Richmond Theatre's Applause

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For Richmond Theatre’s Friends, Ambassador Friends, and Matcham Club Members

Côte Richmond is proud to sponsor the Friends scheme

Spring 2010 Moscow City Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty

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Twitte r ye no t...

ee, Olivia Taylor, aged thr with the cast

Follow u s at twitter.c om/Ric hmondT and we heatre ’ll keep you upd the late ated wit st theatr h e news titbits a as well nd goss a s ip . It’s als way for o a gre you to a t te ll us wha think of t you the sho ws you see here .

GOSH it’s Snow White The cast of our pantomime paid a welcome visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital to meet the children.

Richmond Theatre’s show is helping to raise funds for Theatre for Theatres Appeal to pay for two new operating theatres at the world-famous hospital.

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Welcome The pantomime has ended, it’s snowing hard, and the general election campaign has already started. It can only mean one thing – the start of the Spring season!

We have made a few changes to Applause. The Stage Door section will bring you details of new productions or events and your chance to book before the general public.

It also has the latest casting news and any changes to our programme. The Hot Tickets section has some of the current offers, but there is not the space to show you them all. If you have internet access and haven’t yet registered online with us, please do so as you will then receive details of offers from the West End and other regional theatres. If you don’t have a computer, you can still take advantage of them by asking the Box Office when booking your tickets.

Our 110th anniversary celebrations continue apace and this issue also talks to our very own ‘Mr Showbiz’ marking a birthday of his own. We’ve had fun compiling this issue – I hope it’s as enjoyable reading it.

Nick Bagge Friends Co-ordinator 020 8332 4523 nickbagge@theambassador.com

The Green Richmond Surrey TW9 1QJ Box Office 0844 871 7659 (transaction fee applies)

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Coward’s Bel of the Ball Belinda Lang

makes her directing debut with a Noël Coward classic, but, as she told Victoria Kingston, her feet remain firmly on the ground.

Belinda Lang is no stranger to Noël Coward; in fact, she’s rather an expert on his work.

This month, she appears in Richmond alongside Robert Bathurst and Serena Evans in Present Laughter, a wickedly funny play set in the glamorous world of theatre.

Devilishly handsome leading man Garry Essendine is visited by a terrifying group of ex-wives, lawyers, writers and one-night stands – so it’s all back-biting and vengeful repartee.

This is Belinda’s first go at directing. Over coffee during a rehearsal break, I ask her how to direct oneself on stage.

‘This is a good question,” she muses. ‘The actor-director is an old theatrical tradition – and my character is pretty straightforward – so I am hoping that I’ll be okay if I don’t bump into the furniture.

It’s a thrilling, wonderful bunch of actors. I’m not thinking much about my acting – more about the bigger picture, so that’s healthy.’

Belinda’s stage experience is vast: she last appeared in Richmond Theatre last year in Song at Twilight and has starred in Life x3, Hobson’s Choice, Dead Funny, The Women, Tales From Hollywood, Antigone, Hay Fever, Three Sisters 2 and previous productions of Present Laughter. She’s a well-known face on TV too, first in the BBC series To Serve Them All My Days, then in Dear John, Stay Lucky, Second Thoughts, Bust, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Making News – and the one we all remember with affection, her role as harassed mother Bill in Two Point Four Children.

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Coward is special to Belinda. ‘He gets under my skin. He wrote with the most disciplined structure, but underneath are big ideas about human beings and what makes them tick. His writing is profound and moving, but done with grace and lack of pretension. As with all great writers, his words carry you along and if you just speak the lines with truth, it will take you on a wonderful journey.’

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Although Coward sets the play in the 1930s, Belinda sets it in 1949. ‘I wanted to get away from the war,’ she explains. ‘1949 was such an interesting year – not least for women. Also, the 30s have become a very specific era and you can fall into the trap of playing the period, not the play. It’s rather idiotic that a 30s play will be full of art deco furniture, which wouldn’t be the case – many people would have older things in their houses, just as we do now. There’s an expectation of entering a totally art deco world – and I wanted to escape that.’

In real life, Belinda is married to actor Hugh Fraser and they have a daughter, Lily.

It’s a famously happy marriage but she is reluctant to discuss it. ‘I hate reading about people’s tips,’ she laughs.

‘I haven’t a clue really. Work is very important to both of us – it keeps us grounded.’

It’s well known that for women in middle age, acting parts are thinner on the ground. ‘Yes and who knows what will happen in the future, but I’ve been very fortunate so far. I know I can no longer sit around waiting for that fabulous job to come along – it won’t happen because I’m

not a megastar by any means.

I’m a sort of middle player, so I keep my nose to the grindstone and look for interesting work.’

Belinda once told me her childhood piano teacher told her acting would be a waste of a brain. He was completely wrong of course – she has approached all her work with intelligence and painstaking attention to detail. Are there, I ask her, any parts she still wants to tackle? ‘Yes, but I don’t necessarily know what they are yet. The nice thing is you never know what bizarre, wonderful thing someone will offer you, that will open up a new side of yourself - like being given a chink of light in your persona. You know, with life and acting - it’s all a bit of an adventure really.’

Belinda Lang will be starring in Present Laughter, Mon 18 - Sat 23 Jan. For more information check out www.ambassadortickets.com/ richmond or call the Box Office on 0844 871 7659.

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Asides

It’s official - we really are No.1!

Liverpool Empire Theatre

Richmond Theatre is now part of the UK’s largest theatre group.

Our parent company, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), has completed a £90 million deal to buy the 17 UK theatres of Live Nation, including The Lyceum and Apollo Victoria Theatre in London. The portfolio stretches from Bristol to Edinburgh, taking in Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Sunderland and when Aylesbury’s theatre opens later this year will number 40. Howard Panter, ATG’s co-founder, said Live Nation had some of the world’s best productions. ‘Our aim is to help maintain the shows and theatres as vibrant successes.’ Former BBC Director General Greg Dyke joins the company in the new role of Executive Chairman. ‘ATG is a great British success story,’ he told Applause, ‘and the acquisition of the Live Nation Theatres will make the Group even more successful.’

Meanwhile there was more good news for ATG’s owners Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire as they beat Andrew Lloyd Webber to the top slot of a poll of the 100 most influential people in theatre published annually by industry newspaper, The Stage.

Second bite - a classic The Wolfman

Hollywood comes to Richmond in February with the UK release of the remake of the 1941 classic monster movie The Wolfman.

Like the original, the new film, starring Benico Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt, is set in Victorian England and cast and crew spent a week at in Richmond Theatre’s auditorium in May 2008 to film a performance of Hamlet.

One click and you help us Easyfundraising.org.uk is a free fund-raising service where you can raise funds for the Richmond Theatre Trust when you shop online. You still shop directly with each retailer as you would normally, but simply by using the links from the website first at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/rtt each purchase you make will generate a cash-back donation to the trust at no extra cost to you.

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Stage Door The very latest news, including three new shows now on sale to Friends, a free talk and two casting updates

My Dad’s Army

Ruby Wax - Losing It?

Blood Brothers

Arnold Ridley is remembered as the doddery Private Godfrey in BBC TV’s Dad’s Army, but he was also the author of the classic comedy thriller Ghost Train. In this free talk, Arnold’s son Nicolas describes his father’s extraordinary life.

The talk will include readings from Godfrey’s Ghost, his book about his father, followed by a question and answer session and a book signing. The event is at 5.15pm on Wed 10 Mar, immediately after that day’s matinee of Haunted at Richmond Theatre.

Ruby Wax and acclaimed musician Judith Owen combine their talents in a new show, prior to the West End. When Ruby painted her house beige for the 47th time people realised something was wrong. There was only one thing for it – send her to the Priory! This is Ruby at her best.

Sun 23 May 7.30pm, tickets £20.

A contribution from ticket sales will be donated to Comic Relief.

The cast for Willy Russell’s multi-award-winning musical includes Lyn Paul, one of the original members of the chart-topping New Seekers.

Considered by many as the quintessential Mrs Johnstone, Lyn performed the role in the West End and now on tour.

Runs Mon 22 - Sat 27 Mar (Wed and Sat, also 2.30pm), tickets £14 - £29.

Witness for the Prosecution

Wife After Death Tom Conti stars in a new comedy by Eric Chappell from Mon 17 - Fri 22 May, 7.45pm (Wed and Sat, also 2.30pm) about a hugely successful television comedian who has died leaving his wife, agent and gag writer (Conti) bereft.

But who is best placed to benefit from the legacy?

Tickets £15 - £28.

Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show Join the British Comedy Award winner for an evening of anarchic comedy, celebrity satire and music spoofs as she returns to her live roots with old favourites and new material. Suitable for ages 14+ Sun 13 Jun, tickets £18.50.

The cast has been announced for the latest instalment from the Agatha Christie Theatre Company. It stars Honeysuckle Weeks, Denis Lill, Ben Nealon, Robert Duncan, Peter Byrne, Jennifer Wilson and Mark Wynter. Runs Mon 10 - Sat 15 May, 7.45pm (Wed and Sat, also 2.30pm), tickets £14 - £26.

To book for any of these shows and take advantage of your priority booking contact the Box Office 0844 871 7659.

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Growing Old Disgracefully Tom Conti tells Victoria Kingston why he still gets excited about new plays

Without a doubt, Tom Conti is one of the nicest guys in theatreland. He’s the thinking woman’s heartthrob – with a warm smile, a distinctive mellow voice that is both velvety and gravely at the same time with a slight Scottish brogue – and an irrepressible sense of humour.

Over coffee at Richmond Theatre, Tom talks about Wife After Death, a brand-new play

by Eric Chappell, coming to us next May. ‘Eric wrote all the Rising Damp series for TV – and it’s such a pleasure to find a play that’s written by a craftsman. His writing is character-driven, which the

best comedy is, and you feel you know the people you’re watching.’

The plot is this: a much-loved comic has died – and the play opens on the morning of his funeral. Tom plays Harvey, the comic’s scriptwriter and friend; he mourns the loss of his chum but has other conflicting

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feelings. ‘Suddenly, his rent has gone,’ laughs Tom. ‘The writer truly did love him – he was a close friend, but still, the main source of his income has died.

He has to hurriedly arrange a season of re-runs on the satellite channels.’

Does a play that’s hot off the press have an added buzz?

‘Actors of my generation were brought up on the hunt for a smashing new play. Now it’s difficult to get theatres to take them. A trusty Bernard Shaw is fine – they’ll instantly book it – but there will be resistance to anything that’s untried, even by a well-known writer like Eric.

As soon as I read this play, I loved it.’

Tom will also be directing, as he frequently does. Is it difficult, when combined with acting? ‘No, there’s no great magic to it. Directors come in all shapes and sizes – some have great concepts for plays – the Eskimo Hamlet – and they don’t understand actors. Then other directors concentrate solely on the actors and don’t really understand the play.

When I am directing, the first person I talk to is the designer – it’s something as mundane as where do I put the doors and windows? Then you create a model of the set. When the actors arrive several weeks

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later, you can really get the production under way. In many ways, good actors will direct themselves. If they need to be told everything, I tend not to cast them again. I mean, I’ve heard an actor say – I’m no good with props. Well, what are they doing in the theatre then?’

Tom is part of an acting family. His wife Kara Wilson and their daughter Nina starred with him at Richmond Theatre in the 2000 production of Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers, which he also directed.

They don’t, he assures me, have any clashing egos. ‘We just get on with it. Kara and I have a grandson now – and because Nina and her husband are both comics, they are constantly doing gigs, so we get roped in to babysit Arthur, which we love. Your life changes, doesn’t it?’

There is a bias towards young actors nowadays. Does that get in the way? ‘Certainly for women – less so for men,’ he muses. ‘It’s very strange.

There are TV series with older actors, which pull in huge viewing figures, which is an embarrassment to the TV companies because they have this thing about casting younger people. Look at Foyles War. Michael Kitchen is no kid – he’s fabulous.

Look at Cranford, New Tricks.

Commissioning editors seem to forget that young people don’t watch much television.

There’s no point in trying to lure them.’

He’s looking forward to being back in Richmond Theatre. ‘I love it – apart from the dressing rooms,’ he laughs.

‘It’s a beautiful theatre and the audiences are very discerning. They won’t take anything tawdry.’

Are there any parts he yearns to play? King Lear?

‘No, no, no,’ he laughs. ‘Can’t be bothered with that. I never understand it when actors say, “I want to give my Lear.” I mean, why? It’s extraordinary.

An actor needs to be thinking – what do the audience want?

What will make them laugh or cry? Not – oh, how wonderful that I can give them my Lear.

We’re not in the business of changing people’s lives – we have momentary effect – we give pleasure if we’re lucky.

I think this play is engaging – with real people and real human problems – it’s a good play that happens to be very funny.

That’s all I hope for.’

Tom Conti is appearing in Wife After Death Mon 17 - Sat 22 May

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Norman’s Wisdom Norman Fenner, Richmond Theatre’s honorary archivist, talks to Nick Bagge

From Charlie Chaplin to John Gielgud, Charlton Heston and Judi Dench, Richmond Theatre has played host to some of the biggest names in theatre in its glittering 110-year history. The theatre, built by arguably the country’s greatest architect, Frank Matcham, is justifiably proud of its heritage and of

the people who have made it such a success story.

One such person is Norman Fenner, the theatre’s honorary archivist, who is celebrating a milestone of his own – his 90th birthday. Born in Fulham, and still living in the same house, his first visit to a theatre was in 1924 when his mother took him

to see Sinbad the Sailor.

The early signs were not good.

‘I was terrified,’ said Norman, ‘and had to be carried out screaming.’ But far from being a setback, he was soon a Saturday regular at theatres in Fulham, Chelsea, Shepherd’s Bush and Richmond.

At the tender age of ten he

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was forced by his mother to take part in a tableaux portraying Dante. ‘All was going well until one of the flaring torches held by a row of Roman centurions caught fire where it shouldn’t have.

The sight of him trying to extinguish it and at the same time keeping perfectly still was too much for me and I ‘corpsed’. Exit in disgrace!’

Norman left school at 14 and began working in the diamond and jewellery trade, supplying the likes of Asprey, Cartier and Boucheron. ‘I was paid 12/6 (65p) for working Monday to Friday and a half-day on Saturday. In spite of the low wage I managed to visit the theatre about three times a week. A seat in the Dress Circle was 9d (4 1/2 p), so things haven’t changed much!’

His life was interrupted by the war, and in 1940 he joined the Army. ‘This was a sign of how desperate things had become as I was probably more of a hindrance than an asset.’

Demobbed in 1946, he became a civil servant in the Ministry of the Arts, and also joined The Tavistock Repertory Company, first as a ‘dogsbody’, but later a designer for more than 100 productions. ‘Most evenings were spent designing, building and painting the

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scenery, returning home at well past midnight much to my mother’s annoyance.’ In the 1960s Norman helped train William Dudley, probably this country’s most famous theatre designer and six times an Olivier Award winner.

Back at the day job, in 1970, he was about to write a report that would have lasting implications both for the country and himself. The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, needed urgent repairs – and the architect’s name? Frank Matcham. ‘I realised the immense value of Matcham.

His theatres [he designed at least 80] allowed great intimacy and fabulous acoustics, but they were also things of beauty.’ Norman’s paper helped preserve Matcham’s theatres in all their glory.

Soon after retiring, Norman was delighted to accept the role of honorary archivist at Richmond Theatre. ‘There was no archive at all to speak of back then. ‘Someone started a list of the shows until 1912 so all the early ones were done for me and I did the rest from then on – it’s amazing to see all the famous actors who have played here.’

To mark Norman’s 90th birthday and to thank him for his life-long dedication to

Richmond Theatre, the Ivy Room has been renamed in his honour. Karin Gartzke, Chief Executive, said, ‘To us, Norman is a national treasure, which is why we felt it appropriate to dedicate the room to him.’

You can join Norman for a guided tour of Richmond Theatre. The tours take place on the first Saturday of most months at 12 noon. Tickets are £3 from the Box Office, but are free to Friends and Matcham Club members.

You can hire the room from £25. Contact the Theatre Manager on 020 8332 4500.

History in the Making As part of our 110th anniversary celebrations we are delighted to announce that the Heritage Lottery Fund have awarded Richmond Theatre Trust £49,700 for two exciting arts heritage projects.

Supported by the V&A and Museum of Richmond, they will bring together people from different backgrounds and generations to learn about the history of Richmond Theatre and to create an exhibition and performance to share their learning with the wider community. There will also be a permanent board detailing the history outside the front of the theatre.

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Hot Tickets Richmond Theatre standard discounts Ambassador Friend

Richmond Friend Richmond Family Friend

Matcham Club

£5 off up to four Stalls/Dress Circle seats Saturday matinee

As Ambassador Friend, plus £5 off up to two (Family four) Stalls/Dress Circle seats Mon-Wed eve

As Ambassador and Richmond Friend, plus £5 off up to four Stalls/Dress Circle seats Mon-Fri eve and Wed & Sat mats

This is just a small selection of the ticket offers available to Friends. For the latest offers go online to www.ambassadortickets.com. You may also book tickets in person or by calling the Box Office on 0844 871 7659 (Matcham Club members should use their own hotline).

Terms and conditions: Offers are subject to availability, are not retrospective, cannot be combined with any other offer, and may be withdrawn at any time. Some offers may be available only online.

Richmond Theatre 2-for-1 ticket offers Haunted Mon 8 – Fri 12 Mar, all performances Oh What a Lovely War Tue 27 – Fri 30 Apr, all performances Maximum: Richmond Friends, 2 tickets; Richmond Family Friends and Matcham Club members, 4 tickets.

Not available to Ambassador Friends.

My Wonderful Day Mon 15 – Fri 19 Feb, All performances.

Matcham Club only.

Maximum: four tickets.

Friends Post Show First Night Parties Supported by

My Wonderful Day Mon 15 Feb Hedda Gabler Mon 15 Mar Tickets £5 (includes a drink) Maximum: Richmond Friends, 2 tickets; Richmond Family Friends and Matcham Club members, 4 tickets.

West End and Regional Theatre Hairspray Shaftesbury Theatre Starring Brian Conley £25 off tickets on selected dates The History Boys Theatre Royal, Brighton Alan Bennett’s award-winning comedy. 2-for-1 on Mon 29 Mar on selected tickets

Laughter in the Rain Churchill Theatre, Bromley Best tickets £19 on Thu 4 Mar at 7.45pm Evita Churchill Theatre, Bromley Tue 23 Mar - Sat 10 Apr £5 off selected tickets One Night of Robbie Williams Regent Theatre, Stoke Sat 5 June £2 off selected tickets Chitty Chitty Bang Bang New Wimbledon Theatre 2-for-1 on Tue 16 and Wed 17 March, both 7.30pm (price bands £18.75, £17.75 and £13.25 only).

Maximum: Richmond Friends, 2 tickets. Richmond Family Friends and Matcham Club members, 4 tickets. Please quote Richmond Friend Offer.

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Rosamund Pike stars in Hedda Gabler

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Dining Offers Why not make your visit to Richmond Theatre even better with these special discounts from our corporate partners.

Offer cards are available in the bars and foyer.

Côte Bistro

FishWorks

24 Hill Street, Richmond TW9 1TW. Tel 020 8948 5971

13-19 The Square Old Market, Richmond TW9 1EA. Tel 020 8948 5965

www.cote-restaurants.co.uk Sponsors of the Richmond Theatre Friends scheme and winner of the Which? Good Food Guide – Best Value Restaurant in the UK award.

OFFER: a complementary glass of Kir Royale with offer card, for pre-theatre menu, prices £9.95 - £11.90 Porridge New Wimbledon Theatre Mon 15 - Sat 20 Feb £5 off selected tickets The Hobbit New Wimbledon Theatre Tue 4 - Sun 9 May £5 off selected tickets High School Musical 2 New Victoria Theatre, Woking Mon 22 - Sat 27 Feb £3 to £5 off selected tickets Snow White on Ice New Victoria Theatre, Woking Wed 2 - Sun 6 June £3 to £5 off selected tickets The Sound of Music New Victoria Theatre, Woking Tue 22 - Sat 10 July £3 to £4 off selected tickets

www.fishworks.co.uk OFFER: £12.50 for two courses plus a complementary glass of wine Available Mon - Fri, 12pm-3pm and 6pm-7pm.

Not valid with any other offer.

Brouge Bistro 5 Hill Street, Richmond TW9 1SX. Tel 020 8332 0055

La Buvette

www.brouge.com.uk

6 Church Walk, Richmond TW9 1SN. Tel 020 8940 6264

OFFER: 25% discount off the bill with offer card. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion.

Maximum 6 people.

www.labuvette.co.uk OFFER: a complementary glass of Kir with offer card, prices £14.50-£17 for three courses.

Not valid with any other offer or promotion. Valid all week, maximum of four guests per card.

Pizzeria Rustica 32 The Quadrant, Richmond TW9 1DN. Tel 020 8332 6262. www.pizzeriarustica.co.uk OFFER: 20% discount off final bill with offer card. Pre- and post-theatre only. Not valid in conjunction with any other promotion, set or lunch menu offer. Maximum six guests per booking.

Pizza Express Lion House, Richmond TW9 1RE. Tel 020 8948 7460 www.pizzaexpress.com OFFER: 20% discount off the bill with offer card. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion.

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From two of our Corporate Partners

Parker Car Service

La Buvette

Telephone 020 8560 0000 www.parkercarservice.com

La Buvette has established itself as Richmond’s premier, independent French restaurant.

The informal, intimate dining room and secluded courtyard, for al fresco dining, has welcomed guests from far and wide, whilst maintaining popularity with neighbours and friends of Richmond.

Since opening in September 2004 it has created close working relationships with the Arts of Richmond, including alliances with Richmond Theatre, Curzon Cinema (the old Film House) and The Orange Tree Theatre.

Originally an annexe to St. Mary Magdalene Church in Richmond Town Centre, the building was used as a canteen, bridge club and latterly a café until La Buvette opened. It has established itself as the most fashionable and charming bistro-style eatery in Richmond town centre, welcoming theatre, film and sports stars, politicians and artists, whilst maintaining popularity with neighbours and friends. Menus are strongly influenced by regional French cooking and the wine list remains predominantly French.

Parker Car Service is one of the largest and longest running car services in London and is licensed by Transport for London. They provide a five-star service on every journey, with drivers who are friendly, reliable, trained and securitychecked. Using London’s first GPRS technology in all cars means they can tell you exactly when your journey time starts. Their chauffeur division dates from 1956. Parker Car Service has a long tradition of taking good care of all their customers with service and safety their top priority.

With more than 300 cars available, 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week, they can supply executive saloons, estate cars, minibuses and vans for parcels up to transit size.

Parker Car Service also provides an expert airport transfer service and has vast experience in handling the demands of prestige corporate clients, including Richmond Theatre. They accept all major credit cards.

Next time you visit Richmond Theatre, consider using Parker Cars.

They will take you there in comfort and return you home safely after the show.

La Buvette, 6 Church Walk, Richmond TW9 1SN. Telephone 020 8940 6264 www.labuvette.co.uk

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Love it,Hate it Sholto Morgan

Actor , is soon to make his professional debut in Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall at Richmond Theatre, 25 - 30 Jan

I love

I hate

‘Rob Roy’s Cave’ – Gilderoy’s Cave, Burn O’Vat, Dinnet, Scotland It is an hour away from Aberdeen, where I grew up. It was thought that Rob Roy hid there when he was trying to evade the law. It is a spectacular red stone amphitheatre shaped gorge with an entrance, which is hidden partially by a huge boulder. Standing in it makes me feel like an adventurous explorer.

Any chap who has had the pleasure to go out with Rosamund Pike Having said that, I feel that the likelihood of her wanting to meet me, let alone go out with me has been very swiftly eliminated!

This photo of me I usually do not like my photo being taken but I think this one is fun and cheeky. I share the hobby of photography with some of my dearest friends and one, Katrina More-Molyneux, took this photo of me that I am very fond of – it was taken very shortly after I heard I was going to play Spike.

Long walks in my wellies I love going for long walks with my friends, putting on my wellies and, when it is cold, wrapping up warm in a beanie hat, scarf and coat.

There is nothing better than warming up afterwards with a cup of coffee and cake.

Rosamund Pike Google her! You’ll see why and see the film, An Education. I have a bit of a crush on her. My mother would approve if I brought her home and it would make my friends hugely envious. I bet she is a laugh!

Big Brother It seems to be a circus, which celebrates stupidity and embraces ignorance a little too much.

Pessimism It is such an unhelpful trait.

I very much admire Michael Caine. I am reading his autobiography at the moment.

He lives his life with the motto, coined from Winston Churchill – ‘If you are going through hell, keep going’. I would like to think that, when I am up against it, I could make the best of the difficulties too.

Cranky Health and Safety These words cause a unanimous rolling of eyes!

People should be given more credit that they can look after their own well-being.

Children especially – I saw in the paper that conkers now had to be played with protective eyewear! Surely children, with a little guidance, should be encouraged to indulge their imagination by being able to play outdoors, climbing trees etc. Bumps and grazes are par of the course to develop their common sense.

Design Shaun Webb Design www.swd.uk.com Print OPT Complete Print Solutions Ltd

Steven Spielberg films I grew up watching his films. He is a great storyteller and they are magical to see. He is probably the David Lean of my generation. I watch them over and over again. John Williams’ music is also a huge part of what makes them so special. E.T. is my favourite film.

Goat’s Cheese Yuk! I find both the taste and the grainy texture horrible. Whoever looked at a goat and thought it would be a good idea to milk it should be strung up; and the person who decided to make cheese from it should be made to watch! As you can tell, I feel very strongly about this.

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