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A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick Permanent WRAP URL: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/116776 Copyright and reuse: This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. For more information, please contact the WRAP Team at: [email protected] warwick.ac.uk/lib-publications Stages of the Sea 20th Century Theatrical Entertainment in the Royal Navy by Sarah Penny A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre Studies University of Warwick, School of Theatre & Performance Studies and Cultural & Media Policy Studies May 2018 1 Table of Contents Title Page .................................................................................................................................. 1 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. 2 List of Illustrations ................................................................................................................ 3 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. 5 Declaration ........................................................................................................................... 7 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 9 Research Methods ......................................................................................................... 14 Research Parameters ..................................................................................................... 20 Chapter One: Shipboard Theatricals: Heritage, Repertoire, and Memory. ....................... 26 Inventing and Maintaining Traditions ............................................................................ 30 All of One Company ....................................................................................................... 41 Material and Digital Traces of Shipboard Theatricals .................................................... 54 Chapter Two: The Soft Power of Entertainment ............................................................... 58 Entertainments of the World Cruise 1923-1924 ............................................................ 64 Children’s Parties ........................................................................................................... 85 Chapter Three: Performing on the Move ........................................................................ 106 Crossing the Line .......................................................................................................... 116 SODS Opera .................................................................................................................. 138 Chapter Four: Theatre for Survival .................................................................................. 153 Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Royal Terror Theatre.................................................... 160 The Grand Fleet’s “Theatre Ship” ................................................................................ 182 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 203 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 207 Primary Sources ........................................................................................................... 207 Secondary Sources ....................................................................................................... 211 2 List of Illustrations Figure 1 A ship's concert on board HMS Queen, Scapa Flow. IWM. A 29178. ...................... 46 Figure 2 The Tiger-Ragamuffins Troupe on board HMS Courageous. 1936. NMRN. RNM 776.83 (2) 6.14. ...................................................................................................................... 49 Figure 3 Set designs for the theatre on HMS Almanzora. 20 November 1917. Further Papers of Phillip Needell. NMRN. RNM.2004.63. .............................................................................. 52 Figure 4 ‘On HMS Hood’. Adelaide Chronicle. 22 March 1924. ............................................. 74 Figure 5 Visitors at Freemantle. World Cruise of British Special Service Squadron 1923-1924 Official Album......................................................................................................................... 76 Figure 6 A theatrical troupe from HMS Hood. World Cruise of British Special Service Squadron 1923-1924 Official Album. ..................................................................................... 77 Figure 7 ‘Programme of Entertainments and Sports Meetings’. Canterbury, New Zealand. 1- 7 May 1924. ........................................................................................................................... 79 Figure 8 ‘Sydney Mixes its Dreams’. The Bulletin. Thursday, 24 April 1924. Vol 45. No.2306. ............................................................................................................................................... 83 Figure 9 Children of British internees at a children’s party given by the crew of HMS Belfast at Shanghai. 28 September 1945. James Morris (28-09-1945). IWM. ART LD 5528. ............ 88 Figure 10 Sketch map of the last voyages of HMS Eagle, 1970-1972. ................................... 93 Figure 11 HMS Indomitable gives a children’s party. June 1952. Eastbourne. IWM. A 32230. ............................................................................................................................................... 94 Figure 12 Pirates from HMS Dundas in full attire awaiting the arrival of children from a Bordeaux orphanage. ‘Landlubbers Ahoy! Navy Ships Visit Bordeaux’. Navy News. January 1969. ...................................................................................................................................... 96 Figure 13 ‘Guests on board a Royal Navy ship’. IWM. A 33912. ............................................ 97 Figure 14 Children getting a ride in the ship's "train" on the flight deck of HMS Indomitable. June 1952. IWM. A 32234. ..................................................................................................... 98 Figure 15 Dutch and Chinese children are entertained at a Christmas party hosted by members of the company of the repair ship HMS Assistance in Singapore. IWM. SE 6109. ............................................................................................................................................. 101 Figure 16 Captain R H Connell and Lieut Cdr D E P D Scott with one of the orphans who were entertained by HMS Vidal. 1956. IWM. A 33553. ....................................................... 103 Figure 17 A Crossing the Line on HMS Centaur. 14 January 1959. Photograph courtesy of Jim Stroud. ........................................................................................................................... 123 Figure 18 A Crossing the Line certificate. ‘HMS Kent: by command of His Oceanic Majesty Neptune’. 31 March 1939. NMM, Caird Library. PBA3730. ................................................. 126 Figure 19 ‘The Neptune Ceremony; Crossing the Line’ by Anthony Gross. 'Convoy' series, 1941 – 1942. IWM. Art.IWM ART LD 2099. ......................................................................... 129 Figure 20 King Neptune appears from a hatch at the bow of HMS Renown. 17 April 1920. IWM843. .............................................................................................................................. 131 Figure 21 Her Highness Amphitrite drawn by a sleuth of bears across the top deck of HMS Centaur. 14 January 1959. Photograph courtesy of Jim Stroud. ......................................... 133 Figure 22 ‘The Cast of the Play’. HMS Southampton. .......................................................... 135 Figure 23 Performance of ‘Whispering Grass’. Imitation of Don Estelle and Windsor Davies by personnel on board HMS Ark Royal. 1976. ..................................................................... 141 Figure 24 A scene in the dressing room on board a destroyer depot ship at Scapa Flow, 18 December 1942. IWM A 13430. ........................................................................................... 151 3 Figure 25 ‘From the Hut to the Ship in a Blizzard’. Scene showing Discovery in Winter Quarters. August 1902 issue of the South Polar Times (SPT). By Edward A. Wilson. .......... 164 Figure 26 Midwinter Day dinner on the mess deck. 1902. Published in ‘An Antarctic Evening on board the Discovery in Dundee’. 5 May 2001. ............................................................... 172 Figure 27 The Discovery behind the Royal Terror Theatre. Reproduced by permission of the SPRI. ..................................................................................................................................... 173 Figure 28 The “Dishcover Minstrel