2003
1903
1865
2020

The World of Susie Wong - Programme, 1961

Title

The World of Susie Wong - Programme, 1961

Date

4 December 1961

Description

Full programme for The World of Susie Wong by Paul Osborn.

What's the story?

The World of Suzie Wong is a 1957 novel by British writer Richard Mason. Set in Hong Kong, it deals with the relationship between Robert Lomax, a young British artist and prostitute Susie Wong.
Paul Osborn adapted the novel for the stage in 1958, where it starred William Shatner and France Nuyen on Broadway.
This 1961 touring production starred Kathleen Eu, Richard Clarke, Charles Rea and Jean Trend.

This programme forms part of a collection of Theatre Royal material that belonged to Kathleen Davis (nee Beales), 1922 to 2014.
During World War Two, Kathleen worked for a company, whose work included developing pictures taken of productions at the Theatre Royal. This sparked an interest in the Theatre Royal and performing in general.
She took singing lessons and joined the Nora Morrison School of Dance, which led her to becoming a member of Nottingham Operatic Society, who regularly performed at the Theatre Royal.
Kathleen became a leading light of the society, which led to offers to sing and perform in London and the possibility of a professional career. However, Kathleen, now having met her husband Louis through NOS chose to remain in Nottingham.
Kathleen continued to sing locally, performing with other groups at Nottingham’s Co-Op theatre and in Beeston. In the mid-1970s, Kathleen was performing around the Midlands area enjoying singing in working men’s clubs.
We would like to thank Kathleen’s son, Glyn Davis, for loaning and donating the programmes, scrapbooks, photographs and other ephemera from his mother’s collection to the Theatre Royal archive.
We are also grateful to him for sharing some of his own Theatre Royal memories of standing in the wings as a little boy and watching his Mum perform on our stage.

Type

Programme

Location of item

Private Collection - Glyn Davis / Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

Rights

Private Collection - Glyn Davis / Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

Contributor

Researcher: David Longford