Berkhamsted on the Stage

Two connections to Berkhamsted school on the stage; one close to home, the other in London.

A former Director of Performing Arts Development had obviously had a major clear out and a parcel of past production programmes (a very welcome addition to the archive), appeared on my desk. The School Drama category contains programmes that date from 1879. Hopefully the school production selection shown here, will jog a few happy theatrical memories.

An OB and friend of the writer and director Richard Eyre had tickets for Snail House, a production showing at the Hampstead Theatre. Backstage, after the performance, they asked about the portraits of the headmasters that had been used in the set design and he said they had come from Berkhamsted School. The OB was intrigued and wanted to confirm this was true, which it was. It started with an enquiry then a visit to the school from Tim Hatley, award winning set designer for recent shows such as Life of Pi and Back to the Future the Musical. He was looking for older portraiture for a school interior set design and knew of Berkhamsted through another OB. With permission granted, Tim came and photographed the portraits, then recreated framed replicas for the stage and the rest as they say is history.