WHY NOT STAY FOR BREAKFAST
A COMEDY  BY RAY COONEY & GENE STONE
DIRECTED BY IAN MASTERS

George Clarke is a civil servant, a respected member of the Establishment, living quite happily on his own in a flat in Hampstead - until Louise Hamilaton, a young and very pretty pregnant girl, arrives on his doorstep. In this wonderfully funny play we see George's ordered life turned upside down when he offers her refuge and is soon bombarded with babies, nappies and Louise's ex-lover.

GILES WATLING (George Clarke) 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 Merriot in UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS in the mists of history, to the nasty Mr Radcliffe in GRANGE HILL just last year. 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. In May this 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. He has just completed filming THE TUTANKHAMUN CONSPIRACY in Egypt where he played Howard Carter and was a co-writer. This is due to be screened this autumn. Giles is delighted to be here making his debut at Sonning because he has known the place for many years having cruised past on his boat on many occasions. He has visited the theatre and one or two local hostelries. He lives by the sea with his long-suffering wife and twin 8 year-old daughters, who are either making him old or keeping him young…he's just not sure which.

TILLY GAUNT (Louise Hamilton) Tilly trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where she won the Peter Akerman Comedy Award. Before training she spent four years in The National Youth Theatre, where performances included OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR!, PIPPIN (both Bloomsbury Theatre), and 40 YEARS ON GALA (Piccadilly Theatre). Whilst training her work included, Ann De Bourge in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Isabella in MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Liz in SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN, Milady De Winter in THE THREE MUSKETEERS, and Mrs Reeve in a West Country Tour of CANTERBURY TALES. Her professional theatre work includes Ellen in a workshop of SILENCE for National Theatre Studio, Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT (Nuffield Theatre), G in SHAG AROUND (International Playwrights Festival at Croydon Warehouse) and Catherine in THE MEMORY OF WATER (Nuffield Theatre and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford). Tilly has just finished playing Ela Delahay in CHARLEY'S AUNT (Bill Kenwright Ltd). For television she has filmed Lynne in THE BILL (Pearson), Tania in THE KNOCK (LWT), and she recently filmed Kelly in PEOPLE LIKE US II (BBC2). For radio, Tilly won the Carleton Hobbs Award for Radio 1998 and spent nine months with BBC Radio rep. She has recorded over seventy plays for BBC Radio including Tilda Price in NICHOLAS NICKEBY, Rosamund Shane in AFTER THE FUNERAL,and Sybil in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Most recently she has played Frances Radley in LEARNING TO SWIM (Catherine Bailey Ltd), Lucy in WOMAN IN MIND (Jarvis and Avers), Miss Dawson in A HIGH WIND IN JAMAICA (Catherine Bailey Ltd) and the voice of Marla in the pilot LIVING WITH LIONEL (for Kids). Tilly recently recorded Una in FLIGHT OF THE MAIDENS and WOMANS HOUR (BBC Radio 4).

BEN FARROW (Davey) Ben trained at the Webber Douglas Academy. Whilst training his roles included Lysander in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Young Buddy in FOLLIES, Bob in HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES and Georgie Pilson in MAKE WAY FOR LUCIA. Other theatre includes: SESSIONS at the Finborough Theatre and Oslo, the UK premiere of HEIGHTS, CINDERELLA (Theatre Royal, Windsor), WARS OF THE ROSES for the ESC and has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival. Ben's film work includes FOOL FOR LOVE, CORNISH NASTIES, TRES, DOS UNO, LAUGHING GIRLS, GEMINI and the soon to be released HIGH HEELS AND LOW LIFES (with Michael Gambon) directed by Mel Smith.

IAN MASTERS (Director) Ian is delighted that this is his tenth production here at The Mill Theatre. 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 PENGUIN 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. 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 has a new comedy, KISSING COUSINS opening this summer 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.

EMILY CROSS (Set designer) Emily graduated from Glasgow University with an MA in Theatre Studies, and then was a technician at Cambridge Arts Theatre before doing a Post-Graduate Design course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Previous designs include RUDDIGORE, IOLANTHE, HMS PINAFORE, MOTHER GOOSE and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK for Cambridge Arts Theatre; MURMURING JUDGES and TOUCHY FEELY, New Vic, Bristol; THREE MUSKETEERS, Theatre Royal, Bristol; BATHTIME, Lifetime Theatre Tour; THE TEMPEST and ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, Creation Theatre Company; and CHRISTMAS 2000, The Proper Pantomime Company. This is Emily's first design for The Mill although she has spent a considerable amount of time here, including shadowing the designer Michael Pavelka on the production of I'LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

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 and DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING! MAKE ME A MATCH, A SLIGHT HANGOVER and KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED.

RAYMOND CROSS (Lighting Designer) Raymond trained as an electrical engineer with the Atomic Energy Authority where he worked for seven years. He decided working nine to five, five days a week was not for him. He began his theatre career as an assistant electrician at the Oxford Playhouse working sixteen hours a day, seven days a week! In a career spanning thirty-four years he has worked as an assistant electrician, Chief Electrician, Technical Manager and Production Manager. Since 1995 he has been Head of Operations at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. He has created more than two hundred professional lighting designs and as well as working extensively in the United Kingdom, he has worked in South America, Singapore, Denmark, Israel, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Japan, Poland, Hong Kong and Malaysia. This production will be the high 'light' of his career, lighting his daughter's set design and returning to work at The Mill, a theatre he has rather a soft spot for.

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. 

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.

GENE STONE (Playwright) Gene Stone was born in Quincy, in Illinois, U.S.A. He first became interested in theatricals while attending the University of California. His first stage play WHY NOT STAY FOR BREAKFAST? (written in collaboration with Ray Cooney), opened at the Apollo Theatre, London in 1973 and played through the following year. Since then it has been seen (in translation) in almost every part of the globe including Australia, Denmark - and even Hong Kong. It has been especially popular in Germany, where it has had runs in every major city, under the title BLEIB DOCH ZUM FRUHSTUCK. Gene lived in Santa Monica, California, by the sea, until his death in 1997.

Stage Crew
with Ian Masters