Sybil Thorndike plays Lady Macbeth at DWS April 2nd 1941
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A page from an autograph book includes the signatures of Dame Sybil Thorndike and that of her husband, the actor and theatre director Lewis Casson. Together they played the lead roles in a production of Macbeth in the school hall at DWS on April 2nd 1941. Following the closure of The Old Vic Theatre in London during World War 2,the Old Vic company relocated to Burnley.They toured the North of England and South Wales playing miners' institutes and village halls and also DWS! Buses brought children from other schools in the area to Dolgellau to see the production. One 'old girl's' mother recalled travelling by coach from Bala to see it. Stories on this site mention the production which must have left quite an impression. It would be a bit like having Judi Dench acting in your school hall today!
- Uploaded by:Jennifer Hutcheson
- Approximate date of item:
From: -- April 21941
To: -- - ---- - Location:Dolgellau
- County:Merioneth
- Creator:Sybil Thorndike, Lewis Casson, Mary Davies
- Owner:unknown, unknown , Dr Aled Lloyd Davies
- Themes:Music and drama
Posted by: Eirian James
Posted on: 10.05.2015 at 20:38
My mother who was a pupil at Bala County School for girls remembers a school trip from Bala to Dolgellau to see the production of McBeth in 1941 at Dr Williams School.
Posted by: Jennifer Hutcheson
Posted on: 22.04.2016 at 10:33
" Even the war has its compensations. We could not expect in normal times to see Sybil Thorndyke, Lewis Casson and The Old Vic Company on our stage, nor could we expect to see Sybil Thorndyke in each classroom to see what occupants were doing and to declare that she could never do that particular subject!" - July 1941 School Magazine