The School for Scandal - Production Photographs, 2015
Title
The School for Scandal - Production Photographs, 2015
Date
8 September 2015
Description
Production photographs, courtesy of photographer Alan Fletcher, for Theatre Royal community theatre production of The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
What's the story?
The School for Scandal was the first production to be staged at the Theatre Royal Nottingham on 25 September 1865, therefore 150 years later it seemed right to revive the production as part of the venue’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
This new production was produced by the venue’s Creative Learning department and involved a community cast and costumes designed by students from Nottingham Trent University.
This production also sought to put the Theatre Royal itself as one of the ‘stars’ of the show by staging the show as a promenade production. Cast and audience moved from scene to scene, utilising the foyers, the portico, the green room and finally the actual stage itself, with the magnificent Phipps/Matcham auditorium as the set.
On arrival at the Theatre Royal the audience assembled in the stalls bar. At a given point four actors playing Victorian stage managers/clowns moved the audience to outside the theatre where they were greeted by Walter Montgomery (played by director David Longford) the Theatre Royal’s first manager in 1865, who introduced this show and then acted as MC throughout the show.
The following is the opening of David Longford’s adapted script for this show. Many of Montgomery’s word were lifted from his opening night speech on 25 September 1865 following the first performance of The School for Scandal
ACT ONE
Audience are assembled in Green Room Stalls Bar.
Five clown Victorian servants/stage managers appear 10/15 minutes before the start of the show and interact/play with the punters.
At start time musicians appear, clowns encourage audience to follow them to outside the theatre.
Standing on a box in the middle of Theatre Square with his back to the Theatre Royal is Walter Montgomery, the larger-than-life actor/manager. Audience are assembled in front of him so they can see him and the theatre behind him in all its glory. Music stops.
MONTGOMERY
A School for Scandal! Tell me, I beseech you,
Needs there a school this modish art to teach you?
No need of lessons now, the knowing think:
We might as well be taught to eat and drink
For those of you who seek a healthful pleasure in intellectual recreation, I welcome you to the Theatre Royal.
My name is Mr Walter Montgomery and I have the privilege to appear before you in my capacity as the very first director of the Theatre Royal.
I have returned to this site of my greatest theatrical endeavours to present to you a revival by The Royal Company of that very first production on the Theatre Royal stage in September 1865 … Mr Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s witty comedy … THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold … the Theatre Royal!
The Theatre Royal … this Temple to Thespis … this cornucopia of excellence … this Queen of the Midlands … this admirably appointed and beautiful edifice.
It was 150 years ago, on the 25th September 1865, that the Theatre Royal opened its doors for the very first time and welcomed in the citizens of this good town.
People gathered from early afternoon on this very spot to be the first to enter their exquisite new theatre.
All who came on that autumnal night and all who have entered ever since through this grand Corinthian portico, created by that most illustrious and eminent architect Mr Charles Phipps, have marvelled, yes MARVELLED, at the sight of this fine theatrical jewel.
Music finishes with a flourish.
MONTGOMERY
But, ladies and gentlemen, for here’s the rub.
For tonight we honour this distinguished theatre by performing our play in the vestibules, lobbies and ante-chambers of this great building. Driving always to the denouement on the great stage itself.
As the audience for this performance you will simply follow us around, allowing the actors to deport themselves in a comely fashion in a manner that is close-up and personal. Some of our chosen spaces are not accustomed to theatrical presentation. It is what we in the profession call ‘a promenade performance’ and tonight in honour of its 150th anniversary, it is this magnificent venue that struts and frets its hour upon the stage.
For those of you with an indisposition or who perhaps simply wish to enjoy the spectacle in a more relaxed manner, seating will of course be provided.
Finally, may I remind those of you with portable communication contraptions that it would be greatly appreciated by both my humble self and members of the acting company if you could ensure that they are now positioned in the ‘off’ setting. For this relief, much thanks.
Any questions? Good! So, let our journey together begin.
We depart to London. The year? 1777. Act 1, Scene 1. The dressing-room in the fashionable town-house of Lady Sneerwell.
Proud of your smiles once lavishly bestowed,
Again our young Don Quixote takes the road;
To show his gratitude he draws his pen
And seeks this hydra Scandal in his den.
To the Dress Circle!
Montgomery flamboyantly exits into the Theatre Royal and up the stairs. Servants lead audience in and upstairs.
This new production was produced by the venue’s Creative Learning department and involved a community cast and costumes designed by students from Nottingham Trent University.
This production also sought to put the Theatre Royal itself as one of the ‘stars’ of the show by staging the show as a promenade production. Cast and audience moved from scene to scene, utilising the foyers, the portico, the green room and finally the actual stage itself, with the magnificent Phipps/Matcham auditorium as the set.
On arrival at the Theatre Royal the audience assembled in the stalls bar. At a given point four actors playing Victorian stage managers/clowns moved the audience to outside the theatre where they were greeted by Walter Montgomery (played by director David Longford) the Theatre Royal’s first manager in 1865, who introduced this show and then acted as MC throughout the show.
The following is the opening of David Longford’s adapted script for this show. Many of Montgomery’s word were lifted from his opening night speech on 25 September 1865 following the first performance of The School for Scandal
ACT ONE
Audience are assembled in Green Room Stalls Bar.
Five clown Victorian servants/stage managers appear 10/15 minutes before the start of the show and interact/play with the punters.
At start time musicians appear, clowns encourage audience to follow them to outside the theatre.
Standing on a box in the middle of Theatre Square with his back to the Theatre Royal is Walter Montgomery, the larger-than-life actor/manager. Audience are assembled in front of him so they can see him and the theatre behind him in all its glory. Music stops.
MONTGOMERY
A School for Scandal! Tell me, I beseech you,
Needs there a school this modish art to teach you?
No need of lessons now, the knowing think:
We might as well be taught to eat and drink
For those of you who seek a healthful pleasure in intellectual recreation, I welcome you to the Theatre Royal.
My name is Mr Walter Montgomery and I have the privilege to appear before you in my capacity as the very first director of the Theatre Royal.
I have returned to this site of my greatest theatrical endeavours to present to you a revival by The Royal Company of that very first production on the Theatre Royal stage in September 1865 … Mr Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s witty comedy … THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold … the Theatre Royal!
The Theatre Royal … this Temple to Thespis … this cornucopia of excellence … this Queen of the Midlands … this admirably appointed and beautiful edifice.
It was 150 years ago, on the 25th September 1865, that the Theatre Royal opened its doors for the very first time and welcomed in the citizens of this good town.
People gathered from early afternoon on this very spot to be the first to enter their exquisite new theatre.
All who came on that autumnal night and all who have entered ever since through this grand Corinthian portico, created by that most illustrious and eminent architect Mr Charles Phipps, have marvelled, yes MARVELLED, at the sight of this fine theatrical jewel.
Music finishes with a flourish.
MONTGOMERY
But, ladies and gentlemen, for here’s the rub.
For tonight we honour this distinguished theatre by performing our play in the vestibules, lobbies and ante-chambers of this great building. Driving always to the denouement on the great stage itself.
As the audience for this performance you will simply follow us around, allowing the actors to deport themselves in a comely fashion in a manner that is close-up and personal. Some of our chosen spaces are not accustomed to theatrical presentation. It is what we in the profession call ‘a promenade performance’ and tonight in honour of its 150th anniversary, it is this magnificent venue that struts and frets its hour upon the stage.
For those of you with an indisposition or who perhaps simply wish to enjoy the spectacle in a more relaxed manner, seating will of course be provided.
Finally, may I remind those of you with portable communication contraptions that it would be greatly appreciated by both my humble self and members of the acting company if you could ensure that they are now positioned in the ‘off’ setting. For this relief, much thanks.
Any questions? Good! So, let our journey together begin.
We depart to London. The year? 1777. Act 1, Scene 1. The dressing-room in the fashionable town-house of Lady Sneerwell.
Proud of your smiles once lavishly bestowed,
Again our young Don Quixote takes the road;
To show his gratitude he draws his pen
And seeks this hydra Scandal in his den.
To the Dress Circle!
Montgomery flamboyantly exits into the Theatre Royal and up the stairs. Servants lead audience in and upstairs.
Type
Photographs
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Researcher: David Longford
