JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES

by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Robin Herford

Dennis, an obsessive but inefficient handyman, lives with his wife, Vera and mother, Marjorie. He blissfully potters away in his garage attempting to repair various gadgets including an unused car, unaware of the tensions growing between the two women in his life. Into this sad yet hilariously portrayed domestic scene walks bumbling Neil and his wife, Pam - 'potential customers for the old car'. They all find Dennis the perfect listener for their personal problems and he cheerfully hands out advice with disastrous yet comic results.

Alan Ayckbourn needs no introduction to The Mill audience who have been captivated and entertained for twenty years by this most prolific of English humourists.

MERELINA KENDALL (Majorie) This is Merelina's first time at The Mill, which she understands from fellow actors is a great place to be. The last theatre job was at Chichester as Berthe in HEDDA GABLER. In 1992 she played Muriel in Robin Herford's production of A WOMAN IN MIND at Windsor. She has worked extensively in TV and films including ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES, BILLY ELLIOT, MIDSOMER MURDERS, EASTENDERS, THE BILL and GOODNIGHT MR TOM. She lives in Hertfordshire near her daughters and three grandchildren.

LESLEY MEADE (Vera) Lesley trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and began her professional career as Acting ASM at the Manchester Library Theatre, playing many varied parts ranging from cross-dressing as a cabin boy in the Christmas adaptation of KIDNAPPED to the romantic lead in ROOKERY NOOK. For the next few years she worked in various theatres in the Midlands, including both Derby and Nottingham Playhouses. In 1980 she began a long association with the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough where she appeared in more than 30 productions. These included two Ayckbourn world premieres: A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL (1984) and MAN OF THE MOMENT (1988). She also played the part of Jane Hopcroft in ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR in the 1989 revival in Scarborough and subsequently on the national tour. Favourite non-Ayckbourn parts include Kate Hardcastle in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, Elvira in BLITHE SPIRIT, Mrs Sullen in BEAUX' STRATAGEM and Polly in Alan Bennett's GETTING ON. Lesley was also the original ghost in THE WOMAN IN BLACK, Stephen Mallatratt's now famous adaptation of the Susan Hill novel of the same name, which began life as a Christmas entertainment in the tiny studio theatre in Scarborough. Most recently Lesley worked at the Northcott Theatre in Exeter - in a production of JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES. She is delighted to be in Sonning, and making her first appearance at The Mill, particularly as it gives her another opportunity to play the part of Vera.

JON STRICKLAND (Dennis) This is Jon's first appearance at the Mill, but not his first foray into the world of Alan Ayckbourn. At Scarborough he premiered MAN OF THE MOMENT, REVENGERS COMEDIES and IT COULD BE ANY ONE OF US, all directed by the man himself, subsequently repeating the first two - plus THE NORMAN CONQUESTS and TIME OF MY LIFE - for the BBC World Service. In Windsor he played the hapless Bill Windsor in Robin Herford's production of WOMAN IN MIND; in Cheltenham, Ronald in ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR and in Bolton, Bernard in SEASON'S GREETINGS. Ayckbourn aside, he also premiered THE WOMAN IN BLACK at Scarborough, and later completed an 18 month run of the play in the West End. He's been a member of the BBC Radio Drama Company, and appears regularly on TV, most recently in the BBC production of MESSIAH II. In a parallel career as a voice-over he can be heard extolling the virtues of everything, from P&O Ferries to Sony Wega TVs, Severn Trent Water to the Open University, the Army to the Samaritans, as well as narrating documentaries for Discovery and the History Channel, teaching you, via CD Rom, how to fly aeroplanes or learn English, and advising you of safety procedures on North Sea oil-rigs and cross-Channel ferries…his could also well be the voice you hear on one of those annoying on-hold messages!

IAN TARGETT (Neil) Ian has previously worked at Sonning in SEASON'S GREETINGS and TAKING STEPS. Other theatre credits include BOWS AND ARROWS (Royal Court), WHY ME? (Strand), THE KISS OF LIFE and A VIEW OF KABUL (Bush Theatre) ROMEO AND JULIET (Renaissance Theatre Company at Lyric, Hammersmith), BEACHED (Warehouse Theatre/Old Red Lion), EURYDICE (Battersea Arts Centre), BURNING POINT (Tricycle Theatre) WAITING FOR GODOT (Oxford Playhouse), LOOT, THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (Birmingham Rep) TARTUFFE (Theatr Clwyd) TIME AND TIME AGAIN, SEE HOW THEY RUN, DONKEYS YEARS (Salisbury), CANDIDA (Octagon, Bolton) MOVING SUSAN, CORPSE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Basingstoke), STARS AND STRIVE (Sheffield). Ian has also been in national tours of AN INSPECTOR CALLS, THE WOMAN IN BLACK and THE WINSLOW BOY. Television credits include Leslie in the Alan Bennett play MARKS, Geoff in A TASTE OF HONEY, Spence in OVER THE RAINBOW, MIND GAMES by Linda La Plante, THE LAST DETECTIVE, DOCTORS, TRUST ME, CASUALTY, FOREVER GREEN, BAD BOYS, LAW AND DISORDER, GRANGE HILL and GIFTED by Kay Mellor. Film credits - THE FOOL, A DANGEROUS MAN and THE JOKE. Many radio plays include HENRY V and RAT IN THE SKULL.

JULIE TEAL (Pam) Julie trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Credits include seasons at Dundee, Harrogate, Theatr Clwyd, Westcliff, Coventry, Sonning, Liverpool Playhouse, Bristol Old Vic, Hornchurch, Birmingham, Northampton York Theatre Royal and several national tours. Appearances in regional productions include Gloria in YOU NEVER CAN TELL, Lady Mcbeth in MACBETH, Viola in TWELFTH NIGHT, Helena in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Julia in TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, Cecily in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Sorel in HAYFEVER, Carola in BARE NECESSITIES, Rose in TURKEY TIME, Polly Perkins in THERE GOES THE BRIDE, Molly in THE SECRETARY BIRD, Helga in A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS, Paulina in DEATH AND THE MAIDEN, Ann in ASHES, Jacqueline in DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, Connie in WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS?, Alicia in CHASE ME COMRADE and Elizabeth in ABANDONMENT. Musicals include ANNIE, HANS ANDERSON, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE KING & I, THREE MEN IN A BOAT and SCROOGE in which she played the Ghost of Christmas Past. Television credits include THE CHIEF, THE BILL, SHE'S OUT, CLASS ACT, EASTENDERS, HOLDING ON, TOUCHING EVIL., FOOTBALLERS WIVES, A TOUCH OF FROST, 20 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU'RE 30, CASUALTY and HUSTLE. Film work includes Stephen Poliakoff's film FOOD OF LOVE.

ROBIN HERFORD (Director) This is Robin's third consecutive Christmas Ayckbourn at Sonning, following TAKING STEPS and SEASON'S GREETINGS. He is clearly delighted to be back. Much of Robin's career has been involved with Alan Ayckbourn and the Stephen Joseph theatre in Scarborough. Joining the company in 1976 as an actor, he was appointed Associate Director in 1979 and Artistic Director from 1986 - 1988. Robin has appeared in the original production of more Ayckbourn plays than any other actor, from TEN TIMES TABLE in 1977 to HENCEFORWARD… 1987 and including the monster 16-play, two-hander IMTIMATE EXCHANGES. He came to London with SEASON'S GREETINGS and SUBURBAN STRAINS (Roundhouse), INTIMATE EXCHANGES (Greenwich and Ambassadors) and HENCEFORWARD… (Vaudeville). Robin is also often asked to direct Alan's plays, and has notched up over twenty productions in this country and abroad. While Artistic Director at Scarborough, he commissioned and directed Stephen Mallatratt's phenomenally successful adaptation of THE WOMAN IN BLACK, which is still running in the West End after fourteen years, and has completed seven national tours. In 1993 Robin travelled to Tokyo to direct the Japanese language premiere, and in 1995 to Connecticut to direct the American premiere. Other London productions include THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN (Duke of Yorks), ROUGH JUSTICE (Apollo) and JOKING APART (Greenwich). Out of many other directorial credits, his favourites include SERJEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE, ALL MY SONS, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, CLOUDS, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM , BLITHE SPIRIT, A GOING CONCERN and WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS. Robin's radio credits as an actor are numerous, and his TV credits include ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES and THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE. He recently featured in the film UP ON THE ROOF. Since his last visit to Sonning, Robin has directed a national tour of CORPSE and been to Japan to direct another production of THE WOMAN IN BLACK. His latest production, HOME at the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham was nominated three times in the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards, for Best Production, Best Design and Best Actor.

MICHAEL HOLT (Set designer) Michael's design career has taken him to theatres throughout the United Kingdom 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 include The Safari Party, What Every Woman Knows, Taking Steps, Wolf at the Door, Man of the Moment, Time and the Conways, and the much praised Othello with Michael Gambon. He also designed the American premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's Season's Greetings at the Joyce Theatre, New York. Other international credits include opera productions for the Royal Opera House, Copenhagen, the Avignon Festival, the Knokke Opera Festival (Belgium), the Brisbane Festival in Australia, ballet designs for the Hong Kong Ballet company, and many plays for Den Nationale Scene, Bergen, Norway and the Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas. Most notable among his ballet designs are The Sleeping Beauty, Madam Butterfly and Romeo and Juliet for Northern Ballet. Michael's numerous designs for Opera include notable productions of La Boheme (Sadler's Wells Theatre), Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd (Brisbane) and Vaughan Williams' The Pilgrims Progress (the Royal Opera House). West End credits include the long-running West End success The Woman in Black; 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. Recent repertory theatre includes Way Upstream, Stephen Joseph Theatre; The Safari Party, Hampstead Theatre; Snakes and Ladders, TEG Theatre Productions; Taking Steps, Mill at Sonning Theatre; Just Between Ourselves and Lettice and Lovage for the Northcott Theatre; Romeo & Juliet and Big Maggie, for the New Victoria Theatre and The Things We Do For Love, Salisbury Playhouse. Michael has also written a number of books on stage and costume design and has recently 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.

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 TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, MY THREE ANGELS, INSIDE JOB, SEASON'S GREETINGS, BUILDING BLOCKS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR, POOLS PARADISE, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, THE MATING GAME, WRITE ME A MURDER, A PASSIONATE WOMAN and FUNNY MONEY.

ROSLYN NASH (Lighting Designer) Roslyn trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked at The Mill for over ten years. She started as Technical Assistant and now has the pleasure of being the Production Manager. Over the years she has been given the opportunity to light many of the productions - a few recent ones include: FUNNY BUSINESS, MY THREE ANGELS, SEASON'S GREETINGS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR, POOLS PARADISE, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, THE MATING GAME, WRITE ME A MURDER, A PASSIONATE WOMAN and FUNNY MONEY.

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 ALL FOR MARY, WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS, INSIDE JOB, A FOOT IN THE DOOR and POOLS PARADISE. 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.

ALAN AYCKBOURN (Playwright) Alan Ayckbourn is the long-serving Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough and the author of over 50 plays, most of which were premiered at this theatre; SUGAR DADDIES being the latest. More than half of these plays have subsequently been produced in the West End or at the Royal National Theatre. His 'double' play HOUSE and GARDEN was seen at the RNT recently. A few of his plays that have been performed at The Mill are - RELATIVELY SPEAKING, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, BEDROOM FARCE, JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES and TAKING STEPS. . A fellow of the RSA, he was appointed a CBE in 1987 and in 1997 was knighted for services to the theatre.