42nd Street October 2007
Director: Paul Robinson
Musical Director: Colin Warnock
Choreographer: Toni-Marie Frost
Synopsis
One of show business’s most classic and beloved tales, 42nd Street tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a talented young performer with stars in her eyes who gets her big break on Broadway.
Peggy arrives to New York City from her hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania, armed with her tap shoes and big dreams. Peggy’s talent catches the eye of legendary Broadway director Julian Marsh, who gives her a spot in the chorus of Pretty Lady, his newest show. Pretty Lady stars Dorothy Brock, the classic Broadway diva, who takes an instant dislike to the new girl in the cast. When Dorothy is injured during the show’s previews, Pretty Lady looks like it will have to close, unless a new girl talented enough to lead the show can be found — someone like Peggy Sawyer!
Peggy’s rise from showgirl to star is the stuff of show business dreams. 42nd Street is full of crowd-pleasing tap dances, popular musical theater standards, and show-stopping ensemble production numbers.
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9 to 5 Spring 2019
Director: Laura Falconer
Choreographer: Imogen Smart-Steel, Musical Director: Karen Franks
Producer: Michael Leopold, Assistant Producer: Danny Rogers
Cast
Violet- Melanie Dunn, Judy-Melissa Cox, Doralee-Angie Schultz
Franklin-Paul Falconer, Roz-Victoria Swaine, Joe-Toby Jones
Margaret-Alison Green, Kathy-Sophie Colchester,Maria-Freya Martyniak
Josh-Chris Madden, Tinsworthy-Steve Cox, Dick-Markus Martinez-King
Dwayne-Mark Davies, Missy-Karen Paterson, Candy- Harriet Pollard
Ensemble
Abi Kendall, Dawn Greengrass, Justine Hughes, Edward Thomson, Shannon Lloyd, Laura Stevens, Emily Greenway, Emma Casey, Millie Shields, Nick Mead, Peter Barnett
Synopsis
9 to 5 is based on the 1980 movie of the same name, and features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. It centers on the downtrodden working lives of three women, Violet, Judy, and Doralee. They all work at Consolidated Industries, which is presided over by the sexist, lecherous, and pompous, Franklin Hart. Violet has worked at Consolidated for many years, but has never been given the chance to rise above senior supervisor status, although she is capable of much more. Judy is newly separated and joins the company having never worked before. Doralee is a sexy, happily married country girl, but she is ostracized from the other female workers. After Judy has an awful first day, Hart passes Violet over for another promotion, and Doralee finds out that Hart has been telling everyone they are having an affair, the three women unite in their hatred of Hart. Over a joint, they fantasize about how they would kill him. When Violet almost unwittingly poisons Hart the next day, he blackmails the three women, threatening them with the police. Doralee ties Hart up with the phone wires and, feeling empowered, they decide to imprison him in his own house while his wife is away. In Hart’s absence, Violet, Judy, and Doralee run the office to great effect. They introduce childcare, hour-long lunch breaks, rehab programs, and much more to benefit the staff at Consolidated. While Hart is tied up, the women also use the time to gather evidence that Hart has been embezzling from the company, but Hart breaks free and surprises the women at the office. However, his attempts to reveal the truth about his kidnapping are foiled when the Chairman of the Board arrives to praise the company’s increased productivity. The Chairman sends Hart to head up the Bolivia office and promotes Violet to the first female CEO. With Hart gone, the company reprise 9 to 5, in the happy knowledge that times have changed for the better.
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All Shook Up February 2013
Directed By Simon Openshaw
M.D: Dennis Hooker
Choreography by Aimee Clark
Starring
Natalie Haller-Amy de Roche, Chad-Brad Parker
Jim Haller-Paul Falconer, Sylvia-Jennie Moorhouse
Lorraine-Celine O’Donovan, Dennis- Dean Robertson
Miss Sandra-Vicki Stanbury, Mayor Matilda Hyde-Alison Green
Dean Hyde-Vince Baldwin, Sheriff Ear-Steve Cox
Ensemble/Dancers
Abi Essex, Angie Schultz, Charlotte Goulder-Perks, Clare Newton
Dalton Leong, Dan Bickerdike, Darren Flick, Ed Thomson
Emma Dixon, Emma Rowland, Francesca Webber, Imogen Smart-Steel
Katie Leader, Melanie Beggs, Melanie Dunn, Mike Foulks
Nick Mead, Sam Potten, Sarah Openshaw, Vanessa Aves
Synopsis
The music of Elvis comes alive in All Shook Up. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, All Shook Up follows a small Midwestern town that is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of Chad, a good-looking, motorcycle-riding roustabout, who rides from town to town with a guitar on his back, blue suede shoes on his feet, and a song in his heart. Repressed by their conservative mayor, the town begins to come alive once more under Chad’s influence. Lovers meet, woo, pursue, and more, all in one zany night that will change the town forever. All Shook Up is a rocking, heartwarming tale about following dreams, opening up to love, and the power of music.
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Battle Of The Divas Spring 2017
Directed by Emma Dixon
Synopsis
Epsom Players’ popular Cafe Cabaret evening of entertainment returns with songs from Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, Dream Girls, Lion King, Jersey Boys and more…
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Bouncers & Shakers June 2006
Directed by Paul falconer
Synopsis
Bouncers
Set in the 1980s at a Northern Night Spot, the play features the four doormen (or Bouncers) who play multiple parts to reflect the goings on at the club. Try imagining four beefy bouncers dancing round their handbags when discussing a hen party and you’ll have some idea of the kind of thing that will have you in stitches.
Shakers
It’s about four girls working it from 7 to 11pm at Shakers, a cocktail bar where they serve real duck liver pâté and some patrons order “pate”. No matter how frustrating it is to be seen as legs or racks by greasy ass-pinchers, our four Shakers girls, Carol, Adele, Mel and Nicky, simply smile and serve.
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Cafe Cabaret March 2007
Directed by Chris Malone
Musical Direction by Colin Warnock
Synopsis
Join Epsom Players for a Cafe Cabaret evening of light hearted and joyous entertainment. Sit-back and relax while we entertain you with song, dance and comedy numbers from all your favourite shows.
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Cafe Cabaret 2 March 2009
Directed by Darren Flick
Synopsis
Epsom Players’ Cafe Cabaret is back to entertain you once again with singing, dancing and comedy numbers.
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Centenary Cafe Cabaret March 2011
Directed by Paul Falconer
Synopsis
Epsom Players’ centenary year kicks off with our famous Cafe Cabaret evening of entertainment, featuring songs from all your favourite shows.
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Closer May 2008
Directed by Chris Malone
Synopsis
Four lives intertwine over the course of four and a half years in this densely-plotted, stinging look at modern love and betrayal. Twelve scenes chronicle the love affairs, rivalries, seductions, and betrayals of four characters (two men, two women) in a spare, intense style — sometimes coarse, sometimes obscene, but calling for real sensitivity and vulnerability in the acting.
Closer opened at London’s Royal National Theatre in 1997 won the Olivier award that year for Best New Play. After its premiere on Broadway it also picked up a Tony Award, and was adapted into a screenplay in 2004 for a major film starring Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, and Jude Law. It has since been produced in countries all around the world.
Crazy For You March 2012
Directed by Steve green
Musical Director: Nic Luker
Choreography by Karen ward
Cast
Polly – Helen Burgess-Bartlett, Bobby – Shane Goodsir
Irene -Polly Ashton, Lank – Kim Hill
Everett – Jeff Wightwick, Mother -Sammy O’Brien
Patricia -Alison Green, Eugenia -Laura Falconer
Sheila -Darryl Bunner, Junior -Bill Rackham
Zangler -Stuart Norris
Mingo – Steve Cox, Sam -Steve Leitch, Pete -Dalton Leong
Moose – Paul Falconer, Harry -Colin Bousfield, Custus – Jamie Read
Mitzi – Katie Leader, Betsy – Charlotte Goulder-Perks, Susie – Sam Potten
Tess -Julie Fallon, Margie – Louise Camby, Patsy – Louise Vinter
Elaine – Melanie Beggs, Vera -Melanie Dunn
Synopsis
Crazy For You — the “new Gershwin musical comedy” with a book by famed comedic playwright Ken Ludwig — is the classic tale of a boy, a girl, and a theater in need of salvation. Stage-struck Bobby Child works as a banker for his overbearing mother, Lottie, but spends his off hours practicing dance routines and sneaking in to audition for Zangler’s Follies, the most popular show in New York City, helmed by Bela Zangler, a temperamental Hungarian producer. Unfortunately, Bobby’s showbiz career is going nowhere, and his strident fiance is insisting that he name the date, so when Lottie demands that he investigate a far-away customer who has defaulted on a mortgage, Bobby jumps at the chance to get out of town. Arriving in hot, quiet Deadrock, Nevada, Bobby falls for Polly Baker, the sweet and sturdy postmistress, whose father happens to own the beautiful, but decaying, Gaiety Theater, which he has been sent to seize. Now lovestruck, Bobby comes up with a plan: call in his friends, the Follies Girls, all the way from New York City, cast the locals– a bunch of rundown cowboys with latent musical talent–and put on a show to save the old building. Polly falls in turn for the enthusiastic young man, but feels angry and betrayed when she discovers that he comes from the bank. In order to spend time with the furious Polly, Bobby disguises himself as Bela Zangler of Zangler’s Follies, all the better to produce and direct. But while “Zangler” is talking up Bobby to the unsuspecting Polly, Polly is falling for the impersonation of dashing, European Zangler…. and when the real Zangler arrives in town, chasing Tessie, his beloved dance captain, things really get “Crazy!” With a fast-paced and light-hearted script by Ludwig, and a collection of the most beloved tunes of George and Ira Gershwin, including the day-dreamy “Can’t Be Bothered Now”, the catchy, high-energy “Slap That Bass”, and the plaintive, romantic “Someone To Watch Over Me”, Crazy For You is a truly delightful homage to the beloved, optimistic musicals of the 1930s: a world of showgirls and cowboys, in which a city boy and a country girl reconcile their differences, fall in love, and save a theater, the old-fashioned way.
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Footloose March 2014
Director – Darren Flick
MD – Nic Luker
Choreographer – Aimee Clark-Hooker
Cast
Ren McCormack: Cory Chambers,Ariel Shaw: Gemma Kate Gould
Rev. Moore: Andy Robson, Vi Moore: Katy Reid
Ethel McCormack: Lisa Scott, Willard: John Sutherland
Bickle: William Balding, Garvin: Tyrone Haywood
Jetter: Jonathan Ford,Chuck Cranston: Michael Leopold
Travis: Chris Goldhawk, Lyle: Danny Willis
Rusty: Corin Miller,Urleen: Vicky Terry
Wendy-Jo: Livvy Carr, Lulu Warnicker: Clair Swan
Wes Warnicker: Steve Cox, Ireen Lead Singer: Emma Dixon
Betty Blast: Emma Dixon, Cowgirl: Emma Rowland
Coach Dunbar: Olly Reeves, Elenor Dunbar: Wendy Halls
Principle: Geoff Rose-Michael, Cop: Mike Foulks
Synopsis
Footloose is the story of Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago. He and his mother move to the small town of Bomont after his father abandons them. Upon arriving, Ren finds himself at odds with most of the town, including the Reverend Bomont. The Reverend has convinced the town to outlaw dancing, which Ren finds unbelievable. With the help of the Ariel (the Reverend’s daughter) and Willard (a country hick who becomes his best friend), Ren convinces the Reverend to let the teenagers dance, and in the process helps the town to heal from a tragedy that affected them all.
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Goodnight Mister Tom Summer 2017
Directed By Darren Flick
Starring
Geoff Brown as Mr Tom Oakley & Master Milo Perkins as William Beech
Supporting Cast
Paul Falconer, Jason Marchant, Sean Munro, Ben Chehrazi, Jeff Wightwick, Hannah Ebert, Pat McFarlane, Kirsty Smith, Clair Swan, Abi Kendall,Holly Marchant,Keira Richards, Katie Leader, Melanie Dunn
Synopsis
Now a modern classic, Michelle Magorian’s wonderfully uplifting tale is brought gloriously to life in this magical stage adaptation by David Wood. Set during the dangerous build up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and forges a remarkable and heart warming friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley. All is perfect until William is suddenly summoned by his mother back to London.
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Grease Spring 2016
Director: Sarah Morrison ,Musical Director: Dennis Hooker
Choreographer: Corin Miller, Producer: Paul Falconer
Starring
James Bailey as Danny, Katy Jackson as Sandy
Rizzo-Vicky Terry, Marty-Michael Leopold, Sonny-Danny Willis
Jan-Aimee Marie-Bow, Roger-Jon Ford, Frenchy-Sarah-Jane Pullen
Doody-John Sutherland, Patty-Hannah Vincent, Eugene-Lewis Sharp
Johnny Casino-Darren Flick, Miss Lynch-Paula Cox, Vince Fontain-Chris Goldhawk
Teen Angel-Damien De Roche, Cha Cha- Hayley Dodsworth/ Aimee Clark
Synopsis
It’s 1959, and Rydell High School’s senior class is in rare form. The too-cool-for-school “Burger Palace Boys” are stealing hub-caps and acting tough and their gum-snapping, chain-smoking “Pink Ladies” are looking hot in bobby sox and pedal pushers. The 1950s high school dream is about to explode in this rollicking musical that is both an homage to the idealism of the fifties and a satire of high schoolers’ age-old desire to be rebellious, provocative and rebellious. At the heart of the story is the romance between hot-rodding gangster Danny Zuko and the sweet new girl in town, Sandy Dumbrowski. They had a secret romance in summer, but now back in the context of school, peer-pressure and cliques make their love a bit more complicated. Can Danny maintain his cool dude status and still get make demure Sandy his girl? The whole gang sings and dances around Danny and Sandy’s romance, through such hit songs as “Greased Lightnin'”, “We Go Together”, and “Mooning”, recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation. Starting off with an eight-year Broadway run, Grease is among the world’s most popular musicals and has a cult-like following, especially among teens!
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Hairspray March 2024
19th-23rd March 2024 @The Epsom Playhouse
Directed by Sarah Morrison
M.D: Steven Geraghty
Choreographer: Tash Rose
Hairspray is a musical with music by Mark Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and the book by Mark O’Donnel and Thomas Meeham. Based off the Hairspray (1988 film) by John Walters, the songs include 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, Tracy Turnblads dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, based off the real-life Buddy Dean show. When Tracy wins the role on the show, she becomes a overnight celebrity, and meets a colorful array of unique characters. Then she launches a campaign to integrate the show and change history. Hairspray is known to be a social commentary on injustices of parts on the American society.
The musical’s original Broadway production opened on August 15, 2002.
In 2003 it won eight Tony Awards out of 13 nominations. It ran over 2,500 performances and closed on January 4, 2009. Hairspray has also had some national tours, a London West End production, and numerous foreign productions and was adapted as a 2007 musical film. The London production was nominated for a record-setting eleven Lance Oliver Awards, winning for Best New Musical and in three other categories.
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Handbagged Autumn 2018
Directed By Paul Falconer
Cast
Queen: Linda McMahon
Thatcher: Laura Falconer
Liz: Vanessa Marchant
Mags: Sarah-Jane Pullen
Man 1: Tommy Deeks
Man 2: Richard Williams
Synopsis
The Iron Lady. The Queen. Born six months apart, each woman had a destiny that would change the world. But when the stiff upper lip softened and the gloves came off, which one had the upper hand? Handbagged is the wickedly funny comedy that imagines what the world’s most powerful women talk about behind closed palace doors.
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