Geoffrey Learner, Our Chairman and actor.
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Geoffrey Learner
Chairman (2004 - )
Actor: Much Ado About
Nothing; Arsenic And Old Lace
Geoffrey began his acting career as Professor Theophilus Brainwave in
a sci-fi play at his junior school in the 1930s.
After being Secretary of his college dramatic society at university,
he became a junior school teacher and over his career directed more than
twenty plays on the school stage.
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Retiring to Canterbury in 1989, he joined the Canterbury
Dramatic Society in 1998 for a production that never reached performance.
As Secretary, he helped to bring about the reuniting of C.D.S. with
Playcraft in 2003 and established the pattern of regular performances
before the public at the Gulbenkian Theatre, the Whitstable Playhouse
and other venues.
He has appeared in seven productions of the group and directed the performance
of the play ‘597’ connected with the unveiling of the statues,
in Canterbury, of Ethelbert and Bertha by Prince Michael of Kent in May
2006. Geoffrey appeared as Signor Antonio in Much
Ado About Nothing and Mr Witherspoon in Arsenic And Old Lace.
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GEOFFREY LEARNER'S REVIEWS:
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Ian Burroughs, Honorary Secretary, performance director and actor.
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Ian Burroughs.
Honorary Secretary.
Actor: Friar Francis - Much
Ado About Nothing
Performance director: Seasons
Greetings; The Birthday
Party; Gosforth's Fete;
Play It Again, Sam ; Arsenic
And Old Lace
Ian is one of the major stalwarts of the Canterbury Players, working
hard behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly: organising
sponsorship; publicity; ticket sales; venues; taking part in the choice
of performances and a great deal more besides.
His first production, as a director with the Players, was Alan Ayckbourn's
"Seasons Greetings".
This was a joint production between Playcraft and Canterbury Dramatics
Society, before their merger into The Canterbury Players. Since then,
he since been involved in one way or another with virtually every - if
not all - productions. This includes directing "When we are
Married" in November 2004; Harold Pinter's "The
Birthday Party" and later, Alan Ayckbourn's "Gosforth's
Fete", here giving a few of the newer members the opportunity
to take their first tentative steps on stage - after which they have never
looked back. |
IAN BURROUGHS' REVIEWS:
"PINTER is a challenging undertaking for any company; this cast of the The
Birthday Party met it confidently from the outset on a drab, late-50s set."
"Pinter's characteristically empty dialogue between the frumpish, middle-aged
seaside couple played convincingly by Patrick Folkard and Sarah Gooch."
"All-in-all this was a thoughtful, successful production."
(The Birthday Party reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"....... colourful, hilarious and undoubted success of this production."
(Play It Again Sam reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
Pip Piacentino
Read more about Pip?
Click HERE |
Pip Piacentino
Actor: Play It Again Sam; Arsenic And Old Lace
Performance Director: The
Accrington Pals, Fallen
Angels;
Pip fell in love with Britain when stationed here with the US Navy and
decided to make it his home. His links with Kent, especially Deal, stretch
back to 1964.
Pip first appeared on stage in New York when his father brought the
three-year old Pip on stage to liven up his act. He is equally at home
as an actor, director or playwright. A member of the South London Theatre
Centre, he directed many plays for them including Peter Whelan’s
"The Accrington
Pals" which he also directed in April 2007 with Canterbury Players.
Pip is to direct Canterbury Players in "Fallen
Angels" by Noel Coward. |
PIP PIACENTINO'S REVIEWS:
"This was a resoundingly successful production of a play that could,
without the company's dramatic skills, have floundered in the first act."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"It's no coincidence that Allan' name echoes the surname of the playwright
Woody Allen, wonderfully captured in this production by Pip
Piacentino, encapsulating Allen's personality, by turn self-deprecating and
Bogartesque."
(Play It Again Sam reviewed by
Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"..... and Pip Piacentino's skilled direction all contributed to a stunning
production"
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
DEREK STANDING'S REVIEWS:
".... Docklands flat, brilliantly designed by Derek Standing, in which the
play was set."
(RolePlay, reviewed by
Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"This was an adventurous undertaking and the Players once again
exhibited their exhilirating grasp of a challenge and professional skills in realising
its success."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden,
Kentish Gazette.)
"Derek Standing's sets were professional and worked faultlessly, and
the special effects of smoke and thundering guns gave a terrifying reality to
the scenes at the Battle of the Somme."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"Derek Standing's set was eye-catching..."
(Play It Again Sam, reviewed by
Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"Derek Standing's early modernist set ..................... contributed
to a stunning production."
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"Derek Standing's simple and effective set also worked well."
(Blue Remembered Hills reviewed by Sian Napier,
Kentish Gazette.)
"Elegance and simplicity prevailed in Derek Standing's fine set..."
(Much Ado About Nothing reviewed by Annie
De Lodge, Kentish Gazette.)
SARAH GOOCH'S REVIEWS:
"Pinter's characteristically empty dialogue between the frumpish, middle-aged
seaside couple played convincingly by Patrick Folkard and Sarah Gooch."
(The Birthday Party reviewed
by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"This was a resoundingly successful production of a play that could,
without the company's dramatic skills, have floundered in the first act."
"Sarah Gooch played May with harrowing conviction...."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"This was an adventurous undertaking and the Players once again exhibited
their exhilirating grasp of a challenge and professional skills in realising its
success."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish
Gazette.)
"This is no romanticised view of childhood and this came over convincingly
in the performances by all the actors........... .............. who took on this
difficult task and rose to the challenge."
(Blue Remembered Hills reviewed by Sian Napier,
Kentish Gazette.)
"Sarah Gooch, mistress of comedy, could have
given Beatrice a touch more subtlety, but nevertheless commanded the stage in
her scenes."
(Much Ado About Nothing reviewed by Annie
De Lodge, Kentish Gazette.)
"In Sarah Gooch’s production there was a full
cast but with a minimal but effective set and no props at all it must still have
been a daunting enterprise. Nevertheless, it was directed with indisputable success."
(TWO, reviewed by Diane Ogleden.)
Anne Hancox. Actor.
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Anne Hancox
Committee Member
Actor: RolePlay;
Play It Again, Sam; Fallen
Angels; Bazaar and Rummage;
Two; The Vortex.
Anne's early performances were all in music theatre. Later came a shift
to straight drama.
Her involvement with Canterbury's long-established amateur theatre group
Playcraft for 21 years and now, with The Canterbury Players has provided
a wealth of acting opportunities.
She has enjoyed numerous leading roles ranging from Nora in
Ibsen's "A Doll's House", Katharine in Shakespeare's
"The Taming of the Shrew"; the drunken and shameless Arabella
in Ayckbourn's "RolePlay"
and Julia in "Fallen
Angels" by Noel Coward. |
ANNE HANCOX'S REVIEWS:
"Anne Hancox, as his [Justin's] mother Arabella, was magnificent, the middle
aged but stunning alcoholic whose outrageous, batty behaviour contributed so much
to the demise of her son's relationship with his fiancee."
(RolePlay, reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"Despite two married friends' shared goal of rekindling passion with
their mutual ex-lover Maurice, they were given distinctive individual personalities.
Anne Hancox made Julia largely confident and serene, while Samantha
Grant's Jane was highly strung and mildly hysterical. "
".... the greatest acclaim belongs to Hancox and
Grant for their outstanding performances as the two ladies whose transformation
from sophisticated wives to hilariously drunken rivals so captivated everybody."
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"Playing opposite Pip was Anne Hancox as his best friend's wife Linda,
conveying warmth and sympathy in every movement and facial expression."
(Play It Again Sam, reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
Sharon Gair. Our Treasurer and an actor.
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Sharon Gair
Treasurer
Actor: Much Ado About
Nothing; The Accrington
Pals; Katrina in "Bazaar
and Rummage" by Sue Townsend.
Sharon has recently returned to acting, after having a break in 2005/06
to undertake real-life motherhood! She returned in 2007 as Annie Boggis
in ‘The Accrington
Pals’.
Whilst she has enjoyed all her roles over the years, from Rattigan to
Coward, some of Sharon’s real favourites are: Linda Loman in ‘Death
of a Salesman’, Muriel Wickstead in ‘Habeous Corpus’,
Alison Porter in ‘Look Back in Anger’, Elvira in ‘Blithe
Spirit’ and Sybil Railton-Bell in ‘Separate Tables’.
She is Treasurer for the Players.
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SHARON GAIR'S REVIEWS:
"The most powerful acting was from Sharon Gair as Annie, despite some awkwardness
as she manhandled her son, Reggie. As the bitter wife of the naive and gentle
Arthur her twisted features, spat out lines and final, anguished breakdown, were
disturbing to watch."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
LIZ FINDLAY'S REVIEWS:
"This was an adventurous undertaking and the Players once again exhibited
their exhilirating grasp of a challenge and professional skills in realising its
success."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden,
Kentish Gazette.)
Liz Stage Managed this performance. No mishaps to report, so Liz's input went
unnoticed by all but the cast and crew as is always the case.
"This was a resoundingly successful production of a play that could,
without the company's dramatic skills, have floundered in the first act."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
Liz Stage Managed this performance.
"This is no romanticised view of childhood and this came over convincingly
in the performances by all the actors........... .............. who took on this
difficult task and rose to the challenge."
(Blue Remembered Hills reviewed by Sian Napier,
Kentish Gazette.)
Liz Stage Managed this performance.
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Mark Charles Smith
Actor: For Canterbury Players Gosforth's
Fete; La Ronde; Fallen
Angels; The Accrington
Pals; Much Ado
About Nothing; Arsenic And Old
Lace
Sound Engineer for Blue Remembered
Hills.
For Chilham Players: Seasons Greetings
For Kent Shakespeare Company: Twelfth Night.
Mark is pleased to be back in rehearsal with the Canterbury Players
after a brief foray at Mt. Ephraim with Kent
Shakespeare Company's production of 'Twelfth Night'. He is looking
forward to his first 'farce'. (Comments will surely appear after that
statement!)
Mark has appeared in a number of Canterbury Players productions, as
well as end of year short films at universities in Canterbury and Hastings,
as a film extra for various productions filmed in Kent including "The
Other Boleyn Girl" and "Wild Child", in a Chris Tarrant
TV programme called 'Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose' and as a major player
in a KETV production
called 'The Sea Shall Have Them'.
Mark is looking for more TV and film work to get him out of the office
once in a while.
My Facebook page.
A recent video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY9qcWjPomk |
MARK SMITH'S REVIEWS:
"Other members of the cast were only slightly less convincing in their roles
and each had credible qualities: ...... Mark Smith's Soldier's
callous but sexy disregard."
This was Mark's second acting experience, the first being Gosforth's
Fete.
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden,
Kentish Gazette.)
"In Ralph's last letter from the Somme, to his lover Eva, Mark Smith demonstrated spiritual and physical agony."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
Mark Smith as Maurice, tantalizingly appearing only in the final scene, gave
the ex-lover all the Gallic charm needed for empathy with the besotted ladies.
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
A review of a short film made in 2009:
"It was an intriguing short film and maintained my interest throughout.
Your performance was excellent. You can certainly can act for the camera. Not
everyone can. Every thing about your performance was right. I especially liked
your little turns to the girl every now and then and your look of despair (or
resignation) at something the girl said. You photograph well and have a most
interesting face. Your performance was solid and just what the role called for.
Well done."
Reveiwed by Pip Piacentino, Director
of, and actor in, a number of Canterbury Players performances.
Adam Summers. Actor.
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Adam Summers
Actor: Much Ado About
Nothing; Two; Day
After The Fair
Assistant Stage Manager: "Arsenic
And Old Lace"
Assistant Stage Construction and Lighting Engineer: "Bazaar
& Rummage".
Adam joined the Canterbury Players as a result of an email that asked
him to come along to an audition for 'Much
Ado About Nothing'. The rest as they say is history.
Adam has always loved drama and as a result, studied the subject at college.
He has appeared in a number of productions, where he has played roles
such as Hatch in 'The Sea', Algernon in 'The Importance
of Being Earnest' and Napoleon in a musical version of George
Orwell's 'Animal Farm’.
He is greatly looking forward to future productions with the Players.
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ADAM SUMMERS' REVIEWS:
"In one scene in a public house a man, Roy, was bullying his wife, Lesley.
He was verbally loud and sarcastic while she was cowed and terrified, barely able
to speak. It was evident from the audible response from the audience that there
was a shared loathing for Roy and pity for Lesley. Their scene came to an end
when Roy struck Lesley a savage blow. The theatre was shocked into silence and
there was a considerable pause before the clapping began. Even then it sounded
restrained, as if applauding would be a sign of approval for Roy's behaviour.
In other words, such was the power of the acting that it was like witnessing hell
itself. Well done, Canterbury Players."
(TWO, from a letter to Kentish Gazette.)
"Another powerful scene had Lesley (Ellie Gee) as the abused wife of
Roy (Adam Summers), a paranoid thing who has no hesitation in clobbering his wife
in full view of the other customers."
(TWO, reviewed by Diane Ogleden.)
JIM AKURST'S REVIEWS:
"....and Jim Akhurst playing Arthur, were convincingly sensitive in their
roles."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"Of the supporting roles, Jim Akhurst played Julia's husband Fred with
gentle reasonableness"
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"...... in this role was outstanding as was Jim Akhurst
as plastic surgeon Dr Einstein."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Sally Parker. Actor.
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Sally Parker
Actor: Bazaar and Rummage; Roleplay;
La Ronde, Two;
The Vortex.
Sally made her stage debut as Noddy at FHODS Little Theatre at the age
of ten, and on leaving school played Honey in "Who's Afraid of Virginia
Woolf". She made connections with CDS while acting in "Sir Gawain
and the Green Knight" and was immediately cast as the prompt for
"Dr Faustus". She went on to play Pattie in "Season's Greetings",
Dr Scott in "Who's Life is it Anyway", Olivia in "Twelfth
Night", Julie-Ann in "Roleplay", Ilsa in "La Ronde",
Bell-Bell in "Bazaar and Rummage",
and most recently the Landlady in "Two".
Sally is currently a full-time mother.
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SALLY PARKER'S REVIEWS:
"Ayckbourn's drama (RolePlay) is typically, more than a riotous comedy. An
unerring psychological insight which works alongside the crazy actions of his
dysfunctional characters and this production was hugely successful in provoking
thought as well as providing entertainment."
"Sally Parker must have subdued a large chunk of herself to play the neurotic
frump Julie-Ann so convincingly, yet at the same time win sympathy in her futile
psychological battle against Paige, the hard faced tart."
(RolePlay, reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"Foremost was Sally Parker as Ilse, the Sweet Girl."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden,
Kentish Gazette.)
"After the sour bickering of the two proprietors between the appearance
of their clients, a small boy enters, the catalyst who reveals the cause of their
disharmony. The unveiling of the suppressed misery of losing their young son was
the heartbreaking climax of the play and both Geoff Dale and
Sally Parker were utterly believable in their desolation."
(TWO, reviewed by Diane Ogleden.)
Geoff Dale. Actor.
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Geoff Dale
Actor: Senor Benedict in "Much
Ado About Nothing"; Landlord in "Two".
Geoff began his acting career at the tender age of 5 as the Angel Gabriel,
and it could be said that it has been all downhill since then!
He has worked with the Kent Youth Theatre, National Youth Theatre, and
with local groups including Dover Operatic, Kent Countryside Productions,
Grassroots and the Arden Theatre to name but a few.
He was most recently a very bloody Banquo, thoroughly enjoying working
with the prosthetics makeup artist, and is looking forward to his first
Players production, Much
Ado About Nothing. |
GEOFF DALE'S REVIEWS:
"Geoff Dale as Dominick (Benedic) for example,
was outstanding both in his comic spats and his tender love scenes with Beatrice;
not once did his command of the role falter."
(Much Ado About Nothing reviewed by Annie
De Lodge, Kentish Gazette.)
"After the sour bickering of the two proprietors between the appearance
of their clients, a small boy enters, the catalyst who reveals the cause of their
disharmony. The unveiling of the suppressed misery of losing their young son was
the heartbreaking climax of the play and both Geoff Dale and
Sally Parker were utterly believable in their desolation."
(TWO, reviewed by Diane Ogleden.)
Jill Akhurst. Actor. Director. Director's
Assistant.
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Jill Akhurst
Director – "Palace of Varieties"
and "Bazaar and Rummage"
Director's Assistant "The
Accrington Pals"
Singer of saucy songs; Actor Fallen
Angels; Two; Arsenic
And Old Lace; The Vortex.
This is the second "old lady" Jill has played for the Canterbury
Players - are they trying to tell her something? Guildhall trained Jill
has been with the Players now for three years, during which time she has
directed "Palace of Varieties"
in 2007 and "Bazaar and Rummage"
in March this year. She also played the maid Saunders "Fallen
Angels" in (March 2008) and the Old Woman in "Two"
in July this year. She is also involved with the "Really Promising
Company" and enjoyed some success last October playing the Princess
Puffer in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at the Theatre Royal,
Margate. |
JILL AKHURST'S REVIEWS:
"...and Jill Akhurst's expressive facial and body language conveyed
every nuance of the maid Saunders' contempt for the gentry."
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"Outstanding among then was Jill Akhurst’s old woman drinking her
regular Guinness, the only reward at the end of each day after caring for a senile
and incontinent husband. Akhurst gave her character immense pity, love and supreme
dignity despite the wretched details of her drudgery."
(TWO, reviewed by Diane Ogleden.)
"Martha (Ruth Cameron) and Abby (Jill Akhurst) were
captivating."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Susanna Gerken
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Susanna Gerken
Costumes.
Susanna first trained as a teacher and then studied languages and drama
in Italy. She lived abroad for many years and has performed in different
amateur groups.
Since coming to live in Canterbury she has joined the Players and designed
the costumes for "The
Birthday Party"; La Ronde";
"Play It Again Sam"
and "Fallen Angels".
Susanna is a very welcome addition to the Players.
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SUSANNA GERKEN'S REVIEWS:
"This was an adventurous undertaking and the Players once again exhibited
their exhilirating grasp of a challenge and professional skills in realising
its success."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden,
Kentish Gazette.)
"Susanna Gerken's delightful costumes and .........."
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by
Delia Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
Ellie Gee. Actor.
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Ellie Gee
Actor: Hero in Much
Ado About Nothing; Lesley in "Two".
Ellie is excited to be seen on stage with Canterbury Players for the
first time as Hero, in ‘Much
Ado about Nothing’ having previously hidden back stage in ‘Blue
Remembered Hills’ and ‘Fallen
Angels’.
Before moving to Canterbury for University however she appeared in both
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as Helena and ‘Romeo
and Juliet’ as the Prince at Wokingham Theatre.
As a trainee primary school teacher Ellie enjoys telling people what
to do and hopes one day to convert her experience with five year olds
into directing actors. |
ELLIE GEE'S REVIEWS:
"Another powerful scene had Lesley (Ellie Gee) as the abused wife of Roy
(Adam Summers), a paranoid thing who has no hesitation in clobbering his wife
in full view of the other customers."
(TWO, reviewed by Diane Ogleden.)
Louise Gibbins. Actor. Publicity.
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Louise Gibbins
Actor: Play It Again Sam;
Gosforth’s Fete;
The Accrington Pals;
La Ronde; Much
Ado About Nothing; Bazaar and Rummage
by Sue Townsend; Woman in Two; Day
After The Fair
Louise joined the Players in 2006 & has since been involved in several
productions.
The first was Harold Pinter’s ‘The
Birthday Party’ where she was the official teapot bearer between
Acts II & III. Following the success of teapot placement, she was
cast as Councillor Mrs Pearce in Alan Ayckborne’s ‘Gosforth’s
Fete’. Louise proved herself to be a massive hit when Charlie
Jubber (Gosforth) omitted to catch her as she fell off the podium backwards.
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In Schnitzler's ‘La
Ronde’, she played a prostitute which was lucky as Louise was
concerned about being typecast! Louise also appeared in the production,
"The Accrington
Pals" by Peter Whelan. Here, she played Sarah, a hardworking
but fun loving mother in her late twenties.
Louise is seeking film extra work, her public profiles on casting websites
can be found HERE
and HERE.
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LOUISE GIBBINS' REVIEWS:
"Other members of the cast were only slightly less convincing in their roles
and each had credible qualities: Louise Gibbins' Prostitute's sullen resentment....."
This was Louise's second acting experience, the first being Gosforth's
Fete.
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish
Gazette.)
"Louise Gibbins gave uninhibited realism, candour and dry humour to
her role as Sarah."
(The
Accrington Pals reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
Sid Moon. Actor.
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Sid Moon
Actor: Willie in "Blue
Remembered Hills"; Fred in "Two".
Blue Remembered Hills will be Sid's first shot at straight acting (if
you forget the school nativity play). He did not start performing until
he passed 50 when he played the part of a miner in the community opera,
"Promised Land" as part of the Canterbury Festival
in 2006.
It was there that Sid met Sarah, the Director for Blue
Remembered Hills and John Rye who plays the part of Donald in this
production. Last year Sid and Gill, his wife, had great fun being part
of Canterbury Players Palace of Varieties
show.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Canterbury
Players for the warm welcome they have given us and the friendships we
have made within the society."
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SID MOON'S REVIEWS:
"This is no romanticised view of childhood and this came over
convincingly in the performances by all the actors........... .............. who
took on this difficult task and rose to the challenge."
(Blue Remembered Hills reviewed by Sian Napier,
Kentish Gazette.)
Mike Ayris
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Mike Ayris
Actor: La Ronde; Play
It Again Sam; Arsenic And Old
Lace; Day
After The Fair
Michael has been with the Canterbury Players for many years, first acting
in Sailor Beware at the old Marlowe. He went on to study theatre at the
Rose Bruford College and worked professionally for a time. His love of
acting keeps him in touch with the society and he is always open to new
challenges. |
MIKE AYRIS' REVIEWS:
"Michael Ayris, the Husband, was convincingly both debauched and vulnerable."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden, Kentish
Gazette.)
Mike Ayris was a very late stand in for Arsenic
And Old Lace, rehearsing only in the last few days before the performance.
He impressed the director and all the cast with his dedication to learning the
part to the extent where I feel that none in the audience could have guessed
the situation. A real pleasure to work with and all who did had the utmost confidence
in him.
Comments by Mark Smith, co actor.)
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
John Rye. Actor.
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John Rye
Actor: Blue Remembered Hills,
Much Ado About Nothing; Two;
The Vortex.
John has always loved the stage especially musical theatre. He took
lead roles in university productions of ‘Fame: The Musical’,
‘East’ & ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’. He also
directed successful performances of ‘Bouncers’ and an adult
pantomime. Since moving back to Kent he has worked with Yellow Brick Road
Theatre Company as well as the Really Promising Company in their shows
‘Promised Land’, ‘Kentish Tales’ & ‘The
Mystery of Edwin Drood’. John made his Canterbury Players debut
in 'Blue Remembered Hills' and
loved every single second of working with the wonderful cast, crew and
the fantastic support.
John moved back to kent after graduating in the summer of 2005 and is
now working far too hard as a teacher at Chaucer Technology School. Recently
he has worked with the Really Promising Company in their shows Promised
Land and Kentish Tales, through which he has met Sarah Gooch
and Sid Moon. He has also worked with Yellow Brick Road productions in
a very well received performance of 100 last year.
John would like to thank the Players for their warm reception and he
is looking forward to successful future productions.
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JOHN RYE'S REVIEWS:
"This is no romanticised view of childhood and this came over
convincingly in the performances by all the actors........... .............. who
took on this difficult task and rose to the challenge."
(Blue Remembered Hills reviewed by Sian Napier,
Kentish Gazette.)
James Newberry
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James Newberry
Actor: Goldberg in "The
Birthday Party" ; John in "Blue
Remembered Hills"
Until April 2006, James (Jim) had spent the past 20 years or so on an
acting break between career engagements, latterly running his own management
consultancy, training and coaching business, People
Scope.
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|
In his first acting life - primarily for the Cambridge University Players,
at Uni in Birmingham, and the Goodrich Theatre, Putney - he got to play
in different stuff: including a panoply of Shakespeares (Much Ado, As
You Like It, Merchant of Venice, Hamlet), Beckett (Krapp's Last Tape),
Bennett, Simon Gray, Pinter, Edward Bond, Athol Fugard et al.
In late 2005, Pinter's the Birthday Party - in all its non-sequitury
weirdness - re-appeared and he started again....
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JAMES NEWBERRY'S REVIEWS:
"James Newberry and Charlie Jubber, as Goldberg and McCann, entered with
tangible menace and retained it in their dealings with the other characters."
(The Birthday Party reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"This is no romanticised view of childhood and this came over convincingly
in the performances by all the actors........... .............. who took on this
difficult task and rose to the challenge."
(Blue Remembered Hills reviewed by Sian Napier,
Kentish Gazette.)
Andreas Lowson
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Andreas Lowson
Actor: La Ronde; Play
It Again Sam; Fallen Angels;
Much Ado about Nothing;
Arsenic And Old Lace
Andreas is descending the ladder of nobility. In La Ronde, he was only
a count whereas the previous year he was a duke (Twelfth Night) and before
that a prince (Caucasian Chalk Circle). He has, however, deigned to play
mere commoners in such roles as a dotty priest (Gosforth’s Fete),
a burglar, an inspector (Disposing of the Body), a solicitor, a boss and
an eccentric puppeteer uncle and now, a husband, for Noel Coward's "Fallen
Angels".
Back all but full circle now as Count John in Much
Ado about Nothing. |
ANDREAS LOWSON'S REVIEWS:
"Andreas Lowson, as Count Steinemanger, carried off his
rather formal approach to love with effectively cool restraint."
(La Ronde, reviewed by Elaine Godden,
Kentish Gazette.)
"Andreas Lowson as Willy (Jane's husband) reflected
the suavity of Coward himself."
(Fallen Angels, reviewed by Delia
Dengeon, Kentish Gazette.)
"The bitter Don John, played by Andreas Lowson was so
sinister as to provoke a hiss from somewhere in the audience..."
(Much Ado About Nothing reviewed by Annie
De Lodge, Kentish Gazette.)
"Andreas Lowson played Mortimer with the paradoxical
mixture of suavity and confusion which endears him to his feisty fiancee..."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Tony Johnson
Read more about Tony Johnson. |
Tony Johnson
Actor: RolePlay;
Much Ado About Nothing;
Arsenic And Old Lace; The
Vortex.
Tony made his acting debut in the first year at Grammar school, when he
was cast as the Virgin Mary in a Nativity play.
"The embarrassment of this put me off acting for about twenty years,
until I joined the Charing Guild of Players with the proviso that I would
play only male roles.
"I began this acting hobby more than forty years ago and despite appearing in over fifty Plays and Musicals since then, I'm still trying to get it right!
"The
Vortex is only my second Noel Coward play since "Blithe Spirit" in 1977 so I'm looking forward to the role of 'Pawnie' - an elderly maiden gentleman - as the playwright describes him!
Should be a lot of fun." |
TONY JOHNSON'S REVIEWS:
"Tony Johnson and Irene Marley were hilarious as Julie-Ann's
parents; two provincial bigots ultimately succeeding in conducting their daughter's
life."
(RolePlay, reviewed by Elaine
Godden, Kentish Gazette.)
"Tony Johnson's Leonato was a less dramatic
part but was also consistently sympathetic and convincing."
(Much Ado About Nothing reviewed by Annie
De Lodge, Kentish Gazette.)
"Tony Johnson in this role was outstanding...."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Ruth Cameron
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Ruth Cameron.
Actor: Much Ado About
Nothing; Bazaar and Rummage;
Arsenic And Old Lace;The
Vortex.
Ruth was a singing, dancing, and acting child and won the best actor prize
for Lady Macbeth at age 16. Despite gaining a provisional place at the
Hampstead School of Drama, she did not follow an acting career.
In the 1980s Ruth co- produced a school pantomime with the writer John
Larr and took part in local sketches, but then did not return to drama
until 2006 when she joined the Canterbury Players; Ruth has been involved
in most productions since. This includes singing in Marie Lloyd songs
in "Palace of Varieties",
being an attendant in "Much
Ado About Nothing" and performing the outrageous, yet poignant
part of the blaspheming vulgarian Margaret Gittings in "Bazaar
and Rummage".
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RUTH CAMERON'S REVIEWS:
".... and Ruth Cameron took the outrageous part of Margaret,
not really wanted in the venture by some of her fellow-sufferers for, from the
blast of copiously rich vulgarity of her first obstreporous entrance to the comparative
but heart-rending restraint as she tells the wretched tale of her rape, she commands
the stage, as did the actor."
(Bazaar and Rummage reviewed by Elaine
Godden.)
"Martha (Ruth Cameron) and Abby (Jill Akhurst) were
captivating."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Kevin Dean
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Kevin Dean
Actor: Moth in Two
Kevin has no stage experience, although he has in the past pursued his
interest in acting at night school. However, his involvement in this production
is solely the result of nipping into The Millers Arms one Thursday evening
for a swift half, where by chance he met the Players. Several pints of
real ale and an audition later he was delighted to be cast to play the
part of Moth. |
Sally Brown
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Sally Brown
Actor: Maudie in "Two"; Elaine Harper
in Arsenic And Old Lace
Sally is delighted to be performing in Arsenic
and Old Lace; especially as her late grandmother had played the same
role over 60 years ago. Theatre has played a large part of her life since
an early age and as a result she has been involved in some fantastic,
some bizarre and some downright awful productions; crawling out of a wardrobe
screaming “the chickens won’t stop dancing” in 448 Psychosis
being an example for the latter. But such experiences has not put her
off treading the boards in roles such as Frauline Kost in ‘Cabaret’,
Katherine in ‘Taming of the Shrew’ and of course most recently
Maudie in ‘Two’.
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Before ‘Two’, she had a three year break from
acting since graduating from Aberystwyth University as she has been teaching
Performing Arts. During these years she made use of her students by testing
out her writing material on them…Mortimer Brewster has nothing on
these dramatic critics!
She currently is studying for her MA in creative writing at Canterbury
Christchurch and is trying to live by her pen – or laptop to be
precise. |
SALLY BROWN'S REVIEWS:
"..... Elaine, compellingly acted by Sally Brown."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina
Del Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Lisa Nightingale
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Lisa Nightingale
Actor: Mrs Iger in Two
Lisa has been acting since a very young age. She studied at the Laine
Theatre Arts school in Epsom Surrey and then gained a degree in Drama
at Rose Bruford College of speech and drama. Theatre work includes;
Fanny in Far From the Madding Crowd., A tour of the south of France
in which she played the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. Polly in The Gut Girls
at the ICA in London. Luce in The Comedy of Errors for the Nuffield Theatre
Southampton. Mary in Low Level Panic.
Lisa helped found the IN A SPACE theatre company in 1996 where she helped
write and direct various plays; she is most proud of JANIS a play of the
life of Janis Joplin, which was performed in Brighton.
Lisa spent many years teaching drama at the Italia Conti school based
in London. Lisa has recently joined the Canterbury players. |
Nigel Banks. Actor
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Nigel Banks
Actor: Much Ado About
Nothing; Old Man in "Two".
Nigel comes from a theatrical family & is an experienced actor,
director & teacher. He spent over 15 years in Cumbria appearing in
over 50 productions at The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal playing everything
from God in the Medieval morality play ‘Everyman’, to The
Devil in a large scale community show called ‘The Bogeyman’.
Other favourite roles include Lysander in ‘A Midsummer’s Night
Dream’, Jerry in ‘Zoo Story’ & Canon Throbbing in
‘Habeas Corpus’. In 1985 he directed his first full length
show, ironically, ‘Bazaar & Rummage’ by Sue Townsend which
is to be performed by the Players in 2009. Other directorial credits include
O’Casey’s ‘Shadow of a Gunman’, Arthur Miller’s
‘The American Clock’, Middleton & Rowley’s ‘The
Changeling’, Brian Friel’s ‘The Loves of Cass McGuire’
& Jim Cartwright’s ‘Two’. |
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The Pinnacle of his Cumbrian theatrical career was adapting, directing
& acting in a production of ‘Hamlet’ which toured to India
in 1994. Doing two performances in the same evening in 34C heat, wearing
RSC hired costumes certainly qualified for the “Acting under Difficulty”
heading - & that was before the Delhi Belly started taking its toll
amongst the cast!
Nigel moved to Kent in 1996 & joined Playcraft. His first role with
them was Mr Smith in Ionesco’s ‘The Bald Prima Donna’
directed by Stewart Ross. He then played the title role in ‘Macbeth’
appearing opposite Sarah Gooch & ‘An Inspector Calls’.
His final show for Playcraft was ‘Waiting for Godot’ by Samuel
Beckett in 2000 in which he played Lucky.
The experience of acting in a small cast production of a challenging
piece of drama alongside Alan Pope & Brian Ross led indirectly to
the formation of Ashcan
Theatre Company with which Nigel has been closely associated ever
since. He has played the roles of Michael in ‘Someone to Watch Over
Me’ by Frank McGuinness, Geraldo in ‘Death & the Maiden’
by Ariel Dorfman, George in ‘Duck Variations’ by David Maet
& most recently in March 2008, Yvan in ‘Art’ by Yasmin
Reza. He also directed Pinter’s ‘Old Times’ for the
Company & ‘On An Average Day’ by John Kolvenjach.
He is delighted to be making a return to the Gulbenkian stage in ‘Much
Ado About Nothing.’. |
NIGEL BANKS' REVIEWS:
"Nigel Banks played Dogberry with relish..."
(Much Ado About Nothing reviewed by Annie
De Lodge, Kentish Gazette.)
Phil Hadland. Actor.
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Phil Hadland
Actor: Arsenic And Old Lace
After school, many years of university studies, volunteer work and pot
washing, Phil eventually moved to Canterbury for a job in the local museums
service in 2008. His appearance in "Arsenic
And Old Lace" is his first acting role since; when at the age
of fifteen he read the voice of God in a contemporary play about the birth
of Christ.
He enjoys many hobbies including painting, collecting fossils, playing
bass guitar and football. Phil joined the Canterbury Players in the hope
of meeting some interesting, like minded people and to get some experience
of acting. To that end Phil feels he has been successful.
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PHIL HADLAND'S REVIEWS:
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Peter Fox. Actor.
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Peter Fox
Actor: Arsenic And Old Lace;
The Vortex.
Peter has previously worked behind the scenes on "Bazaar and Rummage" for the Canterbury Players,
in set production and assistant stage manager capacities.
He is also a budding young singer-songwriter, having played his first ever public gig in September 2009.
Peter dreams of one day writing for the big screen, that's if the music thing doesn't take off!
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PHIL HADLAND'S REVIEWS:
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Hugh Elsom. Actor.
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Hugh Elsom
Actor: Arsenic And Old Lace
To quote the bard “One man in his time plays many parts”. That can be said of the characters I have played over the last 50 years. They range from a Knight on murderous intent to the front half of a pantomime horse. However I have always wanted to act in “Arsenic and old Lace” and the character of Dr. Harper is just right for me in the twilight of my career.
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HUGH ELSOM'S REVIEWS:
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
Robert McGregor
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Robert McGregor
Actor: Arsenic And Old Lace;
The Vortex.
Robert woke up one day and decided to 'give acting a go'; as it happens,
the Canterbury Players company was able to accommodate him.
Robert's only previous acting experience was over 30 years ago in a school production of Ubu Rex (Ubu Roi). He seems to remember forgetting his opening lines but doesn't think anyone noticed.
He mentions, by way of an aside, that he is not suffering from a mid-life crisis, although he also tells us that he has recently started riding a motorbike. |
ROBERT McGREGOR'S REVIEWS:
"All the actors demonstrated the hilarity of Kesselring's marvellous
play."
(Arsenic And Old Lace, reviewed by Nina Del
Gedoe, Kentish Gazette.)
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