Principal Edwards Magic Theatre was an English performance art collective in the United Kingdom made up of about 14 musicians, poets, dancers, and sound and lighting technicians.
[2] Dancers included Gillian Hadley (choreographer), John McMahon Hill, Eva Darlow and Monica Nettles, while Les Adey, Harry Housman and Chris Runciman were responsible for sound, lighting, props and effects.
They were signed by Korner's management team and, with Peel's active support, performed at similar events and gigs in London and elsewhere, sharing bills with Pink Floyd, The Fugs, Family, Free, King Crimson, Yes, Deep Purple, Elton John, Ten Years After and others.
[3] They released their first single, "Ballad (of the Big Girl Now and a Mere Boy)", in July 1969, followed the next month by their first album, Soundtrack, produced by Peel and the band, and so called because music was only one aspect of their performance, which also incorporated dance, lighting and poetry.
[3] The sometimes whimsical, sometimes epic (verging on progressive rock) writing style of Cartwright, was paired with the eclectic lyrical contributions of David Jones, Gillian Hadley and Monica Nettles, and was performed by vocalist Vivienne McAuliffe.
With their education conflicting with their musical activities, members left their studies at Exeter and moved together into a large farmhouse/commune[2] near Kettering, Northamptonshire to rehearse and as a base for their extensive touring, often as a support act for more established bands.
"[3] In early 1972, the core trio of Root Cartwright, Belinda Bourquin and David Jones, formed a new more rock-oriented band, with the abbreviated name of Principal Edwards.
Singer Martin Stellman directed Denzel Washington in For Queen and Country; David Jones ran a community centre; and Root Cartwright became a gardener and photographic artist.
Nick Pallet and Geoff Nicholls played Twang and Bongo on Animal Kwackers,[5] a British children's programme similar to The Banana Splits, which would also feature Tony Hannaford from G.T.