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MOVE OVER MRS
MARKHAM The Mill at Sonning is delighted to offer as Xmas
fayre this hilarious play by the 'Masters of Farce' - Cooney and Chapman.
The setting is the London flat of Philip and Joanna Markham. Philip's
business partner, Henry Lodge, asks if he can borrow the flat for an
evening of nooky with his latest girlfriend. Meanwhile his wife Linda has
persuaded Mrs Markham to loan the flat to her in order to entertain her
lover. At the same time the Markham's interior designer has designs on the
au pair girl. On the same evening all three sets of hopeful lovers
converge on the bedroom of the Markhams' supposedly empty flat. The
resulting confusions of these amorous goings-on provide an evening of
delicious and uproarious fun. |
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KRISTINA BRANDEN (Sylvia) Kristina recently
graduated from Central School of Speech and Drama where her theatre
credits included: Katy in THE STRANGENESS OF OTHERS; Nicoletta in
MEPHISTO; Sophie in THE GRACE OF MARY TRAVERSE and Lydia Languish in THE
RIVALS. Theatre credits since graduating include: Elisabeth in SANTA'S WAR
STARS IN SPACE at the Old Red Lion. Her TV credits include: Gertrud in
BAND OF BROTHERS for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks. |
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GRANT BURGIN (Alistair) Grant
was born in Leeds. He trained at the Webber Douglas Academy. Theatre
credits include MACBETH (Stratford), LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Nuffield),
NOBODY'S PERFECT (London and Dubai), TAMING OF THE SHREW, ROMEO AND
JULIET, THE ARCADIANS, DEAR BRUTUS (all at the King's Head, London).
SPRING AND PORT WINE, MAN OF THE MOMENT, SAILOR BEWARE and KISSING COUSINS
(all for Jill Freud Company, Southwold). And National tours of ON THE
PISTE, UP 'N' UNDER and THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE. Grant was last
seen at Sonning in TIME AND TIME AGAIN. Television and film credits
include BEWARE BROTHER BEWARE, THE MONKEY'S PAW, TIES, THE BILL and the
soon to be shown TURN THE WORLD DOWN for Channel
Four. |
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ERIC CARTE (Henry Lodge) Eric trained at the
Drama Centre. He recently completed a successful West End run of FALLEN
ANGELS (with Felicity Kendal and Frances de la Tour) at the Apollo Theatre
and has just appeared in THE GENTLE HOOK at the Theatre Royal, Windsor
(with Richard Todd). Other West End Theatre includes: HAMLET (with Ian
McKellen), CORIOLANUS (with Nicol Williamson) for the RSC, BUTLEY (with
John Nettles), UNDERGROUND (with Raymond Burr), TWO INTO ONE (with John
Thaw and Daniel Massey). Extensive Regional Theatre and International
Tours include TOWARDS ZERO; M. BUTTERFLY; SEE HOW THE RUN; DEATHTRAP; ONLY
WHEN I LAUGH; THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY; TEN TIMES TABLE; DEAD FUNNY;
DANGEROUS OBSESSION; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; I AM A CAMERA; DANGEROUS
CORNER; THE LION IN WINTER (opposite Joan Fontaine in Vienna); RUN FOR YOR
WIFE and FUNNY MONEY (for Ray Cooney's Comedy at Sea Company); PRIVATE
LIVES; EASY VIRTUE (King's Head); and BRIEF ENCOUNTER (Theatre Royal,
Windsor) opposite Jenny Seagrove. Television includes: DOWN TO EARTH,
CHILLERS, SUNDAY LUNCH, BODY STORY, PEOPLE LIKE US, GHOSTHUNTER,
HEARTBEAT, NANCHERROW, TOUCH AND GO, THE WOMAN IN WHITE, POIROT - HERCULE
POIROT'S CHRISTMAS, PRIVATE SCHULTZ, THE FAMOUS FIVE GO TO TREASURE
ISLAND, BOUQUET OF BARBED WIRE and ANOTHER BOUQUET. Film includes DAISIES
IN DECEMBER with Jean Simmons and Joss Ackland; THE BEAST MUST DIE and
ZEPPELIN. |
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SARAH CLAPHAM (Miss Wilkinson) Sarah was born
in Surrey and trained at Guildford School of Acting, having first
completed a degree in English at Nottingham University. She recently
played Titania in an open-air production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
Other credits include Patsy in THE RIMERS OF ELDRICH, Nora in A DOLL'S
HOUSE, Alice in CLOSER, LV in THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE, Cynthia
in THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND and Mariner in THE RIME OF THE ACIENT MARINER,
performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. |
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LIZ EDMISTON (Linda Lodge) After training at
the Royal Ballet School, Liz appeared in several West End musicals
including FUNNY GIRL with Barbra Streisand, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, MR AND
MRS, LITTLE ME and THE BOYFRIEND. She then played the title role in GIGI,
ALICE IN WONDERLAND, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS and PETER PAN. She
played Nerissa in the Ludlow Festival Production of THE MERCHANT OF
VENICE, played Anne Butley opposite John Nettles in BUTLEY in the West
End. Liz appeared in BLITHE SPIRIT at the Haymarket, Basingstoke; as Helga
in a nationwide tour of M BUTTERFLY with George Chakiris; as Sarah in DAY
AFTER THE FAIR at the Royal Theatre, Northampton and as Joan Yates in LOVE
EN SUITE at The Mill at Sonning. Liz co-starred with Jack Wild in the film
THE 14, directed by David Hemmings, and her television appearances include
RISING DAMP, the comedy series NOW TAKE MY WIFE, in which she played
Sheila Hancock's daughter, NEVER THE TWAIN, DICKENS OF LONDON, THE
COLLECTORS, JULIET BRAVO and most recently THE RITA RUDNER SHOW, LAZARUS
AND DINGWALL, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES and THE BILL. Liz appeared in LOVE'S
A LUXURY at The Mill at Sonning, FORGOTTON as Alma Todd for LWT and A
BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS at The Mill at Sonning. |
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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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PATRICIA KANE (Olive Harriet Smythe) From
dancer to band vocalist, cabaret, summer-shows, pantomime, radio to
character actress, Patricia's career has embraced most aspects of
show-business. Married to actor Howell Evans, they toured their comedy
double-act in variety for many years. Since then, she has played leading
and featured roles in many productions including A CHRISTMAS CAROL, NIGHT
MUST FALL, THE CRUCIBLE, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, FORGET-ME-NOT LANE, WHEN
THE WIND BLOWS, ON THE RAZZLE, THARK, ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, THE OLD
DEVILS, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO and THE WIZARD OF OZ. Television credits
include SOCRATES, DISTRICT NURSE, UNEXPLAINED LAUGHTER, SMALL OBJECTS OF
DESIRE, GAS AND CANDLES, TENDER LOVING CARE, OPEN ALL HOURS, VICAR OF
DIBLEY, AQUILA, SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM, CRIMEWATCH and
DEVICES AND DESIRES and several episodes of THE BILL. During the last four
years or so, she has appeared at The Mill in PASTIMES, MURDER MISTAKEN,
PARTY PIECE, WORM'S EYE VIEW, GRAPES AND RAISINS and SYLVIA'S WEDDING in
addition to Summer and Christmas seasons of Music Hall (with the Hiss
& Boo Company) and several Celebrity Concerts. Since her last visit,
she has done TV commercials in Sweden, Spain and Holland and has appeared
in two cinema films… ARTHUR'S DYKE and PLOTS WITH A VIEW… the latter still
in production. |
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PATRICK MONCKTON (Walter) Patrick was born in
Hungary and moved to England at the age of seven. His wide-ranging theatre
credits include Sir Peter Hall's LYSISTRATA in the West end and in Athens:
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE at Oxford and in the West End: Martini in a
national tour of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST: BREEZEBLOCK PARK, ONE
FOR THE ROAD and MAKE AND BREAK at Windsor: DON JUAN, FLIGHT and CAN'T
PAY? WON'T PAY! At Bristol: BEDROOM FARCE, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, FUNNY
PECULIAR and THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND at Leicester: HAVING A BALL at
Watford and THE EMIGRANTS at Greenwich. His work at the National Theatre
includes HAMLET, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, PLUNDER and TAMBURLAINE, BEYOND THE
FRINGE for a season in San Francisco. He has worked here at Sonning in
CALIFORNIA SUITE and SEE HOW THEY RUN. Patrick's many television credits
include DINOTOPIA, TOUCHING EVIL, CORONATION STREET, HEAD OVER HEELS, THE
UPPER HAND, POIROT, THE BILL, MINDER, WOOF, ADRIAN MOLE and BRIDESHEAD
REVISITED, all for various ITV companies, and, for the BBC, EASTENDERS, SO
HAUNT ME, THE BRITTAS EMPIRE, SCREAMING, AN ACTOR'S LIFE FOR ME, MOON AND
SON, BERGERAC, SHADOW OF THE NOOSE, LICKING HITLER, THE SECRET SERVANT and
PROFESSIONAL FOUL. He works regularly on television in America, with guest
roles in several episodes of KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, DRACULA - THE
SERIES, THE RETURN OF SAM McCLOUD, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE LEADING LADY,
RIVIERA, YOUNG INDIANA JONES and he played Doctor Watson in the recent
remake of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS - MY DEAR WATSON. Patrick's films
include WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HAROLD SMITH?, THE BORROWERS, THE FIRST
KANGAROOS, ROBINSON CRUSOE and HANNA'S WAR. |
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JAMES WOOLLEY (Philip) Recent theatre credits
include: William Collyer in THE DEEP BLUE SEA (Nottingham Playhouse),
Edmund Lawson QC in THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE (Tricycle Theatre, national tour
and Royal National Theatre) and Palmer in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH (The Mill,
Sonning). Other theatre includes NUREMBURG (Tricycle Theatre), SREBRENICA
(Tricycle Theatre and Royal National Theatre, APPEARANCES (Mayfair), WIND
IN THE WILLOWS (Vaudeville), PRESENT LAUGHTER (Gielgud), THE TEMPEST
(Theatr Clwyd), TWELFTH NIGHT and DEATH AND THE MAIDEN (Northcott,
Exeter), JOURNEY'S END (Crucible, Sheffield), WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA
WOLF (Belgrade, Coventry). THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (Royal Exchange,
Manchester) AN INSPECTOR CALLS and THE FAMILY REUNION (Everyman,
Cheltenham), TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT (Theatre Royal, York), SUMMER LIGHTENING
(Salisbury Playhouse), ANGELS RAVE ON (Nottingham Playhouse). Film credits
include: INTIMATE CONTACT, SPYS, MAURICE, POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL.
Television credits include TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION (BBC2) and THE COLOUR OF
JUSTICE (BBC2), HIPPIES (C4), GREEN FINGERS (C4) and THE BILL (Thames).
James has also appeared in GLITTERING PRIZES, WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN,
DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET, UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES,
PULASKI, THE FIRM (all BBC), FAMILY AT WAR (Granada), DANGER UXB, SHRINKS
and THE POLITICIAN'S WIFE. James has recently finished a run at The Apollo
Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue in FALLEN ANGELS. He has also recently appeared
in COUPLING for BBC TV and I SAW YOU for Channel 4. |
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IAN MASTERS (Director) MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM
is the eleventh production Ian has directed at the Mill. Other productions
he has directed here have been; A PARTY TO MURDER, TIME & TIME AGAIN,
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, WHEN THE KISSING STOPPED, PARTY PIECE, THERE'S A
GIRL IN MY SOUP, TWO DOZEN RED ROSES, ONLY WHEN I LAUGH and THE PERFECT
PENSION PLAN. His directorial debut was with a play called BECK at the
King's Head Theatre, Islington. This starred Hugh Lloyd and was chosen as
a platform production at The National Theatre. He then directed THE ORANGE
PENQUIN an award winner at the Edinburgh Festival. He moved on to the
commercial theatre and directed THE MATING GAME with Barbara Windsor and
the late Terry Scott. Many productions followed, including WHO GOES THERE?
with Melvyn Hayes and Trevor Bannister, ONLY WHEN I LAUGH starring William
Gaunt and Simon Ward, ABIGAIL'S PARTY, FUNNY MONEY and THE MOUSETRAP. He
has just returned from Singapore having directed DO NOT DISTURB by Michael
Pertwee out there. Several productions for the BBC in Europe and ten
pantomimes, the most recent being PETER PAN which starred Ross Kemp as
Captain Hook. As well as working as an actor, Ian has written for radio,
television and the theatre. He had a new comedy, KISSING COUSINS which
opened at Southwold. As an actor, most recent television credits include;
THE SINS, RED DWARF, FATAL SPRING, TELLING TALES, TEN PERCENTERS, PIGLET
FILES, PATH FINDERS and I WOKE UP ONE MORNING. In radio he recently
completed TESS OF THE D'URBEVILLES with Keith Barron, BILLY BUDD starring
Paul Schofield, DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD with Jack Dee and
BREAKFAST IN BRIGHTON with Stephen Tomkinson. |
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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,
DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING!, MAKE ME A MATCH, A SLIGHT HANGOVER
and ALL FOR MARY. |
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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, A SLIGHT HANGOVER,
KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED, WHY NOT STAY FOR BREAKFAST, ALL FOR MARY, and WHO
KILLED SANTA CLAUS. |
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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 second design at The Mill,
following ALL FOR MARY. |
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RAY COONEY (Playwright) In addition to
co-writing BANG BANG BEIRUT and ONE FOR THE POT with Tony Hilton, Ray
Cooney has collaborated with John Chapman on the highly successful farces
MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, NOT NOW DARLING, THERE GOES THE BRIDE and on his
own, he has written CHASE ME COMRADE, TWO INTO ONE, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, IT
RUNS IN THE FAMILY and most recently FUNNY MONEY. He founded the famous
Theatre of Comedy in1983, subsequently becoming Artistic Director. During
Ray's hectic theatrical career he has always found time to continue acting
and played the last year of RUN FOR YOUR WIFE! In London before appearing
in the New York production. Recently he played the lead in IT RUNS IN THE
FAMILY and FUNNY MONEY. Ray has been married to Linda for nearly thirty
five years and, apart from their son, Michael (author of CASH ON
DELIVERY!) they have an elder son Danny who lives in Australia with his
wife and two children. The sequel to RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, called RUN FOR
YOUR WIFE TWO has just played with great success at the Theatre Royal,
Windsor. |
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JOHN CHAPMAN (Playwright) John Chapman's first
play, DRY ROT, opened at the Whitehall Theatre, London in 1954. It proved
to be a resounding success, and ran for three and a half years, a total of
1,475 performances. His next play, SIMPLE SPYMAN, also ran for three years
and was followed by THE BRIDES OF MARCH, DIPLOMATIC BAGGAGE and OH!
CLARENCE. John Chapman was well known for his collaborations with Carla
Lane in THE LIVER BIRDS and Ray Cooney in the ever-popular MOVE OVER MRS
MARKHAM, MY GIDDY AUNT, NOT NOW DARLING and THERE GOES THE BRIDE. He also
wrote over two hundred TV comedies, including BLANDINGS CASTLE for Sir
Ralph Richardson, HAPPY EVER AFTER (co-written with Eric Merriman) which
starred June Whitfield and Terry Scott, as well as twenty six episodes of
a highly successful Thames Television series FRESH FIELDS, with Julia
McKenzie and Anton Rodgers, which won the emmy Award in America for the
most popular comedy. |
