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Oral Histories

Listen to opinions, memories, and experiences of Cambridge Arts Theatre, shared by some of the people who know us best…

If you are interested in recording an Oral History and are willing to be interviewed, please contact Katherine Moar [email protected]

John Harding

John Harding, a former History Teacher at The Leys School, first visited Cambridge Arts Theatre in 1961-2. He shares his memories of the Theatre from his younger days, both as an audience member and as a performer. He speaks about the evolution of the Theatre from that time and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...

View oral history - John Harding

Stephen Siddall

Between 1988 and 2005, Stephen Siddall, Head of English at The Leys School for 31 years, directed 15 classic plays for Cambridge Arts Theatre. Siddall recalls his earliest memories of the Arts Theatre, his favourite and least favourite productions, and the joys of directing and collaborating with other talented creatives...

View oral history - Stephen Siddall

Matt Hannam-Creak

Deputy Theatre Manager, Matt Hannam-Creak, discusses his memories of Cambridge Arts Theatre, the joys of performing and costuming, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry more generally.

View oral history - Matt Hannam-Creak

Terry Baker

Terry Baker, a self-employed dressmaker, talks about the memorable productions she has seen at Cambridge Arts Theatre and describes her work in the Wardrobe Department of several Pantomimes. She recalls meeting Vanessa Bell, a painter and Virginia Woolf’s sister, and Lydia Lopokova, a Russian ballerina and John Maynard Keynes’s wife, in the late 1960s...

View oral history - Terry Baker

Sarah Maxwell

Sarah Maxwell was part of the Friends of the Arts programme from the late 1970s/early 1980s until the programme stopped, and she has seen many productions at Cambridge Arts Theatre. She was part of the Cambridge Operatic Society (CaOS) and performed onstage at Cambridge Arts Theatre three times...

View oral history - Sarah Maxwell

Simon Goldhill

Professor Simon Goldhill, Executive Producer of the Cambridge Greek Play, describes the behind-the-scenes process of staging a production in Ancient Greek. He discusses the controversial introduction of surtitles, the Greek Play’s famous alumni, and the longstanding relationship between Cambridge Arts Theatre and the Greek Play itself...

View oral history - Simon Goldhill

Danny Moar

As an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge Danny Moar stood outside the stage door of the Arts Theatre and thought what a lovely job it would be to work in a professional theatre in a beautiful city like Cambridge... Today he is Chief Executive of Theatre Royal Bath and a prolific drama producer.

View oral history - Danny Moar

Isla Linsdell

Isla Linsdell first performed at Cambridge Arts Theatre as an orphan in ‘Annie’. She then appeared in two pantomimes in 2017-18 and 2018-19, ‘Jack in the Beanstalk’ and ‘Aladdin’. She has always enjoyed performing...

View oral history - Isla Linsdell

Alice Zeitlyn

Alice Zeitlyn, a long-time theatregoer and member of the Supporter’s Circle, reminisces about her love of theatre. She recalls her first memories of music and the arts in London and describes the shift in pace between the London and Cambridge theatre scene...

View oral history - Alice Zeitlyn

Norman Coates

“The books which span the back of the shop were all fake…” Norman Coates explains the role of the Theatre Designer, shares some early memories of Cambridge Arts Theatre, and discusses the staging of the Arts Theatre’s 2016 production of '84 Charing Cross Road'...

View oral history - Norman Coates

Andy Swarbrick

A seasoned board member explains the nature of the role of the board at the Theatre and discusses some recent and forthcoming projects…

View oral history - Andy Swarbrick

Tanya McCallin

After a long night and countless hours building set on stage, the Technical team and Cambridge University students needed rest… the curtain was lowered and they all caught forty winks enveloped inside.

View oral history - Tanya McCallin
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