Events Diary

Did you know?

  • This was the our 45th production and the fifth time the Society had presented "Princess Ida" (or "Castle Adamant").

    We were delighted to introduce both a new Producer (Barry Atkinson) and a new Musical Director (Gordon Clayton). We also said a fond farewell to our accompanist Alan Rothwell, who was leaving to pursue other musical interests.

  • The dialogue is in blank verse as Gilbert based his libretto on his earlier play The Princess which, in turn, he described as "a perversion" of Tennyson's poem of the same name.

    In the work Gilbert takes his opportunity to poke fun at the movement for women's education which had gained momentum in the 1870's with the founding of Girton and Newnham colleges at Cambridge and Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford.

    From a series of watercolours by W.Russell Flint:

    Watercolor by W.Russell Flint:
    "Watercolor"
  • Take a look at our previous productions of "Princess Ida".

    2016 2004 1994 1982 1976 1964 1956.

Princess Ida (1994)

Producer/Director : Barry Atkinson
Musical Director : Gordon Clayton

Cast

KING HILDEBRAND :Robert Thurman
HILARION :
(His Son)
Jeremy Shoesmith
-- Hilarion's Friends --
CYRIL :Ian Townend
FLORIAN :Kevin Hardaker
KING GAMA :Malcolm Parkinson
-- His Sons --
ARAC :Chris Sowerby
GURON :Paul Child
SCYNTHIUS :David Atkinson
PRINCESS IDA
(Gama's Daughter):
Carol Parkinson
LADY PSYCHE
(Professor of Humanities):
Joan Baldwin
LADY BLANCHE
(Professor of Abstract Science):
Pamela Brooke
MELISSA
(Lady Blanche's Daughter):
Stephanie Roe
-- Girl Graduates --
SACHARISSA : Alison Sowerby
CHLOE :Debbie Stringer
ADA : Janice Child
Chorus of Soldiers, Courtiers, Girl Graduates, Daughters of the Plough:

Verity Bird, Dina Burdon, Judith Gill, Margaret Hanson, Karen Morton, Sue Ralph,Kathryn Thurman, Dorothy Whitworth

Ian Castle, David Hirst, Vernon Newman, Ian Stringer

"Princess Ida" in pictures