In November 1971 the Bristol Light Opera Club returned to Song of Norway, “an operetta based on the life of Edvard Grieg”, for one week at the Bristol Hippodrome; the programme’s list of previous productions shows the club had staged it in 1952 and 1957. Roger Samways played Edvard and Judith Bright Nina, with Sally Noble producing, Robert Latham as musical director and Pam Osborne as choreographer. The augmented Hippodrome orchestra featured Bill Laird at the solo piano, with Ethel Stanhope playing at the Saturday matinee, and the troll masks were made by students of the Art Centre Junior Theatre School. The Lord Mayor and civic party attended the opening night, and the programme cost 5p.
Cast
- Rikard — Roderick Young
- Nina — Judith Bright
- Edvard — Roger Samways
- Father Nordraak — Fred Finch
- Father Grieg — Kenneth Matthews
- Mother Grieg — Esme Salter
- Freddy — Hugh Docker
- Inn Keeper — Eric Arnold
- Count — Brian Harding
- Louisa — Merion Ashton
- Prof. Helma — Dennis Dew
- F. Prof. Norden — Ann Stawt
- Prof. Borkman — Philip Pratt
- Elvera — Cicely Meyer
- Margharetta — Freda Scrase
- Hedwig — Teresa Davey
- Greta — Brenda Munden
- Miss Anders — Zillah Archer / Valerie England
- Henrick Ibsen — Bob Bradshaw
- Tito — George Bayliss
- Waitresses at Tito’s — Jennifer Puttock, Isobel Collins
- Maestro Pisoni — Harry Roberts
- Mayor Domo — Tony Woods
- Adelina — Gail McCartney
- Spirit of Norway — Gail McCartney
- Spirit of Nordraak — Roderick Young