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.

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.

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.

Pip Piacentino
Actor: Play It Again Sam;
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.

Derek Standing
Set Design & Construction

Some 42 years ago, Derek responded to an urgent advert from Canterbury Dramatic Society and although only 18 he got a job and even survived giving the cast a nightmare on his first set because he did not know that one has to add size glue to the powder paint.

Recent productions: RolePlay; The Birthday Party; The Accrington Pals; Play It Again Sam; Fallen Angels

Liz Findlay
Actor: Play It Again Sam
Stage Manager (The Birthday Party, La Ronde, The Accrington Pals, Gosforth's Fete, Play It Again Sam, Fallen Angels, Blue Remembered Hills.)

Liz joined the players in 2005 as prompt for Roleplay, rose to the position of chief of teapot bearing and has been stage managing since then in Pinter's "Birthday Party", Ayckbourne's "Gosforth’s Fete", Schnitzlers "La Ronde", Whelan's " The Accrington Pals" and Woody Allen's Play It Again Sam in which she also took the part of Vanessa.

Liz is trained in Fine Art and has exhibited locally. She designed the posters for Fallen Angels and Blue Remembered Hills.

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.

Sarah Gooch
Performance Director (Blue Remembered Hills), Stage Manager, Social Secretary & Actor

Sarah has been involved in theatre since the age of thirteen and has been a member of Canterbury Players for the past ten years. Recent acting roles with Canterbury Players include Meg in “The Birthday Party”, the actress in "La Ronde", Viola in “Twelfth Night” and May in "The Accrington Pals".

Mark Charles Smith
Actor: Gosforth's Fete; La Ronde; Fallen Angels; The Accrington Pals (For Canterbury Players);
Seasons Greetings (For Chilham Players)

Mark joined the RAF in 1974 and left in 1987. He performed his first stage piece - in a wind-blown tent in the Falkland Islands - in 1982. This was as one of the Three Degrees song trio, miming to a recording and dressed in chiffon - a dangerous thing to do with several hundred other airmen removed from their wives and girlfriends for some months. He is now a director of the succesful online marketing company, Internet Marketing Kent Ltd.

Mark has appeared in end of year short films at universities in Canterbury and Hastings and also as a film extra for various productions filmed in Kent including "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "Wild Child". Mark is looking for more extra work to get him out of the office once in a while.

See his profile pages on Extras.co.uk or Universal Extras.

Anne Hancox
Committee Member
Actor: Arabella in Ayckbourn's "RolePlay"; Linda in Woody Allen's "Play It Again, Sam"; Julia in "Fallen Angels" by Noel Coward.

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.

Sharon Gair
Treasurer & Actor

Sharon has recently returned to the acting fray after winning a leading role in motherhood in 2005..... she's not too impressed by Annie Boggis' (The Accrington Pals) parenting skills!

Sharon's last other "Annie" (Parker) was in Priestley's "When We Are Married" in 2004.

Whilst she always enjoys her roles, she especially remembers her time on stage as Linda Loman (Death of a Salesman) and as Alison Porter (Look Back in Anger).

Ed Clark
Actor: Justin, in Roleplay; Tom in The Accrington Pals; Peter in Blue Remembered Hills

Ed has played a variety of roles over the last few years and keeps up his skill set in a number of other disciplines, including singing and sports, making him a very useful member of the Players and to others, including film and tv production teams etc.

Jim Akhurst
Actor, singer of comedy songs, mime artist etc. etc

Jim and his wife, Jill, moved from London to Whitstable three years ago. Before joining the Canterbury Players, Jim was a member of several amateur drama groups in East London. He joined the Lindley Players in Whitstable and played the part of Ronald in their production of Absurd Person Singular in 2005 and he also had several parts in the Canterbury Festival community opera Promised Land in 2006.

He has played some major roles in comedies, but has also done his share of spear carrying in Shakespearean history plays. Jim was pleased to be given several parts in the Canterbury Festival community opera Promised Land last year (2006).

In contrast to the righteous, religious character Arthur Boggis which he played in "The Accrington Pals", his first performance with the Canterbury Players, Jim decided to turn his hand to a few comic songs for the performance, "Palace of Varieties" and will be appearing in "Fallen Angels" by Noel Coward.

Jill Akhurst
Director – "Palace of Varieties". Singer of saucy songs; Director's Assistant (The Accrington Pals)
Actor - Jill will be appearing as Saunders in "Fallen Angels" by Noel Coward.

Jill is no stranger to amateur theatre, being quite well known in the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest for her performances in many plays. A retired drama teacher, she has acted in and directed more plays than she cares to remember. In 2006 she acquired some notoriety playing the pub landlady in Promised Land at the Marlowe Theatre for the Canterbury Festival. She lives in Whitstable with husband Jim.

"Palace of Varieties" will be her second production with the Canterbury Players in which she is battling (against all odds) to get a non-musical group to

• a) sing and
• b) enjoy it!

In at the deep end comes to mind – good job she can swim!

Mike Rivarno
Actor

Mike has worked with the Players since early 2003 and has had a lot of fun doing so. His roles include Alan Ayckbourne's "Roleplay" in 2005 and Schnitzler's "La Ronde" in 2006 followed by his part as CSM Rivers in Peter Whelan's "The Accrington Pals" (April 2007).

Initially appalled by the poet's ( La Ronde, Whitstable Playhouse, 2006 ) dissimilarity to his own character, his good friends Sally and Sarah soon dispelled his anxieties - especially over all that kissing.

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.

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.This is very far removed from her own existence as a single, grumpy trainee mortgage advisor in Canterbury!!

Louise is seeking film extra work, her public profiles on casting websites can be found HERE and HERE.

Sid Moon
Actor: Willie in "Blue Remembered Hills"

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."

Samuel Stolton
Actor: Raymond in "Blue Remembered Hills"

Samuel has held a passion for acting, theatre and film for many years, and prior to joining the Canterbury Players, has taken up roles such as Jimmy Porter In John Osborne's 'Look Back In Anger' in which Samuel portrayed the classic 'angry young man' to critical acclaim. Samuel is a keen musician, actively playing the electric and acoustic guitar. He also likes to keep himself busy by learning Italian, reciting Shakespeare, writing poetry, scriptwriting, and playing a number of different sports. Samuel plans to pursue a professional acting career one day, and is very grateful for all the help that The Canterbury Players have offered him.

Laura Brown
Actor: Angela in "Blue Remembered Hills"

Laura has adored performing for as long as she can remember and grabs at all opportunities of ‘Treading the boards’.

Laura has trained in musical theatre since the age of 14 with the Kent Youth Theatre and the BRIT School of Performing Arts before gaining a variety of credits to her CV. These include leading roles in professional pantomimes at the Marlowe Theatre, tremendously fun summer seasons singing and dancing in holiday venues, and show cases at the London Palladium and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Her most recent credits include:
Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of OZ’, Shelby in ‘Steel Magnolias’ and the title role in ‘Cinderella’ with the Up The Creek pantomime society.

Performing as Angela in ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ will be Laura's debut production with the Canterbury Players. She is grateful for the opportunity to perform with such a talented group of actors and she would like to thank the cast and crew for welcoming her so warmly.

John Rye
Actor: Donald in "Blue Remembered Hills"

John has always loved the stage, appearing in Gypsy at the Erith Playhouse at the age of ten. He took lead roles in university productions of Fame:The Musical, East, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He also directed successful performances of Bouncers and an adult pantomime.

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.

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.

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....

Andreas Lowson
Actor: La Ronde; Play It Again Sam; Fallen Angels

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".

Mike Ayris
Actor: La Ronde; Play It Again Sam;

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.

Katherine Durio
Actor: Audrey in "Blue Remembered Hills"

Katherine has been dancing, singing and acting since she could walk. Many lessons later, an acting degree from Bretton Hall, a post grad at The Bridge Theatre Training co. and Katherine's CV has roles ranging from Sandy in Grease to Viola in Twelth Night. Professional work also includes Mae in Anthony Minghella's 2003 film Cold Mountain. Having had the taste for the big time Katherine is now happily living in Wye and working with The Canterbury Players. Audrey in Blue Remembered Hills is Katherine's first role with the company and she will make her debut directing for The Players later in the year with Much Ado About Nothing.

Sam Grant
Actor,Singer: "Fallen Angels".

Sam started in Am Dram as a teenager with Deal Dramatic Society, then took a long break to travel and work abroad.

She is a member of Ramsgate Operatic Society and Broadstairs Dickens Players, for both of which she is also a committee member.

Lead roles of a musical nature include Sally Smith in ‘Me and my Girl’, ‘Prince Orlofsky in ‘Die Fledermaus’ and Carrie Snow in ‘Carousel’. ‘Straight’ roles include Jean in Ray Cooney’s ‘Funny Money’ and the dual role of Ann and Sybil in Terence Rattigan’s ‘Separate Tables’.

Sam's day job is Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). She lives in Margate with husband, Paul.

Danielle (Dee) Neligan
Actor: La Ronde; Play It Again Sam; The Accrington Pals

Recently informed by her mother that she has been usurped in her role as Drama Queen of the family, Danielle begs to differ. Starting out in school nativity plays (though never cast as Mary), she moved on to a spot of TV and drama at Uni. Initially drawn to her first role with Canterbury Players, as the presenter in "La Ronde" - because she dreamed of being a dominatrix with a whip - she is now utterly content flowing around in a corset and a pretty dress. April 2007 saw Dee acting the part of Eva Mason, in Peter Whelan's "The Accrington Pals".

Sally Parker
Actor

Sally made her stage debut as Noddy in 1987, then went on to play Pattie, Dr Scott, Olivia, Nancy, Julie-Ann and Queen Bertha with CDS/C Players. She is a valuable cog in the wine trade, and is currently working towards her WSET exams. She is a songwriter, plays the 12-string guitar & the piano, & records demos in her inadequate studio. She likes playing on the PS2, renovating furniture, and playing HW tennis (?). Sally is passionate about buildings of historical interest and cross-stitch.

Tony Johnson
Actor

I made my acting debut in the first year at Grammar school, when I 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.

This seems to have worked reasonably well for the last 40 years, with a couple of best actor awards sprinkled amongst the fifty productions I've appeared in since.

Brian Jones
Performance Director, "La Ronde"

Ancient and more or less bald veteran of the amateur stage, Brian has belonged to three other drama groups in his time. They all eventually foundered leaving him cast up on the welcoming shores of the Canterbury Players. He has not proved a very active member until the production of La Ronde, where he finds himself an old sweat among the younger bloods of the cast.