Godolphin plays
As I’ve mentioned before, drama performances have been a
huge part of Godolphin School right through its history, and remain so today. As
I organised the items to do with plays - programmes, manuscripts, tickets,
posters, costume designs, producers notes etc - I came across a lot of material surrounding the two plays written especially for the 200th and 250th
anniversary of the school.
 |
| 1926 Bicentenary Play |
 |
| 1976 Anniversary play |
One
of the plays was simply known as The Bicentenary Play by Molly Harrower (an Old
Godolphin). And the other written by Richard Shepherd and Jennifer Curry was
called ‘Where There’s A Will’ – a rather clever pun playing on the fact that it was
Elizabeth Godolphin’s will that allowed for the founding of the school. And
also of course it’s a title that
highlights the school’s historical emphasis on striving to do one’s best and
reach for one’s goals –something that has resulted in so many girls going on to
be very successful.
 |
| The programme for the 1926 production |
 | |
| The 1956 revival of the Bicentenary play |
The Bicentenary Play had a revival in the 1940s and in 1956
too. Each time the programme was of course remade. The play follows the seeds of
the institution sowed by the Godolphin family ending with actual events from the
early years of the life of the established school.
In
1926 Miss Evelyn-Smith was a teacher at Godolphin School. The archive holds
lots of items that belonged to Miss E-S. One of the most fascinating I think,
is this ‘Play book'.
Miss E-S was
responsible for all costumes for the Bicentenary Play – as the programme will
tell you! Inside this book she kept all sorts of notes about who needed what,
where it was coming from and even more importantly where it needed to be
returned! 
Citizen
House that Miss E-S mentions a lot here was a costume hire shop and an advert
for their services still survives in the archive collection.
This piece of paper is a cast list, found inside Miss E-S’ ‘play
book’. She has annotated it with places that will provide the relevant
costumes.
Where There’s A Will...
The original manuscript for this play (and the music to go
with it) is contained in the Godolphin collection. This is of particular
interest because all of Richard Shepherd’ original annotations to the script
can be seen.
All
the songs have been recorded onto a tape which is also held in the archives...
I haven’t yet got around to playing it. Finding a tape player is easier said
than done!
This
play, unlike the older one, focuses more on events at Godolphin School rather than how it came
to be founded. Perhaps the reason it was felt a new play should be created was
because there were many events since 1926 that shaped Godolphin. Including the
WWII, which moulded many girls’ lives at Godolphin.
Elizabeth Godolphin still plays an important role in this
play, as with the earlier one. Whereas the 1926 play closed after the very early
events of the school, the 1976 play features other legends of Godolphin history
such as headmistress Mary Alice Douglas (known as the second founder of the
school).
 |
The success of Where There’s A Will was celebrated in the
local press...
|
There is such a range of material in the archive surrounding these plays. It
gives us a great idea of the hustle and bustle of organisation and excitement
that surrounded these productions. I wonder if Godolphin will ever revive the
1976 anniversary play?!
