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DON'T JUST LIE
THERE, Home Secretary, Sir William Mainwaring-Brown, is
leading a campaign against permissiveness. His Under Secrtetary, Barry
Ovis, mysteriously disappears on the morning of his wedding day. Ovis has
been kidnapped by a group of amiable anarchists, drugged and taken to a
wild party where they intend to photograph him and therefore destroy the
government's reputation. But Ovis escapes and takes refuge in Sir
William's flat where he discovers the great man is far from unpermissive
himself. Sir William's plans for an evening of nooky with the delicious
Wendy go disastrously wrong as his flat is soon filled with members of the
opposition, police inspectors and beautiful women in and under the bed.
The mounting frenzy culminates in a hilarious whirlwind of panic-stricken
plans and counter plans as all concerned attempt to ward off
discovery and save their careers. |
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KATE ARNEIL (Gisele Parkyn) Kate is from Glasgow and trained at Rose Bruford College. Theatre includes MOLL FLANDERS (Colchester), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Plymouth Theatre Royal), GOLD (Hull Truck Theatre), A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR (Scarborough - written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn), THE ERPINGHAM CAMP (Edinburgh Theatre Assembly Rooms) and LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS here at Sonning also with Leslie Lawton. In the West End she was in the original casts of SUNSET BOULEVARD, INTO THE WOODS and SHE LOVES ME. She is a regular guest soloist with Larry Adler in his GLORY OF GERSHWIN concert tour. |
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JOHN HART DYKE (The Rt Hon. Wilfred Potts, M.P.) London born John started theatrical life with Perth rep. He has since played other leading reps and appeared in nearly 300 plays including 20 in the West End. The first was DUEL OF ANGELS (with Vivien Leigh), others include A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (Paul Schofield), THE COCKTAIL PARTY (Alec Guiness), THE CONSTANT WIFE (Ingrid Bergman), BLYTHE SPIRIT (Beryl Reid), and National Service in THE MOUSETRAP where he met Ray Cooney (playing the villain), several of whose farces he has appeared in. Other work (more like holidays really) includes seasons at Chichester, Regents Park Open Air, Vienna, Frankfurt, Toronto, Athens, Spain, and Far/Middle East tours for Derek Nimmo playing Shakespeare, comedy and opera. Numerous TV credits go back to the days of live Z CARS; others include DAD'S ARMY, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, RESNIK, BOON, EASTENDERS, KAVANAGH QC, POIROT and most recently the film BRIDGET JONES' DIARY. John loves being in panto, comedy and musicals but favourite productions are his four sons and three grandchildren. Longest run: over 40 years married to lovely ex-actress Catriona Gardiner. |
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MARK HEAL (Inspector Ruff) After a number of false starts, Mark eventually trained at the Cetral School of Speech and Drama. Theatre work includes: THE THREE SISTERS (Ipswich), MACBETH (Hong Kong Arts Centre), NOISES OFF (Taunton), THE POPE AND THE WITCH (Comedy Theatre, West End), BEGGARS NEW CLOTHES (Cockpit Theatre, London), WOMEN IN LOVE (Derby), MAD FOREST (Royal Court), HANDSOME, HANDICAPPED AND HEBREW (Grove Theatre, London). Tours include: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, PRESENT LAUGHTER , THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FANNY HILL and ROMEO AND JULIET. Numerous TV appearances include: DIRTY WORK, EASTENDERS, THE BILL, LONDON BRIDGE, DROP THE DEAD DONKEY, FRIDAY ON MY MIND, PIE IN THE SKY, SATELLITE CITY, MAISE RAINE and McCULLUM. Film work includes THE FEAST OF JULY for Merchant Ivory. This is Mark's first appearance at Sonning. |
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VICKI HOPPS (Wendy) Vicki trained at the Drama Sudio London. She plays Chromety in PROFESSOR BUBBLE which can currently be seen on Sky TV every day! Vicki has appeared in several productions at the Royal; Theatre, Northampton, where she has just been playing Jack in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. Other productions include: EMMA, THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, COMMUNICATING DOORS, DEAD FUNNY, CIDER WITH ROSIE, THE SECRET LIFE OF HUMPTY DUMPTY and CINDERELLA. Last year Vicki played Gloria the usherette in YALLERY BROWN, which transferred to Greenwich Theatre and won the Sainsbury's Checkout Theatre Award. Other theatre credits include: the West End show BUDDY, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Shanghai Tong Theatre, China!, ITCHYCOO PARK, ROMEO AND JULIET, SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS, Feydeau's BETTER LATE and ALL ON A SUMMER'S DAY. TV credits include: PEAK PRACTICE, CASUALTY, EASTENDERS, LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY and DRAGONLANDS. |
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LESLIE LAWTON (Director/Sir Willaiam Mainwaring-Brown M.P.) Leslie was born in Scotland and started his career as a boy actor in television and films. On leaving school he worked in advertising and at the age of 19 was the youngest ever director of television commercials. He the returned to acting and starred in countless television plays and series in the UK, USA, & Canada, appeared with all the major regional theatre companies and in many West End productions. His career as director started in repertory and he has been Artistic Director of five companies including Liverpool and Edinburgh and was Artistic Co-ordinator of London's Theatre of Comedy Company. He has directed television in Canada, Scandinavia and in the UK for Channel 4 and the BBC. He has acted and/or directed in twenty-six countries worldwide including Australia, the Far East, USA, Israel, Scandinavia and Hong Kong. He has acted and/or directed in fourteen West End theatres, has written plays and musicals which have been seen in London and New York, directed in several languages, worked as a freelance journalist and television critic. He has directed and acted many times at The Mill at Sonning - most recently in the British premiere of Benard Slade's FLING! |
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PATRICK LENNOX (Barry Ovis) Patrick trained at Webber Douglas where he played Mercutio in ROMEO AND JULIET at Cliveden and Count in FOOLS. Since leaving, theatre includes: ONE FOR THE POT at The Mill at Sonning, Mr Elton in EMMA at The Olympia, Dublin, Lt Yolland in TRANSLATIONS, Freddie in PYGMALION and Eddie in DESERT LULLABY at The Lyric, Belfast, EPITAPH FOR THE WHALES at The Gate , LANGUAGE ROULETTE, Irish tour, The Bush and Traverse Theatres, MEASURE FOR MEASURE at the BAC and Romainville in RING AROUND THE MOON at The King's Head. TV: SMALL POTATOES (LWT). Film: THE JOLLY BOY'S LAST STAND. Radio: THE BOMB DAMAGE SALE WEDDING DRESS. |
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MICHELLE MORRIS (Jean Fenton) Michelle trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art graduating in 1998. Theatre credits include: HELEN AVERY in the award-winning production of THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE - the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, at the Tricycle Theatre, Theatre Royal, Stratford East, West End, National Theatre and National Tour, Christine in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH and Cynthia in ONE FOR THE POT, both at The Mill at Sonning. As a member of the National Youth Music Theatre, Michelle appeared in THE RAGGED CHILD, and the Fringe first award-winning PENDRAGON, performing in New York, on Broadway, Canada, Hong Kong and Taipei. TV credits include: Jes Haworth in THE KNOCK (ITV), BIG KIDS, BUGS (BBC), BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS, THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE (BBC2). Michelle has also presented two videos for Oxford University Press and one for Substance Misuse. Michelle has just finished playing Jack in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at The Theatre Royal, Windsor. |
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MIRANDA RAISON (Damina) Miranda left Webber Douglas in December '98. She has appeared as June Stanley in THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (Chichester Festival Theatre) and as Desdemona in OTHELLO at the Theatre Royal, York. TV includes HEARTBEAT (ITV), THE DARK REALM (Warner Bros), SUNBURN (BBC), EMMERDALE (YTV) and Miranda will be seen later this year in THE FAMILY TREE (BBC). For film she has played the role of Marianne Faithful in SUZIE Q (Staccato Films). |
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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 namely: LET'S FACE THE MUSIC with Irving Berlin, Ruby in DAMES AT SEA (an excerpt of which was included in The Royal Gala Performance in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales), Alison in A TOUCH OF SPRING, Sadie in THE FLIPSIDE, the musical HAPPY AS A SANDBAG, and as Penelope Toop in SEE HOW THEY RUN! and most recently as Julia in DEAD GUILTY. The most recent plays Sally has directed at The Mill are THE RAINMAKER, BORN YESTERDAY, LEND ME A TENOR, DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY, TEN TIMES TABLE AND SYLVIA'S WEDDING. Sally enjoys a career outside 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 and MULBERRY. Sally directed the National Tour of PASTIMES, starring Rosemary Leach and William Gaunt and has most recently directed BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by Neil Simon at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End. She has recently started singing with the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra at the Savoy. | |
| JACQUELINE HUTSON (Set Designer) Jacqueline Hutson trained in Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art. Previous designs for The Mill include: STEPPING OUT, THE RAINMAKER, THE MAINTENANCE MAN, THE LITTLE HUT, PASTIMES, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER, KISS MY AUNT, NOEL & GERTIE, BORN YESTERDAY, LOVE'S A LUXURY, LEND ME A TENOR, THE WAITING GAME, DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, DEAD GUILTY, WORMS EYE VIEW, LAURA, A BEDFUL OF FOREIGNERS, SAY WHO YOU ARE, LAYING THE GHOST, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY, ONE FOR THE POT, and recently THE PERFECT PENSION PLAN, KISS OF DEATH and DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER and recently WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY. |  |
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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 favourite costume designs include: STEPPING OUT, THE RAINMAKER, NOEL & GERTIE, BORN YESTERDAY, LEND ME A TENOR, TWO DOZEN RED ROSES, GRAPES & RAISINS, SAY WHO YOU ARE, LAYING THE GHOST, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY, ONE FOR THE POT, THE PERFECT PENSION PLAN, FLING!, TEN TIMES TABLE, KISS OF DEATH, DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, OUTSIDE EDGE, A PARTY TO MURDER, SYLVIA'S WEDDING and WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY. | |
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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 of which include: STEPPING OUT, KISS MY AUNT, BORN YESTERDAY, LEND ME A TENOR, THE WAITING GAME, DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, LAURA, GRAPES & RAISINS, SAY WHO YOU ARE, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY, THE PERFECT PENSION PLAN, TEN TIMES TABLE, KISS OF DEATH, DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, OUTSIDE EDGE, A PARTY TO MURDER and WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY. |
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MICHAEL PERTWEE (Playwright) Michael was only twenty-one when his first play, a comedy thriller was produced in 1936 at London's Strand Theatre and later in New York. He wrote the book of the musical THE FOUR MUSKETEERS which starred Harry Secombe at Drury Lane. He wrote three of Brian Rix's successful, long running farces - SHE'S DONE IT AGAIN, DON'T JUST LIE THERE - SAY SOMETHING! and A BIT BETWEEN THE TEETH, and also BIRDS OF PARADISE, SEXTET and co-wrote LOOK, NO HANS! with John Chapman. Michael has written some forty feature films including LAUGHTER IN PARADISE, THE NAKED TRUTH with Peter Sellers, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, STRANGE BEDFELLOWS with Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida and SALT AND PEPPER with Sammy Davis Jnr. |
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