Production Details
- Dates: 3rd – 5th March 2016
- Venue: Gala Theatre
- Director: Fred Wharton
- Musical Director: Steven Hood
- Choreographer: Kathleen Knox
Synopsis
“The Best of British Musicals” – Was staged at GALA for 4 performances only from Thursday 3rd – Saturday 5th March 2016, evening performances at 7.00 pm and a Saturday matinée at 2.00 pm.
This fully staged production follows the development of British musical theatre from the early days of Gilbert and Sullivan right up to the modern musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Boublil & Schönberg. Tickets cost from £13.50.
The show included wonderful ballads, comic numbers, uplifting choral anthems and great tunes from: “Phantom of the Opera”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, “Half a Sixpence”, “The Dancing Years”, “The Boyfriend”, “Merrie England”, “Miss Saigon”, “Billy Elliot”, “Les Misérables”, “Evita”, “Oliver!”, “Cats” and many more.
Cast
Principals
- Narrator – Valenda Taylor
- Soloists – For a full list of solo performances in this show, see pages 8 and 9 from the programme below
The Company
Alison Banks, Emma Barthel, Denise Beckford, Steven Berry, Enid Bilton-Gale, Liz Cairns, Ian Chilver, Chris Coats, Doreen Cothay, John Cuckson, Janet Dixon, Mike Dixon, Christine Dobbie, Charlotte Ferguson, Catherine Finn, Rob Gair, Shireen Gale, Anne Gatherer, Eileen Glenton, Katy Haggart, Helen Harries, Tony Harries, Steve Hill, Michelle Hood, John Hunt, Geoff Knott, Mike Langthorne, Catherine Lawes, Guy Lawes, Paul Maddison, Heather McLoughlin, Delia McNally, Sharon Milton, Sue Morl, David O’Donnell, Rachel Orr, Sue Robinson, Anthony Smith, Valenda Taylor, Nicky Tones, Ed Turner, Rebecca Turner, Graeme Walton, Katy Walton, Caroline Wilson, Deborah Wilson, Jade Worthy
Children
Airlia, Elise, Grace, Holly, Abigail, Angel-Marie, Millie, Abigail, Shay, Rebecca, Thomas, Jessica, Matthew, Lilly, Alexi, Abigail, Kameron, Cameron, Gracie, Oliver, Heidi, Max, Callum, Emily
Dancers
Madeleine Banks, Abigail Bowman, Alice Charlton, Rhiane Finley, Rebecca Fishwick, Ellie Jackson, Jennifer Kirby, Emma Thursby
Backstage
- Stage Manager – Craig Pugh
- Deputy Stage Manager – Heather Robertson
- Assistant Stage Managers – Gary Milton, Paul Walton
- Technical Support – Mike Brown, the Gala Team
- Stage Plans – Nicky Tones
- Properties Team – Denise Brooksbank, Melanie Spedding, Rachael Burnett, Bob Gale, Judith Baglee, Peter Baglee, Maria Turner, Peter Turner
- Properties – Society Prop Store
- Extra Properties – David Foxall
- Wardrobe – Jean Graham, Jane Flowers, Carolyn Knott, Katie Gair
- Costumes – Alan Graham Consett, Society Wardrobe
- Make-Up – Brenda Mullen, Lesley Wright, Hannah Bickerdyke, Claire Lonsdale
- Lightning Design – Graham Rushton
- Projections – Steven Berry
- Sound Design – Tez Errington
- Follow Spot Operator – Sarah Jackson
- Rehearsal Pianists – Martin Dack, Steven Hood, Mark Thompson
- Musical Arrangements – Steven Hood
- Orchestral Arrangements – Martin Dack
- Prompt – Steve Norman
- Chorus Notators – Maxine Hitch, Ruth Ball
- Front of House – David Foxall, Frank Cure, Val Cure, Bill Harland, Peter Clapham, Elizabeth Clapham, Mary Robinson
- Dressers – Ruth Ball, Louise Mills, Janice Smith & Team
- Refreshments – Joan Foxall, Audrey Robson, Elizabeth Clapham & Team
Orchestra
- Keyboards – Martin Dack, Mark Thompson, Daniel Ackerley
- Bass – Paul McArthur
- Percussion – Simon Ferry