MUSICALS, PLAYS AND OPERAS IN SOUTH AFRICA

I have included musicals, operas and plays in which Anne and Webster appeared and also the amateur shows directed by them - either together or separately. The list is not complete so I would be glad to hear from anyone who can add to itor enlarge on the information presented below.

JOHANNESBURG 1956-1967

NIGHT IN VENICE Wednesday 14 November to Saturday 1 December 1956
Reps Theatre, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Johannesburg Operatic Society
Anne Ziegler, Webster Booth, June Hern, Tom Reid, Harold Lake, Stella Beder
Director: Arnold Dover
Music: Drummond Bell

SPRING QUARTET September 1956
Cape Town
Anne and Webster, directed by Leonard Schach

ANGELS IN LOVE 29 July 1957
Reps Theatre
Anne played the part of Dearest, with Rory McDermot, Joan Blake, Michael Turner, Arthur Hall, and Edwin Quail (Fauntleroy), directed by Minna Schneier.

WALTZ TIME 31 May 1958
Springs Civic Theatre
Anne and Webster, produced by Bert Dobson

MERRIE ENGLAND 16 to 21 June 1958
City Hall, East London
The Dramatic Society of East London
Anne and Webster, Mabel Fenney, Pamela Emslie, Hilary Adams, Cawood Meaker, Jimmy Nicholas, produced by Doreen Egan, conducted by Jean Fowler.

THE VAGABOND KING August 1958
Durban
Anne and Webster (starred)? and produced the show.

MERRIE ENGLAND 12 to 29 November 1958
Reps Theatre, Johannesburg
JODS
Anne and Webster starred and produced the show, with Marian Saunders, June Bass, Nohline Mitchell, Kenneth Anderson, Len Rosen, and Dudley Cock, conducted by Drummond Bell.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Christmas 1958
City Hall, East London
Anne appeared as principal boy. Anne told me that she had also appeared in DICK WHITTINGTON in East London, but I am not sure when this was.If you know, please get in touch with me.

WALTZ TIME 1959
City Hall, East London
The Dramatic Society of East London
Anne and Webster and East London cast.

THE GLASS SLIPPER December 1959
Reps Theatre
Johannesburg Repertory Players, National Theatre and
Childrens Theatre
Anne Ziegler, Yvonne Theron, Siegfried Mynhardt, David Beattie, Hilda Kriseman,
Olive King, Bruce Anderson, directed by Hugh Goldie.
Music: Joyce Goldie (Piano conductor)
Band: Leader Walter Mony, Bassoon: R Cherry, Clarinet: P Reinders, Percussion: A Johnson, Violin: Erica Anderson, Viola: Lance Lange, Cello: Phyllis Chaplin

MIKADO 1960
Bloemfontein
Webster
I know very little about this show. I am not sure whether Webster sang in it, directed it or did both.

A COUNTRY GIRL October 1960
Produced by Anne and Webster at Little Theatre, Springs. Leads were played by Corinne van Wyk and John Wilcox.

LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS 19 December 1960 to January 1961
Playhouse, Johannesburg
Anne, Valerie Miller, Leon Eagles, John Boulter, Robert Haber and Ivor Berold, directed by Leonard Schach

THE DESERT SONG October to November 1961
Springs Little Theatre
Anne directed this show for the Springs Operatic Society. Sylvia Watson (nee Reilly), who kindly wrote to me to tell me more about these shows was in the chorus.

THE AMOROUS PRAWN September to October 30 1961
Alexander Theatre (previously the Reps Theatre)
National Theatre, Pretoria, 31 October to November 12
Alhambra Theatre, Durban, November 15?
Webster was the prawn, with Simon Swindell, Gabriel Bayman, Diane Wilson, Joe Stewardson, Ronald Wallace and Joan Blake, directed by Victor Melleney.

THE ANDERSONVILLE TRIAL February 1962
Alexander Theatre
Webster took a small non-singing part with Simon Swindell, Michael McGovern, Gordon Mulholland, Joe Stewardson, directed by Albert Ninio.
My piano teacher, Sylvia Sullivan, saw the play and remarked about Websters role, Such a small part for such a great man.

THE VAGABOND KING October 1962
Springs Little Theatre
Anne and Webster directed this production for the Springs Operatic Society.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE October 1962
Bloemfontein.
Webster directed this production. As a gimmick he had a chimpanzee going on to the stage with the pirates. The chimpanzee idea was not without problems. She disgraced himself during Websters opening night speech. With a quick wit he quipped, You naughty girl. I wont take you out again in a hurry.

THE MERRY WIDOW November1962
Springs Little Theatre
Anne directed this production for the Springs Operatic Society.

GOODNIGHT MRS PUFFIN January 1963
Alexander Theatre
Anne and Webster with Jane Fenn, George Moore, Deborah Francis, Leonne Carnot, Clive Pownall, Paddy Canavan, Anthony James and Michael Newell, directed by John Hayter.

THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD May 1963
Alexander Theatre
JODS
Webster took the part of Colonel Fairfax at short notice with Denise Allen, June Hern, Lilian Gartside, Len Rosen, Lyle Matthews, Ethlynne Cohen and Peter Lynsky, directed by Keith Stammers-Bloxham, conducted by Desmond Wright.

TONIGHT AT 8.30 8 July 1964
Hofmeyr Theatre, Cape Town
Port Elizabeth
CAPE PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL (CAPAB)
Anne and Webster appeared in Family Album with Yvonne Bryceland, Michael Drin, Nanette Rennie and Flora McKenna, directed by Margaret Inglis, conducted by Keith Jewell.

THE NEW MOON October 1964
Springs Little Theatre
Anne directed this production for the Springs Operatic Society.

THE MERRY WIDOW October 1965
Bloemfontein
Anne directed this production in Bloemfontein.

THE LOVE POTION November 1966
Intimate Theatre, Johannesburg
PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL OF THE TRANSVAAL (PACT)
Anne, with Alec Bell, Fiona Fraser and Arthur Hall, directed by Ricky Arden

THE BARTERED BRIDE November (Pretoria) 14, 17, 20, 22 December 1966 (Johannesburg)
Aula Theatre, Pretoria
Civic Theatre, Johannesburg
PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL OF THE TRANSVAAL (PACT)
Webster played non-singing role of Circus Master, with Ge Korsten, Nellie du Toit, Gert Potgieter and Oysten Liltveld, directed by Victor Melleney, conducted by Leo Quayle

COUNTESS MARITZA 1967
Pretoria.
Anne and Webster either directed or appeared in this production or perhaps they did both.

KNYSNA 1967-1974

MERRIE ENGLAND July1968
Knysna and District Choral Society
Webster, Anne, Dorothy Davies, James Squier and Ena van der Vijver

CINDERELLA December 1968
Knysna
Anne played principal boy and wrote the script. Del le Roux, Ena van der Vijver, Dot Davies and Sadie Hamilton Cox were also in the cast.

PANTOMIME December 1969
Knysna
Anne played principal boy and wrote the script but I do not know the name of the pantomime.

COX AND BOX/TRIAL BY JURY ( Date?)
Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn and Ladismith (Cape)

LADY AUDLEYS SECRET December 1971
Port Elizabeth Opera House
Port Elizabeth Musical and Dramatic Society
Anne produced this show.

DICK WHITTINGTON December 1972
Port Elizabeth Opera House
PEMADS
Webster produced and conducted for this pantomime, while Anne played Principal Boy.

THE MIKADO 4 to 14 April 1973
Guild Theatre, East London
The East London Light Operatic Society
Pam Emslie, Colin Carney, Bernie Lee, Leigh Evans, Irene McCarthy, Jim Hagerty and Jimmy Nicholas
Webster produced this show.
I moved to East London and arrived in time to take part in the chorus.

Musical plays, pantomimes and operas 1923-1955

Please contact me If you can add further information to this list.


D'OYLY CARTE 1923-1928
Theatre Royal, Brighton
Webster Booth made his stage debut with the D'Oyly Carte Company at the on September 9th 1923 as one of the yeomen in The Yeomen of the Guard. He remained with the company for four and a half years. He was in the chorus and played small parts. He felt that he would only advance if he waited long enough to fill dead mens shoes.


ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON (Fred Melville) December 1928
Brixton Theatre
Webster played the part of King Arthur in this pantomime at the


LIVERPOOL REPERTORY OPERA COMPANY (John Tobin) 1929-1930
Anne took small parts while having singing lessons with John Tobin.


BABES IN THE WOOD (Fred Melville) 1929
Webster played Will Scarlett at the Brixton Theatre.


THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Sir Alfred Butt) March 28th 1930
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Webster played the Duke of Buckingham for three months.
Dennis King - DArtagnan
Adrienne Brune - Constance
Lilian Davies - The Queen
Marie Ney - Milady

BY APPOINTMENT 1934
New Theatre, London
Starred Maggie Teyte. Anne sang the top soprano in an octet. The show closed after three weeks.


A KINGDOM FOR A COW (Kurt Weill) 28 June 1935
Savoy Theatre London.
Webster, with Jacqueline FRANCELL, Aubrey MATHER, Ben PULLEN, Bobbie COMBER, Cecil BROOKING, EdwardDALBY, George GEE, Hay PETRIE, Henry HEPWORTH, Herbert GARRY, Joan HAY, La JANA, Norman WILLIAMS, Vivienne CHATTERTON and Wilfrid CAITHNESS.
This show also closed after three weeks.


MOTHER GOOSE (Tom Arnold) 1935-1936
Liverpool
Anne played Principal Boy, with George Formby, George Lacey, Mollie Fisher (principal girl), Babs Wilson-Hill (principal dancer).


CINDERELLA (Tom Arnold) 1936-1937
Edinburgh.
Anne was Principal Boy, with Will Fyffe and Babs Wilson-Hill as Fairy Queen and principal dancer


VIRGINIA 2 September to 23 October 1937 (60 performances)
Center Theatre, Rockefeller Center, New York
Musical Supervisor: Don Voorhees. As Anne Booth, Anne took the part of Sylvia Laurence with a large cast, including Mona Barrie and Bertha Belmore.


INTERNATIONAL OPERA SEASON 23 May, 6 June 1938
Covent Garden.
Webster sang small parts in Der Rosenkavalier and The Magic Flute, conducted by Erich Kleiber.


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 1938-1939
Streatham Hill Theatre
Anne played Prince Silverthistle, with Enid Stamp-Taylor as principal girl.




THE SLEEPING BEAUTYJanuary 1940
Golders Green Hippodrome, London
Produced by Prince Littler, staged by Ellis Holland, Anne Ziegler as Prince Silverthistle, Jimmy Young, Queen Quibblina, Terrys famous Juveniles
MERRIE ENGLAND Summer 1941
Circus Big Top, Blackpool.
A concert version with Anne and Webster as Bessie Throckmorton and Raleigh


THE VAGABOND KING Monday March 8 1943 (for two weeks)
Evenings at 6, matinee each Wednesday and Saturday at 2
Palace Theatre, Manchester
Tom Arnold presents:
Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler, Tessa Deane, Syd Walker
Henry Baynton, Arthur Ellis, Sara Gregory
Dialogue directed by Maxwell Wray
Production Robert Nesbitt
Orchestra directed by Bob Wolly

THE VAGABOND KING Tuesday, June 1 1943
Winter Garden Theatre, London
Tom Arnold presents:
Webster Booth, Anne Ziegler
Henry Baynton Tessa Deane Syd Walker
Evening performances 6.30
Matinees: Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday at 2.30
Ticket Evening,
Stalls 8/6 U27
Programme 6d


SWEET YESTERDAY Monday April 16 1945
Palace Theatre, Manchester
Adelphi, London June 21^st 1945
Two weeks. Evenings at 6.15
Matinee each Wed and Sat at 2
Lee Ephraim presents
Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler
Produced by Esme Church
Musical drection: Herbert Lodge
Phillip Leaver, Hugh Morton, Doris Hare, Mark Daly
Programme 3d

MERRIE ENGLAND 1953
Luton Hoo
Anne and Webster, the Luton Girls Choir. There were over 600 people in the chorus.


AND SO TO BED (Vivian Ellis) 17 May, 1953

The Streatham Hill Theatre
Jack de Leon presents
Leslie Henson
Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler
Barbara Shotter
Directed by Wendy Toye
Orchestra: Alexander Faris
Week commencing Monday, March 16^th 1953
Evenings at 7.30
Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30
Stalls 7/6. 5/6. 4/6. 3/6
Grand Circle 6/-, 4/6
Boxes 50/- (seats 4)

Balcony 2/6


SLEEPING BEAUTY 1953-1954
Anne was principal boy in this pantomime. I do not know where it took place...

AND SO TO BED 

April 19-24 1954

Bristol Hippodrome:

Arthur Riscoe, Webster Booth, Anne Ziegler, Barbara Shotter, Colin Hickman, Kenneth Collinson, David Sharpe, Mostyn Evans, Richard Curnock, Gwen Nelson, Hazel Jennings, Joy Mornay

Monday May 10^th 1954
Chiswick Empire Jack de Leon presents
Arthur Riscoe, Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler, Barbara Shotter,
Directed by Wendy Toye
Orchestra directed by Mark Lubbock
Mon-Fri 7.15, Mat Wed 2.30, Sat 5.10, 8.15
Boxes one guinea & 18/-, Orchestra stalls 4/3, Stalls 3/3, 2/6
Circle 3/6, Balcony 1/-


DICK WHITTINGTON December 24^th 1954.


Kings Theatre, Hammersmith
The trustees of JB Mulholland have pleasure in presenting
James Shirvell pantomime with Charles Drake, Betty Wood, Anne Ziegler, George Doonan
Derek Nimmo, Kirbys flying ballet
Direction: Donald Clive
Music: Howard Sylvester
Twice daily from December 27^th at 2.30 and 7.0
Until further notice


LADY AUDLEYS SECRET 1955
Anne and Webster toured the UK in this straight play, which was interspersed with song.

Photograph album 2

Anne, December 1960
Webster Booth's production of 'The Mikado', East London, 1973.
Anne in a broadcast at the SABC, early 1960s.


Webster as the Duke of Buckingham in 'The Three Musketeers' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1930.


Anne Ziegler in the film 'The Laughing Lady', 1946.

Jeannie C Photo album

Engagement photographs 1970





1968 Queen Mother opens Wheathampstead School, Hertfordshire . Jeannie singing and playing guitar, her colleague, Vera Brunskill playing flute in school library with children in music group.



Jeannie in St Hugh's choir stalls at Lincoln Minster (1990)


Jeannie on holiday in Durban 1968


Jeannie and Errol C, 19 May 2007














Below: Jeannie C 1970

Jeannie C


Jeannie C in Webster Booth's production of 'The Mikado', East London SA 1973.


Jeannie C 1990s

Photograph album 1

Powis Pinder's 'Sunshine' Concert Party, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, early thirties. Webster Booth is in the middle of the back row directly behind Arthur Askey.


Webster in the 1930s


Webster Booth as a young man


Anne in the 1930s


Webster Booth in Coleridge Taylor's 'Hiawatha'







Anne and Webster broadcasting to the troops in the early hours of the morning during the Second World War


Anne and Webster in the 1940s



Rehearsing for the Royal Command Performance. November 5th 1945


Anne and Webster in 'The Laughing Lady' (1946)






Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth on tour to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.


Anne as Bessie Throckmorton in 'Merrie England', Johannesburg and East London 1957


Webster as Sir Walter Raleigh in 'Merrie England', Johannesburg and East London, 1957.



Webster with Joan Blake and Ronald Wallace in 'The Amorous Prawn' (1961).


Webster as Colonel Fairfax in the Johannesburg Operatic Society's production of 'The Yeomen of the Guard' (1963)







My friend, Ruth Ormond, 1963


Anne and Webster in early 1980s