The production opened at the Odéon Théâtre de France, Paris on 16 May, 1967 and received a further performance there and in Versailles before moving to Snape Maltings Concert Hall for four performances during the Aldeburgh Festival (7, 14, 16, 21 June). It was then taken to Sadler's Wells theatre, London for three performances (11, 13, 18 July) and to the Canadian Theatre Maisonneuve for two as part of the Montreal Expo '67 exhibition (18, 22 September. In 1969 this production was revived with two performances at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds (28, 29 August), three at Sadler's Wells (4, 8, 11 October) and three in the 1970 Flanders Festival – at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels (20, 22 August) and the Opera House, Ghent (24th August), returning to Snape Maltings Concert Hall on 29 and 30 August. Further performances occurred in 1971 and 1972 but there are no photographs of these.
The English Opera Group 1967 cast was Oberon, James Bowman; Tytania, Margaret Price; Puck, Stephen Terry; Peaseblossom, Stephen Price; Cobweb, James Newby; Mustardseed, Christopher Taylor; Moth, Nigel Broome; Boy Fairies, Robert Alder, Paull Boucher, Paul Courtley; Tytania's attendants, Patricia Blans, Jennifer Lilleystone, Angela Moran; Oberon's attendants, Ian Hanson, John McKenzie, Clive Molloy; Theseus, Bryan Drake; Hippolyta, Carolyn Maia; Lysander, Robert Tear; Demetrius, Benjamin Luxon; Hermia, Maureen Morelle; Helena, April Cantelo; Bottom, Owen Brannigan; Quince, Norman Lumsden; Flute, Bernard Dickerson; Snug, Brian Holmes; Snout Graham Allum; Starveling, Peter Leeming; Philostrate, Master of Ceremonies, Carl Duggan; Courtiers, Josephine Adams, Verity Ann Bates, Alexandra Browning, Alice Hynd, Ian Hanson, David Hartley, John McKenzie, Clive Molloy.
At some of the Aldeburgh Festival performances there were cast changes for: Puck, on 7th June played by Clive Molloy the understudy and Theseus played by Malcolm Rivers for the first time on 21st June; he then retained the part for the Sadler's Wells performances of 11, 13, 18 July and the Expo' performance of 22 September. On 18 July Jenny Hill replaced Margaret Price as Tytania.
In the 1969 revival there were a number of cast changes: Tytania, Jennifer Vyvyan; Puck, Clive Molloy; Peaseblossom, Laurence Hill; Cobweb, Terence Huxley; Mustardseed, Colin Morris; Moth, Clive Gates; Indian boy Peter Williams; Boy Fairies, Terence Dickinson, Andrew Kettle, John Wojceichowski; Tytania's attendants, Patricia Blans, Jennifer Lilleystone, Angela Moran; Oberon's attendants, Ian Hanson, John McKenzie, Brian McGuire, Philip Hooper; Theseus, Malcolm Rivers; Courtiers, David Hartley, Brian McGuire, John McKenzie, Philip Hooper.
For the Sadler's Wells performances of Bottom Bryan Drake (although ill with a pelvic abcess) replaced Owen Brannigan who was ill
In 1970 the cast became Oberon, James Bowman; Tytania, Jennifer Vyvyan; Puck, Clive Molloy; Peaseblossom, Marc Beeby; Cobweb, Richard Holland; Mustardseed, Colin Morris; Moth, Clive Gates; Boy Fairies, Andrew Kettle, Leslie West, David Jones; Tytania's attendants, Patricia Blans, Jennifer Lilleystone, Angela Moran; Oberon's attendants, Philip Hooper, Brian McGuire, John McKenzie; Theseus, Bryan Drake; Hippolyta, Carolyn Maia; Lysander, Robert Tear; Demetrius, Benjamin Luxon; Hermia, Maureen Morelle; Helena, April Cantelo; Bottom, Owen Brannigan; Quince, Norman Lumsden; Flute, Bernard Dickerson; Snug, Brian Holmes; Snout Graham Allum; Starveling, Peter Leeming; Philostrate, Master of Ceremonies, Paul Wade; Courtiers, Josephine Adams, Verity Ann Bates, Alexandra Browning, Alice Hynd, David Hartley, Philip Hooper, Brian McGuire, John McKenzie.
The English Opera Group Orchestra was conducted by Rudolf Schwarz for all the 1967 performances and by Meredith Davies for those of 1969 and 1970.
Libretto by Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten after William Shakespeare.
Scenery and Costumes: Emanuele Luzzati. Producer, Colin Graham; Lighting, William Bundy and Colin Graham.
15 photographs
black and white
Karel Aerts interviews Meredith Davies in programme for Flanders Festival, 22 August, 1970
Archive
https://www.bpacatalogue.org/archive/PHPN-10-5
