THU 20 - SAT 22 MARCH 2025
DIRECTORFEARGUSWOODSDUNLOP ASSISTANTDIRECTORJAMESBANFIELD PRODUCERKERRYIRVINE ASSISTANTPRODUCERSAMDELATORRE CONTENTPRODUCERLOUISGREEN PRODUCTIONMANAGERDAVIDEVANS MOVEMENTCOACHPARKEFECH STAGECOMBATKIELO’SHEA VOICECOACHESCAROLFAIRLAMB PARKEFECH EAMONHAUGHIAN
SETDESIGNERSRUBYTOY SASHAFRAMPTON COSTUMEDESIGNERSUSANNAHGRIFFITHS LIGHTINGDESIGNERCHARLIEBAILEY SOUNDDESIGNERMEGELLIS PRODUCTIONPHOTOGRAPHERNICKSPRATLING
Feargus runs New Old Friends theatre company with his wife Heather Westwell. They create midscale touring theatre and an award-winning podcast series of comedy-audio-drama Comedy Whodunnits For Your Ears which is available wherever you get your podcasts. Most recently their show Houdini’s Greatest Escape toured for six months in 2024 before enjoying a five-week residency at the newly refurbished and expanded Kings Head Theatre in London.
This year they are remounting their hit show Crimes Against Christmas in Frome. For more details, visit www.newoldfriends.co.uk
This is my fifth year working with a company of Bath Spa graduating students and it is always a highlight of the year. Over the last four years we have taken on classical French farce (The Middleclass Gentleman), nineteenth century Russian satire (The Government Inspector), nineteen seventies farce (Habeas Corpus), and high comedy (Hay Fever), and had a ball with all. But inevitably some of the cast end up playing wildly against type, particularly in relation to being ‘aged up’. So, this time around, Kerry Irvine, Producer at Bath Spa Productions, and I decided that I would write a bespoke piece tailored to the strengths and preferences of the actors. The result is Stage Death: a very silly murder mystery set during rehearsals of a murder mystery.
It has been wonderful to work so closely with the student performers to craft their characters and find a cohesive(ish) whole for them to be part of. From the very beginning of the process, collaboration has been the byword and everyone involved in the production has been encouraged to have input into the script as it develops. The initial draft we read at the table read is a vastly different beast than the show you have before you now. And all the better for it.
The first act is a familiar comic look at the rehearsal process for a ‘fake’ murder mystery and draws on inspirations like Michael Frayn’s peerless Noises Off and the behemoth that is the Mischief Theatre Goes Wrong universe of shows. As we move into act two, we shift gears into a ‘real’ murder mystery and things get increasingly ‘theatrical’.
The most ambitious of these is the ‘chair ballet’ which was a throwaway idea I included in a stage direction during an early draft of the script and has taken on a life of its own. If you’re reading this in the interval you don’t have long to wait as it opens the act and it really is quite the departure from what goes before and heralds in a series of big, technical, set-pieces which highlight the skills and hard work of the unseen students working in the myriad off-stage departments without whom this show (and indeed all shows) would be a shadow of themselves.
I have really loved this entire process and, as ever, hope you enjoy the show. It is very very silly, but has been made with a whole lot of care, dedication and love.
Feargus Woods Dunlop, 2025
CHANDLER SELLWOODTRENT CLARKE
HECTOR NELSON SMITHCLIVE SEVERN
JAKE KEYBILL AVON
KATIE SANDILANDSDINA SOLENT
LUKE DELORDMATTY DEE
MAYA ROSE LISTERLUNA BLACKWATER
OLIVIA BAGLOWCRYSTAL TYNE
POPPY HOWELLSTAMSIN TWEED
TOBY PALMER EDWARDSDI EDGAR DERWENT
Chandler Sellwood
Chandler is a third year Actor at Bath Spa University. Theatre credits include, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Mission Theatre), Dad/Housemate/Ensemble in Polly the Kid (University Theatre) and Ravan in The Ramayana Reset (Dorfman Theatre). They also have experience in voiceover; credits include Arron Clitheroe for upcoming audio comedy Homicide & Seek by Sybil H. Montgomery and Tony in the pilot of the sitcom Mob Ties. Chandler is currently working on an actor musician show premiering at SparkFest 2025 called The Cost of Courage - he will be composing his own songs for the project.
Hector Nelson Smith
Hector is a third year Acting student at Bath Spa University. He has enjoyed playing many different characters such as Banquo in Macbeth (2024), and exploring more comedic roles such as Clive Severn in Stage Death. Hector is also a musician and is working on an original piece called The Cost of Courage for SparkFest 2025.
Jake Key
Jake is a third year Acting student at Bath Spa University, thoroughly enjoying work in the comedy genre. He has credits in in A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Last Resort, a sitcom which he cocreated and wrote. He is looking forward to SparkFest 2025, in which he will be performing Ella Hickson's Hot Mess alongside peers.
Katie Sandilands
Katie is a third year Acting student at Bath Spa University. Some of her previous credits include Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in The Ringmaster, and Tosh in Scenes with Girls. Her other passions include voice acting and singing. She is participating in the 2025 BSU Stage Combat summer school, and working with peers for the show The Cost of Courage, which will premiere at SparkFest 2025.
Luke Delord
Luke is in his final year as an Acting student at Bath Spa University. His previous theatre credits include: Macbeth in Macbeth (Bath Spa Productions), Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde: The Musical (BSMTS), and he is currently acting Dance Captain for 9 to 5 (BSMTS). He has recently attained qualifications in Stage Combat including a BADC Standard (Rapier & Dagger), Longsword and Knife, and is delighted to be continuing his combat training during Summer 2025. Luke is also collaborating on an original murder mystery called A Debt For Odette as Noah, set to premiere in SparkFest 2025. He is thrilled to be a part of Stage Death.
Maya Rose Lister
Maya is a third year Acting student at Bath Spa University. Her previous credits include Witch in Macbeth and Mary in an audio version of Memory of Water by Shelagh Stevenson, which will be showing at SparkFest 2025. She is also co-producing and performing in a production of The Effect by Lucy Prebble with three of her peers, which will be showing in May at The Rondo Theatre as part of SparkFest.
Olivia Baglow
Olivia is a third year Acting student at Bath Spa University, hoping to pursue a career in comedy. Her previous comedy credits include: Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Margot in Legally Blonde and Rochelle in The Last Resort (sitcom). She’s currently in the process of writing a one-womancomedy, Thank God It’s Not You, about dating and the “wonderful” experiences that brings - this show will be premiering in May at the Rondo as part of SparkFest 2025.
Poppy Howells
Poppy is in her final year of her BA Acting degree. Her previous theatre credits include Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Judy Garland in Judy The Musical and multiple roles within the immersive theatre world for Boomtown & Nozstock. Poppy is looking forward to her upcoming production of Myrthr Stigmatist, which is very important to her, as it’s connected to her Welsh heritage and culture and includes a powerful political storyline. Myrthr Stigmatist will be performed in collaboration with Ffion Harding and Director Eloise Grieves.
Toby Palmer Edwards
Toby is a third year Acting student at Bath Spa University. His previous credits include his 2019 National Youth Theatre Connections performance of Flesh, the Friar in his 2022 Exeter College performance of Romeo & Juliet and most recently as Egeus in his 2024 Bath Spa Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has been working on his own short film titled Threshold which will premiere in SparkFest 2025.
DEPUTY PRODUCTION MANAGERHARVEY AYLMER
STAGE MANAGERABBY COOMBS
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGERJULIET MOORE
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERSMEGAN NORMAN & IZZY TALBOT
PRODUCTION ELECTRICIANMAPLE BROWN
ASSISTANT ELECTRICIANBECCA JEROME
SOUND OPERATORWILLIAM MARGETTS
TECHNICAL SWINGNATE SAMWAYS
COSTUME SUPERVISORMAISIE TIZZARD
SENIOR COSTUME MAKEREILIS O’SHEA
COSTUME ASSISTANTSARI LUCAS, MILLIE HUTLEY & EVIE HULME
HEAD OF CONSTRUCTIONNIC HUGHES
HEAD SCENIC ARTISTEVIE HAVERSON
ASSISTANT SCENIC ARTISTSJAY THORN, SAM GUNN & RUBY SEAGER
CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANTSDAN BROWN, ELANA DURSTON, NOAH LEECH & PIP MOORE
Ruby Toy - Set Designer
Ruby Toy is a second year student specialising in Scenic Design, Costume, Scenic Art and Props. Previously, Ruby has worked as a dresser for Hayfever (2024), Scenic art assistant for Gut Girls (2024), and Scenic Artist for Big Brother Macbeth (2025). This is her first Set Designer role, working alongside Sasha Frampton.
Sasha Frampton - Set Designer
Sasha Frampton is a second year student specialising in Scenic Design, Scenic Art, Props, and Lighting at Bath Spa University. This is her first show role as Set Designer, and designing this set alongside Ruby has been an absolute pleasure. Seeing everyone work so hard towards the same vision has been nothing short of magical. Recent credits include Scenic Artist for Big Brother Macbeth (2025).
Susie Griffiths - Costume Designer
Susie is a third year student, specialising in Costume and Set Construction. Susie has previously worked as a Costume Assistant on All’s Well That Ends Well (2024) and the Oxford Playhouse production of Sleeping Beauty (2024). She has also worked as a Construction Assistant on Skunk (2024) and as a Props Assistant on Hayfever (2024).
Charlie Bailey - Lighting Designer
Charlie is a third year student specialising in Lighting and Sound. Previous credits with Bath Spa Productions include Pool (No Water) (2023), Skunk (2024), Third Space 2024 (2024) and Gut Girls (2024).
Meg Ellis - Sound Designer
Meg is a third year student on the Theatre, Festival & Event Production course, specialising in Sound and Stage Management. This is Meg's second Sound Designer role, as she has previously worked as a Sound Designer on Big Brother Macbeth (2025). She has also been a Sound Operator on Skunk (2024). Other previous roles include Assistant Stage Manager on Pool (No Water) (2023), Assistant Stage Manager on Third Space (2024), Event Assistant at Bearded Kitten (2024), and Production Assistant at Arcadia Spectacular at Glastonbury Festival (2024). You can explore her work on Instagram: @megs.e_productions.
Harvey Aylmer - Deputy Production Manager
Harvey Aylmer is a third year student specialising in Production Management and Scenic Design. In addition to his academic pursuits, Harvey is the founder of Aylmers Circus - a theatrical circus company that fuses international acrobatics with dynamic musical artistry. Discover more about Aylmers Circus at aylmerscircus.co.uk
Abby Coombs - Stage Manager
Abby is a third year student on the Theatre, Festival & Event Production course, specialising in Stage Management and Lighting. This is her first role as Stage Manager, though she has previously worked as Deputy Stage Manager on Gut Girls (2024) and an Assistant Stage Manager on All's Well That Ends Well (2024). Additionally, she has done a number of Lighting/Technical placements and freelance work. Her work can be found on Instagram @a_b_coombs.
Juliet Moore- Deputy Stage Manager
Juliet is a third year student specialising in Sound and Stage Management. This is Juliet's first role as a Deputy Stage Manager, they have previously been an Assistant Stage Manager with Bath Spa Productions in Pool (No Water) (2023) and Third Space 2024 (2024). They are also currently working as a Stage Manager on The Periodicals at The Egg Theatre in April.
Megan Norman - Assistant Stage Manager
Megan is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Stage Management and Stagecraft. She has previously worked on Gut Girls (2024) with Bath Spa Productions as Props Assistant.
Izzy Talbot - Assistant Stage Manager
Izzy Talbot is a second year student specialising in Stage Management and Costume. She has previously worked on Gut Girls (2024) with Bath Spa Productions as a Costume Assistant.
Maple Brown - Production Electrician
Maple Brown is a second-year student in Theatre, Festival & Event Production, specialising in Lighting and Sound. This is their second role as Production Electrician, the first being Bath Spa Productions' Gut Girls (2024).
Becca Jerome - Assistant Electrician
Becca is a third year student studying Theatre, Festival and Event Production, specialising in Scenic Design and Lighting. Previous show credits with Bath Spa Productions include: Assistant Scenic Artist for Pool (No Water) (2023), Assistant Scenic Artist for Skunk (2024) and LX Programmer and Operator for Hayfever (2024), and Set Designer for Gut Girls (2024).
William Margetts - Sound Operator
William Margetts is second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Lighting and Sound. This is his second sound operator role of the year, having previous worked on Big Brother Macbeth (2025).
Nate Samways - Technical Swing
Nate is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Lighting and Scenography. Previous credits include Construction Assistant for Gut Girls (2024).
Maisie Tizzard - Costume Supervisor
Maisie is a third year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Costume and Stage Management. This is Maisie's first Costume Supervisor role. She has previously worked as a Costume Assistant and Dresser at Wycombe Swan Theatre, and has recently spent time as a Costume Maker and Assistant for the Oxford Playhouse Pantomime as part of a placement.
Eilis O'Shea - Senior Costume Maker
Eilis is a third year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Costume. This is Eilis' first Senior Costume Maker role. She has previously worked as Costume Supervisor for Sitcom, Scenic Artist Assistant for Hayfever at The Egg, Props Making Assistant for All’s Well That Ends Well at The Rondo Theatre and Costume Assistant for Pool (No Water) at Burdall's Yard.
Ari Lucas - Costume Assistant
Ari is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Costume, Sound and Stagecraft. Previous work includes Bath Spa Production Gut Girls as Assistant Scenic Artist.
Millie Hutley - Costume Assistant
Millie Hutley is a second year student studying Costume and Stage Management. Previous credits with Bath Spa Productions include working on Gut Girls as a Costume Assistant.
Evie Hulme - Costume Assistant
Evie is a second year student, specialising in Stage Management and Costume. She was a Costume Assistant for Sitcom at Bath Spa University, and is working on a dance show, Third Space, as an Assistant Stage Manager.
Nic Hughes - Head of Construction
Nic is a third year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student, specialising in Costume and Scenography. While she recently worked with Taking Flight Theatre on their production of You've Got Dragons, previous university shows he has worked on include Skunk, All's Well That Ends Well, and Pool (No Water).
Dan Brown - Construction Assistant
Dan is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Lighting and Scenography. Previous work includes being the Lighting Designer and Programmer for The Wizard of Oz, a pantomime co-directed by Lin Blakley and being a Production Electrician for Gut Girls at Bath Spa Productions. Last year, Dan had a week of work experience on Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre London.
Elana Durston - Construction Assistant
Elana is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student, specialising in Stagecraft and Stage Management. Their other work includes the previous Bath Spa Productions show Gut Girls (Prop Making Assistant).
Noah Leech - Construction Assistant
Noah is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Lighting, Stage Management and Stagecraft. Previous work includes Bath Spa Productions’ Gut Girls as Assistant Stage Manager.
Pip Moore - Construction Assistant
Pip is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Props, Construction, Scenic Art and Costume. Previously she has worked on the Bath Spa University Sitcom with the Film and TV students and will be Head of Props for Bath Spa Productions’ next show.
Cameron Calver - Chief Prop Maker
Cam is a third year student specialising in Lighting and Construction/Props. Cam has had previous construction roles in Skunk at The Egg (2023) and Pool (No Water) as a Prop Assistant. This is Cam's first time as Chief Prop Maker and has been engaged in some fun builds. His other work includes Technician work at Fear at Avon Valley, events at Theatre Royal Bath , Solara Festival and All's Well That Ends Well. You can find this work and a range of other projects on Instagram @c.calver_production.
Adam MacPherson - Prop Maker Assistant
Adam is a second year Theatre, Festival and Event Production student specialising in Props and Sound, they have previously worked on Bath Spa Productions’ Gut Girls as a Sound Operator.
