Productions
Since its opening in 1958 The Harlequin Puppet Theatre has staged twenty-seven different Plays, nine Ballets, four Opera’s and nineteen variety shows. Both local and visiting audiences would frequently return each year to the theatre and this meant that changes in repertoire were essential.
The Harlequin Puppet Theatre always opened during the Summer months, in the early days it was a long season from Easter through to the end of October with shows at 3pm and 7.45pm most days except Sunday. It wasn’t until the mid-eighties that the theatre began to also open for other school holidays and as a result the summer season became shorter. Out of season time was spent making new puppets and scenery for the next season.
The company was, for many years, Eric and Chris as principal manipulators with Millie Ford as stage manager and occasional manipulator though additional manipulators were brought in for some productions, and for some seasons.
The trio of Eric Bramall, Chris Somerville and Millie Ford seemed indestructible. The way they worked together was like a piece of clockwork with endless laughs along the way. Millie’s untimely and unexpected death in 1979 left an irreplaceable gap in the Harlequin family.
Eric and Chris realised that to become self-sufficient they must plan all future productions for two operators only. After some thought, design and planning they discovered that much of the existing repertoire could, with some alteration and ingenuity, be made workable by two people. Following Eric’s death in 1996 Chris had to do this yet again, this time adapting a selection of shows that he could perform alone.
The Harlequin Puppet Theatre Repertoire
(Dates refer to the first production)
Plays
| 1958 The Gooseberry Mandarin by Grace Dorcas Ruthenburg |
| 1958 Catherine Parr by Maurice Baring |
| 1958 The Japanese Print by Eric Bramall |
| 1958 Two Slatterns and a King by Edna St. Vincent Millay |
| 1958 The Swineherd by Eric Bramall |
| 1958 Harlequinade by George L. Somerville |
| 1958 Hansel and Gretel by Eric Bramall |
| 1959 Scenes from Alice in Wonderland |
| 1959 Oddsboddikins by George L. Somerville |
| 1959 Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe |
| 1960 Bluebeard by Eric Bramall |
| 1961 The Three Bears by Eric Bramall |
| 1961 Venetian Glass by Eric Bramall |
| 1964 Red Riding Hood by Eric Bramall |
| 1966 Maria Marten or The Red Barn by G.L.Somerville |
| 1966 The Maiden’s Sacrifice by Chris Somerville |
| 1969 Tales of Tedi Twt by Sheila Huw Jones |
| 1969 Sugarball by Chris Somerville |
| 1969 Macbeth by William Shakespeare |
| 1970 Bluebeard by Eric Bramall and Chris Somerville (New Version) |
| 1970 Lili Lon by Sheila Huw Jones |
| 1974 The Sleeping Princess by Eric Bramall |
| 1976 Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber by Chris Somerville |
| 1979 Aladdin by Eric Bramall |
| 1998 Hansel and Gretel by Eric Bramall (New production) |
| 1999 Aladdin by Eric Bramall (New production) |
| 2000 The Sleeping Princess by Eric Bramall (New production) |
Opera
| 1961 The Mikado – Gilbert and Sullivan |
| 1962 Ali Baba – Music from Chu Chin Chow |
| 1967 The Mikado (new production)- Gilbert and Sullivan |
| 1971 Ruddigore – Gilbert and Sullivan |
Ballet
| 1958 Ballet Mouchoir |
| 1958 Danse Macabre |
| 1958 Magic Toyshop |
| 1959 Underwater Ballet |
| 1959 Insect Ballet |
| 1965 Nutcracker |
| 1967 The Dancing Months |
| 1982 The Dancing Months (new production) |
| 1984 King Neptune’s Daughter |
Variety
| 1958 Grand Circus |
| 1958 Way Down South |
| 1959 The Light and The Third |
| 1959 Motley – Another Look at Circus |
| 1959 Solo Performance |
| 1960 Gali Gali |
| 1960 Old Time Music Hall |
| 1964 Highly Strung |
| 1964 Toyland Follies |
| 1965 Women of the World |
| 1966 Animal Crackers |
| 1969 Songs for Puppet Strings |
| 1969 Village Concert |
| 1969 World of Pantomime |
| 1970 Puppet Parade |
| 1970 Yesterday |
| 1974 Magical Mystery Tour |
| 1981 Circus Parade |
