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Raffles Music Click to Play
How do you talk to a Stranger? sung by Olivia
Road to Nowhere, sung by Jellahay and Charlotte
Way out there, sung by Raffles
Golden Days, sung by Olivia and Raffles
Singapore! sung by the entire company.
Raffles of Singapore Docs
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The Kenton Green Room HAODS Studio
Raffles of Singapore Other Downloads
Way Out There. (Piano)
(Audition Pieces)- Way Out There (Stamford Part)
(Audition Pieces) - Singapore (Piano)
(Audition Pieces) - Singapore (Men ending)
(Audition Pieces) - Singapore (Ensemble+Women)
(Audition Pieces) - How do you talk to a Stranger (Piano)
(Audition Pieces) - He doesn't need me...(Piano Version)
(Audition Pieces) - He doesn't need me...(Charlotte Part)
(Audition Pieces)
| Raffles of Singapore |
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RAFFLES OF SINGAPORE©
The Raffles pictures are now in the gallery for you and for all members
The Noda Review of the show can be found here: http://www.henleyoperatic.co.uk/latest/n A musical by Richard Cleghorn-Brown and Ian Senior This musical was first presented by the National Theatre Trust of Singapore at the Victoria Theatre, Singapore, on 14th January 1979. The Director was Peter Kenvyn. The Musical Director and Orchestrator Richard M Brown. The Designer Miki van Zwanenberg. The musical was commissioned and produced by Sally Tunnicliffe. The UK Premiere presentation by the Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society was at the Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames 12-20 November 2010. Production Team
Director: Julia Rymer Stage Crew: Jonathon Moses, Andrew Lewis, Andrew, Kim, Richard Evans
Sound Engineer & Special Effects: Bruce Smith
Julia has been involved in amateur theatre for over 30 years, performing and directing from East Anglia to the South West. As a performer she has enjoyed many roles, in particular, Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Julie Laverne in Showboat and the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. In pantomime she has not only played Principal Boy but also Good Fairy!. Her directing credits for HAODS at the Kenton Theatre, include South Pacific, Me and My Girl, Kiss Me Kate, Oklahoma and most recently the much acclaimed, Titanic - The Musical. Julia has taken a sabbatical from her career with the Probation Service to work on this unique project and has very much enjoyed directing the UK premiere of Raffles of Singapore. She hopes the authors consider she has done it justice. In bringing the production to the stage, Julia would like to thank the cast for their belief in the vision, MD Tim Cumper for his unprecedented support, and patient coaching, David Parsonson for honing the rough edges and getting the cast to move, and the whole Raffles production team for their hard work and support, not least husband Terry for keeping the home front and Julia going, as life became Raffles
Emma-Jane has performed as a dancer over the years in many West End Shows, TV, and Cabaret events. She now runs StageWorks and dedicates her time to this and also to working with local groups such as HAODS and The Kenton Theatre. She also freelances as a Presentation/Performance Coach as well as teaching adults tap and dance. She is so proud that her students are working with HAODS for this UK Premiere and she hopes it is a success and the children enjoy themselves! Learn more about her on www.emmajanetaylor.co.uk
It all started 14 years ago for Alan when he first walked onto the Kenton Stage in a pantomime - strangely enough, directed by Julia Rymer! For a number of years he was ‘big in small parts in shows such as Me & My Girl, Anything Goes, Man of La Mancha and Crazy For You, and it was not until 2003 that he played his first lead as Curly in Oklahoma and then Bruce Ismay in Titanic- The Musical in 2008. He admits that this is the most demanding but enjoyable role to date, as Raffles is brought to life in the show and he has also enjoyed sharing his thoughts about ‘becoming Raffles in a blog published by the Henley Standard. Although this show is something of an unknown, as he has become the character, he has discovered that the depth and truth of the story is moved along by the music, making it such a pleasure to perform. In his spare time, Alan runs his own business called Frontman, hosting corporate events and a programme he created called The Pitch Apprentice.
Michelle is delighted to be making her debut at the Kenton Theatre (and with HAODS) as a member of the cast of Raffles of Singapore. Michelles previous theatre credits include: Polly Baker in Crazy For You; Mabel in Mack and Mabel; Laurey in Oklahoma (all MMCS productions); Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof; Edith in Pirates of Penzance (Wycombe Swan Summer Youth Projects). She has also appeared in the West End as Young Eponine in Les Miserables (Palace Theatre) and in the RSCs production of The Wizard of Oz at the Barbican. Television and radio credits include: Lady Godolphin in Frenchmans Creek (ITV); Suzanne Early in Ghostwatch (BBC); Mandy Hopkirk in Inspector Morse (ITV); Suzanne Trellis in About Face (Central). She has also appeared in a number of BBC Radio 4 period dramas including: Madelaine Bray in Nicholas Nickleby and Frederica Vernon in Lady Susan. Michelle hopes she can bobbydazzle for all her family in the role of Olivia.
Agatha - Samantha Field Samantha has been performing since she was six, and in that time she has played in pantomimes as principle boys and principle girls, in musicals as characters like Tin Man in Wizard of Oz and Belle in A Christmas Carol, in farces and comedies as characters like Mimi in ‘Allo ‘Allo and Angua in Men at Arms, and in operettas, plays and everything in between! In her first show with HAODS earlier this year she played the flirty and fun-loving Maisie, in The Boyfriend and now in Raffles, she is delighted to be playing the equally flirty and fun-loving Agatha, although she is afraid that her reputation may be being irreversibly damaged. She would like to wish the rest of the cast lots of luck with the show, and to thank them and all the production team for the wonderful experience that Raffles has been.
Jennamarie Smith - Agnes Jennamarie has recently graduated from Winchester University with a BA (HONS) in Performing Arts. Before University she was involved in Reading Operatic Society where she performed in Oklahoma, Carousel, The Boyfriend and many Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Growing up Jennamarie belonged to Jeanine Grevilles Dance Academy in Henley where she had achieved Advanced 2 I.S.T.D exams in Modern and Tap, Grade 8 RAD exams in Ballet and Gold Award LAMDA exams in Acting. Performing in this production has been a great experience for her.
Phil Couch -William Ramsay It has always been Phils ambition to appear in the west end for as long as he can remember. Having slowly made his way down south after performing in many towns in the North, he is getting closer, but is not quite there yet! Phil has performed in several shows for HAODS over the last four years, including Titanic the Musical and Fiddler on the Roof, but Raffles of Singapore has proven to be the most complex as it is new to the UK. The actors have had to start from scratch, with groundbreaking work, learning music, lines, choreography etc. with no point of reference. It has been a long journey from the start of the show in London via Singapore to bring you the finished article that you will see on stage. He wants to thank all his fellow cast members for a most enjoyable trip!
Kevin Goodfellow - Charles Lamb Kevin has been involved in the theatre for seven years participating in several shows a year with local groups playing a few normal characters and a wide variety of odd ones. His favourites being Scarecrow, Crabtree in Allo Allo, a very vain Prince Charming and a stage manager who is forced to play Lady Macbeth! He is pleased to have been chosen for a part in Raffles of Singapore and very excited to be part of the start of its new life in England.
Raymond Burton - Major William Farquhar Raymond has numerous credits in musical theatre to his name, playing leading romantic, comedy and character roles over many years, many at The Kenton theatre. As an entertainer he has performed in cabaret, concerts and many gigs with his own band as well as fronting corporate functions as compere. His diversity established him a presenter on cable television and radio adding adverts and voice over to his credit. His recent voice work is to be heard on a Mr Men and Little Miss V-tech toy. His first association with HAODS was to play Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, which he has also directed at the Kenton amongst other things, as well as HAODS last production The Boyfriend. Raymond is sure that you will enjoy Richard and Ians unique piece of musical theatre, Raffles of Singapore.
Ian Head - Colonel Gillespie
Tim Sloane -Astell - Chairman of the East India Company Tim has done a number of productions with HAODS including Pickwick as a dastardly solicitor, the Saloon owner in Calamity Jane, the Captain of the sinking Titanic and the Butcher Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof. Now for something completely different as they say, with Astell, the Boss of the East India Company.
Lord Minto - Basil Evans Oh Lord..!. Fresh from his last HAODS appearance as the licentious Lord Brockhurst in The Boyfriend, Basil again plays a Peer - this time in the contrasting role of the renowned Lord Minto, a former Governor General of India, now in his last post as Governor General of the East India Company and championing the career of Stamford Raffles. Basil loves the Musical Theatre and has played in many of our Musical productions including Titanic-The Musical (Guggenheim), Pickwick (Wardle), Happy as a Sandbag (Many!), Oliver! (Grimwig), Singin in the Rain(Rod) and Oklahoma!. He will be joining the Chorus to sing some of the beautiful Raffles numbers"
David Parsonson - Blagrave David is a jack of all trades and you will see by the fuller biography under his official title as choreographer to Raffles, that he has certainly had lots of experience. He was last seen actually on the stage of the Kenton as the devil in the Henley Players production of Terry Pratchetts Wyrd Sisters.
Terry Rymer - Lowson/Company
Terry was HAODS Chairman for nearly ten years until 2009 and was instrumental in commissioning the "Raffles Project". Now in retirement he works as a NODA Representative in East Anglia, as well as continuing to perform. He has played more roles than he can remember, most recent as Captain Bracket in South Pacific for the Lowestoft Players. His favourites are Captain Andy in Showboat, and Hines in The Pyjama Game. Terrys last HAODS performance was Mr Bean a 2nd class passenger in Titanic- The Musical. He wishes Julia and the cast every success with Raffles of Singapore.
Judy Vaughan - Jellahay We are extremely lucky to have the charismatic Judy Vaughan guesting as the unfortunate Jellahay in this production. She is a vocal talent who can light up a stage with a regular spot in at the Copa in reading, when her set flows with jazz and blues and gospel. Her first love is to perform live music, working with jazz and blues bands for many functions but has also performed in musical extravaganzas, musical theatre, pantomimes, choirs, and ensembles. We first discovered her in a gospel choir in Reading when recruiting for HAODS production of Showboat, some years ago playing Queenie, Joes long-suffering wife. It was obvious that she would go on to greater things and also took leading roles in Chicago, Hot Mikado and latterly Stepping Out. She felt that that particular musical brought with it not only the huge but wonderful challenges of singing in character, but also tap dancing at the same time! She is looking forward to the show, especially the beautiful costumes!
Keith Jeffries - Prisoner 1 & Company In his native Swindon Keith took part in school productions, Scout Gang shows and was a member of Wootton Bassett Light Operatic Society and ‘Stage Struck. Raffles of Singapore is his second HAODS show. In their production of Titanic - The Musical he took the part of John Thayer; a wealthy American who perished. In this show he survives (only just) as he has been held captive in appalling conditions for 5 years! He has sung in various choirs and currently sings in a duo with his wife Val.
Andy James: - Prisoner / Artist Over the last 45 years, Andy has been variously a singing vicar, a public exploder, a drunken writer, a devious attorney and chief first class steward on the Titanic, to name but a few. He now adds a blind prisoner and an inquisitive artist to his repertoire! All great fun.
Michael Huntington - Gaoler / Company Usually Michael is on the other side of the stage directing shows at the Kenton Theatre for either HAODS or The Henley Players. This time, however, he is appearing in a few small roles such as a jailer and a servant, plus singing in the back row. Mike has taken some time off from directing to study English and Drama at Oxford Brookes University.
Bailiff - Peter Dayton -
Ian Smith - Company Ian has appeared in a number of HAODS shows including Billy, Happy as a Sandbag, Amadeus and Pickwick. After going west on Titanic he now finds himself going East in Raffles of Singapore!
Libby Hallows - Company After years treading the boards through school and university, Libby took a break for a few years but was enticed back into the world of performing with Titanic The Musical with Henley Operatic in 2008. Having had the pleasure of visiting Singapore several times, she could not resist the charms of a show about her the founding of one of her favourite cities. She was also lured by the mention Singapore Slings, but has yet to see any! Maybe on closing night?
Pauline Smith Pauline is delighted to have surfaced from the cold waters of the Atlantic after appearing in Titanic - The Musical, and tread on terra firma in warmer climes with Raffles of Singapore
It appears that Caroline has been involved with HAODS for 13 years now and in that time she has met and worked with some fantastic people. The experience has brought her enormous enjoyment over the years. She last trod the Kenton stage three years ago in Calamity Jane, so the enticement to work with Julia Rymer in HAODS brave endeavor to stage this great new musical, Raffles of Singapore, was too hard to pass up, she says that she is so glad that she took on the challenge.
Amanda Holland - Company Raffles is the second HAODS production for Amanda, having previously played the richest woman on the ship in Titanic - The Musical. Amanda works at the Museum of Reading, (as a Victorian School Teacher) and is currently directing the Goring Pantomime. Her lovely daughters are following in her footsteps onto the stage and screen and are now starring in DDs Productions We Will Rock You. Her long suffering husband is a scientist.
Libby Hallows - Company After years treading the boards through school and university, Libby took a break for a while, but was enticed back into the world of performing by Titanic The Musical with HAODS in 2008. Having had the pleasure of visiting Singapore several times, she just could not resist the charms of a show about the founding of one of her favourite cities. She was also lured by the mention Singapore Slings, but has yet to see any! Maybe on closing night?
Mary Dickinson - Company
Nicoletta Hartin - Company/Dancer
Sue Brown - Company/Dancer This is only the second appearance at the Kenton Theatre for Sue, her first being in Fiddler on the Roof, but over the years she has worked as a dancer in theatres and cabaret in England and around the world. More recently she has appeared with the Sinoden Players in Wallingford, but is delighted to return to HAODS and to be part of Raffles of Singapore.
Richard M Brown - arranger and orchestrator Richard was the musical director, arranger and orchestrator for the original production of Raffles of Singapore in 1979. For two years he was the MD of the stage production of Lord of the Rings at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For many years he was London Music Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company where he conducted the music for over 200 productions. He was also composer/music director of many BBC childrens television programmes and has written numerous childrens songs. His opera, Widecombe Fair, for a massed chorus of children was recently performed at the Cadogan Hall, London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He is currently a lecturer in music theatre at the South East Essex College and is composing a new musical with Shaun McKenna, the lyricist of Lord of the Rings.
CAST and CHARACTERS
Prisoner 1 - Keith Jeffries Other Roles The parts include a Beadle in London, an Inn Keeper in Falmouth, a Gaoler in Malacca, two Prisoners in Malaccas gaol, an Artist in London, and Tunku Long...a local potentate in the southern Malay peninsula. Company - Ian Smith, Libby Hallows, Pauline Smith, Jessica Cooper, Andy James, Caroline Hopkins, Peter Dayton, Kevin Goodfellow, Keith Jeffries, Tim Sloane, Terry Rymer, Phil Couch, Mary Dickinson, Basil Evans, Michael Huntington, Judy Vaughan Dancers/Company Nicoletta Hartin, Sue Brown, Samantha Field, Jennamarie Smith Junior Company – Group 1 Ted Wilson, Sophia Stevens, Cassie Isley, Charlie Regent Junior Company – Group 2 Linnea Wilson, Caitlin Stevens, Bronwen Summerwill, Emma Renwick, Daniel Perry These other roles were played by:
There are also members of the Ensemble who will have to play:
Singaporeans in present day Singapore. Orchestra
Conductor/Keyboard - Tim Cumper The action takes place in London, Falmouth, Malacca, Java, Bencoollen & Singapore between 1805 & 1826 and present day.
ACT I
Scene 1. A busy street in modern Singapore Scene 1 The Raffles home, London, 1816 Scene 2 Bencoolen, 1819 Scene 3 Raffles bedroom, Bencoolen Scene 4 Singapore, 6 February 1819 Scene 5 Reception, Singapore, a few weeks later Scene 6 Farquhars office, Singapore Scene 7 The hut by the shore, Singapore Scene 8 Raffles residence, Singapore Scene 9 The room of the Court of Directors, Leadenhall Street, 1826 Scene 10 The clerks room, Leadenhall Street, the same day Scene 11 Outside in Leadenhall Street, the same day Epilogue Outside the Victoria Theatre, present day Singapore MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I
1 Together, my love Olivia
12 Entracte
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Julia Rymer
Emma-Jane Taylor - Junior Cast Choreographer, Principal - StageWorks
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