Ladies Day Programme

Souvenir Programme

L I V E R P O O L

26 SEPTEMBER Comedy TO Trust 6AdOCTOBER 2013 To do

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Welcome!

Well it’s been an interesting year so far.

After our most successful Christmas show ever we had the opportunity to take a break from full-time producing and we welcomed a number of quite different shows to play at the Royal Court.

Hope by Scot Williams was an intriguing and complicated play that was as fascinating to watch as it was difficult to understand.

I know that it was a very different show for us to have here at the Court but it was definitely putting down a marker, in a way saying that we will explore different types of work to bring you, our audience, a great night out. I know it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

It did feature some great performers at the top of their game and I am delighted that our next show after Ladies Day is Bouncers and we have managed to persuade the very busy Mark Womack to come back to be a hard man.

But too much relaxation can be bad for you and I know that all of us at the Court are excited about producing our own theatre once more. Ladies Day is a cracking script which is definitely matched by the quality of the cast.

After this we have Bouncers and then Lennon and then... actually we have one of our most exciting seasons since we started producing theatre here back in 2006. So much so that we are currently designing our first season brochure in five years!

Our Christmas show, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Fazakerley, is already set to be another Liverpool hit and in 2014... what I’ve run out of words? But....

I’ll have to tell you more next time!

Enjoy the show!

Kevin Fearon Chief Executive

L I V E R P O O L

Ken Alexander

W

elcome to ‘Ladies Day’. This is my first production since taking up the newly created role of Artistic Director at the Royal Court Theatre. I am delighted to be joining the Royal Court team at this exciting time in the theatre’s development and I am really looking forward to becoming part of the vibrant arts scene in Liverpool, building upon the astounding success of this extraordinary venue and working with you, our audience.

We already have plans well underway for next year’s programme of work, which will see us creating new productions here in Liverpool, collaborating with other producers, and welcoming

some very special visiting productions to the city. In the meanwhile we also have a new production of John Godber’s hit play ‘Bouncers’ this summer, followed by a revival of the hit musical ‘Lennon’, written and directed by Bob Eaton and starring John Power. We’ve also got the premiere of a new play based on a vintage movie classic (to be announced shortly) and a new addition to the Court’s riotous run of Scouse comedy spoofs

by Fred Lawless with ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fazakerley’ rounding off the year.

Amanda Whittington’s play ‘Ladies Day’ was first produced by Hull Truck in 2005 and we have been given special permission to develop the piece for this new production in Liverpool.

We have a fantastic cast for you, welcoming back Royal Court favourites Eithne Browne and Lynn Francis, alongside two actors appearing on our stage for the first time, Roxanne Pallett and Angela Simms, and our sole male cast member, Jack Lord, making a welcome return following appearances in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Macbeth’ last year.

We have had a great time rehearsing the play and we hope you have a fantastic day with us at the races.

Ken Alexander Artistic Director

Royal Court Staff Kevin Fearon Kevin Dunn Jess Bolger Iain Christie David Gordon Val Brady Simon Collard Alison Ward Steve Smith Jamie Jenkin Louise Hurd Marie Jones Mick Bawden

Chief Executive Finance Director Assistant Producer Marketing Manager Technical Director Head Of Projects And Touring Head Chef Finance Officer Front Of House Manager Sales Manager Box Office Manager Costume Supervisor Resident Stage Manager

Box Office Assistants Emily Buckland, Rachel Delaney, Stephen Gent, Joe Hughes, Gary Lunt, Sarah Randle, Adam Staunton and Jason Wise Front of House Stephen Briggs, Collette Burgess, James Chiocchi, Hannah Dabinett, James Dacey, Jack Denton, James Dunn, Lewis Edwards, Melissa Gorman, Kathryn Heffron, Jake Jones, Sven Key, Christopher Kidd, Ricci Kinsella, Charlene Lim, Melanie Lovett, Ryan Muirhead, Mark Penny, Siobahn Spear, Jack Sweeney, Adam Thompson, Sinead Thompson, Jessica Vale, Sophy Vicary, Boston Walsh and Thomas Wright Stage Door John Evans Cleaners Billie Chisam, Debbie Chisam And a big thank you to all of our security staff for their hard work throughout the year

Cast Eithne Browne Lynn Francis Jack Lord Roxanne Pallett Angela Simms

Pearl Jan Joe/Fred/Jim/Patrick/Kevin/Barry Shelley Linda

Company Ken Alexander Richard Foxton Ian Scott Kate Harvey Sean Gannon Elizabeth O’Sullivan Dave Gordon Marie Jones James Haining Kate Harvey Matt Weeks Mick Bawden Barney Hoskyns

Director Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Company Stage Manager Deputy Stage Manager Production Manager Costume Supervisor Chief LX / Sound & LX Op Sound Number 1 Sound & LX Op Workshop Manager Crew

Thank you!

Jane Jones from Oldham Coliseum Miss Pallett would like to thank: Tatiana Hair Studio Manchester Art Deco Make Up

Cast Biographies EITHNE BROWNE Pearl

A native of Liverpool, Eithne’s first appearance was on stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers. On its transfer to the West End Eithne took over from Barbara Dickson in the lead role for over 50 performances. Not bad for a first job!

Her other favourite stage plays include: Shirley Valentine (Northcott Theatre); Educating Rita (national tour); To Kill a Mockingbird (New Vic Theatre, Stoke); Stags and Hens (New Vic, London); 8 Miles High, Alfie, A Pocket Dream (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Billy Liar, A Month in the Country (Salisbury Playhouse); Talking Heads (Arts Academy, Liverpool); A Sense of Justice (Perth Repertory Theatre); The Secret Garden (Byre Theatre, St Andrews); Intent to Murder, Say Who You Are, Boeing Boeing (English Theatre, Vienna); Limestone Cowboy (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); The Odd Couple, An Awfully Big Aventure (Liverpool Playhouse); Wuthering Heights (National Tour); The Full Monty (National Tour); River of Dreams (Unity Theatre, Liverpool); Vagina Monologues (Neptune Theatre and Royal Court Liverpool) Tartuffe (Liverpool Playhouse); GYD Diet (Everyman Theatre); Mam I’m ‘Ere (Dome Liverpool); Brick up the Mersey Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly Miss Molly, Two, Cinderella, Eight Miles High, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Merry Ding Dong and Funny Money (and teas and coffees) (Royal Court Liverpool).

Perhaps best known on television for her role as Chrissy Rogers in Channel 4’s Brookside, she has appeared in: Mobile, Lillies, Cold Feet (Granada); The Royal, Emmerdale (YTV); Doctors, Stretford Wives, Clocking Off, Peace Keepers, Having it Off and the BAFTA awardwinning Room At The Top (BBC TV).

A favourite panto performer Eithne has enjoyed dressing up as: Queen Rat in Dick Whittington (Floral Pavillion, New Brighton, Neptune Theatre, Liverpool, Theatre Royal, St.Helens); Baroness Hardup in Cinderella (Floral Pavillion, New Brighton); Fairy Bossyboots in Cinderalla (Forum Theatre, Billingham).

A popular after dinner speaker, compere and wedding arranger, Eithne is also the voice of the world famous Mersey Ferry. She is thrilled to be back on stage here at the Royal Court.

LYNN FRANCIS Linda

Liverpool born Lynn trained at Sandown College.

Since leaving college she has worked continually in theatre, television and film.

Theatre credits include: Psychic Sybil, Desperate Scousewives (Theatre Royal St Helens), The Salon (Royal Court), Four Girls In A Caravan (Theatre Royal St Helens), Waiting For Gateaux (touring), Tuppence to Cross the Mersey (Liverpool Empire, 2005 and 2007), What Was it Like in the War Nan? (Unity Theatre), Oliver (Neptune Theatre Liverpool), Ebony’s Album (Neptune Theatre Liverpool), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Bluecoat Theatre), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire), Midsummer Nights Dream (touring), My Fair Lady (touring), Reds And Blues - The Musical (Royal Court Liverpool).

Television and Film credits include: Reds And Blues, Colour Blind, a film directed

by Lenny Henry, Charlie Noades RIP (film), The Lie is Dead (feature film), One Fine Sunday (short film), Dead Drunk (short film), Dave Dot, Demo Man, Doctors (BBC), No Marks, Hollyoaks (Channel 4).

Lynn has appeared in various pantos across the country including Empress of China: Aladdin (Southampton and Runcorn), Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (Southport), Genie of the Lamp in Aladdin (York), and this year the Wicked Queen in Snow White (Torquay and Runcorn).

JACK LORD

Joe/Fred/Jim/Patrick/Kevin/ Barry Stage work includes: Cooking With Elvis (Derby Playhouse), Wind In The Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Royal Court Liverpool), Twelfth Night (Chester Performs), Our Country’s Good (Original Theatre No.1 Tour), Dick Turpin’s Last Ride (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmund’s/No.1 Tour), A Christmas Carol (Library Theatre@The Lowry), Ladies Night (Royal Court Liverpool), Grimm Tales (Library Theatre, Manchester), Wizard of Oz (Lowry Theatre), The Glee Club (Library Theatre, Manchester), Absurd

Person Singular (Bolton Octagon Theatre), Dad’s Army (Calibre Productions), Get Carter (Red Shift Theatre), The Fisherman And His Soul (Found Theatre), Wizard Of Oz (Oxford Playhouse Theatre), Antony and Cleopatra, Pictures of Clay, Major Barbara, Hobson’s Choice, Quids ‘n’ Dimps, A Moon For The Misbegotten, King Lear (Manchester Royal Exchange).

TV work includes Eternal Law (Kudos), Coronation Street (Granada Television), Emmerdale (ITV/Yorkshire Television), Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures), The Street (Granada Television), Waterloo Road (Shed Productions), Cold Feet (Granada Television), North Square (Channel 4).

Film Pierrepoint, (Granada Films).

ROXANNE PALLETT Shelly

Roxanne Pallett was born in Carlisle, England on December 26th, 1982. The 5ft1” brunette was raised by her mother and grandmother who introduced her to film and music from an early age when they would watch old movies and would sing and dance around the kitchen. After leaving her hometown, she continued her studies. Liverpool John Moores University where she gained BA Honours degree in Media and Film Studies.

After also studying at Manchester School of Screen Acting on weekends, Roxanne then landed development with a major London record label, where she spent time songwriting and recording.

After three years of auditions in both acting and music, Pallett turned down a record deal when she won the part of Jo Stiles in ITV’s Emmerdale.

This would be the role that would launch her as one of the nation’s most loved actresses to break on to our screens.

With nominations for BestActress, Sexiest Female and Best Storyline for her agonizing role of femme fatale turned battered wife Jo Stiles - Sugden, Pallett proved to be more than just a pin-up for her audiences, winning huge critical acclaim for her emotional portrayal. She has also showcased her vocal talent on ITV’s Soapstar Superstar and was the winner of Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes as Gloria Estefan.

In 2008, Roxanne became an ambassador for Refuge, in light of the recent domestic violence storyline. She also supports Carlisle’s EdenValley Hospice, Cancer Breast Awareness and the NSPCC. After three years in her debut role, she has now closed the chapter on her Emmerdale character

to look to future projects. She credits the success she has had to her loyal audience who, she claims, brought her to life in beliving in her.

Having starred in ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2009, Roxy became the viewers’ favourite contestant due to her natural charisma and daredevil moves such as the infamous Headbanger skating trick Roxanne then joined Torville and Dean on their 25th anniversary National Bolero Tour playing stadiums including the 02 Arena and Wembley.

Roxanne finished her first feature film with Sony and Universal NBC -Lake Placid 3, and filmed Casualty for the BBC as character Leanne.

She has toured the UK playing the lead in Rock Around The Clock and received rave reviews playing the role of Teena in Satin’n’Steel the Oldham Coliseum, directed by Joyce Branagh.

Roxanne recently filmed on the popular BBC1 series Waterloo Road where she played troubled student Shelby, returned to BBC1’s Casualty to play Keeley and starred in ITV’s brand new daytime series Crime Stories. She stars in two feature films due for cinema release later this year; It’s A Lot and Devil’s Tower and has just finished a hugely successful run as Janet Weiss in the National Tour of The Rocky Horror Show for its 40th anniversary.

ANGELA SIMMS Linda

Angela Simms has been performing for several years, starting with the New Everyman Youth Theatre; she then went on to train in The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. Her recent work includes playing Sally in If The Shoe Fits at The Epstein Theatre. Also, she played the character Shelly in the play Rainbow Connection written by Joanne Sherryden.

Angela played Sue in Rita Sue and Bob Too at the Theatre Royal St Helens where she received good notices. She has recently played ‘Cheryl’ in Tontine for BBC Radio Four, which was written

by Karen Brown and starred Alison Steadman.

Angela devised her own sketch comedy in her recent work for the character Beverly Bogg in The Ransom Family.

Angela is thrilled to be performing at the Royal Court for the first time.

Company Biographies KEN ALEXANDER

RICHARD FOXTON

Ken Alexander was appointed the Royal Court Theatre’s first Artistic Director earlier this year and Ladies Day marks his first production since taking on the role. His recent work includes the premiere of Clinton The Musical (King’s Head Theatre, London), Hormonal Housewives (National Tour starring Toyah Willcox, Julie Coombe and Sarah Jane Buckley), Dick Whittington starring ‘Dame’ Christoper Biggins, Basil Brush and Hilary O’Neil (Plymouth Theatre Royal), and A Nightmare On Lime Street, starring Michael Starke and Mark Moraghan (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool)

Previous design work for the Royal Court, Liverpool: Eight Miles High.

DIRECTOR

Other work includes Dr Angelus and the premiere of Whisky Galore – A Musical! (nominated as ‘Best Director’ in the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland - Pitlochry Festival Theatre), tours of The Odd Couple, Parking Lot In Pittsburgh, Tally’s Blood, Ae Fond Kiss, and Bondagers. Ken also directed the premiere of Follow (Finborough Theatre, London), Lucky Numbers starring Sheila Reid and Michael Starke, and Dirty Dusting (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool), Outlying Islands, Passing Places, Noises Off, Bus Stop and Stepping Out (Pitlochry Festival Theatre). He has been Artistic Director at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews and at Perth Repertory Theatre, where his work included the Scottish premieres of Into The Woods, A Passionate Woman, Master Class and The Secret Garden, new productions of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Oliver! (nominated for ‘Best Ensemble’ CATS Awards), Educating Rita, The Glass Menagerie, Our Day Out, Romeo And Juliet, Macbeth, Shirley Valentine, Mary Queen Of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, the premiere of A Sense Of Justice starring Rula Lenska and Nicholas Bailey, and the Scottish premieres of Little Shop Of Horrors and Peace Child (Winner of the DK Thomson Award for Services to the Community).

Future plans include The Hitchhiker”S Guide To Fazakerley by Fred Lawless at the Royal Court later in the year, Jim Cartwright’s Two and The Steamie by Tony Roper for Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and Robin Hood at Plymouth Theatre Royal for Christmas, with Nigel Havers, Lee Mead, Bobby Davro and Jeffrey Holland.

DESIGNER

Design work elsewhere includes: And Then The Dark, Bedroom Farce, A Passionate Woman, Up on the Roof, Noises Off, Vincent in Brixton, The Price, Chimps, A Family Affair, Double Indemnity (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich), Garage Band, Absent Friends, The Winter’s Tale, Beauty & The Beast, Jack & the Beanstalk, Aladdin (Mercury Theatre, Colchester), Takeaway (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Office Suite (Theatre Royal Bath & national tour), Brassed Off (Sheffield Theatres national tour), Blue/ Orange; The Country Wife, Queen’s English (Palace Theatre ,Watford), Blonde Bombshells of 1943, Dumbshow, Deathtrap, Stepping Out, Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Kes, The Sunshine Boys, Perfect Pitch, On the Piste, Good Golly Miss Molly (Coliseum Theatre, Oldham), Equus, Macbeth, The Miser, Dead Funny (Salisbury Playhouse), The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, Jack & the Beanstalk (Harrogate Theatre), Kvetch (West Yorkshire Playhouse), All My Sons, Neville’s Island, Brassed Off (York Theatre Royal), Things We Do For Love, Death of a Salesman (Library Theatre, Manchester), Desperate To Be Doris, Hector’s House, The Importance of Being Earnest (LipService national tours); The Lighthouse on Shivering Sands (North Country Theatre, tour), Happy Jack, A Kind of Loving (John Godber Co./ Wakefield Theatre Royal), Loot, Pub Quiz is Life, Macbeth, The Flags, Ladies Day, Wuthering Heights, 1984, Toast, Up on the Roof, Under the Whaleback (Hull Truck); and over fifty productions for the Octagon Theatre Bolton including And Did Those Feet…, The Crucible, The Caretaker, Four Nights in Knaresborough, Saved, Blood Wedding, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Pitchfork Disney.

He has twice been nominated for the TMA Design Award & has won the Manchester Evening News design award five times, most recently in 2008 for Oh What a Lovely War (Octagon Theatre).

His work was included in the British exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial (1995), he was a judge of the Linbury Prize (1997).

Forthcoming work includes: Chicago (Oldham Coliseum Theatre), Sleeping Beauty (Harrogate Theatre).

IAN SCOTT

LIGHTING DESIGN Ian has designed the lighting for many shows at the Royal Court including A Nightmare on Lime Street, Our Day Out, Scouse Pacific, On The Ledge, Eight Miles High and Council Depot Blues. In 2012 he designed the set and lighting for the Lodestar/Royal Court co-productions of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Other recent projects: Marco Polo (Bergen National Opera), Where The Wild Things Are/ Higgelty Piggelty Pop (Aldeburgh Festival, Los Angeles Philharmonic & Barbican), The Victorian in the Wall (Will Adamsdale/Fuel), The Ugly Spirit (Fittings/South Bank), Touch Me (Coisceim Dance Theatre), Blok/Eko (The Wrestling School), The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre) and Reasons To Be Cheerful (Graeae).

As an Associate Artist with the experimental theatre company Suspect Culture Ian designed the set and lighting for much of the company’s work including Timeless, Mainstream and Lament.

KATE HARVEY SOUND DESIGN

Kate was born in Blackpool and at the age of 15 went on work experience at Blackpool Opera House.

At 16 she was offered the job of lighting operator on Danny La Rue’s summer season show and has enjoyed a career in technical theatre ever since.

Shows worked there include Blood Brothers, Dr. Dolittle, Grease, Sunset Boulevard and Boogie Nights. She then spent two years at Stageworks Worldwide Productions designing and operating two pantomimes and working many corporate and conference events.

Six months at Butlins in sunny Skegness saw her sound engineer for famous acts such as Slade, Bad Manners, Chesney Hawkes, Sinitta, Right Said Fred and many more. A move to the ocean waves to work as a production technician for Island Cruises let her enjoy four months in Brazil and six months in the Mediterranean before securing a job as production manager for P&O

cruises. Mixing sound to the stars all over the world including Jane McDonald, Brian Conley and Petula Clark she then felt it was time to come home.

In June 2008 dry land was calling and Kate is now delighted to be working at Royal Court Liverpool where she recently designed Night Collar, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out - The Musical, Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Little Scouse on the Prairie, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and Reds And Blues - The Musical.

MARIE JONES

COSTUME SUPERVISOR Marie studied fashion and then moved on to theatre costume interpretation at Mabel Fletcher College. Marie’s work as a freelance costumier has included costumes for Oldham Coliseum, The Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Jimmy McGovern’s film Liam, Beyond Friendship for Mersey Television and the many pantomime dames who have appeared on the Everyman stage.

She has worked extensively at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and has recently been employed as full time Wardrobe Supervisor.

Most recently Marie’s work at the Everyman and Playhouse has included: Much Ado About Nothing, The Electric Hills, The Flint Street Nativity, The Tempest, Unprotected, Billy Liar, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, Urban Legend, Fly, Breezeblock Park, The Entertainer, Still Life And The Astonished Heart, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Anniversary, Dr Faustus, The May Queen, Cruel Sea and All My Sons.

Marie’s other credits include: Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly Miss Molly, Stags and Hens - The Remix, On The Ledge, Misery, Eight Miles High, Council Depot Blues, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out - The Musical, The Salon, Funny Money, Merry Ding Dong, A Fistul Of Collars, Lucky Numbers, Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Little Scouse on the Prairie, and Reds And Blues - The Musical for Royal Court Liverpool, Brouhaha International Street Festival, Working Class Hero on the recent Imagine DVD, Costume Supervisor for many shows at LIPA, The Splash Project at MYPT and Twopence To Cross The Mersey at the Liverpool Empire.