wicktheatre > Archive > Performances > Shirley Valentine

Shirley Valentine

The Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre

January 26, 27, 28 & 29, 2005

Shirley Valentine

by Willy Russell

Directed by
Bob Ryder


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2040501_shirley-valentine_playbill

“Captures every nuance”
– Brighton Argus –

Cast

Kate Brownings – Shirley

 

Production Crew

Lighting DesignMike Medway

Lighting TechnicianJanice Gooch

Sound & ProjectionMurray Hall

Technical ManagerJohn Garland

Technical ManagerDavid Bickers

Stage ManagerDavid Comber

Stage ManagerRobert Mitchell

ASMNikki Dunsford

ASMTony Brownings

Design & GraphicsJudith Berrill

PropertiesSue Whittaker

PropertiesMargaret Davy

Workshop TeamMike Davy

Workshop TeamDavid Comber

Workshop TeamRobert Mitchell

PublicityRosemary Bouchy

PublicityRosemary Brown

PublicitySimon Druce

Box OfficeMargaret Murrell

Front of House Co-ordinatorBetty Dawes

 

Programme Note #1: Shirley Valentine

BR wrote: “Willy Russell has a reputation for writing great character parts for women, including his notable early success with Educating Rita. But in many ways Shirley Valentine, which opened on the London stage in 1988, shows his writing at its best. The 1990 film version, with Pauline Collins transferring the rôle from stage to screen, was a popular triumph [it had big box office sakes and several Oscar nominations] but the original stage version is a real masterpiece for a solo performer. Kate Brownings, working with a skilful technical team from all departments of the Wick Theatre Company, brings to life the whole kaleidoscope of humour, exuberance and pathos that makes up the wonderfully believable character created by Willy Russell.

Kate Brownings is no stranger to Russell’s work, having appeared as Rita back in 1982 and having directed three other Russell plays since then. In a strange echo of Shirley Valentine’s own experience, Kate’s first ever stage appearance was in a doomed school nativity play. After moving to Sussex, she took to the stage again in The Big Bad Mouse, where she met husband-to-be Tony, now Chairman of Wick Theatre Company. She first worked with director Bob Ryder in Death and the Maiden [1996] and the in her Barn debut in Arcadia [1999]. They also appeared together in the two acting rôles in Wick’s memorable 2002 production of the thriller, Misery.”