The Mating Game
A comedy by ROBIN HAWDON

The hugely successful and attractive chat show host Draycott Harris has a problem . . . he has no luck with women. Draycott enlists the help of his long-lost, worldly-wise brother to assist him in the pursuit of his new sexy PR girl, Honey Tooks. What neither brother anticipates however is that Draycoytt's long-suffering secretary Julia has been nurturing a growing passion for her boss, which is set to explode. This hilarious and fast-paced comedy had a long and successful run in the West End.

HELEN COTTERILL (Mrs Finney) This is Helen's fifth appearance at Sonning, having been in production No.2 with John Alderton. Work includes Polly Peachum in Tony Richardson's THE THREEPENNY OPERA at the Prince of Wales and Piccadilly Theatres and three years with Sir Ian McKellen's Actors' Company on British, South American and Scandinavian tours. She was Piaf at Leeds Playhouse and the Nurse in ROMEO AND JULIET for Oxford Playhouse in Britain and Japan. More recently she played Mrs Sowerberry in OLIVER at the London Palladium and Dot in STEPPING OUT, THE MUSICAL, at the Albery. Numerous TV appearances include such classics as THE LIKELY LADS and OPEN ALL HOURS. Lately she has been in PEAK PRACTICE, DINNER LADIES and HEARTBEAT. She is an accomplished watercolour painter and sells at exhibitions and by commission. The Actors' Benevolent Fund will again feature a Christmas card by Helen. Her new little pug, Mabel, appears on the card, but hopefully she'll be a good 'dressing room' dog and not appear on this stage as well!

MICHAEL FENNER (Draycott Harris) After attending Reading School, Michael trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama. Theatre: Most recently he has been playing Sir Edward Ramsay in the National tour of the West End production of THE KING AND I. He played the Duke of Cornwall in KING LEAR at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre during the 2001 Season, as a member of the 1998 Globe Theatre Company he also appeared in AS YOU LIKE IT and A MAD WORLD MY MASTERS. With the RSC his work has included playing Trefry in OROONOKO and Ventidius in TIMON OF ATHENS. He took part in a world tour of THE WARS OF THE ROSES with the English Shakespeare Company as well as appearing in the same production at The Old Vic, he also appeared as Hrothgar in BEOWOLF. At the National Theatre he played Murphy in SISTERLY FEELINGS, Brac in THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN, Kwasind in HIAWATHA. He was nominated for the Plays and Players award for Best Newcomer for his performance as Thomas Diafoirus in THE HYPOCHONDRIAC, Balthazar in THE SPANISH TRAGEDY, THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, AMADEUS and OTHELLO. In the West End he played Ronnie in OUT OF ORDER at the Shaftesbury Theatre and on a UK tour and Dr Mike Connolly in IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY at the Playhouse Theatre. He also appeared as Jerry in ZOO STORY at the Young Vic, Repertory work at Salisbury Playhouse, Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Library Theatre, Perth, Crewe, Leatherhead, Windsor, Bromley, Basingstoke and Westcliffe in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, THE HOSTAGE, EQUUS, THE RULING CLASS, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, THE BOYFRIEND, ROMEO AND JULIET, CHARLEY'S AUNT, THE GHOST TRAIN, IT'S A MAD WORLD MY MASTERS, JULIUS CAESAR, WOYZECK, ONE GOOD TURN. Television: David in EASTENDERS, Kurt in HIGH STAKES, Spackman in DANGERFILD, Jeff Johnson in LONDON'S BURNING, D C Sutton in THE PARADISE CLUB, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, FIGHTING BACK, D C Mitchell in INSPECTOR MORSE, Clark in SHINE ON HARVEY MOON, A SLIGHT BREEZE, THE MONOCLED MUTINEER. Films: A FEAST AT MIDNIGHT, DEAD ON TIME, JERUSALEM, LOST IN LONDON, HAWK THE SLAYER.

TINA HALL (Honey Tooks) Tina is best known for the role of Claire Toomey, which she played in FAMILY AFFAIRS for 6 years and for which she received frequent nominations for the Television Soap Awards. Born in Newark, Tina trained at The Minster in Nottinghamshire and made her stage debut as Jill in MOTHER GOOSE at the Theatre Royal. From there she travelled around Europe and the UK singing with a variety of Motown, Soul, Blues and Jazz acts. She then appeared in the film MERRYHILL MILLIONAIRES, followed by television shows STANLEY'S DRAGON, LOVED BY YOU, HAPPINESS and THE WORST WITCH. Tina was chosen to play Julie in the British musical JULIE AND THE CADILLACS in which she starred alongside a host of well known British character actors. After its West End premier, the film was bought by Channel 5 where it is frequently shown. After which came FAMILY AFFAIRS, turning her into one of the most popular actors in soaps. Last Christmas she appeared in PETER PAN. When she is not appearing on the stage or television, Tina loves to travel with her fiance Peter, a personal chef, whose work takes him across Europe and the States.

LESLIE LAWTON (James Harris/Director) Leslie started his career as a child actor in television and films before joining the Liverpool Playhouse Company. He then appeared with all the major regional companies and in several West End productions before returning to television where he starred in many plays and series. He started directing television commercials and then went on to work in the theatre, first as a freelance and then as Artistic Director of 5 companies including Westcliff, Liverpool Playhouse and the Edinburgh Royal Lyceum. He left Edinburgh to join Ray Cooney's Theatre of Comedy Company - first as an actor taking over from Michael Williams in a leading role in the West End hit TWO INTO ONE and then as Artistic Co-Ordinator of the company. Since leaving the company in 1991 he has worked both as a actor and director in 26 countries around the world including Canada, the USA, Australia, the Far and Middle East, several Scandinavian countries and, most recently, Israel where he was named Director of The Year 2001-2. For the BBC he directed Dame Judi Dench and an all-star cast in HAY FEVER, Sir Norman Wisdom in the comedy series ROBIN HOOD and Dame Thora Hird in IN LOVING MEMORY. He played leading roles in the London production of IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY and RUN FOR YOUR WIFE! (for four years in the West End and on the subsequent World Tour for Derek Nimmo's British Airways Playhouse for whom he worked many times over the years). He first appeared in Sonning 10 years ago in THERE GOES THE BRIDE and has subsequently directed and/or acted in THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES, ONE FOR THE POT, DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING, KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED and the UK premieres of ALONE TOGETHER and FLING! He has served on the council of Equity and on an advisory panel of the Arts Council of Great Britain. He is a Trustee of the Henry Cotton Memorial Fund - a body which he helped to set up to provide much needed extra cash to aid drama students who are experiencing financial difficulties. He currently has 4 sell-out productions running concurrently in Israel including the smash-hit PIAF and returns there in September to direct a new Neil Simon play.

SHONA LINDSAY (Julia Carrington) Shona was born in Edinburgh and brought up in the Midlands. She made her professional debut at the age of eleven in the title role of Annie and went on to play numerous children's roles in theatre and television. She left school to join the company of Crossroads for Central TV, playing Sara Briggs for two years, having originally signed for just three episodes! Shona recently appeared in the National Tour of Murdered To Death, playing the role of Dorothy. Prior to this she spent a year starring as Milly to great critical acclaim in the National Tour of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Other TV and Film includes: Jacqui Charles in Telephone Detectives (Screen Partners), Dawn in Blush! (Pop.com), Nikki Waterman in Doctors, Fi in Casualty, and Lisa in John Godber's The Ritz - all BBC. Other theatre includes:, Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera, Sandy in Grease , I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change - creating her role in the UK Premiere, Gilmer in Godspell all in the West End, Kathy Seldon in Singin' In The Rain (Tour), Lady Townly in The Provok'd Husband (New End, Hampstead), Pankhurst in Oh What A Lovely War (Derby), Winifred in Once Upon A Mattress (Lyric, Belfast), Vickey Hobson in Hobson's Choice (Birmingham), Suzanne Walter in The Wicked World Of Bel-Ami (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) and Alice in Alice In Wonderland, a role she has also played in a version for BBC Radio 4. Regular listeners to radio will know Shona from her many appearances for the Radio 2 series including: Young Sally in Follies, Kristine in the 20th Anniversary recording of A Chorus Line, The Dancing Years, Call Me Madam with Tyne Daly and Cole Porter's Jubilee broadcast from the 1st International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff. Shona is an accomplished concert performer having sung all over the world and is a regular guest of Michael Ball. Her debut album Control Yourself! has recently been released in the UK.

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. She has worked extensively as a designer and scenic artist for Cambridge Arts Theatre on productions including RUDDIGORE, IOLANTHE, HMS PINAFORE, THE SORCERER, CANDIDE, DICK WHITTINGTON, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, MOTHER GOOSE and on the yearly Summer School Other designs include MURMURING JUDGES and TOUCHY FEELY, New Vic, Bristol; THREE MUSKETEERS, Theatre Royal, Bristol; FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY for Moral Support, the Traverse, Edinburgh and the Royal National Theatre; BATHTIME, Lifetime Theatre Tour; THE TEMPEST and ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, Creation Theatre Company; CHRISTMAS 2000, The Proper Pantomime Company. Most recently Emily has been training to be an art and design teacher but is delighted to take a break from her new teaching career to design her third show for The Mill.

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 MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, TAKING STEPS, UNDER THE YUM-YUM TREE, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS, FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, MY THREE ANGELS, INSIDE JOB, SEASON'S GREETINGS, BUILDING BLOCKS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR, POOLS PARADISE and BOYS WILL BE BOYS.

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, MY THREE ANGELS, SEASON'S GREETINGS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR, POOLS PARADISE and BOYS WILL BE BOYS.

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 ALL FOR MARY, WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS, INSIDE JOB, A FOOT IN THE DOOR and POOLS PARADISE. 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 recently appeared in TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, at the King's Head, London.

ROBIN HAWDON (Playwright) Robin Hawdon trained as an actor at RADA. His acting career spanned over twenty years and included many leading appearances in the West End, on television and in films. He has played such classic roles as Hamlet, Henry V and Henry Higgins. On television he has made many appearances, his last being the sitcom CHALK AND CHEESE, which he co-starred with Michael Crawford. He also starred in the films WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH and ZETA ONE. Since 1992 he has concentrated on his writing career. Robin's plays have been produced around the world, including THE MATING GAME, which ran for eighteen months at the Apollo Theatre. Other plays include BARN DANCE, THE SECRET, THE HERO, THERE'S A SMALL HOTEL, the musical PEOPLE, BIRTHDAY SUITE, adaptations of THE OLD DEVILS and DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, the thriller REVENGE, DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, PERFECT WEDDING and GOD AND STEPHEN HAWKING. Robin's other writing includes THE SECRET for German TV, the screenplay of THE MATING GAME and the films THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR and SCULLY. He has also written a novel, A RUSTLE IN THE GRASS, which was published in 1984.