THE PRODUCTIONS - The Ronald Govey Years

RONALD GOVEY

1959 SEASON

THE PRODUCTIONS

10 – 16 June – DEAR DELINQUENT by Jack Popplewell

17 – 23 June – DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE by Ted Willis

24 – 30 June – THE WHOLE TRUTH by Philip Mackie

1 – 7 July – THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE by William Douglas Home

8 – 14 July – SAILOR BEWARE by Philip King & Falkland Cary

15 – 21 July – GIGI by Colette & Anita Loos

22 – 28 July – LOOK BACK IN ANGER by John Osborne

29 July – 4 August – JOB FOR THE BOY by Dennis Driscoll

5 – 11 August – THE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS NAME by Edgar Wallace

12 – 18 August – DRY ROT by John Chapman

19 – 25 August – SUBWAY IN THE SKY by Ian Main

26 August – 1 September  – THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE by William Douglas Home

2 – 8 September – IT WON’T BE A STYLISH MARRIAGE by A P Dearsley

10 – 15 September – THE WHITE SHEEP OF THE FAMILY by L du Garde Peach & Ian Hay

16 – 18 September – DUET FOR TWO HANDS by Mary Hayley Bell

1960 SEASON

THE PRODUCTIONS

(incomplete list)

13 – 19 August – HAPPY THE BRIDE by Peter Blackmore

20 – 26 August – THE OFFENDER by R F Delderfield

27 August – 2 September – FOOLS RUSH IN by Kenneth Horne

8 – 14 September – MURDER MISTAKEN by Janet Green

15 – 16 September – THE HAPPY MAN by Hugh & Margaret Williams

1963 SEASON

THE COMPANY

Rosemary Macvie, Terry Day, Bill Warriner, Rosalyn De Winter, Michael Haynes, Diana Ellis, Roger Foss, Joanna Smithers, Arthur Dicks, William Ridout, Eileen O’Connor, Ronald Govey, Arnold Endicott, Virginia Lester, Ken MacDonald, Liz Piper, Frank Dunne, Jennifer Clare

 

THE PRODUCTIONS

31 May – 5 June – HOUSE ON THE CLIFF by George Batson

6 – 12 June – DON’T TELL FATHER  by Harold Brooke & Kay Bannerman

13 – 19 June – SEMI-DETACHED by David Turner

20- 26 June – TOWARDS ZERO by Agatha Christie

27 June – 2 July – PHOTO FINISH by Peter Ustinov

5 – 10 July – HOUSE ON THE CLIFF by George Batson

11-17 July – MISS PELL IS MISSING by Leonard Gershe

18 – 24 July – HAND UNKNOWN by C Neilson Gattey & Z Bramley-Moore

25 – 31 July – ROCKABYE, SAILOR! by Philip King & Falkland L Cary

1 – 7 August – MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Agatha Christie

8 – 14 August – THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T QUITE by Leo Marks

15 – 21 August –  SIGNPOST TO MURDER by Monte Doyle

29 August – 4 September – BOOK OF THE MONTH by Basil Thomas

5 – 11 September – THE KEY TO THE DOOR by Philip Mackie

12 – 17 September – THE SHADOW OF DOUBT by Norman King

20 – 25 September – ALL FOR MARY by Harold Brooke & Kay Bannerman

26 – 28 September – SIGNPOST TO MURDER by Monte Doyle

 

1964 SEASON

14 – 21 May – YES AND NO by Kenneth Horne

22 May – 28 May – MURDER WHEN NECESSARY by Philip Levene

29 May – 3 June – MACBETH by William Shakespeare

4 – 10 June – THE BRIDE AND THE BACHELOR by Ronald Millar

11 – 17 June – THE SHOT IN QUESTION by Michael Gilbert

18 – 24 June – THE BREADWINNER by W Somerset Maugham

25 June – 1 July – SOMEONE WAITING by Emlyn Williams

2 – 8 July – THE PRIVATE EAR & THE PUBLIC EYE by Peter Shaffer

9 – 15 July – THE SHOT IN QUESTION by Michael Gilbert

16 – 22 July – THE BOYFRIEND by Sandy Wilson

23 – 29 July – MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Agatha Christie

30 July – 5 August – THE BOYFRIEND by Sandy Wilson

6 – 12 August – THE PROOF OF THE POISON by Falkland L Cary & Philip Weathers

13 – 19 August – FOOLS RUSH IN by Kenneth Horne

3 – 9 September – TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN by Robert Thomas

10 – 16 September – SILVER WEDDING by Michael Clayton Hutton

18 – 22 September – INTENT TO MURDER by Leslie Sands

1965 SEASON

27 May – 2 June – THIS HAPPY MAN by Hugh & Margaret Williams

3 – 9 June – THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams

10 – 16 June – ONCE ABOARD THE LUGGER by R F Delderfield

17 – 23 June – PORTRAIT OF MURDER by Robert Bloomfield

25 – 31 June – THE RELUCTANT PEER by William Douglas Home

1 – 7 July – SOMETHING TO HIDE by Leslie Sands

8 – 14 July – MARY, MARY by Jean Kerr

15 – 21 July – THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE by Hugh Mills

22 – 28 July – A MAN IN A MILLION by C Nelson Gattey & Z Bramley-Moore

29 July – 4 August – A CALL ON THE WIDOW by James Doran

5 – 11 August – THE RELUCTANT PEER by William Douglas Home

12 – 18 August – THE BIG KILLING by Philip Mackie

19 – 25 August – DIPLOMATIC BAGGAGE by John Chapman

26 August – 1 September  – THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE by Hugh Mills

2 – 8 September – THIS THING CALLED LOVE by Michael Brett

9 – 15 September – A DOLL’S HOUSE by Henrik Ibsen

16 – 21 September – OUT OF THE CROCODILE by Giles Cooper

1966 SEASON

26 May – 1 June – THIS HAPPY HOME by Michael Brett

2 – 8 June – VERDICT by Agatha Christie

9 – 15 June – PENNIES FROM HEAVEN by Naomi Waters

16 – 22 June – BUSYBODY by Jack Popplewell

23 – 29 June – CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK by Paul Raebrook

30 June – 6 July – THE SHADOW WITNESS by Falkland L Cary & Philip Weathers

7 – 13 July – WHAT A RACKET by Dennis Spencer

14 – 20 July – BUSYBODY by Jack Popplewell

21 – 27 July – VERDICT by Agatha Christie

28 July – 3 August – THE CONSTANT WIFE by W Somerset Maugham

4 – 10 August – THE HOLLOW by Agatha Christie

11 – 17 August – BUSYBODY by Jack Popplewell

18 – 24 August – DR ANGELUS by James Bridie

25 – 31 August – BED & BEDLAM! by John Inman & Kenneth Hendel

1 – 7 September – WOMAN IN A DRESSING GOWN by Ted Willis

8 – 14 September – MAKE ME A WIDOW by David Ellis

15 – 20 September – ODD MAN IN by Claude Magnier

1967 SEASON

THE PRODUCTIONS

8 – 14 June – BOEING-BOEING by Marc Camoletti

15 – 21 June – MURDER FOR THE ASKING by Derek Benfield

22 – 28 June – HAY FEVER by Noel Coward

29 June – 5 July – THE UNEXPECTED GUEST by Agatha Christie

6 – 12 July – GOODNIGHT, MRS PUFFIN by Arthur Lovegrove

13 – 19 July – LOVE FROM A STRANGER by Agatha Christie

20 – 26 July – BOEING – BOEING by Marc Camoletti

27 July – 2 August – PERSON UNKNOWN by David Butler

3 – 9 August – SEE HOW THEY RUN by Philip King

10 – 16 August – MURDER AT QUAY COTTAGE by Simon Amberley

17 – 23 August – AND SUDDENLY IT’S SPRING by Jack Popplewell

24 – 30 August – SEE HOW THEY RUN by Philip King

31 August – 6 September – THE UNEXPECTED GUEST by Agatha Christie

7 – 13 September – THE GRASS IS GREENER by Hugh & Margaret Williams

14 – 19 September – THE CREEPER by Pauline Macaulay

22 – 27 September – BOEING – BOEING by Marc Camoletti

28 September – 4 October –  SMALL HOTEL by Rex Frost

5 – 7 October – TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN by Robert Thomas

1969 SEASON

THE PRODUCTIONS

5 – 11 June – SAY WHO YOU ARE by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall

12 – 18 June – INTENT TO MURDER by Leslie Sands

19 – 25 June – SPRING AND PORT WINE by Bill Naughton

26 June – 2 July – THE HEIRESS by Henry James

3 – 9 July – BIRTHDAY HONOURS by Paul Jones

10 – 16 July – THE HOLLOW by Agatha Christie

17 – 23 July – ROAR LIKE A DOVE by Lesley Storm

24 – 30 July – SPIDER’S WEB by Agatha Christie

31 July – 6 August – THE LOVE MATCH by Glen Melvyn

7 – 13 August – PROOF OF THE POISON by Falkland L Cary & Philip Weathers

14 – 20 August – SPRING AND PORT WINE by Bill Naughton

21 – 27 August – COUNTERCRIME by Olive Chase & Stanley Clayton

28 August – 3 September – BREATH OF SPRING by Peter Coke

4 – 10 September – A MURDER HAS BEEN ARRANGED by Emlyn Williams

11 – 17 September – RELATIVE VALUES by Noel Coward

18 – 24 September – THE WHOLE TRUTH by Philip Mackie

25 September – 1 October – TO DOROTHY A SON by Roger MacDougall

2 – 4 October – FOURSOME REEL by Peter Whitbread

1970 SEASON

28 May – 3 June – NIGHT WAS OUR FRIEND by Michael Pertwee
4 -10 June – PLAZA SUITE by Neil Simon
11-17 June – THE CIRCLE by W Somerset Maugham
18-24 June – DANGER INSIDE by Falkland Cary & Ivan Butler
25 June  – 1 July – THE BROWNING VERSION by Terence Rattigan & THE MAN OF DESINY by George Bernard Shaw
2-8 July – SILENCE ON THE ISLAND by Simon Amberley
9-15 July – COME BLOW YOUR HORN by Neil Simon
16-22 July – BLIND ALLEY by Jack Popplewell
23-29 July – MAKE IT A PARTY by Clyde Pollit
30 July – 5 August – TIME TO KILL by Diana Morgan
6-12 August – ONE FOR THE POT by Ray Cooney & Tony Hilton
13-19 August – THE GUILTY ONE by Wyatt Sainsbury
20-26 August – HOT & COLD IN ALL ROOMS by Max Reitman
27 August – 2 September – MURDER WHEN NECESSARY by Philip Levene
2-9 September – THE ORCHARD WALLS by R F Delderfield
10-16 September HOT & COLD IN ALL ROOMS by Max Reitman
17-23 September – AN AIR FOR MURDER by Philip King
24-30 September – BLITHE SPIRIT by Noel Coward
1-3 October – A MONTH OF SUNDAYS by Gerald Savory
 

1971 SEASON

(incomplete list)

27 May – 2 June – CASTLE IN THE AIR by Alan Melville

3 – 9 June – MIDNIGHT VISITOR  by Michael Curzon

10 – 16 June – CAESAR’S WIFE by W Somerset Maugham

17 – 23 June – VERDICT by Agatha Christie

24 – 30 June – THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE by William Douglas Home

1 – 7 July – GATHERING STORM by Gordon Glennon

8 – 14 July – PENNIES FROM HEAVEN by Naomi Waters

15 – 21 July – A MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE by Frances Brett Young

22 – 28 July – DEVONSHIRE CREAM by Eden Philpotts

29 July – 5 August – TIME TO KILL by Diana Morgan

6 – 12 August – ONE FOR THE POT by Ray Cooney & Tony Hilton

20-25 September – DEAD ON NINE by Jack Popplewell

25 September – 2 October – BOEING BOEING by Marc Camoletti

1972 SEASON

18 – 24 May – MURDER IN SUSPENSE by Stuart Ready

25 – 31 May – ON APPROVAL by Frederick Lonsdale

1 – 7 June – THE MAN OUTSIDE by Janet Allen

8 – 14 June – THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN by Emlyn Williams

15 – 21 – MURDER ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie

22 – 28 June – SABRINA FAIR by Samuel Taylor

29 June – 5 July – MURDER AT QUAY COTTAGE by Simon Amberley

6 – 12 July – POOLS PARADISE by Philip King

13 – 19 July – SWEENEY TODD by Austin Rosser

20 – 26 July – NOT NOW DARLING by Ray Cooney & John Chapman

27 July – 2 August – THE CAT & THE CANARY by John Willard

3 – 9 August – BOOK OF THE MONTH by Basil Thomas

10 – 16 August – A LADY MISLAID by Kenneth Horne

17 – 23 August – JANE STEPS OUT by Kenneth Horne

24 – 30 August – ALIBI by Agatha Christie

31 August – 6 September – BREAKOUT by Bill Owen

7 – 13 September – NOT NOW, DARLING by Ray Cooney & John Chapman

14 – 20 September – MURDER ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie

21 – 27 September – DIAL M FOR MURDER by Frederick Knott 

26 September – 4 October – DANGEROUS CORNER by J B Priestley

5 – 7 October – DON’T START WITHOUT ME by Joyce Rayburn

1974 SEASON

16 – 22 May – LLOYD GEORGE KNEW MY FATHER by William Douglas Home 

23 – 29 May – THE UNDERSIGNED by Joan Brampton

30 May – 5 June – TIME AND TIME AGAIN by Alan Ayckbourn

6 – 12 June – RETURN TO TYASSI by Benn W Levy

13 – 19 June – LOVE IN A MIST by Kenneth Horne

20 – 26 June – LLOYD GEORGE KNEW MY FATHER by William Douglas Home 

27 June – 3 July – THE MAN OUTSIDE by Janet Green

4 – 10 July – THERE’S A GIRL IN MY SOUP by Terence Frisby

11 – 17 July – MYSTERY AT FOUR WINDS by Alex Atkinson

18 – 24 July – MOVE OVER, MRS MARKHAM by Ray Cooney & John Chapman

25 – 31 July – SUDDENLY, AT HOME by Francis Durbridge

 

1975 SEASON

(incomplete list)
19-25 August – ROOKERY NOOK by Ben Travers
26 August – 1 September – MIDNIGHT VISITOR by Michael Curzon
2-8 September – DEVONSHIRE CREAM by Eden Philpotts

1978 SEASON

25 – 31 May – CASTLE IN THE AIR by Alan Melville

1 – 7 June – A LADY MISLAID by Kenneth Horne

8 – 14 June – MARY, MARY by Jean Kerr

16 – 21 June – SHADOW OF THE PAST by Rachel Gurney 

22 – 28 June – THE CHILTERN HUNDREDS by William Douglas Home

29 June – 5 July – SUDDENLY AT HOME by Francis Durbridge

6 – 12 July – ALL FOR MARY by Kay Bannerman

13 – 19 July – DANGEROUS CORNER by J B Priestley

20 – 26 July – TWO DOZEN RED ROSES by Kenneth Horne

27 July – 2 August – MURDER FOR THE ASKING by Derek Benfield

3 – 9 August – LOVE LESSON by Barry Conners 

10 – 15 August – DEAD ON ARRIVAL by George Batson

24-30 August – WHO WAS THAT LADY by Frank Dunne

31 August – 6 September – TWO FACES OF MURDER by Peter Hoar

7 – 13 September – PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward

14 – 20 September – SUDDENLY, AT HOME by Francis Durbridge

21 – 27 September – DANGEROUS CORNER by J B Priestley

1980 SEASON

(incomplete list)

24 – 30 July – SLEUTH by Anthony Shaffer

31 July – 6 August – AFFAIRS OF STATE by Louis Verneuil

7 – 13 August – DEAD ON NINE by Jack Popplewell

14 – 20 August – THERE GOES THE BRIDE by Ray Cooney

21 – 27 August – THE TWO MRS CARROLLS by Martin Vane

28 August – 3 September – SOMETHING TO HIDE by Leslie Sands

4 – 10 September – LLOYD GEORGE KNEW MY FATHER by William Douglas Home

11 – 17 September – TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN by Robert Thomas

18 – 24 September – THE SECRETARY BIRD by William Douglas Home

25 – 27 September – DEAD ON NINE by Jack Popplewell

1985 SEASON

(incomplete list?)
4-10 July – MR FOTHERGILL’S MURDER by Peter O’Donnell
11-17 July – ONE FOR THE ROAD by Willy Russell
25-31 July – MURDER WITH LOVE by Francis Durbridge
1-7 August – TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX by Richard Harris & Leslie Darbon
8-14 August – HOME AT SEVEN by R C Sherriff
15-21 August – DEAD RINGER by Charles Ross
22-28 August – GO BACK FOR MURDER by Agatha Christie
29 August – 4 September – ABSENT FRIENDS by Alan Ayckbourn
5-11 September – PACK OF LIES by Hugh Whitemore
12-18 September – TELL TALE PAST by Philip Weathers
19-25 September – MAKE ME A WIDOW by David Ellis
26 September – 1 October – WHY NOT TONIGHT by C Stafford Dickens

1986 SEASON

3-9 July – DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME by Patrick Cargill
10-16 July – AURELIA by Robert Thomas & Jean Pierre Ferriere, adapted by Tudor Gates
17-23 July – THE MATING GAME by Robin Hawdon
24-30 July – MURDER AMONG FRIENDS by Bob Barry
31 July – 6 August – OUT WITH A BANG by Mike Harding
7-13 August – GRAND NATIONAL NIGHT by Dorothy & Campbell Christie
14-20 August – FAMILY DANCE by Felicity Browne
21-27 August – THE RATTENBURY AFFAIR by Simon Gray
28 August – 3 September – PARTY MANNERS by Val Gielgud
4-10 September – MURDER IN MIND by Terence Feely
11-17 September – ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN by Alan Ayckbourn
18-24 September – VERDICT by Agatha Christie
25-30 September – CANARIES SOMETIMES SING by Frederick Lonsdale

1987 SEASON

Following the difficulties of the 1986 Season and Ronald Govey’s call for financial support from local people and businesses alike, the general view was that he would continue to present a 1987 Season. Sadly the front page headline in the Sidmouth Herald in February announced “Curtain falls on summer repertory”. Govey’s warnings of withdrawing had become a reality and a mutual agreement was reached with East Devon District Council. After 28 Summer Seasons, Ronald Govey was leaving it at that.

Govey had requested that the Council waive the £1,000 rent for the season, but this had been turned down and asking for a subsidy of £5,000 was also met with a negative response. “If they want repertory theatre to continue in Sidmouth, it has to be subsidised, which happens everywhere else.” Govey said. In order to cover losses from 1986, Govey and his wife, Diana Ellis, had re-mortgaged their house…”I don’t see what more can be asked than that.”

In response, David Gibbons, the chairman of East Devon’s Amenities Committee, said he was sorry to hear about the loss of the repertory company but said he didn’t think the Council should be financially supporting them, suggesting that the Town Council and the Hotels and Caterers’ Association might like to help. It was also stated that, unlike the Folk Festival, the productions at the Manor Pavilion didn’t attract people into the town or region, but was there to satisfy the resident  holiday-makers and the local population.

This final point was disputed by Govey in a subsequent letter to the newspaper, “We are told the contrary on many occasions by visitors… In fact the theatre is not much supported by the local people or indeed many councillors.” 

Recent talk about the building of a new theatre in Sidmouth had been in the paper for a few weeks and Govey said he supported it…”In the long term, it must be faced that the Manor Pavilion is in a poor position.” He went on to warn, “..please remember that if summer repertory finishes in the town it will almost certainly not return.”fro