THE PRODUCTIONS - The Charles Vance Years
1987 – A NEW ERA
Following the departure of Ronald Govey and his Company from Sidmouth, the future of the Summer Season was left hanging in the balance. East Devon District Council had advertised for companies to occupy the Manor Pavilion during the summer months and it was hopeful that the vacancy could be filled.
Tucked inside the Sidmouth Herald of 13 April, the headline “A VANCE BOOKING” was to be found. The summer season had been saved and was to be put in the hands of theatre impresario Charles Vance and his Company.
Announcing the appointment, David Gibbons, chairman of the East Devon District Council’s Amenities Committee, said that the new tenants were well-known and had some local experience of running rep, having done so at the Princess Theatre in Torquay for six years in the 1970s. It was announced also that concessionary season tickets would be on offer for the very first time. The whole season would be run by Charles and his wife Imogen Moynihan.
Within weeks the season was announced and would open on 4 July with Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘RELATIVELY SPEAKING’. Performances due to start at 8pm with tickets priced at £3 and £4.
A new era had begun.
1987 SEASON
THE COMPANY
(including) Peter Moules, Susan Gwyn, Ron O’Neil, Jo Anderson, Susan Jeffrey, Martin Kingston, Richard Rawson, Suki Bunker, Nicholas Hawell, G Maeer, Kim Pearse, Terry O’Sullivan, Anthony Keeble.
THE PRODUCTIONS
BREAK-OUT – Bill Owen
DEATHTRAP by Ira Levin
DOUBLE EDGE by Leslie Darbon & Peter Whelan
EDUCATING RITA by Willy Russell
GASLIGHT by Patrick Hamilton
IN PRAISE OF LOVE by Terence Rattigan
THE KINGFISHER by William Douglas Home
THE MAN MOST LIKELY TO…by Joyce Rayburn
RELATIVELY SPEAKING by Alan Ayckbourn
TIME & TIME AGAIN by Alan Ayckbourn
WHO SAW HIM DIE? by Tudor Gates
1988 SEASON
THE COMPANY
(including) Imogen Moynihan, Jackie Howe, Brian Blakey, Betty Cardno, Nicholas Hawell, Peter Moules, Ken Davis, Richard Socket, Victoria Kempton, Sandra Birnie, Susan Jeffrey, Andrew Soloman, Terry O’Sullivan, Emma Cload, Daniel Barett, Simon Trewin, Hilda Howson, Vernon Thompson
THE PRODUCTIONS
ABIGAIL’S PARTY by Mike Leigh
A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS by Dave Freeman
BREAKDOWN – Frank Dunne
FAMILY PLANNING by Frank Vickery
THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF by George Batson
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES by Alan Ayckbourn
AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J B Priestley
THE LATE EDWINA BLACK by William Dinner & William Morum
POOLS PARADISE by Philip King
TABLE MANNERS by Alan Ayckbourn
TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN by Robert Thomas
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST by Agatha Christie
1989 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Mark Alexander, Sandra Birnie, Clive Greenwood, Nicholas Hawell, Victoria Kempton, Imogen Moyniham, Tarquin Shaw-Young, Vernon Thompson,
Charles Vance, Daphne Waring, Georgina Winbourne, Edna Wingraph, Becky Topsom, Malcolm Young, Jeffrey Kidner, Ken Davis, Joan Shore
THE PRODUCTIONS
(alphabetical order)
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by Neil Simon
BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE by Leonard Gershe
THE CREEPER by Pauline Macauley
DUET FOR TWO HANDS by Mary Hayley Bell
HIDE AND SEEK by Guy Bolton
THE HOLLOW by Agatha Christie
I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE by J B Priestley
MURDER MISTAKEN by Janet Green
RATTLE OF A SIMPLE MAN by Charles Dyer
TAKING STEPS by Alan Ayckbourn
TWO & TWO MAKE SEX by Leslie Darbon & Richard Harris
WHILE THE SUN SHINES by Terence Rattigan
WHO’S WHO by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall
1990 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Sophie Cook, Chris Gillespie, Clive Greenwood, Laurel McGowan, Julie Naybour, Vernon Thompson, Hilda Howson, Daphne Waring,
Michael Coglan, Ken Davis, Nicholas Hawell, Stuart Scott, Rebecca Lloyd, Ray Pickworth, Ann Emery
THE PRODUCTIONS
(alphabetical order)
BEDROOM FARCE by Alan Ayckbourn
THE BUSINESS OF MURDER by Richard Harris
DANGEROUS CORNER by J B Priestley
DIAL M FOR MURDER by Frederick Knott
HOME AT SEVEN by R C Sherriff
IN FOR THE KILL by Derek Benfield
LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS by Neil Simon
MISS ADAMS WILL BE WAITING by Arthur Lovegrove
OUTSIDE EDGE by Richard Harris
ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN by Alan Ayckbourn
THE SECRETARY BIRD by William Douglas Home
VERDICT by Agatha Christie
1991 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Vernon Thompson, Rebecca Lloyd, Peter Carr, Clive Greenwood, Paul Fuller, Rachel Kearsley, Sandra Birnie, Tessa Hosking, Nick Barclay,
Stacey Symons, Victoria Kempton, Ken Davis, Roland Howson, John Eborn, Peter Giles, David Pook, Hilda Howson, John Yeates
THE PRODUCTIONS
1-3 July – DEAD OF NIGHT by Peter Whalley
4-10 July – TWO DOZEN RED ROSES by Kenneth Horne
11-17 July -ANYBODY FOR MURDER by Brian Clemens & Dennis Spooner
18-24 July – BEDSIDE MANNERS by Derek Benfield
25-31 July – THE MAN OUTSIDE by Jane Allen
1-14 August – LIVING TOGETHER by Alan Ayckbourn
15-21 August – MURDER AT QUAY COTTAGE by Simon Amberley
22-28 August – MY COUSIN RACHEL by Daphne du Maurier
29 August – 4 September – THE GRASS IS GREENER by Hugh Williams & Margaret Williams
5-11 September – WE MUST KILL TONI by Ian Stuart Black
12-18 September – BIRDS ON THE WING by Peter Yeldham
19-25 September – MURDER ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie
26-28 September – THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT by Bill Mahoff
1992 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Victoria Kempton, Clive Greenwood, Stephen Copp, Rebecca Topsom, Vernon Thompson, Nick Barclay, Shereen Brierton,
Matthew Rowbottom, Jeffrey Kidner, Ken Davis, David Pook, Mary Collins, Russ Haynes, Victoria McFarlane
THE PRODUCTIONS
EDUCATING RITA by Willy Russell
ON APPROVAL by Frederick Lonsdale
RELATIVELY SPEAKING by Alan Ayckbourn
SECOND SIGHT by Eve Doro
CASTLE IN THE AIR by Alan Melville
THE KIDNAP GAME by Tudor Gates
A TOE IN THE WATER by Derek Benfield
THE SMALL HOURS by Francis Durbridge
DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE by Richard Gordon
JOB FOR THE BOY by Dennis Driscoll
A TASTE OF HONEY by Shelagh Delaney
THE MAN IN GREY by Barbara Toy & Moie Charles
1993 SEASON
THE COMPANY
(including) Victoria MacFarlane, Vernon Thompson, Nick Barclay, David Frederickson, Ruth Carr, David Lawson Lean, Clare Garnett, Martin Ash Isbister, Richard Mullins, Heather Skermer, Sara-Louise Ackrill, Matthew Rowbottom, John Eborn, Hilda Sharp, Mary Collins, Hilda Howson, William Perry
THE PRODUCTIONS
SUSPECTS by Giles Cole
FOUR IN HAND by Michael Brett
TIME AND TIME AGAIN by Alan Ayckbourn
MURDER BY MISADVENTURE by Edward Taylor
PLAINTIFF IN A PRETTY HAT by Hugh Williams & Margaret Williams
DEAR DELINQUENT by Jack Popplewell
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS by Austin Steele
A SHRED OF EVIDENCE by R C Sherriff
SAILOR BEWARE by Philip King
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST by Agatha Christie
PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward
ON GOLDEN POND by Ernest Thompson
1994 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Dennis Spencer, Nick Barclay, Nicholas Briggs, Valerie Newbold, Jeremy Hart, David Lawson Lean, Sara-Louise Ackrill, Zena Bedford, Karen Henson,
Jane Lambert, Hilda Sharp, Vernon Thompson, Heather Skermer, Richard Mullins, Ken Davis, Alice Bates, Mary Collins, Betty Cardano, Paul Mead,
Angela Boxall, Laura Webb, David Jonathan, Lindsay-Jane Kennerell, Abigail Norman, Charles Vance, Jane Backlog
THE PRODUCTIONS
1-6 July – SLEUTH by Anthony Shaffer
7-13 July – THE LITTLE HUT by Andre Roussin
14-20 July – NIGHTMARE by Roger S Moss
21-27 July – MIRANDA by Peter Blackmore
28/29 July & 6-10 August – TABLE MANNERS by Alan Ayckbourn
11-17 August – LOVE FROM A STRANGER by Agatha Christie & Frank Vosper
18-24 August – POOLS PARADISE by Philip King
25-31 August – SUDDENLY AT HOME by Francis Durbridge
1-7 September – WATCH IT SAILOR by Falkland L Cary & Philip King
8-14 September – SEPTEMBER TIDE by Daphne du Maurier
15-21 September – THE SHOT IN QUESTION by Michael Gilbert
22-30 September – SALAD DAYS by Dorothy Reynolds & Julian Slade
1995 SEASON
A double Christie year; ‘VERDICT’ getting a second outing under Charles Vance. Falkland Cary & Philip King’s third play in a row together and King’s fourth. Returns also for Terence Rattigan, Daphne du Maurier and Francis Durbridge. Vance also presented his own adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre.
Janet Farrow would make her debut as part of the Summer Season as Miss Brent in ‘AND THEN THERE WERE NONE‘; she would share the stage with other local ‘guest artists’, David Pook, John Eborn and Harry Page. The production was described as ‘rip-roaring’ and ‘great fun’ by the local press.
THE COMPANY
Andrew Fettes, Heather Skermer, Nick Barclay, Zena Bedford, Claire Harding, Gary McKay, Vicky Russell, Claire Fisher, James Campbell, David Pook,
Henry Gooding, Duncan Inglis, Richard Mullins, Betty Cardno, Mary Collins, Hilda Howson, John Eborn, Harry Page, Janet Farrow, Katy Fisher
THE PRODUCTIONS
1-5 July – THE MURDER GAME by Constance Cox
6-12 July – CRYSTAL CLEAR by Falkland L Cary & Philip King
13-19 July – MURDER ON ARRIVAL by George Baston
20-26 July – ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN by Alan Ayckbourn
21 July – 2 August – HOUSE GUEST by Francis Durbridge
3-4 August & 12-16 August – ABIGAIL’S PARTY by Mike Leigh
17-23 August – REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier
24-30 August – VERDICT by Agatha Christie
31 August – 6 September – THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Terence Rattigan
7-13 September – LADIES IN RETIREMENT by Reginald Denham & Edward Perry
14-21 September – AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie
23 – 30 September – JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte, adapted by Charles Vance
1996 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Victoria Kempton, Nicholas Pegg, Marc Trotman, Nicholas Briggs, Verona Chard, Laura Harris, Hilda Howson, Heather Skemer, Claire Harding,
Maggie Stables, Nicholas J Rose, Harry Page, Rebecca Landridge, David Pook, John Eborn, Michael Wade, Janet Farrow
THE PRODUCTIONS
(alphabetical order)
EYE WITNESS by Bruce Montague
THE FLIP SIDE by Hugh Williams & Margaret Williams
GASLIGHT by Patrick Hamilton
THE GENTLE HOOK by Francis Durbridge
IN PRAISE OF LOVE by Terence Rattigan
INSIDE JOB by Brian Clemens
LIVING TOGETHER by Alan Ayckbourn
THE LONG MIRROR by J B Priestley
THE SEVENTH VEIL by Muriel Box & Sydney Box
SPIDER’S WEB by Agatha Christie
TAKING STEPS by Alan Ayckbourn
WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte, adapted by Charles Vance
1997 SEASON
(alphabetical order)
DEAD GUILTY – Richard Harris
I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE by J B Priestley
JOHNNY BELINDA by Elmer Harris
THE LODGER by Anthony Skene
MURDER AT QUAY COTTAGE by Simon Amberley
NIGHT MUST FALL by Emlyn Williams
ODD MAN IN by Claude Magnier & Robin Maugham
OUTSIDE EDGE by Richard Harris
SEE HOW THEY RUN by Philip King
A TOUCH OF DANGER by Francis Durbridge
WAIT UNTIL DARK by Frederick Knott
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION by Agatha Christie
1998 SEASON
(alphabetical order)
A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS by Dave Freeman
BEDROOM FARCE by Alan Ayckbourn
DANGEROUS OBSESSION by N J Crisp
DEADLY NIGHTCAP by Francis Durbridge
HIS, HERS AND THEIRS by Hugh Williams & Margaret Williams
INTIMATE EXCHANGES by Alan Ayckbourn
THE KINGFISHER by William Douglas Home
LOVE IN A MIST by Kenneth Horne
MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Agatha Christie, adapted by Barbara Toy & Moie Charles
MY COUSIN RACHEL by Daphne du Maurier
ONE FOR THE ROAD by Willy Russell
POOLS PARADISE by Philip King
1999 SEASON
(alphabetical order)
ABIGAIL’S PARTY by Mike Leigh
BEDSIDE MANNERS by Derek Benfield
BILLY LIAR by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall
FOUR IN HAND by Michael Brett
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS by Austin Steele
GASLIGHT by Patrick Hamilton
THE GRASS IS GREENER by High Williams & Margaret Williams
MURDER MISTAKEN by Janet Green
PERIL AT END HOUSE by Agatha Christie, adapted by Arnold Ridley
SWEET REVENGE by Francis Durbridge
TIME AND TIME AGAIN by Alan Ayckbourn
TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN by Robert Thomas
2000 SEASON
(alphabetical order)
BUSYBODY by Jack Popplewell
THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF by George Batson
THE LATE EDWINA BLACK by William Dinner & William Morum
MURDER ON THE NILE by Agatha Christie
PLAINTIFF IN A PRETTY HAT by Hugh Williams & Margaret Williams
RELATIVELY SPEAKING by Alan Ayckbourn
SHIRLEY VALENTINE by Willy Russell
THE SMALL HOURS by Francis Durbridge
THE SOUND OF MURDER by William Fairchild
SPRING AND PORT WINE by Bill Naughton
A TOE IN THE WATER by Derek Benfield
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST by Agatha Christie
2001 SEASON
(alphabetical order)
ALIBI by Agatha Christie
BOEING BOEING by Marc Camoletti
BREAK-OUT – Bill Owen
DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE by Richard Gordon & Ted Willis
DOUBLE DOUBLE by Roger Rees
HAY FEVER by Noel Coward
THE HOLLOW by Agatha Christie
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES by Alan Ayckbourn
PARTY TO MURDER – Olive Chape
SEPTEMBER TIDE by Daphne du Maurier
SUDDENLY AT HOME by Francis Durbridge
WORM’S EYE VIEW by R F Delderfield
2002 SEASON
(alphabetical order)
ALL FOR MARY by Kay Bannerman & Harold Brooke
THE EDGE OF DARKNESS by Brian Clemens
THE GENTLE HOOK by Francis Durbridge
LIVING TOGETHER by Alan Ayckbourn
A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED by Agatha Christie, adapted by Leslie Darbon
REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier
ROPE by Patrick Hamilton
SAILOR, BEWARE! by Falkland L Cary & Philip King
SEE HOW THEY RUN by Philip King
SHRED OF EVIDENCE by R C Sherriff
SIGNPOST TO MURDER by Monte Doyle
WHILE THE SUN SHINES by Terence Rattigan
2003 SEASON
THE COMPANY
Janet Farrow, Jonathan Jenkins, Tania Carlin-Venniss, Giles Conneely, Jane Bennett, Terry Grant, Matthew Flexman, Archie O’Connell, Jannette Froud, Henry Gooding, Nick Wilkes, Kelly Bibb, Mimi O’Connell, Sally Sanders
Artistic Director – Charles Vance
Director of Productions – Imogen Vance
Directors – (including) Charles Vance, Vernon Thompson, Imogen Vance
Designer – Robert Sherwood
Production Administrator – Linda Stewart-Birch
General and Company Manager – Ken Morton
Stage Manager – Rachel Causley
Lighting Designer – Tony Hill
THE PRODUCTIONS
26 June – 2 July – THE FLIP SIDE by Hugh & Margaret Williams
3 – 9 July – THE MURDER GAME by Constance Cox
10 -16 July – TABLE MANNERS by Alan Ayckbourn
17 – 23 July – KEY TO MURDER by Stewart Burke
24 – 30 – POOL’S PARADISE by Philip King
31 July – 1 August & 9 – 13 August – THE YEARS BETWEEN by Daphne du Maurier
14 – 20 August – CRYSTAL CLEAR by Falkland L Cary
21 – 27 August – HOUSE GUEST by Francis Durbridge
28 August – 3 September – PRIVATE LIVES by Noel Coward
4 – 10 September – MURDER AT QUAY COTTAGE by Simon Amberley
11 – 17 September – THE LONG MIRROR by J B Priestley
18 – 27 September – JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte, adapted by Charles Vance