HOPS
SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
HOPS
MUSIC BY GEORGE STILES
BOOK BY RON COWEN & DANIEL LIPMAN
LYRICS BY ANTHONY DREWE
BASED ON THE HANDMADE FILM ‘A PRIVATE FUNCTION’ AND THE ORIGINAL STORY BY ALAN BENNETT AND MALCOLM MOWBRAY ADAPTED FROM THE SCREENPLAY BY ALAN BENNETT ORIGINALLY PRODUCED IN LONDON BY CAMERON MACKINTOSH THIS AMATEUR PRODUCTION IS PRESENTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE) ALL AUTHORISED PERFORMANCE MATERIALS ARE ALSO SUPPLIED BY MTI EUROPE | WWW.MTISHOWS.CO.UK IN THE INTEREST OF OTHER PATRONS AND THE PERFORMERS PLEASE ENSURE ALL WATCH ALARMS, MOBILE TELEPHONES AND PAGING DEVICES ARE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE PERFORMANCE. THE USE OF CAMERAS, TAPE RECORDERS, OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR DEVICE IN THE AUDITORIUM IS STRICTLY PROBIBITED. Sponsored by
ABOUT THE SOCIETY Harrogate Operatic Players was formed nearly 100 years ago, following a meeting held on 10th March 1924 at Belvedere House, which still stands at the junction of West Park and Victoria Avenue. The first performance was ‘Trial by Jury’ at The Winter Gardens followed by their first full length production of ‘The Rebel Maid’ in February 1925 in the Grand Opera House – now Harrogate Theatre. Records show that annual musical productions were held at Harrogate Theatre from 1925 until the war in 1939. Then in 1946 the society resumed their annual shows, but this time they were performed at The Royal Hall to accommodate larger audiences. From 1987 ‘Showtime’ productions were performed in addition to the annual book show and latterly, the players replaced these with the Winter and Summer ‘Serenades’ in the Sun Pavilion. In 2002, The Royal Hall was suddenly closed for essential repairs and so their annual productions moved back to Harrogate Theatre. Then in May 2008, the Society was delighted to return to The Royal Hall for ‘A Century of Song’. The concert was produced to celebrate the fabulous refurbishment and was hugely successful, both artistically and financially. So much so, £15,000 was donated to The Royal Hall Restoration Trust making the society one of this great hall’s major benefactors. As they approach their Centenary, Harrogate Operatic Players are now known affectionately as ‘HOPS’. HOPS are now recognised by a wider circle of theatre goers than ever before and have recently enjoyed sell out houses of popular shows – ‘Sister Act’, and the classic family show – ‘Annie’. This year, HOPS are delighted to present the critically acclaimed British musical – ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ at Harrogate Theatre.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN - HELEN MILLS
TREASURER - RICHARD LILL
SECRETARY - RUTH GRAHAM
STEVE GRAHAM, LAUREN BIRCH, MEL JAMES, BEN RUSSELL, STUART HUTCHINSON, CATHY HELLAS, VICTORIA AMELLA, LIZZIE TURNER
CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME HELEN MILLS - CHAIRMAN A very warm welcome to our 2017 production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. We are delighted to be able to bring this fantastic show to Harrogate Theatre and to our Harrogate audiences. This show will have you entertained from the moment the curtain goes up, to the moment the curtain goes down. It has some wonderful music throughout this funny and entertaining musical. The cast have just had the most fantastic time rehearsing this production and we hope that you will enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed performing it. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank all the members and friends of the Society and especially the hard working committee for their support throughout the year. As I am sure you realise, a show of this scale is not an easy feat to pull off from the staging to props, costumes, make up, backstage crew and front of house. A lot of their personal time is given up to bring all these things together in order to put on a top class production for you to enjoy. Finally, a very big thank you to you, our audience, for your support. Without you we would be unable to perform in this wonderful theatre and continue with the hobby we love. Helen Mills
BETTY BRATLEY - PRESIDENT Welcome to our wonderful production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. It’s always quite exciting when we bring new shows to Harrogate audiences and this show is no different. There has been a lot of laughs from the beginning including finding our pig - ‘Betty’! The cast have enjoyed the show from the start. The brilliant script and the catchy songs have been a joy to watch and listen to. As President, I was pleased that the Society had also chosen a show with my name in it! I would like to express my sincere thanks to the committee, cast and production team for all their hard work and commitment. Hope you enjoy the show! Betty Bratley
ABOUT THE SHOW SYNOPSIS Belts are being tightened and the country’s long-suffering citizens are being told by the government that there will be fair shares for all in return for surviving Austerity Britain. Meanwhile local officials feather their own nests by taking far more than their own fair share. It is of course 1947, and having won the war, Britain seems to have lost the peace and the country is staggering under the burden of acute rationing, unemployment and the coldest winter for decades. The only bright spark on the horizon is the impending marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Twenty six years ago, Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray wove this story into a hilariously funny but sharply observed comic film called A Private Function, which centered around Betty, an adorable pig, who is being illegally reared to ensure the local dignitaries can celebrate the Royal Wedding with a lavish banquet, while the local population make do with Spam. Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman have brilliantly adapted and expanded this story for the stage and George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have written a deliciously infectious, toe-tapping, retro contemporary score. The result is an utterly British musical, full of eccentric characters, such as the strange odd couple, Gilbert – an evangelistic chiropodist, and Joyce – a nobody determined to be a somebody; Inspector Wormold - an obsessive destroyer of illegal meat; Mother Dear – ‘She’s seventy four and ravenous’; along with a weird assortment of bullies, spivs and snobs and of course, our star, Betty the pig!
A PRIVATE FUNCTION THE FILM BASIS OF BETTY BLUE EYES A Private Function should be a peculiarly autobiographical film for Alan Bennett, given that his father was a butcher and that the film focuses on the efforts of a small group of middle-class Yorkshire folk to quietly fatten and kill an illicit pig to celebrate the 1947 royal wedding. It was Bennett’s first film and arguably remains his most popular. Yet while it features all the established Bennett touches that his admirers adore, it was in fact based not on anything in Bennett’s early life, but on a childhood memory of its Director Malcolm Mowbray. Mowbray and Bennett had met after the filmmaker had directed a BBC2 Playhouse film, Days at the Beach, and received a letter of congratulation from an admiring Bennett. Seizing the opportunity, Mowbray asked Bennett to collaborate with him on a feature film script. Bennett, an established writer of television plays, had penned a number of feature film scripts that for various reasons had never been made. However he had an idea about a chiropodist, while Mowbray was fascinated by memories of post-war Britain – an austere period where black market goods and severe rationing went hand-in-hand. The screenplay took two-and-a-half years to deliver. Its original title: Pork Royale. Filming began in Ilkley in May 1984. On May Day, 70 members of the Ilkley Players auditioned for parts and 30 were selected. Their big scene involved queuing for a meagre ration of meat outside Barraclough’s butcher’s shop. The sequence took 13 hours to film. Star-spotters got their money’s worth by watching Maggie Smith, Michael Palin and Denholm Elliott at work. Their personalised directors’ chairs gave them away. Like the enthusiastic extras, some of Britain’s brightest acting talent fell over themselves to work on a Bennett project. The three stars were Smith, Palin and Elliott, but in support the film can boast Alison Steadman, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard Griffiths, Jim Carter, Bill Paterson and Liz Smith who, on eyeing a script, she described as ‘a magical read with the words dripping off my lips’, sent a postcard to Bennett’s London home begging to be in it. She got the part.
PRODUCTION TEAM MICHAEL KIRKBY - DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER Michael, from Leeds, began his musical career at the age of 13, playing the role of Barnaby in ‘Hello, Dolly!’. Since then, he has gone on to play lead roles in over 100 musicals, including ‘Crazy for You’, ‘42nd Street’ and ‘Anything Goes’. His favourite roles include Kipps in ‘Half a Sixpence’ and the title role in ‘Hans Andersen’. Michael’s television credits include five years on ‘Junior Showtime’, ‘The Flaxton Boys’, and the paper boy in ‘Queenie’s Castle’ with Diana Dors. His film credits include Alan Parker’s hit musical ‘Bugsy Malone’ in which, at the age of 14, he was lucky enough to land the role of Angelo in Fat Sam’s gang. A trained singer and dancer, he turned his talents to directing and choreographing over 20 years ago and now has over 50 shows to his credit. He has also had several award-winning musicals at the Edinburgh Festival. He is delighted to be back in Harrogate as Director and Choreographer, having made his stage debut with us in 1987 as Kipps. He has directed our productions since 2002. Mike leads a busy life on and off stage and we are grateful to him for fitting us into his schedule. His rehearsals are always fun.
CRAIG L. RATCLIFFE - MUSICAL DIRECTOR Craig is Director of Music at St. John Fisher Catholic High School and 2017 sees him working with Harrogate Operatic Players for the third time as Musical Director following ‘Annie’(2016), ‘Showtime’ (2015) and ‘A Night of Musicals’ (2014). Craig is in demand in many different fields of music and works regularly with young people to develop their musical skills. Formerly the Musical Director of the Harrogate Band, he spends what free time he has performing as a trombonist in local theatre productions. Craig is also an Artistic Director for the Harrogate International Youth Festival and works as a Trustee for the Harrogate International Festival, bringing international artists to Harrogate and the surrounding area. Previous roles as Musical Director and Producer include ‘Seussical the Musical’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Oliver!’, ‘Hairspray’, ‘Sister Act’, ‘Annie’, ‘The Wind in the Willows’, ‘Chicago’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’.
STUART HUTCHINSON Gilbert Chilvers
Credits include: Sir Robin (Spamalot), Drake (Annie), TJ (Sister Act), Pursar (Anything Goes), Billy (42nd Street) Scarecrow (The Wizard of Oz), Kipps (Half a Sixpence) Ambrose (Hello Dolly!), Edwin (Summer Holiday), Frank (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Gerald (Me and My Girl), Tommy (Annie Get Your Gun), George Pepper (Red Peppers), Sandy Tyrell (Hay fever) and Ensemble in many others. Directorial credits: Showtime 2015 (HOPS), In The Mood (HOPS) Stuart has been performing since the age of 4 and received training from St Aelred’s Irish Dancers and Katrina Hughes Dancers where he trained in Irish, Jazz, Tap and Ballet and had the privilege of performing at both the London Palladium and Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, along with a European tour. Stuart first found his voice for singing quite late in sixth form at Harrogate High School where he was cast as the Leading Player in the musical ‘Pippin’, directed by Judith Howe. The show had him hooked and since then he has enjoyed many roles in local amateur theatre. Stuart made his directorial debut in 2015 for HOPS with ‘Showtime’ and then again in 2016 for the HOPS 1940’s concert ‘In The Mood’ with Echo 42. Stuart has been a member of HOPS since 2011 and has enjoyed many exciting roles. Stuart is delighted to be playing the role of Gilbert Chilvers in this production. Having seen the musical four times including the original production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ at the Novello Theatre in London with Sarah Lancashire and Reece Shearsmith, it is a dream role to have the privilege to play. When not on stage, Stuart works as a Performing Arts Technician at Harrogate High School alongside being Principal of Ripon Stage Academy, running HOPS Juniors and designing at Marmaduke Graphic Design (Designer for HOPS) Stuart would like to thank his friends and co stars (including Betty) for keeping their feet clean and fresh on stage every night, his family for their constant love and support and you, our audience, for continuing to support local amateur theatre ‘I hope you enjoy the show as much as we have rehearsing for it’. www.riponstageacademy.co.uk | facebook.com/marmadukedesign
RUTH GRAHAM Joyce Chilvers
Credits include: Miss Hannigan (Annie), Clare (Made In Dagenham), Sister Mary Lazarus (Sister Act), Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Maria and Elsa (The Sound of Music), Nicky (Sweet Charity), Alice Parker (When the Lights Go On Again), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), Gigi (Gigi), Dainty June (Gypsy), Vicky (The Full Monty), Phillia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Cagelle (La Cage Aux Folles), Sally Bowles (Cabaret), Edith (Fur Coat and No Knickers), Smike (Smike), Chifon (Little Shop of Horrors), Levi (Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), Marty (Grease). Ruth got the ‘bug’ for performing at age 12 when she was cast as a Polynesian, French-speaking boy in her local amateur operatic society’s production of ‘South Pacifc’ in Rotherham. From there she was hooked, and has performed in many musicals throughout the region, as well as gigging in an acoustic band and dancing with the ‘Wild Katz’ dance troupe whilst at University in Birmingham. This is Ruth’s fourth year with HOPS, having played the eccentric Miss Hannigan in last year’s sell-out production of ‘Annie’, Ado Annie in ‘Oklahoma!’ and Mary Lazarus, the rapping nun in ‘Sister Act’. She is thrilled and honoured to have been given the opportunity to play the part of Joyce Chilvers in this production, following in the footsteps of Sarah Lancashire, and has loved every minute of rehearsals. When not treading the boards, Ruth leads a busy life as mum to two beautiful children, Izzy and Ben and as wife to Rob. In her spare time (!) she teaches Maths at Allerton High School (Leeds) and is the Principal of Wetherby Stage Stars (her own children’s theatre company). Ruth has had an absolute ball rehearsing for ‘Betty’, and would like to thank everyone involved in the HOPS team – both on and off stage – for making this such a fun and unforgettable experience. She is eternally grateful to her family and friends for their continued love and support, and hopes you, the audience, enjoy the show!
CHRISTINE CASTLE
Mother Dear
Credits include: Reno (Anything Goes) Dolly (Hello Dolly), Rose (Gypsy), Dorothy Brock (42nd Street), Anna (The King and I - where her son Toby played ‘Louis’), Golde (Fiddler on the Roof - 5 times!). She performed at the City Varieties for a number of years, the highlight being in ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ with Danny La Rue, Grandma (The Wedding Singer), Aunt March (Little Women – the Musical) and Grandma, (Addams Family). The celebrated character actress, noted for her brilliant comic timings, never intended to play anything for laughs and never ceases to be surprised that audiences find her funny – also older than she ever intended to be! Born in London, she began dance classes at the age of three and began an eternal love of theatre. Her first amateur show was ‘Goodnight Vienna’, followed by leading roles at the famous Questors Theatre in West London. She desperately wanted to become a professional dancer but wise parents suggested a proper job. She trained in hair and make-up at the London College of Fashion, where she met her husband, Brian. Together they joined the newly-formed Yorkshire Television in Leeds, Brian as Head of Costume and Christine as a Make-up Artist. Her love of theatre drew her back to the amateur stage and she joined Leeds Thespians, followed by guest appearances with many societies in West Yorkshire. In later years, she has performed with Leeds Amateurs in many of their shows at the Grand Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse and with BrassNeck, where her association with playing Grandmas and Aunts really took off. Apart from performing, she has directed and choreographed a broad spectrum of musicals. Christine is a NODA Regional Representative for the Leeds area, where she is always pleased to advise and attend productions. She lectures in Stagecraft and Musical Theatre, wherever she is invited. She also gained a Wharfedale Festival Award for her performance as Madame Arcati in ‘Blithe Spirit’ with Yeadon Amateurs. She is delighted to be joining HOPS for this production, especially as she will once again play Mother to her dear friend Ruth, who is playing ‘Joyce’- the last time was in ‘Gypsy’- a somewhat different relationship!
BEN RUSSELL
CHRIS COWLING
GAVIN MILLS
Credits include: Vocalist (In the Mood), Drag Queen/Ensemble (Sister Act).
Chris is delighted to be onstage with Harrogate Operatic Players once again. Past performances with HOPS include Fagin (Oliver!), The King (The King and I), Dolittle (My Fair Lady), Chitterlow (Half A Sixpence), Bella Zangler (Crazy For You), Bert Barry (42nd Street) and a personal favourite Nathan Detroit in ‘Guys and Dolls’. Chris has played leading roles in musicals with other groups throughout Yorkshire, these include ‘Annie’ (3 times !) ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (twice) and ‘Oklahoma!’ (5 times...Playing Ali Hakim each time!) Three years ago Chris was thrilled to get on stage at The Grand Theatre Leeds in ‘Hairspray’ as it was the first theatre he was taken to as a child! ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ is particularly special to Chris as in 1984 he was an extra in the Alan Bennett film ‘A Private Function’ on which the show is based.
Credits include: Ensemble (Sister Act), Franklin D Roosevelt (Annie) and Mr Tooley (Made In Dagenham) As a loyal follower of HOPS for many years, supporting his wife (and our chairman!) Helen, Gavin was eventually persuaded to ‘tread the boards’ himself in the 2014 production Oklahoma! From there Gavin has found a love for performing on the stage. Gavin is now donning his flat cap and wellies for the role of Farmer Sutcliffe in ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. Delighted to be back performing with the HOPS team again, Gavin hopes you all really enjoy watching the show!
Mr Metcalf/ Prince Philip
Ben, who attended Knaresborough School of Speech and Drama has had an interest in singing and performing from a young age, taking part in many musical productions during his time at KSSD and at junior and secondary school. Ben has been a member of HOPS since 2015 and is delighted to be playing Mr Metcalf in this production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. When not on stage, Ben works for his family business Ringways of Leeds who are, once again, proudly sponsoring this year’s production. Ben would like to wish fiancé Naomi and the cast an ‘oinktastic’ show!
ROBIN WITHEY Dr Swaby
Credits include: Emile (South Pacific), Private Willis (Iolanthe), The Lieutenant of the Tower (Yeomen of the Guard) twice, First Gangster (Kiss Me Kate), Bill Sikes (Oliver!) and a memorable Marley’s Ghost in a musical version of ‘A Christmas Carol’. Since moving to the Harrogate area in 1993, Robin has performed with a number of local societies, as well as HOPS, for which his first show was ‘Guys and Dolls’ in 1994. He has performed with RAOS, Harrogate G&S and several other societies. When not performing, he “works with computers” in Wetherby. He is looking forward to playing Dr. Swaby in ‘Betty Blue Eyes’, as the nasty characters are usually the most fun. He just hopes, as a native of Somerset, he has lived in Yorkshire long enough to get the accent right!
Henry Allardyce
RICHARD UPTON Inspector Wormald
Credits include: Stacee Jaxx (Rock of Ages - Grand Opera House York), Harry (BRASS in Concert - Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham), Warner Huntington III (Legally Blonde - Harrogate Theatre), Harry (UK Theatre Award winning new musical BRASS - Hackney Empire), Oskar (Original musical Busker -Harrogate Theatre), Lieutenant Cable (South Pacific -Harrogate Theatre), Bob Wallace (White Christmas - Harrogate Theatre), Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls - Riley Smith Hall, Leeds), Gomez (Addams Family - Riley Smith Hall, Leeds), Mickey (Blood Brothers - Garage Theatre, London), Claude (Hair -Bloomsbury Theatre, London), Javert (Les Miserables - Wakefield Theatre Royal). Richard is an active member of both the National Youth Theatre (NYT) and the National Youth Musical Theatre (NYMT), with whom he performed the role of Harry in new musical ‘BRASS’. The musical was winner of the UK Theatre Awards, ‘Best New Musical’ and was performed at Hackney Empire, London, in 2016. Richard recently performed with HOPS as good guy, Sweaty Eddie in ‘Sister Act’ and as bad guy, Rooster Hannigan in ‘Annie’. He is delighted to be returning to the dark side, playing Inspector Wormald in this production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’.
Farmer Sutcliffe
GARY HOLMES Mr Nutall
Credits include: Harold Wilson (Made in Dagenham), Daddy Warbucks (Annie), Priest number 3 (Jesus Christ Superstar), Mr Bumble (Oliver!), Horace Vandergelder (Hello Dolly), Moonface Martin in (Anything Goes), Lazar Wolf (Fiddler on the Roof), Private Godfrey (Dad’s Army), Lank Hawkins (Crazy For You) and Lord Brockhurst (The Boyfriend). Gary came to the theatre late in life - he took a little persuading to‘give it a go’- but he’s certainly made up for it! Gary is looking forward to playing the part of Mr Nutall in this production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’.
ROB HASTINGS Mr Barraclough
Credits include: Fagin (Oliver!), Bobby Childs (Crazy for You), Billy (Anything Goes), Bill Snibson (Me and My Girl), Frank (Annie Get Your Gun), Adam (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Steve (Summer Holiday), Billis (South Pacific) Rob started amateur theatre 15 years ago as a bet. He has now found a true passion for the theatre and has just started directing his own shows with Harrogate Phoenix Players. As a proud Yorkshireman, Rob is looking forward to this production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ and being able to deliver his lines in his own voice!
HOLLY TODD
SIMON BERGER
Holly is 11 years old and is a local Harrogate girl. She loves performing and has been singing and dancing since the age of 5 when she won her school’s equivalent of Britain’s Got Talent singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Simon, who plays solicitor Francis Lockwood, is a solicitor in real life! Simon has been a member of HOPS since 1989. Credits include: Purser (Anything Goes), Karpathy (My Fair Lady), Mr Sowerberry (Oliver), Avram (Fiddler On The Roof) & Andrew Carnes (Oklahoma!). He has also performed in 7 ‘Showtime’ productions at the Royal Hall and Harrogate Theatre, together with all 11 HOPS ‘Serenade’productions at Harrogate Sun Pavilion. Simon also sings with Harrogate Choral Society and is a regular presenter with Harrogate Hospital Radio. He is a pianist & a long-suffering Leeds United season-ticket holder.
Veronica Allardyce
You may recognise Holly from her performance in the role of Annie in HOPS’ sold out rendition of ‘Annie’ last June. This year she also took on the role of July, one of the orphans, in York Musical Theatre’s version of the show. Holly is becoming a regular at Harrogate Theatre having been a munchkin in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, picked pockets as one of Fagin’s gang in ‘Oliver!’, and a villager in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. Holly has relished taking on the role of the spoilt Veronica Allardyce in ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ and loved getting to know this amazing musical. She is overjoyed to be working with the wonderful HOPS team again and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone ‘break a leg’ for what will be another fantastic run!
DAN STANFORD Noble
Credits include: Bert Healy (Annie), Soloist (In The Mood), Muzzy’s Boy (Thoroughly Modern Millie 2011 - Central Hall Musical Society), Colonel Fairfax (The Yeomen of the Guard 2012 - University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance - Harrogate Gilbert & Sullivan Society). This will be Dan’s 4th show with HOPS, following ‘Showtime’, ‘Annie’ and ‘In The Mood’. He is very much looking forward to playing the role of Noble, and would like to thank his family and friends, as well as the cast and crew, for supporting and encouraging him throughout the rehearsal process.
Mr Lockwood
Simon is married to Paula, a singing teacher at Ashville College in Harrogate. They met when Paula joined HOPS for their production of ‘The Sound Of Music’ in 2012! He is thrilled to be back on the Harrogate Theatre stage after a 3 year break, and can’t wait to meet Betty Blue Eyes!
KAYE KILLIN Mrs Lockwood
After spending many years travelling around the world and England where I always managed to find a singing group choirs in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and pantomimes in various villages, I finally came to rest in Harrogate. I joined Harrogate Operatic Players in 1999 and from the outset was made very welcome by a group of lovely people, many of whom are still members and now also lots of new members over the years. I have been a chorus member for the past 18 years and have only missed a handful of shows. I have not had any staring roles but have thoroughly enjoyed being a chorus member, singing fabulous tunes and learning all different dance genres and never thought I would tap dance! HOPS also put on a winter show in which I have performed many solo singing parts. I was also lucky enough to be on the main committee for about 15 years and found this very challenging and enjoyable. HOPS are like a big family and are brilliant fun. In my spare time I also sing in my village rock band called The Bad Daddies, we mainly do beer festivals and parties and it is such good fun and very different to HOPS.
JUDITH KENLEY
Mrs Allardyce Musical credits: Miss Adelaide (Guys & Dolls), Dorothy Brock (42nd Street), Reno Sweeney(Anything Goes), Mabel (Mack & Mabel), Irene (Crazy For You), Aunt Alicia (Gigi), Lucille Early (No No Nanette), Sylvia (Godspell), Dolly Levy (Hello Dolly), Grandmother (Fiddler on the Roof), Gertie Cummings (Oklahoma), Mimi (Can Can) along with solo and ensemble roles in several other Musicals, Showtimes & Cabarets. Acting credits: 6:12 Winnie (Happy Days, Samuel Beckett), Old Woman (The Chairs, Ionesco), Helen/Sybil (Decadence, Berkoff), Antigone/Euydice/Chorus (Antigone, Sophocles), W1 (Play, Beckett), Flo (Come and Go, Beckett), Gail/Teacher A/Oggy Moxon/Ms Whitham/Mr Basford/Miss Prime/Barry Wobschall/Dennis/Doug/ Mrs Coates (Teechers, Godber), along with many others. HDS: Jean (Separate Table/Rattigan), Diana Messerschmann (Ring Round The Moon/Anouilh), Brigid O’Cooney/Dellarosa Paravci (They Don’t Grow On Trees/Millar) Poppy Norton-Taylor (Noises Off/Frayn), Janey Jenkins (The Cure For Love/Greenwood), Lady India (Ring Round The Moon), Joanna Markham (Move Over Mrs Markham/Cooney) along with many others. TV credits: Last of the Summer Wine and My Spy Family. Judi has also worked backstage, props, make-up and casting for many productions and has been a committee member for both HOPS & HDS. She has recently directed ‘The God of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza at Harrogate Theatre and is looking forward to directing again for HDS in 2018. Judi would like to thank all the people she has worked with both on and off stage, especially the amazing technical and backstage teams without whom none of the magic would be created. She hopes that ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ will be ‘Another Little Victory’ for HOPS!
MEL JAMES Mrs Tillbrook
Mel joined HOPS as a keen tap dancer 20 years ago whilst training at the Northern School of Contemporary and enjoyed the roles of Phyllis (42nd Street), Liane D’Exelmans (Gigi), Polly (Crazy for You), Polly (The Boyfriend), Helen Walsingham (Half a Sixpence), Hope (Anything Goes) and enjoyed most recently supporting roles in ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Oklahoma!’, ‘Sister Act’ and ‘Annie’. She is thrilled to be playing Mrs Tillbrook in ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ alongside her role of Marketing Manager for HOPS.
LAURA JACKSON Mrs Roach
Credits include: Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), Eliza (My Fair Lady), Vi Moore (Footloose), Mrs Robinson (She Loves You Yeah!) and Doralee (9 to 5). Originally from Durham, Laura moved to Yorkshire to study, gaining a BA (Hons) Performing Arts with Music in 2004 and a PGCE in Secondary Education from the University of Leeds in 2005. Laura is currently Head of Music at Titus Salt School in Bradford having previously been Head of Music at Ripon Grammar School. As well as her classroom teaching Laura has directed a number of successful choirs and has been Musical Director and Stage Director for a variety of musicals including ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Fame’, ‘Annie’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and most recently ‘Strictly Musicals’. Laura has played leading roles at venues such as the Sunderland Empire, Newcastle Tyne Theatre, The Apex Theatre (Bury St Edmunds) and Harrogate Theatre. Having made her professional debut at the age of 16, performing with Howard Blake and the Northern Sinfonia conducted by John Wilson, Laura enjoys performing with a variety of ensembles including the Harrogate Band, the Royal Signals (Northern) Band and most recently Harrogate Symphony Orchestra. Laura is featured on ‘Tea for Two’ and ‘Made in Harrogate’ by Harrogate Band as well as ‘Songs from the Shows’ with Harrogate Symphony Orchestra. For the past two years Laura has been the guest soloist with
Leeds Central Salvation Army Band in their Christmas Carol Concert at Leeds Town Hall. Laura has loved rehearsing for ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ and has especially enjoyed the challenge of the 6-part harmonies. She hopes you enjoy the show!
HELEN MILLS Mrs Lester
Helen joined HOPS back in 1999 and has performed with them ever since. Her love of all things musical began at high school where she performed with choirs, the concert band and in the many musicals staged there. Helen now works at the Harrogate High School in the Music Department where she is able to share her passion for music with all the children. Helen has many favourite shows over the last few years with particular highlights being ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Sister Act’. In her spare time (!!!), Helen is part of the percussion team for Ripon City Brass Band alongside her two teenage sons which is a real treat to be able to do another hobby with her kids. Helen is also the Chairman of this wonderful Society and is extremely proud to be so!!
LIZZIE GRAVESTOCK Mrs Turnbull
Credits include: Eliza (My Fair Lady), Phyllis (Follies), Hysterium (Forum), Reno (Anything Goes), Mabel (Mack & Mabel), Mad Margaret (Ruddygore) and Phyllis (Iolanthe). Having joined HOPS for their ‘Showtime’ concert in November 2015, Lizzie was absolutely delighted to be cast as the ditsy Lily St. Regis in ‘Annie’. This year, one of her biggest challenges has been honing and adding a Yorkshire accent to her repertoire! When not performing, Lizzie is the School Administrator at Highfield Prep School in Harrogate and is a wife, wicked stepmother and would-be domestic goddess!
LAURA ASKEW Mrs Metcalf
Training: KSSD, University of Cumbria and University of Central Lancashire. Credits include: Bruno (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Sarah (Company), The Wizard Of Oz (Deanery Players), Sister Mary Patrick (Sister Act - HOPS) Ensemble (Oklahoma!, South Pacific and Kiss Me Kate). Laura has had a passion for Performing Arts since around the age of 8, when she started drama classes at Harrogate Theatre followed by Knaresborough School of Speech and Drama. Laura has a 1st Class Degree in Performing Arts from the University of Cumbria and now works as a Drama Teacher at Rossett High School. Laura is Assistant Principal of Ripon Stage Academy - a stage school for young people aged 5-18. Laura joined HOPS in 2014 for ‘Oklahoma!’ and has since enjoyed both leading and ensemble roles with them. Now living in Leeds with partner Jonny, Laura enjoys getting out and about in the wonderful Yorkshire countryside and nights in with cat Dexter. Laura’s dream is to be in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ‘Cats’ where she can bring Dexter to rehearsals for some method acting! Laura would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support and hopes that you enjoy this production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’.
PORTIA CREWE
RICHARD LILL
Portia has been acting since a very young age and first studied at Knaresborough School of Speech and Drama. Continuing her passion through school, Portia studied Drama and Performing Arts at both GCSE and A Level and took on various roles in plays and musicals. In 2014 Portia received a scholarship for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York for two years. During this time, Portia encountered many different life-changing experiences not only within the acting world but also, in herself. While at drama school Portia performed in many plays throughout her course, with her favourite being ‘Ring Round The Moon’, where she was cast as the role of Isabella. After two years of living in New York, Portia is now pursuing her career here in the UK. She has been working on a few short films including; ‘Time Focus’ and ‘I Want Susie’, which is now heading off to show in festivals around the world.
Credits include: Sir Evelyn (Anything Goes), Gerald Bollogbroke (Me and My Girl), Lank (Crazy for You), Marcel (The Boyfriend), PC Boot (Salad Days), Frank (Mack & Mable), Boy with clipboard (42nd Street), Sandomire (Gigi) Waiters Gallop (Hello Dolly), Dream Curley (Oklahoma). Scary Spice (Showtime 99), Pyramis (A Midsummer Nights Dream).
Princess Elizabeth
After working on theatre and films this past year, Portia is delighted to be welcomed into the HOPS family with her production of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. She cannot wait for the challenge.
ARTHUR SUTCLIFFE Bar Man
Credits include: Pandora the Panda (Aladdin), Buttercup the cow (Jack and the Beanstalk), Lion (Wizard of Oz), Bus Driver (Our Day Out), Pepe (West Side Story), Newman Noggs (Nickolas Nickleby), Chorus and one line parts in plays such as Sister Act, 42nd Street, Me and My Girl and many many others. Arthur has also, for over twelve years, been performing in GI60 (Gone in 60 seconds) a festival of 50 different one minute plays all performed in one night. Arthur started performing when he was six in the nativity play and fell in love with acting. He studied acting at school, college and at North Yorkshire School of Theatre, where he took on dancing roles like Peter Pan and singing ones as Tiny Tim in ‘Christmas Carol’. His love of performing has had him in so many productions both amateur and professionally. Arthur is excited to be back on stage with HOPS, looking forward to his role in ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. When not performing Arthur is a lifeguard at Starbeck Baths.
Mr Cunliffe
Wardrobe Credits: Sister Act, Annie, Oklahoma!, Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, In The Mood, Sound of Music, Serenade, A Night of Musicals. Richard made his stage debut at 5 as a cub scout, and continued performing in gang shows and school performances in his home town of Wakefield every year up to 18, he then moved to London with work. After a 10 year break he moved to Harrogate and joined HOPS. His first show 42nd Street, he had to learn to tap dance, and from then on he has never looked back, and remained loyal to HOPS performing in almost every show. In later years, Richard became Wardrobe Director. In 2014, he took on the role of Treasurer, a role which is essential to keeping the Society thriving, with main shows now costing in excess of £45,000 to stage. When not performing, creating, sewing or balancing the books, Richard is Managing Director of his own sales, marketing, credit management and events consultancy working in the Bridal industry, an industry he has been a leading figure in for over 25 years.
LIZZIE OATES Mrs Cunliffe
Credits include: Annie (twice), Wizard of Oz, Crazy for you, South Pacific, Anything Goes, Hello Dolly Musical Director(American summer camp): Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Bye Bye Birdie. Lizzie’s enjoyment of performing started with ensemble roles in her local pantomimes at the age of 10. Pairing this enjoyment of singing and acting with her love of ballet and dancing meant performing in musicals was the natural next step. Lizzie was an ensemble member in a variety of musicals and compilation shows with her local amateur musical theatre company for 7 years.
Upon moving to the Harrogate area, Lizzie was delighted to find a new society to join and perform with. This is her second performance with HOPS and she is thrilled to be back with such a great, friendly society. When not on stage, Lizzie is a primary school teacher. She loves the amount of singing and dancing you can legitimately manipulate into everyday routine and loves helping the children in their own school productions!
FERN SUMMERTON Kitt
Fern began performing at an early age, throughout school and sixth form. She also attended lessons and took part in shows at a variety of dance schools. Fern is now teaching other young budding performers at primary school in her ‘Razzle Dazzle’ musical theatre club and is delighted to be working alongside Helen Mills and Stuart Hutchinson with HOPS Juniors. Fern has been a member of HOPS since 2014 and enjoys being part of the HOPS family and performing in some brilliant shows. Fern would like to thank her friends and family for all their love and support.
NAOMI BASS Lionheart Trio
Naomi has been part of HOPS since the age of 11, taking part in various shows such as ‘Carousel’, ‘Fiddler on the roof’ and ‘Century of Song’ having a little break in between to concentrate on school studies. She returned taking the part of Sister Mary Robert in the hit show ‘Sister Act’, loving every second! She is very excited to be a part of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ and looking forward to being back on stage sharing it with the HOPS family.
MORNA BUNCE Lionheart Trio
Credits include: Ermengarde (Hello Dolly!), Angel (Anything Goes), Sister Mary Stephen (Sister Act) & Ensemble in various other productions including 42nd Street, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Carousel and Oliver! Morna has also assisted both backstage and Front of House. Morna has been performing from an early age having trained with Harrogate School of Ballet but really caught the bug for performing at secondary school where, amongst others, she played the roles of Patty Simcox in ‘Grease’ and Bloody Mary in ‘South Pacific’. ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ sees Morna’s return to the stage after the birth of her son, Archie and she would like to thank her husband, Paul and her mum and dad for all their help and support during the rehearsal period, of course, show week! She is looking forward to tackling the challenging harmonies demanded by the show’s score and dusting off her dancing “trotters”! When not performing or running round after Archie, Morna is Head of Practice Management at Stowe Family Law.
appeared as an extra on ‘Gigglebiz’, with Cbeebies’ Justin Fletcher. Before moving up North from London, Natalie worked on the Jonathon Dimbleby Programme for ITV, for an auction house’ and for an actor’s agency’. Natalie has two young children who are gutted they are far too little to see ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ as they know most of the songs off by heart and are desperate to see what our Betty looks like! Natalie has loved rehearsing for this show and enjoyed learning not only the tricky harmonies, but attempting to do a Yorkshire accent. She hopes you all enjoy the show.
Lionheart Trio
Credits include: Grace Farrell (Annie), Mary Martin of Tours (Sister Act), Gertie (Oklahoma!), Anytime Annie (42nd Street), Tuptim (The King and I with HOPs) and Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof), Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), Gerda (Snow Queen) Natalie’s first role was as a roller skating Figaro the Cat in a school production of ‘Pinochhio’ aged 6. She was then picked to sing on three Birdseye Fish Finger adverts with her school and led up her spare time with school productions, youth theatre groups and dance classes. She went on to study Theatre and English at Lancaster University. Natalie has toured with tribute bands to the Spice Girls, Abba and Bewitched, performing in gigs around the world and throughout the UK and Ireland. She has also worked as a professional belly dancer with the Taste of Cairo Dance Agency. Natalie has appeared in various films and tv programmes including ‘Father and Son’, which was subsequently banned, Anne Bolyen in ‘Terrors of the Tower’ for the Discovery channel and
Ensemble
Ensemble
Angela started dancing at the age of 4 at the Dyson School of Dance in Scarborough taking part in various variety shows. Her move to Harrogate in 1982 led to Angela joining a Latin & Ballroom school, taking exams up to Gold Bar level. Even after a move to a more exotic location, Hong Kong, Angela continued her passion for performing where she joined a military theatre group performing in plays and pantomimes.
Emma has performed with societies in Harrogate, Leeds and York with recent shows being ‘9 to 5’, and ‘Crazy for You’. She is delighted to be back with HOPS and involved in such a lively and relatively new show.
After returning to Harrogate in 1992 Angela performed with Deanery Players in ‘La Cage’, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, ‘42 Street’ and had the rare opportunity to appear at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane London. Shows with other societies include: Harrogate G&S Society playing Peep Bo, one of the 3 little maids in the ‘Mikado’, Knaresborough Musical Society, playing Polly in the ‘Boyfriend’ and taking part in their productions of ‘Brigadoon’ and ‘The Pajama Game’.
EMMA LEVAHN
LAUREN BIRCH Ensemble
NATALIE PAGE
ANGELA MAYES
Credits include: Ensemble (Oklahoma!), Sister Mary Irene (Sister Act) Dancer (Showtime), Maid/Dancer (Annie), Dancer (In The Mood) From an early age, Lauren had a love for the Theatre. Her grandparents had a big influence on her interests in musicals and regularly sat her down to watch an array of productions, where she fell in love with one of her favourite musicals, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’. Lauren found her interest in performing during high school, where she took part in regular school productions. From there she worked towards her A Level in Performing Arts, for which she couldn’t have achieved without the huge support of her teachers. Once she finished school, Lauren joined HOPS where she has been part of the cast and joined the Executive Committee as Librarian. She loves being part of an exciting and thriving society. Alongside HOPS, Lauren enjoys helping Ruth (Joyce) with the kids at Wetherby Stage Stars, who are working towards their Summer show ‘Porridge’!
Angela joined HOPS in 2001. As well as performing in all Serenades, playing Chastity, one of Reno’s Angels in ‘Anything Goes’ and only ever missing one main show since joining the Society. She has taken an active role off stage on the main and social committees for a number of years. Angela would like to thank her HOPS family for all their support over the years and her parents who have been to see every performance and show, sometimes more than once!
JANET SIMMONS
JEMMA BUNTING
Janet’s first taste of the stage was at 5 years old and she’s loved it ever since. Over the years she’s performed with various companies, the Potato Room Players at the Leeds City Varieties, Harrogate St Andrews Players and Harrogate Operatic Players.
Credits include: Captain Smolsky ( Bugsy Malone) Miss Grant (Smike) Minnie Fay and Mrs Rose (Hello Dolly!) Chava (Fiddler on the Roof) Charlotte (Oliver!) Sophie (Annie) Rebecca Marshall (Playhouse Creatures) Lizzie (Towton) Anne Bronte (Bronte) Alice (Daisy Pulls It Off) Caroline (Sjenka) Laura (I’ll Be Back Before Midnight) Mary Barrie (The Lost Boy) Goodie Hamstring (Terry Pratchett’s Mort) and Bella Spewack (Red Hot and Cole) at the Royal Hall.
Ensemble
She has played numerous roles in musicals such as ‘Billy’, ‘La Cage Aux Folles’, ‘Anything Goes’, ‘Chicago’, ‘Damn Yankees’, ‘Hair’, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Sweet Charity’, ‘The King and I’, ‘Scrooge’, ‘Our House’, ‘Grease’, ‘She Loves You Yeah’, ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Sister Act’. She is so looking forward to recreating the 1940’s with ‘Betty Blue Eyes’.
LAURA BRASSINGTON Ensemble
Credits include: Molly (Free as Air) Joanne (Godspell) Ronette (Little Shop of Horrors) various solo performances as part of cabaret shows and ensemble in many other musicals. Laura was introduced to musicals at a young age by her parents, and has many happy memories of long car journeys being accompanied by the ‘Les Miserables’ soundtrack. Laura’s first time on stage was at the age of 5, in a ballet class with Knaresborough and Harrogate School of Dance when she played the part of a woodland fairy. Laura went on to perform in a number of other ballets at the Royal Hall, including playing the part of a rat in the ‘Nut Cracker’. Laura has also enjoyed singing, being involved in many school and church concerts, one of her most challenging sings being 1st Soprano in Handel’s ‘Messiah’. Laura took a break from performing whilst at Uni completing a BSC (hons) degree in Applied Science and Forensic Investigation, however when she moved back to the area she joined Wetherby Musical Theatre Group and was cast as Molly in her first production with the company. Laura was involved in many shows with WMTG before joining Harrogate Operatic Players in 2014 for their hugely successful production of ‘Sister Act’. “I’m really excited about being part of ‘Betty Blue Eyes’, although it’s not a musical I know, I am certain with this brilliant cast it’s going to be another hit performance I can be proud to be part of.”
Ensemble
Directorial credits: Co-director (I’ll Be Back Before Midnight) for Woodlands Drama Group. Writing credits: ‘The Glen’ for Woodlands Drama Group. I have been involved in amateur theatre for over 30 years making my debut as Hansel in the pantomime ‘Babes in the Wood’ at the age of eleven. I have performed with numerous societies in both Leeds and Harrogate and have performed in both the chorus and character cameos with HOPS since 2004. I am a founder member of Harrogate Theatre Young Company and have taken numerous diverse roles from a wicked witch to a radio star in new plays that have toured around Nidderdale. I’m really looking forward to performing in this fab show with HOPS! I would like to thank my husband David and six year old daughter Lottie for putting up with my frequent absences whilst rehearsing!
LISA GRAHAM Ensemble
Credits include: Mrs Pugh (Annie), Sister Mary Catherine (Sister Act), Nun (Sound of Music), Spanish Hoopla Lady (Carousel) and a War Nurse (Century of Song), The Mikado, Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat). In 2008 I joined the HOPS ‘family’. When I am not performing in shows with HOPS I enjoy helping back stage. I got the bug for musical theatre at an early age appearing in school productions and singing in the local church choir. My favourite parts were playing the
Dragon in ‘St George and the Dragon’ and the Little Match Girl in a play I wrote at school which was adapted by myself from Hans Christian Anderson’s book. I joined the Alnwick Variety Company (Northumberland), where my mum and dad were already performers in the group and it was great fun. Each year I performed in ‘Showstoppers’ which was a mix of singing, comedy sketches and dance routines. In 1999 I moved to Harrogate from Durham and began working as a qualified nurse at Harrogate Hospital, later moving to the operating theatres, so you could say theatre features heavily in my life! I am always singing at work and one day a colleague asked me to join The Fishers Singers in Harrogate. The complex and beautiful music really moved me and I especially loved doing African Sanctus at Ripon Cathedral.
FILMING THE TRAILER
Ripley, Harrogate
CAST GILBERT CHILVERS JOYCE CHILVERS MOTHER DEAR MR METCALF DR SWABY HENRY ALLARDYCE WORMOLD FARMER SUTCLIFFE VERONICA ALLARDYCE NOBLE MR LOCKWOOD MRS LOCKWOOD MRS ALLARDYCE REG BROWN MR BARACLOUGH MRS ROACH MRS LESTER MRS TURNBULL NUTTALL MRS METCALF MRS TILLBROOK PRINCE PHILIP PRINCESS ELIZABETH BARMAN MR CUNLIFFE MRS CUNLIFFE KIT LIONHEART TRIO
STUART HUTCHINSON RUTH GRAHAM CHRISTINE CASTLE BEN RUSSELL ROBIN WITHEY CHRIS COWLING RICHARD UPTON GAVIN MILLS HOLLY TODD DAN STANFORD SIMON BERGER KAYE KILLIN JUDI KENLEY DAVID HARTLEY ROB HASTINGS LAURA FORSBERG HELEN MILLS LIZZIE GRAVESTOCK GARY HOLMES LAURA ASKEW MEL JAMES BEN RUSSELL PORTIA CREWE ARTHUR SUTCLIFFE RICHARD LILL LIZZIE OATES FERN SUMMERTON NAOMI BASS NATALIE PAGE MORNA BUNCE ENSEMBLE DOROTHY PARNABY LAUREN BIRCH ANGELA MAYES JANET SIMMONS LAURA BRASSINGTON EMMA LEVAHN JEMMA BUNTING LISA GRAHAM
MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 FAIR SHARES FOR ALL A PLACE ON THE PARADE A PLACE ON THE PARADE (REPRISE) MAGIC FINGERS MAGIC FINGERS (REPRISE) UPHOLDING THE LAW NOBODY A PRIVATE FUNCTION BETTY BLUE EYES THE RIOT LIONHEART STEAL THE PIG
COMPANY GILBERT GILBERT & JOYCE MRS ROACH, MRS LESTER & MRS TURNBULL MRS METCALF WORMOLD, THE METCALFS, GILBERT & NOBEL JOYCE & COMPANY SWABY, LOCKWOOD, ALLARDYCE & SUTCLIFFE ALLARDYCE & GILBERT COMPANY JOYCE, TRIO & COMPANY GILBERT, JOYCE & COMPANY
ACT 2 ANOTHER LITTLE VICTORY STEAL THE PIG (REPRISE) IT’S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS PIG, NO PIG! THE KIND OF MAN I AM SINCE THE WAR BETTY BLUE EYES/STEAL THE PIG (REPRISE) FAIR SHARES/A PRIVATE FUNCTION (REPRISE) CONFESSIONS MAGIC FINGERS FINALE
GILBERT, JOYCE & COMPANY JOYCE MRS TILLBROOK & TOWNSWOMEN JOYCE, GILBERT & MOTHER DEAR GILBERT SWABY, LOCKWOOD, ALLARDYCE, NOBLE & WORMALD GILBERT, ALLARDYCE & NUTTALL COMPANY COMPANY GILBERT & JOYCE COMPANY
BETTY BLUE EYES
Bringing Betty to life with creator Chris Eddison Who doesn’t need a life size animatronic pig in their life? It turns out most people! When Ilkley Playhouse got the first rights to perform ‘Betty Blue Eyes’ they had a problem - just where do you find your leading lady? They commissioned me to build her and since then she became part of the family! Betty started life as a fibreglass pig statue, but with a bit of choice and painful looking cutting, she soon became a bit more mobile! Her head is driven by a pair of industrial servo motors, whilst the animation of her facial features is handled by more conventional radio control car servos. She can also travel under her own steam on a wheeled base and can reach 10mph! It’s been great fun building and owning Betty, and next up she’s going on holiday to Kent for a production of the show there - she’s a well travelled pig! - Hope you enjoy the show! Chris Eddison is an electronics engineer working primarily in the aviation industry, but he’s also had a lifelong passion for theatre; acting, working as a freelance sound designer and also building animatronics and special effects for many theatre companies. Recent projects include stage illusions for pantomime, an animatronic rat for ‘The Addams Family’ and his next project is a ping pong firing machine for ‘Priscilla Queen Of The Desert!’
CREATIVE TEAM DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER MUSICAL DIRECTOR STAGE DIRECTOR STAGE MANAGERS REHEARSAL PIANIST MARKETING & PRESS PUBLICITY ARTIST WARDROBE FLY CREW STAGE CREW
PROPS BETTY HANDLER PROMPT FOLLOW SPOT MICROPHONE CO-ORDINATIOR MICROPHONES PROGRAMME EDITOR HAIR/WIGS FRONT OF HOUSE RAFFLE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAMME PRINTING
MICHAEL KIRKBY CRAIG L. RATCLIFFE NADIA MURRELL CATHY HELLAS STEVE GRAHAM CHRISTIAN HORTON MEL JAMES STUART HUTCHINSON RICHARD LILL, LIZZIE TURNER VIC AMELLA, JACKIE BELL STEVE GRAHAM, CHRIS MANSBRIDGE, DARREN KERSHAW CATHY HELLAS, LIZ LANCASTER, JOHN GUTHERIE DAVID HARTLEY, DAN LANCASTER ROY WOODHEAD MARION ELLERKER STEVE GRAHAM MARK SMITH TERRY ELLERKER, RICHARD NAYLOR DIANE SHAW TRUESOUND STUART HUTCHINSON RICHARD LILL CHRISTINE LITTLEWOOD, BETTY BRATLEY, BRIAN FOSTER ALISON MAYES, ELAINE GOLDING MATTHEW KITCHEN, HENRY MILLS & CAST GREENSHIRES GROUP LTD
THE BAND MUSICAL DIRECTOR KEYS VIOLIN/MANDOLIN CELLO GUITAR BASS PERCUSSION/DRUM KIT ACCORDION REEDS TRUMPET/FLUGEL HORN TROMBONE/EUPHONIUM
CRAIG L. RATCLIFFE CHRISTIAN HORTON TERESA CRICK CHRISTIAN DUTTON TOM BEETLES ADAM BATES ED DENNIS THOMAS HARDAKER MATTHEW MCGUFFIE ROSS SIMPSON STEVE JONES
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
PAST PRODUCTIONS
This year we are pleased to be supporting a local charity that is so close to our hearts. 1925 The Rebel Maid Dementia Forward has touched a number of our members and their families and we are 1926 Miss Hook of Holland so very grateful for the amazing work that they do. 1927 Iolanthe 1928 The Mikado Dementia Forward are an experienced and established team, passionate about 1929 The Duchess of Dantzig supporting people living with dementia and those who care for them. They support 1930 The Yeomen of the Guard people in the Ripon and Harrogate district, York, Selby, The Vale and Pickering. 1930 The Rose of Persia They provide a highly responsive, individualised information and signposting service 1932 Trial by Jury and Pirates of Penzance through different avenues to anyone who is interested in dementia, whether they have 1933 The Desert Song received a diagnosis, have concerns about their memory, support someone with memory 1934 The Vagabond King problems, work in dementia care or just want to know more! 1935 The Student Prince With thanks to the continuing support of our members who work together each year to 1936 The Maid of the Mountains 1937 Good Night Vienna raise money for our community. Pictured here is Laura Brassington, who recently completed one of the stages of the Tour de Yorkshire on behalf of HOPS, for Dementia 1938 Katinka Forward. 1939 No, No, Nanette 1946 The Desert Song We will be collecting for this wonderful local charity throughout the week of ‘Betty Blue 1947 The Gondoliers and Merrie England Eyes’ and hope that you might join us in supporting them with any spare change in our 1948 New Moon collection buckets. 1949 Tom Jones Hopefully, together we can make a difference to so many children and families in our 1950 The Belle of New York community. 1951 Gipsy Love 1952 Waltz Time 1953 Bitter Sweet 1954 The Land of Smiles 1955 Brigadoon 1956 The Quaker Girl 1957 Wedding in Paris 1958 Goodnight Vienna 1959 Love from Judy 1960 Free as Air 1961 White Horse Inn 1962 The Merry Widow 1963 Oklahoma! 1964 Wild Violets 1965 The Belle of New York 1966 The King and I 1967 Die Fledermaus 1968 Carousel 1969 Waltzes from Vienna ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1970 Bless the Bride 1971 Orpheus in the Underworld Jo Harrison and Andy Stenning St John Fishers School Harrogate Advertiser Harrogate Theatre 1972 Kings Rhapsody BBC Radio York - Neil Foster Ringways Motor Group 1973 The Vagabond King BBC Radio 2 Duncan Long - Loan of Bike 1974 Oliver! Harrogate Library Stray FM 1975 Showboat/Showtime Gala Concert Dress Circle - Costumes Hospital Radio Harrogate High School
1976 Hello, Dolly! 1977 The Desert Song 1978 My Fair Lady 1979 Oklahoma! 1980 Song of Norway 1981 Kiss me Kate 1982 Kismet/Showtime ‘82 1983 The Sound of Music 1984 La Vie Parisienne/ Sixty Glorious Years 1985 Carousel 1986 Summer Song 1987 Half a Sixpence/Showtime ‘87 1988 Hans Andersen 1989 Fiddler on the Roof/Showtime ‘89 1990 The Dancing Years/Showtime ‘90 1991 Annie Get Your Gun/Showtime ‘91 1992 Can Can/Showtime ‘92 1993 Kiss Me Kate/Showtime ‘93 1994 Guys and Dolls/Showtime ‘94 1995 42nd Street/The Boyfriend 1996 Gigi/Showtime ‘96 1997 Me and My Girl/No, No, Nanette 1998 Crazy For You/Salad Days 1999 Oklahoma!/Showtime ‘99 2000 Mack and Mabel/Godspell 2001 Anything Goes/A Summer Serenade 2002 My Fair Lady/A Summer Serenade 2003 Half a Sixpence/A Winter Serenade 2004 The King and I/A Winter Serenade 2005 Oliver!/A Winter Serenade 2006 The Boyfriend/A Winter Serenade 2007 42nd Street/A Winter Serenade 2008 A Century of Song!/A Winter Serenade 2009 Carousel 2010 Fiddler on the Roof/ Celebration of Song 2011 Hello, Dolly!/Serenade 2012 The Sound of Music/Serenade 2013 Anything Goes/Serenade 2014 Oklahoma!/A Night of Musicals 2015 Sister Act/Showtime ‘15 2016 Annie/In The Mood
NODA
LIFE MEMBERS
The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA), founded in 1899, is the leading representative body for amateur theatre in the UK. The Association has a membership of approximately 2400 amateur theatre groups and over 2000 individual members staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and pantomimes in a wide variety of venues ranging from the country’s leading professional theatres to village halls. Covering a broad spectrum of age ranges NODA member societies meet the needs of all levels of both performers, whether dramatic, dance or musical, and those involved backstage, front of house or in society administration.
Mrs Jane Bradley Mrs Betty Bratley Mr Brian Foster
NODA aims: • To give a shared voice to amateur theatre • To help societies and individuals achieve the highest standards of best practice and performance. • To provide leadership and advice to enable amateur theatre to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century To achieve these aims NODA is divided into eleven regions, each headed by a regional councillor who sits on the National Council (ruling body of the Association), and supported by a network of regional representatives and officials.These volunteers are the vital link to the grass roots of the Association; the amateur theatre groups themselves and their members. To provide support and assistance to these volunteers, the Association is administered from its office in Peterborough, by a knowledgeable and friendly staff who can deal with any enquiry about amateur theatre. Membership of NODA provides theatre groups and individuals with a wide range of benefits, including access to NODA’s advice service at national and regional level, as well as representation to government, access to funding agencies, direct access to rights holders and the media, as well access to regional and national conferences, workshops and seminars to help share information on best practice. NODA holds an annual residential Summer School (with bursaries available) offering training from professional tutors in a wide range of both performance and technical courses as well as a similar residential academy to provide similar performance based training for those under 18. NODA also holds an annual national and regional programme and poster competition to encourage high standards in design. Through its trading arm, NODA Limited members have access to a varied range of products and services, including insurance for both societies and individuals, long service awards that recognise the dedication made by individuals to amateur theatre, discounts on plays, vocal scores, libretti and technical books and a range of NODA branded merchandise. As a rights holder NODA Limited has 150 pantomimes by leading authors as well as a growing catalogue of plays and musicals. National Operatic and Dramatic Association Headquarters: 15 The Metro Centre, Peterborough, PE2 7UH Telephone: 01733 374790 Email: info@noda.org.uk Website: www.noda.org.uk
Mrs Pat Harrison Mr John Littlewood Mrs Christine Littlewood
Mr Colin Wintersgill
Helen Mills Lizzie Gravestock Laura Askew Portia Crewe Arthur Sutcliffe Richard Lill Lizzie Oates Fern Summerton Naomi Brass Morna Bunce Natalie Page Emma Levahn Lauren Birch Angela Mayes
Janet Simmons Laura Brassington Jemma Bunting Dorothy Parnaby Emma Knill Hilary Paxton Hannah Ruddy Phil Ruddy Penny Tiffney Paula Berger Ruth Graham Christine Castle David Hartley
Iris Wall Jack Littlewood Jacob Holmes Juliet Palmer Lauren Windsor Maisie Jackson Maisy Stanton-Smith Niamh Boyle Stanley King
Thomas Mills Ella Hyde Summer Kingdom Polly Conneely Katherine Pringle Pheobe Turnbull Holly Todd
MEMBERS Ben Russell Robin Withey Chris Cowling Richard Upton Stuart Hutchinson Gavin Mills Gary Holmes Rob Hastings Dan Stanford Simon Berger Kaye Killin Judith Kenley Mel James Laura Jackson
JUNIOR MEMBERS Abigail Waud Amy Wilson Annabel Thompson Cassie Green Ellie Lebbon Eva Featherstone Francesca Scott George Dickson Holly Todd
FRIENDS Mrs Shirley Hilton Mr Malcolm Homan Mrs Sylvia Horwell Miss Vanessa Horwell Mrs Juliette Jennings Mrs Liv Jones
Mr Stuart Kellett Mrs Alison Mayes Miss Angela Mayes Miss Nadia Murrell Mrs A Nicholson Mr Michael Parris
Ms Ruth Pridmore Mrs Norma Rosen Mr Michael Segger Mr Peter Staples Mrs Lizzie Turner
White Diamond Entertainment offers Latin & Ballroom dance lessons to all ages and abilities in Harrogate. Dancing for fitness is something we also offer with our Fitsteps class created with Strictly Come Dancing’s Natalie Lowe & Ian Waite
www.turnipevents.co.uk
So if you want to get fit or learn to dance with a partner on the dance floor give us a call. Email: info@whitediamondentertainment.co.uk Mobile: 07977042970
theatrical SERVICES logos posters sOCIAL MEDIA flyers brochures banners event stationery invitations greeting cards Business cards postcards
E: MARMADUKE-DESIGNS@OUTLOOK.COM T: 07543662345
FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN OFFER, PLEASE CONTACT US...
Stowe Family Law wish the cast and crew of Betty Blue Eyes a most successful show week. Proud of our Yorkshire roots we are delighted to be supporting HOPs and Dementia Forward.
Choose Stowe Family Law’s Yorkshire team, part of the UK’s largest specialist Family Law firm “This firm is widely held to be a force to be reckoned with… A strong team with an in-suppressible style and a fantastic practice”
Stowe Family Law specialises in all areas of family law, including divorce, children issues, finances, cohabitation disputes, grandparent’s rights, pre and post-nuptial Agreements. The firm has a Wills and Probate department which also deals with disputes over estates.
Divorce / Finances / Child Arrangement Orders / Cohabitation Disputes / Tracing Hidden Assets / Marital Agreements Grandparents Rights / Wills / Probate
Chambers UK Guide
If you need family law advice, early support can be essential. Stowe Family Law can help. For more information contact morna.bunce@stowefamilylaw.co.uk or call 0161 926 1410 Harrogate Office Old Court House, Raglan Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1LT 01423 532600
www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk
Leeds Office Portland House, 5 Portland Street, Leeds LS1 3DR 0113 224 0580
www.marilynstowe.co.uk
Wetherby Office Oakgate House, Market Place, Wetherby LS22 6LQ 01937 543904
Ilkley Office 68 The Grove, Ilkley LS29 9PA 01943 600788
Come and try out this exciting new sport! Stunts, Gymnastics & Dance Suitable for beginners
Cheerleading Squad
Ages 10 - 14 Every Monday 7.15 -8.30pm at Harrogate Ladies College
To book a place contact Ellie (Limited places availble) 07718 300624 www.ekgalaxy.co.uk
A Peaceful, Serene Space to Focus on You Choose from a range of Spa Days, Roof Top Spa Experiences and Starlight Spa To book call 01423 844840 R U D D IN G PA R K
F O LLI F O O T
H AR R O G AT E
N O RT H YO R K SH I R E
H G 3 1J H
R UDDI NG PA RK . CO . UK / S PA
Dedicated Dance wear shop in Harrogate Monday to Satruday 10am to 5pm We stock the following brands:
For the Love of Dance 24 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB Tel: 01423 53077 email: shop@adagedance.co.uk www.facebook.com/adagedanceharrogate
t. 01423 565680 e. ask@thompsons.accountants w. www.thompsons.accountants
Events on the Farm • Maize Maze Opening 22nd July • Pumpkin Festival - October Pick your own pumpkin from our patch, thousands grown here on the farm • Christmas Experience starting 25th - 26th
Birchfield Ice Cream Farm Come and visit our Ice cream parlour on the farm,enjoy a delicious home made Ice cream made with the milk and cream from our Jersey cows. Our New Ice cream parlour & cafe “The Jersey Barn”is opening this summer and will be offering a new breakfast menu and an exended lunch menu.
November,2nd-3rd Dec,9th - 10th,16th - 17th, Monday 18th,Tuesday 19th,Wednesday 20th,Thursday 21st,Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd December • (Booking lines open 1st November) • Lambing live March 2018
Check out our website www.birchfieldicecream.co.uk or like our facebook page birchfieldice cream farm
John Cotton Group wishes the
Harrogate Operatic Players a successful and enjoyable year!
Support for today, planning for tomorrow
Telephone: 01924 496571 www.johncotton.co.uk John Cotton Group Harrogate Operatic Players Ad 265x129.indd 1
16/05/2017 10:08
Join Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table on Camelot’s craziest quest in this hilarious musical adventure!
HARROGATE HIGH SCHOOL 21 - 22 JULY 2017
7pm (Fri), 2pm (Sat) | Tickets £6.50 | Book tickets online at www.thelittleboxoffice.com
For more information about ‘What a Knight’ or if you wish to enrol your child in HOPS Juniors, please contact Helen Mills by emailing chairman@harrogateoperaticplayers.co.uk
HOPS
the royal hall 24-30 june 2018 An amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe
LAUNCH NIGHT - WEDNESDAY 26 JULY 2017 - THE ROYAL HALL - 7.30PM
WANTED! -Strong Tap Dancers| Age 16+ | Ladies and Gents | Supporting Singers & Dancers & Principals For further information, please register your interest to hello@harrogateoperaticplayers.co.uk