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Into The Woods Programme

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Programme for What We did Next's production of Into the Woods.

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Page 1: Into The Woods Programme
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nce upon a time... some years ago, someone suggested I should direct a show. I laughed at this preposterous idea, but a seed was sown. Hypothetically, I thought to myself, What show would I choose? - and no sooner had I posed the question, the answer presented itself. Into The

Woods, the music of which has long been a favourite, would be perfect.

Flash forward to now and somehow that seed has grown into this: my directorial debut. Into The Woods is a VERY BIG show – somewhat daunting right up into the final stages – but I have been constantly impressed, charmed, amused and delighted by this wonderful cast and crew who have made my job feel easy. I sincerely hope that you enjoy this show as much as I have enjoyed the preparation for it over the past few months, and I thank you for your support and patronage of What We Did Next.

Though it’s fearful, though it’s deep, though it’s dark and though you maylose the path, though you may encounter wolves… come on a journeyInto The Woods…

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Zoe Thirsk - Producer (right)

aving danced since the age of two, Zoe has developed a keen interest in performing arts. She has been involved with WWDN since 2009 when she choreographed RENT. Since then Zoe has been an avid member of Glee and relished the challenge of producing one of Sondheim’s finest shows. After an incredibly busy few months, Zoe can finally breathe.

Selected production credits: Producer; Jekyll and Hyde (2009), Beauty and the Beast (2007). Choreographer; Rent (2010), Grease (2010), The Wedding Singer (2009).

Selected Acting credits: Sweet Charity (2009), Little Shop of Horrors (2008), Cinderella (2006), Disco Inferno (2006).

Katherine Rugen – Director (center) ate has long been involved with musical theatre, occasionally wielding power tools backstage but more likely to be seen in the limelight. She has been a member of What We Did Next since its inception performing in Company in 2009 and RENT in 2010. Prior to this she performed for

Artefacts in Anything Goes (2008), My Fair Lady (2007), Pirates Of Penzance (2006) and for Newcastle University’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society in Patience (2003) and Fallen Fairies (2002). When not otherwise occupied, she is a doctor in Liverpool. This is her directorial début.

Madeleine Stones – Musical Director (left) addie must be mad to do this as she is currently studying for a PGCE at Edge Hill University. Although she has been a member of WWDN for a number of years, this is her first time as a Musical Director. Maddie has really enjoyed putting the show together; she would like to thank Zoe and

Kate for being amazing throughout, and the cast for their hard work. If anyone is asking, she drinks gin.

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Jack McGraa - Baker

ack trained at UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire) and graduated in 2010 with a BA Hons Acting. He is currently teaching acting and musical theatre at Starlight Youth Theatre, LIPA 4:19 and Dance Design. Jack has a passion for musical theatre and since graduating has been training up his

singing voice, recently appearing as a vocalist in the ‘On My Way’ Cabaret at the Liverpool Studio and as Tuc Harris in the SBP production Fresher the Musical at The Kazmier. Jack has loved being involved with What We Did Next since he appeared as Georg in February’s production of Spring Awakening at The Unity Theatre. Jack has enjoyed the challenge of playing The Baker in Sondheim’s Into the Woods and hopes you enjoy Sondheim’s musical and lyrical genius... “Into the woods you have to grope and that’s the way you learn to cope....where’s the cheesecloth?” Selected acting credits: ‘Beyond Therapy’, as Egues; Snug in ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’; Semyon in ‘The Suicide’; Cleante in ‘The Hypochondriac’.

Elen Royles - Baker’s Wife

Elen has thoroughly enjoyed working with such talented and spunky cast over the past few months. Holding down a new job after graduating from Medical School in the summer alongside WWDN rehearsals has been challenging, but she has relished the opportunity and is eternally grateful

to the wonderful production team for giving her the role of the Baker’s Wife.

Selected acting credits: My Fair Lady, Bonnie in Anything Goes, Miss Sherman in Fame, and Amy in WWDN’s production of Company.

Production credits: Director, Last 5 Years; Director, Anything Goes.

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Solomon Adams - Jack

olomon has only been acting for four years, but he has had a successful career to date. He has performed several times in the Liverpool Empire Theatre. He is feeling confident about this performance and wishes the rest of the cast the best of luck.

Acting Credits include Fame (Nick Piazza), Billy Elliot (Tony), West Side Story (Action), Spring Awakening (Ernst).

Elena Stephenson - Jack’s Mum

lena is thrilled to once again be working with WWDN, after playing Wendla in their sell-out production of Spring Awakening at the Unity Theatre. She has been in countless shows with Liverpool University Drama Society and is pleased to still have an outlet to build her ever-growing CV. She has enjoyed finding the character of Jack’s mum,

although the throat is suffering.

Selected acting credits: Spring Awakening(Wendla), Any Other Name (Dark Lady), Fresher: The Musical (Hayley), Medea (Medea), Breathing Corpses (Edinburgh Fringe), The Impossible Place (The Secretary), Part Vampire (Rosalind), Jacob’s Hammer (Chloe).

Mark Rawle – Narrator and Mysterious Man

n a Liverpool far far away, a man known as Mark was cast in an exciting musical from a theatre company that brought much joy to the world. He was cast in the

role of Narrator, and, such was his method – that he became obsessed with narrating everything. Even as he typed feverishly on the laptop keyboard of his previous endeavours he did so in the third person, a manner both eccentric and derided by those sat next to him at the time. When he spoke of his acting and directing in university theatre winning over fifty awards, he exaggerated the number of awards immensely. He spoke of his comedy, working semi professionally as Improviser and Comedian – once again enhancing the truth with an over liberal use of the phrase ‘semi professional’. But the reader was not fooled; they knew Mark for what he was. A charlatan in a garish shirt and waistcoat who should go back to working in A&E.

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Tash Hutchinson - Lucinda

ash has been attempting to perform for many years now ain various amateur groups. This is her first show with What We Did Next and she has loved it! She is currently studying for a Masters in English and hopes to keep performing for many more years. Selected acting credits: Lucy, Jekyll and

Hyde (2008), Rizzo, Grease (2010).

Ellie Gray - Stepmother

his is Ellie’s first show with WWDN and also her first show as a cast member since the age of 14, having spent the intervening years in the orchestra pit.

Ellie made the move back to the stage after being persuaded by her fellow WWDN-ers and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It has provided light-hearted respite from her training as a Clinical Psychologist. Ellie would like to wish all those involved lots of luck and thank them for the great confidence boost.

Andrew Abrahamson – Cinderella’s Father

ndrew Abrahamson, or AB as he is commonly known, is very happy to be on stage with WWDN again. When not acting he can often be found behind a

camera or working for University of Liverpool, raising aspiration of Primary School pupils. Acting credits include: Bobby- Company, WWDN; Adult Males - Spring Awakening, WWDN;Bernardo - West Side Story, Centenary Theatre; Doody - Grease, LUST; Adam - The Shape of Things, LUDS Production Credits: Director - Rent, WWDN; Director - I Love You , You’re Perfect, Now Change, LUST; Co-Director - Jekyll and Hyde, LUST; Assistant Director - Dismembered Empire Part I

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Stephanie Minshall - Florinda

tephanie has been performing since the age of five in many pantomimes and musicals in a variety of roles; the most notable of which being Dulcie in ‘The Boyfriend’ (The Armstrong Hall, 2005).

Since moving to Liverpool Stephanie has been an active member of Liverpool University Student Theatre, appearing in shows such as Grease, Beauty and the Beast and I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change. On leaving university, Stephanie became a founding member of What We Did Next and took the role of Kathy in Company in 2009, then appeared in Rent in 2010. She is relishing letting her nasty side out as a stepsister in Into the Woods. When she isn’t performing, Stephanie works at a

staff nurse in A&E.

Sarah Brown – Cinderella

arah is a recent Theatre Management graduate from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Usually preferring to hide behind the scenes as a Producer, Into the Woods marks Sarah’s on-stage debut in Liverpool.

Although a (terrifyingly) long way from singing Disney songs in the shower, playing the role of Cinderella alongside such a talented cast has been an unforgettable experience. Sarah would like to thank everyone who has given her the courage to put on her glass slippers and live her childhood dream of being a princess!

Production Credits include: Fresher: The Musical (Sarah Brown Productions, The Kazimier, 2011) Any Other Name (RSC Open Stages, 2011), The Ambassadors Theatre/ Epsom Playhouse 2010), Departure Lounge- The Musical (Production Assistant, Waterloo East Theatre 2010), RENT (The Black-E, Liverpool 2010).

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Camille Machin – Rapunzel and Cinderella’s Mother

amille has been singing dancing and trying to act for far too long now and is thrilled to be back with WWDN. Camille is in her final year of Medicine and hopes to be able to continue with WWDN as a doctor. Previous roles include Lola in Copacabana and and Jenny in Company.

Camille would like to wish the whole cast and crew the best of luck with the show and the future.

Jenny Martyn – Witch

his is Jenny’s first WWDN show and she is thrilled to be playing the part of the Witch. She holds a First Class degree in Creative and Performing Arts and has spent the last five summers in the USA teaching, directing musicals, taking drama workshops and singing lessons for groups for

children aged between 7-16. She is completely obsessed with musical theatre and hopes everyone enjoys the show as much as she has loved rehearsing and performing it!

Selected acting credits: Reno Sweeney, Anything Goes, Mrs Potts, Beauty and the Beast, Eliza, My Fair Lady, Sarah Brown, Guys and Dolls over the summers of 2007- 2011 (Tripp Lake Camp, USA). Multi-rolling in The Old Wives Tale and Mary Wooden Frock (Cornerstone Theatre), Princess in Aladdin (Leas Cliff Hall Theatre), Nancy in Oliver (Marlowe Theatre), Cinderella in Cinderella (Leas Cliff Hall Theatre), Helene in Sweet Charity (Ashford Theatre). As a child she performed in local theatres in Oliver and Annie and was part of the child chorus of the professional UK touring production on Evita.

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Jak Malone – Rapunzel’s Prince

ak is a young actor from Wirral and is currently What We Did Next’s youngest member. Jak has been performing since he was 10 years old and has taken part in many shows and plays. Selected credits include: Peter in Peter Pan (2006), Les in Bouncers (2007), Adrian in A Diary of

Adrian Mole (2007) , Buddy in Buddy Holly story 2009 , Hanschen in Spring Awakening (2010), Basil in Fresher the musical (2011).Jak loves being involved in WWDN and would like to thank the entire company for taking care of him and turning a difficult show into lots of fun and laughter! Jak would like to dedicate this show to his dad for being his best friend and buying him a gin when he should be having a pint!

Jamie Barfield – Cinderella’s Prince

fter directing Company and Spring Awakening, Jamie is very pleased to be performing once more. He is immensely proud of how far What We Did Next has come since its first sparks of life over a good few beers in the summer of 2008. Producing high quality shows with a talented cast

and crew of friends is an enjoyable distraction from working as a doctor at Wirral Hospice St John’s and hopes the distractions continue in the future.

Production credits: Director; Spring Awakening (2010), Director; Company (2008)Selected acting credits: Fresher (2011), Fame (2009), Anything Goes (2008), Little Shop of Horrors (2008), Return to the Forbidden Planet (2007), My Fair Lady (2007), Cinderella (2006), Disco Inferno (2006), Grease (2005), City of Angels (2003), Mary Poppins (2003), Calamity Jane (2002).

Andy Godden - Steward

veteran of University theatre shows, Andy is delighted to be making his on-stage bow for WWDN having been involved behind the scenes for previous productions. Away from WWDN he has the dream job of 14 year old boys everywhere working for PlayStation and is an avid follower of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Acting credits include: Sherriff of Nottingham – Robin Hood (LUST 2010), Simon Stride – Jekyll and Hyde (LUST 2008), Beauty and the Beast, Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Wedding Singer (All LUST). The G.O.D. - Bombs of Glory 2010.

Production credits: Producer: Little Shop of Horrors, Jekyll and Hyde (LUST) Company, RENT (WWDN).

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Franki Burke – Little Red Riding Hood

ne of the few members of the cast who is actually a Liverpool native, Franki studied at Warwick University where she first discovered her obsession with musical theatre through performing with Music Theatre Warwick. Since returning to Liverpool, Franki has been desperately searching for a group of like-minded individuals who shared her love

of jazz hands and randomly bursting into song, so was ecstatic when she discovered the existence of WWDN. The role of Little Red hasn’t been too much of a stretch for Franki as it mainly involves eating cake and pulling ridiculous faces; two of Franki’s favourite activities.

Rebecca Patterson - Granny

Rebecca is a primary school teacher with a passion for music and drama. She joined Liverpool University Student Theatre, appearing in several shows for the company. This is her first show with WWDN and she has thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to work with friends old and new.

Shaun Holdom-Eyles - Wolf

Having always been one for the spotlight, Shaun has been performing in Liverpool for 10 years in various productions at university and with What We Did Next. Having previously produced Spring Awakening and The Last 5 Years he is looking forward to being on the stage once again.

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Piano – Michael Bourne Synthesizer – Tom Sutherland Grant

Violin I – Tony Shorrocks Violin II – Sophie Patterson

Viola I – Connie Hilton Viola II – James WarwickDouble Bass - Paul Fegan Cello – Christian Ryan

Flute/Piccolo – Nicola Rossiter Clarinet – David Mintz

Bassoon – Jonas Tattersall Trumpet – Karolina Hentze Flugel Horn – Misery Steele

Trombone – Simeon Scheuber Percussion – Harry Leather

Percussion – Matt Filer

St Dunstan’s ChurchKozy Korner

Liverpool Guild of StudentsJayne MooreAsh Ahmed

Tony ShorrocksVGMLIPA

Merseyside Dance and Drama CentreFront of House

Photography - Andrewab.comDesign - i-nu-it.co.uk

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Production Team

Producer: Zoë Thirsk

Director: Kate Rugen

Musical Director: Maddie Stones

Asst Musical Director: Michael Bourne

Technical Director: Kasper Hunt

Choreographer: Dominique Shonlee Sze

Set Designer: Robin Murphy

Stage Manager: Chris Brockelsby

Deputy Stage Manager: Fiona Darling

Head of Sound: Rory de Carteret

Deputy Sound: Steven Andrew

Lighting Operator: Lee Mc Neillis

Head of Wardrobe: Alex Herring

Hair and Make-up: Neil McKenna, Victoria Griffiths and Megan Hughes

Properties Master: Andy Walker

Cast (in order of appearance)

Narrator/Mysterious Man: Mark RawleCinderella: Sarah Brown

Jack: Soloman AdamsJack’s Mother: Elena Stephenson

Baker: Jack McGraaBaker’s Wife: Elen Royles

Stepmother: Ellie GrayFlorinda: Stephanie Minshall

Lucinda: Tash HutchinsonCinderella’s Father: Andrew

AbrahamsonLittle Red Riding Hood: Franki Burke

Witch: Jenny MartynWolf: Shaun Holdom-EylesGranny: Rebecca Patterson

Rapunzel/Cinderella’s Mother: Camille Machin

Rapunzel’s Prince: Jak MaloneCinderella’s Prince: Jamie Barfield

Steward: Andy GoddenSnow White - Zoë Thirsk, Natalie

HayesSleeping Beauty - Ailie MacPhee, Jen

RamageProducer’s NoteFrom discussing the possibilty of producing a show for WWDN last November, it has been a long, tiring journey. But, of course, I have loved every moment (almost). Working each week with friends old and new has been a pleasure. There are far too many people to thank, but I cannot say how grateful I am for all the hard work putin by the cast, orchestra, technical team, set designer/builder, wardrobe, make-up, props, front of house... The list is endless. Thank you.

To my Director, MD and Assistant MD. We did it!

...And they lived happily ever after.