40 Years On: November 2014
By Alan Bennett
Newspaper review
Sheringham Players' directors Bernice Escott and Moya Leighton met playwright Alan Bennett at a book signing in Holt, and their inspiring exchange led to this show.
Bennett penned the script in the late 1960s and it includes some very funny parodies of great British writers, notably Oscar Wilde, T.E. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and Max Beerbohm.
Each little sketch builds into a larger play following the memories and literary loves of a retiring headmaster.
John Standish as the venerable pedagogue is truly brilliant, not least because he manages to keep track of his speeches and the rest of the action on stage as well.
Escott and Leighton's directing brings an effortless flow to the action which feels just right.
The seventeen-strong cast really work their socks off and clearly love the material.
This rare outing of Bennett's early play was a treat.
Eve Stebbing
Scroll down for photos, cast and crew.
| Cast | Backstage |
| Headmaster: John Standish | Director: Bernice Escott |
| Franklin: Tim Travers | Assistant Director: Moya Leighton |
| Tempest: Guy Bartle | Stage Manager: Matthew Warrington |
| Matron: Laura Williamson | Assistant Stage Manager: Bernie Alexandrou |
| Miss Nisbitt: Thelma Torr | Prompt: Hazel Randall |
| Mr. Romulus: John Meikle | Set and Design: Kees Van Woerkom, David Moore |
| Music Teacher: Sarah Mapes | Costumes: Sheringham Community Wardrobe |
| Caretaker: Matthew Warrington | Lighting: Matt Coomber |
| Foster: Chris Balding | Photographs: Ben Britton |
| Charteris: Sam Cobbold | Promotional Material: James Travers |
| Wigglesworth: Tyler Jones | Runner: Rosie Gilding |
| Wimpenney: Shai Ashkenazi | |
| Rumbold: Chloe Annison | |
| Lord: Michael O'Driscoll | |
| Leadbetter: Harry Gilding-Hewitt | |
| Tredgold: Tieran Cain | |
| Crabtree: Mat Coomber |
