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Dinner Theatre
Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
Masks

Dinner
 

Jazz


 

 

 

 

A comedy by ROBIN HAWDON

Imagine the situation: a bridegrooms wakes on his wedding morning in his own bridal suite, with his bride-to-be about to arrive any moment, and finds in bed beside him - a naked girl. What's more, an extremely attractive naked girl whom, in the depths of his post-stag-night hangover, he can't remotely remember having been introduced to. Imagine then, that, during the ensuing panic to get the stranger dressed and out of the way, the bride arrives and the girl is trapped in the bathroom. Imagine further that the only way out of the dilemma is to persuade the best man to pretend that the hidden girl is his girlfriend, but that his real girlfriend has to be kept ignorant of the fact! By the time the bride's parents and half the hotel staff get in on the act, the chaos reaches nuclear proportions.
    A cross between Fawlty Towers and a Whitehall farce, this hilarious play moves at the speed of light, with a riot a minute that will leave the audience aching with laughter… the perfect medicine for all those thinking about getting married!
    The Mill is delighted to welcome back Robin Hawdon, author of DINNER and THE MATING GAME. Last year The Mill presented the British Premiere of his comedy SHADY BUSINESS to much acclaim and with PERFECT WEDDING you can be assured of another splendid evening in the theatre filled with fun and laughter.

By arrangement with Film Rights Ltd.


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Mark Bixter
MARK BIXTER (Tom) Mark is originally from Lancashire, and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Mark's professional theatre experience includes Angelo in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS at Cliveden Open Air Shakespeare Festival, Craven in HUNTING DIANA at the Gilded Balloon, he created the role of Thomas in IT'S NEVER TOO LATE and played Nick in the revival of TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX both at the Mill at Sonning. He then went on to play Josh the Jester in SLEEPING BEAUTY at the Roses Theatre Tewkesbury, most recently he played Fred Beenstock in HOBSON'S CHOICE at the Watermill Newbury. He has taken part in readings at the Young Vic, National Theatre and the Soho Theatre. Television credits include Johnny in the afternoon play MOLLY on BBC1 and he recently played Binky in the short film SEND IN THE CLOWNS which was filmed in Morocco.

 
 
FELICITY DUNCAN (Daphne) Felicity trained at the Webber Douglas Academy. Most recently, she played Olive in JOKING APART at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter and subsequently at the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke. For most of last year, Felicity played Betty Marsden in the national tour of ROUND THE HORNE…REVISITED, one of her favourite jobs to date. Other roles include: Wicked Stepmother in CINDERELLA (Salisbury Playhouse), the Nurse in ROMEO AND JULIET (Vienna's English Speaking Theatre); Bargewoman in Alan Bennett's adaptation of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS (Bristol Old Vic), Poppy in NOISES OFF, Rosie in CIDER WITH ROSIE, Barbara in BILLY LIAR, and Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Liverpool Playhouse); DICK WHITTINGTON, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Salisbury Playhouse); FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, DICK WHITTINGTON (Belgrade Coventry); Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ (Watermill, Newbury); DR LIVINGSTONE I PRESUME? (Riverside Studios), THE LIFE OF EDMUND KEAN (Watford Palace); YOU NEVER CAN TELL (Mercury Colchester); THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKERS (Polka); INTERIOR DESIGNS (Barons Court), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with the legendary Topol at The London Palladium and on tour. Television work: HOLBY CITY, THE BILL, BERGERAC, RICKY'S JOKE SHOP. With her writing partner Jon Osbaldeston, Felicity has written and recorded a children's series entitled THE ADVENTURES OF PG WOODLOUSE for BBC7, the BBC's digital radio station. A second series has recently been recorded and will be aired in August this year.

Felicity Duncan
Joanna Eliot
JOANNA ELIOT (Rachel) Joanna Eliot trained at Webber Douglas. Recent credits include Birgitta in AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER and Jane Worthington in OUT OF ORDER (Mill at Sonning), Madge in TIME AND THE CONWAYS (Theatre Royal Bath), Lady MacBeth in MACBETH (Principal Theatre Company), Gwendolen in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST (Brighton Festival). TV and film credits include LIFE BEYOND THE BOX (BBC), MARGERY & GLADYS (ITV), PANDORA'S BOX (WB Productions), LOOK (Aero Films) and COMMON INTERESTS (Wana Productions). Joanna has written and performed sketches for London Bites and is also a regular voice for Usborne Childrens' Audio Books.

 
 
PATRICK LENNOX (Bill) Patrick trained at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Theatre credits include: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre), THE MONKEY BUTLERS SKETCH SHOW (Edinburgh Festival), DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING and ONE FOR THE POT (The Mill at Sonning Theatre), EMMA (Olympia Theatre, Dublin), EPITAPH FOR THE WHALES (Gate Theatre), TRANSLATIONS, DESERT LULLABY and PYGMALION (Belfast Lyric), LANGUAGE ROULETTE (Tinderbox Theatre). Film/Television credits: JOLLY BOYS LAST STAND, HOLBY CITY, DOCTORS and SMALL POTATOES.

Patrick Lennox
Michelle Morris

MICHELLE MORRIS (Julie) Michelle trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. As a member of The National Youth Music Theatre, she performed in RAGGED CHILD and PENDRAGON (winning a Fringe First Award) performing in New York, Hong Kong, Canada, Taipei, The West End, Sydmonton Festival and the Royal Albert Hall (for Andrew Lloyd Webber), recording the original cast CD of PENDRAGON at Abbey Road Studios. Theatre credits include Helen Avery in THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE at the Tricycle Theatre, National Theatre, West End and a national tour, ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, ONE FOR THE POT, DON'T JUST LIE THERE - SAY SOMETHING and TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX all at The Mill at Sonning, Jack in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at Windsor Theatre Royal (with Eric Sykes). She also created the lead role of Lisa in HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? By Peter Terson at Broomhill Theatre. Television credits include: Jess Haworth in THE KNOCK, Joolz in BIG KIDS, THE COLOUR OF JUSTIC, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS, BUGS and READY STEADY COOK! Film credits include: WHAT A GIRL WANTS. Michelle also works as a presenter for Oxford University Press, Visua Productions and Interact. With a certificate in Health and Fitness Michelle has run four London Marathons, The Moonwalk and has raised over £10,000 for charity in numerous running and swimathon events. She is currently training for the New York Marathon in November. Michelle has just returned from playing Molly in LOVE'S A LUXURY at the English theatre in Vienna and is delighted to be invited back to The Mill again.

 
 

REBECCA REANEY (Judy) Rebecca trained at the Livingston Academy of Dance and at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama. Her West End credits include Linda in BLOOD BROTHERS (Phoenix Theatre) and Iris in FAME (Prince of Wales Theatre and Victoria Palace). She played Candy in OH! WHAT A NIGHT at the Hammersmith Apollo and Manchester Opera House. National Tours include SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (with Paul Nicholas). Rebecca played Doll Common in THE ALCHEMIST at the Courtyard theatre and appeared in the play KISS ME LIKE YOU MEANT IT in Mansfield. She starred in the new musical MUSCLES at the Landor Theatre and created the role of Bonnie in a workshop of a new musical LOVESHACK. Rebecca played Georgie in the new play BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch and has just completed a run of Terry Pratchett's WYRD SISTERS at the Gatehouse Theatre in London. Television credits include: DOCTORS; THE SECOND QUEST; CRIMEWATCH; INNOVATION NATION; RAW TV and THE GREAT ESCAPE. Rebecca's film work includes MATCH REPORT; HELLO YOU; HINDSIGHT; GOOD MORNING; JUST IMPEDIMENT and FLUSH AWAY which was premiered at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square, London.


Rebecca Reaney
Ron Aldridge

RON ALDRIDGE ( Director) His career as director/writer/actor has spanned over 28 years. He has directed in repertory, at the Edinburgh Festival, on numerous touring productions, and extensively on the London Fringe. He was assistant director to Ray Cooney on the West End production of FUNNY MONEY at the Playhouse Theatre and also directed the play in Israel,…… in Hebrew. He also directed the UK national tour and most recently the summer season at Eastbourne. His play HOVERING was nominated for an award at the '94 Edinburgh Festival, and he has had numerous plays produced in repertory and on the London Fringe. His comedy YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE was recently published by Josef Weinberger Limited. As an actor he has worked in repertory, on numerous touring productions and in the West End. He starred in the lead role of James Leeds in the award-winning CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD at the Albery Theatre followed by a long and successful national tour. Other West End appearances include: THE VOLUNTEER at the Riverside, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE at the Criterion, FUNNY MONEY at the Playhouse, and THE ODD COUPLE at the Haymarket. TV appearances include: LONDON'S BURNING, FOOL'S GOLD, THE KNOCK, 2.4 CHILDREN, THE BILL, NELSON'S COLUMN, EASTENDERS, and Bronco in ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES. Ron very recently directed NOT NOW DARLING, TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX, OUT OF ORDER, FUNNY MONEY, THERE GOES THE BRIDE directed and acted in YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE and IT'S NEVER TOO LATE at The Mill and is delighted to be invited back. Ron recently directed two plays for the English Speaking Theatre in Vienna -LOVE'S A LUXURY and Noel Coward's FALLEN ANGELS.

 
 

TONY EDEN (Set designer) Tony is the resident scenic artist at The Mill where recent 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 and is delighted to be invited back to design the set for PERFECT WEDDING.

Tony Eden

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 and STARRY, STARRY NIGHT.

 
 

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.

Sally Hughes

SALLY HUGHES (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. The most recent 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 and most recently ALONE TOGETHER AGAIN. 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. 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.

 
 
ROBIN HAWDON (Playwright) Robin Hawdon has had an extraordinarily 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 performing arts. For two decades he was a successful actor, whilst plying a concurrent trade as a playwright. In his twenties his face became well known to British audiences through numerous appearances on television and films, and he went on to star in the films WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH and ZETA ONE. On stage Robin was seen in several leading roles in London's West End, and also played a number of classical leads at home and abroad. At the same time his career as a writer flourished. His early plays BARN DANCE, THE SECRET and THE HERO were seen at such venues as the Hampstead Theatre and the Edinburgh and Salzburg festivals, and his first major commercial success, THE MATING GAME achieved a long run at London's Apollo Theatre, and has subsequently played in over thirty countries around the world. This was followed by other much performed and published plays such as BIRTHDAY SUITE, REVENGE and DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, and then the huge success of DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER (published by Samuel French - based on an early French play by Marc Camoletti) which ran in the West End for six years, and has played all over America, Australia, Canada and Europe. This was followed by the highly successful comedy, PERFECT WEDDING (also published by Samuel French), and an adaptation of Kingsley Amis's Booker Prize winning novel THE OLD DEVILS, which toured the UK and America. In 2000 Robin's play GOD AND STEPHEN HAWKING, about the phenomenal advance of modern science and its effect on traditional philosophical thinking, caused a considerable controversy in England and has been published by Josef Weinberger. Last year his comedy SHADY BUSINESS (published by Samuel French) played at The Mill at Sonning. Robin has also directed a number of stage productions, and in the nineteen eighties was director of the Theatre Royal Bath, England's premier touring theatre. His first novel - A RUSTLE IN THE GRASS was published in 1984 and his second book THE JOURNEY was published in 2002 (Hawthorn's).
Robin Hawdon
Burst


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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 Luke McAra
Wardrobe Assistant Evelyn Fidler
Dressers Ann Baker, Lynn Hinton,
Catherine Bristow, Terry Bartholomew
Theatre Production Photography Norman Weston
Website Production Chris Berry