hero), Stephen Murray (Sexton); dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1933: ROMEO AND JULIET(SMT)
John Wyse, Rachel Kempson (Juliet), George Hayes, Stephen Murray (Balthasar); dir:Bridges Adams, des:Norman Wilkinson [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £4
1933: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (SMT)
George Hayes, Fabia Drake, Stephen Murray (Stephano); dir:Komisarjevsky [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1934 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Apr 16 to Sep 15)
Director: W.Bridges Adams; with Baliol Holloway, Neil Porter, John Wyse, Dorothy Black, Rachel Kempson
1934: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING(SMT)
Holloway, Black, John Wyse, Rachel Kempson (Hero); dir:Bridges Adams [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1935 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Apr to Sep)
Director: B.Iden Payne; with Randle Ayrton, Catherine Lacey, Roy Emerton, Roy Byford, Jean Shepeard
1935 (19 Jun): THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (SMT)
Randle Ayrton, Catherine Lacey, Neil Porter, Raymond Raikes, Jean Shepeard, Rosalind Iden (as "curtain-boy" and choreographer); dir:B.Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; ticket for June 19 tipped in; light folds] £4
1936 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Apr 13 to Sep 26)
Director: B.Iden Payne; with Randle Ayrton, Donald Wolfit, Pamela Brown, Barbara Couper, James Dale, Peter Glenville, Donald Eccles, Trevor Howard, Rosalind Iden
1936: TROILUS AND CRESSIDA (SMT)
Donald Wolfit (Ulysses), Donald Eccles, Trevor Howard (Paris), Randle Ayrton, James Dale (Thersites), Pamela Brown (aged 17, Cressida), Peter Glenville, Rosalind Iden (Cassandra); dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; Birthday Play; light fold] £5
1936: ROMEO AND JULIET (SMT)
Peter Glenville, Pamela Brown, Buena Bent, James Dale, Trevor Howard (Benvolio); dir:Randle Ayrton [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1936: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (SMT)
James Dale, Barbara Couper, Donald Wolfit (Don Pedro), Rosalind Iden (Ursula); dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £5
1936: KING LEAR (SMT)
Randle Ayrton, Donald Wolfit (Kent), Rosalind Iden (Cordelia), Trevor Howard (Servant); dir:Komisarjevsky [4pp; 7.5x10; photo not included; light fold, else VG] (£8) SOLD
1936: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (SMT)
Randle Ayrton, Valerie Tudor, Donald Wolfit (Gratiano), James Dale, Pamela Brown (Jessica), Raymond Raikes, Trevor Howard (Solanio); dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; photo not included; light fold] £5
1936: JULIUS CAESAR (SMT)
Peter Glenville, Donald Wolfit (Cassius), James Dale (Brutus), Donald Eccles, Trevor Howard (Octavius Caesar, Cinna); dir:John Wyse [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £5
1936: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (SMT)
Donald Wolfit (Petruchio), Barbara Couper, Trevor Howard (a Lord), Pamela Brown (Widow); dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £5
1936: TWELFTH NIGHT (SMT)
Valerie Tudor, James Dale, Roy Byford (Sir Toby), Donald Wolfit (Orsino), Trevor Howard (Fabian); dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £5
1937 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Mch 29 to Sep 25)
Director: B.Iden Payne; with Baliol Holloway, Randle Ayrton, Donald Wolfit, Joyce Bland, Valerie Tudor, Clement McCallin, Godfrey Kenton, Norman Wooland, Clare Harris
1937: CYMBELINE (SMT)
Donald Wolfit (Iachimo), Joyce Bland, Kenton, McCallin; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £5
1937: HAMLET (SMT)
Donald Wolfit (Hamlet), Wooland, Harris, Valerie Tudor; dir:Iden Payne, des:Randle Ayrton [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold, minor marks] (£8) SOLD
1938 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Apr 11 to Sep 24)
Director: B.Iden Payne; with Phyllis Neilson-Terry, James Dale, Gyles Isham, Valerie Tudor, Francis James, Jay Laurier, George Hagan
1938: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (SMT)
Francis James, Jay Laurier, Valerie Tudor; dir:Andrew Leigh, des:Norman Wilkinson [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold, tiny tears] (£3) SOLD
1938: ROMEO AND JULIET (SMT)
Francis James, Valerie Tudor, George Hagan, Gyles Isham; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1938: HENRY VIII (SMT)
Gyles Isham, James Dale, Phyllis Neilson-Terry; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; Birthday Play; light fold] £3
1938: MACBETH (SMT)
James Dale, Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Gyles Isham; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1938: TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (SMT)
Gyles Isham, Francis James, Valerie Tudor; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1938: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (SMT)
James Dale, Sheldon Bishop, Andrew Leigh, Dennis Roberts, Valerie Tudor, Pauline Letts, C.Rivers Gadsby; dir:Komisarjevsky
1938: TWELFTH NIGHT (SMT)
Valerie Tudor, James Dale, Gyles Isham, Andrew Leigh, Jay Laurier, Peggy Livesey, Pauline Letts; dir:Iden Payne
1938: THE TEMPEST (SMT)
Gyles Isham, James Dale, Francis James, Pauline Letts, Dennis Hutchinson; dir:Iden Payne
1939 STRATFORD FESTIVAL (April 3 to September 16)
Director: B.Iden Payne; with John Laurie, Alec Clunes, Vivienne Bennett, Joyce Bland, Dorothy Green, James Dale, Jay Laurier, Geoffrey Keen
Play Pictorial/June 1939 No.443 - STRATFORD-UPON-AVON: Diamond Jubilee Festival
Entire issue devoted to the 1939 Stratford-upon-Avon Diamond Jubilee Festival; splendid photographic features on MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW dir:Komisarjevsky), RICHARD III, AS YOU LIKE IT, TWELFTH NIGHT, OTHELLO, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS dir:Komisarjevsky, and CORIOLANUS, featuring Alec Clunes, Vivienne Bennett, Lesley Brook, Geoffrey Keen, Trevor Howard, John Laurie, Joyce Bland, James Dale, Dorothy Green, Jay Laurier, Michael Goodliffe, Betty Hardy, Dennis Roberts, Matty Gilmore, Andrew Leigh; character portraits of the principal artists; essay by Sir Archibald Flower [24pp; 38 excellent photos; spine slightly rubbed, else VG] (£7) SOLD
1939: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (SMT/3 April 1939)
Alec Clunes, Vivienne Bennett; directed and designed:Komisarjevsky
1939: AS YOU LIKE IT (SMT/4 April 1939)
Geoffrey Keen, Vivienne Bennett, John Laurie, Trevor Howard (Charles); dir:Baliol Holloway [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1939: RICHARD III (SMT/6 April 1939)
John Laurie, James Dale, Alec Clunes, Trevor Howard (Hastings), Vivienne Bennett, Dorothy Green; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£4) SOLD
1939: OTHELLO (SMT/11 April 1939)
John Laurie, Alec Clunes, Joyce Bland, Trevor Howard (Montano); dir:Robert Atkins [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] (£3) SOLD
1939: TWELFTH NIGHT (SMT/13 April 1939)
Joyce Bland, John Laurie, Alec Clunes; dir:Irene Hentschel, des:Motley [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1939: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (SMT/18 April 1939)
James Dale, Dennis Roberts, Vivienne Bennett; dir+des:Komisarjevsky
1939: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (SMT/22 April 1939)
Alec Clunes, Vivienne Bennett, James Dale, Michael Goodliffe, Lesley Brook; dir:Iden Payne
1939: CORIOLANUS (SMT/9 April 1939)
Alec Clunes, James Dale, Dorothy Green, John Laurie, Andrew Leigh; dir:Iden Payne [4pp; 7.5x10; light fold] £3
1920-39
1940-49
1950-54
1955-60 HOME
TOP