Entertaining Mr. Orton


by Martin Mulgrew

Directed by Colette Dockery

Tuesday 17th - Saturday 21st September, 2013

The Tower Theatre performing
at the Bridewell Theatre



Photography by Ruth Anthony and David Sprecher







 

Cast
Joe Orton : Jack Burns
Kenneth Halliwell : Stuart Denman
Leonie Orton : Carla Evans
Elsie Orton : Denyse Macpherson
Peggy Ramsey : Karen Walker
Dr Rance : Peter Westbury
Mr Prentice : Howard Gossington
Sergeant Match : Ed O'Shaughnessy
Dennis : Leon Chambers
Hal : Harry Reeder
Judge Walker : Peter Novis
Court Clerk : Courtney Farrow
Geraldine : Katie Vye
Nurse Barclay : Courtney Farrow
Edna Welthorpe : Helen McCormack

Production Team
Original production directed by : Martin Buttery
London production directed by : Colette Dockery
Costume and Set Design : Eugene Reeder
Lighting Design : Stephen Ley
Sound Design : Barry Stone

Producer : Haidee Elise
Stage Manager : Sarah Ambrose
ASM : Ann Watchorn
Lighting & Sound Operator : Phillip Ley
Set Construction : Keith Syrett



After a five-year break while starting a family, this is Jack Burns first production back. Past credits include Citizenship (Old Vic) and, on film, Flirting with Flamenco and Turnout. Jack trained at the Courtyard for 3 years.
 
Stuart Denman played McMurphy on stage in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Recent TV includes Bloody Tales and The History of Physics. He can soon be heard in Doctor Who - The Space Race, a Big Finish audio drama. Stuart trained at Mountview.
This is Carla Evans' fourth production with the Tower Theatre, having previously appeared in Macbeth, Her Naked Skin and David Copperfield. Earlier this year she also appeared in Charm Offensive's repertory productions of The Seagull and A Month in the Country. Carla is also looking forward to taking part in a Tower Friends' rehearsed reading of After The Dance in September.
 
Denyse Macpherson has played numberless parts for the Tower Theatre over sixty years. Last time in Edinburgh she played a corpse : this time she is walking and talking. So you could say she is getting better!
Karen Walker joined the Tower in 1985 and has been involved in dozens of productions in the UK and overseas. Principal roles include Cleopatra in Anthony and Cleopatra, Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Gertrude in Hamlet, Julia Sterroll in Fallen Angels and Florence in The Vortex. Most recently she has appeared in the Tower's productions of Baba Shakespeare (London and Stratford) and David Copperfield (London and Cornwall).
 
Peter Westburyr has worked with the Tower Theatre as actor (Calendar Girls, Whose Life Is It Anyway, Sweet Charity etc.) and director (Company, The Boy Friend, Somethings Afoot!, Broadway Bound etc.) for too many years! UK tours include Sordid Lives, Nicholas Nickleby Part II and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾. He is currently starring in the hit US commercial Cracker Barrel - The Cheese Judges and specialises in playing scary professional types for Corporate Roleplay.
Howard Gossington acted in several Tower Theatre shows in the 1990s, including Translations, The Importance of Being Earnest, Road and Arcadia, before turning professional. He's acted professionally all over the UK over the last 13 years, and is delighted to be finally making his Edinburgh debut with Entertaining Mr Orton.
 
Ed O'Shaughnessy has been with the Tower since late 2009 and has appeared in Cigarettes and Chocolate, Julius Caesar, Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, Princess Ivona, Macbeth, David Copperfield and, most recently, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Since rejoining the Tower Theatre last year after a 13-year break, Leon Chambers has appeared in Brighton Beach Scumbags and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He is a filmmaker and has directed eight short films, which have played at film festivals all over the world. His next film will be his first feature film.
 
Harry Reeder has acted in over 20 plays with the Tower Theatre since his first role as Monty in Chicken Soup with Barley in 1989. His most recent appearance was as Victor Fleming in Moonlight and Magnolias last year.
Peter Novis worked for 30 years in BBC Radio Drama and has been with the Tower since 1988 acting and directing. Favourite roles include Herman Glogauer in Once in a Lifetime, the Dada in Entertaining Mr. Sloane, several parts in the annual Tower Shakespeare productions in Paris, and an Ugly Sister in Cinderella. His most recent appearance was as Biondello in The Taking of the Shrew, performed in London and Paris.
 
This is Courtney Farrow's fourth production with the Tower Theatre. Past productions include Comic Potential as Trudi, The Voysey Inheritance as Ethel and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as Candy. In Australia her credits included Dog's Hamlet, Cahoots Macbeth as multiple characters, Our Country's Good as Mary, Deli Chicks as Sandra and Antigone as Antigone.
Katie Vye trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts; her Theatre credits include Nina in The Seagull, Foible in The Way of the World and Launce in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. In the West End, Katie played the role of Ingrid in Besame Mucho for its British premiere at the Charing Cross Theatre. Other theatre credits include Role C in Then They Came For Me (Greenwich Theatre) and Tilly in What if it Rains? (Quantum Theatre). TV credits include Athlete in the Power of Ten commercial for the MOD and Lisa in Bump (Short Film for the 24 hour Film Festival).
 
Helen McCormack has previously appeared for the Tower Theatre in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Fred and Madge, The Kitchen, Brimstone and Treacle, Garden, Absent Friends, Sordid Lives and David Copperfield.