The English Theatre Company is 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 leading roles in Pardon Me Prime Minister, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Noises Off, Donkey's Years, and many other classic comedies, he eventually turned to directing. Since helping to found the English Theatre Company he has had roles in Absurd Person Singular, A King's Speech, The Dark Side of the Moore, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and The Vicar of Dibley. He directed Under Milk Wood, Comedy Theatre Lunches, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Calendar Girls. He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo. Phil is the English Theatre Company's founding President.
From The Beggar's Opera to The Browning Version for the BBC staff training college, Phil's involvement in theatre has been diverse. With leading roles in Pardon Me Prime Minister, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Noises Off, Donkey's Years, and many other classic comedies, he eventually turned to directing. Since helping to found the English Theatre Company he has had roles in Absurd Person Singular, A King's Speech, The Dark Side of the Moore, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and The Vicar of Dibley. He directed Under Milk Wood, Comedy Theatre Lunches, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Calendar Girls. He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo. Phil is the English Theatre Company's founding President.
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. Since joining the English Theatre Company she has played in Absurd Person Singular, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Vicar of Dibley, Mad Moments and Calendar Girls. She directed Beyond Reasonable Doubt and is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo. Maggie is the English Theatre Company's Secretary.
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. Since joining the English Theatre Company she has played in Absurd Person Singular, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Vicar of Dibley, Mad Moments and Calendar Girls. She directed Beyond Reasonable Doubt and is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo. Maggie is the English Theatre Company's Secretary.
Maurice Shorter
Maurice is a founder member of the English Theatre Company and made his acting debut as the impractical bank manager in Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular. He has played roles in our various Radio Plays, Under Milk Wood, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Auditions, Mad Moments, A Christmas Carol and Calendar Girls. He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo. As well as his numerous acting roles he also produces all our special sound effects and is the English Theatre Company's Treasurer.
Maurice is a founder member of the English Theatre Company and made his acting debut as the impractical bank manager in Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular. He has played roles in our various Radio Plays, Under Milk Wood, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Auditions, Mad Moments, A Christmas Carol and Calendar Girls. He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo. As well as his numerous acting roles he also produces all our special sound effects and is the English Theatre Company's Treasurer.
Nancy Shorter
Nancy is a founder member of the English Theatre Company and played roles in our various Radio Plays as well as in Absurd Person Singular, Under Milk Wood, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Auditions, Mad Moments, A Christmas Carol and Calendar Girls. As well as her numerous acting roles she has been an assistant director and is the English Theatre Company's Vice-President..
Nancy is a founder member of the English Theatre Company and played roles in our various Radio Plays as well as in Absurd Person Singular, Under Milk Wood, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Auditions, Mad Moments, A Christmas Carol and Calendar Girls. As well as her numerous acting roles she has been an assistant director and is the English Theatre Company's Vice-President..
Nick Ashman
What started as a schoolboy crush has become a life-long affair; trying to create the magic that is theatre. Being asked by his headteacher to help with the set-up for a visiting company led to helping, while still at school, with the staging for the Romford Shakespeare Theatre and thence to working professionally at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch before moving into the West End and The Palladium amongst other iconic venues where he earned the nickname 'Spider' for his climbing abilities. Nick is a founder member of the English Theatre Company and has controlled all things technical for all of our productions as well as overseeing the acquisition of much of our technical equipment.
What started as a schoolboy crush has become a life-long affair; trying to create the magic that is theatre. Being asked by his headteacher to help with the set-up for a visiting company led to helping, while still at school, with the staging for the Romford Shakespeare Theatre and thence to working professionally at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch before moving into the West End and The Palladium amongst other iconic venues where he earned the nickname 'Spider' for his climbing abilities. Nick is a founder member of the English Theatre Company and has controlled all things technical for all of our productions as well as overseeing the acquisition of much of our technical equipment.
Ian Warwick
Ian spent 35 years with a local amateur drama group in Warwick (his name is purely a coincidence)
appearing in more than 40 productions such as Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit, The Heiress and She Stoops to Conquer. He played the Dame in 11 Pantomimes and directed 28 productions. With the English Theatre Company he has played in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Vicar of Dibley. He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Ian spent 35 years with a local amateur drama group in Warwick (his name is purely a coincidence)
appearing in more than 40 productions such as Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit, The Heiress and She Stoops to Conquer. He played the Dame in 11 Pantomimes and directed 28 productions. With the English Theatre Company he has played in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Vicar of Dibley. He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Gary Irvine
Gary moved to France after 14 years living and working in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where he was a member of The Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society. He played roles in 'Allo, 'Allo, Educating Rita and Breaking the Code. As well as being a stalwart of the English Theatre Company he is also a member of The Secret Panto Society in Toulouse where he played the dame in Peter Pan and directed Pinocchio. For the English Theatre Company he played in Auditions, The Vicar of Dibley and Mad Moments. He also directed The Vicar of Dibley and is currently directing 'Allo, 'Allo.
Gary moved to France after 14 years living and working in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where he was a member of The Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society. He played roles in 'Allo, 'Allo, Educating Rita and Breaking the Code. As well as being a stalwart of the English Theatre Company he is also a member of The Secret Panto Society in Toulouse where he played the dame in Peter Pan and directed Pinocchio. For the English Theatre Company he played in Auditions, The Vicar of Dibley and Mad Moments. He also directed The Vicar of Dibley and is currently directing 'Allo, 'Allo.
Jane Irvine
Jane described 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!”. She went on to play Thisbe among other roles in Mad Moments, then worked with The Secret Panto Society in Toulouse in their 2022 production of Peter Pan and more recently in Pinocchio which was directed by her husband Gary. For the English Theatre Company she played the iconic role of Alice Tinker in The Vicar of Dibley and is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Jane described 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!”. She went on to play Thisbe among other roles in Mad Moments, then worked with The Secret Panto Society in Toulouse in their 2022 production of Peter Pan and more recently in Pinocchio which was directed by her husband Gary. For the English Theatre Company she played the iconic role of Alice Tinker in The Vicar of Dibley and is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Sue Seth
Sue's love affair with the theatre started with a primary school Nativity play. Queen's University, Belfast followed school productions. Then, having been accepted to study stagecraft and drama in Manchester, the family moved to Switzerland. Then on to Caracas and The Mikado followed by
Brussels, where the whole family played in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Further Gilbert and Sullivans, Shakespeares and pantomimes were 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. For the English Theatre Company Sue has played in Mad Moments, The Vicar of Dibley and a most daring role in Calendar Girls.
Sue's love affair with the theatre started with a primary school Nativity play. Queen's University, Belfast followed school productions. Then, having been accepted to study stagecraft and drama in Manchester, the family moved to Switzerland. Then on to Caracas and The Mikado followed by
Brussels, where the whole family played in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Further Gilbert and Sullivans, Shakespeares and pantomimes were 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. For the English Theatre Company Sue has played in Mad Moments, The Vicar of Dibley and a most daring role in Calendar Girls.
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 Mad Moments and was in Countdown and bravely played a major role in Calendar Girls.
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 Mad Moments and was in Countdown and bravely played a major role in Calendar Girls.
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 and A Christmas Carol and most recently as Mrs Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley.
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 and A Christmas Carol and most recently as Mrs Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley.
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 took on acting in Ayckbourn’s Table Manners and then in Priestley’s Dangerous Corner. 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. She has played several roles for the English Theatre Company, most recently in Calendar Girls.
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 took on acting in Ayckbourn’s Table Manners and then in Priestley’s Dangerous Corner. 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. She has played several roles for the English Theatre Company, most recently in Calendar Girls.
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. For the English Theatre Company she directed the Victorian melodrama 'Raulos the Rotter' in Mad Moments, arranged our outdoor play readings during 2020 and 2021, adapted and directed A Christmas Carol and played a leading role in Calendar Girls.
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. For the English Theatre Company she directed the Victorian melodrama 'Raulos the Rotter' in Mad Moments, arranged our outdoor play readings during 2020 and 2021, adapted and directed A Christmas Carol and played a leading role in Calendar Girls.
Chris Sutton
Chris is the English Theatre Company's resident Scotsman and a relative newcomer to the stage.
He was in full highland dress when singing "Keep the Home Fires Burning" in the English Theatre Company's Ben's War, was an understudy in The Vicar of Dibley, played Liam in Calendar Girls and a Detective Chief Inspector in Beyond Reasonable Doubt. He's also a dab hand at making props!
Chris is the English Theatre Company's resident Scotsman and a relative newcomer to the stage.
He was in full highland dress when singing "Keep the Home Fires Burning" in the English Theatre Company's Ben's War, was an understudy in The Vicar of Dibley, played Liam in Calendar Girls and a Detective Chief Inspector in Beyond Reasonable Doubt. He's also a dab hand at making props!
Tim Caudery
Tim made many stage appearances in Nicosia with the Anglo Cypriot Theatre group during the 1980s, but was forced to abandon the formal theatre when he moved to Denmark. He did, however,
regularly appear in the guise of St Nicholas at the Aarhus University English Department Christmas party, as well as narrating English-language versions of a number of TV documentaries for the Danish state broadcaster, Danmarks Radio. The English Theatre Company has at last given him
the chance to return to participation in stage productions. He played the narrator in
A Christmas Carol, and appeared in Calendar Girls and Beyond Reasonable Doubt.
Tim made many stage appearances in Nicosia with the Anglo Cypriot Theatre group during the 1980s, but was forced to abandon the formal theatre when he moved to Denmark. He did, however,
regularly appear in the guise of St Nicholas at the Aarhus University English Department Christmas party, as well as narrating English-language versions of a number of TV documentaries for the Danish state broadcaster, Danmarks Radio. The English Theatre Company has at last given him
the chance to return to participation in stage productions. He played the narrator in
A Christmas Carol, and appeared in Calendar Girls and Beyond Reasonable Doubt.
Jenny Wood
Jenny found her love for acting in High School playing the Wicked Witch of the West and Scrooge.
She later joined the Ruskin Theatre in the Round until she spent 30 years as a police detective and
finely tuned her acting skills in Court Number One at the Old Bailey.
She played Marie in Calendar Girls and is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Jenny found her love for acting in High School playing the Wicked Witch of the West and Scrooge.
She later joined the Ruskin Theatre in the Round until she spent 30 years as a police detective and
finely tuned her acting skills in Court Number One at the Old Bailey.
She played Marie in Calendar Girls and is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Perry Taylor
Perry, well-known for his humorous drawings of life in south-west France,
joined the English Theatre Company to play the part of Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley
in which he very nearly stole the show . . .
no, no, no, no, no, no, no. . . yes!
Of course, being an artist, he was press-ganged into scenery painting and
notably created the Yorkshire Dales backdrop to the Calendar Girls set.
He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
Perry, well-known for his humorous drawings of life in south-west France,
joined the English Theatre Company to play the part of Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley
in which he very nearly stole the show . . .
no, no, no, no, no, no, no. . . yes!
Of course, being an artist, he was press-ganged into scenery painting and
notably created the Yorkshire Dales backdrop to the Calendar Girls set.
He is currently rehearsing in 'Allo, 'Allo.
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 Joanne Ammon, Yves Brassell, Paul Broach, Rose Broach, Nick Collinson, Sue Davis, Tony Hazell, Ellie Hurst, Sean Hurst, Mark Jackson, Bill Kimber, Caroline Lenaghan, Rosie McCall, Judy Notman, Marion Robinson, Rebecca Shields, Hicham Sqalli, Pru Stojadinovic, Debbie Valentine, Jon Wainwright,