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 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
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26 AUGUST – 3 OCTOBER 2009
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Ah! Sun, sea and sand. A white-washed villa. Abroad. The perfect setting for a summer holiday. Or better still for a somewhat illicit rendezvous with the one you love. That’s what Leslie has in mind when he takes the curvaceous and eager Eve to Portugal. But Leslie has not reckoned on – there’s always one mosquito bite on any holiday! – the absent-minded villa manager, ex-naval Commander Chittendon, whose waywardness isn’t helped by his penchant for the gin bottle. The Commander’s inefficiencies invariably mean all Leslie’s plans for sunny days and romantic nights go hilariously awry. As usual in a comedy by those masters of mayhem Michael Pertwee and John Chapman the situation soon accelerates into a classic farce full of mistaken identities – lawyers thought to be servants. Language screw-ups – ‘parlez-vous, uh, Portuguese?’ As well as an angry husband, a formidable mother-in-law, gorgeous girls and bellyfuls of laughs. The Mill is delighted to welcome back the wonderfully funny ROYCE MILLS, comic favourite of our audiences, who regaled us last year in DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER. This time ROYCE stars as the blustering – ‘Make mine a double!’ – villa manager Commander Chittendon. So hang on to your trousers as the combination of the irrepressible ROYCE MILLS and a stalwart Mill cast provides the HOLIDAY SNAP your photo album needs. An evening of joy and laughter that will have you rolling in the aisles. Cast in order of appearance: Commander
Chittenden (Chitto) - ROYCE MILLS
Directed by RON ALDRIDGE
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BELINDA
CARROLL (Celia) 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 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, STEPPING OUT and DON’T DRESS FOR
DINNER with Royce Mills and recently LOVE’S A LUXURY with Royce
Mills and last Christmas TOUCH AND GO. Belinda is married to the
actor Michael Cochrane and has three children. |
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RICHARD
DERRINGTON (Henry) At Sonning Richard has played Richard Willey
in OUT OF ORDER, Hubert Bonney in IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY and Bobby
Franklin in RUN FOR YOUR WIFE. His most recent Theatre has been
Prospero in THE TEMPEST, Macduff in MACBETH and Willy Loman in
DEATH OF A SALESMAN directed by Alison Sutcliffe. Richard has
worked with the RSC, The National Theatre and the Old Vic Company
although recently much of his theatre work has been with Alan
Ayckbourn’s Company at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.
He also adapted and directed MOBY DICK for The Company and the
following summer directed the world premiere of the new play by
Tim Firth ABSOLUTELY FRANK. Last summer he shared the directing
with Sir Alan of his “Things that Go Bump” season directing HAUNTING
JULIA. At Greenwich he played Colin in ABSENT FRIENDS and at Chester,
Alan Turing in BREAKING THE CODE for which he won the Liverpool
Echo Best Actor award. TV appearances include EASTENDERS, HEARTBEAT,
CROWN PROSECUTOR, SEAFORTH, LOVEJOY, TROUBLEMAKERS, MAKING OUT,
POIROT, JUPITER MOON, CASUALTY, DOCTORS, THE BILL, DREAMTEAM ,
HOLLYOAKS, DOC MARTIN and the soon to be seen Channel four series
THE QUEEN. Richard has played in over 200 radio drama productions
including Ariel in THE TEMPEST, Hollacut in THE SEA, Jacques in
JACQUES AND HIS MASTER with Alan Bennett and Barnaby in BARNABY
RUDGE. For 14 years he played Mark Hebden in THE ARCHERS. Amongst
many audio books he read the number one best seller THE DIVING
BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY as Book at Bedtime and BBC worldwide audio.
His first one-man show TAYLOR’S TICKLER played over 700 times
worldwide including the RNT, the RSC Swan before being put to
bed last year to be replaced by its sequel AND NOW – EZEKIEL TAYLOR! |
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FELICITY
DUNCAN (Eve) Felicity spent most of last year wearing white
lycra and singing Abba songs when she played Rosie in the International
Tour of MAMMA MIA – a terrific experience! Other theatre work
includes: GERTRUDE’S SECRET (New End & national tour with Prunella
Scales) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with the legendary Topol at The London
Palladium & on tour, NOISES OFF, CIDER WITH ROSIE, BILLY LIAR,
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Liverpool Playhouse) DICK WHITTINGTON,
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Salisbury Playhouse), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
and DICK WHITTINGTON (Belgrade Coventry), THE WIZARD OF OZ (Watermill,
Newbury), DR LIVINGSTONE I PRESUME? (Riverside Studios, Hammersmith),
EDMUND KEAN (Watford Palace),YOU NEVER CAN TELL (Mercury Colchester),
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKERS (Polka), SADLY SOLO JOE (Greenwich
Theatre) Television work: EASTENDERS, HOLBY CITY, THE BILL, RICKY’S
JOKE SHOP Voice over work: THE ADVENTURES OF SEXTON BLAKE (BBC
Radio 2) , 8 FAIRY TALES, JOKES, RHYMES AND FUNNY STORIES for
Harper Collins; FANNY HILL (solo reading), educational tapes for
Pearson Education and Scholastic, talking books for the RNIB,
cartoon voices for the Sky Network (ELIOT MOUSE, LAURA’S STAR,
ROCKET BOY (CBEEBIES), BUTTERCUP WOOD, HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR
MONSTER, BALI. With her writing partner Jon Osbaldeston, Felicity
has written and recorded two series of THE ADVENTURES OF PG WOODLOUSE
for BBC Radio 7. |
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BRIAN
GODFREY (Perky) Born in south London, Brian comes from a family
of variety artistes – his grandmother was leading lady at the
Old Surrey Theatre. At fourteen he appeared in I COULD GO ON SINGING
with Judy Garland, and film appearances since then have included
roles in STAND UP VIRGIN SOLDIERS, A BRIDGE TOO FAR, GANDHI and
QUEEN KONG. Television credits include THE KENNY EVERETT SHOWS,
UP THE ELEPHANT AND ROUND THE CASTLE, HI-DE-HI, A CHANCE IN A
MILLION, NEVER THE TWAIN, MINDER and THE LES DAWSON SPECIAL. West
End credits include the revue OFF THE PEG, Linus in YOU’RE A GOOD
MAN CHARLIE BROWN and Bobby Franklin in RUN FOR YOUR WIFE at the
Criterion, Whitehall and Duchess Theatres. He has also played
this role in Canada, both Northern and Southern Ireland and on
tour in this country with Les Dawson. Other tours include THE
MATING SEASON with Sid James, COME BLOW YOUR HORN, IT AIN’T HALF
HOT MUM, LET’S GO CAMPING and the Rodgers and Hart musical BABES
IN ARMS. He played the Bellhop in a Middle and Far East tour of
LEND ME A TENOR for Derek Nimmo. Christmas 2009 will be the twenty
third consecutive year he has appeared in Pantomime for E&B/QDOS
Productions. |
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ROYCE
MILLS (Commander Chittenden) 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 coproduced, 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 7 Russell’s TREASURE
ISLAND, George Cole’s accountant in MINDER and 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 gave voices to the
Daleks in four series of DR WHO which are currently being re-released
on DVD. Royce trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
where he was Major Open Scholar in Dramatic Art, Gold Medalist
and Shakespeare Prizeman. |
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PATRICK
MONCKTON (Leslie) This is Patrick’s 8th visit to Sonning having
appeared in BIRTHDAY SUITE, SEE HOW THEY RUN, CALIFORNIA SUITE,
MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, OUT OF ORDER and NOT NOW DARLING. Recent
theatre work: BIRTHDAY SUITE (on tour wth Bruce James’ Production,
and NOBODY’S PERFECT by Simon Williams (on tour), HENRY IV Part
One and Two at The Bristol old Vic. His wide-ranging theatre credits
include Sir Peter Hall’s LYSISTRATA in The West End, Vienna and
Athens. Martini in a national tour of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S
NEST, BREEZEBLOCK PARK, ONE FOR THE ROAD at Windsor, DON JUAN,
FLIGHT, CAN’T PAY WON’T PAY at Bristol Old Vic, BEDROOM FARCE,
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, FUNNY PECULIAR at Haymarket, Leicester.
At the National Theatre HAMLET, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, PLUNDER
and TAMBURLAINE. Patrick’s many TV credits include DINOTOPIA,
TOUCHING EVIL, CORONATION STREET, EASTENDERS, AN ACTOR’S LIFE
FOR ME, LICKING HITLER, BERGERAC, MINDER, SECRET SERVANT and THE
BILL. He has worked on Television in America and Canada with guest
roles in DRACULA – THE SERIES, THE RETURN OF SAM McCLOUD, SHERLOCK
HOLMES AND THE LEADING LADY, RIVIERA, YOUNG INDIANA JONES and
he played the part of Dr Watson in the recent remake of ALFRED
HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: MY DEAR WATSON. Films include WHATEVER HAPPENED
TO HAROLD SMITH, THE BORROWERS, THE FIRST KANGAROOS, CRUSOE and
HANNAH’S WAR. Most recently was in the BBC’s BLEAK HOUSE and the
film KEEPING MUM. |
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MICHELLE
MORRIS (Mary) Born in Jersey, Michelle trained at Webber Douglas,
graduating with Honours. As a member of The National Youth Music
Theatre she performed in RAGGED CHILD and PENDRAGON which won
a Fringe First Award, performing in New York, Hong Kong, Canada,
Taipei, West End, Edinburgh Festival, Sydmonton Festival and The
Royal Albert Hall. She is also on the original cast recording
of PENDRAGON. Michelle’s Theatre Credits include Mary Smith in
the 25th Anniversary National Tour of RUN FOR YOUR WIFE; Linda
Swan in CASH ON DELIVERY – National Tour; Helen Avery in THE COLOUR
OF JUSTICE at The Tricycle Theatre, National Theatre, West End
and National Tour; Molly in LOVE’S A LUXURY at Vienna’s English
Theatre; Christine in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, Cynthia in ONE FOR THE
POT, Jean in DON’T JUST LIE THERE SAY SOMETHING, Jane in TWO AND
TWO MAKE SEX and Julie in PERFECT WEDDING all at The Mill at Sonning
Theatre. Jack in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at Theatre Royal Windsor
(with Eric Sykes). She was also chosen to create the lead role
of Lisa in HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? by Peter Terson at Broomhill,
and played Jacquinetta in LOVES LABOURS LOST at Cliveden Open
Air Theatre. Michelle’s Television Credits include Jess Haworth
in THE KNOCK (series regular); Joolz in BIG KIDS; THE COLOUR OF
JUSTICE; BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS; BUGS and READY STEADY COOK.
Michelle’s Film Credits include WHAT A GIRL WANTS . Michelle also
regularly works as a presenter for Oxford University Press, Visua,
Avvio Productions, Reed and Interact. Michelle has completed five
London Marathons, and to date has raised over £25,000 for various
charities. Her other fundraising events include: The New York
City Marathon, The Moonwalk, A Parachute Jump!, numerous half
marathons including The Great North and The Great South Runs and
five swimathons. Her next charity projects are the Paris Marathon
and a Wing Walk. |
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| RON
ALDRIDGE (Director) Ron’s career as Director/Writer/Actor
has spanned over 30 years. He has directed in repertory theatre,
on the London Fringe, at the Edinburgh Festival, in Israel (directing
in Hebrew), in Vienna (directing in English), on numerous U.K.
touring productions and Summer Seasons, and in the West End of
London. He has written 12 stage plays, and his three recent stage
comedies, YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE and THAT’S
LOVE, have been published by Josef Weinbergers. His one-man play
HOVERING was nominated for an award at the ‘97 Edinburgh Festival.
His new children’s play EAT A RAINBOW premiered this Spring, and
his new one-man play MY DOG’S GOT NO NOSE will premiere at the
Key Theatre, Peterborough in October. As an actor, notable West
End appearances have included the lead role in the awardwinning
CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, the long-running comedy RUN FOR YOUR
WIFE, FUNNY MONEY and THE ODD COUPLE. Television appearances include;
LONDON’S BURNING, THE BILL, 2.4 CHILDREN, FOOLS GOLD, MINDER,
NELSON’S COLUMN, EASTENDERS and Bronco in ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES.
He has directed 12 productions at The Mill and is delighted to
be invited back. Productions of ‘various’ of his plays are currently
being presented in Hungary, Israel, Belgium, Germany, Holland
and Switzerland. |
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TONY
EDEN (Set designer) Tony is the resident scenic artist at
The Mill where numerous shows have included THAT’S LOVE, 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
DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE, NOT NOW DARLING,
ALONE TOGETHER AGAIN, PERFECT WEDDING, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, RUN
FOR YOUR WIFE, THAT’S LOVE, BIRTHDAY SUIT, TOUCH AND GO and is
delighted to be invited back to design the set for HOLIDAY SNAP. |
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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 making a variety of both
period and modern costumes of which she has made many whilst at
the Mill. |
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MATTHEW
BISS (Lighting Designer) Matthew is currently working as Technical
Manager at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead and is
delighted to be invited back to The Mill to light HOLIDAY SNAP.
A few of his numerous previous designs at The Mill, include SEPARATE
TABLES, TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX, CAUGHT IN THE NET, SHADY BUSINESS,
A TOUCH OF SPRING, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE, ABSENT FRIENDS, OUT OF
ORDER, MURDER BY MISADVENTURE, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER, NOEL &
GERTIE, ALPHABETICAL ORDER, A NIGHT IN PROVENCE, THE HEIRESS,
MURDER HUNT, SOUND OF MURDER, A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, DEADLY MURDER,
THE BED BEFORE YESTERDAY and THE ODD COUPLE. |
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| SALLY
HUGHES (Artistic Director) Sally spent her early years in
Venezuela and Argentina and after finishing her education in England,
she then trained 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 recent appearances include A
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY – THE STORY OF DORIS DAY, TOO MARVELOUS FOR
WORDS, both directed by Alvin Rakoff, ALPHABETICAL ORDER & THE
HEIRESS both directed by Anthony Valentine. A few of the plays
Sally has directed at The Mill are A FOOT IN THE DOOR, STEPPING
OUT, A TOUCH OF SPRING, FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS and very recently
the world premiere of MURDER HUNT by Brian Clemens and LOVE’S
A LUXURY. Sally enjoys a career outside of The Mill and has played
leading parts in the BBC series LATE EXPECTATIONS and LAURA AND
DISORDER in which she played Wendy Craig’s daughter-in-law. Other
TV appearances include: DON’T WAIT UP, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES,
BRUSHSTROKES, MULBERRY and KIDNAPPED ABROAD. 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. |
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MICHAEL
PERTWEE (Playwright) Michael was only twenty-one when his
first play, a comedy thriller, was produced in 1936 at London’s
Strand Theatre and later in New York. He wrote the book of the
musical THE FOUR MUSKETEERS which starred Harry Secombe at Drury
Lane. He wrote three of Brian Rix’s successful, long-running
farces – SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN; DON’T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING!
and A BIT BETWEEN THE TEETH, and also BIRDS OF PARADISE, SEXTET
and co-wrote LOOK, NO HANS! with John Chapman. Michael has written
some forty feature films including LAUGHTER IN PARADISE; THE
NAKED TRUTH with Peter Sellers; A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE
WAY TO THE FORUM; STRANGE BEDFELLOWS with Rock Hudson and Gina
Lollobrigida and SALT AND PEPPER with Sammy Davis Jnr. |
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| JOHN
CHAPMAN (Playwright) John Chapman’s first play, DRY ROT, opened
at the Whitehall Theatre, London in 1954. It proved to be a resounding
success, and ran for three and a half years, a total of 1,475
performances. His next play, SIMPLE SPYMAN, also ran for three
years and was followed by THE BRIDES OF MARCH, DIPLOMATIC BAGGAGE
and OH! CLARENCE. John Chapman was well known for his collaborations
with Carla Lane in THE LIVER BIRDS and Ray Cooney in the ever-popular
MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, MY GIDDY AUNT, NOT NOW DARLING and THERE
GOES THE BRIDE. He also wrote over two hundred TV comedies, including
BLANDINGS CASTLE for Sir Ralph Richardson, HAPPY EVER AFTER (co-written
with Eric Merriman) which starred June Whitfield and Terry Scott,
as well as twenty six episodes of a highly successful Thames Television
series FRESH FIELDS, with Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers, which
won the Emmy Award in America for the most popular comedy. |
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| Production: | |
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Production Manager -
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Joan Farnese |
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Stage
Manager -
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James Neal |
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Chief
Electrician -
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Nathan Caples |
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Wardrobe
Mistress -
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Jane Kidd |
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Deputy
Stage Managers -
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Karen Brown & Lottie Cousins |
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Assistant
Stage Manager -
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Claire Baker |
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Technician
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Michelle Green |
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Scenic
Artist -
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Tony Eden |
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Technical
Assistant -
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Simon Graves |
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Wardrobe
Assistant -
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Evelyn Fidler |
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Dressers
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Ann
Baker, Lynn Hinton, Catherine Bristow, Terry Bartholomew, Karen Vass & Sarah Reynolds |
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Theatre
Production Photography -
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Norman Weston |
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Website
Production -
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Chris Berry |