Culture

The Cultural Activities.

Here are some photos relating to the more cultural activities at Hardye's.

My apologies to those whose names I have either got wrong or have forgotten. If you can put me right on any of these,
please e-mail me.

1 - "The Merchant of Venice" 1946, produced by Miss EM Hill. Left to right:
Back row: Jackie Harris, John Rawlins, Brian Hawker, John Dutot, Alan Stockley;
Front row: Brian Larcombe, David Nicholson, Ian McKissack.
Photo courtesy of John Rawlins.

2 - "The Merchant of Venice" 1946.
Photo courtesy of John Rawlins.

3 - "Macbeth" 1947, produced by Miss EM Hill. Left to right:
Back row: H Wells-Furby, I McKissack, A Stockley, J Dutot, J Rawlins, M Stabler;
Middle row: G Shardlow, B Pressly, Thomas, B Larcombe, J Newman, A Croad, D Wakely, Riggs, W Hunt;
Front row: Tauton, P Forsey, J Mathews.
Photo courtesy of John Rawlins.

4 - Dorchester Grammar School Play 1949 - "Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure".
Mainwaring, Spark, Burden, Revans, ?, Pouncy, Hardwicke?, Parsons, Fooks, White, Nicols?, Neale?.
Photo courtesy of Terry Parsons.

5 - The programme for Dorchester Grammar School Play 1950 - "R. U. R." (“Rossums Universal Robots”).
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

6 - Inside the programme for "R. U. R.".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

7 - The programme for Dorchester Grammar School Play 1951 - "The Zeal of Thy House".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

8 - Inside the programme for "The Zeal of Thy House", with autographs.
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

9 - "The Zeal of Thy House":
Standing - Singleton, Flynn, Hutchings, Shutler, Dutot, Parsons, Tilney-Bassett, Turner, Culver;
Seated - Hurn, ?, ?, ?, Green, Millett (central), Wells-Furby, ?, ?, ?,?. (too indistinct in profile).
The character at the lower right of the proscenium, in a college scarf, disappearing into the jaws of hell, is David MacOwan, the Producer.
Photo courtesy of Terry Parsons.

Left: 10 - A press photo and, right: 11 - the poster for "The Zeal of Thy House".
Photos courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

12 - "The Zeal of thy House" - Backstage Team:
CH Steemson (Director), Revans, Foster, Pressly, Ken Batty, Taylor, David MacOwan (Producer);
Foreground - Hancock, Hales.

Photo courtesy of Terry Parsons. "That seems to be the only photo I have of the great Steamboat. I wish I had a guinea for every clip, bop or smack he gave me - all well-merited" - Terry Parsons, DGS 1943-51.

13 - Newspaper critique for "The Zeal of Thy House".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

14 - Another newspaper article concerning "The Zeal of Thy House".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

15 - A programme of The Friday Club production of “The Lady’s not for Burning”, June 1951.
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

16 - Inside the programme of The Friday Club production of “The Lady’s not for Burning”.
One may well think The Friday Club has little to do with DGS, but take a look at the cast, the back of house and the front of house names.
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

17 - The programme for Dorchester Grammar School Play 1952 - "The Moon in the Yellow River".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

18 - Inside the programme for "The Moon in the Yellow River", with autographs.
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

Left: 19 - The flyer for "The Moon in the Yellow River"; Right: 20 - The Stage Manager’s prompt for Act III.
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

21 - A newspaper critique for "The Moon in the Yellow River".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

22 - Another newspaper critique for "The Moon in the Yellow River".
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

23 - Another newspaper critique - this one for the Festival of Drama (date unknown).
Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goss.

Below: The 1954 Dramatic Society of Hamlet, produced by Mr MacOwen. Photos courtesy of Chris Etherington.

24 - The Play Scene: Left to right: LHW Frost, NJ Adams, IO Pinkham (sitting), JH Dutot (reclining), MA Lisemore, ITA Hawkins, (curtain,) GW Moffatt, BHJ Barnett, CEC Bartlett (seated), D Nickell (kneeling), GG Hickmore, CWG Bullocke (seated), C Hood, TCC Millett, C Etherington (seated), M Holywell, DP Evans (seated), DL Downton, MW Betts.

25 - The Graveyard: Left to right: DC Merchant, LW Allen, D Nickell, LHW Frost.

26 - Hamlet himself: D Nickell (wearing the costume made for Sir John Guilgud.

27 - The Programme, autographed by the Producer and cast.

28 - This photo shows the Choral Society in 1955.
Back (5th) row: CS Fry, TW Morgan, PB Watkins, P Millward, PR Thomas, ?, C Gould, ?, MA Lisemore, HMH Pain, D Bacon, ?, CJ Bartlett;
4th row: A McCulloch, GF Allen, RH Pretty, DJ Ratcliffe, MJ Northover, TR Worthington, EW Davies-Brown, S Brewis, GJO Lee, J Townsend;
3rd row: EGB Moore, WI Birrell, JH Perry, AR Rench, GP Vincent, PJ Cunningham, DA Beaton, T Coe, P Fry, K Diment, A Miles;
2nd row: DR Perry, D Patterson, DM Harrison, JR Martin, DMJ Turner, FR Southerington (Pianist), P Bowen (Conductor), TJ Reiss, CJ Sharpe, JJ Pearson, M Barker, M Thomas;
Seated: WPJ Maunder, CW Legg, JE Crewe, NV Boultwood.
Photo courtesy of Tom Worthington.

29 - This photo again shows the Choral Society in 1955. If you position your cursor over the face of an individual, his name (where known) will pop up for a few seconds on the screen. If you can fill in any of the missing names, please e-mail me.
Photo courtesy of Jack Crewe.

Now a series of photos of the 1956 production of "Journey's End" by RC Sherriff, produced by Chris Etherington, who kindly submitted these photos.
The names under the photos of actors are their role names.

30 - The Programme, with autographs.

Left: 31 - Osborne & Hardy ("Ever had earwig races?");
right: 32 - Raleigh, Trotter, Stanhope ("How did you get here?") & Osborne.

Left: 33 - Mason ("If you look down at it straight from above, you can see a little bit o' lean quite clear"), Trotter, Osborne & Raleigh;
right: 34 - Stanhope ("Give me that letter"), Raleigh & Osborne.

Left: 35 - Stanhope ("I give you 15 seconds to decide") & Hibbert;
right: 36 - Colonel ("You want me to go with them?") & Stanhope.

Left: 37 - Stanhope ("Good Lord, we brought six"), Mason, Trotter & Hibbert;
right: 38 - Stanhope, Trotter ("If you ask me, I'd rather see a picture of Margate pier!") & Hibbert ("She's nice").

Left: 39 - The Backstage Boys: Lisemore, Kemp, Tomes, Graham, Batts & Donnelly;
right: 40 - Producer ("Down there..."), Raleigh ("Ah, belt up!"), Stanhope & background Broughton.

41 - The Cast, including the Producer (centre).

Below appears a reproduction of the programme (courtesy of Jack Crewe) of a concert given by the Choral Society in March 1956:

HARDYE’S SCHOOL CHORAL SOCIETY

EVENING CONCERT IN THE CORN EXCHANGE, DORCHESTER

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7TH 1956

SOLOISTS:-

R J A EDWARDS…………………Soprano.
R F J WRIGHT…………………….Tenor
C ETHERINGTON……………… Bass
F R SOUTHERINGTON…………..Piano

PAUL BOWEN…………....…………Conductor

PRESIDENT……………………………….A.G.de. Willis.Esq

TREASURER………………………………M A Lismore

HON SECRETARY………………………..F.R. Southerington

COMMITTEE:

C ETHERINGTON
R F J WRIGHT
D J RATCLIFFE
T J REISS
D TURNER

Ex Officio:- P BOWEN
P MILLWARD
R P SMITH

Programme introduced by John Dillon.

The members of the Society would like to take this opportunity of thanking publically all those who so kindly gave their services in the orchestra in July last year, the Headmaster for his generous help and advice, and Mr. R W Hill for all his help in laying the foundations of the present society.

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY

Sopranos: PF Allgood, MW Barker, NV Boultwood, JE Crewe, RJ Edwards, R Davies, DM Harrison, DC Hide, GJ Lee, WP Maunder, JJ Pearson, DR Perry, AH Patterson, J Porter, TJ Reiss, PM Robins, CJ Sharpe, CR Squibb, RD Steele, J Martin, G Moffatt, EW Taylor, D Turner, RJ Watkins, SB Winchester

Altos: GF Allen, E Davies-Brown, A McCulloch, MJ Northover, RI Partridge, JH Perry, DJ Ratcliffe, AR Rench, CW Legg, TR Worthington

Tenors: T Boucher, MW Coles, DP Evans, CS Fry, EG Moore, TW Morgan, AR Pitcher, PM Thomas, RP Smith, PB Watkins, RF Wright

Basses: AG de L Willis Esq., WI Birrell, MJ Brown, C Etherington, MW Garner, GA Hutchings, CL Kingman, MA Lismore, P Millward, HM Pain, BJ Rees, JB Reiss, PR Tomes, DA Woodward, PJ Zealley

Accompanist: FR Southerington

Assistant Conductors: P Millward, RP Smith

[TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:

Surprisingly there were two different programmes printed at the time of the concert. Though both had the same musical content, the notes and other information were different. I have tried to combine these to provide the maximum information and interest.
Jack Crewe, 8th May 2007]

PROGRAMME

1. THE HEAVENS ARE TELLING ..... “The Creation” ..... Handel

The Heavens are telling the Glory of God.
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
Today that is coming speaks it the day.
The night that is gone to following night.
In all the lands resounds the word;
never unperceived, ever understood.

This chorus which ends the first part of the oratorio is sung by the Choir of Angels in praise of God’s work. The three Archangels sing their praises in somewhat quieter tones, but the exuberance of the chorus cannot be contained, and the chorus ends triumphantly.

---------------

2. HAIL BRIGHT ABODE ..... “Tannhauser” ..... Wagner

Hail Bright Abode, where song the heart rejoices!
May lays of peace within thee never fail.
Long may we cry with glad and loyal voices:
Prince of Thuringia, Landgrave, Hermann, Hail!

In the second act of “Tannhauser” Hermann, Prince of Thuringia holds a banquet in his palace. There is a long introduction as the guests assemble, and the whole chorus joins in praise for the host, whilst the music gathers momentum to the end with a triumphal top B for the sopranos.

---------------

3. THISTLEDOWN ..... Atkinson

This short piece, the first movement of a Suite of Summer Sketches for Piano, illustrates the lightness and good humour characteristic of the composer.

---------------

4. HOW BEAUTIFUL are the FEET ..... “Messiah” ..... Handel

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things.

---------------

5. THE NEW COMMONWEALTH ..... Vaughan Williams

Vaughan Williams was commissioned to write the incidental music to a film called “The 49th Parallel”. The Prelude to this music inspired the words in Harold Child:-

“See where the beacon fires of faith fling glory to guide us.
There lies Man’s upward way o’er death, o’er hate and fear.”

The composer adapted the theme from his Prelude to fit these words, and a new work for unison was born.

---------------

6. TEMPO DI BALLO ..... D Scarlatti

7. THE SKYE BOAT SONG ..... Traditional

8. JERUSALEM ..... Parry

9. SONATA in C SHARP Minor (Moonlight) ..... 1st Movement ..... Beethoven

10. POLOVTSIAN DANCES ..... Prince Igor ..... Borodin

Born on wings of gentle breezes, fly swiftly home ye songs of grief and exile.
Away to our far distant mother-country where once we sang rejoicing in our freedom.
And purple grapes hang ripe and sweet. Speed O song by zephyrs wafted.

Sing we praises to our glorious Khan. Praise him for his valour.
He is like the sun at midday. Praise his valour, praise his conquests Hail!
Bend before him lowly maidens. Praise our glorious Khan!

Famous art thou as thy forebears proud Khan Konchak!
Mighty as thy sires are thou ruthless Khan Konchak.
May our dancing give him pleasure.
Look with favour on our handmaids. For we dance to please thee.
Maidens, dance to please our Master, Hail, Khan Konchak!

---------------

I N T E R V A L

(approx. 15 mins.)

11. LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY ..... Elgar

Elgar’s famous coronation ode has received for itself the status of England’s second National Anthem. There are two verses, both sung by Tenors and Basses. Each verse is followed by two statements of the chorus; the first in unison and the second in harmony.

---------------

12. CONCERTO IN A MINOR ..... Cadenza ..... Grieg

This Cadenza comes at the end of the 1st Movement and includes all the facets of the work.

---------------

13. THE THREE BUMBLE BEES ..... Truhn

A lively little nonsense poem about three bumble bees, who play in the garden all day, setting the leaves and flowers laughing at their buzzing.

---------------

14. FUNICULI FUNICULA ..... Denza

15. WALTZING MATILDA ..... Cowan

16. THE DANCE OF THE SWANS ..... Swan Lake ..... Tchaikovsky

17. I VOW TO THEE MY COUNTRY ..... Gustav Holst

18. WORTHY IS THE LAMB ..... Messiah ..... Handel

Worthy is the lamb that was slain and hath redeemed us to God by his blood,
to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing.

Blessing and honour, glory and power be unto Him, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.

---------------

42 - "Macbeth" 1957. Left to right:
RB Duckett, FA Barber, MJ Northover (standing), A McCulloch, JA Eades, JE Le Quesne, AJ Nickell, DJ Ratcliffe, WI Birrell.
Photo courtesy of Jack Crewe.

43 - This one and the next are shown by courtesy of Ian Taylor. Around 1957, Bertie Cruse decided to put on a short play in your actual French at the Corn Exchange as a contribution to the Town Twinning Week with Bayeux (as in tapestry) festivities. I'm not sure if our French visitors understood any of our questionable French accents, but we all had a lot of fun. Bertie even gave each of us a small swig of wine (or so he claimed - I suspect Ribena) afterwards. This photo shows Ian Taylor as L'Agent and Archie McCulloch as Le Professeur, with Tim Reiss as Le Garçon in the background.

44 - Next, the entire cast (left to right, standing): Ian Taylor (L'Agent), Archie McCulloch (Le Professeur), Geoff Standring (Le Patron), Dave Borries (Madame ?), John Perry, Philip Short, Joe Hunt. (Kneeling): Tim Reiss (Le Garçon), Graham Allen (general villain - typecast?), Andy Beaton.

Two photos courtesy of Geoff Standring. Here we see the cast of the famous French Play:
45 - Left, in action, Philip Short, Graham Allen, Archie McCulloch, John Perry, ?, Dave Borries(?).
46 - Right, some of the cast: Back row: Graham Allen, Geoff Standring, Philip Short, John Hunt.
Middle row: Archie McCulloch, two charming young ladies who had nothing to do with the play (unfortunately!), Tim Reiss. Front Row: Ian Taylor, Dave Borries.

The general plot of the play was that the absent-minded professor would sit in the bistro, order a bottle of wine, and then sit engrossed in his papers. The villain would crouch on the other side of a hedge very close to the prof's table, reach through the hedge and take the prof's wineglass and drain it without the prof realising it. Eventually, after another bottle or so, of which the prof consumed very little, the prof left the bistro and forgot to pay. At this point, the villain breaks cover and is caught by the bistro owner, who demands that the villain pays the prof's bill. In the final line of the play, which I still remember after nearly 50 years, the villain exclaims "Joué! La barbe!"

47 - Another of Geoff Standring's. Barry Ventham informs me: "This shows members of Holy Trinity Youth Club when taking part in a military tableau for the Mayor of Dorchester's Old Folks' party in the Corn Exchange, probably in 1959. The Mayor at the time was Arthur Savage. We marched on stage individually, representing different eras of the Dorset Regiment, accompanied by appropriate snatches of music from the Durnovaria Silver Band, and The Casterbridge Singers. On the far left is a chap by the name of Lofthouse; the others, in order, are: Stuart Hayfield, Michael Crockford, Alan Kenway, Mr Hayfield (Youth Leader), Roger Townsend, Barry Ventham, Tony Worcester, Geoff Standring and Roger Pinkham. The uniforms were borrowed from the Military Museum."

48 - Here's one I "stole" from Stewart Easton's gallery on the Hardyeans' Club website. (Sorry, Stewart! Hope you don't mind.) This shows the Hardye's School Choir rehearsing in the school library, under the leadership of Mr Rex Tompsett, with John Porter on the piano. My guess is that this is 1961. One or two faces I can recognise but not name, the exception being Mr Dai John towards the back on the left. In the left foreground, holding his music sheets, is Geoff Pallett in naval uniform. Stephen Venner (back left) is now a bishop.

49 - The programme for Hardye's School Play 1970 - "The Tempest". This also conveniently lists all (then) recent productions.
Photo courtesy of Peter Grundy.

50 - Inside the programme for "The Tempest".
Photo courtesy of Peter Grundy.

51 - The programme for Hardye's School Play 1971 - "The Caucasian Chalk Circle". This was the first school play with girls in the cast.
Photo courtesy of Peter Grundy.

52 - Inside the programme for "The Caucasian Chalk Circle".
Photo courtesy of Peter Grundy.

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