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KINDLY KEEP IT
COVERED On the health farm he runs with his wife Julia,
disaster is overtaking Roland Dickerby. He is accused of drowning a camel.
And is also suspected of an insurance fraud. His wife's first husband,
supposedly dead, returns and threatens to reclaim her. As Roland's guests
gorge themselves on diced carrot and celery at the Midsummer Ball, a
police jazz band is robbed of its meat pie supper by a demented dieter.
And if that's not enough, a mysterious employee, once known as the Birdman
of Madagascar, is accused of indecent exposure. While Roland appears to be
doing something nasty in the fireplace. This fast, furious and frantic
farce will have you rolling in the aisles.
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HELEN COTTERILL (Vanessa) Helen Cotterill was born in Wimbledon. She played Polly Peachum in Tony Richardson's production of THE THREEPENNY OPERA at both the Prince of Wales and Piccadilly Theatres. She also appeared in HENRY IV and HENRY V in the Prospect Theatre's Roundhouse Season. During her three years with the Actor's Company she played a variety of roles on extensive British, Scandinavian and South American tours. Helen played the title role in PIAF at Westcliffe and Leeds and Kitty Warren in MRS WARREN'S PROFESSION again at Leeds Playhouse. Many plays for Roger Redfarn at Plymouth, include SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, DECADENCE and DONNY BOY. She was The Nurse in Oxford Playhouse Company's production of ROMEO AND JULIET on it's National and Japanese tour and more recently Mrs Sowerberry in Sam Mendes successful production of OLIVER at The London Palladium and Dot in the musical version of Richard Harris's award winning STEPPING OUT directed by Julia Mckenzie at the Albery Theatre. Since the long-running THE NEWCOMERS for the BBC, Helen has made countless television appearances including BORN AND BRED; THE FAINT HEARTED FEMINIST; OPEN ALL HOURS; BAD BOYES; MR LOVE; THE REAL EDDY ENGLISH; TIME AFTER TIME for LWT and several episodes of THE BILL. Recent television appearances include THE JIM TAVARE SHOW FOR channel 5, Sonia in PEAK PRACTICE, Betty Kirk in two episodes of HEARTBEAT for YTV and another Betty this time in DINNER LADIES. Previous work at Sonning include the second ever production of HAVEN'T WE MET BEFORE with John Alderton, MY FAT FRIEND and LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, working, as now, with Leslie Lawton. |
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TOM COULTHARD (Hooper) Tom's theatre work includes Rep at Liverpool, Edinburgh, Basingstoke and Windsor. He played Tim Allgood in the No. l tour of NOISES OFF and Moon in the Young Vic tour of THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND. He has recently toured with Empty Space and Red Shift (in the award-winning BARTLEBY which also played the Edinburgh Festival and transferred to London) and has appeared in many plays on the London fringe. On television Tom played Charles Gibbons in the BBC's classic TRELAWNY OF THE WELLS and varied parts in the series THE CHIEF, INSPECTOR MORSE, STAR COPS, THE SATELLITE GAME and most recently GRANGE HILL. |
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JENNIFER HILL (Olivia) Jennifer was born and educated in Port Talbot, trained at LAMDA, and began her career in repertory theatre, including seasons at Swansea, Bromley, Southport, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. She has appeared in the West End in THE CORN IS GREEN, CRITIC'S CHOICE, UNDER MILK WOOD (three different productions!!) and Ray Cooney's IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY, also doing the subsequent National Tour. Her experience in pantomime is confined to inept witches and silly fairies, 'though she did play a mean Morgan le Fay in Polka Theatre's THE MAGIC OF MERLIN. She worked at the Royal National Theatre for over three years appearing in productions of TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE, GHETTO, MOUNTAIN LANGUAGE, THE SHAUGHRAUN, THE JOVIAL CREW and THE CRUCIBLE. Recently Jennifer has been working in Wales a great deal: at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre in Alan Bennett's TALKING HEADS, A GENERATION ARISES and several Sherman/HTV plays - at BBC Wales in a BAFTA award winning film WASHED UP and in Radio Wales' soap STATION ROAD in which she plays Menna Williams. Films include CARRY ON JACK, OCTOPUSSY and HUMAN TRAFFIC. She has just finished playing in Alan Ayckbourn's BEDROOM FARCE at Clwyd Threatr Cymru, directed by Terry Hands. |
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LESLIE LAWTON (Director/Sidney) 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 then 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 a 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 - most recently in DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING! He returns next to Israel to direct a new Neil Simon play and at Christmas will be co-starring in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at Crawley. |
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GRAHAM POUNTNEY (Roland Dickerby) Graham Pountney last appeared at The Mill in A BOSTON STORY. His theatre work has included many regional repertory seasons, where some of his favourite roles have included Henry Carr in Stoppard's TRAVESTIES; Gerald in Ben Travers' ROOKERY NOOK; Freddie in Frayn's NOISES OFF; Edward Voysey in Granville Barker's THE VOYSEY INHERITANCE; Faulkland in Sheridan's THE RIVALS; Sergeant Troy in Thomas Hardy's FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD and Lord Harpenden in Rattigan's WHILE THE SUN SHINES. He last appeared in the West End as Fred Beenstock in Brighouse's HOBSON'S CHOICE with Leo McKern and Nicola McAuliffe. Graham was a founder member of the British Actors Theatre Company touring nationally and internationally, for whom he played Petruchio in Shakespeare's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and Orlando in Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT. Latterly, Shakespeare has taken a prominent position in Graham's career. Graham is a co-founder and company Director of the Original Shakespeare Company. His acting work with the OSC has included The Prince in ROMEO & JULIET, Theseus/Oberon in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM; and (in the OSC's Shakespeare's Globe Theatre seasons) Jupiter in CYMBELINE; Chatillion in KING JOHN and Duke Frederick in AS YOU LIKE IT. Graham has recently appeared on television in TEACHERS, CROSSROADS, THE SINS, DOCTORS and TRAIL OF GUILT a drama-documentary on Harold Shipman. You may recall Graham as a regular in HOWARDS WAY playing powerboat driver Mark Foster. He has recently completed filming MR IN-BETWEEN for Phantom Pictures for release later this year. Graham is also a co-founder of the business management training partnership HOW TO PASS THE SCREEN TEST, and specialises in coaching presentation skills for meetings, conferences and videoconferences. | |
| JULIE TEAL (Julia Dickerby) 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 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, Jill in A STING IN THE TALE, Helga in A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS, Paulina in DEATH AND THE MAIDEN and Jacqueline in DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER. 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. Julia also played Anna in Francis Durbridge's thriller DEADLY NIGHTCAP in the West End. Television credits include THE CHIEF, THE BILL, SHE'S OUT, CLASS ACT, EASTENDERS, HOLDING ON and TOUCHING EVIL. Film work includes Stephen Poliakoff's film FOOD OF LOVE. |  | |
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PATSY TOMLIN (WPS Campbell) Patsy Tomlin trained at Drama Studio London and has spent much of the last few years touring in theatre comedy. She played Jean in Ray Cooney's FUNNY MONEY on tour in the UK and also travelled with that show to the Far East and Middle East with the British Airways Playhouse, under the direction of the late, great Derek Nimmo. Patsy has recently played Mrs Pennington in SCISSOR HAPPY which had a summer season in Eastbourne as well as a tour. Her screen credits include A VAMPYRES TALE - to be screened on BBC later this year, and CRIMEWATCH. Patsy hopes to be working with Brian Murphy and Victor Spinnetti in a new play YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE by Ron Aldridge at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne later in the summer. Patsy is thrilled to appear at The Mill at Sonning, where being paid to hear people laugh in such beautiful surroundings makes her student loan debt worthwhile. Have a good evening everyone! | |
| CLAIRE LYTH (Set designer) Claire read drama, History and English at Bristol University. Recent designs: FOOLS (Odense Theater, Denmark) directed by Leslie Lawton; SNOW QUEEN (Norden Farm Arts Centre); HIGH SPIRITS (Bridewell); THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Vienna's English Theatre) and THE TEMPEST (New York State Theater Institute). Other designs: THE MAN WHO THINKS HE'S IT (The Steve Coogan Show, Lyceum, London); GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME (Tour); MACBETH and TWELFTH NIGHT; (English Shakespeare Company); SHOOT (Jermyn Street Theatre); ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL and COMEDY OF ERRORS (Regent's Park); CANDIDA (The Arts);SPLIT SECOND (Lyric, Hammersmith); PETER PAN and THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Crucible, Sheffield);WINTER'S TALE, TOSCA, HAMLET (Everyman Theatre, Liverpool); ARCHANGELS DON'T PLAY PINBALL (Bristol Old Vic); ROMEO & JULIET (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff; THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (Theatr Clwyd; AS YOU LIKE IT and OTHELLO (Ludlow Festival) and STREAMERS (The Roundhouse). Opera designs include : RIGOLETTO (tour for WNO); COSI FAN TUTTE and THE SECRET MARRIAGE (Hong Kong); TOSCA (Everyman, Liverpool); and ONE GOD ONE FARINELLI (BAC). Musicals include: FUNGUS THE BOGEYMAN (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); MAD AND HER DAD (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith); OKLAHOMA (national tour) and RAGS (Spitalfields Market Opera). Claire was Head of Design for Leslie Lawton at Liverpool Playhouse and the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. She has worked in Denmark, Germany, USA, Beirut and Hong Kong on many occasions, and represented Great Britain at the Prague International Design Exhibition at the last Quadrienniel. | ||
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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, WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY, DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING!, MAKE ME A MATCH and A SLIGHT HANGOVER.. | |
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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, WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY and DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING! MAKE ME A MATCH and A SLIGHT HANGOVER. |
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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. |
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DAVE FREEMAN (Playwright) Dave Freeman was born in London in 1922. He worked as a stage electrician until the outbreak of war and during the war served in the Royal Navy. Upon leaving the Navy he joined the London Metropolitan Police until recalled to the Navy for the Korean War in 1951. He then became a journalist and from this began writing comedy shows for television and radio. During the 1950's he wrote much of Benny Hill's material and collaborated with him on the West End Revue FINE FETTLE. He also wrote a number of pantomimes for the London Palladium. During the past forty years he has written about two hundred television situation comedies. Film scripts include ROCKET TO THE MOON, BLESS THIS HOUSE, CARRY ON ABROAD and CARRY ON COLUMBUS. His first stage play A BEDFUL OF FOREIGNERS opened in 1973 and ran in the West End for eighteen months, starring Terry Scott and June Whitfield; since then it has played successfully all over the world. It ran at Stockhom's China theatre for a year and played in Mardid for nine months. It has also been produced in Germany, Holland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, at the State Theatre in Czechoslovakia before its partition. It has been produced extensively in Canada, The United States, Argentina and Brazil, The Far East including Beijing and The Middle East including Cairo. His second play KEY FOR TWO written in conjunction with John Chapman has also played all over the world and his third play KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED ran for a year in Vienna and has also been produced extensively in Germany, Sweden, Holland and Britain. He is married with three children and ten grandchildren, two of whom are half Finnish. His hobbies are gardening, carpentry and reading. |
