HAMLET
PRINCE OF DENMARK
in celebration of quater-centenary of the birth
of William Shakespeare
Thursday 19th March, Friday 20th March, Saturday 21st March 1964
Hamlet is possibly the greatest and certainly the best-known play in the English language; yet obscurity surrounds its writing, its first performance, its text and its interpretation. It was written some time between 1598 and 1602, and first performed in 1601 or perhaps 1602. There are enormous variations between the first three printed versions of the text: and yet these variations are minor compared with the range of interpretations which have been put upon the play as a whole. It has been called “the mightiest play in the language” and “an artistic failure”; and its central character has been seen as everything from a somewhat indecisive paragon of humanity to a half-crazed egotist, ripe for the psychiatrist’s couch. Such extremes are not for the amateur. It is sufficient to say that of contradictory indications in the text we have picked out that which makes Hamlet an undergraduate: for the rest, let the production speak for itself. The action takes place in and around the royal castle of Elsinore.
CAST
in order of speaking
Francisco, a soldier W. J. BATTY
Barnardo, a solider B. H. C. ASHBEE
Horatio, a student, and friend of Hamlet F. CONLEY
Marcellus, a soldier D. W. FLEMING
Claudius, King of Denmark. P. R. COX
Voltemand, a courtier D. B. YANDELL
Laertes, son of Polonius J. WOOLFORD
Polonius, a courtier P. A. LYONS
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark E. J. DANE
Gertrude, Queen of Denmark RUTH MOUSDALE
Understudy. JACQUELINE HARTLEY
Ophelia, daughter to Polonius RUTH EDWARDS
Understudy. CHERYL WRIGHT
Ghost of Hamlet’s father. J. NEWMAN
Reynaldo, servant to Polonius J. W. EVANS
Rosencrantz, a friend of Hamlet. J. P. LUSK
Guildenstern, a friend of Hamlet. C. SANDERS
First Player. S. PINNOCK
Player King. D. E. HOPPER
Player Queen. G. H. EDWARDS or A. W. RICHARDSON
Fortinbras, Prince of Norway M. J. STYLES.
Captain in Fortinbras’ army K. A. D. AKEHURST
Osric, a courtier. J. BISHOP
A Sailor. E. G. J. ELPHICK
First Gravedigger D. J. BELFIELD
Second Gravedigger J. G. LANGFORD or J. A. REDMAN
Priest. N. C. SNELL
Other parts are played by PAULINE CHAPMAN, G. H. EDWARDS, E. G. J. ELPHICK, J. W. EVANS, JACQUELINE HARTLEY, D. E. HOPPER, P. N. LONG, A. W. RICHARDSON, P. J. SMITH, R. WOODLAND, CHERYL WRIGHT
Our thanks are due to the Headmaster of Astor Secondary School for allowing five of the girls of his School to take part in this production. 
Above showing from left to right:-
John Newman, David Fleming, John Dane, Frank Conley.
Kindly supplied by John Newman 30 Aug 2010.
Above showing from left to right:-
John Dane, Ruth Mousedale (who was then a pupil at Astor school), John Newman.
Kindly supplied by John Newman 30 Aug 2010.
All photos produced by Ray Warner.