My first involvement with the Criterion was assisting Jeff Hadley with the set construction of Crime and Punishment. In those days, money was tight and materials short so there was a lot of what we now know as recycling. All nails were recovered and straightened, screws were few and far between and the wooden beer crates were repurposed for all manner of uses on stage. There was always the smell of glue size used for both the powder scenic paint and canvassing of flats (none of this plywood malarkey back then). Does anyone remember the Dravo hot air blower in the wings?

This play marked my first involvement with the Criterion. Assisting Jeff Hadley with the set build, I distinctly remember the welcome extended to me by the membership secretary (a certain Keith Railton) and the other cast and crew members. During the course of this play, Messers Bennett, Hadley and Brown became Geoff, Jeff and Terry outside of Caludon Castle while the were still Sir during the day at school. Crime and Punishment introduced me to the amazing Criterion “family” which has been part of my life ever since.