The group of actors meeting together for the first time are made up of people I have worked with across my whole 20 odd years of doing theatre.
Mark Soffe and Steve Sprosson worked with me way back in 1991 when we were part of Head to Toe Theatre Company that produced dozens of productions for ten years. Steve has continued to work with Whole Hog and played Benedick in last year’s production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. I last worked with Mark on a touring production of ‘Macbeth’ back in 2000 so old friendships will be restored!
Young actors Louise Catherwood and Tom Coward join Whole Hog having just coming off the back of working with Wrong Shoes Theatre Company on their site specific production, ‘The Gathering’. Incorporating physical theatre, dance, mime, audience interaction and ‘sensory’ theatre this unique production inhabited the Artsite studio on Theatre Square and was a great theatrical experience for those who saw it.
Then there are the Whole Hog regulars of Becky Cann, Fenella Harrop and Darren Little who all worked on Whole Hog’s last show ‘Asylum’. As did Sarah Spratley and Kate Spratley, The two sisters who will also work on the production. Kate will be using her great Stage Management skills and Sarah has the opportunity to steal the show as the silent but hilarious ‘Oedipus’ the young theatre apprentice.
Max Sly continues to work with Whole Hog and has the unenviable job of bringing the young Charles Hawtrey to life…and he’s bringing his dad with him! I was at college with Michael Sly and he joins Whole Hog as an experienced local actor to play the role of Kenneth, the old theatre veteran.
The cast is completed by Jason Clear who I have worked at New College with for the past 15 years and has directed a diversity of theatre and now puts his acting skills to test as Thomas, the leading repertory actor.
An exciting 6 weeks ahead of us .More to follow…