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BUILDING
BLOCKS Have
you ever had workmen in the house? Suffered days and nights of angst
and despair as the 'job' just doesn't seem to progress? Do you find
yourself at the mercy of plumbers and carpenters who, when they do decide
to turn up, just drink endless cups of sugary tea? Oh, Yes! I hear you
cry? Then this is the play for you. Jim and Mary Baxter are in the middle
of one of life's major traumas - they are having an extension built
on to their house. A great deal of their time is taken up with negotiating
with the builder, the charming but evasive David, who seems to have
put them very low down on his list of priorities and is alarmingly adept
at creating elaborate excuses for his firm's shortcomings. As the tension
mounts this well-observed comedy by Bob Larbey - the writer of smash
TV hits THE GOOD LIFE and THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY - will bring smiles
and groans of recognition to all those who have ever been involved in
this situation - and a few rueful warnings to those who have not! |
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PAUL
COOPER (Brian) Paul's theatre career has taken him to many parts
of the country playing extensively in repertory, on tour, and the West
End, most notably as Hopkins in BIG BAD MOUSE at the Prince of Wales,
Clumper in BIG WOLF at the Royal Court and Birdy Johnson in the CRUCIFER
OF BLOOD at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. His last stage appearance
was playing the Actor in THE ACTORS NIGHTMARE at the Arts Festival in
Hong Kong. Paul's TV credits include Bill in GRACE AND FAVOUR, Sid in
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES, Click's tailor, Hitler, a dog! and the voice
of 'London Calling' in four series of 'ALLO 'ALLO. He played Toe Rag
Ron in MINDER, Milko in THE TWO OF US, Terry in THE BILL and Truman
in three series of THE PIGLET FILES. He was last seen on television
as Cat Slater's Chauffeur Peter, in EASTENDERS. His films include BRITANNIA
HOSPITAL and LIFEFORCE. Paul appeared at The Mill recently in CHASE
ME COMRADE and he is very happy to be returning once again. |
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JASON
KAVANAGH (Piper) Jason's professional debut after completing training
at the Manchester Metropolitan University was a fourteen month stint
on Channel 4's BROOKSIDE, playing Luke Musgrove. Following this was
an appearance on McCREADY AND DAUGHTER (BBC1) and a regular part on
the BAFTA Award winning drama TINSEL TOWN, (BBC2). Television aside
Jason is kept busy shooting ad's in the UK and Europe and working in
short films. Currently he is looking forward to the release of his feature
film debut CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE starring Jim Norton and Brenda Fricker.
Jason lives in London with his girlfriend Natalie. BUILDING BLOCKS will
be his first professional theatre performance. |
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ANGELA
SIMS (Mary Baxter) Angela has previously appeared at Sonning in
TEN TIME TABLE, A PARTY TO MURDER and most recently SEASON'S GREETINGS.
Angela trained at the Guildhall. Theatre credits include A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT'S DREAM and THE CARD (Regent's Park), GASLIGHT, ABSURD PERSON
SINGULAR, ABIGAIL'S PARTY (Blue Box Theatre, Keswick), BLITHE SPIRIT,
BEDROOM FARCE, MACBETH (Theatre Royal, York) MOLL FLANDERS, FAR FROM
THE MADDING CROWD, TOM JONES, THE WIZARD OF OZ (Watermill Theatre, Newbury),
COMMUNICATING DOORS, AND A NIGHTINGALE SANG, HENCEFORWARD (Swan Theatre,
Worcester) and BLITHE SPIRIT (Octagon Theatre, Bolton). Angela's Christmas
shows and pantomimes include: JACK & THE BEANSTALK (Tewkesbury), SLEEPING
BEAUTY, (Corn Exchange, Newbury) CHRISTMAS CAT AND THE PUDDING PIRATES,
THE IDEAL GNOME EXPEDITION, THE ADVENTURES OF MR TOAD and THE WIZARD
OF OZ all at the Castle Theatre in Wellingborough. Television credits
include: 5 episodes of THE BILL, 2 episodes of LONDON'S BURNING, HAPPINESS,
GREAT EXPECTATIONS, McCALLUM, FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, CRY WOLF, FIFTEEN
STOREYS HIGH, THE QUEEN'S NOSE and HAPPINESS. For BBC Radio Angela has
recorded STAGE FRIGHT, DEAD MAN'S MUSIC, A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED and THREE
ACT TRAGEDY. |
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MATTHEW
STOREY (Mark) Trained: RADA. Theatre: 'Gerald Forbes' in WHEN WE
ARE MARRIED, 'Slater' in FUNNY MONEY and 'John' in ABSENT FRIENDS (Southwold
and Aldeburgh), 'Matt' in SPEND, SPEND, SPEND (National Tour), 'Mason'
in JOURNEY'S END (The Drill Hall), and 'Bitzer' in HARD TIMES (Theatre
Royal, Windsor and West End). TV: THE BILL, DR WILLOUGHBY, 'Sam' in
PICKING UP THE PIECES, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM workshop with Richard
Briers for the Open University and work with the BBC Television Directors
Training Course. Film: SHANGHAI KNIGHTS with Jackie Chan (Spyglass Entertainment
Group). |
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STEPHEN
SWIFT (Jim Baxter) Steve is delighted to be returning to The Mill,
as he had a marvellous time playing Gerry Buss in last summer's production
of CHASE ME COMRADE, a role which left him fitter than he has ever been.
Luckily he has managed to keep his fitness levels consistent through
regular trips from the sofa to the fridge. He has worked in theatres
up and down the country, and was recently the first person on the scene
when Sarah Louise Platt had her car crash in CORONATION STREET. Steve's
favourite theatre roles include Laurence in ABIGAILS PARTY (Library
Theatre, Manchester), Wilson in RUFFIAN ON THE STAIR (Derby Playhouse)
and Henry Pratt in SECOND FROM LAST IN THE SACK RACE (Swan Theatre,
Worcester). Steve identifies very closely with the part of Jim and believes
his recent disasters with builders will be excellent research for his
performance! |
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GILES
WATLING (David) Giles has been professionally involved in entertainment
for nearly 40 years. He started as a child actor in 'The Morse' of it's
time GIDEON'S WAY with John Gregson. Those with elephantine memories
may remember he played Malcolm Gideon. Since those early days he has
worked in a wide variety of media as a producer, director and actor.
He is probably best known to the public for his performance in many
sitcoms but particularly for spending five years being the cringing
Oswald the vicar in Carla Lane's BREAD. His TV drama credits go from
2nd Lietenant James Marriot in UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS in the mists of history,
to THE TUTANKHAMUN CONSPIRACY last autumn. Set in Egypt, he played Howard
Carter as presenter and was co-writer. He is also in the middle of co-producing
his first television series, an off-the-wall spooky documentary, CHILLSEEKERS.
For the last fifteen years or so he could be described as a leading
man of the British Theatre with numerous credits - generally as a 'juvenile'!
He is happy to report that in the last few years the business has at
last let him grow up a little and allowed him to play middle-aged parts
like Henry Higgins in PYGMALION at the English Speaking Theatre in Vienna
and Frank in a national tour of EDUCATING RITA. Jumping seriously in
at the deep end - he was persuaded to make his first ever pantomime
appearance last Christmas as Sarah the Cook at Tewkesbury. A task he
faced with trepidation, but, in the event, loved. Last year he lifted
a few weights in order to become Heracles in Benn W Levy's THE RAPE
OF THE BELT for the British Actor's Theatre Company followed by a spring
tour of DRAGON VARIATION with Neil Stacy and Britt Ekland. His Swedish
improved marginally. From August to December he toured as Robert in
DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER so successfully that he'll be on the road with
it again as soon as he finishes in Sonning which in 2001 saw him playing
George in WHY NOT STAY FOR BREAKFAST and Clive in ALL FOR MARY. He is
delighted to be back and feels he must have done something right last
time. He sails, plays chess poorly and lives by the sea with his long-suffering
wife and twin 10 year-old daughters, who are either making him old or
keeping him young… he's just not sure which. |
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MICHAEL
PERCIVAL (Director) This is Michael's seventh play at The Mill,
and his second here as director. Earlier in the season he directed CHASE
ME COMRADE, and he last appeared as an actor in October playing the
convict Jules in MY THREE ANGELS. Best known in this country in THE
PIGLET FILES for London Weekend TV, he has worked extensively in the
theatre, both as actor and director, being involved in more than 300
productions. He still holds the record as the youngest ever professional
theatre director, directing for the first time at the age of 19 years
and 8 months. He was Director of the St Helen's Theatre Royal and the
Malvern Festival Theatre, and directed most of the early productions
for Duncan Weldon's Triumph Theatre company. He has also directed as
a freelance at several of Britain's repertory theatres. In the West
End he was Associate Director of ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD,
and most recently in Australia he produced a promenade version of A
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at a vineyard in New South Wales. More than
100 appearances on TV, ranging from the impossibly good Mr Mitchell
in the first two years of GRANGE HILL to the sinister and dangerous
Peter Crew in THE SCULPTRESS. Most recent UK movies, 101 DALMATIANS
and FIERCE CREATURES and in Australia FIGURES IN MOTION. Latest TV film
was as the Reverend Ottermole in MY UNCLE SILAS with Albert Finney. |
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IAN
STROUD (Set designer) Ian has worked as a carpenter for twenty three
years, having originally served his apprenticeship at Samuel Elliott
& Sons, Reading. Ian has been with The Mill production team for over
two years, during which time he has built some twenty sets. This however,
is his first theatre set design. |
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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 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 and SEASON'S
GREETINGS. |
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CHRISTIAN
DONOGHUE (Lighting Designer) Christian trained at Croydon college,
in theatre design, where he specialised in lighting design and stage
management. During his time there he was lighting designer for a new
play RACHAEL which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival. He was also
the lighting designer for another new play, SWINGERS at the Latchmere
in Battersea. Since graduating from college Christian has worked in
many aspects of live theatre, as a freelance technician. This included
jobs such as, installing lighting and sound equipment onboard cruise
ships, summer seasons at Thorpe Park, and as lighting and sound technician
on cruise ships. Christian's first love has always been lighting, and
during this time he has done several lighting designs for charity and
amateur productions. Christian joined the Mill at the beginning of 2000
as technical assistant, and was promoted to chief LX in March 2001.
This is Christian's sixth lighting design for The Mill at Sonning. Previous
shows include, ALL FOR MARY, UNDER THE YUM YUM TREE, FUNNY ABOUT LOVE
and INSIDE JOB. |
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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 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 she is currently
performing in TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, at the King's Head, London.
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BOB
LARBEY (Playwright) Bob Larbey began his writing career with his
partner John Esmonde and they wrote material for such comedy sketches
as I'M SORRY I'LL READ THAT AGAIN and THE DICK EMERY SHOW, and their
first television success was PLEASE SIR, followed by THE FENN STREET
GANG, THE GOOD LIFE and EVER DECREASING CIRCLES. Bob started writing
on his own in 1982 - A FINE ROMANCE being his first, followed by ON
THE UP and MY GOOD FRIEND. He also adapted THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY,
WHEN THE GREENWOODS LAUGH, MISS SILLY, AGE OLD FRIENDS and AS TIME GOES
BY. Apart from BUILDING BLOCKS, Bob has written other stage plays including
SAND CASTLES, and A MONTH OF SUNDAYS. |
