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TAKING
STEPS Roland, a rich bucket manufacturer, is considering
buying an old Victorian house, once a brothel. His solicitor and the
vendor, a builder, arrive to complete the deal. Also in the house are
Roland's neurotic wife Elizabeth, her brother and his fiancée. In the
course of one hectic night and morning with continual running up and down
stairs and rooms as busy as rush-hour, these six misfits try to sort
themselves out resulting in a hilarious mêlée of suicide notes, mistaken
identities punch-ups and shriek-ins. TAKING STEPS is Aykbourn in his
element, and pure, downright fun.
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JOHN ARTHUR (Roland) After leaving drama
school in Birmingham in 1970, John worked for 10 years or so in repertory
theatres all round England, playing dozens of roles. Companies played
included two seasons at the old Derby Playhouse, two seasons at Crewe
Theatre, three years with the EMMA Theatre Company based in Loughborough,
playing throughout the East Midlands in village halls, pubs, schools,
prisons and performing in the street. Summer of 1973 saw John doing one of
the last seasons of weekly rep. In 1977 John joined Sir Alan Ayckbourn's
company in Scarborough where he stayed for three years, followed by return
visits in 1981 and 1982. During this time he was delighted to play central
roles in 9 new Ayckbourn plays, as well as major parts such as John
Procter in Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE . Ayckbourn roles included Roland
Crabbe in TAKING STEPS revisited here, Len Coker in SISTERLY FEELINGS and
Richard in JOKING APART. Subsequently he went on to play in Ayckbourn in
other theatres such as The Palace, Watford, Greenwich Theatre and The
Theatre Royal, Windsor, making a total of 14 productions, several with
Robin Herford, who directs TAKING STEPS here, and who is an old chum of
too many years to think about. In the West End John was in Michael
Frayne's LOOK LOOK, Sir Peter Hall's revival of PIAF and Alan Ayckbourn's
COMMUNICATING DOORS. He has been in two Seasons at The Royal National
Theatre, appearing as 'Enery in TONS OF MONEY and Desmond in A SMALL
FAMILY BUSINESS among others. On television he has made numerous
appearances over the last 20 years, and is perhaps best known for
situation comedy, which has included John in FRESH FIELDS, Constable
Dunstable in PILGRIMS REST and currently Phil in Carlton TV's BARBARA. Two
recent films about to be released are THE ABUCTION CLUB and THUNDERPANTS.
John is about to heard on Radio 4 in a new sit-com called LEAN ON ME
starring Julia McKenzie and Maureen Lipman, and on television over
Christmas in COMBAT SHEEP. John's interest are flying, gardening and
classical music and he is about to move to Banbury with his violinist
partner Penelope Gee of the "Astor String Quartet". |
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KAREN ASCOE (Elizabeth) This is Karen's first
show at The Mill at Sonning. She has worked previously with director Robin
Herford, playing Barbs in Liz Lochead's PERFECT DAYS and also in
Ayckbourn's TIME OF MY LIFE (at Derby Playhouse). Other favourite theatre
includes Dolly in ANNA KARENINA for Shared Experience, at the Lyric,
Hammersmith and on UK and International Tour, Sasha in IVONOV an and Hero
in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Strand, London, Hannah in A SHAYNA MAIDEL
at the Ambassadors; numerous plays at the Orange Tree, Richmond, including
ADAM BEDE, THE CASE OF REBELLIOUS SUSAN, SILAS MARNER, THE CASSILLIS
ENGAGEMENT; a jazz-theatre piece OUT THERE, with Django Bates at the
Riverside Studios and LOOT and THE GLASS MENAGERIE at Worcester. Recent
television includes, THE ARMANDO IANNUCCI SHOWS, ARMADILLO, LONDON'S
BURNING, PEAK PRACTICE, OTHER PEOPLES CHILDREN, THE BILL, PAPER MASK.
Karen won the BBC Radio Competition while training at the Guildhall, and
subsequently recorded many radio plays, series and readings. Favourites
include Doreen in TARTUFFE and Miranda in THE TEMPEST with the late Sir
John Gielgud. |
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TERENCE BOOTH (Leslie) Terence studied at St
Luke's College, Exeter. Theatre credits include: TIME OF MY LIFE
(Vaudeville); MAN OF THE MOMENT (Gielgud); THE CRUCIBLE, SATURDAY SUNDAY
MONDAY, HOUSE AND GARDEN, FORTY YEARS ON, BODY LANGUAGE (Scarborough);
PASSION PLAY, SEASON'S GREETING, THE GENIUS, PRAVDA, HAPGOOD (Leeds
Playhouse); THE MAGISTRATE, ONCE A CATHOLIC, NIGHT AND DAY, GREASE
(Theatre Royal, York); TAKING STEPS, OUTSIDE EDGE, PYGMALION, THE RIVALS,
THE NORMAL HEART (Harrogate); TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HOW THE OTHER HALF
LOVES, NORMAN CONQUESTS, ONE FOR THE ROAD (Windsor); MRS WARREN'S
PROFESSION (Theatr Clwyd); A GOING CONCERN (Southampton); NOISES OFF
(Oldham); EYE CONTACT (Riverside, Hammersmith). TV credits include:
CASUALTY, ALAN PARTRIDGE, SILENT WITNESS, LONDON BRIDGE, THE BILL, THE
LAST SALUTE, SO HAUNT ME, BOON, CHAMBERS. |
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MATTHEW COTTLE (Tristram) Matthew trained at
RADA. Theatre includes: COMIC POTENTIAL at the Lyric - West End, written
and directed by Alan Ayckbourn. National tours of THE SUNSHINE BOYS and
RATTLE OF A SIMPLE MAN. PETER PAN at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, THE
SCHOOL MISTRESS - Chichester Festival Theatre; RELATIVELY SPEAKING and THE
DICE HOUSE - Belgrade, Coventry; BILLY LIAR and A CHRISTMAS CAROL - The
Octagon, Bolton; MACBETH - Liverpool Everyman; THE JOLLY POTTERS, TURKEY
TIME, COMEDY OF ERRORS and THE SNOW QUEEN - New Vic, Stoke on Trent; THE
BALLROOM - Wimbledon Studio. Television includes: Three series as Martin
in GAME ON; GET WELL SOON; A PERFECT STATE; TAKING THE FLOOR; COMIN
'ATCHA; THE BILL; CASUALTY; MISS MARPLE - THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS; AN
INDEPENDENT MAN; THE INFINITE WORLD OF H G WELLS; KARAOKE; DROP THE DEAD
DONKEY; MEN OF THE WORLD; HARRY ENFIELD AND CHUMS; CRIMEWATCH FILE;
ENGLISH EXPRESS. Films include; CHAPLIN - Directed by Sir Richard
Attenborough; A CHRISTMAS CAROL; DANNY LOVES ANGELA. Radio: THE DOGSTAR
CHRONICLES. Matthew has lived in Berkshire all his life and is delighted
to be making his first appearance at The Mill. |
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ANDREW HAVILL (Mark) Training - National Youth
Theatre. Exeter University. Theatre - For the Royal Shakespeare Company:
CYMBELINE, RICHARD II, COMEDY OF ERRORS, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, MIDSUMMER
NIGHT'S DREAM, TWO SHAKESPEAREAN ACTORS, ORPHANS, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE,
WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, and Mark Rylance's HAMLET; THE PRINCE'S PLAY
(Royal National Theatre); Alan Bennett in THE LADY IN THE VAN (Birmingham
Rep); THE ASSASSIN (Chelsea Centre); TIME AND THE ROOM (Gate, Notting
Hill); TWELFTH NIGHT (Edinburgh Lyceum and British Council tour of China);
TIME AND TIME AGAIN (Salisbury Playhouse); TAKING STEPS (Derby Playhouse);
THE WOMAN IN BLACK (Fortune Theatre); PRIVATE LIVES, and the world
premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's VIRTUAL REALITY (Stephen Joseph Theatre,
Scarborough). TV - THE GHOSTHUNTER III; OFFICE GOSSIP; PEAK PRACTICE;
GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART; WIVES AND DAUGHTERS; ARISTOCRATS; TRIAL AND
RETRIBUTION (1 AND 2); DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME; THE PETER PRINCIPLE;
KAVANAGH QC; HARRY ENFIELD'S CHRISTMAS CHUMS; SOLDIER, SOLDIER; THE HEAT
OF THE SUN; HISTORY FILE; THE HOUSE OF ELIOT III. Films - RESTORATION;
WILDE; TITANIC TOWN; A TIME TO LOVE; JANICE BEARD 45 WPM; THE ROCKET POST;
THE HEART OF ME. Radio - THE LAST DARE. |
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ALISON PETTITT (Kitty) Alison studied
biochemistry at UCL and quickly realised she was not a natural scientist.
After a year of TIE science theatre she joined the Radio Drama Company at
the BBC for the first of two stints. She has done all sorts of bits and
bobs since then.. Theatre includes, THE NUTCRACKER (West Yorkshire
Playhouse), Ella in THE GLASS SLIPPER (Southwark Playhouse) and Rosalind
in AS YOU LIKE IT (Creation/OSC Oxford. TV includes A S GURU & ROOTS
AND WATER both for BBC Education. Radio includes Lorna in LORNA DOONE,
Sonja in WAR & PEACE, Cecile in LES LIASONS, Cam in TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
and Jackie, the out of hours receptionist in the soap WESTWAY, all for the
BBC. Recordings include Bianca in OTHELLO and Filomena in THE DECAMERON
for Naxos Audio Books. |
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ROBIN HERFORD (Director) Robin is delighted to
be returning to Sonning. His last engagement here was as the director of
SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR with Liz Crowther and Martyn Stanbridge. Much of
Robin's career has been involved with Alan Ayckbourn and the Stephen
Joseph Theatre, in Scarborough. Joining the company in 1976 as an actor,
he was appointed Associate Director in 1979 and Artistic Director from
1986 - 1988. Robin has appeared in the original production of more
Ayckbourn plays than any other actor, from TEN TIMES TABLE in 1977 to
HENCEFORWARD… in 1987. He came to London with SEASON'S GREETINGS and
SUBURBAN STRAINS (Roundhouse), INTIMATE EXCHANGES (Greenwich and
Ambassadors) and HENCEFORWARD… (Vaudeville). During his time as Artistic
Director at Scarborough, he commissioned Stephen Mallatratt to write TOUCH
WOOD AND WHISTLE, a play about white witchcraft, and then the phenomenally
successful adaptation of THE WOMAN IN BLACK, both of which he directed.
This last play is still running in the West End after twelve years, and
has completed seven national tours. In 1993 Robin travelled to Tokyo to
direct the Japanese language premiere, and in 1995 to Connecticut to
direct the American premiere. Other directorial credits include SERJEANT
MUSGRAVE'S DANCE, ALL MY SONS, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST, CLOUDS, BUTLEY, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM,
BLITHE SPIRIT, CALLING, SPOKESONG, GETTING ON, TAPSTER, JUST BETWEEN
OURSELVES, FORTY YEARS ON and A GOING CONCERN (Scarborough), HARD TIMES
(Croydon Warehouse), TEN TIMES TABLE, SISTERLY FEELINGS, WOMAN IN MIND,
THE CONSTANT WIFE (Theare Royal, Windsor), MAN OF THE MOMENT (Chester),
ABSENT FRIENDS and SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR (World Tours), THE GLORY OF THE
GARDEN (Duke of Yorks), ROUGH JUSTICE (Southampton and Apollo), JOKING
APART (Greenwich), BEDROOM FARCE (Lyceum Edinburgh) A GOING CONCERN
(Southampton), TIME OF MY LIFE and TAKING STEPS (Derby), WOMAN IN MIND,
APRIL IN PARIS, TALKING HEADS and BLITHE SPIRIT (Exeter), TIME AND TIME
AGAIN (Salisbury), CORPSE (Basingstoke) and THE RIVALS (Vienna). Last year
he directed WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS (Scarborough), and most recently two
tours, RELATIVELY SPEAKING starring Susan Hampshire and CONFUSIONS
starring Gary Wilmot. Robin's radio credits as an actor are numerous, and
his TV credits include ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES, THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN
MOLE and GROWING PAINS OF ADRIAN MOLE. He recently featured in the film UP
ON THE ROOF. |
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MICHAEL HOLT (Set Designer) Michael Holt's
design career has taken him to theatres throughout the United Kingdom and
the World for productions of opera, ballet and drama. He has been
associated with playwright Alan Ayckbourn at his theatre in Scarborough
for over 20 years. His numerous designs for this author/director include
TAKING STEPS, WOLF AT THE DOOR, MAN OF THE MOMENT, TIME AND THE CONWAYSS,
A DOLLS HOUSE, and the much praised OTHELLO with Michael Gambon. He also
designed the American premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's SEASONS GREETINGS at
the Joyce Theatre, New York. Other international credits include opera
productions for: the Royal Opera House, Copenhagen; the Avignon Festival;
ballet designs for the Hong Kong Ballet Company; and many plays for Den
Nationale Scene, Bergen, Norway and the Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas, and
The English Theatre, Vienna. Most acclaimed among his ballet designs are
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, MADAM BUTTERFLY and ROMEO AND JULIET for Northern
Ballet. Michael's notable designs for opera include of LA BOHEME (Sadler's
Wells Theatre), Benjamin Britten's BILLY BUDD (Brisbane) and Vaughn
Williams' PILGRIMS PROGRESS (the Royal Opera House). His West End credits
include ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (Whitehall Theatre), THE GLORY OF THE THE
GARDEN (Duke of York's Theatre), ROUGH JUSTICE (Apollo Theatre), and JUNE
MOON (Vaudeville Theatre). He designed JULIUS CAESAR at the Regent's Park
Open Air Theatre and the highly successful centennial touring production
of CHARLEY'S AUNT. He has received much acclaim for the design of the
long-running West End success THE WOMAN IN BLACK. Michael Holt has been a
senior lecturer in the Department of Drama At Manchester University for 25
years . He has written a number of books on stage and costume design and
has published a book on the plays of Alan Ayckbourn. Michael is currently
working on a series of books on design for the plays of William
Shakespeare. |
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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, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY, TEN TIMES TABLE, A PARTY TO MURDER, 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, WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS.. and MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM. |
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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, TEN TIMES TABLE, KISS OF DEATH, A PARTY TO MURDER, DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING!, MAKE ME A MATCH, A SLIGHT HANGOVER, KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED and WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS?. |
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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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ALAN AYCKBOURN (Playwright) Alan Ayckbourn is
the long-serving Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre,
Scarborough and the author of over 50 plays, most of which were premiered
at this theatre; VIRTUAL REALITY being the latest. More than half of these
plays have subsequently been produced in the West End or at the Royal
National Theatre; COMIC POTENTIAL is currently playing at the Lyric
Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue and his 'double' play HOUSE and GARDEN will be
seen at the RNT this summer. A few of his plays that have been performed
at The Mill are - RELATIVELY SPEAKING, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, THE NORMAN
CONQUESTS, BEDROOM FARCE and JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES. A fellow of the RSA,
he was appointed a CBE in 1987 and in 1997 was knighted for services to
the theatre. |
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