Clarendon College - New Wave Drama Queens
[Dream target date - 1979]

Clarendon's drama students were loud, entertaining and at times mildly irritating, but I was extremely fond of their flamboyant excesses. Over the years the college produced some noteable actors, including Richard Beckinsale and Robert Lindsay who became hot properties at the BBC with their respective roles in ' Porridge' and 'Citizen Smith'.

 

Student mugshots

Gina Kelly Jane Benham Karen Kay Turner   Liz Melanie Rowing-Parker Philippa Leach       Class of 79 Eva, Mel & Tony

Drama People

Mel, Penny & Friend Alicia & Friends Phil Babbott Student Union Alicia & Theresa Sheila Clarke Electives PF & Sheila 1980 Group shot 1980 Group shot John - Head of Dept Stage door Drama Production Pam Cope & Karen Kate, Fliss & Dave   Toga Party Press-cutting Eva & Police Toga Party Toga Party

The ramshackle drama workshop, located in front of the main college building on the corner of Pelham Street was presided over by lecturers Paul Toolan and Canadian-born Marilaine Church. The drama students were fairly insular, though some of them did attend our art history or photography lectures and I often travelled into college with Philippa Leech who was also from Blidworth.

Riff and I used to attend Marilaine Church's Radio Workshop Elective on Wednesday afternoon. Working alongside drama students like Shiela Clarke and Georgia Allen. Marilaine called everyone 'Lovie' or 'Darling' and her lessons were alot of fun. We scripted and recorded radio plays and were introduced to the art of reel-to-reel tape editing. (Or 'reel-surreal tape editing' as our American friend Marky Cooper-Tedd used to call it).

 

Silver Dream Racer & Beyond

Alicia Dreamracer Eva & David Essex Georgia Allen

One of the key events of 1979 was the filming of 'Silver Dream Racer' at Donington race track. The movie, starring David (Rock on) Essex needed people for the crowd scenes, so the production company transported huge numbers of Clarendon students to act as extras. The shoot lasted several days and proved to be a popular skive, with students allegedly having sex in the back of ambulances and getting paid for it.

Within a couple of years leaving Clarendon, our young hopefulls began to make their mark in the entertainment industry. Sheila Clarke was reported as having joined the raunchy dance troupe 'Hot Gossip' and Phil Babbott was seen playing a punky drug addict in a TV detective series.

Star pupil Georgia Allen went on to perform in many TV dramas, notably Central TV's 1985 production - 'Connie' - the series that put the steamy side of Nottingham's rag trade on national television and made a name for actress Stephanie Beecham.

Other students, like Penny Elliot, who was surely tipped for stardom with her stunning Marilyn Monroe looks and outlandish clothes, disappeared completely.