2003
1903
1865
2020

The School for Scandal - Flyer, 2015

Title

The School for Scandal - Flyer, 2015

Date

8 September 2015

Description

Flyer for The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, produced by the Theatre Royal's Creative Learning Department, as part of the venue's 150th anniversary celebrations.

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.
Director and Theatre Royal Creative Learning Manager David Longford write the following notes for the show programme:

REFLECTIONS, MUSINGS & RUMINATIONS ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION
Preparations for the 150th anniversary of the Theatre Royal commenced some time ago. In our initial meetings it was always felt that we should honour The School for Scandal, the very first production on the Theatre Royal stage in 1865.
Our promenade show provides an opportunity for theTheatre Royal building itself to hog the limelight as we celebrate its 150th birthday by enabling you to experience Sheridan’s brilliant comedy in a different way.
In acknowledging and paying our respects to that very first 1865 production, your hosts in our show are Mr Walter Montgomery, the Theatre Royal’s very first director and his team of clowning stage managers. Many of the words you will hear from Montgomery are lifted straight from the address he made from the Theatre Royal stage on the opening night of his production 150 years ago.
What a brilliant decision Montgomery made to choose this play as the curtain-raiser for Nottingham’s grand new theatre. Sheridan’s comedy is a genuine crowd-pleaser, full of witty word-play, extravagant characters and scandalous goings-on. It is a play that is still completely relevant, fitting in well with our world of celebrity gossip and instant scandal gratification via social media.
We have tried to bring in these contemporary references to our production, enhanced by the wonderful costume designs by the students from Nottingham Trent University.
Whilst I certainly didn’t want our production to be a museum piece from 1865, I hope that the spirits from all those involved in that original Theatre Royal production are looking on approvingly.

Type

Flyer

Location of item

Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

Rights

Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

Contributor

Researcher: David Longford