Loughton County High School for Girls
Copyright © 2014 by Susan Capes · All Rights reserved · E-Mail: sue@loughtonchs.co.uk
As well as many plays and entertainments within the school, there were collaborations with the boys from Buckhurst Hill County High and this page shows some of the photos that have come our way. Please feel free to send any others you may have - please email tham to sue@loughtonchs.co.uk with some information about the production (including dates) if you can.
Drama at LHS
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These are from a 1970 Buckhurst Hill double bill of Poison Passion and Petrifaction by GB Shaw and The Drunkard, adapted by Brian J Burton
In the top photo -
Hilary Plass, Greg Cox and Jim Gretton
Below - Hilary again in
The Drunkard
In the top photo -
Hilary Plass, Greg Cox and Jim Gretton
Below - Hilary again in
The Drunkard
thanks for sending these, Hilary
The Drunkard was performed mostly by Buckhurst Hill staff
as this photo shows
as this photo shows
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Back Row - Jill Cripps, Mary Redfern, Penny Webb, Cleo (Wood?)
Front Row - ?, Annabel Robson, Clare Stanley, Jane Tricker, Charlotte Noble
Front Row - ?, Annabel Robson, Clare Stanley, Jane Tricker, Charlotte Noble
Poison, Passion and Petrifaction by George Bernard Shaw
Cast List
Hilary Plass Lady Magnesia Fitztollmache
Jackie G Phyllis, her maid
Greg Cox George Fitztollemache
Jim Gretton Adolpus Bastable
Barry Smart Landlord
Chris Bangs Policeman
Michael Hopkiss Doctor
Cast List
Hilary Plass Lady Magnesia Fitztollmache
Jackie G Phyllis, her maid
Greg Cox George Fitztollemache
Jim Gretton Adolpus Bastable
Barry Smart Landlord
Chris Bangs Policeman
Michael Hopkiss Doctor
The Drunkard
(original by William H Smith - 1844,
Musical adaptation by Brian J. Burton - 1968)
Helen Boyd Mrs Watson
Eve Kraus Mary Wilson
J David Clapton Squire Gibbs
John Loveridge Edward Middleton
John Drury William Dowton
Edward Moore and Anthony Brock Mrs Gater and Mrs Stevens
David Stancer Sam Adams
John Rippin Landlord of the Kings Head
Catherine Rooney Julia Middleton
Rodney Green Arden Rencolour
David Hargreaves The Parson
Gerald Brown Policeman
(original by William H Smith - 1844,
Musical adaptation by Brian J. Burton - 1968)
Helen Boyd Mrs Watson
Eve Kraus Mary Wilson
J David Clapton Squire Gibbs
John Loveridge Edward Middleton
John Drury William Dowton
Edward Moore and Anthony Brock Mrs Gater and Mrs Stevens
David Stancer Sam Adams
John Rippin Landlord of the Kings Head
Catherine Rooney Julia Middleton
Rodney Green Arden Rencolour
David Hargreaves The Parson
Gerald Brown Policeman
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fuzzy photo - sorry
"C.P." DAY 1982
"But we thought you were about 80", exclaimed a group of surprised second years, whom I encountered while lurking around the gym in the hopes of sneaking an illicit bounce on the trampoline. (Please note, ye authorities, I didn't get it. ..) That's the trouble with being an Old Girl - the moment your disintegrating blazer ("We are not buying you a new one for one year. ..") hits its final resting place amongst the moth-balls, it is assumed that one has been instantly overtaken by galloping senility.
"Not quite," I replied thinking that, while being old enough to be their mother, thirteen years out in the wide, wicked world (and ten of those spent in the supposedly wicked theatre) have done nothing to dispel my memories of L.H.S. It smells the same.
Smell - that most evocative of our senses. Standing outside That Door - knock, red, wait; green, go in and the butterflies in my stomach
assume the proportions of jet-fighters, although I know I haven't (for once) done anything naughty. But - the corridor smells the same - what have I done wrong this time?
What has changed, and I think greatly for the better, is the atmosphere amongst the girls. There seems to be more of a pioneering spirit and less of the cushioned atmosphere that I felt never prepared me for the fact that life is not fair. It was no good coming out with the blithe assumption that if one was a good girl and did one's homework on time, the world would play fair with you. It doesn't. (Perhaps it's just galloping cynicism that overtakes the "Old Girl" ... ).
Ten years ago, I was happy to return to L.H.S. for "C.P." Day and was delighted with what I saw. This time I was astonished. Gone was the need to criticise elementary technical faults - I saw teams of highly professional performers (and that includes the oft-neglected stage-management teams) working with enthusiasm, skill and, above all, imagination far beyond any expectations I had when I dreamed up the idea of a drama cup for the school.
I suppose I hoped that somewhere along the line there'd be a few others who would love the wonderful, awful, inspiring, destructive life that I have made my own. But it does have its magic -as the winning form found for themselves. They didn't need me to tell them what their audience had already decided. We were hooked on their magic. We were prepared to forget a schoolgirl "dressed-up"
and to mourn a dead lover. That was magic.
They braved what Donald Wolfit called "the daring half-hour". They dared, and they won. I don't know, I suppose that's what the magic is all about.
Charlotte Perrin, 1982
Charlotte Perrin returned in July 1982 to judge the competition that bears her name. On this occasion IIIL were the winners.
"But we thought you were about 80", exclaimed a group of surprised second years, whom I encountered while lurking around the gym in the hopes of sneaking an illicit bounce on the trampoline. (Please note, ye authorities, I didn't get it. ..) That's the trouble with being an Old Girl - the moment your disintegrating blazer ("We are not buying you a new one for one year. ..") hits its final resting place amongst the moth-balls, it is assumed that one has been instantly overtaken by galloping senility.
"Not quite," I replied thinking that, while being old enough to be their mother, thirteen years out in the wide, wicked world (and ten of those spent in the supposedly wicked theatre) have done nothing to dispel my memories of L.H.S. It smells the same.
Smell - that most evocative of our senses. Standing outside That Door - knock, red, wait; green, go in and the butterflies in my stomach
assume the proportions of jet-fighters, although I know I haven't (for once) done anything naughty. But - the corridor smells the same - what have I done wrong this time?
What has changed, and I think greatly for the better, is the atmosphere amongst the girls. There seems to be more of a pioneering spirit and less of the cushioned atmosphere that I felt never prepared me for the fact that life is not fair. It was no good coming out with the blithe assumption that if one was a good girl and did one's homework on time, the world would play fair with you. It doesn't. (Perhaps it's just galloping cynicism that overtakes the "Old Girl" ... ).
Ten years ago, I was happy to return to L.H.S. for "C.P." Day and was delighted with what I saw. This time I was astonished. Gone was the need to criticise elementary technical faults - I saw teams of highly professional performers (and that includes the oft-neglected stage-management teams) working with enthusiasm, skill and, above all, imagination far beyond any expectations I had when I dreamed up the idea of a drama cup for the school.
I suppose I hoped that somewhere along the line there'd be a few others who would love the wonderful, awful, inspiring, destructive life that I have made my own. But it does have its magic -as the winning form found for themselves. They didn't need me to tell them what their audience had already decided. We were hooked on their magic. We were prepared to forget a schoolgirl "dressed-up"
and to mourn a dead lover. That was magic.
They braved what Donald Wolfit called "the daring half-hour". They dared, and they won. I don't know, I suppose that's what the magic is all about.
Charlotte Perrin, 1982
Charlotte Perrin returned in July 1982 to judge the competition that bears her name. On this occasion IIIL were the winners.
Charlotte Perrin (LHS 1962 - 1969)
Charlotte, who made her career in the theatre, donated a drama cup to the school to be awarded to the form producing and performing the best play each year. She wrote the following article for the 1982 School magazine.
Charlotte has appeared on TV in "A Family Man" in 1984 and "Frost in May" in 1982
Charlotte has appeared on TV in "A Family Man" in 1984 and "Frost in May" in 1982
The Drunkard & Poison, Passion & Petrifaction
1066 & All That
Pirates of Penzance
The Boyfriend
Ticket of Leave
Charlotte Perrin
Top of the Form
6th Form Plays
1066 & All That
Pirates of Penzance
The Boyfriend
Ticket of Leave
Charlotte Perrin
Top of the Form
6th Form Plays
1066 And All That
1977 Production featuring
1977 Production featuring
Pirates of Penzance
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If you can add anything else to this info please email me
As well as performing plays within school and with Buckhurst Hill Boys, Loughton High competed in the BBC Top of The Form programme on two occasions - one on the radio and one after the programme transferred to television
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| Charlotte Perrin | Barbara Mason | Susannah Howard | Deborah Howard | |
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| from School Magazine | Elizabeth Finnis, Cynthia Webb.. | Janice Finson |
Part of this article relates to the Radio version which happened during the Christmas term 1962/3 ...
From the School Magazine
From the School Magazine
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...and these are from the TV version during the Autumn term of 1963
Could that be Mrs Ries (maths) in the centre left photo?
Sixth Form Plays
I was reminded of these plays in an email from Diane Creevy (LHS 1955 - 1962)
Diane recalls:
I remember that a play was always performed either at the end of the Christmas term or, more probably, the summer term by the Sixth Form for the whole assembly. I'm talking about the years 1955-1962 now. I was involved in two of them - 'Arsenic and Old Lace' and 'I Killed The Count'.
I remember that a play was always performed either at the end of the Christmas term or, more probably, the summer term by the Sixth Form for the whole assembly. I'm talking about the years 1955-1962 now. I was involved in two of them - 'Arsenic and Old Lace' and 'I Killed The Count'.
Diane's email jogged my own memory of the Christmas Play 1970, the term I left school. I was in the Lower VI and not being any sort of actor opted to do the lighting, having been helpfully instructed by Anne Cropper in the year above me. The dimmer switches for the lights were deadly - bare metal boxes with slider controls which we moved en masse with a wooden ruler resting on the sliders. It sparked and fizzed with every movement. The batten lights across the top of the stage could have their colour changed by replacing the coloured glass panels which were about nine inches square. This meant me (at age 16) climbing up a step-ladder and physically removing and replacing them - all unsupervised and unaided. Imagine that happening in school now!
I haven't been able to remember the title of that 1970 play (if anyone can, please let me know) but I remember that it was a lighthearted play set in India during the Raj and for the indoor scene I decided that I would make it look very cool with blue lighting, having changed about a dozen glass panels and Mrs Henderson complained that no-one could see the actors!
I haven't been able to remember the title of that 1970 play (if anyone can, please let me know) but I remember that it was a lighthearted play set in India during the Raj and for the indoor scene I decided that I would make it look very cool with blue lighting, having changed about a dozen glass panels and Mrs Henderson complained that no-one could see the actors!
Ticket of Leave
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Sarah Dingwall emailed me and said, "I'm in 2 of the photos. Unfortunately I don't remember having a programme for any of the productions.
It was done under Mrs Ruth MacDonald. I believe it was the Summer production July 1987. I joined LCH in 84 and left 1989. First year we did The Gondeliers, the The Mikado and lastly Pirates. That was the last Gilbert and Sullivan as I think Mrs MacDonald left(retired) and Miss Satchel (???) Took over and reverted back to using the boys from Buckhurst Hill."
It was done under Mrs Ruth MacDonald. I believe it was the Summer production July 1987. I joined LCH in 84 and left 1989. First year we did The Gondeliers, the The Mikado and lastly Pirates. That was the last Gilbert and Sullivan as I think Mrs MacDonald left(retired) and Miss Satchel (???) Took over and reverted back to using the boys from Buckhurst Hill."
The Boyfriend
1979/80 Production
1979/80 Production
Karen Clench and Susan Grice of the Lower VI wrote the following in the school magazine:
“....the School Play, “The Boyfriend”, whirled us back to the Roaring Twenties, complete with Charleston, finishing schools, and the French Riviera. The show, along with the hearts of the audience, was stolen by Cindy Blow as Polly Brown the poor little rich girl in search of true love. Demand for tickets was so high that the play ran for an extra night; despite exhaustive rehearsals the music, provided by Alex Birch, Jeff Bingham and Peter Bryant, and the cast (ably costumed by Mrs Jackson and Jane Marigold) rose to the occasion and produced one of the finest performances for many years. Our two curtain calls on this evening were highlighted by the news that Cindy had been awarded a place at Drama School.” they also say, “Finally, many thanks to Mrs Coughlan, not only for her efforts in the School Play, but for all the help and encouragement she has provided throughout her years at the school.”
“....the School Play, “The Boyfriend”, whirled us back to the Roaring Twenties, complete with Charleston, finishing schools, and the French Riviera. The show, along with the hearts of the audience, was stolen by Cindy Blow as Polly Brown the poor little rich girl in search of true love. Demand for tickets was so high that the play ran for an extra night; despite exhaustive rehearsals the music, provided by Alex Birch, Jeff Bingham and Peter Bryant, and the cast (ably costumed by Mrs Jackson and Jane Marigold) rose to the occasion and produced one of the finest performances for many years. Our two curtain calls on this evening were highlighted by the news that Cindy had been awarded a place at Drama School.” they also say, “Finally, many thanks to Mrs Coughlan, not only for her efforts in the School Play, but for all the help and encouragement she has provided throughout her years at the school.”
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