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 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
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A
comedy by RAY COONEY A
serving of delicious farce is once again on the Xmas menu at
The Mill at Sonning. For the past 5 years we have entertained
our festive audiences with Ray Cooney’s hilarious comedies.
This year to top it all we have decided to present his funniest
and most acclaimed play – RUN FOR YOUR WIFE. John Smith is a
happy London cabbie working shifts. But he has one little problem.
He is married. Twice! He has one wife Mary, who lives in Wimbledon.
And at the same time another wife, Barbara, who lives in Streatham.
John keeps to a rigorous schedule so that never the twain shall
meet. Everyone is blissfully happy – especially John Smith!
One day, gallantly intervening in a mugging, he is taken to
hospital with mild concussion. The police become involved. Afraid
of his adventurous lifestyle being uncovered John panics and
enlists the help of friend and neighbour, Stanley. Bad choice!
Stanley is shambolic, disorganized and when it comes to conniving
– clueless! The hapless duo embark on a series of wildly implausible
explanations. The more they lie the deeper the hole they dig
and the more the situation all starts to go horribly but riotously
wrong. This is classic Cooney at his absolute best. RUN FOR
YOUR WIFE delighted audiences with smash hit runs in the West
End and all over the world. So be prepared to laugh until you
cry! The
action takes place in the Wimbledon flat of John and Mary
Smith and, simultaneously, in the Streatham flat of John and
Barbara Smith. Time 1987 Cast
in order of appearance:
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PAMELA
BANKS (Barbara Smith) Pamela trained at the Webber Douglas
Academy of Dramatic Art. Her theatre credits include: NOT NOW,
DARLING at The Mill, Sonning, LOVE’S A LUXURY and PERFECT WEDDING
at Vienna’s English Theatre; THE TEMPEST at Cliveden Open air
theatre; CYMBELINE at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Whilst training
Pamela played Sally Durant Plummer in FOLLIES, Fay Hubbard in
CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL and Josephine in Lady Gregory’s DAVE. Other
credits include: British horror film REVERB; THE FINAL CURTAIN;
for Global television (Stage combat demonstration); and the character
of Lady Adriana in the television project HONOUR. Pamela is a
classically trained singer and has also sung jazz professionally
for several years. Most recently she played the female lead in
HOOLIGAN NIGHTS – a new musical drama written for BBC Radio 3.
Pamela is delighted to be back at The Mill for Christmas! |
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| MATTHEW
COTTLE (John Smith) Matthew trained at RADA. Theatre Credits
include: ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN; JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES; SEASONS
GREETINGS; (Theatre Royal Windsor). NOISES OFF (Liverpool Playhouse).
THE GHOST TRAIN; AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER (National Tours).
WAY UPSTREAM (Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough). BEDROOM FARCE
(Windsor and Eastbourne). PARTY PIECE (National Tour) TAKING STEPS
(The Mill at Sonning and Windsor). National Tours of: JUST BETWEEN
OURSELVES; THE SUNSHINE BOYS; RATTLE OF A SIMPLE MAN; SEASONS
GREETINGS. COMIC POTENTIAL (Lyric, West End). THE DICE HOUSE and
RELATIVELY SPEAKING (Belgrade Coventry). PETER PAN (West Yorkshire
Playhouse). MACBETH (Liverpool Everyman). THE SCHOOL MISTRESS
(Chichester Festival Theatre). A CHRISTMAS CAROL and BILLY LIAR
(Octagon Theatre Bolton). COMEDY OF ERRORS, TURKEY TIME, THE SNOW
QUEEN, JOLLY POTTERS ( New Victoria Theatre Stoke.) THE BALLROOM
(Wimbledon Studio). Television Includes: DOCTORS; SPOOKS; SEX,
THE CITY AND ME; EASTENDERS; LIFE BEGINS; THE COMMANDER; HOLBY
CITY; DOWN TO EARTH; THE INFINITE WORLD OF HG WELLS; COMIN ATCHA;
THE BILL; GET WELL SOON; A PERFECT STATE; KARAOKE; AN INDEPENDENT
MAN; GAME ON; DROP THE DEAD DONKEY; MEN OF THE WORLD; HARRY ENFIELD
AND CHUMS; CRIMEWATCH FILE; CASUALTY; MISS MARPLE; TAKING THE
FLOOR. Film: BLESSED; BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS; A CHRISTMAS CAROL;
CHAPLIN. Radio: RUBBISH; THE DOGSTAR CHRONICLES. |
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RICHARD
DERRINGTON (Bobby Franklyn) At Sonning he has played Richard
Willey in OUT OF ORDER and Hubert Bonney in IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY.
Richard spent nearly 7 years with the Royal Shakespeare, Old Vic
and National Theatre Companies although recently the majority
of his theatre has been with Alan Ayckbourn’s Company at the Stephen
Joseph Theatre. In 2005 he adapted and directed MOBY DICK for
The Company and the following year directed the world premiere
of ABSOLUTELY FRANK a new play by Tim Firth – writer of CALENDER
GIRLS and NEVILLE’S ISLAND. He then went to France to direct PRIVATE
LIVES for Limelight Theatre in Antibes. Other recent theatre :
Colin in ABSENT FRIENDS at Greenwich, Alan Turing in BREAKING
THE CODE - Liverpool Echo Best Actor award. Prospero in THE TEMPEST
directed by Alison Kingsley at Warwick. TV includes: EASTENDERS,
HEARTBEAT, CROWN PROSECUTOR, SEAFORTH, LOVEJOY, TROUBLEMAKERS,
MAKING OUT, POIROT, JUPITER MOON, CASUALTY, DOCTORS, THE BILL,
DREAM TEAM and HOLLYOAKS. Richard has played in over 200 radio
drama productions and for 14 years he played Mark Hebden in THE
ARCHERS. He has performed his hugely successful one-man show TAYLOR’S
TICKLER over 500 times worldwide and he also adapted it for BBC
Radio 4. After much persuasion has just finished writing the sequel.
AND NOW – EZEKIEL TAYLOR goes on tour in The Spring. He wrote
and plays MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE? and he wrote THE CAMPDEN WONDER
as the Radio 4 afternoon play. |
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| ANTHONY
FARNESE (Newspaper Reporter) A recently refurbished Anthony
is delighted to be returning to The Mill under the direction,
for the second time, of Mr Ron Aldridge. Previous experience has
included roles in THE BIONIC MAN, THE ODD JOB MAN, THE BAKER MAN,
THE MAINTENANCE MAN, (spot the connection) and his favourite part
to date, The Delivery Man in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK. Anthony lives
locally with his Production Managing Wife, dog, three-legged cat
and 4 goldfish. |
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HARRY
GOSTELOW (Detective Sergeant Porterhouse) Harry Gostelow began
his professional theatrical career at the Mill at Sonning in THE
RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE. Since then he has also appeared here in OUT
OF ORDER, A FOOT IN THE DOOR, POOLS PARADISE, HOW THE OTHER HALF
LOVES, and JOKING APART. Other theatre work includes PERICLES,
KING LEAR, THE ANTIPODES, HAMLET, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, MAN FALLING
DOWN and AUGUSTINE’S OAK (all at Shakespeare’s Globe), THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING EARNEST (Singapore and Greenwich); PARTY PIECE (Windsor
and 2 National Tours); PUNTILA AND HIS MAN MATTI (Almeida, Albery
and National Tour); MEASURE FOR MEASURE (Nottingham Playhouse
& International Tour); IVANOV (Almeida and Moscow); PINOCCHIO
(Lyric Hammersmith); SCENES FROM PARADISE (Riverside Studios);
FORTY YEARS ON (Scarborough); MURDER AT THE VICARAGE (Windsor
and Richmond) and RICHARD III (Ludlow Festival). This Christmas
he can be seen as the vicar in MISS AUSTEN REGRETS (BBC). Last
Christmas he was the vicar in AFTER THOMAS. Other television performances
include MIDSOMER MURDERS (3 times, always a doctor); EASTENDERS;
FOYLE’S WAR; SILENT WITNESS; BREAKOUT; JULIA JEKYLL AND HARRIET
HYDE; THE BILL; SOLDIER SOLDIER; BETWEEN THE LINES and CLASS ACT.
On film Harry has been in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE; AKA; SHOOTING FISH.
Harry has just directed a national tour of CHARLES WESLEY 1707
with The Jasperian Theatre Company, for whom he has also directed
MAKING NOBODIES SOMEBODIES, CATHERINE BOOTH, and THE ETERNAL BATTLE. |
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| MAXINE
GREGORY (Mary Smith) 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 DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, 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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PATRICK
LENNOX (Stanley Gardner) Patrick trained at Webber Douglas
Academy of Dramatic Art. Theatre credits include: A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT’S DREAM and THE GOLDEN ASS (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre),
THE MONKEY BUTLERS SKETCH SHOW (Edinburgh Festival), DON’T JUST
LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING, ONE FOR THE POT, PERFECT WEDDING and
very recently IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY (The Mill at Sonning Theatre),
EMMA (Olympia Theatre, Dublin), EPITAPH FOR THE WHALES (Gate Theatre),
TRANSLATIONS, DESERT LULLABY and PYGMALION (Belfast Lyric), LANGUAGE
ROULETTE (Bush Theatre and Irish Tour). Film/Television credits:
JOLLY BOYS LAST STAND, HOLBY CITY, DOCTORS and SMALL POTATOES.
As well as acting, Patrick is an established stand-up comedian
on the circuit in both the UK and Ireland. |
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| DARREN
MACHIN (Detective Sergeant Troughton) Darren trained at the
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He has worked at Sonning
on several occasions. Most recently he played Fred in A NIGHT
IN PROVENCE and the Telephone Man in BAREFOOT IN THE PARK. Previous
visits to the Mill include productions of IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY,
YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE, WORM’S EYE VIEW and OUT OF ORDER. He
was directed by Ray Cooney in the West End production of RUN FOR
YOUR WIFE and then toured it to the Far East and Middle East for
Derek Nimmo. He has enjoyed seasons at Pitlochry, Keswick, Westcliff,
Basingstoke and Ipswich. Plays include WHILE THE SUN SHINES, WAIT
UNTIL DARK, STRAIGHT AND NARROW, PRIVATES ON PARADE, WITNESS FOR
THE PROSECUTION, GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT, SLY FOX, LADY WINDERMERE’S
FAN and A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL. He appeared in KNOCK DOWN GINGER
at the Croydon Warehouse and he played Burt Reynolds in the No
1 tour of STAND BY YOUR MAN. Film credits include: THE BILL, EMMERDALE,
FAMILY AFFAIRS, FAITH, HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE, CRIMEWATCHUK,
HALE & PACE and HOLLYOAKS. He has recently filmed ASHES TO ASHES
for the BBC. |
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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
ONE FOR THE ROAD, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY,
PERFECT WEDDING, 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 |
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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
DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, 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 RUN FOR
YOUR WIFE. |
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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, CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, DON’T
DRESS FOR DINNER, ONE FOR THE ROAD and A NIGHT IN PROVENCE. |
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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,
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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| RAY
COONEY (Playwright) Ray Cooney began his theatrical career
as a boy actor in ‘Song of Norway’ at the Palace Theatre in 1946.
He played in ‘Dry Rot’ and ‘Simple Spymen’ for Brian Rix at the
Whitehall Theatre. He then began a writing career including ‘ONE
FOR THE POT’ (co-written with Tony Hilton), ‘NOT NOW DARLING’,
‘MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM’ and ‘THERE GOES THE BRIDE’, (all co-written
with John Chapman), CHASE ME COMRADE’, ‘WHY NOT STAY FOR BREAKFAST’,
‘WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY’, ‘RUN FOR YOUR WIFE’, ‘TWO INTO ONE’, ‘OUT
OF ORDER’, ‘IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY’, ‘FUNNY MONEY’, ‘CAUGHT IN
THE NET’ and most recently TOM, DICK & HARRY. (co-written with
his son Michael) In 1983 Ray formed the Theatre of Comedy Company
when he became the first Artistic Director. During Ray’s hectic
theatrical career he has always found time to continue acting
and played the last year of ‘RUN FOR YOUR WIFE!’ in London before
appearing in the New York production. Ray has been married to
his artist wife, Linda, for 45 years. They have two sons. Danny,
who lives in Australia with his wife, Astrid , and two lovely
children and Michael, who is a successful screenwriter in Hollywood,
with his wife Danielle and their two lovely children. Ray’s latest
venture is another musical TWICE UPON A TIME based on his play
TIME’S UP, which had a rapturous reception at the try-out production
at Guildford in 2005. Another try-out production is happening
in Los Angeles in February 2008. Providing you have a child or
Grand-child aged 6 to teach you, you can get more information
on Ray by visiting www.raycooney.co.uk |
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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 |