Dick Whittington 2014
Dick Whittington is one of the most endearing of pantomime stories, having first been performed at Covent Garden in 1814 and having the distinction of being based on a real person.
Richard Whittington, third son of Sir William Whittington, of Pauntley, Gloucestershire, was born around 1350. Records show that he became an apprentice mercer (a clothier) in 1371 for Sir Ivor Fitzwaryn and did indeed marry his daughter, Alice. He was very generous with his money – his gifts including the building and equipping of a library in London Greyfriars, the rebuilding of Newgate Goal, founding a college and giving extensively to the poor. He was chosen by Richard II in 1397 to be Lord Mayor of London and was appointed a further three times before dying a childless widower in 1423. He survived his wife Alice by 14 years, and left all his estate to various charities, some of which continue to benefit to this day. It is most unlikely that he ever heard any bells on Highgate Hill and certainly not bells chiming “Turn again, Whittington!”. Sadder still, it appears that he never owned a cat.
Cast & Crew
- Dame Pippa Piddleton – Russell Atkinson
- Dick Whittington – Paddy Walsh
- Alice Fitzwarren – Rebecca Cohen
- King Rat – Paul Heyworth
- Alderman Fitzwarren – Harold Eastham
- Fairy Bo Belles – Charlotte Richards
- Silly Willy – Matthew Griffin
- Captain – Ian Murray
- Mate – Lewis Ware
- Scratchit – Shemar Purcell
- Sniffit – Connor O’Hanlon
- Tommy the Cat – Louise Brindle
- Sheikh da Bottle – Trevor Jones
- Princess Neptuna – Faye Forshaw
- Zubediah – Indika Purcell
- Harem Guard – Abigayle Ward
- The Hoghton Glamourettes – Sylvia Atkinson, Carole Brindle, Nora Clay, Pauline Fazackerley, Marilyn Gibson, Stephanie Murray
- Sultry Singing Sirens – Sheila Cromie, Jean Coupe, Pat Lingard, Catherine Walsh
- Chorus – Truth Cooksley-Pekepo, Faye Forshaw, Emma Lancaster, Amy Nicholls, Abbie Peat, Indika Purcell, Abigayle Ward, Matilda Ward, Klaudia Witowska, Eden Walmsley, Becca Nicholls
- Producer – Russell Atkinson
- Musical Director – Graham Blackledge
- Set Design & Build – Mick Tapper, Graham Brindle, Rachel Heys, Jane Eaton and their Team
- UV Scene – Margaret Sutcliffe
- Wardrobe – Sheila Parman
- Costumes by – John Hill Theatrical, Gerry Cottles Circus, Blackpool Tower Circus
- Sound and Lighting – Andrew Freeman, James Hindle, Jordan Leigh
- Choreography – Jackie Cooksley-Pekepo, WI by Rolando Theadorou
- Stage Manager and scene change – Alison Vardy, Graham Brindle, David Smith, Steve Wignall and Crew
- Hair & Make-up – Carole Brindle, Nora Clay
- Props – Sylvia Atkinson, Sheila Heyworth
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS
