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 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
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We are
delighted to welcome back the wonderfully funny ROYCE MILLS, firm
favourite of The Mill's audience. Royce is not only acting in, but also
directing this fast and furious farce that he starred in for four years
during its successful West End run. Royce plays Bernard, an errant
husband, who wants to spend a naughty weekend with his dazzling
mistress Suzanne. He sees his opportunity when his equally stunning
wife, Jacqueline, decides to visit her mother. To make the night more
memorable Bernard hires a cook. For the sake of appearances he also
invites his best friend Robert. However, unbeknown to Bernard, wife
Jacqueline also has a secret lover….the same Robert! Hearing that he is
coming to dinner she cancels her plans and decides to stay at home.
Bernard's amorous plans are in tatters. They are further complicated
with the arrival of the quirky cook - Suzette. The situation soon
accelerates into a classic farce full of mistaken identities, gorgeous
girls and bellyfuls of laughs. So hang onto your trousers as the
combination of the irrepressible Royce Mills and the saucy DON'T DRESS
FOR DINNER will have you rolling in the aisles.
The action takes place in the main
living-room of a country house some distance from Paris
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ROYCE MILLS
(Bernard/Director) Royce trained at the Guildhall School of Music
and Drama where he was the Major Open Scholar in Dramatic Art, the Gold
Medalist and Shakespeare Prizeman. Before going to the GSMD he studied
Fine Art, trained and practiced as a theatrical designer and ran a
summer repertory company. ‘It occurred to me I might be more suited to
walking the boards than painting them!’ West End debut was in the 1967
revival of THE BOY FRIEND (Comedy), since when appearances include the
Gershwin/Wodehouse musical OH, KAY! (Westminster), GIVE A DOG A BONE
(Westminster), Ben Travers’ last play THE BED BEFORE YESTERDAY (Lyric),
SMALL AND BRASSY - a revue (Wyndham’s) which he also co-produced,
Boucicault’s THE STREETS OF LONDON (Her Majesty’s), Ray Cooney’s RUN
FOR YOUR WIFE! (Shaftesbury and Criterion), Dr Brubaker in THE SEVEN
YEAR ITCH (Albery), SEE HOW THEY RUN (Shaftesbury), THE PHANTOM OF THE
OPERA (Her Majesty’s), SOME LIKE IT HOT (Prince Edward). DON’T DRESS
FOR DINNER (Apollo and Duchess), in which he played the lead
continuously for almost five years, Ostrovsky’s THE FOREST adapted by
Alan Ayckbourn (Royal National Theatre), JEFFREY BERNARD IS UNWELL (Old
Vic) - recreating the performance he gave with Peter O’Toole ten years
previously (Apollo and Shaftesbury) and Gillian Lynne’s ‘musical for
London’ DICK WHITTINGTON (Sadler’s Wells). For nearly four years he was
a principal with The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company at the Savoy Theatre,
appearing as Sir Joseph Porter KCB in HMS PINAFORE (also in USA),
Major-General Stanley in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Private Willis in
IOLANTHE and Pooh-Bah in their critically acclaimed new production of
THE MIKADO. Television debut was on BBC Children’s Television, live
from Lime Grove, in 1955 (as a boy!) since when nearly 2,000
appearances range from Bing Crosby’s butler, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES and
THE MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW to Squire Trelawney in Ken Russell’s
TREASURE ISLAND and, most recently, in OUT OF SIGHT and POLTERGUEST for
Carlton and the BBC’s series about M15 - SPOOKS. Films include UP
POMPEII, UP THE CHASTITY BELT, REAL LIFE, SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY,
MAHOGANY and Mel Brooks’ HISTORY OF THE WORLD - PART ONE. For twenty
years he was heard regularly on Radio 4’S WEEK ENDING and the World
Service compilation TWO CHEERS, also many series based on PG
Wodehouse’s stories from BLANDINGS. He is immensely proud of having
given the Daleks voices for four series of DR WHO. Royce has
copresented several successful national tours, such as BOEING-BOEING
(with Richard O’Sullivan and Yootha Joyce) and HABEAS CORPUS (with
Alfred Marks and Irene Handl). Design credits range from the children’s
classic PIPPI LONGSTOCKING to national tours like DEAD ON NINE. His
work as a director includes ALL FOR MARY, TURTLE ISLAND and SEE HOW
THEY RUN in Singapore. Last Summer and Autumn saw him back in the West
End in another run of JEFFREY BERNARD IS UNWELL (Garrick) – this time
with Tom Conti as the eponymous hero – and at Christmas he was once
again in pantomime at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford. |
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| BELINDA
CARROLL (Jacqueline) Belinda is the 5th generation of an acting
family, whose grandparents ran and acted in companies all round the
country. In the West End she has appeared with Donald Sinden in THERE’S
A GIRL IN MY SOUP; with Gladys Cooper in HIS HERS AND THEIRS; with
Douglas Fairbanks Jnr in THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY; with David Jason
in NO SEX PLEASE WE’RE BRITISH; with Dorothy Tutin in PETER PAN; with
Gordon Jackson in CARDS ON THE TABLE, and John Inman in CHARLEY’S AUNT.
At the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester she appeared in TIME AND THE
CONWAYS, and at the Theatre Royal Windsor in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST; AN IDEAL HUSBAND; DEAR OCTOPUS, HAPPIEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE;
DEAR BRUTUS and THE HOLLOW. At the King’s Head she played Peter Pan in
THE PETER PAN MAN. She has toured extensively in musicals including THE
BOYFRIEND, SALAD DAYS, NO NO NANETTE and WILDEST DREAMS and many
pantomimes throughout the country. On television Belinda has been in:
TARTUFFE, LOVEJOY, MALICE AFORETHOUGHT, A QUESTION OF GUILT, DUCHESS OF
DUKE ST, GASLIGHT THEATRE opposite Ronnie Barker, MURDER ROOMS,
WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE, CASUALTY. She starred in the psychological drama
film NO LONGER ALONE with James Fox. At Sonning, her many appearances
include TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX, OUT OF ORDER, FUNNY MONEY, NOT NOW
DARLING, STEPPING OUT and most recently last Christmas in IT RUNS IN
THE FAMILY and cruising the Caribbean with Ray Cooney in IT RUNS IN THE
FAMILY and OUT OF ORDER. |
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ELIZABETH
ELVIN (Suzette) Elizabeth trained at the Arts Educational Drama
School. THEATRE: SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Palace Theatre & Chester
Gateway Theatre (Best Actress Award). THE RETURN, Birmingham Stage Co.
A PATCH OF BLUE, Kings Head. THE SHY GAS MAN, for Sweetheart
Productions. HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, Bristol Old Vic. World Premiere
of Noel Cowards VOLCANO, Palace Theatre. A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM,
Liverpool Playhouse. MERCHANT OF VENICE, Palace Theatre. INTIMATE
EXCHANGES, Everyman, Cheltenham. NOISES OFF, Liverpool Playhouse. 101
DALMATIANS, No. 1 Tour. WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, Everyman/Cheltenham. THE
LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE, Lyric, Hammersmith, AGATHA CHRISTIE
FESTIVAL Palace Theatre (Best Actress Award). MACBETH,
Everyman/Cheltenham. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM,
Chichester & Piccadilly Theatre. CHARLIE GIRL, National Tour. THE
BELLS at the Lyceum Theatre with Steven Berkoff. For The Mill At
Sonning: BORN YESTERDAY, STEPPING OUT, ALONE TOGETHER AGAIN, A BEDFULL
OF FOREIGNERS, HOLIDAY SNAP, POOLS PARADISE, LOVE’S A LUXURY, BEDSIDE
MANNERS. TELEVISION & FILM includes: HOT FUZZ Sheree Prosser
Universal Pictures, PANDEMIC BBC, HG Wells – A LIFE IN PICTURES,
BBC/Wall to Wall Productions. FOOTBALLERS WIVES, Shed Productions.
FAMILY PORTRAIT, Brainchild Productions. STATE OF PLAY, BBC. Bernie in
WICKHAM ROAD, Northiam Films Ltd. Penelope in IF ONLY, Cable. TESTAMENT
OF YOUTH, RENTAGHOST, BBC. HEAVEN’S GATE, MGM. THE JULIO INGLESIAS
SHOW, Cable. RINGS ON THEIR FINGERS, BBC. Elizabeth has also spent a
year under contract to MGM in the USA. |
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| MAXINE
GREGORY (Suzanne) Maxine Gregory studied Ancient History at Swansea
University and took the post-graduate classical acting course at
LAMDA.Maxine is delighted to be returning to Sonning where she has
appeared previously in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, TIME TO KILL, FRENCH
WITHOUT TEARS and STRICTLY MURDER. Maxine recently toured England and
Norway with the British Shakespeare Company playing Helena in A
MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM. At Chichester Festival Theatre she played The
Poacher's Wife in THE RECRUITING OFFICER and at the Minerva Theatre
Chichester, she played Davis in THE SEA, Helen in TROY, Mlle Y in
STRETCHING STRINDBERG, Nadia in UNMAN, WITTERING AND ZIGO, Neaera in
THE DARK TOWER and Eileen in A NIGHT OUT. Maxine has also appeared in
several pantos. At Oxford Playhouse she played Jill in JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK and at Cambridge Arts Theatre she has been the Princess in
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, Fairy Bowbells in DICK WHITTINGTON and last
Christmas the Princess in ALADDIN. In London Maxine played Dora in
DAISY PULLS IT OFF (West End), Ellen in YOU'RE GONNA LOVE TOMORROW
(Greenwich Playhouse), Sally in EVERYTHING'S GREAT (Wimbledon Studio)
and Judith in THE DISPUTATION ( New End Theatre,Hampstead). Maxine was
in HOLBY CITY (BBC) as Sophie Baker and has done extensive radio and
conference work. When time permits she plays the piano and composes her
own music |
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MARTYN
STANBRIDGE (Robert) Martyn trained at The Drama Centre. Martyn's
theatre work includes: seasons at Oxford Playhouse, Birmingham Rep,
Bromley, Bristol Old Vic, Cambridge, Liverpool Playhouse, Glasgow
Citizens, Theatr Clwyd, Dublin, Exeter, Cheltenham, Westcliff, Windsor,
Northampton and Sonning. Plays include: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, PEER
GYNT, CHIPS WITH EVERYTHING, THE WHITE DEVIL, MACBETH, TRANSLATIONS,
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, SALONIKA, WILD OATS, ABSENT FRIENDS, LES LIASONS
DANGEREUSES, DEATHTRAP, SAME TIME NEXT YEAR, BEDSIDE MANNERS, THE
MAINTENANCE MAN, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, ROMANTIC
COMEDY, WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY, THE CONSTANT COUPLE, BRIEF ENCOUNTER, I
REMEMBER YOU, MURDER BY MISADVANTURE, THE GRADUATE (UK tour), DANGEROUS
OBSESSION (UK tour), and most recently REBECCA (UK tour). In London:
VENICE PRESERVED at the National Theatre, THE VORTEX at the Garrick
Theatre, BERENICE at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, THE MILLIONAIRES
and THREE SISTERS at The Greenwich Theatre, THE CASTLE SPECTRE at the
Croydon Warehouse, THE VERGE at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, and
very recently ALPHABETICAL ORDER here at the Mill at Sonning.
Television: GOOD AND BAD AT GAMES, A POCKETFUL OF RYE, PARADISE
POSTPONED, MURROW, AD, THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR, HEDGEHOG WEDDING,
PARTNERS LOVERS SPIES (NBC – USA), THE BILL, DOCTOR FINLAY , McLIBEL,
DOCTORS and EASTENDERS. |
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| MATTHEW WYNN (George)
Matthew
was born in Middlesbrough and trained at the Royal Welsh College
of Music and Drama. This is his second production at the Mill
having played "Dozer" in the British Premiere of "SHADY BUSINESS"
by Robin Hawdon in 2005. His other theatre work includes playing
Judd in BOUNCERS by John Godber (Wakefield Theatre Royal) and
most recently (Hull Truck Theatre Company), HENRY V and A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT'S DREAM (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), THE GUARDSMAN (The
Albery Theatre and Number One tour), TEECHERS (Wimbledon Theatre),
CHRISTIE IN LOVE (Edinburgh Festival), THE NEARLY MEN (Sixth Sense
Theatre Company), THIS SECRET LIFE (Sixth Sense Theatre Company),
STINK (Quondam Theatre Company), ROMEO AND JULIET (West 28th Street
Theatre Company), FIELD OF FIRE (Pop Up Theatre Company). Television
work includes, 55 DEGREES NORTH (BBC), HARRY AND COSH (Channel
5) and BYKER GROVE (BBC). He provided the voice of Faramir in
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS game for Sony Playstation
and appeared alongside Ian Hart and Lena Heady in the feature
film ADERDEEN (winner of Best Film at the Hamptons Film Festival,
New York). |
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TONY EDEN
(Set designer) Tony is the resident scenic artist at The Mill where
numerous shows have included INTIMATE EXCHANGES, SEPARATE TABLES, TWO
AND TWO MAKE SEX, and more. He graduated from Central School of Speech
and Drama in 2004 having worked on over 12 shows in the College Studio
space and main theatre. Other work has been at the Battersea Arts
Centre, Riverside Studios and Polka Theatre. Tony’s previous designs
for the Mill include IT’S NEVER TOO LATE and NOT NOW DARLING, ALONE
TOGETHER AGAIN, PERFECT WEDDING, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK and is delighted
to be invited back to design the set for DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER |
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| JANE KIDD
(Costume Designer) Jane, who is our Resident Costume Designer,
trained in Fashion Design at Berkshire College of Art. She freelanced
in knitwear and dress design for five years before joining The Mill as
Wardrobe Mistress, and enjoys a variety of making both period and
modern costumes of which she has made many whilst at The Mill. Some of
Jane’s recent costume designs include, STEPPING OUT, THERE GOES THE
BRIDE, I REMEMBER YOU, MURDER BY MISADVENTURE, OUT OF ORDER, ABSENT
FRIENDS, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE, A TOUCH OF SPRING, SHADY BUSINESS, CAUGHT
IN THE NET, TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX, SEPARATE TABLES, INTIMATE EXCHANGES,
NOT NOW DARLING, THE MAINTENANCE MAN, STRICTLY MURDER, ALONE TOGETHER
AGAIN, STARRY, STARRY NIGHT, TIME OF MY LIFE, PERFECT WEDDING, FRENCH
WITHOUT TEARS, TIME TO KILL, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY, SAME TIME NEXT
YEAR, DOUBLE DEATH, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, ALPHABETICAL ORDER and CHORUS
OF DISAPPROVAL. |
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JANET A
CANTRILL (Lighting Designer) Since graduating from Rose Bruford,
Janet has worked with a variety of touring companies, such as Shared
Experience, Monstrous Regiment and Gay Sweatshop as Stage Manager. She
has worked most recently at East 15 Acting School as Lighting
Technician/Tutor and at Webber Douglas Academy as Production Manager.
As a technician Janet worked at the Bloomsbury Theatre and the Tom
Allen Centre, Stratford and The Drill Hall where she was Sound Engineer
on the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain Concert Season. As a Lighting
Designer Janet has lit shows for Webber Douglas, East 15, Bedfordshire
Youth Opera and South West Youth Theatre and has also worked rigging
Christmas decorations for James Glancy Design. |
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| SALLY HUGHES
(Artistic Director) Sally trained for the stage as an actress at
The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. On graduating she was given
her first engagement by John Fernald who directed her in COMING OF AGE.
Then followed ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN at The Bush and
CATCHPENNY TWIST at The King’s Head Theatre. In 1984 Sally took over
the post of Artistic Director of The Mill At Sonning from Peter Egan
and has directed and appeared in many of its productions, including
DAMES AT SEA (an excerpt of which was included in The Royal Gala
Performance in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales). Most recently
she appeared as Barbara Smith in CAUGHT IN THE NET directed by Ray
Cooneyand Ginger Mercer in the musical TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS directed
by Alvin Rakoff and ALPHABETICAL ORDER directed by Anthony Valentine.
The most recent plays Sally has directed at The Mill are STEPPING OUT
and FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS and TIME TO KILL. Sally’s TV appearances
include: LATE EXPECTATIONS and LAURA AND DISORDER, KEEPING UP
APPEARANCES, BRUSHSTROKES & MULBERRY. Sally directed the National
Tour of PASTIMES, starring Rosemary Leach and William Gaunt and also
directed BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by Neil Simon at the Jermyn Street
Theatre in the West End. Sally also appeared in TOO MARVELOUS FOR
WORDS, at the King's Head, London. |
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ROBIN HAWDON
(Playwright) Robin Hawdon has had an extremely varied career. From
novelist and West End playwright, to soap actor, beefcake film star and
Hamlet, to director of one of England’s foremost theatres, his
activities have spanned numerous aspects of the arts’. A few of his
plays produced at The Mill, include, THE MATING GAME, BIRTHDAY SUITE,
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT, PERFECT WEDDING, SHADY BUSINESS and a little later
on in the year, we are premiering his most recent play A NIGHT IN
PROVENCE. |
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| MARC
CAMOLETTI (Playwright) DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER by prolific French
playwright Marc Camoletti (Chevalier de la Legion d’Honeur) was
originally a smash hit in Paris before becoming London’s longest
running comedy. Camoletti first achieved worldwide acclaim for BOEING
BOEING which is currently enjoying a sell-out revival at the Comedy
Theatre in London. |
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| Production: | |
| Production Manager | Joan Farnese |
| Stage Manager | James Neal |
| Chief Electrician | Janet A Cantrill |
| Master Carpenter | Ian Stroud |
| Wardrobe Mistress | Jane Kidd |
| Deputy Stage Managers | Jo Vimpany, Neil Webb |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Karen Brown |
| Technician | Ed Marshall |
| Scenic Artist | Tony Eden |
| Assistant Carpenter | Simon Graves |
| Wardrobe Assistant | Evelyn Fidler |
| Dressers | Ann Baker,
Lynn Hinton, Catherine Bristow, Terry Bartholomew, Xye Appleton |
| Theatre Production Photography | Norman Weston |
| Website Production | Chris Berry |