Oliver!Cheltenham Operatic & Dramatic Society

proudly present

19th – 23rd June 2012

Director:

Charles Early ATI

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Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel BartProduced for the Broadway stage byDavid Merrick and Donald Albery

Directed for CODS by

Daphne Herbert

An amateur production by arrangement with MusicScope & Stage Musicals Ltd of New York

Tuesday 19th June to Saturday 23rd June 2012

Oliver!presented by

CHELTENHAMOPERATIC

& DRAMATICSOCIETY

Chairman’s welcome

Welcome to Cheltenham Operatic & Dramatic Society’s production of Oliver! It is hard to believe

that although Lionel Bart’s classic musical is now over 50 years old, it has never before been performed by the Society, or indeed at the Everyman Theatre. It is, therefore, with great pleasure that we are able to bring about these two firsts – especially in this, the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth.

Oliver! is a show which skillfully combines its dramatic storyline with a score featuring both powerful ballads and rousing ensemble numbers and, under the expert guidance of Daphne, Dave and Claire, we have spent a very enjoyable few months ensuring that we do justice to both. There isn’t room here to thank everyone, but I would like to give a special mention to our extremely talented youngsters – in particular George and Jordan – whose hard work and enthusiasm has impressed us all.

The next 12 months promise to be an exciting time for CODS and we are looking forward to producing three shows which are new to the Society. We have already started rehearsals for ‘Calendar Girls’ which we are delighted to be doing in support of local Charity ‘LINC’ and in 2013, we will be doing ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ in January before returning to the Everyman in May with ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ . We are always looking to welcome new members and if you would like to be involved in any of these productions – either on stage or behind the scenes – we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for supporting our production of Oliver! and we look forward to seeing you again very soon.

Jonathan Dyer

Chairman

President’s welcome

Welcome to our production of Oliver! You almost certainly know the book and have seen the show

before. However, I can promise you an outstanding occasion when you will enjoy again the great story and wonderful songs presented to you by our excellent production team and talented and exuberant cast.

Relax and enjoy it all!

Chris Lammiman

President

Daphne Herbert Director

Daphne has been involved in the local amateur dramatic scene all her adult life with several local societies for

more years than she cares to remember. If not directing, she can often be found as part of the wardrobe team. Oliver! has always been a favourite musical as Nancy was the principal role she most enjoyed playing. She is pleased to be working with Dave and Claire; Oliver! being their 3rd production together. (Previous shows, The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Playhouse Theatre in 2008 and Thoroughly Modern Millie at this theatre in 2009).

She would like to thank the cast and company for all their hard work and patience during the rehearsal period and all working back stage with roles so essential to the production. Special thanks go to Production Manager Nick, for shouldering so much responsibility allowing her to concentrate on the stage direction. She hopes the audience will enjoy tonight’s performance and will “consider themselves one of us”.

Claire Yates Choreographer

Claire trained as a professional dancer and choreographer at Arts Educational

and Laban Centre before working professionally around the world for many years. She now lectures in Dance and Musical Theatre to the Performing Arts students at Gloucestershire College.

Claire joined CODS as a performer in 2006 making her debut for the Society in West Side Story. Oliver! is her third show as choreographer having previously worked

with Daphne and David on Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Claire has really enjoyed this challenge of working with such a large cast on the chorus numbers and is honoured to be working with such a plethora of talent! She is looking forward to this being a spectacular week!

Dave Whittle Musical Director

This is Dave’s sixth appearance as

Musical Director for CODS, his previous productions being Summer Holiday, Red Hot & Cole (where he actually made his debut literally treading the boards

playing piano on stage), Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Railway Children and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

After a twenty year career in Army music, performing and conducting around the world, he settled back to his native Tewkesbury. Since then he has taken a teaching post within the Gloucestershire Music Service and is currently coaching two wind bands, one junior orchestra and a clarinet choir; as well as freelance performing on clarinet, saxophone, flute and piano.

George Seeley (Oliver Twist)

Tim Jones (Bill Sykes)

Nicky Bisset (Nancy)

Jonathan Dyer (Knife grinder) • Tim Phelps (Long Song Seller) Fran Lindsay (Rose seller) • Amy-Claire Mulcahy (Milkmaid) • Anne Cambridge (Strawberry seller)

≈ THE CAST ≈

Jordan Smith (Artful Dodger)

Peter Hughes (Fagin)

Ladies' Chorus Jo Chisholm (Old Sally), Jeanette Crumpton, Sophie Williams, Wendy Finch

Mens' Chorus Colin Cooper, Dominic Hayne, Dan Bacon, Jamie Dewick

Natalie Gore (Bet)

Paul Bowman (Mr Sowerberry)

Melissa Brunger (Mrs Sowerberry)

Charlotte Irwin

Boys' Chorus Ben White, Tom Chisholm (Charlie Bates), Oliver Carter

Callum May, Daniel ParrottHenry Vivian, John Campbell, Joshua Cottell

Girls' Chorus Grace Anstis, Sanah El-Gadi, Zoe Mumford, Chloe Doxsey Layla Elliot, Georgina Williams, Martha McGrath, Molly Champion-Pinchin Daisy Williams, Ellie Cousins

Chris Hannant (Noah Claypole)

Alice South (Charlotte)

Gerry Bevan (Dr Grimwig)

Julia Buck (Mrs Bedwin)

Mike Mackenzie (Mr Brownlow)

Lynsey MacDonald (Widow Corney)

Malcolm White (Mr Bumble)

The Cast

Oliver Twist George Seeley

The Artful Dodger Jordan Smith

Charlie Bates Tom Chisholm

Mr Bumble Malcolm White

Widow Corney Lynsey MacDonald

Mr Sowerberry Paul Bowman

Mrs Sowerberry Melissa Brunger

Charlotte Alice South

Noah Claypole Chris Hannant

Fagin Peter Hughes

Nancy Nicky Bisset

Bet Natalie Gore

Bill Sykes Tim Jones

Mrs Bedwin Julia Buck

Mr Brownlow Mike Mackenzie

Dr Grimwig Gerry Bevan

Rose Seller Fran Lindsay

Milk Maid Amy-Claire Mulcahy

Strawberry Seller Anne Cambridge

Knife Grinder Jonathan Dyer

Long Song Seller Tim Phelps

Old Sally Jo Chisholm

Children’s Chorus Grace Anstis, John Campbell, Ollie Carter, Molly Champion-Pinchin, Josh Cottell, Ellie Cousins, Chloe Doxsey, Sanah El-Gadi, Layla Elliot, Callum May, Martha McGrath, Zoe Mumford, Daniel Parrott, Henry Vivian, Ben White, Daisy Williams, Georgina Williams

Chorus Dan Bacon, Colin Cooper, Jeanette Crumpton, Jamie Dewick, Wendy Finch, Dominic Hayne, Charlotte Irwin, Sophie Williams

Oliver!• Act One •

Scene 1 ~ The Workhouse Dining hall

Food Glorious Food Workhouse Children

Oliver! Mr Bumble & Widow Corney

•Scene 2 ~ The Workhouse Parlour

I Shall Scream Mr Bumble & Widow Corney

•Scene 3 ~ The unDerTakers Parlour

That’s Your Funeral Mr & Mrs Sowerberry

Where is Love? Oliver

•Scene 4 ~ The unDerTakers Parlour – The nexT morning

•Scene 5 ~ PaDDingTon green – a Week laTer

Consider Yourself Dodger, Oliver & Company

•Scene 6 ~ The Thieves kiTchen – laTer

Pick a Pocket or Two Fagin & Gang

It’s a Fine Life Nancy & Bet

I’d do Anything Nancy, Bet, Dodger & Oliver

Be Back Soon Fagin & Gang

Oliver!• Act Two •

Scene 1 ~ The Three criPPles, a Public house in clerkenWell

Oom Pah Pah Nancy & Company

My Name Bill Sykes

As Long as He Needs Me Nancy

•Scene 2 ~ The broWnloWs’ – TWo Weeks laTer

Where is Love? Mrs Bedwin

Who Will Buy? Oliver, Street Traders & Company

•Scene 3 ~ The Thieves kiTchen – laTer

Reprise: It’s a Fine Life Nancy, Sykes, Fagin & Dodger

Reviewing the Situation Fagin

•Scene 4 ~ The Workhouse Parlour

Reprise: Oliver! Mr Bumble & Widow Corney

•Scene 5 ~ The broWnloWs’ – a feW Days laTer

Reprise: As Long as He Needs Me Nancy

•Scene 6 ~ lonDon briDge – aT nighT

Finale Entire Company

Lionel Bart (1930 –1999)All the songs you will hear during the show were penned by someone who had no formal music training and never learned musical notation. Nonetheless his music teacher had declared him to be a musical genius.

Born Lionel Begleiter, the son of a Jewish tailor, in London’s East End, he gained a scholarship to St Martin's School of Art at age 16. Soon after he started work as a set painter in a theatre. A journey on the upper deck of a bus took him past St Bartholomew’s Hospital – affectionately known to Londoners as “Barts” – this inspired him to change his name.

When he saw a notice asking for song writers, it was to change his life. Prior to Oliver! Lionel had tasted success in the form of pop songs he wrote for the early rock ‘n’ rollers – among them Little White Bull for Tommy Steele and Livin’ Doll for Cliff Richard. He had early musical success with Lock up Your Daughters and Fings Ain’t What They Used T’be.

Lionel had trouble finding backing for his idea for a musical based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. It had been turned down by a dozen promoters before Bart decided to finance it himself. On its opening night in London’s West End it received sixteen curtain calls and was an immediate hit. The advanced ticket sales reached 30,000 in the first week. Oliver! was followed by two fairly successful musicals Blitz and Maggie May.

On the back of these successes Bart decided to write a musical based on the legend of Robin Hood – Twang!! To finance this Bart made probably the biggest mistake of his life when he signed away all rights to Oliver! Twang!! was a huge flop and Bart declared himself bankrupt in 1972.

Cameron Mackintosh, who owned half the rights to Oliver!, revived the musical at the London Palladium in 1994 in a version rewritten by Lionel Bart. Mackintosh gave Bart a share of the production royalties. Bart died in 1999 after a long struggle with cancer and his funeral took place at Golders Green Crematorium, London. His career and creativity are currently being celebrated in the show It’s a Fine Life! at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, Essex, until 16 September (www.queens-theatre.co.uk 01708 443333).

The OrchestraConductor Dave Whittle

Violin 1 Christine Riley Fiona Gosling

Violin 2 Judith Week

Geoff Short

Viola Gill Tomlinson Tom Andrews

Cello Jenny Hood

Double Bass Jenny Taylor

Flute Malcolm Pollock

Oboe/Cor Anglais Fiona Beck

Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Marion Pollock

Bassoon Quentin Haslam

Trumpet 1 Phil Storer

Trumpet 2 Andy Farrington

Horn 1 Laura Morris

Horn 2 Jenny Steele

Trombone 1 Phil Cowley

Trombone 2 Matthew Andrews

Percussion 1 Paul Wood

Percussion 2 Max Ireland

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The Production TeamDirector Daphne Herbert

Musical Director Dave Whittle

Choreographer Claire Yates

Production Manager Nick SmeeAssisted by Philippa Parsons

Stage Manager Dave Hale

Deputy Stage Manager Alex Luck

Stage Crew Adam Bottomley James Crosby Max Crosby Dave Herbert Tracey Isaacs Liz White Thomas Sandford Craig Bent

Lighting Design Dave WhitelockAssisted by Ian Chandler

Sound Engineer Sebastian Knowles

Sound equipment Peak Hire Limited

Scenery Scenic Projects Ltd, Brampton, Suffolk

Radio microphones Sarah EvansAssisted by Dave Fleet

Wardrobe Mistress Karen Wright Assisted by Jane Johnson

Yuliya Cameron

Costumes Sue Pemberton of Pemton Ltd

Properties Carol Bowman Helen Tolley Helen Gembarska Ellie Bates Diane Philips

Make-up Pat EdwardsAssisted by Tessa Champion

Louisa Gethin Emily Hughes Ella Noble-Jones Barbara Tindale Louise Walters

Chaperones Harriet Greenstock Zoe Harwood Mike Hayes Sara Houston Kate Jenkins Lisa Kilbride Amber Smith Donna Steed Mike Welsh

Prompt Sally Lewis

Front of House Managers Sue McDowall Judi Allan

Assisted by Members of the Society

Rehearsal Pianist Jacqueline Adams

Publicity Karen Frank

Photography Paul Bridges

Printing StroudPrint

Poster concept Karen Frank Paul Bridges

Pemton Ltd Theatrical Costume & Fancy Dress Hire Co.

Sue Pemberton Over 25 years of dressing the stage Dress the part with confidence Commissions undertaken Costume design 01452 760851 pemberton4@btinternet.com

AcknowledgementsCODS would like to thank the following for their help and support in making this production possible:

Mike Jenkins and his Network Craft Group, and all members and friends of the Society who have helped with this production.

Past ProductionsThe Society has staged over 350 productions in its illustrious 122 year history – too numerous to mention them all, but here are some of the more recent productions:

1990 Absent Friends The Gondoliers Die Fledermaus

1991 No Sex Please, We're British Half A Sixpence Carousel

1992 Trilby Wild Wild Women Anything Goes

1993 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Oklahoma!

1994 A Chorus of Disapproval A Murder is Announced Brigadoon

1995 Gigi Towards Zero My Fair Lady

1996 Barnum Love’s a Luxury Hello Dolly!

1997 Face the Music & Dance Time of My Life Me & My Girl

1998 High Society And Then There Were None Calamity Jane

1999 South Pacific Present Laughter The Pirates of Penzance

2000 Singin’ in the Rain Murder on the Nile Blitz!

2001 The Music Man ’Allo ’Allo Scrooge – The Musical

2002 Annie Get Your Gun Harvey Mr Cinders

2003 Mack & Mabel The Darling Buds of May

2004 Sweet Charity Jesus Christ Superstar Steel Magnolias

2005 Broadway 2 West End 42nd Street Charley’s Aunt

2006 A Chorus Line West Side Story House Guest

2007 Kiss Me Kate Crazy for You Outside Edge

2008 The Scarlet Pimpernel The King & I See How They Run

2009 The Railway Children Thoroughly Modern Millie Blithe Spirit

2010 Red Hot & Cole The Wizard of Oz 84 Charing Cross Road

2011 Summer Holiday Danny – Champion of the World Billy

Charles Dickens 1812 – 1870Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school, age 12, to work in a factory after his father was thrown into debtors’ prison. His experience of visiting his father on Sundays at the Marshalsea Prison, and the poverty his family suffered as a result, drove him to succeed. Dickens would later use the prison as a setting in Little Dorrit.

To help his family, Dickens worked ten-hour days at Warren’s Blacking Warehouse near Charing Cross station, where he earned six shillings a week pasting labels on pots of boot blacking. This experience, which was strenuous, and with often cruel working conditions, deeply impressed Dickens, later influencing his fiction.

Though he had little formal education, He edited a weekly journal for twenty years, wrote fifteen novels and hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed

extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer and campaigned vigorously for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms.

In 1836 he began writing the first instalments of Oliver Twist. Published in 1838, it became one of Dickens’ better known stories, with dialogue that transferred well to the stage, more importantly; it was the first Victorian novel with a child protagonist.

Dickens died on 9th June 1870 following a stroke. His wish was to be buried at Rochester Cathedral ‘in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner’. He was however, laid to rest in Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time read, “To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England’s most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, aged 58 years."

National Operatic & Dramatic AssociationCODS is affiliated to the National Operatic & Dramatic Association (NODA), which was formed in 1899 by amateur societies in the north-west of England for the purpose of bringing together members of amateur operatic

and dramatic groups for their mutual assistance and combined benefit.

Each year the Association holds national and regional conferences, together with competitions for poster and programme design. It runs a Summer School, with courses ranging from make-up design to stage management, giving NODA

members the opportunity to improve their craft. The Association also awards long service medals to those members who have given active and unpaid service over many years.

Today, the Association has around 2300 affiliated societies and over 2500 individual members throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. It is the only organisation of its kind devoted exclusively to the amateur stage and is entirely self-supporting.

For more details contact: NODA, 15 The Metro Centre, Peterborough, PE2 7UH Telephone: 01733 374790, website: www.noda.org.uk

There will be a retiring collection at the end of each performance for:

The Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund (LINC) is a cancer

support charity that works to improve the care of patients, and their families, who are receiving treatment within Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and its local community. Although based at Cheltenham Hospital, our support reaches to cover Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Worcestershire. We give financial help to those in difficulty as a result of their illness and fund a clinical psychologist to help both patients and families. We are also very keen on research, taking part in many clinical trials, and funding a post graduate research post into leukaemia and lymphoma.

LINC has recently funded the extension and refurbishment of the Edward Jenner Unit

at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital creating a countywide day unit facility for the administration of chemotherapy, blood transfusion and supportive treatment. With local community support £600K was raised for this project. It is an amazing achievement and is a huge benefit to both staff and patients.

Many patients and families would benefit from the help of a clinical psychologist and LINC is aware that there is a lack of availability at the present time and our next wish is to fund a full time psychologist so that many more people can benefit.

To make a donation, or for more information please visit www.lincfund.org or contact the LINC Office on 08454 224422.

CODS Charity of the Year 2012/13

CHELTENHAMOPERATIC

& DRAMATICSOCIETY

Cheltenham Operatic & Dramatic SocietyCheltenham Operatic & Dramatic Society has been presenting both musicals and dramatic productions in and around Cheltenham for 122 years, making it not only one of the oldest dramatic companies in Cheltenham, but also one of the oldest in the country. The Society has a membership of over 100, with an active core at any one time of around 60 members.

Today, the Society performs at both the Everyman & Playhouse theatres, producing two musicals and one play each year.

We are always on the lookout for new members to join our ranks in every and any capacity. Onstage and backstage you can be assured of a warm welcome and bags of fun. Please feel free to speak to one of our Front of House volunteers this evening or contact our Chairman, Jonathan Dyer – jonathanpdyer@gmail.com or visit our website at: www.codsonline.co.uk.

Tickets £9-£14 (Concessions Available)

at The Bacon TheatreHatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6HE

Promenade Productions Proudly PresentA Musical By Rodgers and Hammerstein

AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION

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18th - 21st July 2012Performances: 7.30pm (Sat Matinee 2.30pm)

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St Edward’s Junior School

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“A Night to Remember”

HMSPinafore

RMSTitanictoSongs

from

The Cotswold Savoyardspresent their

50th Anniversary Concert

Guest StarDonald Maxwell

Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra

Cheltenham Town Hall

7:30pm Tickets: £10 Box Office: 0844 576 2210Online Bookings: www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk In association with the Rotary Club of Cheltenham North

Sat. 30th June

C H E L T E N H A M

PAT I ENCE

27th Nov - 1st Dec

The Cotswold Savoyardspresent

by Gilbert and Sullivan

www.cotswoldsavoyards.org

Music byAlan Menken

Lyrics byHoward Ashman & Tim Rice

Book byLinda Woolverton

Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions Originally Directed by Robert Jess Roth

This amateur production is given by permission of Josef Weinberger Ltd on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York

CODS' forthcoming productions

26th January – 2nd February 2013

Book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken

Based on the film by Roger Corman Screenplay by Charles Griffith

COdS bOx OFFiCe hOtline 0779 448 7822

Originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, Producing Director)Originally produced at The Orpheum Theatre, New York City, by the WPA Theatre,

David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh and the Shubert Organisation

©D

isn

ey

The CODS' Production of

28th May – 1st June 2013

Cheltenham OperatiC & DramatiC SOCiety

Calendar GirlsBy tim Firth

Based on the miramax motion picture by

Juliette towhidi & tim Firth

Box offiCeBook now until 30th June

call or text (24 hrs) 0779 448 7822from 2nd July – The Playhouse

01242 522852

Sat22

Sun23

Sat29

fri28

Thurs27

Weds26

Tues25

Mon24

S e P T e M B e r 2 0 1 2

An amateur production by arrangement with Samuel french Ltd

www.playhousecheltenham.orgThe Leukaemia & Intensive

Chemotherapy Fund