This production was staged under the company name of Thorn In The Side(TITS) but was to all intents and purposes a (BROS) event.

The archivist understands that the company name was chosen as a dig at the incumbent BROS Committee for failing to sanction a suitable alternative show at this time. More details anyone?

If memory serves the idea was born during rehearsals for Oklahoma where Margaret Boughton and I played Laurie & Aunt Ella. We approached the committee with a request to do Chicago but they felt it was not a suitable vehicle for ‘our ladies’ so we decided to put it on ourselves.

We met with quite a lot of resistance from the committee which is why we chose the name Thorn in the Side not realising that it came out rather appropriately as TITS.

We invited the cast to play specific roles and had a wonderful MD in Carl Smith. The original director was to have been John Hebden, but when he had to back out I asked Jessica if she was willing to direct for us.

We had no money so everyone involved chipped in to a kitty and were repaid at the end with a handsome profit. I persuaded the manager of the Bull to let us turn his ballroom into a nightclub type venue and thankfully the whole thing was a great success.