Thespis
or "The Gods Grown Old", by W.S. Gilbert and A. Sullivan
Directed by Lynda Barrett-Mercer
Musical Director: Ian Stone
7-10th November Betchworth Memorial Hall
The 'lost' G&S opera
This is a unique production of the earliest G & S work, for which no musical score survives. First staged in 1871 as a Christmas entertainment, it ran for 63 performances, but Sullivan's score was then lost, and the work largely forgotten during the writers' lifetimes - although Sullivan certainly reused at least two of the tunes. The story concerns a group of actors in ancient Greece - the original Thespians - who take over the role of Gods on Mount Olympus so the decrepit deities can take a holiday on earth, with predictably chaotic consequences
Thespis has only occasionally been revived, from the 1950s onwards, sometimes with a score specially composed 'in the style of Sullivan'. Lynda and Ian however have painstakingly created their own score using familiar tunes in Sullivan's later repertoire, but incorporating 'Climbing over Rocky Mountains' (Pirates of Penzance) and 'Little maid of Arcadee' which are known to have been in the original.
Cast
| Jupiter | Patrick Gallagher |
| Mars | Matt Stainer |
| Apollo | Colin Bousfield |
| Diana | Pam Patch |
| Mercury | Jane Khan |
| Thespis | David Longes |
| Daphne | Jane Johnson |
| Nicemis | Margaret Longes |
| Sparkeion | Carolyn Burnley |
| Tipseion | Jane Seymour |
| Preposteros | Julian Warner-Edney |
| Prettiea | Julie Bickerdike |
| Timidon | Stephen Tickell |
Production
| Sound & Lighting | David Ames |
| Set Design | Lynda Barrett-Mercer |
| Set Construction | the Company |
| Costumes | Lynda Barrett-Mercer |
| Video recording | Jonathan Bickerdike |
|
Front of House |
John Bryant, Sally Coleman, Alison Cooper, Kate Cottrell, Jane Flanders, Fiona Garner, Selena Hegarty, Linda King, Jane Sillett, Ann Staddon, Sheila Staples, Shirley Trower, Neil Williams |
Rehearsal photos by Mick Mercer and Lynda Barrett-Mercer
The 39 Steps
Performances 17-19th May 2018
Directors: Julie Bickerdike & Diane Mayall
Sound & Lighting: David Ames
A comedy thriller adapted by Patrick Barlow from the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film and original John Buchan novel. All the elements of the film - romance, murder, a manhunt and even the Forth rail bridge are brought to the small stage. Follow fearless Richard Hannay from 1930s London to Scotland and back, on the run from police and German spies
| Richard Hannay | Julian Warner-Edney |
| Pamela | Tracey Hulf |
| Annabella | Linda Slater |
| Policeman, Heavy and other parts |
David Longes |
| Policeman, Heavy and other parts |
Stephen Tickell |
| Compere, salesman and other parts |
Ian Stone |
| Mr Memory | David Ames |
| Professor Jordan and other parts |
Neil Mayall |
| Mrs Higgins and other parts |
Diane Mayall |
| Margaret and other parts | Amy Mager |
Rehearsal photos
Patience
Performances 8-11th November 2017, Betchworth Memorial Hall
Gilbert & Sullivan’s gentle satire on romantic love, military pomposity, and the pretentiousness of the Victorian aesthetic movement - particularly its poets
Director - Alison Cooper
Musical Director - Ian Stone
Cast
| Patience | Jane Flanders |
| Lady Angela | Jane Seymour |
| Lady Saphir | Linda Slater |
| Lady Ella | Jane Khan |
| Lady Jane | Sarah Esser-Haswell |
| Colonel Calverley | Peter Grove |
| Major Murgatroyd | Peter Thomas |
| Duke | David Brown |
| Reginald Bunthorne | David Longes |
| Archibald Grosvenor | Stuart Finlayson |
| Solicitor | Trevor Allen |
| Ladies |
Julie Bickerdike, Mary Grove, Jane Johnson, |
| Dragoon Guards | Trevor Allen, David Clark, John Bryant, Stephen Tickell, Julian Warner-Edney |
Production Team
| Lighting & Sound | David Ames |
| Choreographer | Margaret Longes |
| Set Construction | Martin Allitt, Brian Cooper, David Longes, Stephen Tickell, Julian Warner-Edney |
| Set Design | Alison and Brian Cooper |
| Transport | Ben Cooper, Martin Allitt |
| Front of House | Diane Mayall |
| Props | Alison, Brian and Nick Cooper, Ann Staddon |
| Programme/Publicity | Stephen Tickell, Alison Cooper |
| Box Office | Sam Stevens |
Photos by Mick Mercer
A Handful of Plays
Performances 11-13th May 2017 at Betchworth Memorial Hall (matinee only on Saturday)
Director: Diane Mayall
Sound and Lighting: David Ames
A selection of short pieces presented as rehearsed and staged readings
Carnival by Nicholas Richards
Two couples meet for a party, but what is the occasion ?
| Moby | Neil Mayall |
| Jill | Julie Bickerdike |
| Duval | Stephen Tickell |
| Corinna | Linda Slater |
Imperfect Speakers by Wally Smith
A political thriller set in the interpreters' room at an international conference
| Nigel | John Bryant |
| Andy | Ian Stone |
| Ingrid | Julie Bickerdike |
| Gibson | David Ames |
Hunting Death by Nicholas Richards
A retelling of Chaucer's 'The Pardoner's Tale' in modern verse
| Narrators | John Bryant and Linda Slater |
| Gula | Neil Mayall |
| Superbus | Tracey Hulf |
| Cupid | Julie Bickerdike |
When the Hurly Burly's done by Gill Medway
Three hags on a blasted heath - there to meet with....Macbeth ?
Tracey Hulf, Jane Seymour and Linda Slater
The Tortoise and the Hare by Vikram Seth
A whimsical poetry setting of the classic fable, from the collection Beastly Tales from here and there
Performed by the company
