In 1962, a remarkable and now unique film record of Scoutabout was created. At a time when very little amateur theatre was captured on film, Norman Couch, a colleague of David King, undertook the ambitious task of documenting the production using 8mm film.
What makes this record especially significant is its scope. Rather than focusing only on the performances, the filming began in the spring with the very first production meetings and continued throughout the year. It followed the progress of the show through auditions, rehearsals, costume making, scenery construction, and stage make up, right through to the production week in December.
From Rehearsal to Performance
The film includes footage taken at the Dress Rehearsal, capturing extracts from a number of items in the programme. These sequences also show some of the practical challenges that had to be overcome before opening night. In addition, Norman recorded the activity surrounding a live performance, including front of house, backstage, and on stage moments, providing a rare insight into the full scale operation of a Gang Show at that time.
Perhaps most notably, the film offers what is believed to be the only surviving moving image record of the Royalty Theatre while it was still a fully operational working theatre.
A Technical Achievement
The film was not only ambitious in content but also in execution. It included a synchronised soundtrack, something highly unusual for 8mm film in the early 1960s. Norman Couch entered the completed film into a national competition, where it was awarded third prize, a significant achievement for an amateur production of the period.
Watch the Film
The film has also been made available online and can be viewed below.