Robert and Elizabeth

Richmond Theatre

May 1968

Directed by – Roy Seammen
Musical Director – Bernard Dunn
Choreographer – Jackie Ridgewell

Robert and Elizabeth has music by Ron Grainer and lyrics and book by Ronald Millar.

The story was based on an unproduced musical titled The Third Kiss by Judge Fred G. Moritt, which in turn was adapted from the play The Barretts of Wimpole Street by Rudolph Besier.

It is an operetta style musical which tells the story of the romance and elopement of poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.

This was the company’s Diamond Anniversary production.

This is the first production to credit a Director as opposed to a Producer, and a Lighting Designer.

Bernard Dunn, the society’s new Musical Director was the Musical Plays Editor at Samuel French, and had joined BROS on his return to London from a stint in the Midlands where he had been recipient of the Marshall Trophy for Outstanding Musical Direction at the Birmingham Festival of Musical Theatre.

Can you help with more information? Please send any information you have over to archives@brostc.org.

CAST

Edward Moulton-Barrett – David Armstrong
Henrietta – Veronica Stockwell
Arabel – Molly Boliston
George – Ken Jones
Alfred – Keith Russell
Henry – Fred Paterson
Charles – Tony Nockles
Septimus – Ieuan Williams
Octavius – David Dickenson
Bella Hedley – Tina Bourne
Henry Bevan – Geoffrey Bishop
Captain Surtees Cook – Martin Last
A Fellow officer – Ken Chapman
Wilson – Marjorie Doughty
Flush (the dog) – Golden Vamp of Lochnell*
Doctor Chambers – Ken Kendrick
Elizabeth – Moira Butt
Mr Macready – Edward Bellamy
Mr Harrison (King Charles) – Geoffrey Cole
Stage Manager (Mr Langton) – Peter Hibbitt
Mrs Butler (Polyxena) – Pauline Kendrick
Evans – Charles Stockwell
Robert Browning – Clive Jones
Florist – Joy Cooper
Travers – Edward Bellamy
Lady Mary – Barbara Webster
Sandwich-Board Man – Geoffrey Cole
Ticket Collector – Peter Hibbitt, *Golden Vamp of Lochnell owned by Lesley Gilmour-Wood
Singers – Myra Ahern, Gladys Bond, Patricia Brian, Shirley Dudman, Betty Jones, Ann Last, Christine Matthews, Zoe miller, Madelaine Olden, Irene Ridley, Lotta Smith, David Catford, Bill Chenery, Mike Hamilton, Keith Law, Peter Taplow, Ken Tribute
Dancers – Celia Cohen, Maureen Ferguson, Janet Milner-Jose, Alison Needs, Ann Wengraf, Bill Watts

CREW

Stage Manager – Peter Churchill
Assistant Stage Manager – Melvyn Morgan
Properties – Linda Rushton & Sonya Clayton
House Manager – Geoffrey Needs
Rehearsal Accompanist – Lesley Woolf
Box Office – Barbara Webster
Prompt – Roma Morgan
Wardrobe Mistresses – Eveleen Horsburgh & Daphne Needs
Lighting Designed by – John Roffey
Scenery – John Roberts & Associates
Costumes – Charles Fox Ltd
Perruquiers – Mr & Mrs Meades