Half a Sixpence

Richmond Theatre

12th-17th May 1986

Producer – Val Fardell

Musical Director – Carl Smith

Production Manager – Suzanne Yeates

It was based on H.G. Wells’s novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul. Steele plays Arthur Kipps, an orphan who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, and climbs the social ladder before losing everything and realizing that you just can’t buy happiness.

The novel is somewhat autobiographical, being inspired by the rapid changes in Wells’s own life when his early novels brought him financial security.

This production was graced by the author David Heneker, then in his 80s and Patron of the society at that time.

CAST

Arthur Kipps – Peter Barnett

Sid Pornick – Peter Campbell

Buggins – Dave Evans

Pearce – Andy Yeates

Flo Bates – Marion Alais

Victoria – Claire Walker

Kate – Mandy Stenhouse

Emma – Frances Warhurst

Mr Shalford – Bob Salter

Carshott – Paul Viney

Mrs Botting – Marion McLaren

Mrs Walsingham – Pauline Kendrick

Ann Pornick – Janet Turner

Chitterlow – Mark Holliday

Laura – Merian Ganjou

Helen Walsingham – Lesley Cox

Young Walsingham – Andrew Macbean

Edith – Margaret Boughton

Gwendolin – Margaret Collier

Students – Rachel Marks, Liz Angel, Doug Roberts

Reporters – Roger Roseboom & Iain Calder

Photographer – Norman Marks

The Dancers – Melanie Edwards, Yvonne Sibbald, Debbie Harkness

The Company – Pauline Beament, Mary Fraser, Hazel Graham, Barbara Hall, Ellen Harvey-Smart, Marion Mullins, Jane Smith, Kate Stevens, Louise Stevenson, Joyce Stewart, Barbara Thomas, Martin Harrison, Ron Pharo, John Powter, Mark Tooley, Peter Vaughan

CREW

Designer – David Casey

Stage Manager – John Mitchell

Deputy Stage Manager – Barbara Mitchell

Assisted by – Trevor Marland, Heather Mitchell, Julie Luker, Viv Tasker, Denise Ganjou

Costume Co-ordinator – Pauline Kendrick

Rehearsal Pianists – Dennis Gomm

Prompt – Patricia Vandepeer

Box Office – Beryl Yorath

Property Buyer – Peter Sporle

Costumes by – Alan Scott

Sets constructed by – BROS Workshop

Lighting – Ralph Bramley

Publicity – Jeremy Newton

Stage photography – Doug Roberts

Rostra – Phil Parsons