The Body Under the Stage by Kate Hardy

Author:Kate Hardy [Hardy, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

At the National Archives in Kew, Georgina went to talk to one of the archivists about the documents she’d ordered.

‘There are several large boxes in the Regency Theatre’s archive,’ the archivist said. ‘Were you looking for something in particular?’

‘I’m looking at the casts of plays performed in London from 1936 to 1945,’ Georgina said. ‘I was hoping to see playbills or programmes, especially ones with photos, and I’m fairly sure I can narrow down what I want to the Regency Theatre in Islington – definitely from 1940, anyway.’

‘You might find it useful to start with the calendar of plays and players,’ the archivist said. ‘There’s one covering each decade, listing all the performances in the West End with their opening and closing dates, usually the cast, and sometimes comments as well as notes about reviews.’

‘So if I look at the calendar first, then I’ll know which specific programmes and playbills I need to look at from the Regency’s archives?’ Georgina checked.

‘It’s probably the best place to start,’ the archivist said. ‘I’ll show you where they’re shelved. Come and see me when you’ve found which particular documents you need, and I’ll do my best to help you locate them.’

Georgina took the volume for 1940–49 over to one of the tables and started to work her way through it. ‘Look at this,’ she whispered to Doris. ‘October 1940 – the week we think Fred was killed – guess what they were performing?’

‘That’s a spooky coincidence,’ Doris said, clearly looking over her shoulder.

Georgina chuckled, enjoying the pun. ‘Isn’t it? Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Regency Theatre, Islington, 1/10/40 to 15/10/40, all matinees. And Fred’s listed as Macbeth.’ She glanced through the rest of the cast. ‘There aren’t any names I recognise here.’

‘Ooh, look – there’s a name I know. Donald Wolfit. He’s listed at the Strand, for A Shakespearean Entertainment,’ Doris said. ‘Excerpts from the plays and sonnets.’

‘So was Fred’s rival an actor from Wolfit’s company or someone from the Regency?’ Georgina asked.

‘Maybe you should take a copy of the entries on the other Shakespeare productions as well, so we can cross-check,’ Doris suggested.

Georgina worked her way through 1940, taking photographs of all the entries for the Regency and all the Shakespeare productions outside it – most of which seemed to star John Gielgud at the Old Vic or Donald Wolfit’s company at Kingsway or the Strand. ‘Fred’s here at the Regency at the start of 1940, but between May and August he disappears, and he doesn’t seem to be listed at any of the other theatres, either,’ she said. ‘The Regency produces Othello again in June, but this time it’s with Eric Daubeney as Othello instead of Fred.’ She checked the previous production. ‘Eric played Iago, last time. He seems to have been in the second most important male role in the productions where Fred’s the lead, and he seems to have taken over Fred’s roles between May and August.’

‘We need to find out why Fred disappeared,’ Doris said. ‘Fred’s back in September;

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