Notes from Mark Swinton, Repetiteur, April 2009:

The "Cyber Major General" scene was part of Pirates 2000. It brought the house down at every single performance! A work of sheer genius conceived (I think) by director Ollie Nash, who was yet another mainstay of the Society like Messrs Butterworth and Charlton...

We all had quite a time putting it together - the rehearsals were in Alcuin dining hall, long since demolished along with much of "old" Alcuin, and I recall having to accompany on a somewhat decrepit keyboard which had to be fetched from Langwith. There are all sorts of other abiding memories: my friend Chris Bluemel (the only other Music student to be involved in the Society back then) played percussion in the orchestra, despite being primarily a string player, and was forced to raid the Music department kitchen for utensils to hit the instruments with! I also remember Dave York (as the Pirate King) streaming with cold throughout most of show week, being reduced to a loud whisper in all the dialogue and most of the songs. He recovered in time for the filmed show on the last night, so his performance on the video is much stronger than it was earlier in the week!

Images

Production Team

Director:

Ollie Nash

Musical Director:

Alison Duncan

Production Manager:

Peter Mendham

Choreographers:

Claire Allen

Jo Dimmock

Crew

Production Manager:

Peter Mendham

Assistant Production Manager:

Simon Thompson

Lighting Design:

Peter Mendham

Lighting Operators:

Peter Mendham

Simon Thompson

Stephen Cox

Sound Engineer:

Ollie Nash

Stage Manager:

Nicole Devarenne

Set Design:

Peter Mendham

Ollie Nash

Set Builders:

Peter Mendham

Simon Thompson

Ollie Nash

Jonathan Draper

members of cast

Cast

Frederic:

Tim Towers

The Pirate King:

David York

Mabel:

Kirstie Smallman

Ruth:

Sonja Greenhow

Major-General Stanley:

Paul Sammut

Samuel:

Tom Indge

Police Sergeant:

Tom Paine

Kate:

Katherine Elliott

Edith:

Louise Pullen

Chorus

• Pirates & Police:
  • Andrew Cowley
  • Adam Iley
  • Douglas Johnson
  • Jesper Phillips
  • Michael Prior-Jones
  • Peter Rodger
  • Nicholas Temperley
  • David Tropman
  • Peter Tylor
• Major-General Stanley's Daughters:
  • Claire Allen
  • Eleanor Course
  • Jo Dimmock
  • Caz Gillman
  • Jane De Gruchy
  • Katy Harrison
  • Gilliam Howard
  • Tabitha King
  • Joy Ruff
  • Donna Sams
  • Helen Shepherd
  • Jenny Simon
  • Emily Smyth
  • Emma Stamper
  • Julia Straw

Orchestra

Violin:

Laura Vickery (leader)

Nicholas Franklin

Emma Robertson

James Turner

Elizabeth White

Viola:

Rachel Phang Wong Yoon Foong

Cello:

Hugh Parker

Shirley Roberts

Oboe:

Charlotte Ashby

Vicky Snell

Nicola Wood

Clarinet:

Sarah Jackon

Hannah Williams

Flute:

Nathan Blundy

Simon Taylor

Piccolo:

Alison Nairn

Trumpet:

Rob Abba

Hugh Sutherland

Trombone:

Andreas Heinemeyer

Toby Whiffin

Horn:

Jo Hodges

Heather MacLaren

Percussion:

Chris Bluemel

Acknowledgements

Repetiteur:

Mark Swinton

Rehearsal Pianist:

Philippo Nereo

Poster & Programme Design:

Katherine Elliott

Costume Designer:

Louise Pullen

Make-up:

Val Elliot and her team