Cinderella, at the Belfast Grand Opera House. Cannon and Ball starred as the Debt Collectors.
Dates, Times and Prices
Fri 4th Dec 98 – Sat 16th Jan 99
Standard ticket prices: Front Circle £16, Stalls & Back Circle £14, Gallery £9, Boxes £74, £55.50.
Reductions at some performances: Stalls and Circle Seats £10, Gallery £8.50, Boxes £50 & £37.50
| Friday 4th December 7.30 Saturday 5th December 2.30 7.30 Monday 7th December 1.30 7.30 Tuesday 8th December 1.30 7.30 Wednesday 9th December 1.30 7.30 Thursday l0th December 1.30 7.30 Friday 11th December 1.30 7.30 Saturday 12th December 2.30 7.30 Monday 14th December 1.30 7.30 Tuesday 15th December 1.30 7.30 Wednesday 16th December 1.30 7.30 Thursday 17th December 1.30 7.30 Friday 18th December 1.30 7.30 Saturday 19th December 2.30 7.30 Monday 21st December 2.30 7.30 Tuesday 22nd December 2.30 7.30 Wednesday 23rd December 2.30 7.30 Thursday 24th December 2.30 |
Friday 25th December No Performances Saturday 26th December 2.30 7.30 Monday 28th December 2.30 7.30 Tuesday 29th December 2.30 7.30 Wednesday 30th December 2.30 7.30 Thursday 31st December 2.30 7.30 Friday 1st January 2.30 7.30 Saturday 2nd January 2.30 7.30 Monday 4th January 1.30 7.30 Tuesday 5th January 1.30 7.30 Wednesday 6th January 1.30 7.30 Thursday 7th January 1.30 7.30 Friday 8th January 1.30 7.30 Saturday 9th January 2.30 7.30 Monday 11th January 1.30 7.30 Tuesday 12th January 1.30 7.30 Wednesday 13th January 1.30 7.30 Thursday 14th January 1.30 7.30 Friday 15th January 1.30 7.30 Saturday 16th January 10.30 2.30 7.30 |
Cast in order of appearance
Fairy Godmother – Pamela Ballentine
Cinderella – Michelle Potter
Postman Pat – Postman Pat
Buttons – Fogwell Flax
Ugly Sister Bianca – Richard Pocock
Ugly Sister Tiffany – William Elliott
Baroness Hardup – May McFettridge
Debt Collectors – Tommy Cannon, Bobby Ball
Dandini – Matthew J. Shaw
Prince Charming – John Sheridon
Villagers – Karl Stevens, Sebastian Harris, Aaron James, Erica Laurence, Angela Gray, Anna Lowe, Sarah Meade, Tom Goodhall
Babes – Vivienne McMaster Stage School – Tanya Baker, Lauren Bickerstaff, Sarah Black, Lauren Bowen, Shelley Curran, Gillian Donaldson, Hollie Ferris, Cherie Gardener, Laura Holmes, Ami Kennedy, Danielle Larkin, Kara Lutton, Nicola McCausland, Caitlin McClurg, Amy O’Neil, Joel Ormsby, Megan Ormsby, Jessica Robinson, Natasha Robinson, Rebecca Warwick
For the Cinderella company
Director – Derek Nicholls
Choreographer – Frank Thompson
Designer – Hugh Durrant
Musical Director – Mark Dougherty
Lighting Designer – Joe Lewis
Company Manager – Gwynne Roderick
Deputy Stage Manager – Debbie Rymer
Assistant Stage Manager – Gary Walker
Wardrobe – Reuven Britten
Orchestra
Musical Director/1st Keyboards – John Evans
2nd Keyboards – Paul McIntyre
Bass Guitar – Joe Mawihnney
Drums – Brian Rice
Percussion – Nick Brown
Trumpet – Alistair Wallace
Tenor/Flute – Gerry Rice
Act One
Prologue – Fairyland
Scene One – The Village Square
Scene Two – The Palace Courtyard
Scene Three – Outside Hardup Hall
Scene Four – In The Woods
Scene Five – Outside Hardup Hall
Scene Six – The Kitchen at Hardup Hall
Scene Seven – On The Way To the Ball
Act Two
Scene One – The Palace Ballroom
Scene Two – A Road From The Palace
Scene Three – Outside Hardup Hall
Scene Four – The Kitchen at Hardup Hall
Scene Five – Outside Hardup Hall
Scene Six –The Sister’s Boudoir – Night
Scene Seven –The Sister’s Boudoir – Day
Scene Eight – A Road From the Palace
Scene Nine – The Royal Wedding
Programme
CANNON and BALL
Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball are Britain’s funniest and most successful double act. In a career spanning over 25 years they have achieved a string of honours that puts them among the all-time greats of showbusiness.
On television they have starred in their own series practically every year since 1979, they have also ‘guested’ on all major shows including Wogan, Parkinson, Des O’Connor, Sunday Night At The Palladium, several Royal Variety Shows and been featured in a BBC Documentary Funny Business based on double acts, which also included footage on Martin and Lewis, Laurel and Hardy and Morecambe and Wise.
During the 1970s they built a strong reputation around the UK cabaret club circuit for being a great live act. They also toured extensively in the hotel circuits of Australia and South Africa
Tom and Bob have broken records in theatres all over the UK, including London. In 1981 they played a 6 week season at the Dominion Theatre when every seat was sold before the show opened, and in 1988 their pantomime Babes in the Wood broke all previous pantomime records at the world famous London Palladium, where Cannon and Ball created the record for the largest box office amount -taken in one week in British theatre history.
They have appeared on many major TV shows including The Des O’Connor Show, iif Noel Edmonds House Party, Talking Telephone Numbers and The Generation Game.
This pantomime season sees them here in Belfast starring as The Brokers Men in the Grand Theatre’s production of Cinderella. Tommy and Bobby are really enjoying this season as it has been a long time since they have appeared in Belfast.
In the Spring of 1999 the boys will appear at various theatres across the country starring in An Evening at the Music Hall whilst continuing their tour of An Audience With.
Even after nearly 30 years of making people laugh, Tommy and Bobby are still enjoying every minute and are looking forward to entertaining for many years to come.
MAY MCFETTRIDGE
McFettridge has become the toast of Ulster. A superstar from the age of 53, this handbag swingin’ chic sophisticate is probably the most culturally significant creation to emerge from Ulster since our famous fry.
Star of stage, television and radio, May’s fame has not gone to her head. Indeed, fans -will testify that she’s as shy and retiring as ever, inviting all those who cross her path to shut their gobs and listen! And listen they gladly will for no-one wants to miss even one of May’s affectionate but well-aimed gibes or witticisms.
Courted at the highest levels of society, she’s fast becoming a role model for aspiring Ulster ladies. Her sense of fashion and deportment is unique. Indeed, rumour has it that a wee bit of DHSS back-pay has let her invest in a new wardrobe, the like of-which has never been seen. Fashion pundits predict that her specially designed 200-denier shockin’ pink support tights are about to start an international trend.
May’s delicate manners and subtle way with words (!) have endeared her to thousands of fans across the country and beyond. She epitomises all we’d love to be and all we’d love to say given half a chance. But when we’ve got May, why not avoid a law-suit and let her make us roll about with laughter as she undoubtedly has done in pantomime at Belfast’s Grand Opera House in the past and sure to do again this Christmas. Also in her regular appearances on the hugely popular Kelly Show and in her numerous radio, cabaret and personal appearances.
FOGWELL FLAX
Foggy originates in the city of Liverpool where he obtained 9 O’levels and 3 A’levels G.C.E’s at and worked as a Physiological Measurement Technician (cardiology) at the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital. He swapped one sort of theatre for the other, and gained much experience as part of a comedy duo, eventually going solo in 1979. In late 1980, he was outright winner of LWT’s Search For A Star and was immediately contracted to be a regular on LWT’s comedy quiz Punchlines. Then followed 30 weeks on the legendary Tiswas for Central TV.
He has many TV credits including children’s favourites like Saturday Starship and No 73 and Yorkshire TVs 321, and has appeared twice on both BBC’s Children In Need and Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game. You will also have
heard his voice many times on Spitting Image. Most recently, Sky TV’s 1995 series of Who Do You Do? Showed off his uncanny skill of impersonating everything from famous people to cartoons, trains and even ‘washing machines! In June 1998 he appeared on the National Lottery Big Ticket Show.
Foggy is also a fine singer, both in his own right, and in impersonation mode, as the voices of many famous vocalists such as Sting, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond, Michael McDonald and Bryan Ferry to name but a few.
He has worked all over the world including Montecarlo, Germany, the Gambia, Corfu, Tenerife, Malta, Majorca and Dubai. He has also cruised for Thomson Holidays in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He lives in Bosham in West Sussex and his hobbies include playing piano and guitar, riding motorbikes, and an interest in the occupation of Britain by the Romans, especially their road building skills!
PAMELA BALLANTINE
Pamela started working for Downtown radio and her first on air . job was as a newsreader and programme presenter. Five years later she moved to BBC Radio Ulster where she presented a daily morning request show.
The following year she joined the continuity department of UTV introducing programmes and reading news. While working for UTV she has presented programmes like Farming Ulster, Telethon, The Ulster Schools Quiz, Preview, The Cadbury’s Schools Sports Challenge and Hot Pursuits. On the news front she has presented Ulster Newstime, Six Tonight and VTVIive and is currently working as a presenter and features reporter for UTV Live At Six. Film work has included two local productions, End Of The World Man and Puddy Cat.
JOHN SHERIDON
Born in Blackpool and raised in Cornwall, John began his acting career whilst still school. At the age of fourteen he joined The National Youth Theatre. In 1991 he graduated from Bretton Hall college, West Yorkshire with a B.A. honours degree in drama. During this time at college he won the award for Best Director at the 1991 National Student Drama Festival.
Since graduating John has toured as part of a Cabaret act and also appeared in several children’s theatre productions. In 1992 he began work at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford as part of the resident theatre company Action Replay. During this time he also fronted two bands, Lethal Spirit and Happy Days. More recently John has been playing the role of Buddy in the musical The Buddy Holly Story both in London’s West End and on a national tour. This brought together two of John’s passions, playing guitar and Rock and Roll.
When not on stage John can be found underwater indulging in his other passion, scuba diving, of which he is a qualified instructor. John is delighted to be back in Belfast enjoying a great pantomime and a perfect diving location.
POSTMAN PAT
Pat Clifton was born in the Valley of Greendale where he still lives in April 1956. He is married to Sara and they have one Son, Julian aged 8. His best friend is Jess the Cat, although he also counts among his favourite animals, dogs, birds, otters and badgers. His favourite television programme is the Weather forecast and his favourite pop song is the Carpenters’ Mr Postman.
Amongst his favourite foods, Postman Pat includes sticky toffee pudding, nut roast, gorgonzola cheese, cheese souffle and Cox’s orange pippins. Although he says that with so many people giving him tea and cakes during his rounds, he has to be careful not to put on weight as otherwise his uniform wouldn’t fit. Because of this, he counts a loose fitting uniform as his favourite clothes!
Postman Pat drives a Post Office van and says that his ambition is to get the Post Office to produce a special set of Greendale stamps.
Postman Pat TM © Woodland Animations Ltd 1996
Based upon the stories written by John Cunliffe and the television series produced and designed by Ivor Wood.
RICHARD POCOCK AND WILLIAM ELLIOTT
Richard Pocock was born in Gufldford but grew up in Southsea, Hampshire. He trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and has worked mainly in the theatre ever since. Repertory seasons include Guernsey, Southwold, Taunton, Crewe, Farnham, Southampton, Sheffield, Sonning, Oldham and Keswick. Tours include Jill Freud and Co, The Cherub Co, Great Eastern Stage, Channel Theatre Co and The Magnificent Theatre Co.
In London Richard’s work has included The Old Bachelor at the Lyric, Hammersmith, Elegies for Angels, Pukns and Raging Queens at the Kings Head, The Bassett Table at Hampstead, Fleshing Out at The Old Red Lion, Richard III at the Lillian Bayliss and the Millionairess at the BAC. Recent television work includes Casualty for the BBC and Blaky And Boo for Channel 4.
Richard was in the tour of Ned Sherrin’s West End production of Salad Days, and in Dirty Tricks for the Modern Music Theatre Troupe. For the last three Christmases Richard has played Ugly Sister in Cinderella at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen and at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon. He is thrilled to be Ugly again and to be in Belfast.
William Elliott studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He spent the first few years of his career working in Scotland, with as companies such as Wildcat, TAG, Perth Reparatory Theatre, and Cumbernauld Theatre Company. After moving south of the border, he worked with Gay Sweatshop, in their production of Philip Osment’s This Island’s Mine and Red Shift Theatre Company, playing Alceste in Le Misanthrope, an adaptation by Neil Bartlett. He has worked with several young people’s theatre companies, including Red Ladder, Wolsey Theatre in Education, Ipswich and Theatre Centre, London, with whom he is an associate artist.
Last year he toured Scotland and Ireland in a play about the life of Saint Columba. His film and television work includes The Girl in the Picture, Living Apart Together as well as commercials and student films.
MICHELLE POTTER
Michelle comes from Leeds where she started her dance training at the Priestley School of Dance. She recently graduated from Laine Theatre Arts.
Michelle has just completed a very successful Summer Season in the musical Summer Holiday, where she understudied the role of Mimsie. Her professional experience includes gospel recording for Amphonic Music, and a CD recording of Pudsey the Musical – in aid of the BBCs Children In Need. Last Christmas Michelle made her pantomime debut as the Princess in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Churchill Theatre Bromley.
Michelle is pleased to be working with E&B Productions again this Christmas and is thrilled to be appearing at the Grand Opera House, Belfast.
MATTHEW J. SHAW
Born and educated on Merseyside, the recognised home of entertainment, Matthew combined his scholastic career with attendance at a nationally acclaimed Theatre School, gaining awards for dancing (Ballet, Tap, Modern and Allied Disco) with Distinction. He also received a Drama award, again with Distinction, from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in conjunction with top qualifications for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Matthew has been a singer/dancer/actor from the early age of three years, appearing in amateur shows and pantomimes in the Merseyside area. Appearances on television (Channel 4 Robert Kilroy Talk Show, BBC and on Sky TV with Keith Chegwin) were made before his twelfth birthday! Matthew’s talents were further enhanced by playing a major role in the Babes in the Wood Pantomime at The Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton (1995/96). Consolidation and further enhancement of the talents of this gifted Artiste was contributed by Pontins Holidays who employed him as an all-round Bluecoat entertainer for summer season 1996. 1997 saw Matthew’s continued progress during his Summer Season in Jersey where he appeared with great success under the auspices of one of UK’s top producers, Dick Ray of Dick Ray International Productions. Reaction of his outstanding impact in the
Summer Show, prompted Paul Elliott of E&B Productions to take a trip to Jersey to witness this well-established but still youthful all-round entertainer. As a result, Paul contracted Matthew to appear in the Pantomime Cinderella at Southampton. The summer season of 1998 for Matthew was taken up by appearing for Thomson Holidays as a leading cabaret entertainer on one of their Mediterranean based cruise ships. Matthew is enjoying playing Dandini at this prestigious Theatre in Belfast.
A naturally enthusiastic entertainer, it is felt that, for Matthew, this engagement is a prominent milestone in the career of this multi-talented Artiste of whom it is now generally expected much will be heard of in the years to come.
THE MCMASTER SCHOOL OF DANCE
The McMaster Stage School are making their 7th appearance at the Christmas pantomime. During this year they have also appeared in Babe, Beauty and the Beast and Joseph at the Grand Opera House. They also preformed two concerts for the Ballina Festival and arts week and where part of Bangor Councils concert in air of the Omagh Appeal.
THE DANCERS
Tom Goodhall
Angela Gray
Sebastian Harris
Aaron James
Erica Laurence
Anna Lowe
Sarah Meade
Karl Stevens
THE CREATORS
Paul Elliott – Producer
Paul is grateful to have survived 33 years as a producer.
Derek Nicholls – Director
Derek is Theatre Director of the Grand Opera House and this will be the fourth pantomime he has directed here since he became Theatre Director. In fact, Derek is only the second “boss” of the Grand Opera House to direct pantomime in the Opera House in its entire history. Derek has a wide experience of directing and previous pantomimes include Dick Whittington, Mother Goose, Babes In the Wood, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk and this year’s spectacular pantomime, Cinderella. Other Christmas shows include The Wizard OfOz, Alice In Wonderland and The Snow Queen. Before coming to Belfast, Derek was Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal, Associate Director at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Director of Midlands Arts Centre. Productions (other than at Christmas) have been numerous, including West Side Story, Julius Caesar, She Stoops To Conquer, Private Lives, The Importance Of Being Earnest, To Kill A Mockingbird, Madam Butterfly and Sweeney Todd. His biggest production to date was Leonard Bernstein’s Mass – with a cast of 150, at Aston Villa Sports Centre. Derek is also a successful playwright, and has worked in educational television. His production of The Railway Children was seen at the Grand Opera House in 1990, before he became Theatre Director of Northern Ireland’s Premier Theatre.
Frank Thompson – Choreographer
Theatre work includes Hey Mr Producer (Directed by Julia Makenziel) The Lyceum Theatre; Cats, New London Theatre (Directed by Trevor Nunn), Jack in Review (Directed by Hugh Woolridge) London Palladium, Sunset Boulevard (Directed by Trevor Nunn) Adelphi Theatre, Pickwick (Directed by Patrick Garland) National Tour, Cats (Re-Directed By Chrisse Cartwright) National Tour, Showstoppers, Dome Theatre, Brighton, Dance For Life (Directed by Gillian Lynne) Her Majesty’s Theatre, West Side Story and Mother Goose (Directed by Derek Nicholls) both for York Theatre Royal, Cabaret, Eden Palladium, The Sound of Music, Her Majesty’s Workshop and the London Production of Bernadette.
Film and Television credits include Turning Point, Documentary; Cats; The film (Rug and Polygram) Hale and Pace and The People Programme, LWT; Great Westerners, HTV; Free Time and CTTV, Carlton; The Children’s Channel, Sky TV; All We Need Is Love, Tom Jones/Child Line; Anchors Away, Wax; As If We Never Said Goodbye and The South Bank Show, Elaine Paige, This Is Your Life, BBC1 and Jethro Toll 25 Years.
Choreographic Work includes: Magic Golden Years of Musical, The London Palladium, The Beaux Stratagem, Canezaro Park Open Air Season, Carousel, The Guildhall at The Barbican, Singing In The Rain, The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, The Condos, The Old Red Lion and The 1997 Edinburgh Festival. The Styne Way London Palladium, Ken and Barb, UK Tour, The Fleet ‘ In, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Chess, The Kings Theatre, Southsea, The Boyfriend, Canezaro Open Air and Wimbledon Theatre, Gala Night, Thameside Hippodrome, Manchester, Music and the Deaf The Arts Theatre, Halifax.
Mark Dougherty – Musical Director
Mark holds the degree of Bachelor of Music with honours from the Queens University at Belfast, where he studied composition with the South African composer Kevin Udans. He has worked in a wide-ranging cross-section of music from Van Morrison to the Ulster Orchestra; from Suzi Quatro to Wayne Sleep; from the New Seekers to D’Oly Carte Opera Company.
His own music is broadcast regularly on radio and recently he was the subject of a BBC Television programme on composition for traditional instruments. Other recent original work includes; Dance For The Camera for BBC1, Rockin’ Mikado, Murder In The Cathedral and Oliver Twist for Ulster Theatre Company and the theme music for The Rankin Challenge TV Cookery programme. Mark recently conducted the cast and orchestra of Les Miserables in a series of Sunday concerts in Bristol, Southampton and Edinburgh raising over £90,000 for childrens charities. He was also Musical Director and Arranger for Peter Corrys highly successful concert in the Waterfront Hall earlier this year.
Hugh Durrant – Designer
Hugh Durrant’s spectacular sets and costumes have won him critical accolades and awards throughout the world. He is however equally at home designing for smaller venues. His West End credits include the opulent costumes for Copacabana and sets and costumes for Babes in the Wood (Palladium), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Old Vic, Prince of Wales and Canada), The Mikado (Prince of Wales), The Mystery of Irma Vep (Ambassadors), Spine Chiller (Duke of York’s) and Anastasia (Cambridge). He has designed dance-works and ballets for The Royal Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Dutch National Ballet, La Scala Milan as well as Wayne Sleep’s Hot Shoe Show and will be designing a new three-act ballet to music by Erich Korngold for Wayne Eagling. Last year Hugh designed the critically acclaimed sets and costumes for Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Lady Windermere’s Fan and Sandy Wilson’s Divorce Me Darling, the latter star-studded production winning the TMA best musical award.
Hugh has been scenic design consultant for Holland America Cruise Line for five years and is currently designing three versions of Copacabana for them. Future work includes the costumes for the upcoming new movie version of Ivanhoe and Future Soldiers.
Hugh has also directed, adapted and written for the stage, designed for TV and commercials and designed for fashion (both couture and ready-to-wear) in this country and abroad. Hugh designed the very first British production of Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel in 1981 at Nottingham Playhouse, starring Dennis Quilley and Imelda Staunton. An exhibition of Hugh’s costumes for pantomime can be currently seen at the Theatre Museum, Covent Garden.
Joe Lewis – Lighting Designer
Joe has recently completed lighting designs for Desdemona by Paula Vogel and Duchess of Malfl by John Webster for Theatre Royal Bath, Kat and the Kings at the Tricycle Theatre, London, prior to it’s West End transfer; The Odyssey and adaptation by Rene Baker/Norwich Puppet Theatre; and a sculpture for IT consultants Cap Gemini in association with the artist Naomi Leake.
Joe started his varied career reading Philosophy at Bristol University and subsequently worked as a stage electrician for The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and The Royal Shakespeare Co, and also toured extensively as a Vari*Lite tech, including the Tina Turner Foreign Affair World Tour 1990. More recently Joe has designed the lighting for: Rain Snakes at The Young Vic; The Kosh – Fatting Angels (India), Klub Anima and Three Point Turn tours; Away at the Traverse, Edinburgh; two special commissions for Norwich Puppet Theatre; on the club scene, Joe often designs for Heaven and Sign of the Times, and designed and carried out a design at Central School of Speech and Drama and Rose Bruford college and is currently studying for an MA in Digital Arts at Middlesex University.