The Killing of Sister George
The Killing of Sister George © 1965 by Frank Marcus. All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc., must be made before rehearsal to Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Ltd., National House, 60-66 Wardour Street, London W1V 4ND. No performance may be given unless license has been obtained. This play is fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the United States of America and all countries ot the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions. The Killing of Sister George is published by Samuel French Ltd, 52 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T5JR. No part of this publication may lawfully be reproduced in ANY form or by any means—photocopying, typescript, recording (including video-recording), manuscript, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise—or be transmitted or stored in a retrieval system, without prior permission. Right of Performance by Amateurs are controlled by Samuel French Ltd, 52 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T5JR, and they, or their authorized agents, issue licenses to amateurs on payment of a fee. It is an infringement of the Copyright to give any performance or public reading of the play before the fee has been paid and the license issued. Licenses are issued subject to the understanding that it shall be made clear in all advertising matter that the audience will witness all amateur performance; that the names of the authors of the plays shall be included on all announcements and on all programmes; and that the integrity of the author’s work will be preserved. The Royalty Fee indicated below is subject to contract and subject to variation at the sole discretion of Samuel French Ltd. Basic fee for each and every performance by amateurs in the British Isles: Code M. In theatres or halls seating four hundred or more the fee will be subject to negotiation. In territories overseas the fee quoted above may not apply. A fee will be quoted on application to our local authorized agent, or if there is no such agent, on application to Samuel French Ltd, London.
Eileen Atkins (Alice), Beryl Reid (June) and Lally Bowers (Mercy in The Killing of Sister George, at the Belasco Theatre, 1965. (Photograph reprinted with permission from the John Willis Theatre World/Screen World Archive.)
The Killing of Sister George was first presented in London at the Duke of York’s Theatre on June 17, 1965. It was produced by Michael Codron in association with Bernard Delfont, and directed by Val May. The production was designed by Catherine Browne.
Cast
| Alice “Childie” McNaught | Eileen Atkins |
| June Buckridge (Sister George) | Beryl Reid |
| Mrs. Mercy Croft | Lally Bowers |
| Madame Xenia | Margaret Courtenay |
The Killing of Sister George was first produced in the United States at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway on Wednesday, October 5, 1966. It was produced by Helen Bonfils and Morton Gottlieb, by arrangement with Michael Codron in association with Bernard Delfont. It was directed by Val May. The foreign production was designed by Catherine Browne, and the American production was supervised by William Rittman. The costumes were supervised by Jane Greenwood.
Cast
| Alice “Childie” McNaught | Eileen Atkins |
| June Buckridge (Sister George) | Beryl Reid |
| Mrs. Mercy Croft | Lally Bowers |
| Madame Xenia | Polly Rowles |
| STANDBYS | Paddy Croft |
| Anne Murray |
General Manager: Richard Seader
Press: Dorothy Ross, Richard O’Brien, Michael Gershman, Jane Friedman
Stage Managers: Warren Crane, Anne Murray
The action takes place in the living room of June Buckridge’s flat on Devonshire Street, in London’s West End.