Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
By Arrangement with Warner Chappell Music Ltd
The Real Camelot
The romantic 'many tower'd Camelot' of Tennyson and Hollywood was first written of in the 12th century by Cretien de Troyes in his 'Lancelot'. He simply says that 'one Ascension Day Arthur had left Caerleon and held a most Magnificent court at Camelot, with all the splendour appropriate for the day'. Camelot was not mentioned at all by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the earliest written work to mention Arthur, his 'History of the Kings of England', written in 1136.
Cretien does not think that Camelot is Caerleon, which is Geoffrey's preferred site and which apparently does contain Royal palaces as well as two churches. Later writers have placed it as far apart as Winchester (Mallory) or Greenan Castle in Ayr (Goodrich).
The archaelogist's choice is Cadbury castle, a massive hill fort north west of Glastonbury and close by the 'Queen' Camel river. There is little doubt that this was an importandt citadel in the latter half of the fifth and early sixth centuries, refortified after the Romans had departed and used by the Celts and Romano British for the strategic defence of the main road to Stonehenge and the Fosse Way running north to Bath, Cirencester, Leicester and Lincoln. Did Arthur ride out of here to win his famous victory against the invading Saxons at Mount Badon? Was it from here that he went to his last battle, the battle of Camlann, at Slaughter Bridge by the River Camel? We will never know. But here undoubtably was a large fortified hall and massive stone built ramparts of such a size and sophistication that nowhere else in Celtic Britain has anything comparable been found.
No, the real Camelot that we seek must be approached in the imagination. Embrace the white and azure images of the mediaeval book of hours. View it through the inspired words of the poets and storytellers. Camelot is a city of the imagination and mind as were the romantic ideals attributed to Arthur. But, like the longed for real Jerusalem, won and lost again in the century of Cretien and Geoffrey, Camelot carried within itself the seeds of its own destruction.
The Cast - (in order of appearance)
Sir Dinadan
Barry Bates
Sir Clarius
Mark Symonds
Merlyn
Michael Grabowski
King Arthur
Mike Walker
Guenevere
Michelle Johnson
Nimue
Danielle Leedale
Arthur's Page
David Rowles
Lancelot
Patrick Perusko
Squire Dap
Matthew Ager
King Pellimore
Derek Brechin
Sir Lionel
Syd Pearson
Sir Sagramore
Andy Truscott
Lady Anne
Emma Hawkins
Lady Sybil
Julie Bull
Mordred
Robbie Hardy
Morgan Le Fey
Beryl Argles
Tom of Warwick
Colin Prime
Citizens of Camelot
Beryl Argles
Barbara Baker
John Berry
Ian Blanchard
Catherine Boss
Jennie Charville
Simon Childs
Sue Childs
Timmy Childs
Greg Cox
Clive Dancey
Steve Dimarco
Abby Dowell
Dawn Ebbs
Dave Farmer
Clarence Gill
Michael Grabowski
John Greenall
Robbie Hardy
Asa Haycock
Lisa Hird
Jack Hold
Sue Holt
Paula Keeling
Nick Kennedy
Danielle Leedale
Vicky Leedale
Caroline Loots
Simon Lovett
Dawn Maskall
Sam Martin
Tony McGlade
Pat Mercer
Rachel Parish
Anton Perusko
Brenda Richardson
Joanna Sicurello
Laura Sicurello
Natalie Stasiuk
Stephanie Stasiuk
Christine Stewart
Katy Stewart
Michael Stewart
Kathryn Stilwell
Louise Trodden
Angela Turley
The Band
Leader
Daffyd Billinghurst
Violins
Jayne Donnelly
Helen Corsie
Lesly Newing
Viola
Amanda Hodges
Cello
Sally Horton
Bass
Mike Crofts
Flute/Piccolo
Carol Lyttle
Oboe/Cor Anglais
Robert Clarke
Clarinet/Saxophone
Mike James
Phillip Moor
Trumpets
Michelle Upton
Nick Perry
Trombones
Martin Wakley
Paul Coveney
Keyboard
Pauline Thompson
Percussion
John-Paul Williams
Production Team
Director
Clive Bradley
Musical Director
Malcolm Crane
Choreographer
Christine Reynolds
Stage Manager/Set Design
Ken Branchette
Assistant Stage Manager
Malcolm Boss
Stage Crew
Les Argles
Nick Boss
Philip Hurrell
Mark Hammond
Doug Hart
Mike Hurrell
Barbara Mason
Andrew Lawrence
Dennis Smith
Lighting and Sound Director
Martin Putman
Assisted By
Cliff Gilby
Steven Rowles
Prompters
Angela Lovell
Peter Leedale
Properties
Erika Benning
Cathryn Winstanley
Leah Selinger
Laura Winstanley
Wardrobe
Joan Pennington
Costume
Midland Costume Hire
Make Up
The Company
Continuity
Jackie Hall
Set Construction
Malcolm Boss
Sam Martin
Reg Green
Mike Hurrell
Andrew Lawrence
Philip Hurrell
Mark Hammond
Nick Boss
Painting
Ken Branchette
Barbara Mason
Dennis Smith
Doug Hart
Clive Bradley
Box Office
Brenda Watson
Publicity & Programme
Same Martin
Printing
City Print (MK) Ltd.
Photographs
Norman Kent
Front of House Manager
Jean Ashby
Front of House Staff
Members and Friends of the Society
Acknowledgements
The Society are very grateful for the assistance given by:
The Staff of Stantonbury Theatre
St John's Ambulance
Bletchley Community Centre Wolverton Motor
Company
Kash 'N' Karry, Bletchley
