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Season's
Greetings
We have a special treat in store for you this Christmas - probably one
of Alan Ayckbourn's funniest plays and directed by Robin Herford who
produced such a successful production of TAKING STEPS, at The Mill earlier
this year. The scene is the annual Christmas family gathering at the
home of Neville and Belinda. And what an ill-assorted group of characters
they all are. Petty and not so petty squabbles break out. Presents are
rifled, mechanical toys are set off. The whole fiasco culminates in
a chaotic puppet
show and a midnight love scene under the Christmas tree. SEASON'S GREETINGS
is vintage Ayckbourn and guarantees you an evening of delicious and
uproarious fun. |
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JOHN ARTHUR (Harvey) 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 the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
Theatre, The Swan Theatre, Worcester, and notably three years with the
EMMA Theatre Company based in Loughborough. With EMMA John played throughout
the East Midlands in village halls, pubs, schools, prisons and rised
serious ridicule playing such roles as a Giant Tortoise in the streets
of Nottinghamshire. During the summer of 1973 he worked in weekly rep,
playing murderers in an endless stream of thrillers. 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, and a revisit
to TAKING STEPS here at Sonning this time last year, making a total
of 15 Ayckbourn productions so far! In the West End John appeared 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. John has worked for Jude Kelly
at Leeds and the West Yorkshire Playhouses where he played Simon Eyre
in THE SHOEMAKER'S HOLIDAY. 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 are
THUNDERPANTS and THE ABUCTION CLUB. John's interests are flying, gardening
and classical music and he lives in Banbury with his partner Penelope
Gee of the Astor String Quartet. . |
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KAREN
ASCOE (Belinda) This is Karen's second show at The Mill at Sonning.
She first appeared earlier this year in Robin Herford's production of
TAKING STEPS, as Lizzie. Other shows Karen has worked on with Robin
include, 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 IVANOV 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 BELELLIOUS SUSAN, SILAS MARNER, THE CASSILLIS
ENGAGEMENT; a jazz-theatre piece OUT THERE; with Django Bates at the
Riverside Studios, LOOT and THE GLASS MENAGERIE at Worcester and the
musicals ROBERT AND ELIZABETH at Chichester and LOVE OFF THE SHELF at
the Nuffield, Southampton. Recent television includes CASUALTY, THE
ARMANDO IANNUCCI SHOWS, ARMADILLO, LONDON'S BURNING, PEAK PRACTICE,
OTHER PEOPLE'S 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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LORRAINE
BRUNNING (Pattie) Lorraine has just finished performing her French
Chansons Cabaret at London's Pizza on the Park. Her theatre credits
include CRIES FROM THE MAMMAL HOUSE and LOW LEVEL PANIC (Royal Court),
THE CONTRACTOR and AN INSPECTOR CALLS, PACK OF LIES (Birmingham Rep),
TASTE OF HONEY, MACBETH and as PIAF (Royal Theatre, Northampton), LONG
TIME GONE, SAILOR BEWARE and PANIC (Lyric, Hammersmith), TEN TIMES TABLE
and SISTERLY REELINGS (Theatre Royal, Windsor), HARD TIMES (Salisbury
Playhouse), RING OF IRON (Soho Poly), as PETER PAN (Everyman, Cheltenham),
LV in THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE (Derby Playhouse), THE SINGING
GROUP (Chelsea Theatre) and EMMA (Watford Palace and Tricycle). West
End credits include SNOOPY THE MUSICAL (title role), PIAF, RUPERT STREET
LONELY HEARTS CLUB and Alan Bennett's THE LADY IN THE VAN. Television
credits include Mike Leigh's HOME SWEET HOME, THIRD TIME LUCKY, ALL
ELECTRIC, A KILLING ON THE EXCHANGE, CRIES, Ben Elton's PRATT OUTTA
HELL, THE KNIGHTS, COVINGTON CROSS, KINSEY, CASUALTY, EASTENDERS and
HOUSE. Also the MANAGERESS series I & II, BASIC, BROOKSIDE, THE RORY
BREMNER SHOW, THE BILL, THE MIRACLE MEN, KISSING THE GUNNER'S DAUGHTER,
CORONATION STREET and HOLBY CITY. Films: PERSONAL SERVICES, SARAH, THREE
OF A KIND, PRINCESS IN LOVE, THE JOKE and Mike Leigh's TOPSY-TURVY.
She has also written several animation screenplays for American television.
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NICHOLAS
GASSON (Eddie) Nick's most recent foray into Ayckbourn territory
was with a UK tour of Confusions, also directed by Robin Herford. Other
recent theatre: Michael in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (Palace Theatre
Westcliff and UK tour); Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (for Mad
Dogs and Englishmen - UK tour); King Edward/Mayor in Richard III (Greenwich
Playhouse); Joe in The Self Made Man (Pleasance Theatre - RSC Festival);
Maurice in Pink for a Boy (Oldham Coliseum); Alderman Fitzwarren in
Dick Whittington (Royal Theatre Northampton); Jack in Michael - A Quest
(Brentwood Theatre); Alan in Homehelp (White Bear Theatre); Antonio
in The Tempest (Wimbledon Studio); Arnolphe in School for Wives (BAC);
Joules K in Pig (for Steam Industry - Drill Hall); Harold Jaffe in Lance
Nielson's Hi - I'm Vince (Jackson's Lane Theatre); Alan Turing in Breaking
the Code (Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre); Graham in 'A Chip in the Sugar'
from Talking Heads (tour). Recent film includes: The Ultimate Truth
(WYSIWYG Films); Pat (Levelheaded Productions); The Incredibly Strange
People Show (Powercage Films). |
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MARK
JAX (Neville) Mark trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Mark is delighted to be working on SEASON'S GREETINGS having worked
at The Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough with Alan Ayckbourn on
the original production of CHOROUS OF DISAPPROVAL. He has appeared in
numerous theatre productions including PROPHET IN EXILE (Chelsea Arts
Centre), LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR (tour and Queen's West End), MANSFIELD
PARK (Chichester Festival theatre), THE NORMAN CONQUESTS (Salisbury
Theatre). For Birmingham Rep: THE WAY OF THE WORLD, MACBETH, TENANT
OF WILDFELL HALL, PETER PAN, ATHEIST'S TRAGEDY, ROMEO AND JULIET, WOMEN
BEWARE WOMEN. At the Crucible Theatre , Sheffield; ROMEO AND JULIET
and MANSFIELD PARK. At the National Theatre, Mark has performed in A
STRANGE KIND OF ANIMAL, PRAVADA, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR and THE FUTURISTS.
Mark's television credits include: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (BBC) DOCTORS
(BBC), CASUALTY (BBC), THE VICE IV (Shed Productions), FAMILY AFFAIRS
(Channel 5), THE TWO OF US (LWT). For Hallmark Productions he has appeared
in MARY & JESUS, MERLIN and IN THE BEGINNING. |
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BRIAN
MILLER (Bernard) Brian went to drama school in Birmingham and appeared
in several plays at Birmingham Rep and with the company at the Edinburgh
Festival. Repertory work at Canterbury, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Manchester
and Scarborough includes the fool in KING LEAR, Iago in OTHELLO, the
common man in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS and Herbert Soppitt in WHEN WE ARE
MARRIED. His first London appearance was in THE PRISONERS, a Sunday
night performance at the Royal Court for Tomorrows Audience. He understudied
in Rattigan's MAN AND BOY at the Queen's and played William Featherstone
in Alan Acykbourn's HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES at the Lyric and in Toronto
after first playing it at Scarborough. Brian appeared as the Auditor
in NOT I and understudied Albert Finney in KRAPP'S LAST TAPE in a Beckett
double bill at the Royal Court. He later played Krapp at the Liverpool
Playhouse directed by Tim Albery. Fringe work includes many appearances
at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, including the first London production
of Alan Ayckbourn's FAMILY CIRCLES. Other theatre credits include SCHWEYK
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR in Jamestown, New York, OF MICE AND MEN as George,
and as Pinter's THE CARETAKER for the Little Theatre Company Bristol,
and Bates in BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE at the Bristol Old Vic. Most recently
Brian has played Arthur Kipps in THE WOMAN IN BLACK at the Fortune Theatre,
also in Sheffield and Belfast directed by Robin Herford. Brian was a
member of the BBC Radio Drama Company and occasionally plays Jason the
Builder in THE ARCHERS. His recent television appearances include NUMBERTIME,
WYCLIFFE, EASTENDERS and CASUALTY. Films include BRAZIL and THE PUNK
AND THE PRINCESS. Brian played Hoskins in CHASE ME COMRADE at The Mill
earlier this season. |
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ANGELA
SIMS (Rachel) Angela has previously appeared at Sonning in TEN TIMES
TABLE , A PARTY TO MURDER and most recently SEASON'S GREETINGS. Angela
trained at the Guildhall. Theatre credits include A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S
DREAM and THE CARD (Regent's Park), GASLIGHT, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR,
ABIGAIL'S PARTY (Blue Box Theatre Keswick), BLITHE SPIRIT, BEDROOM FARCE,
MACBETH (Theatre Royal, York), MOLL FLANDERS, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD,
TOM JONES, THE WIZARD OF OZ, (Watermill Theatre, Newbury), COMMUNICATING
DOORS, AND A NIGHTINGALE SANG, HENCEFORWARD (Swan Theatre, Worcester)
and BLITHE SPIRIT (Octagon Theatre, Bolton). Angela's Christmas shows
and pantomimes include: JACK & THE BEANSTALK (Tewkesbury), SLEEPING
BEAUTY (Corn Exchange, Newbury), CHRISTMAS CAT AND THE PUDDING PRATES,
THE IDEAL GNOME EXPEDITION, THE ADVENTURES OF MR TOAD and THE WIZARD
OF OZ all at the Castle Theatre in Wellingborough. Television credits
include; 5 Episodes of THE BILL, 2 episodes of LONDON'S BURNING, HAPPINESS,
GREAT EXPECTATIONS, McCALLUM, FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, CRY WOLF, FIFTEEN
STOREYS HIGH, THE QUEEN'S NOSE and HAPPINESS. For BBC Radio Angela has
recorded STAGE FRIGHT, DEAD MAN'S MUSIC, A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED and THREE
ACT TRAGEDY. |
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IAN
TARGETT (CLIVE) Ian trained at R A D A and last worked at Sonning
in 1986 when he played Tristram in TAKING STEPS. Other theatre credits
include BOWS AND ARROWS (Royal Court), WHY ME? (Strand), THE KISS OF
LIFE and A VIEW OF KABUL (Bush Theatre) ROMEO AND JULIET (Renaissance
Theatre Company at Lyric, Hammersmith), BEACHED (Warehouse and Old Red
Lion), EURYDICE (Battersea Arts Centre), BURNING POINT (Tricycle) WAITING
FOR GODET (Oxford Playhouse), LOOT, THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL and
ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (Birmingham Rep) TARTUFFE (Theatr Clwyd) TIME
AND TIME AGAIN, SEE HOW THEY RUN and DONKEYS YEARS (Salisbury Playhouse),
CANDIDA (Bolton) MORNING SUSAN, CORPSE and A CHRISTMAS CARD (Basingstoke),
STARS AND STRIVE (Crucible, Sheffield) and JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES (Exeter)
Ian has also been in national tours of AN INSPECTOR CALLS, THE WOMAN
IN BLACK and THE WINSLOW BOY. Television credits include Leslie in MARKS
by Alan Bennett, Geoff in A TASTE OF HONEY, Spence in OVER THE RAINBOW,
D S Ball in MIND GAMES by Linda La Plante, Lind in THE LAST DETECTIVE,
TRUST ME, CASUALTY, FOREVER GREEN, DOCTORS, BAD BOYS, LAW AND DISORDER
and GRANGE HILL. On film Ian has appeared in THE FOOL, A DANGEROUS MAN
and THE JOKE. His many radio plays include HENRY V and RAT IN THE SKULL. |
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SUE
WALLACE (Phyllis)
Sue worked and trained as a teacher in Birmingham before changing direction
to the theatre. She has worked extensively in repertory in Leicester,
Ipswich, Exeter, Liverpool, Colchester, Sheffield and Pitlochry where
she played Beverley in ABIGAIL'S PARTY. She played the Landlady in Jim
Cartwright's TWO in Westcliffe; the Nurse in ROMEO AND JULIET at the
New Victoria Theatre, Stoke; Alice in PERFECT DAYS (which Robin Herford
directed) at Derby Playhouse; and WHEN WE ARE MARRIED at Leicester's
Haymarket Theatre. Sue's television work includes all three series of
MAKING OUT; two series of COMMON AS MUCK; a regular role in BERGERAC;
MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT; A LIKELY LAD; CORONATION STREET; FAIR GAME; THE BILL;
BROKE; FULL STRETCH; DANGERFIELD; NICE TOWN; THE LOCKSMITH; BLUE MONEY
and the award winning film EXPERIENCE PREFERRED BUT NOT ESSENTIAL. In
a long association with Victoria Wood, starting with GOOD FUN at the
Sheffield Crucible, Sue has appeared in HAPPY SINCE I MET YOU; AS SEEN
ON TV; PAT AND MARGARET and as the stand-in supervisor from Hell in
the first series of DINNERLADIES. More recently Sue has appeared in
A & E and CASUALTY. She is delighted to be at Sonning and is very pleased
to be working once more with Robin and Karen. |
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ROBIN
HERFORD (Director) Robin is delighted to be returning to Sonning,
after having so much fun directing TAKING STEPS here last Christmas.
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… 1987 and including the monster 16-play, two-hander IMTIMATE
EXCHANGES. He came to London with SEASON'S GREETINGS and SUBURBAN STRAINS
(Roundhouse), INTIMATE EXCHANGES (Greenwich and Ambassadors) and HENCEFORWARD…
(Vaudeville). Robin is also often asked to direct Alan's plays, and
has notched up over twenty productions in this country and abroad. While
Artistic Director at Scarborough, he commissioned and directed Stephen
Mallatratt's phenomenally successful adaptation of THE WOMAN IN BLACK,
which is still running in the West End after fourteen 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 London productions include THE GLORY
OF THE GARDEN (Duke of Yorks), ROUGH JUSTICE (Apollo) and JOKING APART
(Greenwich). Out of many other directorial credits, his favourites include
SERJEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE, ALL MY SONS, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING EARNEST, CLOUDS, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM
, BLITHE SPIRIT, A GOING CONCERN and WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS. Robin's
radio credits as an actor are numerous, and his TV credits include ONLY
FOOLS AND HORSES and THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE. He recently featured
in the film UP ON THE ROOF, and has just finished a short run at Theatre
Royal, Windsor as Arthur Kipps in THE WOMAN IN BLACK! |
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MICHAEL
HOLT (Set designer) Michael Holt has designed opera, ballet and
drama throughout the United Kingdom and the World. He has been associated
with playwright Alan Ayckbourn at his theatre in Scarborough for over
30 years. His numerous designs there include TAKING STEPS, WOLF AT THE
DOOR, MAN OF THE MOMENT, TIME AND THE CONWAYS, A DOLL'S HOUSE and OTHELLO
with Michael Gambon. International credits include opera and ballet
designs for the Royal Opera House, Copenhagen; the Avignon Festival;
the Hong Kong Ballet Company; and many plays for Den Nationale Scene,
Bergen, Norway and the Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas, the Joyce Theatre,
New York and The English Theatre, Vienna. His other ballet and opera
designs include THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, MADAM BUTTERFLY and ROMEO AND JULIET
for Northern Ballet, LA BOHEME (Sadler's Wells Theatre), Benjamin Britten's
BILLY BUDD (Brisbane) and Vaughn Williams' PILGRIMS PROGRESS (Royal
Opera House). Michael's West End credits include ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR
(Whitehall Theatre), THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN (Duke of York's Theatre),
ROUGH JUSTICE (Apollo Theatre) and JUNE MOON (Vaudeville Theatre). He
designed the long-running West End success THE WOMAN IN BLACK. Michael
has written books on stage and costume design and has recently published
a book on the plays of Alan Ayckbourn. |
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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 recent costume designs include: TAKING STEPS, UNDER THE YUM-YUM
TREE, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS, FUNNY
ABOUT LOVE, MY THREE ANGELS and INSIDE JOB.
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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 recent ones include: WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS?, TAKING
STEPS , TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS and
MY THREE ANGELS.
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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, including DAMES AT SEA (an excerpt of which
was included in The Royal Gala Performance in the presence of HRH The
Prince of Wales), and most recently she appeared as Ginger Mercer in
the musical TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS. The most recent plays Sally has
directed at The Mill are MAKE ME MATCH, ALL FOR MARY, WHO KILLED SANTA
CLAUS and very recently INSIDE JOB. Sally enjoys a career outside of
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 & MULBERRY. Sally directed the National Tour of PASTIMES,
starring Rosemary Leach and William Gaunt and also directed BAREFOOT
IN THE PARK by Neil Simon at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End.
Sally also occasionally sings 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 60 plays, most of which were premiered at this theatre; A SNAKE
IN THE GRASS being the latest. More than half of these plays have subsequently
been produced in the West End or at the Royal National Theatre. A few
of his plays that have been performed at The Mill are - RELATIVELY SPEAKING,
ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, BEDROOM FARCE, JUST BETWEEN
OURSELVES and TAKING STEPS. . 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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