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 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
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25
JUNE – 2 AUGUST
2008
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Charles
Pentwick, a flamboyant and successful theatrical producer is
a very lucky man. He’s always surrounded by gorgeous actresses
and attractive chorus girls. Only one problem. His wife is a
jealous and suspicious woman. With just cause! To escape being
henpecked, he and his actor friend Bobby Bentley flee to a country
cottage. Ah the peace and quiet! Expecting to be greeted by
the housekeeper, plain Mrs Harris, they find she is replaced
by her pert and pretty daughter, Molly, whose eyes alight with
delight on Bobby. Then the tantalising French starlet, Fritzy
Villiers, who fancies Charles, descends on the cottage. So that
when, unannounced, Mrs Charles Pentwick arrives, she reacts.
Vehemently! Only one solution, decides Bobby, the actor. To
make things look respectable, he will dress up and impersonate
the housekeeper! Matters are further complicated when, Dick,
the love-sick son of Charles, looking for paternal guidance,
also appears. As does Mr Mole, the wonderfully dotty scout-master,
camping nearby, who is confused by all these shenanigans. Events
spin deliriously out of control and soon the whole cast are
romping through a series of hilarious misunderstandings and
mistaken identities. This glorious comedy is a delicious cocktail
full of zest and fizz – guaranteed to send the audience home
with a spring in their step and a twinkle in their eye. By
arrangement with Cressrelles Publishing Company Limited, Malvern Cast in order of appearance: Molly
- ELIZABETH
ELVIN
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JENNIFER
BIDDALL (Fritzy Villiers) Jennifer trained at the Bristol
Old Vic Theatre School. in PRIVATE LIVES, Fiona in SALAD DAYS
and Maria in MARIA MARTEN AND THE MURDER IN THE RED BARN. Jennifer’s
love of performing began at an early age, and she learnt to deal
with the highs and lows of the profession as early as playschool,
when she was cast as an angel instead of the much coveted role
of Mary (this was later rectified in her 2nd year of drama school
she finally landed this role of Mary in THE NATIVITY!) Before
her training, Jennifer spent a year in Dallas, Texas, where she
performed in a number of productions, including PRIDE AND PREJUDICE,
playing Lydia, and in Chekov’s THE PROPOSAL, playing Natasha.
Jennifer recently finished filming her role of Jessica Harris
on the popular channel 4 show HOLLYOAKS, where she had been for
two and a half years. Her latest project was working on Channel
4’s new radio plays season, ‘The Plays the Thing’, playing Sarah
in PROUD SONGSTER by Stephen Todd. Other radio productions include
PRINCESS CARABOO, playing Princess Caraboo, and BLUE REMEMBERED
HILLS playing Angela. |
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| BELINDA
CARROLL (Mrs Pentwick) 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. Belinda is married to the actor Michael
Cochrane and has three children. |
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ERIC
CARTE (Charles Pentwick) Eric trained at the Drama Centre
in London. Recent Television and Film credits include: ROSEMARY
AND THYME, GLOBAL HEALTH, NEW TRICKS, MY FAMILY, DOCTORS, A VERY
BRITISH SEX SCANDAL, THE OMID DJALILI SHOW, THE END OF FAST REWIND,
SUPERGRASS, LADY GODIVA, THE LAVENDER LIST, SOMME, PROVOKED. He
is also presently filming the new CH4 comedy PLUS ONE. He appeared
in the successful West End runs of THE CONSTANT WIFE (with Jenny
Seagrove) and FALLEN ANGELS (with Felicity Kendal and Frances
de la Tour). Other West End Theatre includes: HAMLET (with Ian
McKellen), CORIOLANUS (with Nicol Williamson) for the RSC, BUTLEY
(with John Nettles), UNDERGROUND (with Raymond Burr), TWO INTO
ONE (with John Thaw and Daniel Massey). Extensive Regional Theatre
and International Tours include TOWARDS ZERO; M.BUTTERFLY; SEE
HOW THEY RUN; DEATHTRAP; ONLY WHEN I LAUGH; THE PLEASURE OF HIS
COMPANY; TEN TIMES TABLE; MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM; DEAD FUNNY; DANGEROUS
OBSESSION; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA; I AM
A CAMERA; DANGEROUS CORNER; THE LION IN WINTER (opposite Joan
Fontaine in Vienna); RUN FOR YOUR WIFE and FUNNY MONEY (for Ray
Cooney’s Comedy at Sea Company); PRIVATE LIVES; EASY VIRTUE (King’s
Head); BRIEF ENCOUNTER and THE GENTLE HOOK (Theatre Royal, Windsor).
Eric’s most recent appearances at the Mill were in MURDER BY MISADVENTURE,
POOL’S PARADISE and FUNNY MONEY |
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| ELIZABETH
ELVIN (Molly) Elizabeth trained at the Arts Educational Drama
School. THEATRE: SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Palace Theatre & Chester Gateway
Theatre (Best Actress Award). THE RETURN, Birmingham Stage Co.
LOTTE'S JOURNEY, Then New End, Hampstaed. 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 :DON'T DRESS
FOR DINNER, 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. Queen Bea BEYOND THE RAVE, Hammer House
of Horror. FAMILY PORTRAIT, Brainchild Productions. STATE OF PLAY,
BBC. Bernie in WICKHAM ROAD, Northiam Films Ltd. Penelope in IF
ONLY, Cable. Mrs. Harris, MONSTERS AND RABBITS. 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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PATRICIA
KANE (Mrs Harris) Patricia's wide-ranging theatre credits
include QUIET WEEKEND, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, NIGHT MUST FALL, THE
CRUCIBLE, THARK, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, FORGET- ME- NOT LANE,
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS, ON THE RAZZLE, ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, SISTERS
THREE, HAY FEVER, ROPE, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, THE OLD DEVILS
and THE WIZARD OF OZ. At The Mill her varied roles include PASTIMES,
PARTY PIECE, MURDER MISTAKEN, WORMS EYE VIEW, GRAPES AND RAISINS,
SYLVIA'S WEDDING, MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, THERE GOES THE BRIDE
and SEPARATE TABLES. Also OLD TIME MUSIC HALL with the Hiss &
Boo Company. TV credits include DISTRICT NURSE, UNEXPLAINED LAUGHTER,
TENDER LOVING CARE, OPEN ALL HOURS, VICAR OF DIBLEY, AQUILA, THE
BILL , DEVICES AND DESIRES, SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM,
DOCTORS, LITTLE BRITAIN, MIKE BASSETT FOOTBALL MANAGER, as well
as countless commercials for home and abroad, the current one
of which is for Shreddies. She plays the ‘bossy knitter’! |
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| ROYCE
MILLS (Bobby Bentley) 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 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 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. At Christmas he will
once again be seen in pantomime at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre,
Guildford. This year it is ALADDIN and ‘Widow Twankey’. |
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JEFFREY
PERRY (Mr Mole) This is Jeffrey’s fourth appearance at The
Mill where he has played Leonard in TIME AND TIME AGAIN, Humphrey
Millar in ALL FOR MARY and Josef in STRICTLY MURDER. He trained
at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has worked in most
regional companies and extensively for the Royal Exchange in Manchester.
Favourite parts include Willie Mossopp in HOBSON’S CHOICE, Arnold
in THE CIRCLE, Charles Appleby in EDEN END, Tusenbach in THE THREE
SISTERS and Douglas in MAN OF THE MOMENT. Jeffrey has toured Britain
as Gerald Forbes in WHEN WE ARE MARRIED, Dennis Wicksteed in HABEAS
CORPUS and Alfred Moulton-Barratt in ROBERT AND ELIZABETH (also
Canada) and toured Pakistan as Rupert Billings in THE HAPPIEST
DAYS OF YOUR LIFE. After its run at the Orange Tree in Richmond
he toured the Middle East in the John Mortimer double-bill EDWIN
and THE DOCK BRIEF. He appeared in the two FORGOTTEN VOICES OF
THE GREAT WAR seasons at The Pleasance and Southwark Playhouse.
At the Queen’s Theatre, London he played The Man From The Department
in PRISONER CELL BLOCK H – THE MUSICAL with Lily Savage. At The
King’s Head he appeared in the Ogden Nash review NASHVILLE and
as Mr De Pinna in YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU. At The Lyric Hammersmith
he played Gradgrind in Stephen Jeffrey’s adaptation of HARD TIMES.
Numerous television appearances include THE BILL (three times),
POIROT, EXECUTIVE STRESS, RUMPOLE, ABOUT FACE, COVINGTON CROSS,
CRIME TRAVELLERS, GALTON AND SIMPSON PLAYHOUSE, THERE’S A VIKING
IN MY BED, TOO MUCH SUN, THE TRIPODS, FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, MICAWBER,
UNNATURAL CAUSES and most recently RATHER YOU THAN ME, the BBC
Frankie Howerd story. He was Mr Tumnus in two series of THE CHRONICLES
OF NARNIA for BBC TV. Jeffrey is a Director of Not The National
Theatre and has toured with them in HARD TIMES (also Brazil, Argentina
and Chile) and as Norman in PLAYING SINATRA and Sigmund Freud
in HYSTERIA. |
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| JOSEPH
PITCHER (Dick) Joseph trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre
School. Theatre credits include: Peter in THE LION, THE WITCH
AND THE WARDROBE (West Yorkshire Playhouse), First Fairy and Demetrius
in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Young Siward in MACBETH, Flunkey
in LADY BE GOOD, Marcel in THE BOYFRIEND (all Open Air Theatre,
Regent’s Park), Alice in WONDERLAND (Birmingham Rep), Demetrius
and Flute in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Ipswich), Neal in LOVE
AND UNDERSTANDING (The Rosemary Branch), Melvyn in SISTERLY FEELINGS,
The Soldier in PEACE IN OUR TIME, Goshawk in THE ROARING GIRL
(all Bristol Old Vic), CHICAGO (Adelphi and Tour), ANYTHING GOES
(RNT, Drury Lane), SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (RNT, West Yorkshire Playhouse),
THE BOYFRIEND (National Tour) ME AND MY GIRL (National Tour),
Charlie Brown in SNOOPY THE MUSICAL (Jermyn Street) and OF THEE
I SING (Bridewell). Film and TV credits include: STRICTLY BODY
AND SOUL, SIGHT TEST, THE SACRAMENT, THE AUTOGRAPH, CHILDREN IN
NEED, MILLENNIUM STADIUM MUSICAL CELEBRATION. Radio and Voice
over work includes: Voicing the character of Skaggle in the animation,
THE REALITY MACHINE, GILBERT WITHOUT SULLIVAN and ON THE BOULEVARD. |
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SALLY
HUGHES (Director/Artistic Director) Sally spent her early
years in Venezuela and Argentina and after finishing her education
in England, she then 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), and most recently she appeared as Barbara
Smith in CAUGHT IN THE NET and Ginger Mercer in the musical TOO
MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, ALPHABETICAL ORDER and THE HEIRESS. A few
of the plays Sally has directed at The Mill are A FOOT IN THE
DOOR, POOLS PARADISE, THE FACE OF FEAR, STEPPING OUT, A TOUCH
OF SPRING, STRICTLY MURDER, ALONE TOGETHER AGAIN, FRENCH WITHOUT
TEARS, TIME TO KILL and very recently the world premiere of MURDER
HUNT by Brian Clemens. 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 daughterin-
law. Other TV appearances include: DON’T WAIT UP, 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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| DINAH
ENGLAND (Set designer) Dinah England trained in theatre design
at Nottingham Trent University and then worked as resident designer
for the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch where she designed set and
costumes for 28 main house productions. These included HARD TIMES,
THE ENTERTAINER, HAVING A BALL, JACK THE RIPPER, DON’T DRESS FOR
DINNER, A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, DRACULA, WHAT THE BUTLER SAW,
THE GLASS MENAGERIE, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, ONE FOR THE ROAD,
BLITHE SPIRIT, APRIL IN PARIS, THE GHOST TRAIN, LOST WORLD, BRIEF
ENCOUNTER, SLEUTH, SLEEPING BEAUTY, ROMEO AND JULIET and KEEP
ON RUNNING. She also designed costume for BLITZ and PERFECT PITCH,
a collaboration with Hull Truck, and set and costume for the community
plays THE CHAMPION OF THE HORNED CHURCH, CHECK IT OUT, DOWN THE
RIVER AND UP THE ROAD, BUBBLES IN THE AIR, and THE PATH OF THE
BRAVE. Now freelance, her designs include set and costume for
the UK production of MURDEROUS INSTINCTS which premiered at Theatre
Royal Norwich and The Savoy Theatre, London, YEAR 10 for The Finborough
Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre (Time Out Critics Season), Le Théâtre
National de Strasbourg and the Festival de Théâtre in Rennes,
MARTHA, JOSIE AND THE CHINESE ELVIS for Salisbury Playhouse, ROOM
AT THE TOP and IT’S A FINE LIFE (costume) for the Queen’s Theatre,
Hornchurch, TIME OF MY LIFE and A NIGHT IN PROVENCE and THE HEIRESS
for The Mill at Sonning and productions for Arts Ed London and
E15. www.dinahengland.com |
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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. |
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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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| 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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Janet A Cantrill |
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Master
Carpenter -
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Ian Stroud |
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Wardrobe
Mistress -
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Jane Kidd |
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Deputy
Stage Managers -
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Jo Vimpany, Neil Webb |
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Assistant
Stage Manager -
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Karen Brown |
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Technician
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Ed Marshall |
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Scenic
Artist -
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Tony Eden |
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Assistant
Carpenter -
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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, Xye Appleton |
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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 |