Past Productions
'The Swan of Denmark'(1990).
Based on the life and work of Hans Christian Anderson was written by one of our Drama teachers, Miss P.A.Stewart, this was my first production as a pupil at Upper Chine School for Girls - which sadly is no more.
Using well known songs and fairy tales the play allowed four actors to take the role of Hans at different stages in his lifetime.
I joined the ensemble as one of the village boys (Otto - giving me a grand total of one line) and appeared in several crowd scenes!
The production was staged at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre in Shanklin, I.W.
'Peter Pan'(1991).
I took the part of Tootles in this production of J.M.Barries' classic tale about the boy who never grew up.
Using a musical/pantomime style this was a thouroughly enjoyable production for children, young and old, performed at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre in Shanklin, I.W.
'Cider With Rosie'(1992).
Based on the autobiographical novel by Laurie Lee, this production saw the arrival of Robyn J.Brown at Upper Chine, a professional director, which was accompanied by a change in style for the school productions.
A more simplistic design ethic was displayed here with the stage being dominated by a large rake to represent the hill Laurie Lee talks about towards the beginning of the novel.
I took much more of a backseat in this production as part of the stage management team, although I was awarded the role of Mrs. Pimbury which gave me my solo singing debut with that moving aria 'Serenade to a Mushroom'.
The production took place at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre, Shanklin, I.W.
'My Fair Lady'(1993).
Whilst not being the major production of the year I feel that this popular musical deserves a mention since it was part of our effort for Comic Reliefs' 'Red Nose Day' and was staged from first rehearsal to performance in a weekend.
The cast and crew were told which musical we were working on at lunchtime on the Friday and the show was performed on the Sunday Evening.
I was an integral part of the Chorus in this production which was staged at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre in Shanklin, I.W.
'The Happiest Days Of Your Life'(1993).
Ironically this farce about a girls school being evacuated to a boys school was put on a year before we merged with Ryde School, thereby becoming Co-Ed.
I took the role of Miss Jezzard, Deputy Headmistress of the girls school.
Performed on a revolve the production was great fun to do and was staged at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre, Shanklin, I.W.
'Six Characters In Search Of An Author'(1994).
This modern classic by Pirandello is set in a theatre during rehearsals for a new play, when six characters turn up after their playwright has died and demand that someone complete their story.
I played the part of the Producers' Secretary, and despite not saying much became a successfully comic character in bright red stockings and a black suspender belt.
As the only major prouction under the direction of Richard Boswell with which I was involved this production also had a different style to its' predecessors by incorporating improvisation excercises into the action on stage he production became interactive, allowing the audience to suggest the premise for each improvisation.
This production also took place at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre, Shanklin, I.W.
'Becket'(1995).
In Anouilhs' dramatisation of the life, and death, of Thomas a Becket I was given the challenge of playing not one, but an entire order of Monks in all but the final scene, when three dead wenches joined the order.
Directed by Sian Evans, an Aberystwyth graduate, this was my last production at the Margaret Pasmore Theatre, Shanklin, I.W.
'The Cagebirds'(1996).
This all female production was directed by a classmate, Hannah Redman, as an accompaniament to her A-level Theatre Studies individual skill project, which involved make-up designs.
Taking the part of The Medicated Gloom I found myself wrapped in several layers of clothes and full character make-up, effectively creating a mask, playing a human-bird-hypochondriac.
The production was staged in the Hall at Ryde School in Ryde, I.W. and was during my final year at school.
'Annie Get Your Gun'(1997).
I joined the chorus for this musical with the Aberystwyth Showtime Singers.
The action of this play follows Annie Oakley as she becomes a famous gunslinger in Western shows.
The production was staged at the Theatr Y Werin in the Arts Centre in Aberystwyth, Wales.
'Pirates Of Penzance'(1997).
As one of the sisters in this Broadway version of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta I got to play with parasols and hooped skirts, as well as burn lots of calories!
Directed by Christopher Wren this enerjetic production follows the events surrounding Mabel and Frederick as they fall in love, despite his appearing to be a pirate.
The production was staged at the Theatr Y Werin in Aberystwyth, Wales.
'Darker Side Down'(1997).
In this play, written by Andrew Doyle, and produced by the student production company Fat Beast, I took the role of the Mayors' wife Pheobe - a Golem made of clay.
Set in Aberystwyth 3000 years into the future when technology has returned to the Dark Ages, 'Darker Side Down' explores the after effect of the events told of in the classic tale, 'The Pied Piper of Hamlyn'. The rats have gone and the Piper has led the children into the side of Constitution Hill, only one child, a cripple, escaped and he goes mad as he recalls the sight inside the hill. As the excentric characters go about their lives we are all left guessing, who is the Piper?
This production was staged at Arad Goch, Aberystwyth.
'The Boyfriend'(1998).
Returning to the Aberystwyth Showtime Singers I found I was sent back to school to join the chorus for this musical comedy.
Set in and around a French finishing school during the 1920s' we once again see the trials and tribulations of youngsters in love. Awww!
The production was staged at the Theatr Y Werin, Aberystwyth.
'Treason'(1998).
Based on a translation of Saunders Lewis' Welsh language play 'Brad' this production, which was assessed as part of my degree, used devised physical sequences and scenes from the play with an all female cast to explore one of the plots to assassinate Hitler during WWII.
The play itself is set in Paris and focuses on the senior officers within the German Army who were based their at the time, for the scenes from the play I took the part of Colonel Hans von Linstow. Under the direction of Lisa Lewis we were encouraged to explore masculinity, femininity, and androgony in order to contrast with the action of the text.
This production was staged in the Drama Rehearsal Room of The Old College, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth.
'Baal'(1998).
This Brechtian play was performed, not only as an assessed third year production, but also as part of the Centre for Performance Research PastMasters Conference on Brecht and Eisenstein.
Directed by the German Ralph Rauker we explored not only Brechtian theory but also the Biomechanics of Meyerhold.
I formed part of the chorus of Tree Nymphs/Baals Mother in this production staged in Aberystwyth Universitys' Theatr Y Castell, Aberystwyth.
'Coriolanus'(1999).
I went behind the scenes as DSM and Assistant Director on this Anglo-Irish cross-gendered production of one of Shakespeares' less popular plays, directed by David Ian Rabey.
The main aim of the production was to make it more accessible to the students who would be studying 'Coriolanus' as part of their Shakesperian Drama module, as it is a rather heavy going text to read, whilst also exploring the possibilities of physical expression in Shakespeare.
The production was staged at Bethseilin in Aberystwyth, and was my last production at University.
'Romeo and Juliet'(2000-2001).
This renowned tragedy was produced by the LOST Youth Theatre Company as a TIE tour to schools and colleges in and around London and was also taken to the University of Granada in Andalucia, and the Rainbow International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences in St Petersburg.
Playing the part of Lady Capulet, under the direction of Cecil Hayter, I was finally able to perform a full length piece of Shakespeare, an experience which I positively relished. I was also able to experiment with a variety of different stage layouts as a result of touring.
The well recieved London tour included a week-long run at the Theatro Tecnis in Camden.
'Sweet Charity'(2001).
This musical about an unlucky in love taxi-dancer provided a fantastic contrast at the end of my long Shakespearean stint.
Once again joining the chorus line I took on the role of Frenchy under the direction of James Norris as part of the Hounslow Musical Theatre Company.
The production was staged at the Paul Robeson Theatre in Hounslow.