KINGSWOOD ASSOCIATION NEWS 2020-21 FEATURED ARTICLE
THE PEGASUS THEATRE The Pegasus Theatre played a significant part in Kingswood drama for nearly a quarter of a century, before the opening of the theatre at the Senior school in October 1994.
The conversion of the stables was completed ready for an opening performance of Robert Bolt's "Man for All Seasons" on 11 July 1964; a production by the English Master, J. A. Greeves (KS 1946-52, Staff 1959-68), who had himself been the inspiration behind the creation of the Pegasus Theatre. It was a regular venue for over twenty years and was mostly used for Lower Sixth plays. A wide variety of productions were performed in intimate surroundings from Shakespeare to Pirandello, from Brecht to Gilbert and Sullivan. The curtain came down for the last time on Monday 4 July, 1988; the last performance was, in fact, a Westwood and Beaconfield production of Carlo Goldoni's "The Liar" produced by Mr Philip Gooden (Staff 1972-2001), himself, a veteran of some ten seasons at Pegasus. “Kingswood and countless young performers owe Philip much
The Liar
for his willingness to devote himself to school drama.” (Mr Smith, Head of English, Staff 1964-2002)
THE LIAR, 1988 Michael Bishop (KS 1937-45, Staff 1950-87, School Archivist 1987-2000) in 1992 reminisced: 34
“…The conversion of the Summerhill stables [part of the original Summerhill Park Estate] into the Pegasus Theatre in the early 1960s had a major impact on Kingswood drama. It wasn't a comfortable theatre from the audience's point of view; and its long, narrow stage, with no wings
