The English Theatre Company has a merry band of actors, technical crew, stage hands, front-of-house and marketing helpers. Here are profiles of some of us:
Phil Faiers
From The Beggar's Opera to The Browning Version for the BBC staff training college, Phil's involvement in theatre has been diverse. With roles in Noises Off, Donkey's Years, and many other classic comedies, he eventually turned to directing and even wrote a pantomime -- King Arthur and the Holey Pail. Since moving to France he has helped found the English Theatre Company, played Mervyn Bickerdycke in Ayckbourn's Henceforward, directed and played Geoffrey Jackson in Absurd Person Singular. He was George VI in A King's Speech and Patrick Moore in The Dark Side of the Moore — two ETC radio plays. He directed Under Milk Wood and played Guildenstern in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. He directed our Comedy Theatre Lunches and played several roles in Mad Moments. He is currently rehearsing remotely for Countdown by Alan Ayckbourn.
From The Beggar's Opera to The Browning Version for the BBC staff training college, Phil's involvement in theatre has been diverse. With roles in Noises Off, Donkey's Years, and many other classic comedies, he eventually turned to directing and even wrote a pantomime -- King Arthur and the Holey Pail. Since moving to France he has helped found the English Theatre Company, played Mervyn Bickerdycke in Ayckbourn's Henceforward, directed and played Geoffrey Jackson in Absurd Person Singular. He was George VI in A King's Speech and Patrick Moore in The Dark Side of the Moore — two ETC radio plays. He directed Under Milk Wood and played Guildenstern in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. He directed our Comedy Theatre Lunches and played several roles in Mad Moments. He is currently rehearsing remotely for Countdown by Alan Ayckbourn.
David Allcock
David began a life-long love affair with the theatre longer ago than his memory now permits. Over the years he has played everything from the pantomime dame to Shakespeare, by way of comedy, farce, drama and his greatest love, musicals. During later years, he earned his living as a drama teacher, enjoying the privilege of sharing his own love of the stage with young people. Since leaving behind the world of education, David now spends his time, with his wife Rowena, renovating an old property near Lectoure, aided and abetted by two cats. He played Sindey in Absurd Person Singular, was Captain Cat in Under Milk Wood as well as The Player in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. David directed and performed in our most recent production, Mad Moments. David recently produced the videos for our YouTube channel.
David began a life-long love affair with the theatre longer ago than his memory now permits. Over the years he has played everything from the pantomime dame to Shakespeare, by way of comedy, farce, drama and his greatest love, musicals. During later years, he earned his living as a drama teacher, enjoying the privilege of sharing his own love of the stage with young people. Since leaving behind the world of education, David now spends his time, with his wife Rowena, renovating an old property near Lectoure, aided and abetted by two cats. He played Sindey in Absurd Person Singular, was Captain Cat in Under Milk Wood as well as The Player in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. David directed and performed in our most recent production, Mad Moments. David recently produced the videos for our YouTube channel.
Maggie Crane
It really started in an all-girls grammar school; as the tall one with the short hair,Maggie was always given the boys' parts. That led to an eclectic mix of rôles over the years with perhaps a 'high' as the Colonel's wife in Conduct Unbecoming. Then, it was steadily 'downhill all the way' via Lil in Fings Aint Wot They Used To Be, Mustapha Kitkat in Aladdin, flat-chested Connie desperate for a big bust in Habeus Corpus and Mother lying on an ironing board in After Magritte. No more to be said really is there! Since joining the English Theatre Company she has played Jane, an accident-prone wife in Absurd Person Singular and was Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. Maggie performed a Joyce Grenfell favourite in Mad Moments. Maggie is currently rehearsing remotely for Score by Lyndon Brook.
It really started in an all-girls grammar school; as the tall one with the short hair,Maggie was always given the boys' parts. That led to an eclectic mix of rôles over the years with perhaps a 'high' as the Colonel's wife in Conduct Unbecoming. Then, it was steadily 'downhill all the way' via Lil in Fings Aint Wot They Used To Be, Mustapha Kitkat in Aladdin, flat-chested Connie desperate for a big bust in Habeus Corpus and Mother lying on an ironing board in After Magritte. No more to be said really is there! Since joining the English Theatre Company she has played Jane, an accident-prone wife in Absurd Person Singular and was Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. Maggie performed a Joyce Grenfell favourite in Mad Moments. Maggie is currently rehearsing remotely for Score by Lyndon Brook.
Nancy Shorter
Nancy has appeared in three major productions so far in amateur theatre with the last two being the
Alan Ayckbourn comedies Henceforward and more recently Absurd Person Singular.
As well as appearing in our Musical Revue she has also been responsible for the choreography accompanying the musical numbers drawing on her early years of ballet training. Just don’t ask her to do the splits anymore! Recently she has taken parts in our Radio Plays and Under Milk Wood and was Queen Gertrude in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. She was our Assistant Director of Auditions as well as being one of the auditioners. Nancy choreographed Mad Moments as well as being a performer.
Nancy has appeared in three major productions so far in amateur theatre with the last two being the
Alan Ayckbourn comedies Henceforward and more recently Absurd Person Singular.
As well as appearing in our Musical Revue she has also been responsible for the choreography accompanying the musical numbers drawing on her early years of ballet training. Just don’t ask her to do the splits anymore! Recently she has taken parts in our Radio Plays and Under Milk Wood and was Queen Gertrude in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. She was our Assistant Director of Auditions as well as being one of the auditioners. Nancy choreographed Mad Moments as well as being a performer.
Maurice Shorter
Coming from a scientific background, with several years of French house renovation
behind him, Maurice was easy meat for a new theatre company putting
on its first production. That's how he came to work behind the scenes for Night School,
and his reward, to become one of the sound engineers for their later more challenging
production of Henceforward. He made his acting debut as the impractical bank manager in Absurd Person Singular and has since taken on the mantle of sound engineer as well as taking parts in our Radio Plays and Under Milk Wood and was Claudius in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.
He plays the part of loud auditioner in Auditions.
He played the part of Wall among other roles in Mad Moments.
Coming from a scientific background, with several years of French house renovation
behind him, Maurice was easy meat for a new theatre company putting
on its first production. That's how he came to work behind the scenes for Night School,
and his reward, to become one of the sound engineers for their later more challenging
production of Henceforward. He made his acting debut as the impractical bank manager in Absurd Person Singular and has since taken on the mantle of sound engineer as well as taking parts in our Radio Plays and Under Milk Wood and was Claudius in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.
He plays the part of loud auditioner in Auditions.
He played the part of Wall among other roles in Mad Moments.
Ian Warwick
Ian spent 35 years with a local amateur drama group in Warwick (his name is purely a coincidence)
as Chairman and Treasurer. During that time he appeared in more than 40 productions,
taking leads in Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit (twice) along with major roles in The Heiress
and She Stoops to Conquer. He played the Dame in 11 Pantomimes and directed 28 productions
including Charley's Aunt and Lord Arthur Savile's Crime. He is now enjoying working with the English Theatre Company and played Hamlet in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. He is currently rehearsing remotely for Score by Lyndon Brook.
Ian spent 35 years with a local amateur drama group in Warwick (his name is purely a coincidence)
as Chairman and Treasurer. During that time he appeared in more than 40 productions,
taking leads in Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit (twice) along with major roles in The Heiress
and She Stoops to Conquer. He played the Dame in 11 Pantomimes and directed 28 productions
including Charley's Aunt and Lord Arthur Savile's Crime. He is now enjoying working with the English Theatre Company and played Hamlet in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. He is currently rehearsing remotely for Score by Lyndon Brook.
Sue Seth
Sue's love affair with the theatre started in the mists of time with the
primary school Nativity play... Since then she has loved all things thespian.
Queen's University, Belfast followed school productions.
Then, having just been accepted to study stagecraft and drama in Manchester,
the family moved to Switzerland. On to Caracas and The Mikado.
Brussels, where the whole family – dog included – played in Two Gentlemen of Verona, further Gilbert and Sullivans, Shakespeares, pantomime, etc. followed by
Canada and The Merry Widow, Germany and, among other things,
the title rôle in Lettice and Lovage, before moving to the Gers in 2005. Sue delivered a classic monologue as well as other roles in Mad Moments.
Sue's love affair with the theatre started in the mists of time with the
primary school Nativity play... Since then she has loved all things thespian.
Queen's University, Belfast followed school productions.
Then, having just been accepted to study stagecraft and drama in Manchester,
the family moved to Switzerland. On to Caracas and The Mikado.
Brussels, where the whole family – dog included – played in Two Gentlemen of Verona, further Gilbert and Sullivans, Shakespeares, pantomime, etc. followed by
Canada and The Merry Widow, Germany and, among other things,
the title rôle in Lettice and Lovage, before moving to the Gers in 2005. Sue delivered a classic monologue as well as other roles in Mad Moments.
Jane Irvine
Jane is new to the stage. She describes her role in Auditions with the English Theatre Company as
”an experience, which though admittedly a bit scary at first, has since challenged me way out of
my comfort zone and luckily has been tremendous fun!”.
As a member of the cast of Auditions she has had to call upon ‘confidence’ skills gained from setting up a prominent real estate company in Abu Dhabi, where she lived and worked for almost 20 years.
Her successful venture allowed her to retire early, resulting in her and Gary taking the plunge to move permanently to south-west France in 2017. Jane played Thisbe among other roles in Mad Moments.
Jane is new to the stage. She describes her role in Auditions with the English Theatre Company as
”an experience, which though admittedly a bit scary at first, has since challenged me way out of
my comfort zone and luckily has been tremendous fun!”.
As a member of the cast of Auditions she has had to call upon ‘confidence’ skills gained from setting up a prominent real estate company in Abu Dhabi, where she lived and worked for almost 20 years.
Her successful venture allowed her to retire early, resulting in her and Gary taking the plunge to move permanently to south-west France in 2017. Jane played Thisbe among other roles in Mad Moments.
Gary Irvine
Gary has joined the English Theatre Company to play an Elizabethan in Auditions. He re-located to France
with his wife Jane in 2017 after 14 years living and working in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
His first foray into theatre started with the Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society (ADDS) in 2005
and since then he has played roles ranging from pantomime dames and baddies to
Lieutenant Gruber in ‘Allo, ‘Allo. More recently he was a wig-wearing
drunken university lecturer in Willie Russell’s Educating Rita and also the
World War II codebreaker Alan Turing in Hugh Whitemore’s Breaking the Code. Gary played several roles in Mad Moments, notably a deliberately over-the-top Pyramus.
Gary has joined the English Theatre Company to play an Elizabethan in Auditions. He re-located to France
with his wife Jane in 2017 after 14 years living and working in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
His first foray into theatre started with the Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society (ADDS) in 2005
and since then he has played roles ranging from pantomime dames and baddies to
Lieutenant Gruber in ‘Allo, ‘Allo. More recently he was a wig-wearing
drunken university lecturer in Willie Russell’s Educating Rita and also the
World War II codebreaker Alan Turing in Hugh Whitemore’s Breaking the Code. Gary played several roles in Mad Moments, notably a deliberately over-the-top Pyramus.
Melodie Minty
During her teaching career Melodie worked mainly overseas in The British Primary School in Abu Dhabi,
where she was regularly involved in all aspects of school plays and end of term concerts. Now enjoying her retirement and living in France, she was delighted to join the English Theatre Company and the opportunity to get back on the stage herself. Auditions was her third production with the ETC, having appeared in Under Milk Wood and Ben’s War. Melodie played several roles in our most recent production, Mad Moments and is now rehearsing remotely for Countdown by Alan Ayckbourn.
During her teaching career Melodie worked mainly overseas in The British Primary School in Abu Dhabi,
where she was regularly involved in all aspects of school plays and end of term concerts. Now enjoying her retirement and living in France, she was delighted to join the English Theatre Company and the opportunity to get back on the stage herself. Auditions was her third production with the ETC, having appeared in Under Milk Wood and Ben’s War. Melodie played several roles in our most recent production, Mad Moments and is now rehearsing remotely for Countdown by Alan Ayckbourn.
Annie Dawes
After a long break from theatricalities, Annie rekindled her passion for drama by joining the English Theatre Company and, with a lifetime of acting, directing and theatrical admin behind her, is now wondering what took her so long. Her love of the theatre was inspired by her school drama teacher and led to her playing Titania at age 18, at the old Plymouth Barbican Theatre.
She has been a member of theatre groups from Norwich to Newcastle, Leeds and Leicester. In Athens she played her namesake “Annie” in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, in Hong Kong she was in Oh, What a Lovely War!, and during her 15 years in Geneva she embraced both high comedy and deep drama, from Lady Bracknell to evil panto queens. She regularly attends the Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies (FEATS) — an annual competitive theatre festival. She has acted and directed at FEATS during the past thirty years, winning Best Actress in a production that won first place. In 1997, the play she directed achieved second place and, in 2011, she organised and managed FEATS’ Fringe Festival, in Geneva. Since 2007 she has been hibernating in south-west France with her husband, dog and cats. However, the English Theatre Company has reminded her how much she loves being on stage and, as with swimming or riding a bike, she hopes to find that you never really forget how to do it. Annie directed the Victorian melodrama 'Raulos the Rotter' in Mad Moments. Annie arranged our rehearsed outdoor play readings during 2020 and is now directing our next production — a series of short comedies that are in rehearsal.
After a long break from theatricalities, Annie rekindled her passion for drama by joining the English Theatre Company and, with a lifetime of acting, directing and theatrical admin behind her, is now wondering what took her so long. Her love of the theatre was inspired by her school drama teacher and led to her playing Titania at age 18, at the old Plymouth Barbican Theatre.
She has been a member of theatre groups from Norwich to Newcastle, Leeds and Leicester. In Athens she played her namesake “Annie” in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, in Hong Kong she was in Oh, What a Lovely War!, and during her 15 years in Geneva she embraced both high comedy and deep drama, from Lady Bracknell to evil panto queens. She regularly attends the Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies (FEATS) — an annual competitive theatre festival. She has acted and directed at FEATS during the past thirty years, winning Best Actress in a production that won first place. In 1997, the play she directed achieved second place and, in 2011, she organised and managed FEATS’ Fringe Festival, in Geneva. Since 2007 she has been hibernating in south-west France with her husband, dog and cats. However, the English Theatre Company has reminded her how much she loves being on stage and, as with swimming or riding a bike, she hopes to find that you never really forget how to do it. Annie directed the Victorian melodrama 'Raulos the Rotter' in Mad Moments. Annie arranged our rehearsed outdoor play readings during 2020 and is now directing our next production — a series of short comedies that are in rehearsal.
Gill Foster
Gill first joined a drama group in Scarborough, in the 1960s. Leaving Yorkshire meant a break
from acting but eventually she became active in community arts in both Cumbria and Leicestershire where
she wrote and produced an ‘original’ Mummer’s Play. She moved to France in 2002 but it was
not until 2018 that she found the English Theatre Company and made her debut with
the Company as a reader in Ben’s War. She played the part of a prima donna in Auditions and Hyppolita in Mad Moments.
Gill first joined a drama group in Scarborough, in the 1960s. Leaving Yorkshire meant a break
from acting but eventually she became active in community arts in both Cumbria and Leicestershire where
she wrote and produced an ‘original’ Mummer’s Play. She moved to France in 2002 but it was
not until 2018 that she found the English Theatre Company and made her debut with
the Company as a reader in Ben’s War. She played the part of a prima donna in Auditions and Hyppolita in Mad Moments.
Ross Minty
Ross worked for many years as a Civil Engineer in The United Arab Emirates before
retiring to a peaceful life in south-west France with Melodie, his wife of 40 years.
It was Melodie who eventually managed to persuade
Ross to join her as a member of
the English Theatre Companyand his first
stage appearance is in Auditions as a camp acting coach.
Ross worked for many years as a Civil Engineer in The United Arab Emirates before
retiring to a peaceful life in south-west France with Melodie, his wife of 40 years.
It was Melodie who eventually managed to persuade
Ross to join her as a member of
the English Theatre Companyand his first
stage appearance is in Auditions as a camp acting coach.
Jacqueline Rochelle-Cawte
Jacqueline is an Honours graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). She trained in classical ballet, was a member of the Royal Ballet and the International Ballet Company. She was a member of the International Dancing Masters Association (IDMA) and was a Gold Bar medallist at Tap Dancing. Her international television work includes political satires with David Frost and sketches with Marty Feldman as well as recordings with the BBC Light Orchestra. Her IMDB entry notes her involvement with Marty Feldman’s At Last the 1948 Show. For the English Theatre Company she appeared in Under Milk Wood and had a part especially written for her in Auditions. She starred in various roles in Mad Moments.
David Foster
David was a member of the Hampton Players rehearsing for a major part in their 1955 production; unfortunately National Service put an end to that. Decades later he played St George in the Mummers Play written and produced by his wife, Gill. Various community theatre projects followed including playing a headmaster and also a dotty old man in a project designed to encourage the safe disposal of prescription drugs. Fifteen years after relocating to France he was extremely pleased to discover the English Theatre Company and played one of the strolling players in Rosencrantz and Guilderstein are Dead. He was a reader in Ben’s War and appeared in Auditions as an almost inaudible actor and most recently was part of the Company in Mad Moments.
David was a member of the Hampton Players rehearsing for a major part in their 1955 production; unfortunately National Service put an end to that. Decades later he played St George in the Mummers Play written and produced by his wife, Gill. Various community theatre projects followed including playing a headmaster and also a dotty old man in a project designed to encourage the safe disposal of prescription drugs. Fifteen years after relocating to France he was extremely pleased to discover the English Theatre Company and played one of the strolling players in Rosencrantz and Guilderstein are Dead. He was a reader in Ben’s War and appeared in Auditions as an almost inaudible actor and most recently was part of the Company in Mad Moments.
Brian Edward
Many years ago Brian was an architectural model-maker in Leeds, working with large
architectural practices and property development corporations. Consequently he was involved
in the design and build of many 1970s eyesores. Then the Yorkshire Television circus rolled into town and began throwing cheque books at anyone who could help them put on a show. Brian caught one of these cheque books and set to work. This involved the building of props for shows and intro titles plus special effects (this was before special effects were created on computers --
actually, this was before computers!). Brian made our replica BBC microphones
and some amazing barrels for our production of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.
Many years ago Brian was an architectural model-maker in Leeds, working with large
architectural practices and property development corporations. Consequently he was involved
in the design and build of many 1970s eyesores. Then the Yorkshire Television circus rolled into town and began throwing cheque books at anyone who could help them put on a show. Brian caught one of these cheque books and set to work. This involved the building of props for shows and intro titles plus special effects (this was before special effects were created on computers --
actually, this was before computers!). Brian made our replica BBC microphones
and some amazing barrels for our production of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.
Anne Dickens
As Sports and Social Secretary, in a workplace of about 500 staff, comprising some 40 different sport and leisure activity clubs, Anne discovered amateur dramatics with the ‘Deansbank Players’. Supporting the company through productions such as Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya and Pinter’s The Birthday Party, she was pleased to help it lighten the tone a bit, acting in Aykbourn’s Table Manners and then in Priestley’s clever turn on time and consequences, Dangerous Corner. She enjoyed readings and productions of works by such luminaries as Goldsmith, Coward and Wilde and working and living in London in those days, allowed regular trips to the theatre to see the professionals at work. Theatre is something she misses here in Gascony and is happy that the English Theatre Company has enabled her to add a little drama to her life.
As Sports and Social Secretary, in a workplace of about 500 staff, comprising some 40 different sport and leisure activity clubs, Anne discovered amateur dramatics with the ‘Deansbank Players’. Supporting the company through productions such as Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya and Pinter’s The Birthday Party, she was pleased to help it lighten the tone a bit, acting in Aykbourn’s Table Manners and then in Priestley’s clever turn on time and consequences, Dangerous Corner. She enjoyed readings and productions of works by such luminaries as Goldsmith, Coward and Wilde and working and living in London in those days, allowed regular trips to the theatre to see the professionals at work. Theatre is something she misses here in Gascony and is happy that the English Theatre Company has enabled her to add a little drama to her life.
Ruth Faiers
Ruth is our Box Office Manager.
For many years she was the Reservations Manager for VFB Holidays based in Cheltenham — the pioneers of gîte holidays in France. Her experiences managing a staff of 25 and handling thousands of holiday bookings each year made her the obvious choice for our Box Office Manager, although she has been heard to say "I thought I had retired from all this!"
Ruth is our Box Office Manager.
For many years she was the Reservations Manager for VFB Holidays based in Cheltenham — the pioneers of gîte holidays in France. Her experiences managing a staff of 25 and handling thousands of holiday bookings each year made her the obvious choice for our Box Office Manager, although she has been heard to say "I thought I had retired from all this!"
Other members are Nick Ashman (Stage Manager), Rowena Allcock (Assistant Stage Manager), Bill Kimber (actor), Judy Notman (lighting engineer), Rob Sellen (stage crew), Jonathan Sharp (sound engineer), Amelia Turner (actor), Jon Wainwright (actor).