Reginald Arknell’s ‘1066 And All That’ is a Musical Comedy based on that memorable history by Sellar and Yeatman. It was first produced at the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1934 and subsequently at the Strand Theatre, Aldwych, London on the 25th April 1935
In the MDC programme notes Cyril Malyon comments that ‘this was the toughest nut yet cracked by the group and the fact that it has reached the Stage is entirely to their credit. ******** of teamwork has been reached and the drive and ************* of our members has been phenomenal. Scenic design, ***********, have all been in their hands and they have risen to the occasion. To mention names would be invidious, they are found on the following pages – but let the results speak for them’.
And – just to give an idea why Cyril regarded it as the ‘toughest nut yet’ the script and programme shows a total cast & backstage company of 61 – some 26 Scenes, each set in a specific period of history – 98 individual characters (plus numerous Chorus, Soldiers, Villagers, Pages, Barons, Monks, Barbers, Ladies, Dancers, Sailors & Sunbathers’), numerous costumes (and changes of) and 27 different musical pieces – fortunately not all of which had to be sung!!!
Cast:
Excepting Barry Elliott, who appeared as ‘The Common Man’ in every scene, all the other members of the cast, given here in alphabetical order, played numerous roles.
- Dorthy Austin
- Gerald Aylott
- Gordon Aylott
- Raymond Aylott
- Peter Boulton
- James Braid
- Jennifer Braid
- Sandra Callaghan
- John Cade
- Barry Elliott
- Eric Griffiths
- Reg Hale
- Jennifer Lepley
- Carol Loach
- Irene Long
- Penny Malling
- Alec Malyon
- David Morgan
- Valerie Poore
- Susan Riches
- Francis Scott
- Florence Sleath
- Iris Sangster
- Iris Suffolk
- Chris Smith
- Susan Treadaway
Big Time Ted (Property Spider)
- Mick Everett
Dancers
- Jill Cooper, Margaret Whitehall, Dorothy Stevenson, June Allitt, Jennifer Barnes,
- Christine Griffiths, Janet Loach, Sandra Pope, Denise Robinson, Lorraine Shearing,
- Carole Stevenson & Stella Lacey
Stage Manager
- Fred Page
Set Design, Artwork & Construction
- David Morgan
- Susan Riches
- John Jones
- Mick Everett
- Members of the Cast & Markhouse Art Club
Scenery Crew
David Hanks, Keith Brownutt, John Oatham, Robert Jackson, Hazel Bassett
Wardrobe Manager
- Elaine Eliott
Special Costumes
- Marjorie Kett & Mrs J Cade
Lighting
- Cleve Edmonston
Musical Arrangements
- Richard Dunn
Make Up
- Judith Riches, Janet Grace, Irene Long, Jenny Lepley
Choreography, Jill Cooper, Agnes Townsend
Front of House
- James Braid, Janet Sutton, Brenda Philpot, Georgina Wells, Rose Grace, Janet Fernandez & Anne Maddox
Produced & Directed by Cyril Malyon