THE LAUGHING MONKEY THEATRE COMPANY

HABEAS CORPUS
Cast & Crew Biographies


	JIM BLYTHE Co-Founder of LAUGHING MONKEY Producer & Director Also appears as Canon Throbbing With a wealth of experience in local theatre, Jim was a regular performer and crew member in the Rackheath Players in the late eighties/early nineties, where he also directed productions of Aladdin and Cinderella. 'Matinee idol good looks' (his words!) led to parts with St Andrews Players, H.A.T.s and, most recently, Sprowston Parish Players. Jim wrote, produced, acted in (and lost!) a film in 2006.
	LUKE FAIRWEATHER Co-Founder of LAUGHING MONKEY Producer & Property Manager Also appears as Dennis Wicksteed Another veteran of Sprowston Parish Players, Luke - fellow co-founder of Laughing Monkey - has been involved with the group since he was six as a performer (most recently as the lead character in Aladdin), prop builder, and also helped with set-making and painting.
	PAUL ALLUM Website Administrator Also appears as Mrs Swabb Paul acquired a Theatre Studies A- Level at school where he appeared in various productions, mostly panto. In the last two years, he has appeared in four shows with Sprowston Parish Players (most recently in their Music Hall opus, for which he both wrote and performed; and as Abenazar in Aladdin). He's also responsible for the state of this here website (and yes, I am aware I'm talking about myself and it's very surreal!!;-))
	CHRIS BAKER Appears as Mr Shanks Chris - known to all as 'Baker' - had never appeared on stage before and made his debut in the company's premiere production. Since then, he also appeared in our second production, Happy Ever After as well as taking on the role of Assistant Stage Manager.
	ANDY BOSTON Sound Manager Andy appeared in productions when he was child (such as Sinbad the Sailor) and played a Guard in Aladdin for Sprowston Parish Players. He acted as prompted for our premiere double-bill and appeared as a Gangster in Happy Ever After
	ALAN BROWNE Appears as Sir Percy Shorter Alan appeared with Sprowston Parish Players for many years, most recently as the Genie of the Lamp in their 2007 panto Aladdin. He also appeared as Crazy George in Jim's lost film, Don't Look Behind You in 2006.
	SALLY CLARKE Appears as Felicity Rumpers Sally is another veteran of Sprowston Parish Players (which her Grandmother, Sheila, is currently director of) who joins us for Happy Ever After. Sally has not only appeared with the SPP on numerous occasions, but also wrote their last panto production, Aladdin.
	MELANIE CUBITT Appears as Constance Wicksteed Mel comes to the group having appeared in more things than she cares to mention. She was a regular performer with The Attleborough Players Drama and Music Society for six years, where she played many roles in panto, comedy plays and musical/dance productions. Characters include Snow White, Dandini and other principal parts in panto; everything from secretarys to floozies in comedy plays such as Let's Kill Agatha Christie and Queen Elizabeth Slept Here. She also loves dancing in musical productions and has compered too.
	TYM DARTNALL Appears as Mr Purdue An old mucker of Jim's, Tym is a musician and as well as appearing in our stage productions, he has also helped us out on a number of occasions with audio recording, most recently on our audio sitcom, Biblical Times
	DIANE GOLDSMITH Costume Manager A member of Rackheath Players for thirty years, Di has both performed in (first appearance: Fresh Fields, as well as Tomb with a View, Albert Make Us Laugh, After the Rain, The Uninvited, and many others), and directed productions (including The Enquiry, In Room Five-hundred and Four, and most recently Panto at the OK Corral). Di has also appeared in several shows for The Studio Theatre, including Abigail's Party, Last of the Red Hot Lovers and Outside Edge. Following her glorious stint as Ma Hood in Happy Ever After, Di is returning to Rackheath Players for their February production, the musical-comedy The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree ... although she's remaining onboard the Monkey Boat to help us out with costumes for Habeas Corpus. The Monkeys wish her all the best in her new role and hope she's back on-stage with us very soon (maybe for Show No 4?! Is that ... a handbag?!?!!;-)).
	MARTIN HEAD Stage Manager 'Tin' hails from Lowestoft and has both BA and MA degrees in English Literature. He made his stage debut in Laughing Monkey's Happy Ever After, and also appears in our audio sitcom, Biblical Times
	MICHAEL JONES Stills/Publicity Photographer Providing us with some truly terrific photographs for Happy Ever After (which you can see in our galleries), Michael will be returning to help out Laughing Monkey with Habeas Corpus -- top fellar ;-).
	SAM PRESTON Video Cameraman/Stage Crew Sam has been trailing us over the last few months to compile a DVD of our most recent show, Happy Ever After. We hope he'll also be providing us with (private) DVDs for Habeas Corpus ;-). Sam has been involved with Jim's various film projects, including the lost classic (?) Don't Look Behind You and the original unmade film version of Happy Ever After.
	CAROL ROWELL Appears as Muriel Wicksteed Like many others in Laughing Monkey, Carol has performed regularly with Sprowston Parish Players, appearing in their pantomime (Aladdin, The Silver Phoenix, Snow White ...) and Music Hall productions.
	TONY STONE Appears as Arthur Wicksteed Like Di and Jim, Tony has much experience in local theatre. He is a veteran of Horsford Players (appearing in many comedies & farces), the Studio Theatre and Rackheath Players (including Dame Trot in Jack & the Beanstalk & Saviello in Emlyn Williams' ghost story Trespass - both in the same year). Most recently he gave an unforgettable version of "Man, I Feel like a Woman" as Dame Winnie Pegg in Panto at the OK Corral.
	ANNA STUBBINGS Lighting Manager Prior to Laughing Monkey, Anna notes that she appeared as Nancy in a school production of Oliver!. Anna works in film education at Norwich's very own Cinema City and recently ran a drama club. Having appeared in our first two shows, Anna is taking a more relaxing backstage role for Habeas Corpus ... though all the Monkeys are glad she's still on board ;-).
	LYNSEY WALTON Appears as Lady Delia Rumpers Lynsey has been performing since the age of nine when she appeared as a Muchkin in The Wizard of Oz, for Sprowston Parish Players. Since then, she has studied drama at college and appeared in a number of Paul's filmed sketches, as well as taking parts in four SPP productions, most recently Aladdin.
	FAY WHEELER Stage Crew .
	STEPHEN WINGROVE Prompt Stephen - known to the group as 'Winnie' - was invaluable to the group during rehearsals for Happy Ever After and returns to help us through our lines for Habeas Corpus.