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 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
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Everything
about Italy is irresistibly romantic and springtime in Rome
is the perfect setting for this delightful play. Sandy Claiborne,
a high-powered businessman, has come to the Eternal City sadly
to claim the body of his father, killed in a car crash. He encounters
a lovely young actress, Alison Ames, who lost her mother in
the same accident. Sandy and Alison soon fall helplessly in
love, while at the same time discovering secrets about their
respective parents that stun and surprise them. A TOUCH OF SPRING
is a funny, riotous comedy that was a sensational success in
the West End and was also made into a hit film by Billy Wilder. By
arrangement with Samuel French Ltd. The
action takes place in an old hotel, Rome |
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EMMA
DAVIES (Alison Ames) Emma trained at Corona Academy Stage
School. Theatre includes: OUTSIDE EDGE touring the Middle and
Far East. WHEN WE ARE MARRIED, Theatre Royal Windsor, LITTLE
WOMAN, UK tour, THE GO-BETWEEN Theatre Royal, Northampton, WHILE
THE SUN SHINES, UK tour, THE VORTES, Kings Head, PLAINTIFF IN
A PRETTY HAT, The Mill at Sonning, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, Greenwich,
YOU SAY TOMATOES, Basingstoke, THE ACCUSED, Theatre Royal, Haymarket,
West End, THE TURN OF THE SCREW, Sevenoaks Playhouse. Television
credits include: FAMILIES for Granada. BOON II and BOON III,
FAMILY PRIDE, BERNARDS WATCH for Central. HOME JAMES, NEVER
THE TWAIN, SPATZ, FREDDIE AND MAX, LAW AND DISORDER for Thames.
THE BOOK TOWER, HEARTBEAT for Yorkshire, MOSLEY for Channel
4. THE TEMPEST, SHADOW OF THE NOOSE, BERGERAC, HEROES AND VILLAINS,
JUST WILLIAM, HARRY ENFIELD AND CHUMS, CROWN PROSECUTOR, MRS
BRADLEY MYSTERIES, DOCTORS, CAMBRIDGE SPIES for the BBC. Radio
plays: HOPE, COMPANY OF WOLVES, THE WINGED LIONS and PYGMALION.
Films: THE MEANING OF LIFE, ENIGMA.
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ANDREW HALLIDAY (Baldassare Pantaleone) Andrew trained
at The Guildford School of Acting where he was awarded both
the Acting Prize and Singing Prize for his graduating year.
He made his stage debut in The Twenties Show as "The Gigolo"
at the Salisbury Playhouse and immediately following that was
cast as "The Arbiter" in the U.K. tour of the hit rock musical
Chess. Less than a year out of Drama School, Andrew made his
West End debut as the romantic lead "Raoul" in Cameron Mackintosh's
'Phantom of the Opera' at Her Majesty's Theatre in London and
then at The Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh. Following this Andrew
went on to play many leading roles including 'Stein' in the
award-winning 'City Of Angels'(Prince Of Wales Theatre), Munkustrap
in 'CATS' (New London Theatre), Billy Bigelow in 'Carousel'(Leicester
Haymarket Theatre), Jesus in 'Jesus Christ Superstar'(Globe
arena Stockholm), Brad in 'The Rocky Horror Show', Young Ben
in Sondheim's 'Follies'(both at The Leicester Haymarket Theatre),
Tony Brockhurst in 'Divorce Me Darling'(Chichester Festival
Theatre), Magaldi in 'Evita'(Larnaca Arena-Cyprus), Dimitri
in 'Killing Rasputin' (Bridewell Theatre-London), George Morrisson
in 'Forbidden City' (Singapore Rep Theatre), Johnny Mercer in
'Too Marvelous For Words'(The Mill at Sonning and The Kings
Head Theatre-London), Sonnie Hale in 'Over My Shoulder'(Windsor
Theatre Royal and Jermyn Street Theatre), The Boy in 'Dorothy
Fields Forever' ( Jermyn Street Theatre-London) and most recently
as Byron in 'Alice Virginia' opposite Suzannah York (New End
Theatre-London). Andrew was also recently invited to revive
his performance of Billy Bigelow in a concert performance of
'Carousel' at the first International Music Theatre Festival
in Cardiff. TV and Film include 'A Dance To The Music Of Time'
Film 4 and 'Fading Picture' for Wing Productions - (USA). Andrew
has performed in concert with many of Europe's major orchestras
including the Gothenburg Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, Royal
Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, Halle Orchestra, Royal Scottish
National Symphony and is a principal soloist with West End:
The Concert and Broadway : The Concert performing with them
all over the world from cities as diverse as Bratislava to Sao
Paulo. Andrew is very excited to be working back here at The
Mill.
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MICHAEL
HOWE (Sandy Claiborne) Michael has recently returned from
Miami, where he had the great pleasure in playing one of the
leads in the film OUR GIRL. It premieres at the Venice Film
Festival later this year - prior to this as the Celebrity Chef
in the film THE GREAT ECSTASY OF ROBERT CARMICHAEL released
later this year. For TV: In the series HOLLYOAKS playing Mr
Wilson, Barrister which received Best Courtroom Drama in a soap,
for that year. Other TV series: Sebastian in SOLO opposite Felicity
Kendal - CASUALTY, ROYS RAIDERS, THE UPPER HAND, STUDIO, SOUTH
BY SOUTH EAST, CATS EYES, KINGS AND QUEENS, the title role in
TOM GRATTONS WAR. TV/Film: WHERE THERES A WILL opposite Patrick
McNee. Film: FAT SLAGS, title role in GUNNER, THE HUNGER, BLIND
DATE, Unman in UNMAN WITTERING AND ZIGO. Theatre: Henry II in
THE LION IN WINTER, Edinburgh Fringe, Cassio in OTHELLO, Bridewell,
The Drag Queen in ELEGIES FOR PUNKS AND ANGELS AND RAGING QUEENS,
Kings Head, Oberon/Theseus, MIDSUMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Southampton,
also RICK at Intimate Theatre, London. THE RUM TUM TUGGER in
German speaking version in CATS, Vienna, Austria. London West
End: Mike Costa A CHORUS LINE, Danny Zuko in GREASE, Mordred
opposite the late great Richard Harris in CAMELOT, Billy Lawlor
(Dick Powell role) 42ND STREET, the American chess champion
in CHESS, Alfred Jingle in PICKWICK. Tours: Dexter Haven (Bing
Crosby role) in HIGH SOCIETY, Vernon Gersh in THEY ARE PLAYING
OUR SONG, Dean Martin in THE RATPACK. It's a great pleasure
for Michael to return to The Mill having appeared in The British
Premiere of I REMEMBER YOU playing Buddy Directed by Alvin Rakoff.
He thinks the bread and butter puddings here are deeelicious!
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MICHELLE
McKIERNAN (Diana Claiborne) Michelle trained at the HB Studio
in New York and is pleased to be making her UK theatrical debut
at The Mill at Sonning. New York stage appearances include MOLLY'S
DREAM, A VOW OF SILENCE, BLINDERS, and MOMMA'S GIRLS, among
others. American regional credits include AS YOU LIKE IT, CLOUD
NINE, BLUE WINDOW, MARIE AND BRUCE, and Aristophanes' THE BIRDS.
Film and television credits include the CBS show AS THE WORLD
TURNS and the independent films MOVES and THE MATING GAME.
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MAURO
MONTUSCHI (Vittoria Spina) A graduate of the Bristol Old
Vic Theatre School, Mauro is one a select band of actors whose
talent stretches much further than reciting lines, he is also
a highly talented musician and composer. For nearly three years,
apart from playing Buddy Holly's manager, Murray Deutch, in
the West End production of, BUDDY , Mauro was also the show's
Musical Director, and played, live, seven of the eight musical
instruments that he has mastered. He also composed the theme
music for Leading Lady Productions' film, REBECCA'S GHOST which
starred Judi Bowker. As an actor, he has appeared in productions
such as, TWELFTH NIGHTat the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, HANSEL
AND GRETEL at the New Victoria - Stoke, CASUALTY, for BBC TV,
KANNIBAL, for Amnion Productions, and is due to appear in the
BBC TV/Tigerlily series, INTERGALACTIC PATRICK as the Judge.
A full bloodied Italian, with an impeccable BBC English accent,
this production allows Mauro to revert to his native language,
which will, no doubt, be a great relief to his mother!
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ENZO
SQUILLINO JNR (Giorgio - the waiter) ENZO Jnr was born in
Yorkshire of an Italian father and an English mother. Following
his education in Yorkshire he moved to London to study acting
at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Enzo was the original
'Ritchie Valens' in the hit musical Buddy. He spent three and
a half years with this production, performing in the West End,
on tour in the UK and Europe. This role won him much critical
acclaim. His acting career began with Alan Bleasdale's No More
Sitting On The Old School Bench and Who's Life Is It Anyway
at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, together with dramas for
BBC Radio Sheffield. Film and Television roles include: Five
seasons on ITV's hit series The Knock playing the cockney wide
boy 'George Andreotti'; 'James' in Judas and Jesus for ABC Paramount
(USA); 'Mario' in Jack of Hearts and Dorian's boyfriend in Birds
of a Feather for BBC; London's Burning and The Labours of Erica
, ITV; 'Biff' in Coasting, Granada; 'Elliott Hoffmeyer' in The
Old Boy Network with Tom Conti; 'Jimmy' the Cross in Swag for
the Sundance Film Festival; Superstition with Charlotte Rampling
for Movie Masters and 'Richard Sambrook' in The Hutton Inquiry
for Sky. Theatre roles include: A View From The Bridge as 'Mike',
Harrogate Theatre; 'Curly' in Of Mice and Men at the Belgrade
Theatre; UK Tour of James And The Giant Peach playing 'Aunt
Sponge' and Torn Apart with Michelle Gayle; 'Sergio' in Eurovision
with Anita Dobson at the Sydmonton Festival Theatre; 'Benny
Southstreet' in Guys and Dolls and 'Tom Snout' in A Midsummer
Night's Dream at the Regina Theatre, Stockholm. Also, Boxing
Clever and Cuban Crisis for the Soho Comedy rep season in London.
Enzo recently worked with one of his favourite actors, Jean
Reno, on a TV commercial.
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TOM
UNDERWOOD (John Wesley) Tom trained at the Central School
of Speech and Drama where he was awarded the Diana Wade Bursary
Award. Credits whilst training include: Title role in MACBETH
(Dir: Rob Clare); MAN OF MODE (Dir: Tim Luscombe); UP (Writ/Dir:
Che Walker); SUMMERFOLK (Dir: Percy Stevens); AS YOU LIKE IT
(Dir: Peter McAllister). Since finishing his training Tom has
appeared in THE DAMBUSTERS (Tigress Productions/Channel Four)
and various comic short films. Tom is delighted to be making
his professional stage debut at The Mill at Sonning. |
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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 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 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 and most recently STEPPING OUT. 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. Last year Sally appeared in TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, at the King's Head, London. |
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MICHAEL HOLT (Set designer) Michael Holt's design career
has taken him to theatres throughout the United Kingdom and
the World for productions of opera, ballet and drama. He has
been associated with playwright Alan Ayckbourn at his theatre
in Scarborough for over 20 years. His numerous designs for this
author/director includeTAKING STEPS, WOLF AT THE DOOR, MAN OF
THE MOMENT, TIME AND THE CONWAYS, A DOLLS'S HOUSE, and the much
praised OTHELLO with Michael Gambon. He also designed the American
premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's SEASON'S GREETING at the Joyce
Theatre, New York. Other international credits include opera
productions for: the Royal Opera House, Copenhagen; the Avignon
Festival; ballet designs for the Hong Kong Ballet Company; and
many plays for Den Nationale Scene, Bergen, Norway and the Alley
Theatre, Houston, Texas, and The English Theatre, Vienna. Most
acclaimed among his ballet designs are THE SLEEPING BEAUTY,
MADAM BUTTERFLY and ROMEO AND JULIET for Northern Ballet. Michael's
notable designs for opera include of LA BOHEME (Sadler's Wells
Theatre), Benjamin Britten's BILLY BUDD (Brisbane) and Vaughn
Williams' PILGRIMS PROGRESS (the Royal Opera House). His West
End credits include ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (Whitehall Theatre),
THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN (Duke of York's Theatre), ROUGH JUSTICE
(Apollo Theatre), and JUNE MOON (Vaudeville Theatre). He designed
JULIUS CAESAR at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and the
highly successful centennial touring production of CHARLEY'S
AUNT. He has received much acclaim for the design of the long-running
West End success THE WOMAN IN BLACK. Michael Holt has been a
senior lecturer in the Department of Drama At Manchester University
for 25 years . He has written a number of books on stage and
costume design and has published a book on the plays of Alan
Ayckbourn. Michael is currently working on a series of books
on design for the plays of William Shakespeare.
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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, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, THE MATING GAME, WRITE ME A MURDER,
A PASSIONATE WOMAN, FUNNY MONEY, JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES, THE
FACE OF FEAR, YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE, AN EVENING WITH GARY
LINEKER, STEPPING OUT,THERE GOES THE BRIDE, I REMEMBER YOU,
MURDER BY MISADVENTURE OUT OF ORDER and ABSENT FRIENDS.
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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 Its
NEVER TOO LATE. A few of his previous designs at The Mill, include
most recently ABSENT FRIENDS, ---- OUT OF ORDER, MURDER BY MISADVENTURE,
I REMEMBER YOU, THERE GOES THE BRIDE, STEPPING OUT, THE FACE
OF FEAR, DEAD GUILTY, ALONE TOGETHER, OUT OF ORDER, TWO DOZEN
RED ROSES, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER and NOEL & GERTIE.
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SAMUEL
TAYLOR (Playwright) Samuel Taylor (1912 - 2000) wrote the
Broadway plays THE HAPPY TIME based on the book of the same
name by Robert Fontaine, SABRINA FAIR, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY
(with C.O. Skinner), FIRST LOVE (adapted from Romain Gray's
memoir, PROMISE AT DAWN, BEEKMAN PLACE, AVANTI!, A TOUCH OF
SPRING, FLYING COLORS, and THREE BY THREE. He also wrote the
book for NO STRINGS which he produced, in association with Richard
Rodgers who wrote the music and lyrics. Mr Taylor also was enlisted
by Alfred Hitchcock to mend the script VERTIGO which had already
gone through two writers at the time. He made substantial changes,
added characters and dashes of San Francisco color and decided
to let the audience in on the film's secret well ahead of the
fade-out. His other film credits include TOPAZ, THE EDDY DUCHIN
STORY, GOODBYE AGAIN and ROSIE in addition to adapting (with
Billy Wilder and Ernest Lehman) his play SABRINA FAIR into the
film version with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart entitled
SABRINA.
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| Production: | |
| Production Manager | Joan Farnese |
| Stage Manager | James Neal |
| Deputy Chief Electrician | Toby Gregory |
| Master Carpenter | Ian Stroud |
| Wardrobe Mistress | Jane Kidd |
| Deputy Stage Managers | Jo Vimpany, Neil Webb |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Gillian Marchbank |
| Technician | Ed Marshall |
| Scenic Artist | Tony Eden |
| Assistant Carpenter | Luke McAra |
| Wardrobe Assistant | Evelyn Fidler |
| Dressers | Ann
Baker, Lynn Hinton, Catherine Bristow, Terry Bartholomew |
| Website Production Photography | Chris Berry |
| Theatre Production Photography | Norman Weston |