Travel: Whitehaven to London

Having completed a three-night run of Pierrot In Turquoise at the Rosehill Theatre in Moresby, Cumbria, Lindsay Kemp’s troupe returned to London on 6 January 1968.

Travelling with Kemp were the play’s other two performers, David Bowie and Jack Birkett (a blind performer also known as the Great Orlando), plus costume designer Natasha Kornilof, pianist Michael Garrett, and stage director Craig San Roque and his wife. As she had done for the outgoing journey, Kornilof, the only licence-holder, drove the rented Transit van for the 270-mile journey back to London.

The musical had opened at Oxford’s New Theatre on 28 December 1967, and on 3, 4, and 5 January ran at the Rosehill Theatre.

Although not a financial success, Kemp and the team were happy with the reception afforded to Pierrot In Turquoise, and they began planning a London production. That took place on 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 March 1968 at the Mercury Theatre; and on 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 March 1968 at the Intimate Theatre.