A Foot in the Door
A new comedy by RICHARD HARRIS

The Mill at Sonning is delighted to present this sparkling first production by one of our country's most renowned and popular playwrights. Richard Harris, famous for his West End, television and film hits STEPPING OUT, OUTSIDE EDGE, DEAD GUILTY and many more, scores again with this hilarious and captivating comedy. May is an elderly widow who lives alone. She gets very few calls - apart from people trying to sell her something. So she's happy to invite them round for a nice cup of tea and a jolly good chinwag. There's Warren, a wardrobe salesman. Desmond, an experienced home security advisor. Jilly, who demonstrates electronic musical keyboards. And Stanislaus, a decorator assisted by Angela who for some reason wears a false moustache and hides behind him . . . . May has invited them all round to discuss business. Unfortunately, she's invited them all at the same time on the same night.

By arrangement with THE AGENCY (LONDON) LTD

KATE ARNEIL (Jilly Jordan) Kate is from Glasgow and trained at Rose Bruford College. Theatre includes MOLL FLANDERS (Colchester), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Plymouth), GOLD (Hull Truck Theatre), A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR (Scarborough and Chichester) THE ERPINGHAM CAMP (Edinburgh Theatre Assembly Rooms) HIGH SOCIETY (Crucible) and LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS here at Sonning she was in the original casts of SUNSET BOULEVARD, INTO THE WOODS and SHE LOVES ME, and was a regular soloist with the late Larry Adler on his GLORY OF GERSHWIN concert tour. TV work includes THE BILL and THE CHAIN for BBC.

JACQUELINE CLARKE (May Archer) Jacquie trained at the RADA and spent her early theatrical years in repertory at York, Liverpool and Leatherhead from which THE BOYFRIEND transferred to the Comedy theatre and was Jacquie's first happy year in the West End. Television followed and for a period of ten years she was Dave Allen's character lady in DAVE ALLEN AT LARGE for the BBC. She then appeared as David Jason's wife in four series of A SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH for ATV. Numerous TV credits continued in Light Entertainment and in Radio. Jacquie's West End appearances have been in WOMAN IN MIND at the Vaudeville, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE at the Criterion, OUT OF ORDER at the Shaftesbury, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY at the Playhouse and DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER at the Duchess. Jacquie toured for a year in the Musical OLIVER for Cameron Macintosh and most recently has enjoyed a Middle and Far East tour in the play HARVEY. Last year she did a season in Jersey in WHEN WE ARE MARIED and her latest television appearances have been in HEARTBEAT, DOCTORS and MURDER IN MIND for the BBC. She is married to the actor Barrie Gosney and lives in a 300 year old cottage in the Cotswolds.

SALLY GEOGHEGAN (Angela Assistant) Sally trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She has appeared as Jane in a Derek Nimmo Far & Middle Eastern tour of THE RELUCTANT DEUTANTE. She then played Pippa in a year long national tour of SPIDERS WEB. Other theatre credits include THE KIDNAP GAME (Windsor), DON'T ROCK THE BOAT (Farnham), two productions of CINDERELLA and most recently ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR in Bournemouth. TV credits include BERNARD AND THE GENIE, HEAD OVER HEELS, FACE AT THE WINDOW and for nine years she appeared as Miss Jayne Carver in GRANGE HILL. She also played Miss Bertram in the Merchant Ivory film HOWARD'S END

HARRY GOSTELOW (Stanislaus Stankowska) Harry began is professional career at The Mill in THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE, JOKING APART and HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES. Since then he has appeared in FORTY YEARS ON (Scarborough), RICHARD III (Ludlow Festival), MURDER AT THE VICARAGE (Theatre Royal, Windsor). PINOCCHIO (Lyric, Hammersmith),IVANOV (Almeida and Moscow), MEASURE FOR MEASURE (Nottingham Playhouse and across Europe) and MR PUNTILA AND HIS MAN MATTI (Almeida and Albery . Recently he has enjoyed several seasons at Shakespeare' s Globe in COMEDY OF ERRORS, AUGUSTINE'S OAK, HAMLET, ANTIPODES and KING LEAR. On television Harry has just been in FOYLE'S WAR and MIDSOMER MURDERS. Other TV includes SILENT WITNESS, BREAKOUT, SOLDIER SOLDIER, BETWEEN THE LINES and CLASS ACT. His filmwork includes SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, SHOOTING FISH and AKA.

DERREN NESBITT (Desmond Donohue) Derren started in Peter Hall's Oxford company. West End plays include THE BALCONY, WHISTLE IN THE DARK, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, and NOT NOW LOVER. UK tours of: SLEUTH, MURDER BY MISADVENTURE, A TOUCH OF DANGER, DIRTY LINEN, THE GRASS IS GREENER, WAIT UNTIL DARK, YOUR PLACE OR MINE, A TOUCH OF SPRING, COME BLOW YOUR HORN, IN PRAISE OF LOVE, THE TENDER TRAP, THE SEAGULL, THREE SISTERS, GUILTY CONSCIENCE, LOVE WITH A STRANGER, and THE VOICES. Numerous TV includes WILLIAM TELL, IVANHOE, DR WHO, GIDEON'S WAY, THE SAINT, MAN IN A SUITCASE, THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE BARON, ESPIONAGE, EMERGENCY WARD 10, DANGERMAN, THE VERDICT IS YOURS, THE PRISONER, BERGERAC, THE PROTECTORS, THE PERSUADERS and SPECIAL BRANCH. Many motion pictures include THE NAKED RUNNER, WHERE EAGLES DARE; MOLL FLANDERS; VICTIM, TERM OF TRIAL; ROOM AT THE TOP; NOBODY RUNS FOREVER; MONTE CARLO OR BUST; THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS; BULLSEYE; THE BLUE MAX; OOOH YOU ARE AWFUL; KILL OR CURE; SILENT ENEMY; MAN IN THE BACK SEAT; STRONGROOM, ROBIN HOOD, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, CAROLINA, THE INFORMERS, THE EICHMANN STORY, NOT NOW DARLING, GIVE US THIS DAY, BURKE AND HARE, IN THE NICK. Derren wrote the novel and screenplay, and produced and directed, THE AMOROUS MILKMAN. He recently returned from 10 years in Australia. In 2000 appeared in JEFFREY BERNARD IS UNWELL, THE MISER and TROILUS AND CRESSIDA at the Sydney Olympic Festival at the Opera House. Back in the UK, SPIDER'S WEB, THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, THE GENTLE HOOK and THE LIE, at the King's Head. Latest theatre appearances include MURDER BY MISADVENTURE, ABSENT FRIENDS and SUDDENLY AT HOME.

RYAN ROMAIN (Warren Wallis) Ryan Romain trained at The Anna Scher Theatre. Theatre includes: Inspector Foot in AFTER MAGRITTE (Watermans Arts Centre), Panchin in THE MADMAN OF THE BALCONIES (The Gate Theatre), Claxton in THE SONG OF AN HONOURARY SOULMAN (The Shaw Theatre), Allwit in A CHASTE MAID IN CHEAPSIDE (The Old Red Lion), Martin in BLACK DOVE (Wimbledon Studio), Haydn in SUNNYSIDE UP (Soho Theatre), Daniel in THE DAY THE BRONX DIED (Tricycle Theatre). Television includes: Dave in BLACK BRITAIN (BBC), Tony Lawrence in THE BILL (ITV), M.T. in MONEY TALKS (BBC), Michael Davis in ROUGH JUSTICE (BBC), P. C. Webster in DREAM TEAM (Sky TV), David in THE DEATH OF KLINGHOFFER (Blast film).

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 and very recently INSIDE JOB. 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 occasionally sings with the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra at the Savoy and has just finished performing in TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, at the King's Head, London.

TERRY PARSONS (Set designer) Terry has designed over 36 productions in London's West End including GREASE, PRESENT LAUGHTER, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, SOME LIKE IT HOT, SOUTH PACIFIC, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, LEND ME A TENOR, RADIO TIMES, SILLY COW, GASPING, CHARLIE GIRL, CAN-CAN and TWO INTO ONE. His many international credits include MARLENE (costume) on Broadway, GREASE in Paris, FAME in Denmark, HABEUS CORPUS in Hong Kong, CHICAGO in Athens, SOUTH PACIFIC in Japan, ROMANTIC COMEDY in Vienna and THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG in the Far East. Terry has also designed numerous straight plays - notable amongst them, Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE with Topol, WHEN WE ARE MARRIED with Timothy West, Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge, and J B Priestley's TIME AND THE CONWAYS directed at The Old Vic by Richard Olivier, starring his mother Joan Plowright and his sisters Tamsin and Julie Kate Olivier. Terry's latest project is the Edward Albee's new play THE GOAT and most recently he designed the European premiere of the award winning Broadway hit PROOF and productions of SHOWBOAT and BLITHE SPIRIT in Denmark. He has also been Head of Design at three major theatres: The Belgrade Coventry, The Theatre Royal Plymouth and the Haymarket Leicester.

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 MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, TAKING STEPS, UNDER THE YUM-YUM TREE, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS, FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, MY THREE ANGELS, INSIDE JOB, SEASON'S GREETINGS and BUILDING BLOCKS

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: WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS?, TAKING STEPS, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS, MY THREE ANGELS and SEASON'S GREETINGS.

RICHARD HARRIS (Playwright) Richard Harris is one of the few writers in this country who combine a successful career in both theatre and television. His theatrical successes include OUTSIDE EDGE which transferred from the Hampstead Theatre to the Queens Theatre (Evening Standard Award), THE BUSINESS OF MURDER which ran for seven years at the Duchess and Mayfair Theatres, STEPPING OUT at the Duke of York's Theatre (Evening Standard Comedy of the Year Award, and Moliere Award for the Paris production), and THE MAINTENANCE MAN at the Comedy Theatre. His play VISITING HOUR was performed as a platform production at the National Theatre. DEAD GUILTY played at the Apollo Theatre and last year his version of Ibsen's GHOSTS was produced at The Comedy Theatre, starring Francesca Annis and Anthony Andrews. He has written many plays for television, has contributed to countless television series and co-created the BBC series SHOESTRING. He wrote the first ten hours of A TOUCH OF FROST and a comedy-drama series based on his play OUTSIDE EDGE and for which he won The Writers' Guild Best Comedy Award, The British Comedy Award for Best Series and The Television and Radio Industries Award for Best Comedy. His latest work, a series called THE LAST DETECTIVE - adapted from the books by Leslie Thomas - began in February this year.