What exciting times we had creating sets on the stage of Great Hall, slapping on '5 and 9', dashing off to Nelly Smith's for costumes, falling in and out of love. Full of enthusiasm, our next production was taken on tour. Produced by John Williams, 'Toad of Toad Hall' performed for a local school was a romp.
John Chaldecott was the ebullient Toad, memorable when dressed as a washerwoman. Peter Medland was a suitably growly Badger, Rex Satchwell completely fitted the part of the loveable Mole and Rene Watts made a suitably suave Ratty. Poop Poop!
'Antigone' and 'A Phoenix too Frequent' were a success, but the highlight of that year was Robert Brustein's production of 'The Philadelphia Story'. Robert was at Nottingham on a Fulbright Fellowship and already showing the brilliance that was to develop into a remarkable and continuing career as scholar, critic, author and founder and promoter of his own theatres.
Three notable influences - Gamini Salgado, who became Professor of English at Sussex University, John Izbicki who became education correspondant, diarist and critic for The Daily Telegraph, and Robert Brustein a leader in the world of US theatre.
They were an inspiration, but then so were so many more who helped DramSoc have three very productive years. Chris Garnett the ever resourceful stage manager, Joe Watson on lights, Noreen Osborne ready to do any backstage job and all those other enthusiasts who made the society a success.