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Judi Dench first reigned in Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1953 school play
Alistair Foster23 Feb 2010
Much ado was made of Dame Judi Dench's reprisal of her role as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the age of 75.
When she began her run at The Rose in Kingston last week, comparisons were made with what was believed to have been her first time in the role in Peter Hall's 1962 production.
But a black and white photograph shows she had an earlier billing as queen of the fairies at the age of 18 when she was still at school.
Former schoolfriend Jean Morkill says it shows the cast of the 1953 Bootham School production of Shakespeare's comedy.
Dench is sitting in the middle surrounded by other cast members from the boarding school in York.
Mrs Morkill described her as “lovely and vivacious” during their three-night run. She said: “She was full of fun, a good giggler.
"She could hold an audience, even then as a schoolgirl. The play was great fun. We spent a whole term rehearsing.
“Many of our parents lived far away so it was mainly local people in the audience. The reception was great.”
Mrs Morkill described how she, then 15, and Dame Judi would read some of the more erotic passages in the play to spice up rehearsals.
She added: “She and I sat together at meal times and we would translate some of the speeches that we shouldn't have. We would catch each other's eye during rehearsals and smile — no one would know what we were laughing at.”
Mrs Morkill said her friend was always destined for stardom. “If a group of us were in her study, she was always the one holding court, telling a story. She was very good at acting at school. She performed in a lot of local productions.
“She didn't set out to be an actress. I remember her being more interested in theatre design. But she soon switched.
“It's lovely [what she has achieved]. She is still the same person really. She has not become stagey'. She's very friendly.
“I've been to see her in one or two things over the years and if I pass a note to theatre staff she will always find time to meet for a chat in her dressing room.”
