The Shows

Into The Woods - Our First Production

In July 2007 Act 4 Theatre presented “Into the Woods”, by Stephen Sondheim, at The Wyllyotts Theatre, in Potters Bar.

The show was directed by John Hebden, the Musical Director was Philip Coleman and the Stage Manager was Simon Latter. 

'Into The Woods' Photos

Click on any photo to see a larger image.

‘Into The Woods’ Cast List

The Narrator                            - Chris Wilson

Cinderella                                - Melanie Tilbury

Jack                                         - Stewart Jordan

Jack’s Mother                          - Deborah Kemp

Baker                                       - Mick Wilson

Baker’s Wife                             - Lorraine Bottomley

Cinderella’s Step-Mother         - Julie Markey

Lucinda                                   - Sami Latter

Florinda                                   - Tasha Hollow

Cinderella’s Father                  - David Macklin

Red Riding Hood                     - Laura Darton

The Witch                                 - Lindsay Berry

Mysterious Man                        - Malcolm Hollow

The Wolf                                   - David Bottomley

Cinderella’s Mother / Granny  - Janie Barnes

Rupunzel                                  - Sarah Brealey

Rupunzel’s Prince                    -  Alastair woodgate

Steward                                   - John Bagley

Sleeping Beauty                       - Beckie Knight

Snow White                             - Clare Adams

Company Biographies

The Cast

Chris Wilson (The Narrator)

Chris has been performing since Noah was a lad and has a particular fondness for the works of Stephen Sondheim, having played roles such as ‘Sweeney Todd’, ‘Ben Stone’ (Follies), ‘Miles Gloriosus’ and ‘Cinderella's Prince’ and ‘Wolf’ (Into the Woods). Chris has performed mainly in North London and Herts, but also in Wimbledon (Follies and La Cage aux Folles) and the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford (Titanic and Sweeney Todd). Other major roles taken over the years include ‘Don Quixote’, ‘King Arthur’, ‘Tevye’, ‘Mack Sennett’ and ‘Henry Higgins’.

Melanie Tilbury (Cinderella)

Melanie has been involved in the Theatre since the age of 10.  She has been a member of Green Room Productions since the age of 14 and has played a variety of leading roles with them. Favourite roles include ‘Nellie Forbush’ (South Pacific), ‘Maria’ (The Sound of Music), ‘Annie Oakley’ (Annie Get Your Gun) and ‘Miss Dorothy’ (Thoroughly Modern Millie). Melanie is also a member of Ware Operatic Society playing minor principle roles with them. In February she is playing ‘Josephine’ in their production of ‘HMS Pinafore’.  She also performs as a soloist in various local concert performances and weddings

Stewart Jordan (Jack)

Stewart has been performing in the local area for several years with a variety of companies. Favourite roles include ‘Dick’ (Dames at Sea), ‘Jean Michael’ (La Cage Aux Folles),  ‘Freddie Eynsford Hill’ (My Fair Lady) ‘Frederic’ (Pirates of Penzance), ‘Wrecker’ (The Rink), and ‘Hero’ (A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum).

Lighting credits at Wyllyotts include ‘South Pacific’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Blitz’, ‘Follies’ and ‘Annie Get Your Gun’

Deborah Kemp (Jack’s Mother)

Deborah was born and educated in Surrey and continued her education at Middlesex University where she trained to teach music. As a performer she began her career in musicals playing a number of leading roles. She then moved on to opera where she made her professional debut in 1983 with Opera East. Roles included ‘Mimi’ (La Boheme), ‘Butterfly’ (Madame Butterfly) ‘Micaela’ (Carmen) and many others. Deborah can now be found in a different role as musical director for shows but is pleased to be coming out of retirement to play such a lovely part!!

Mick Wilson (Baker)

Mick caught the performing bug with English National Opera children’s chorus in the 1960s and has now appeared in over 160 productions. Favourite roles are ‘Pirelli’ and ‘Beadle Bamford’ (Sweeney Todd), ‘Tamino’ (Magic Flute), ‘Baker’ (Into the Woods), ‘The American’ (Chess), ‘Nicely-Nicely’ (Guys & Dolls) and  (a while ago!) ‘Arthur Kipps’ (Half a Sixpence).

In 1995 he joined South Anglia Savoy Players, 3-times winners of the International G&S Festival, and has won awards in England and the U.S.A. including ‘Best Male Voice’ in 2000, ‘Best Male Performer’ in 2002, and ‘Best Male Singer’ at the 2001 Waterford Festival in Ireland.

Lorraine Bottomley (Baker’s Wife)

Lorraine has appeared in many musicals and plays, most recently as ‘Nellie’ (South Pacific). Lorraine’s favourite roles include Eliza (My Fair Lady), Tracy Lord (High Society), Anna (in The King & I), Cinderella (The Slipper and the Rose) and Kate/Lilli  (Kiss me Kate).

Lorraine is a huge Sondheim fan and last year directed ‘Follies’ for Potters Bar Theatre Company. Lorraine also enjoys singing with a local concert group, The Showstoppers.

Julie Markey (Cinderella’s Step-Mother)

Julie has been dancing in shows since she was five, branched out into acting and singing  and loved it so much she went on to study for a Performing Arts degree, She belongs to several local Societies and enjoys appearing in a range of productions. Favourite roles include Lois (Kiss me Kate), Cinderella, Viola (Twelfth Night), Sally (Cabaret), Reno (Anything Goes) and Adelaide (Guys and Dolls). She has also choreographed a number of shows including ‘Follies’ and ‘Pirates of Penzance’.

Sami Latter (Lucinda)

Sami studied at LAMDA where she received many medals and a diploma to teach drama.  She has been performing on stage since she was 11 and favourite roles are  ‘Edythe’ (My One and Only), ‘Maria’ (West Side Story), ‘Audrey’ (Little Shop of Horrors) and ‘Nancy’ (Oliver!).  Sami also runs a theatre company with her husband Simon. 

Tasha Hollow (Florinda)

Tasha has been acting, singing and dancing from the age of 5. She trained in tap, ballet and modern. Tasha took LAMDA examinations, and teaches at local drama schools. She is a member of many local societies. Favourites roles include ‘Ado Annie’ (Oklahoma), ‘Brooke’ (Noises Off), ‘Audrey’ (Little Shop), ‘Sue’ & ‘Sharon’ (A Slice Of Saturday Night) and Principal Girl in 5 popular Pantomimes including Snow White. Tasha has also choreographed two shows at the Gordon Craig Theatre: Me and My Girl and Jesus Christ Superstar. She belongs to 'The Showstoppers' a local charity singing group, so far raising over £25,000 for 'Isabel Hospice'.

David Macklin (Cinderella’s Father)

David has been involved in Amateur shows for over thirty years as a performer and recently as a producer. He is a member of Romford Musical Theatre Company, Green Room Productions and Potters Bar theatre Company. He is also the founder member of local group Ego Productions. He has played many major roles over the years including: ‘Higgins’ (My Fair Lady), ‘Arthur’ (Camelot), ‘Julian Marsh’ (42nd Street), ‘Harold Hill’ (The Music Man, ‘Pirate King’ (Pirates of Penzance), ‘Fred Graham’ (Kiss Me Kate), ‘Nathan Detroit’ (Guys and Dolls), ‘Jack Point’ (Yeoman of the Guard), ‘Emile’ (South Pacific) and ‘Zach’ (A Chorus Line). David's last few performances have included ‘Bud Flanagan’ (Underneath the Arches) and ‘Henry Higgins’ (Pygmalion).

Laura Darton (Red Riding Hood)

Laura has been dancing, acting and singing since she was 3 years old. Recently, she played the lead role of Wendy Bennett in McSweeneys, an adaptation of Sweeney Todd. She has been a member of Hertford Dramatic and Operatic Society for 5 years and has played such parts as Violet Beauregard, (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and Blousey Brown, ( Bugsy Malone). Last July Laura played Fantine in Overtures Productions’ Les Miserables. She is currently rehearsing for Mack and Mabel with Green Room Productions and is very exited to be playing Red Riding Hood in Act4Theatre’s first production!

Lindsay Berry (The Witch)

Over the last ten years Lindsay has played a number of principal roles in musicals for a variety of companies in North London and Hertfordshire. 

Her favourite roles include: ‘Florence’ (Chess), ‘Mary Magdalene’ (Jesus Christ Superstar), ‘Reno’ (Anything Goes), ‘Angel’ (The Rink), ‘Yum Yum’ and ‘Pitti Sing’ (The Hot Mikado), ‘Tracy Lord’ (High Society) and various roles in the musical comedy review, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Lindsay regularly performs with three different cabaret groups and in August 2006 realised one of her life long ambitions by performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Malcolm Hollow (Mysterious Man)

Malcolm has been involved with drama and dance since his school days. When he trained as a teacher he specialised in choreography and drama and joined the Brighton and Hove Operatic Society where he took leading parts in shows like ‘Pickwick’, ‘Half a Sixpence’ and ‘Camelot’, plus pantomimes and plays. Once he moved back to Hertfordshire he continued with various societies doing parts in ‘West Side Story’, ‘Gigi’, ‘Brigadoon’, ‘La Cage’ and many more. Over the past 20 years he has turned to directing and choreography for musicals, pantomimes and plays in the Hertfordshire area. He also co-founder of ‘The Showstoppers’ a local group who perform for charity.

David Bottomley (The Wolf)

David has been and performing for 30 years, hard to believe I know! David has in been in well over 70 shows. He has played many leading roles including ‘Frank Butler’, ‘Billy Bigalow’, ‘Fred Graham’, ‘Sky Masterson’ and his most enjoyable yet is as ‘Pirate King’ (Pirates of Penzance).

David is a huge fan of Stephen Sondheim and jumped at the chance of playing ‘Ben Stone’ (Follies) last year.

David is also a member of Hertford Operatic and ‘The Showstoppers’ who perform in the Hertfordshire area raising money for Local Charities.

Janie Barnes (Cinderella’s Mother / Granny)

Janie has been involved in local theatre for over 20 years. Roles in music theatre have included Maria in "The Sound of Music", Julie in "Carousel", Duchess in "Me and My Girl" and Jenny in "Company".
More recently she has concentrated on plays both as actor and director. Favourite roles include Hester in  "The Deep Blue Sea", Truvy in "Steel Magnolias" and LadySneerwell in "School for Scandal"
Recently, she directed "A Gaggle OfSaints" for The Barn Theatre in their New Director's Showcase, "Rough Justice" for PBTC and "Talking Heads" for HD&OS in Hertford. 

Sarah Brealey (Rupuzel)

Sarah’s first introduction to Musical Theatre was at the age of eight when she played the part of ‘Katisha’ (The Mikado).  She is no stranger to theatre as she has appeared with Potters Bar Theatre Company and Green Room Productions for over ten years. 

Sarah brings with her a wealth of experience ranging from parts such as ‘Annie Oakley’ and ‘Calamity Jane’ to ‘Mabel’ (Pirates of Penzance) and ‘Yum Yum’ (Mikado).

Other memorable parts played include, ‘Rapunzel’ (Into the Woods), ‘Irene Molloy’ (Hello Dolly), ‘Bridget’ (Slice of Saturday Night) and ‘Grace Farrell’ (Annie).

Alastair Woodgate (Rupunzel's Prince)

Alastair performs with a number of companies and is Chairman of Green Room Productions. Last year he also made his Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in ‘With a Song in My Heart,’ showcasing the work of Richard Rodgers. Roles include Trevor Graydon (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Frank Butler (Annie Get Your Gun), Lt Cable (South Pacific), Clifford Bradshaw (Cabaret), Teddy Knox (Underneath the Arches), Marcus Lycus (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) and various characters in the comedy revue ‘I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change.’

Craig Berry (Cinderella's Prince)

Craig has been performing almost all of his adult life – sometimes even on stage – with companies across North London and Hertfordshire.

He is a regular with Cuffley Operatic Society and sings regularly with 3 different cabaret groups.(The Cuff Links, Limelight Music Hall, and Take Note.)

Some of his favourite parts have been Tony (West Side Story), Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar), Curly (Oklahoma), Fred/Petruchio (Kiss Me Kate), Tony Forte (Copacabana), both the American and the Russian (Chess – different productions J) and most recently Billy Bigelow (Carousel) at Wyllyotts Theatre ) last October. Craig had his 15 minutes of fame as one of the 10 finalists on Channel 4’s national musical theatre talent search ‘Musicality’.

John Bagley (Steward)

Having written three shows whilst teaching John could no longer repress the urge to treads the boards and, in 26 years, has been in over 40 plays and musicals for Potters Bar Theatre Company, for whom he has also directed, been in bands, created sound effects and written two musical shows. John has appeared on stage or provided music (guitar and bass guitar) for several other local companies. Most challenging parts have been the title role in ‘Scrooge’ and the director of ‘Chorus of Disapproval’. He has also lurked about in over 30 episodes of East-Enders, a few films and various other TV series as an extra.

Clare Adams (Snow White)

Clare has been into performing since an early age and loves it! She started to dance at age 6, including Irish, tap, street and ballet. At her school Clare played 'Blousey' in Bugsy Malone and 'Cheryl' in Sweeny Todd She has been a part of the Capital Arts Choir performing in the chorus of 'Joseph', in the West End and La Boheme and Carmen in the Royal Albert Hall. She played the Narrator in Oeidupus and Antigone with the Bancroft Players in Hitchin. Clare can also play the clarinet, and is grade 5 in singing. She joined the Act4theatre Stage School in January and is very excited about being part of this production.

The Production  Team

John Hebden (Director)

John’s contribution to Amateur theatre is primarily as a director - he has been staging musicals for well over 30 years. Most recently John has directed Thoroughly Modern Millie and the schools version of Les Miserables with a wonderful cast of under 21’s hear at Wyllyotts. John list of shows reads like a who’s who of musicals with very few left.

As a performer John generally appears when a part is left uncast or as a last minute stand in. He does however prefer parts which require him to sit down or lean on something.

Philip Coleman (Musical Director)

Philip has been involved with theatre since schooldays and helped launch the Youth Musical Theatre Company in his home town of Worcester as Musical Director in a production of West Side Story.

Since then, and now based in London, he has been the Musical Director of a number of companies as well as conducting choral, orchestral and operatic performances including Don Giovanni for Opera Inside Out at Marlborough and The Consul for Opera for All in North London. He is the Musical Director for W11 Opera for Young People commissioning and conducting new operas annually and is also the Vocal Coach to the junior principals and chorus for Opera Holland Park. 

Musicals include Oliver, Guys and Dolls, The Dancing years, Into the Woods, Kiss Me Kate, Hello Dolly, Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof ( Wimbledon Theatre ) West Side Story, On the Town ( Spitalfields Market Opera ) A Slice of Saturday Night, Cabaret, The World Goes Round ( The Spitz ) Hot Mikado, Little Shop of Horrors, Company, Merrily we roll along (Bridewell Theatre).

For the BBC he was for some time one of the regular pianists and songwriters on the children’s programme Playschool and more recently vocal coach for ‘Earthfasts’.

Compositions include Pandora, Birthday Fanfare for Brass and numerous choral and other arrangements.     

As a choral conductor he has conducted in most of the major London concert venues as well as in Belgium and Japan having been conductor of the Rowantree Choir, the Junior Department Choirs of Trinity College of Music and more recently conductor for the British Suzuki Institute. As well as maintaining his varied freelance career as conductor, pianist, composer and arranger he lectures in the senior department of Trinity College of Music in general musicianship and improvisation.

Simon Latter (Stage Manager)

Simon first appeared on stage at the age of nine as an orphan in Oliver! and has not looked back since. He is a member of several amateur dramatic societies performing many shows each year and has played leading roles including Oliver, The Artful Dodger and Fagin in Oliver!, Chantelle in La Cage aux Folles, Billy Lawler in 42nd Street, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance and Jesus in Godspell to name but a very few...

His passion for theatre doesn't stop with performing as he has worked as a lighting and sound technician for the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage for many years and has assisted in the stage management of many plays, shows and pantomimes. Another string to his bow is directing as he is directing the Young Arcadians in their production of Wind in the Willows this year and along with his wife Sami, they successfully produce and direct shows for their own theatre company, Why Not? Theatre Company.

High School Musical

Act4theatre staged High School Musical, in July 2008, at The Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar.  The production, directed by John Hebden, was hugely successful and sold out every performance. Congratulations to a super cast!

'High School Musical' Cast List

The Jocks

The Thespians

The Brainiacs

The Skater Dudes

Other Parts

East Elementary School Pupils

'High School Musical' Photos

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FootLoose The Musical

In April 2010, Act4theatre performed the energy-packed, smash hit musical Footloose at The Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar. 

The production, directed by John Hebden, was hugely successful and sold out every performance. Congratulations to a super cast!

Based on one of the top-grossing movies of the eighties (which launched the careers of Kevin Bacon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Lithgow and spawned one of the top-selling soundtracks ever), Footloose The Musical became one of the most explosive movie musicals of all time and captured worldwide audiences with its spirit, dazzling dance routines and electrifying music.

The Plot...

Life in small-town Bomont is peaceful until city boy, Ren arrives. He is prepared for the adjustment to his new High School but what he isn't prepared for are the local laws - including a ban on dancing - which are the brainchild of a local preacher bent on exercising control over the town's youth, held back by the memory of a tragedy. When the Reverend's rebellious daughter sets her heart on Ren her boyfriend tried to sabotage his reputation and many of the locals are eager to believe the worst about the new kid in town...

Footloose boasts an incredible score of 80’s classics including ‘I’m Free’, ‘The Girl Gets Around’, ‘Holding On for a Hero’, ‘Almost Paradise’, ‘Let’s Hear it for the Boy’ and of course the title track.

'Footloose Cast List

The Boys

The Girls

The Adults

 'Footloose' Photos

Coming soon!

Join Us!

If you are interested in being involved on stage or backstage in future productions we would love to hear from you. Please call Lorraine or David on 07894 219 844 or e-mail.