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Arsenic And Old Lace

Two

Bazaar and Rummage

Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Poster by www.canterbury-art.co.uk

Blue Remembered Hills, by Dennis Potter. Our June 2008 production. Poster by www.canterbury-art.co.uk

Noel Coward's Fallen Angels. Poster by  www.canterbury-art.co.uk

Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam

Peter Whelan's The Accrington Pals

La Ronde, a play by Arthur Schnitzler



The Canterbury Players.

Chairman: Hon Sec: Committee Members: Committee Members:
Geoffrey Learner
Ian Burroughs
25a The Paddock
Spring Lane
Canterbury
CT1 1SX
Tel: 01227 760295
Sharon Gair: Treasurer
Sarah Gooch: Social Secretary
Derek Standing: Set Design
Ann Hancox
Roma Juniper
Charlie Jubber

A selection of current Canterbury Players biographies.

Click HERE for more Players.

Geoffrey Learner
Geoffrey Learner, Our Chairman and actor.
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.


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.



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
Ian Burroughs, Honorary Secretary, performance director and actor.
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
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
Derek Standing. Set design and construction.
More Derek....

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; Much Ado About Nothing


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.)

Read more about Sarah?

Sarah Gooch
Actor: Much Ado About Nothing; The Birthday Party; La Ronde; The Accrington Pals; WPC in "Bazaar and Rummage" by Sue Townsend..
Performance Director Blue Remembered Hills; Two; Day After The Fair
Stage Manager - RolePlay
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".

 

 




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
Anne Hancox. Actor.

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
Sharon Gair. Our Treasurer and an actor.

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.




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
Liz Findlay. Stage manager and actor.

Liz Findlay
Actor: Play It Again Sam; Much Ado About Nothing;
Stage Manager The Birthday Party, La Ronde, The Accrington Pals, Gosforth's Fete; Play It Again Sam, Fallen Angels, Blue Remembered Hills; Two; Arsenic And Old Lace

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 and has launched a new small business for which www.canterburyart.co.uk will be the new website. She designed the posters for Fallen Angels and Blue Remembered Hills and Much Ado About Nothing.



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.

Mark Smith
Mark Smith. Actor and the web site manager. More about Mark.
My Facebook page.

More information regarding Mark?

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
Adam Summers. Actor.

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.



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 Akhurst
Jim Akhurst

Jim Akhurst
Actor: The Accrington Pals; Palace of Varieties; Fallen Angels; Arsenic And Old Lace; The Vortex.

Jim knew that his German 'O' Level would come in handy one day and is delighted to have been given the opportunity of playing Dr. Einstein in "Arsenic And Old Lace". His previous roles for the Canterbury Players include Fred in "Fallen Angels" and Arthur Boggis in "The Accrington Pals". He has also performed some music hall turns for the Players in Palace of Varieties in 2007 and at a charity event this summer.



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
Sally Parker. Actor.

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.

 



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
Geoff Dale. Actor.

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
Jill Akhurst. Actor. Director. Director's Assistant.

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
Susanna Gerken

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.



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
Ellie Gee. Actor.

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
Louise Gibbins. Actor. Publicity.

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.

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.



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
Sid Moon. Actor.

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."



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
Mike Ayris

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
John Rye. Actor.

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.



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
James Newberry
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.

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....



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
Andreas Lowson

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
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
Ruth Cameron

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".


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
Kevin Dean

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
Sally Brown

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’.

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
Lisa Nightingale

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
Nigel Banks. Actor

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’.

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
Phil Hadland. Actor.

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.



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
Peter Fox. Actor.

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!



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
Hugh Elsom. Actor.

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.



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
Robert McGregor

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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