Photographs and other records of Valerie Stevens relating to student theatre at TheUniversity of Nottingham, 1960-1961

Scope and Content

The collection comprises:

  • Posters designed by Erica Mattingley for dramatic productions performed by the Dramatic Societyand the Everyman Club. 1960-1961 (MS 321/1);
  • Copy photographs made by The Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections from an albumbelonging to Valerie Stevens. The photographs depict casts and scenes from plays performed in the1960s by the Dramatic Society, Everyman Club, and Nottingham Theatre Club (a non-student amateurdramatic club). c.1994 (MS 321/2);
  • Photocopies of programmes for Dramatic Society and Everyman Club productions in the early 1960s.Originals of some of the programmes can be found amongst the papers of Anthony Burkett (Reference:BKT). c.1994 (MS 321/3);
  • Photocopies of newspaper reviews for Dramatic Society and Everyman Club productions in the early1960s. Originals of some of the cuttings can be found amongst the papers of Anthony Burkett(Reference: BKT). c.1994 (MS 321/4).

Administrative / Biographical History

The University College Nottingham Dramatic Society (DramSoc) was formed in 1927 and performed itsfirst play, A.A. Milne's 'Mr Pim passes by' in the following March. The society offered members anopportunity to read, discuss, produce and enact plays. The late 1950s and early 1960s were a goldenage for the society. The production of 'Coriolanus' reached the finals of the National Student DramaCompetition, and the 'Taming of the Shrew' enjoyed a week-long tour of Germany. The Society alsotook George Bernard Shaw's, 'St. Joan' to the outdoor Minack Theatre in Cornwall. DramSoc wasdisbanded in the 1980s.

Student theatre at the university continued in various forms, increasingly through the NewTheatre on campus.

Nottingham's Everyman Club was formed in 1958 to encourage students and local people in the city,who were interested in theatre, to collaborate on productions. The club had some notable successesin the 1960s.

Valerie Stevens (n e Deans) was a student at The University of Nottingham and was clearlyinvolved in student theatre as well as the Everyman Club. She appeared in a number of DramaticSociety productions, including 'The Crucible' in 1960.

Arrangement

The collection has been divided by document type into four series.

Access Information

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers by advancenotice and agreement.

LANGUAGE: English

Other Finding Aids

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright on thedescription belongs to The University of Nottingham.

Conditions Governing Use

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposesonly, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of any material from this collection must be soughtin advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections(email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). TheDepartment will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this can be difficult and theresponsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person wishingto publish.

Custodial History

The collection was given to The University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and SpecialCollections in December 1998. Some of this material was lent for copying.

Related Material

  • The University of Nottingham; Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections: Personalpapers of Anthony Burkett containing photographs, theatre programmes and other papers relating tostudent theatre at The University of Nottingham, 1958-1962. Reference: BKT

Geographical Names