Elegies is a difficult script to bring to the stage – with a bare minimum of stage directions and so many characters there are literally hundreds of ways it could be brought to life. With this adaptation we’ve tried our hardest to capture the community spirit that often emerges from any tragedy. With a minimalist set we’ve tried to shift between locations quickly – using the cast to bring each scene to life, rather than presenting a collection of static monologues. It’s like everyone gets to play their character, and some props. Props that won’t stay where you put them. On a genuine note I’m indebted to all the cast and crew, who’ve been so easy to work with and committed from the off. It’s difficult to spend a full afternoon rehearsing a scene you just walk through the background of, or sip wine in. Well – maybe not the latter... but I hope they, and you, feel it was worth it. A lot of advances have been in the treatment of HIV since the late 1980s when the play was written, and it’s no longer the death sentence it once was. However it’s still a condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide – and we still have a lot more to do. By coming tonight you’ve helped support this cause, and for that we are grateful. We hope that you’ll laugh and weep in equal measure, and above all, enjoy the show as much as we have.
One of Bill Russell’s inspirations when writing Elegies was the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt, which is referenced throughout the production. The quilt dates back to 1987, featuring panels dedicated to those who have died from AIDS-related causes. The quilt now includes more than 48 000 memorial panels, and is the world’s largest community art project. The quilt is split up into smaller sections, called blocks, which are displayed locally.
Zoë Thirsk
Mark Rawle
This is the second show in succession that Zoe has produced for WWDN. No one will ever know why she puts herself through it. She would like to thank all cast and crew for the massive team effort that has been involved in putting the production together. She also wishes we had less than nine doctors in the cast and crew with insane shift patterns. Until next time...
Having directed numerous stage productions with Liverpool University and several external companies including the 30 strong adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, Mark was no stranger to large cast productions – he was however a stranger to musical theatre until initiated by WWDN last year being cast as the Narrator in Into the Woods. He also dabbles in stand-up comedy and regularly performs improvisation with several troupes, co-directing his own troupe Sticky Floor who recently won the Liverpool Improvageddon. You can occasionally catch him on stage trying to be funny for 33.5 hours straight. Emphasis on trying.
Sahir House is the support, information and training centre offering a wide range of services to individuals and families living with or affected by HIV on Merseyside. What We Did Next is proud to support them by fundraising for them during the production.
He currently works as a doctor in the Mersey region.
Maddie Stones
The role of Musical Director for Into the Woods took its toll on Maddie, so this year she has gone back behind the scenes to Stage Manage once more for WWDN. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with such a large cast – even if they are more difficult to organise than the class of 5 year olds she teaches every day!
Anne Irvine
Anne graduated from the Royal Exchange Theatre’s writing course THE TWELVE in 2010. She wrote the short film Butterfly in 2008 which was produced by First Take Productions. Anne also worked with First Take Productions as a Script Editor/Assistant Producer on the short film Dying For A Smoke.
Kasper Hunt
Kasper, once again, brings his technical skills to WWDN, having been part of the company from its inception. He has worked professionally in theatres across Merseyside and beyond, such as the Everyman and Playhouse in Liverpool and the Crucible and Lyceum Theatres in Sheffield.
Assistant Producer.................................................Ezekiel Serrano Assistant Stage Manager...........................................Leonie Webb Set...............................................................................Robin Murphy Sound.......................................................................Kieran McGuire Lighting.......................................................................Andy Godden Costume.....................................................................Neil McKenna Design................................................................................Ian Rawle Photography...................................................................Andrew AB Marketing.......................................................Shaun Holdom-Eyles
Jenny Martyn
Jenny is a musical theatre geek who loves nothing more than performing. Her favourite role was playing the Witch in WWDN’s production of Into the Woods. She leads the WWDN Singers and is one of the two WWDN Social Officers.
Andrew Abrahamson
Elegies is Andrew’s fifth show with What We Did Next and he shows no sign of giving up just yet. It is a show the company has been thinking about doing for a long time and so it is lovely to perform in such a moving yet humorous production.
Jamie Barfield
Since the inaugural production of Company in 2009, Jamie has loved being part of WWDN. Acting, directing and socialising with an amazing group of people is a very welcome change to the day job!
Shaun Holdom Eyles
From his days of being in student theatre, to the inception of What We Did Next, Shaun has enjoyed being part of a number of exciting theatre projects. In his spare time Shaun lends his experience where he can to produce artwork and all things digital for WWDN.
Steven Andrew
Steve is a bit of a layabout. He often does such things as forgetting to compile a biography and ends up with generic filler text. He loves being part of the show.
Anthony Proctor
Anthony is a professional actor. Recent credits include: Theatre: Bruise directed by John Maguire, Manchester Pride Pringe/Lantern Theatre; The Last Eden directed by Tana Siros; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Natalie Flynn. Follow Anthony on Twitter @antproctor
Sarah Hale
Sarah is a second year dance student at LIPA who also very much enjoys acting and singing. She has had a great time being involved with Elegies and getting to know the lovely cast and crew.
Julie Evans
Julie studied at Liverpool Hope Univeristy, leaving with a degree in Creative and Performing Arts. She is currently gracing our screens as the Lambrini girl and dreams of starring in the West End.
Steph Minshall
Steph first appeared on stage at the age of 5 performing in her local pantomime. Since then she has appeared in a wide ranging variety of musicals such as the boyfriend, Les Mis and I love you, you’re perfect, now change. Steph is a founding member of WWDN and has appeared in Company, RENT and Into the Woods.
Brox Baslow
Crackpot Professor Sarsaparilla and sagacious Beelzebub in the ‘Iron Mountain’ trilogy, aloof academic Quentin for the Lantern Festival. Manipulative religious zealot ArchOrator and production team for “Dismembered Empire”. Lenny aged both 8 and 60 in ‘Sunday Afternoon Again’. Film: The Vegetarian Opera. Likes marmalade. Is not Peruvian.
Matthew Exely
Between working in the Museum of Liverpool and bobbing around in the Middle East, it is a real wonder that this will be the second time Matthew has died from AIDS with WWDN in the last year.
Chris Brockelsby
Chris’s first dramatic performance was aged five, singing ‘Little Donkey’ in the Nativity. Since then he has continued to indulge in his passion for theatre, whether it be musicals, opera, drama, and even a stint in a Gospel choir. He is now involved in ‘What We Did Next’, and is currently Treasurer of the Society. He hopes to continue with the everexpanding projects the society is becoming involved with, and continue meeting the many wonderful people it attracts.
Barney Eliot
Barnaby Eliot is a youthful, serious-minded student at the University of Liverpool. Although he cannot know what is to come, he anticipates fun and edification with What We Did Next. Previous theatrical experience includes Macbeth, West Side Story, Hamlet, Mercury Fur, Still Life, Dr. Faustus.
Fiona Darling
Performing in Elegies is the first acting Fiona has done in a good two years... She is excited, but nervous. You will usually find her wearing black playing with props backstage, like last year when she stage managed for WWDN’s Into The Woods. Sally, Fiona’s character, is a bit of a tough cookie!
Trev Flemming
Trev is a professional actor, improviser and voiceover artist. He is a founding member of Impropriety, Liverpool’s premier improv theatre company. Recent projects include playing ‘Gunther’ in If The Shoe Fits at the new Brighton floral pavilion and Royale de Luxe’s Giant Spectacular this is his first show for WWDN.
Ian Smith
Ian is known by the strange nickname ‘Smudge’. He has just graduated as a junior doctor and is looking for a ‘creative release’ in the first few stressful months.
Alastair Clark
Alastair James Clark was born on the 31st August 1990. A lot of things have happened since then, some good, some not so good. Long story short, he is on stage tonight.
Jak Malone
Jack is a ‘fresh faced’ young performer who has been acting since a young age and is currently studying Theatre at Birkenhead Sixth Form College. Jack has had a busy year and had a very enjoyable stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where as well as appearing in a play, he was a co-founder of The Nigerian Review.
Ruth Dalton
This is Ruth’s debut performance for WWDN. Previously she has had many happy years in Liverpool University Drama Society, playing roles as varied as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible and Sylvia from East. Ruth is delighted to finally be in a musical with such a wonderful and talented cast.
Rachel McEnaney
As a junior doctor, musical theatre has taken a back seat for Rachel, but after performances as Reno Sweeny in Anything Goes and principal characters in Copacabana and Fame in medical school productions it was time to rekindle her musical passion! Rachel originates from Liverpool, and, as a past keen supporter of What We Did Next, is thrilled to be part of this wonderful company!
Esther Cole
Esther is currently a junior doctor. She has been involved in Artifacts, the Liverpool Medical Students’ Society theatre group, for a number of years, and the Chester Operatic Society since graduating. She has joined WWDN out of an extreme sense of nostalgia.
Shaun McKenna
AKA The Lady Shaun, AKA Sian born and bred in Liverpool and has been involved in acting since 1988 doing a whole manner of wonderful things from one man shows to film work, to a speaking part in Emmerdale. He won his first drag competition at the Lisbon pub and has gone on to perform as a female impersonator in many different projects. He has worked with organisations such as Homotopia which has really put Liverpool on the map within the gay community.
Camille Machin
Trev is a professional actor, improviser and voiceover Camille has been a keen musical theatre enthusiast since before she can remember. She has thoroughly enjoyed playing ‘the granny with AIDS’ and, more importantly, being able to do a west country accent! She hopes you enjoy the performance and see you at the next.
Ed Feery
This is Edward’s sixth WWDN show and first appearance in the programme (judging by that mugshot you can’t blame them). He runs 7L Recordings between stint as a semi-professional Felix Hagan impersonator. He is not, nor has he ever been, from Chorley.
Ashley Bryan-Mejri
Ashley is currently studying acting in his second year at LIPA. He has been in a number of high school productions, from Chino in West Side Story and Javert in Les Misérables to Ferdinand in Prospero!an operatic version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, funded by The National Trust and more recently Adam in Frank McGuinness’ Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me at The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool.
Emily Chesterton
Emily is currently at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts studying BA (Hons) Acting. Recent credits include Living Colour Production’s Baby the Musical at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool. This is Emily’s first show with WWDN, and she is very excited to be involved in performing such a beautiful piece of theatre with such a great company.
Kate Rugen
Kate is a founding member of WWDN and finds it the perfect foil to work as a doctor. Having tried her hand at acting in a wide range of productions, she directed Into the Woods for WWDN in 2011 and it remains the project she is most proud of to date. She is delighted to be back on stage in Elegies.
Charlotte Dowson
Charlotte trains at Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Liverpool, and is thrilled to play Katherine in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens. Charlotte would like to thank her mum for all her love and support.
Andy Walker
Andy is a Science teacher from Birkenhead. He is really pleased to be back in Liverpool and back in WWDN after moving away for a couple of years. This is Andy’s 31st musical and 2nd with WWDN. Highlights include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Jack in Disco Inferno and Warbucks in Annie.
Mycroft Milverton
A genial chap described as “a big, booming gentleman with whiskers that would make a town crier jealous”, “Moustachioed Maestro” and “Portly” by the Liverpool Echo. Mycroft has performed with Bonk Street Theatre, Dismembered Empire, Homotopia, Howard Be Thy Name, Liverpool Lantern Company, Lovehistory, Mersey Heritage, and The Suitcase Ensemble.
Franki Burke
Franki is a musical theatre fanatic who made her WWDN debut as Little Red Ridinghood in Into the Woods, 2011. She hails from Liverpool and, when she’s not singing along to show tunes, works in digital marketing.
Ellie Stephenson
After being drafted in last minute, Ellie is once again thrilled to be working with WWDN. It’s been a while.
Owen Scrivens
Scriv has done a range of dramatic things in the past but has not done any musical theatre since he was 17. He currently improvises with Sticky Floor and Impropriety.
Elen Royles
Elen has been an active member of WWDN since its inception. She has thoroughly enjoyed being on stage and in the director’s chair for this exciting theatre company. Elen has enjoyed working on this production immensely and would like to thank all of those involved for their dedication and passion.
Matthew Pieterse
Matthew was born in South Africa. He is a graduate from the University of Liverpool and an active member of the Liverpool University Drama Society. Recent theatre credits include Afterwords by Michael Hart, Happy by Igor Memic (Edinburgh Fringe 2012). Away from theatre he has had roles in short films Killing Time (FACT cinema) and United (Creative Campus). Matthew is thrilled to be involved in his first WWDN production.
Sarah Hill
Sarah is a recent drama graduate who has worked with a number of Liverpool-based theatre companies over the past year. She has yet to be discovered as an actor so is currently working in bars and banks and other jobs that she doesn’t really understand.
Michael Bourne
A graduate of Liverpool University and regular musician for shows and bands around the North West, Michael is glad to be back as MD for WWDN after performing in the recent shows Last 5 Years and Into the Woods.
Piano .......................................................................Michael Bourne Harp...............................................................................Nikki Magee Cello..........................................................................Christian Ryan Vocal Coach...................................................................Elen Royles Angels, Punks and Raging Queens ........................ Jenny Martyn I’m Holding on to You ..........................................Anthony Proctor Julie Evans Jenny Martyn Andrew Abrahamson And the Rain Keeps Falling Down......................Chris Brockelsby I Don’t Do That Anymore..............................Shaun Holdom-Eyles Jamie Barfield I Don’t Know How to Help You.....................................Esther Cole Celebrate.............................................................Rachel McEnaney Camille Machin Heroes All Around........................................................Brox Baslow Emily Chesterton Kate Rugen Ed Feery Spend It While You Can.........................Franki Burke & Ensemble My Brother Lived in San Francisco..............................Elen Royles Learning to Let Go...........................Anthony Proctor & Ensemble
Special thanks must be paid to the following; all of whom contributed to making this show possible: The Clove Hitch, The Victoria Gallery & Museum, Danielle Hayes, Front of House (including James Fellowes and Ellie Gray), Steph Ling, Jonas Tattersall, Sahir House, Ioisis, Elevator, Anthony Proctor (for his support and expertise), Jess Lunt (for her craft skills), Jamie Barfield and Elen Royles (for their patience and hospitality). To all those mentioned here, and elsewhere in the programme, I cannot thank you enough. I must say a special thank you to Mark, Maddie and Michael who have been there from the start. And of course, the wonderful cast who surprised me every week with their talent and positivity. Zoë ‘…Guess it’s time I’m learning to let go.’
The Singers is our relaxed, friendly, nonauditioned choir. We meet every Tuesday at 7pm in The Clove Hitch on Hope Street and sing for two hours, before having a few drinks in the bar. Sounds good? What’s even better is the price of each session. £0