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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

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    2000

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