[Alnoor]

Hello
Thought I would start a new topic.

As plays are also performed at school I have added the professional production bit in the topic.

You can also provide the venue and playwright if you want to.

I'll start

Saw 'No more sitting on the old school bench' at Leeds Playhouse in 1978

Alnoor

[Millie Dillmount]

it was the diary of anne frank at the grand opera house york. it was about 1990, and i only remember that stephanie turner (bbc's juliet bravo) played mrs frank

[MrsDoyle]

Funnily enough I was thinking of a similar thread only yesterday.

I can remember going to a theatre one Saturday afternoon by train with my primary school. It was somewhere like Teddington or Twickenham and it was to see The Wind in the Willows. As I recall it was quite a famous version that did the rounds every year. I must go google.

Edit: Not having much luck tracking it down, it may have been Toad of Toad Hall. It would have been about 63/64 and all I can remember there was a really old guy playing one of the characters. My mother told me he'd been quite famous over the years. I have a feeling his name might have been Richard but I can't say for sure.

The first play I saw in London was a school trip to see The Canterbury Tales later in the 60's. It might have been a musical.

[Matthew Winn]

The first play I've made a note of was Noises Off at The Savoy, 18th August 1986. I had been to the theatre before then but prior to that point I hadn't made a habit of it so I didn't keep records. That was certainly the first time I saw a play in a West End theatre.

[David]

I believe it was Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome in 1996, with Rolf Harris. But more significant to me is that ten years later I realised that someone I now know very well was in the ensemble!

[Lynette]

The first production that really made an impact on me was Richard 111 at Stratford in '64. Yes, folks I woz there with Ian Holm as RIII himself. I was taken to loads of stuff before that in Brum [ you too David I see] pantos with Lennie the Lion and drawing room dramas at the Alex. Then I took myself to the old B'ham Rep which was, as you all prob know, a brilliant venue and training ground for actors.

[MrsDoyle]

The first production that really made an impact on me was Richard 111 at Stratford in '64. Yes, folks I woz there with Ian Holm as RIII himself. I was taken to loads of stuff before that in Brum [ you too David I see] pantos with Lennie the Lion and drawing room dramas at the Alex. Then I took myself to the old B'ham Rep which was, as you all prob know, a brilliant venue and training ground for actors.

Lennie the Lion!! Now you're talking!!
(Looking back, do think that Lennie was a teeny bit gay??)

[JWC]

all I can remember there was a really old guy playing one of the characters. My mother told me he'd been quite famous over the years. I have a feeling his name might have been Richard but I can't say for sure.

I'm pretty sure that you're thinking of Richard Goolden who indeed made a career out of playing Mole. The only other things I know he was in were the original London production of Endgame (one of the parents in the dustbins) and the radio version of Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy where he played Zaphod Beeblebrox's grandfather

My first encounter was almost certainly panto and if you don't count that probably The Mousetrap. First one that really meant anything as an individual decision was Absurd Person Singular - the original London production in the early 70s. (Richard Briers, Sheila Hancock directed by Eric Thompson - Emma and Sophie's dad and the voice of The Magic Roundabout).

As for Lenny the Lion's sexual orientation I was going to make a crude remark about where the guy (Terry Hall??) had his hand but I won't!

[Welthorpe]

I think first visit to a theatre was to see Basil Brush at Fairfield Halls in Croydon.

First professional play was almost certainly a school trip to the Mermaid but cannot remember what it was. First I can remember was a production of Harvey. Three curtain calls - one with cast, second with rabbit and third with space for rabbit. I can still remember believing my Dad that he hadn't seen the rabbit and thinking I must be the only one who saw it.

[brian]

I think first visit to a theatre was to see Basil Brush at Fairfield Halls in Croydon.

First professional play was almost certainly a school trip to the Mermaid but cannot remember what it was. First I can remember was a production of Harvey. Three curtain calls - one with cast, second with rabbit and third with space for rabbit. I can still remember believing my Dad that he hadn't seen the rabbit and thinking I must be the only one who saw it.

I remember going on a fairly regular outing to the MANSFIELD PALACE when they had repertory. We would queue to get the best seats on the front row of the balcony! This Happy Breed, The Seventh Veil stand out. Also remember going to the NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL to see No Room at the Inn and Gaslight. Can I also include seeing Julie Andrews as Red Riding Hood. I fell in love with her then.