a new version by Bille Brownoriginal score by Gareth Valentineadditional song 'I Believe in You'music by Elton John & lyrics by Lee Hall

Producer David LiddimentExecutive Producer Colin IngramCasting Director Jill Green CDGProduction Manager Dominic FraserAssistant Director Paul Warwick GriffinAssistant Choreographer Laila DialloAdditional script Paul AlexanderDesigns inspired bythe drawings of Flo Perry

First performance at The Old VicWednesday 7 December 2005

Director Sean MathiasDesigner John NapierChoreographer Wayne McGregorMusical Supervisor Gareth ValentineCostumes Mark BoumanLighting David HerseySound Fergus O'HareOrchestrations Chris WalkerMusical Director Kevin Amos

CARST in ORDER0F AP FE ARANC

0)RS EST RA

Musical DirectorAssociate Music DirectorFlute, soprano sax, clarinetClarinet, flute, alto saxBass clarinet, baritone sax, piccoloTrumpetTrumpetTromboneDouble bass, bass guitarDrums, percussionSynthesiser ProgrammerOrchestra Management

Approximate running time 2 hours 15 minutes,with one 1 S minute interval .

Kevin AmosAlan BerryAndy FindonBradley GrantColin SkinnerAndy GreenwoodAndrew GathercoleMike FelthamStephen WarnerGary CubberleyMark WarmanSteven Hill, Musicians UK Ltd

F ORAmLADD IN

ery, theatre Royal Plymouth,Bowerwood production services Cave engineering by Scena Productions .Vases& fans constructed by Extraordinary Designs . Cave construction byThe Kite Studio . Cave decoration & painting Samantha Fellows . Fan &vase painting Belinda Clisham & Anna Stamper. Front cloths, walkdown &Hollywigan cloths painted by Belinda Clisham & Anna Stamper, Washing&Peking cloths painted by Samantha Fellows . Barbary cloths painted bVisual Scene . Boudoir cloths painted by Capital Scenery. Cloths suppliedby l & C Joel & Ken Creasey Ltd . Carpet supplied byShow Flooring Ltd .Additional lighting equipment supplied by White Light Eiectrics .Additional sound equipment supplied by Autograph Sound' Human flying

fx by AFX/Kirbys Flying Ballet . M .AVWalcoverings L td . Angels FancyDress . Costumes by Gill Linley, Stephen Harrington, Kevin Mathias, BristolCostume Services, Sten Vollmuller, Sasha Kier, Kit Reading, Laela Barnard,Phil Reynolds, Hilary Wili, Paula Yeomans, Jools Feedam, Clare Banet,Sandra Griffiths, Gary Page, Mhairi McKechnie. Prop

Costumes by AppliedArts . Dyers Gabrielle, Nicola, Penny, Hadrill . . I-tats by Jenny Adey, SeanBarrett, Mark Wheeler . Wigs by Mario Audello. Ian McKellen's cabaret wigdonated by Peter Owen . Prop makers Nigel Schofield at MDM Props Ltd,Frank &Allan at Capital Scenery, Claire Sanderson, Damon Glitter & Markat. Nomad Design, Lucy Griffiths, Victoria Fifield & Lynette, Laira Mason,Matt Lawrence, Pam & LJ, Sian Burston, Nazare at Angel Prints, KateEpps, Tracey Clarke, Daisy Popham, wvw.pedal-my-car.co.uk, Guinness.

Ian McKellen's costumes by Paddy Dickie .

The Christmas tree in the foyer has been generously donatedby the Norwegian Embassy .

Jane SemarkSimon AshNicole KeighleyMartha MamoSarah WinbornTracey StilesFiona LehmannLouise AskinsJoanna TaylorRick StricklandEmma SharpTracey ClarkeStuart CraneAndrew TaylorPJ HollowayTom HumphreyCrispian CavellFergus O'HareBecky StocktingMatthew WolfendenAnne BarnardTim GradwellNikki WhitlockJordan Sophie CoilsEmily NagleMolly PortsmouthAlex StoneKatie Bazell, Danny Bowers,Steve Grant, Titch Meagher,Alan Morley, Tony PortsmouthAKA (020 7836 4747)Kate Morley (020 8509 8609)Manuel Harlan

Abbanazar Roger Allam Company Manager (OVTQAladdin Neil McDermott Stage ManagerHanky Matthew Wolfenden Deputy Slage ManagerPanky Andrew Spillett Assistant Stage ManagersDim Sum Frances BarberWidowTwankey Ian McKellen Costume SupervisorPrincess Kate Gillespie Head ofWardrobe (OVTQEmperor Paul Grunert Deputy Head of Wardrobe (OVTQGenie Tee Jaye Wigs SupervisorEnsemble Marina Abdeen Head ofWigs

Madalena Alberto Deputy I lead of WigsGary Amers Properties SupervisorAlistair David Head of Lighting (OVTC)Steve Fortune Deputy Head of Lighting (OVTQEmma Harris Head of Stage (OVTQVictoria Hinde Deputy Head of Stage (OVTQStuart Neal Production Sound EngineerZak Nemorin Sound Operator No 1Daniel Redmond Sound Operator No 2Leah Sheldrick Acrobatic Staging

Music CopyingDresser to Ian McKellenDressers

Follow-spot Operators

SO ONGSBoard OperatorShow Crew

1 Prologue/Anything That You Are Seeking2 Family Matters3 I Believe in You Advertising & Marketing4 Die! Die! Die! Press Agent5 Pantomime Production Photographer6 Feng Yang7 It's Not Over8 Peace and Justice Production acknowledgements9 There's Life in The Old Vic Yet/Panto Reprise Set construction & painting by Capital Sce

FORTHE OLD VICT HEAT RE CO MPANY

Artistic Director

Kevin SpaceyProducer

David LiddimentExecutive Producer

Colin IngramAssociate Producer

Kate PakenhamMarketing Director

Vivien WallaceHead of Marketing

Fiona RichardsSpecial Projects

Rachael StevensCustomer Relationship Manager Carl PettsProduction Manager

Dominic FraserProduction Assistants

Simon FliegnerRos Povey

Intern

Miriam GillinsonProduction Accountant

Kofi BurkeMedia Consultant

Nicola HowsonLegal

Lawrence Harrisonfor Russell-Cooke

Production Insurance

Walton & Parkinson Ltd

The Old Vic Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges its financial investors:OldVic Productions plc, Michael Melnickand the Nederlander Producing Company Ltd .

F0 RTH E OL D VICTH1 EATR E TRUST

Trustees : Sir Elton John CBE (Chairman), Sally Greene (ChiefExecutive), Lord Attenborough, Alan Banes, Robert Bourne,Rosie Boycott, Stephen Daldry CBE, Dane Judi Dench,Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Kenneth Leet

Chief ExecutiveGeneral ManagerOld Vic NewVoicesEducation &Outreach OfficerHead of FinanceProduction Accountants

Assistants to Sally Greene

Assistant to theTrustTechnical ManagerAssistant Technical ManagerStage Door ManagerStage Door KeeperFundraisingSpecial ProjectsBox Office (ATG)

Front of House(Orion Management)

ALADDIN PROGRAMME

Editor Fiona RichardsAssociate Editor Jonathan CroallDesign RosePhotography Manuel HarlanAdvertising sales & print John Good Holbrook

The Old VicTheatrempanyThe Cut, London SE

NRBox Office 0870060 6628Information ovt c admin@oldvictheatre.com

©The Old Vic Theatre Company, 2005All information is correct at the time of goingto press, but may be subject to change.

Sally GreeneMary RoseKate PakenhamSteven WinterHelen O'DonnellIkram ArifJanet StoneAshCharlesNick MossKate MackonochieDeano McCullaghStuart GoodierNedSeagoSteve NisbetAct IVTom HopeBenJacksonChristian SmithZannaWalshMike PowerElizabeth SillettPaul Taylor

MakingTheOld Vic More AccessibleThe Old Vicaims to be accessible and welcoming to all and is committed to making yourvisit as easy and enjoyable as possible . However, the building is nearly 200years old andaccess is therefore limited by its current configuration . Please inform the box office at the

time of b king if you are a wheelchair-user or visually impaired, and you will be offeredappropriate seating If you're hearing impaired, headset and induction loops foruse with the

Sennheis

fra Red system are availablefrom front-of-house staff. We're reviewing accessfacilities andplan to add to ourcurrent services . If you have comments or would like tojointhe access mailing list, please contact mary.rose@oldvictheatre .com or 0207981 0910 .

41liI LE

JONATHAN CROALL SPENDS A DAY WATCHINGTHE CAST OF A RE-VAMPED ALADDIN BEING

PUT THROUGH ITS PACES

Above : The company .Opposite : Roger Allam, Ian McKellen, Frances Barber, Neil McDermott.

'Can you catch bird flu from toilet duck?' asks Dim Sum, aka FrancesBarber. It's a typical moment in a gag-filled, high-octane day at theend ofthe first week of rehearsals . Guided by director Sean Mathias, theAladdin company work with obvious enjoyment and great intensity onthree songs, two dance numbers, a chase, and three dialogue scenes .

This is a re-modelled version of last year's original production . Apartfrom the addition of the usual topical jokes, the story has beenclarified, there have been music and lyric changes, certain charactershave been strengthened, while cast changes bring in a new Dim Sum,Aladdin and Princess .

In a smallish, low-ceilinged room nearThe Old Vic, the rehearsalbegins with DimSumand the Emperor (Paul Grunert) working on thetraditional 'song sheet' routine. This part of the script, where the actorsare talking directly to the audience, is still open to negotiation . A coupleofgags are offered bythe actors : one is accepted, the other Sean rates'too risqué for the kids'. This is a constant dilemma: where to draw theline with the bawdy humour in front of a mixed-age audience .

Next, musical director Kevin Amos takes the ensemble through thebeautiful requiem song 'Peace and Justice' . No gags here, just ameticulous concern with getting all the nuances right: Kevin ensuresthat every comma is expressed, every consonant properly articulated .The result is impressive, and already very moving .

Aladdin and the Princess then rehearse their first meeting . Evendressed casually in tracksuit and jeans, Neil McDermott and KateGillespie manage to put over bags of youthful charm and sincerity,which continue to be in evidence in their romantic duet 'I Believein You', written specially for the show by Elton John .

Next we're into the chase ofAladdin bythe two dim-witted policemen,Hanky and Panky. Newto their parts, Matthew Wolfenden and AndrewSpillett are actor/acrobats, and their exuberant athleticism is a joy towatch. The ensemble meanwhile are playing citizens of Old Peking; thechallenge here for assistant choreographer Laila Diallo is to plot theirmoves as they go about their daily business without allowing them toobscure the chase. Before long they find the right flow .

At this point Gareth Valentine, who created the score and is also themusical supervisor, conducts a mini-rehearsal of the show's firstmoment. He wants the sound of Aladdin's name to be more wraith-like . 'I don't want any vibrato, it needs to be as cold as ice,' he says .After a couple of attempts, the ensemble find what he's after.

During the lunch break Sean talks of the difficulty some actors have inswitching to pantomime mode . 'If they get too psychological about it,if there's too much character exploration, the whole fabric dissolves.You have to make a commitment to the material, get on your feet anddo it with a very specific attitude and tone . You have to do somethingvery sculpted and clear, in bold colours, and then find out what worksand what doesn't. It's no good doing it as if it were a straight play.'

He reflects candidly on the difference between this year's preparationsand last year's . 'Last Christmas we were really groping in the dark . Wehad very little technical time to stage what in effect is the equivalent ofa big musical. We had to make compromises, which meant we weren'table to get all the sets exactly as we wanted them, and then there wasno time to change them . Thisyearwe've started a week earlier, and builtin moretechnical and preview time . So we're much more confident.'

There have also, he reveals, been significant changes to the script .'Last year we concentrated a lot of energy on the Dame, Abbanazarand Aladdin, all of which bore fruit and was I think very clear. Butmeanwhile other characters got somewhat neglected. For example,we virtually invented the Hanky and Panky story during rehearsal,whereas this time I think we've got the balance for them about right.'

There were other characters which seemed to need a re-think . 'DimSumwas under-written, and we've made adjustments to his character,especially in the opening scene, which we're now exploring withFrances. I think the Emperor- in the revision -was over-written, sowe're now looking for some cuts.'The lyrics too have been given a bitof a makeover . 'Some of them were written in a hurry, and written foreffect rather than meaning,' Sean suggests . 'So we've been througheverything, and where they're not connected to the story, we've cutor re-written them.

s

Above : Madalena Alberto, Victoria Hinde, MarinaAbdeen, Leah She Idrick, Emma HarrisOpposite: Sean Math Ias, Alistair David, Stuart NeaI, Roger Al Iam, Frances Barber, Frances Barber, Ian McKelIen .

Above : RogerAllam, Neil McDermott .Opossite : Andrew Spillett, Matthew Wolfenden; Ian McKellen, RogerAllam; Paul Grunert .

Ian McKellen, delighted to be back as Widow Twankey, muses on theattraction of panto. 'It's a form which welcomes anything the theatrecan do,' he says . 'The only restriction is, does it work theatrically?' Healso poses an interesting question : Are the British dotty about theatrebecause they went to a panto when they were young, or is it that theyinvented panto because they are so dotty about theatre?'

After lunch the rehearsal resumes, and they take it from the top ofthe show, with DimSum entering on his laundry bicycle. The focushere is on physical detail rather than character. Which tyre should DimSum pump up having been 'deflated'? Would a pair of bellows bepreferable to a bicycle pump? Howcan Panky's prodding of the sheetunder which Aladdin is hidden be synchronised with Dim Sum'sgoosing of Hanky?

Here and throughout the day, humour is never far below the surface,with Sean often setting the tone, and the actors entering into thespirit of it . After one unscheduled silence he asks : 'Any dangerof another line here, or are you all too wrapped up in your ownperformances?' To Dim Sum, who supposedly hails from Wigan buthas suddenly gone Geordie, he says : 'Could we possibly have the sameaccent that we had yesterday, Miss Barber?' Later, when a group ofmen in the ensemble appear to have literally lost the plot, he inquires :Are they members of Equity?' Later there's a huge laugh when Paul,

already a confident Emperor with an exquisite sense of timing, doesall kinds of unexpected things with his imperial fan.

Considerable time is then spent on the cave scene, where RogerAllam's Abbanazar is soon in full pantomime flight . Relishing themelodrama, he is by turns menacing, suave and monumentallyfurious. Abbanazar's anger management isn't terribly good,' hecomments mildly afterwards . 'No, he didn't take his tablets,' Seanreplies, adding : 'That was good, a lot more detail and new thingsfrom last year.'

The day ends with Laila spending a couple of hours teaching theensemble the tricky steps involved in 'Pantomime', the big numberthat closes both acts . They all go at it willingly, and by the end she'ssatisfied . 'It still needs a lot of refinement, but that's a goodsketch,' she says .

Judging by these two very varied sessions, this year's Aladdinrevival looks set to top the original production . Sean emphasisesthe importance of the company's spirit . 'If we have fun, the audiencehas fun. And we're having it .'

Jonathan Crooll is a theatre historian and biographer

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CASTMarina AbdeenEnsemble/understudy Princess1 was thrilled to be in myfirst panto, Jack and theBeanstalk, at 13 . It mayonly have been asthe backend of the Cow, but whatwould Jack have beenwithout his Daisy?Theatre includes BombayDreams, The For Pavilions,Stars ofStage andScreen

ASWELLA4 TELL]THE WORK THlEY'VE

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(West End); Razzle Dazzle(Hackney Empire); The Royal VarietyPerformance (HammersmithApollo). Television includesAllAbout Me, V Graham Norton .

Madalena AlbertoEnsembleMy first panto experience wasright here atThe Old Vic, inAladdin last year.To be partof itand working with the companywas magic .Theatre includes The ThreepennyOpera (Lisbon Theatre) ; Songs for aNewWorld, Starting Here, StartingNow(Shaw) ; A. . . My Name is Alice(Lilian Baylis) . Films includepuerida Moe.

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Roger AllamAbbonozorThe 'Cave of Dreams' oftendidn't work last year. This yearthey tell me it will . 'Oh no itwon't!"Oh yes it will!'RogerAllam is an associate artist ofthe RSC, where he has played manyroles, including Benedick, Macbethand Javert in Les Miserables . He haswontwo OlivierAwards, severalOlivier nominations and theClarence Derwent Award forrecentwork - Privates on Parade(Donmar), Democracy, Troilus andCressida, Money (NT) . Othertheatreincludes The Cherry Orchard, Albert

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Speer, Sumrnerfolk, The Way oftheWorld (NT) ; What the Night is For,City ofAngels, Arcadia, Art (WestEnd) ; The Madras House (LyricHammersmith); Blackbird (King'sEdinburgh) . Films include TheWind thotShokes the Barley, VforVendetta, Tristram Shondy, TheRoman Spring of Mrs Stone,Stranded . Television includesMonchild, Inspector Lynley,The Creatives, Inspector Morse.

Victoria Hinde, Leah Sheldrick, Madalena Alberto, Marina Abdeen, Emma Harris. Andrew Spillett, Frances Barber, Matthew Wolfenden .

Gary Amers Recent television includes Boudico, The Music Man (regional theatres); numerous pantomimes. TelevisionEnsemble/Swing Love in a Cold climate, The Ice Whistle Dawn the Wind, Jack : A includes Bad Penny, There's a1 was performing in Snow White House, A Royal Scandal, Funlond, Musical Portraitof c S Lewis (tours) . Viking in My Bed, Chucklevision,in Swansea . Some friends were The IT crowd, Miss Morple, Trialand Television includes Only Fools and Goodnight Sweetheart, Red Handed,coming to visit me on Christmas Retribution, New Tricks, Bremner, Horses, Back Up, The Jump, Birds Gogglewotch, All NightLang, FaithDay. I opened the door, and Bird and Fortune, Real Women, of a Feather, Shooting to Stardom, in the Future, Second Thoughts,there were seven dwarves BriefEncounters . Nelson's column . True crimes, Rumpole of the Bailey,standing there . Spatz, All creatures Great and Small,Theatre includes Hair (Gate); Alistair David Kate Gillespie One Hundred Years of Irving Berlin,Taboo (The Venue) ; Chicago (tour) ; Ensemble/understudy DimSum Princess The Royal VarietyShaw . RadioInto the Woods, Seven Brides for At eight I got a part in a local Where I was born, there was includesSomething to ThinkAbout,Seven Brothers, Robinson Crusoe panto . My mum said to another no such thing as panto. I'm The Last Battle, Fiddleran The Roof,(regional theatres) . Films include mother: 'I thought this dancing delighted to be having my Sweet charity.Beyond the Sea . lark was only for fun . I never first, memorable experience

dreamed he would be on of it at The Old Vic . Emma HarrisFrances Barber the stage. Kate Gillespie recently graduated Ensemble/SwingDim Sum Theatre includes Beauty and the from the Mountview Academy of Who could match the roller-My father assures me I was Beast (RSQ; Tonight's the Night, Theatre . She appeared in Nos Vie skating brilliance of Dave Leetaken to the local panto each We Will Rack You, Chicago, Fosse, en Rose (National Youth Musical Travis in The Pied Piper ofyear in Wolverhampton, but Fame, cats (West End) ; On Your Toes Theatre) in Edinburgh and Hamelin at the Prince's HallI have no recollection of it (Festival Hall & Japan) ; Piof High Birmingham . Theatre includes in Aldershot in 1983, in whichwhatsoever. Make of that Society, crazy For You (regional South Pacific (Grange Park Opera), I starred as Child Rat?what you will . theatres). Television includes Hair (Gate) . Theatre includes Chitty Chitty BangTheatre includes Tales from the The Life and Times ofHenry Pratt, Bang, cats, Phantom ofthe OperaVienna Woods, Pygmalion, The Saturday Nightat the London Paul Grunert (West End) ; Beautyand the BeastNightof the Iguana (NT); TheDead Palladium, The Big Breakfast. Emperor/understudy (New Elgiva, Chesham) ; ChicagoMonkey, Hamlet, Love's Labour's Widow Twankey (tour); WestSide Story (Austria) . SheLost (RSQ; One Flew Over the Steve Fortune Itwas the matinee of Goldilocks has made numerous appearances withcuckoo's Nest, Closer to Heaven, Ensemble/understudy after New Year's Eve . Daddy the Royal Ballet and the Birminghamcloser, Insignificance, Camille Abbonazor, Emperor Bear had celebrated too much . Royal Ballet, and appeared regularly(West End) ; MyHeart's a Suitcase In York I once played Santa's He stood with a huge fixed grin, in cabaret and concerts.(Royal Court); Imagine Drowning reindeer in Aladdin. My huge groaning, swaying and finally(Hampstead); Twelfth Night antlers weretoo big, and one tripping, and bashing his head Victoria Hinde(Riverside Studios); Uncle Vanya night as I tried to go through on the proscenium arch . What Ensemble(Best Supporting Actress, Olivier the entrance I got stuck, half an exit! When I was ten 1 was in CinderallaAward nomination andTMG on stage and half off. Theatre includes Anything Goes, at the Civic Hall Theatre inRegional Award), Overa Barrel, Pantomime includes Widow Love's Labour's Lost, His Girl Friday Broxbourne, first as a flower in anMacbeth, Summer and Smoke, Twankey in Aladdin, Sleeping (NT) ; AcornAntiques, Me and My enchanted forest . I had so muchOthello (regional theatres) . Films Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Girl, Peg ofMy Heart (West End); fun, and was upsetwhen it ended .include Goal 1 & 21, Evilenko, Suzie Cinderella . Othertheatre includes Arsenic and Old Lace, Born I didn't understand why it had to .Gold, Still crazy, Secret Friends, We Jesus Christ Supers tar, Underneath Yesterday, Bedside Manners, Tons of Theatre includes Dick Whittington,Think the Worldof You, Sammyand the Arches, Annie Get Your Gun, Money, Barefoot in the Park, Great Aladdin (regional theatres);Rosie Get Laid, Prick upyourEars, chess, Hard Times, Noises Off Expectations, Around the World in cha-cha, Grease, Oliver (UK tours) .castaway, A Zedand Two Noughts, (West End) ; The Little Match Girl Eighty Days, The Great Big Radio Television includes Bring It On,Photographing Fairies, The Red (Lyric Hammersmith); The Taming Show, The Secret Garden, The Dumb Aladdin, Royal VarietyPerformance .Siren, Superstition, 24 Hours in the ofthe Shrew (New End); Hamlet Waiter (regional theatres) ; DamesLife ofa Lady, Soft TopHard Shoulder. (Finborough); Romeo ond juliet, atSea, Guys and Dolls (tours); and

Sweet charity, Great Expectations,

Tee JayeGenieI remember a kitchen scenein Cinderella, when theperformers couldn't keepup with dishes coming off aconveyor belt, which begancrashing to the floor. It waschaos, and audience andactors were in stitches .Theatre includes Fame, Cats,Five Guys NamedMoe(West End) ;Tick . . . Tick . . . Boom (MenierChocolate Factory); Purlie(Bridewell). Credits in Americaand Europe includeA Chorus Line,Dreomgirls, Carousel, Dames atSea, Godspell, Baby, Grease, Josephand theAmazing TechnicolourDreamcoat The Wiz, Pippin, SweetCharity, Song and Dance, TheFontosticks, Applause, Applause .

Neil McDermottAladdinWhen I was 11 my brother and Iwent to an amateur productionof Cinderella with our footballteams. The goalie's dadwasplaying an Ugly Sister. MrRibola, you still haunt me!Theatre includes The Kissing Dance(Royal Opera House) ; Henry IV(Donmar); Through the Woods,The Water Babies, The Gondoliers,Babes inArms, Aurelius the Valiant,Apprentice (regional theatres) .Television : Rosemary and Thyme,Choprotown . Film : Goal!. Radio:David Copperfield.

Ian McKellenWidowTwonkeyMy favourite pantomime was atthe Marlowe Theatre,Canterbury- Patricia Routledge slapping herthighs in Jack and the Beanstalk,written by John Moffatt, whosedoughtyDame confided : 'There'sa very large party from Claphamin this afternoon - she's sittingover there.Ian McKellen first appeared atTheOld Vic with the National Theatre, asClaudio in MuchAdo oboutNothing .After 40 years he is thrilled to beback . Between times he has acted inmuch Shakespeare, and appeared inclassical and new plays forthe RSC,the National and other companies,most recently in the West End inDance ofDeath. On television hehas appeared as David Copperfield,Walter, Chauvelin, Hitler and AmosStarkadder, and most recently inCoronation Street. In films he hasbeen DH Lawrence, Richard III,James Whale (Gods andMonsters),Magneto and Gandalf, and hasjustcompleted The Do Vinci Code . Hisfirst pantomime was in 1962, as'TVthe Comic Chinese Policeman' inAladdin at Ipswich . With thanks andrespect to Christopher Biggins,Wynn Calvin, Julian Clary, RonnieCorbett, Roy Hudd, John Inman,Peter Kelly, Danny La Rue, DaveLynn, John Moffatt, Lily Savage andRichard Wilson ; and rememberingLes Dawson, Norman Evans, ReginaFong, Jimmy Jewell and Ben Warriss.

Stuart NealEnsemble/understudy Hanky, PonkyI remember having to wearan embarrassing baby's nappyunderneath my flying harnessin Peter Pan, at the Poole ArtsCentre in 1994. But I enjoyedflicking bogies at Captain Hookin the second half.Theatre includes Mary Poppins,Oliver, Nine (West End) ; Cats(tour); Oklahoma! (NationalYouth Music Theatre) .

Zak NemorinAladdinWhen I wasseven, I saw acreature in a panto at thePolkaTheatre in Wimbledonthat looked like a scary deathmonster. I had nightmaresand couldn't sleep for daysafterwards .Theatre includes We Will RockYou, Chicago, Mary Poppins (WestEnd) ; Saturday NightFever (tour) .Television includes Party at thePalace/Park, Children in Need,Absolutely Fabulous, All-TimeGreatest Love Songs, Showtimeat the Stadium.

Left : Zak Nemorin, Leah Sheldrick,Steve Fortune, Daniel Redmond,Madalena Alberto .Above:Tee Jaye .

Daniel RedmondEnsemble/understudy GenieMy best panto memory is fromAladdin last year, helping to get acollection together and keepingit running for the final two weeks,raising nearly £50,000 for thetsunami disaster fund .Theatre includes Mother Clap's MollyHouse (NT) ; Lo Cava (West End) ;Seven Brides for Seven Brothers(Battersea Arts Centre); The PeopleNext Door (Traverse, New York,European tour); Jack and theBeanstalk (Oxford Playhouse) ;They Shoot Horses, Don't They?(Royal Academy of Music) .

Leah SheldrickEnsembleEvery Christmas when I wasachild my mumanddad hid in thetree an envelope containingtickets to a panto. It was funguessing which it was: Cinderella,Peter Pan, Puss in Boots. . .Theatre includes Beauty and theBeast (Nojesteatern, Sweden);Honk! (Jeanetta Cochrane); A Nightatthe Musicals (Malmo ConcertHall, Sweden); charity gala (AlbertHall). Album : The 1980s SoulWeekender (Warner Music) .

Andrew SpillettPankyAfriend in panto was told hewould play to full houses everynight. He soon realised thatto achieve this the theatremanagerwas removing allunsold seats, leaving a smallgroup in the centre.Theatre includes Our House, Kiss MeKate, The Beautiful Game, WhistleDown the Wind, Starlight Express(West End) ; JustSo, Outof This World,A Chorus Line (regional theatres) .

Matthew WolfendenHanky1 saw Jack and the Beanstalkwhen 1 was five . No idea aboutthe performers, or even if itwas a professional production .What I do remember is thatit was just magical.Theatre includes A Funny ThingHappenedon the Wayto the Forum(NT) ; Romeo and Juliet (WestEnd) ; Sex, Chips andRock and Roll(Royal Exchange Manchester) ;Tomfoolery, Saturday Night Fever(tours) . Television includesCourtroom, Hollyooks.

CREATWE TEAMM]Bille BrownWriterI was at CoventGarden with adistinguished director who hadbegun in pantomime, when a manin front ofus turned and shouted,'I knew you when you were arabbit in Babes in the Wood!'Australian actor and writer BilleBrown's career in film, theatre andtelevision has taken him all overtheworld. He wrote a series of plays foryoung people for the QueenslandTheatre Company, one of which,tufff, went on to the Royal Court.As a member of the RSC, he wascommissioned to write The SwanDown Gloves (Stratford & London) .His most recent play is Bill andMary . He has written documentaryand feature films, including TheLightFantastic . Recent theatreincludes Hitchcock Blonde(MelbourneTheatre Company), TheJudas Kiss (Company B), HowardKatz (Sydney Theatre Company) .Films include The Man WhoSuedGod and Oscorand Lucinda. Heis currently directing John Cleesein His Life and Times and CurrentMedical Problems : AOne-ManShow with Others . He is artist-in-residence at the QueenslandPerforming Arts Centre .

Sean MathiasDirectorAs a young actor I played one ofthe Broker's Men in Cinderellaat the Intimate Theatre, Palmer'sGreen . Cinderella was in her early60s . In the middle of the showwe performed the Mad Hatterstea-party scene from Alice, asthe producer had secured thecostumes for a song . I then playedthe Genie in Aladdin at theGlasgow Citizens', where theGorbals yoof unwrapped theirboiled sweeties and pelted themat my bejewelled, exposed bellybutton, causing my seriouslyuntrained voice to quiver invibrato while I sang 'Wonderof all the Wonders' . I finallyplayed Mister B in ANight in OldPeking at the Lyric Hammersmith,and was instructed to wear suchcopious amounts of stylisedmake-up that none ofmyfriendsnoticed I was in the show .As a director, theatre includesA Little Night Music, Antony andCleopatra, Uncle Vanya (NT) ;Antigone (Cape Town); Dance ofDeath (Broadway, West End, SydneyFestival); Company (WashingtonDC); The ElephantMan(Broadway) ;Suddenly Last Summer, Designfor Living, Shoreditch Madonna(West End) ; Marlene (West End,Broadway, international tour); LesParents Terribles (NT& Broadway,as Indiscretions); Bent (NT, West End&film). As a writer, plays includeCowardice, Infidelities, A Prayer forWings, PoorNanny, Swansea Boys;plus an adaptation of The LostLanguage of Cranes for television;and a novel, Manhattan Mourning .He has won the Evening Standardand Critics' Circle Awards for BestDirector, and his productions havebeen nominated for 18 Olivier and14 Tony Awards . His film of Bentwon numerous international awards,including La Prix de la Jeunesseat Cannes .

John NapierDesignerSince Aladdin last year,I have panto amnesia!Musical theatre includes Cats,Starlight Express, Les Miserobles,Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard(West End, Broadway, & aroundtheworld); Time, Children ofEden,Jesus Christ Superstar (West End);Jane Eyre (Broadway) . He is associatedirector at the RSC, where his workincludes Macbeth, The Comedy ofErrors, King Lear Once in a Lifetime,The Greeks, Nicholas Nickleby,Heddo Gabler, Peter Pan, MotherCourage. Othertheatre includesThe Party, Equus, Trelowneyofthe'Wells', An Enemy of the People,Peter Pan, Candide, South Pacific(NT) ; The Tower, Who's Afraid ofVirginia Woolf? (Almeida); Skellig(Young Vic) . Opera includesLohengrin, Macbeth (Royal OperaHouse) ; Idomeneo (Glyndbourne);The Devils (English National Opera) ;Nobucco (Metropolitan Opera) .Films include Captain EO, Hook .He has won two Society of WestEnd Theatre Awards, an Olivier,a Bafta and five Tonys.

Wayne McGregorChoreographerWayne McGregor is artistic directorof Random Dance, the residentcompany at Sadler s Wells, forwhich he has made over 30 works,including Amu, Nemesis, AtoXio .Theatre includes Cloaca (Old Vic) ;ALittle Night Music, Antony andCleopatra (NT); Cleansed (RoyalCourt); Much Ado about Nothing,You Never Can Tell (Peter HallCompany) . Opera includes TheMidsummer Marriage (Lyric Opera,Chicago); Lo Boheme, TheMarriageof Figaro, Hansel and Gretel,Orpheus and Eurydice (ScottishOpera) ; Salome (English NationalOpera) . Ballet includes Engrom,Quolio, Symbiont(s) (Royal Ballet) ;Eden/Eden, Nautilus (Stuttgart

Ballet) ; 2Human (English NationalBallet); PreSentient, detritus(Rambert) . Films include Harry Potterand the Goblet of Fire, Dice Life,Bent, Chrysalis . Television includesHorizone, Nemesis, Symbiont(s),Dance USA, Physical Dysfunctional.Awards forOutstanding Achievementin Dance: Time Out and Olivier.

Gareth ValentineOriginal Score/Musical SupervisorShaun Glenville, a famouspantomime Dame playing WidowTwankey, once turned up late for amatineevery much the worse fordrink. Aladdin: 'You're 25 minuteslate, you're rolling around stinkinglike a brewery with your fliesundone, and I have to go on stageand call you Mother.'West End credits include as musicalsupervisor, Sondheim BirthdayTribute, Acorn Antiques; musicalsupervisor/dance arranger/musicaldirector, Anything Goes; musicalsupervisor/dance arranger, Tonight'sthe Night, My Oneand Only, KissMeKate (also RSC), Chicago, DamnYankees, Kiss ofthe Spider Woman,MissSaigon, The Baker's Wife, Cats,Cabaret, 42nd Street, Closer thanEver, Windy City . Other theatreincludes ToadofToad Hall (Old Vic);Merrily We Roll Along, Nine,Company (Don mar) ; Camelot(Covent Garden Festival); Chita(NewYork) ; Strike Up the Band,101 in the Shadow, Panama Hattie(Lost Musicals Project) ; Annie, Sleepwith Friends, Oh Kay! (regionaltheatres); Oliver (Toronto, UK tour) .He was recently presenter/musical supervisor for Channel4's Musicality, and has been anadjudicator for the LlangollenInternational Eisteddfod and theBBC Voice of Musical Theatre . Castalbum recordings include Musicality,Anything Goes, The Baker's Wife,Company, Chicago, Kiss of theSpider Woman . His Requiem hasbeen performed all over the world.

Far left : Sean Mathias .Left : Gareth Valentine.

Mark BoumanCostumesHowcould I forget last year'spanto, fitting Ian McKellen inmotherly-hipped body padding,with saggy boobs filled with birdseed, then adding a stretch satinjump-suit and gold 1970splatform boots?Theatre includes An Epitaph forGeorge Dillon (Comedy); Cabaret(Chichester) ; 1000 Broken Mirrors(Oval House) ; Bravely Fought theQueen (Border Crossings) ; forEnglish Touring Theatre, King Lear(Old Vic), Hamlet, RosencrontzandGuildernstern Are Dead, RomeoandJuliet, John Gabriel Borkmon,Love's Labour's Lost, Twelfth Night(tours) . Opera includes Idomeneo,Lo Boheme (Glyndbourne); DonGiovanni, The Marriage ofFigero(Garsington); The Tsarina's Shoes(Guildhall); Leonore (BolognaOpera) . As associate designer/supervisor, credits include Hamlet(Old Vic, OlivierAward for BestCostume Design); Anything Goes(NT) ; Mrs Warren's Profession,Lady Windermere's Fan (Haymarket);and numerous productions in theUK and USA.

David HerseyLightingMy last panto was Puss in Bootsat the Oxford Playhouse in 1976,directed by George Baker. I can'tremember the cast, but I doremember a very large marmaladepot being crucial to the action .David Hersey has designed thelighting for almost 300 plays,musicals, operas and ballets. Awardsfor Best Lighting Design include:Tony Awards for Evito, Cats, LesMiserables ; Tony nominations forThe Life and Times of NicholasNickleby, StarlightExpress, MissSaigon, Oklahoma!; OlivierAwardsfor Burning Blue, The GlassMenagerie, Twelfth Night; Oliviernominations for Oliver, GlengarryGlen Ross, Martin Guerre,Oklahoma!, South Pacific, My FairLady, The CoastofUtopia . Recenttheatre includes Love's Labour'sLost, Anything Goes (NT) ; TheDark (Donmar) . He was lightingconsultant to the National Theatrefor 10 years.

Fergus O'HareSoundRecent theatre includes Cloaca,The Philadelphia Story, Richard 11,Hamlet, The Tempest, 24-Hour Plays(Old Vic) ; Translations (NT); Hecuba(RSC); On The Ceiling, Holy Terror,Twelfth Night (West End); Anna inthe Tropics (Hampstead); One Under(Tricycle) ; 'Tis Pity She's a Whore(Southwark Playhouse); Cleansed(Arcola) ; The Prayer Room(Edinburgh Festival), OnlyTheLonely, Vermilion Dream, Clouds,Home, The Quore Fellow, Condida,Singer, Shimmer (regional theatres) .Work in New York, LosAngelesand Sydney includes The Shapeof Things, A Day in the Death ofJoe Egg, Dance ofDeath, NoisesOff, Electra (Drama Desk Award,nomination), An Enemyofthe People .

Chris WalkerOrchestrationsChris Walker has worked as a musicaldirector and orchestrator onproductions across the UK andthe USA. Recent credits include MyFair Lady (NT); TheSecret Garden(RSC);Acorn Antiques, Chitty ChittyBang Bang, Ragtime (West End) ;Privates on Parade (Donmar); AnEvening with Maria Friedman (NewYork); Whatever Happened to BabyJane (Houston, Texas) . He hasworked extensively in film andtelevision, and as a record producerfor First Night Records.

Kevin AmosMusical DirectorI was lucky enough to share myfirst and only other experienceof panto with the late, and verygreat, Les Dawson . His portrayalof the gin-slugging Ada in DickWhittington was a delight.The highlightwasAda sailingthe high seas-with pianoconveniently stowed on board.Onestormy night a castor cameoff the piano, which listeddangerously. Undeterred, Adacontinued her emotional voyagethrough the song . Arriving atthe climax, she bawled,'Wheel-things, 1 only have three wheel-things :Thehouse was, of course,brought down .Theatre includes Phantom oftheOpera, Cats, 42ndStreet, SugarBabies, Grand Hotel (West End) . ForMorlene (West End, NewYork, Paris,South Africa) he also wrote theincidental music and arrangements .As an accompanist he has appearedin London, Europe and NewYork. Asan arranger and conductor he hasworked extensively in theatre andradio in England and Scandinavia .

Paul Warwick GriffinAssistant DirectorAs an official pantomime'virgin', I'm delighted to makethis production my first brushwith the beast.Paul has recently worked mainly inSouth Africa . Theatre credits as anactor include Jesus Christ Superstar,Evito, A Midsummer Night's Dream,The Taming of the Shrew, TheMadness ofGeorge Ill, 'Tis Pity She'sa Whore, The Visit, The RockyHorrorShow, Catch 'n Fall, Queen at theOpera, Fiddleron the Roof, CamelotHair. His numerous awards includetwoVita Awards for Best Performancein a Musical. Director credits includeTick . . . Tick . . .Boom, Me and MyFriend, Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolour Dreomcoot. For thelast four years he has been residentdirector of, and appeared inTheInternationalTouring productionof Cats .

Laila DialloAssistant ChoreographerOneof myfondest memoriesof last year's Aladdin waswitnessing the involvement ofthe children in the audience -their enjoyment and liveliness .Laila Diallo has been performingfor Random Dance Companysince 1997 . Credits as assistantchoreographer include Cleansed(Royal Court) ; Skinned Prey(National Youth Dance Company) ;A Midsummer Marriage (LyricChicago) . As movement director :Macbeth (Scottish Opera) . Aschoreographer she re-staged Hanseland Gretel (Scottish Opera) . Filmappearances include Chrysalis, DiceLife, TheSource . As choreographer'sassistant : Harry Potter and theGoblet ofFire .

DRESS ITYOURSELFCreate your very own WidowTwankey with this free cut-out kit .

All you need is a pair of scissors and a steady hand!

INSTRUCTIONSYou will need :

" A small pair of pointed scissors" A craft knife" A steady hand" Patience and possibly an adult to help

Make sure you have a clean and clear surfaceto work on so you don't lose any bits .

7 Cut outWidowTwankeywith herstandalong dotted lines including the verticalslots at the edges of the base .

2 Using a craft knife, cut the small slotsout around her feet .

3 Fold base back along fold lines shown .4 Slot base together to form the stand,

so she's ready to dress up .5 Cut all clothes and accessories out carefully

along the dotted lines making sure not tocut off any tabs .

6 Fold back all the tabs .7 Select your outfit, hairstyle and accessories

and hang them on WidowTwankey.8 Shoesarewornbythreading tabs through the

slots around her feet and then folding back .9 See how many combinations you can create!

Havefun!

Fold base back along fold linesthen slot together to make the stand

Jill Green CDGCosting DirectorAladdin:'I've lost my lamp,I've lost my princess, I've losteverything : Asthe bandprepared to play'ImpossibleDream', Wishee Washee replied:'So what!' Aladdin started tolaugh, everyone on stage wenthysterical, the band stopped.Credits include The Producers,The Vagina Monologues, Contact,Thoroughly Modern Millie, MyOne and Only, Fosse (West End) ;Promises Promises (SheffieldCrucible) ; Cats, West Side Story,Annie GetYour Gun (tour); On YourToes (Japan) ; Chess, Copocobona(Denmark). Opera: La Troviato(Holland), Anything Goes (GrangePark Opera) . As casting consultant :A FunnyThing Happened on theWay to the Forum (NT) ; SomeGirls are Bigger than Others (LyricHammersmith) . Film : Beyondthe Sea (co-casting), Oklahoma!(dance production assistant) .

'"1E OLD V1ICSally GreeneChiefExecutive,The Old VicTheatre TrustMy firstjob in the theatre, givento me by the infamous DuncanWeldon, was Cinderella at theCongress Theatre in Eastbourne.I wasthe acting ASM, whichmeant I cleared up the shit fromthe ponies and played a biggorilla whochased the UglySisters. I got my first equity card!

interval and the sweets on theTheatre impresario Sally Greeneis well known for rescuing andrestoring The Old Vic, Criterion andRichmond theatres . She is nowstarting work on a new theatre inIslington. In 1999 she launched OldVic Productions plc, and in 2003appointed Kevin Spacey as ArtisticDirector of The Old Vic TheatreCompany. In 2004 she waspresented with the Montblancde la Culture Arts Award. She is co-producer of Billy Elliot: The Musical.

Kevin SpaceyArtistic DirectorKevin Spacey directed The Old VicTheatre Company's inauguralproduction Cloaca, beforeappearing in NationalAnthems, ThePhiladelphia Storyand Richard ll .Next Autumn he returns tothe stagein Eugene O'Neill'sA Moon for theMisbegotten, which reunites himwith director Howard Daviesfollowing their award-winningsuccess with another O'Neill classic,The Iceman Cometh (Almeida, OldVic & Broadway).

David LiddimentProducerMy first ever panto was in thedays when there wassuch athing as benevolent capitalism,andmy dad's company, ICI, had aChristmastreat for employees'kids . We were taken to theBradford Alhambra, but I'mafraid I remember nothing aboutit except the ice cream in the

way home .At GranadaTV, David was ExecutiveProducer of Coronation Street andnurtured dramatists such as PaulAbbott, Kay Mellor and Russell TDavies . As Director of Programmesat ITV he was responsible for WhoWants to be o Millionaire? and PopIdol, and dramas that includedThe Russian Bride, Bloody Sunday,Cold Feet, The Second Coming,Fat Friends, At Home with theBraithwaites and Foyle's War. He is aregular columnist for the Guardian .

Colin IngramExecutive ProducerAll I can remember of Rupertthe Bearat the Glasgow Citizens'Theatre was an enormouslyscarysix foot bear, my desire to eat asmany sweets as possible, andthis blasted song that I can stillsing, 'Rupert, Rupert the Bear,everyone knows his name . . .'Educated in law and charteredaccountancy, Colin worked forCameron Mackintosh Ltd, managingLes Miserobles (West End & UKtour), Phantom ofthe Opera (UKtour), Oklahoma! and The WitchesofEostwick (West End), and thenow legendary Les Miserobles 10thAnniversary Concert at the RoyalAlbert Hall . He then headed upWaltDisneyTheatrical UK, managing TheLion King (West End) and Beautyand the Beast (UK tour). He is alsoExecutive Producer for Billy Elliot:The Musical and The VaginaMonologues (UK tour).

Opposite page : Frances Barber,Paul Grunert ; Kate Gillespie,Neil McDermott.

Left: Gary Amers, Emma Harris,Stuart Neal, Victoria Hinde;Kate Gillespie .

Dominic FraserProduction ManagerAs a child I always hated panto.I remember sitting in the stallsat the NewTheatre Cardiffwondering whymy dad had to bethe loudest, most embarrassingparent in the audience-all thetime hoping I wouldn't be calledup tothe stage.AsTechnical Director at the DonmarWarehouse, from its re-openingunder SamMendes in 1992 untilsummer 2004, Dominic oversawits technical development. He wasProduction Managerfor more than80 productions, including tours andtransfers ofwork on both sides oftheAtlantic . He has also been ProductionManagerfor numerous shows in theWest End and across the UK .

Originating in ancient Greece and Rome, pantomime (from the Greekmeaning 'all mime or imitate') first took off in England in the 18thcentury. At first it consisted of short wordless stories told throughdance, movement, music and ingenious scenic effects. Theharlequinade, introduced as an interlude, was based on the stockcharacters of the Italian commedio dell'orte, such as Harlequin,Pantaloon and Pulcinella . Featuring slapstick and plenty of physicalcomedy, it soon proved so popular with audiences that it cameto dominate the productions .

Audience tastes changed during the Victorian era, when the pantomimebecame more of a genteel family entertainment at Christmas, supposedlyaimed at children, but also much enjoyed by adults . The principal boy,played by a woman, became the hero of the story, and the Dame roleswere played by men. Burlesque was introduced, involving the re-tellingof popular fairy stories by writers such as Perrault and the BrothersGrimm, and songs were added .

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PANTOMIME

At the end of the 19th century, music-hall stars such as Dan Lenoand Marie Lloyd and vaudeville acts became involved : performancesbecame rowdier, with hissing and booing a regular feature. Often thetraditional stories were altered so that these performers' routinescould be incorporated . Throughjokes, songs and even whole scenes,topical material was also introduced . From the popular melodrama -often a feature ofThe Old Vic programme at this time-came the fairygodmothers anddemon kings, wicked barons and stepmothers, andthe famous transformation scenes, which could turn a pumpkin intoa coach, a woodland glade into a castle ballroom .

Pantomime flourished in the 20th century, the popular ingredientsbeing the cross-dressing of principal characters, the breeches parts,spectacular scenery, and audience participation in the form of thesong sheets, shouting 'Behind you!' and exchanges such as 'Ohno it isn't!', 'Oh yes it is!' . Television stars replaced the music-hallfavourites, but otherwise the best pantomime of the 21 st centuryretains much of its Victorian flavour.

World premiere

Igor Stravinsky & Charles Ferdinand Ramuzin a new version by Abdulkareem Kasid& Rebecca Lenkiewicz

When a war-weary soldier hands his violinto a stranger in exchange for a book, has hesold his soul to the devil?

The unique perspective of a Western/MiddleEastern company is brought to bear on astory of profound choices. The Soldier's Tale,a Russian legend made vivid by Stravinskyand Ramuz during Wold War I, is broughtcrashing into our lives byThe Motion Group.This world-first collaboration of Iraqiand European actors and musicians weavestogether new Arabic and English textswith Stravinsky's evocative music andnew compositions by Ahmed Mukhtar.

A co-production with The Motion Group

26 Jan-4 Feb11 performances onlyTickets £10-£25

British premiere

Arthur Miller

High in the mountains of a South Americanbanana republic, a revolution is brewing.When the rebels' messiah-like leader iscaptured, a NewYork production companyswoops in to televise his execution - deathby crucifixion - and an explosive chainof events ensues . Humorous, poetic andthought-provoking, Resurrection Bluesbrilliantly satirises misguided global politicsand the predatory nature of a media-saturated culture.

One ofthe 20th century's finest playwrights,Arthur Miller's landmark works includeDeath ofa Salesman and The Crucible .Thisastonishing black comedy was completedjust a month before his death . It is directedby RobertAltman, the legendary film-maker,whose work includes Gosford Pork, ShortCuts and Nashville.

A co-production with Scott Griffin

14 Feb-22 AprTickets £10-£42.50Best seatsjust £12 for under 25s

0870 060 6628www.oldvictheatre .com

Eugene O'Neill

This powerhouse of a play reunites actorKevin Spaceywith director Howard Davies,following their award-winning success withanother O'Neill classic, The Iceman Cometh .

Josie, a towering womanwith a quick tongueand a ruined reputation, lives in a dilapidatedConnecticut farmhouse with her connivingfather, Phil Hogan.Together they're aformidable force as they scrape together alivelihood . But Josie's softer side is exposedthrough her love of Jim Tyrone (Spacey),Hogan's landlord and drinking buddy -athird-rate actor whose dreams of stardomwere washed away by alcohol.

A co-production with Nica Burns,Max Weitzenhoffer & Elliot Martin

Autumn 2006Booking opens in the Spring . Become aFriend ofThe Old Vic and you'll have priorityaccess to tickets, and can take advantage ofother membership benefits . Tojoin, phone0870 060 6635 .

Royal Coburg Theatre

Lilian Baylis,

PeggyAshcroftmanagerofThe Old Vic, 1912-37

in Caesar and Cleopatra

The Theatre starts lifeasthe

The philanthropist SamuelRoyal Coburg, promising the

Morley saves it from closure .nobility and the gentry 'entirely

Re-christened The Royal Victorianew entertainment. . . on a scale

Hall and CoffeeTavern .of magnitude and great expense' .Opening night includes amelodrama, an Asiatic balletand a harlequinade .

The great tragedian EdmundKean plays Richard III, Othello,Macbeth and King Learduringa six-night engagement . He tellsa rowdy audience : 'In my life

I have never acted to such a setof ignorant, unmitigated brutesas I have before me' .

Theatre re-opens, 'for theencouragement of NativeDramatic Talent', asThe RoyalVictoria, in honour of Princess(later Queen) Victoria .

Charles Kingsley describesthe theatre as 'a licensed pit ofdarkness, a trap of temptation,profligacy and ruin' . Dickenswrites : 'Whatever changesof fashion the drama knowselsewhere, it is alwaysfashionable in the NewCut .'

Theatre re-opens as The NewVictoria . During the decade it'stwice put up for sale by auction,before closing down .

Emma Cons, a leading Victoriansocial reformer, re-opens it asThe Royal Victoria Coffee andMusic Hall, 'a cheap and decentplace of amusement on stricttemperance lines' . The word'theatre' is dropped becauseof its 'impure associations' .

Michael Redgrave andEdith Evans in As You Like It

Morley Memorial College,offering evening classesfor working men and women,opens backstage . Concertsof opera excerpts begin .Bernard Shaw an occasionalmember of the orchestra :'If the masseswere notimproved it was not my fault .'

Emma Cons' niece LilianBaylis, aged 23, appointedacting manager .

Emma Cons dies . Baylis takesover as manager and lessee,and obtains a theatre licencefrom the Lord Chamberlain .Opera programme begins .

Shakespeare productions stagedforthe firsttime, under directorBen Greet .

Sybil Thorndike leads companyduring waryears. Productionscontinue during Zeppelin andbombing raids . Baylis:'What'sa raid when my curtain's up!'

Royal centenary gala .Baylisto Queen Mary : 'Your dearhusband's picture isn't as big asAunt Emmie's, but then he hasn'tdone so muchforthe Old Vic .'

Alec Guinnessin Hamlet

Under director Robert Atkins all36 Shakespeare plays in the FirstFolio are performed .

Edith Evans becomes first WestEnd star tojoin the company,after having been turned downsix years earlier. Baylis :'Shedidn't look the leading type.I was a fool .'

John Gielgud's Hamlet andRichard II establish him as excitingnew Shakespearean star. 'The OldVic is pre-eminently the place forartistic experiment, even if someeggshells of prejudice have to besmashed in the process.'

Ralph Richardsonjoins thecompany, to play Caliban,SirToby Belch, Prince Hal .

Sadlers Wells opens as Baylis'second theatre . The Old VicSadlers Wells Ballet Company isformed, led by Ninette de Valois.The two theatres alternatedrama, opera and ballet for fouryears, until opera and balletmove to Sadlers Wells .

Peggy Ashcroftjoins thecompany to play Rosalind,Portia, Juliet and Miranda .

Tyrone Guthrie's first season asdirector. Flora Robson, CharlesLaughton and other starsbrought in . Baylisto Laughton :'I'm sure that onedayyou maybe quite a good Macbeth .'

John Stride and Judi Denchin Romeo and Juliet

Michael Redgrave, AlecGuinness and Laurence Olivierjoin the company for the firsttime . Guthrie appointedpermanent director.

Lilian Baylis dies as Macbethis about to open .

John Gielgud leads a seasonthat includes King Lear, directedby Harley Granville-Barker, andThe Tempest, directed by GeorgeDevine. Because of air-raids,the headquarters are movedto Burnley. Several companiestour Shakespeare to mining andother industrial areas, subsidisedby the newly formed Councilfor the Encouragement ofMusic and the Arts, theforerunner of the Arts Council .

Theatre badlydamagedbybombs .

Ralph Richardson, LaurenceOlivier and John Burrell leada new company at the NewTheatre (now the Albery),its temporary home .Successful productionsfeature Olivier as Richard IIIand Oedipus, Richardson as PeerGynt and Falstaff .

Laurence Olivier andMaggie Smith in Othello

Damaged auditorium usedby newly established Old VicSchool, run by director MichelSaint-Denis .

Theatre re-opens afterrepairs and renovations with aperformance of Twelfth Night.

Under director Michael Benthallthe complete First Folio is stagedfor a second time, beginning withRichard Burton as Hamlet .

Judi Denchjoins for the first offour seasons . Her parts includeOphelia, Hermia, and Juliet inFranco Zeffirelli's productionof Romeo and Juliet .

Olivier appointed first directorof the National Theatre . Old Vicgovernors agree to offer thetheatre as its temporary home,initially for five years .

The Old Vic company disbands .The National opens withHamlet, starring Peter O'Toole .Over the next 13 years companyregulars include Albert Finney,Anthony Hopkins, GeraldineMcEwan, Joan Plowright andMaggie Smith .

Diana Riggin Jumpers

Money from recent surplusesis used to finance the YoungVic, which serves the Nationalas a studio theatre for threeyears, after which it becomes aseparate company .

Oliviers last stage performance,in Trevor Griffiths' The Party.He resigns as director of theNational, and is succeeded byPeter Hall . His productionsincludeJohn Gabriel Borkmanwith Richardson, Ashcroft andWendy Hiller, No Man's Landwith Richardson and Gielgud,and Hamlet with Albert Finney.

The National's last performancebefore moving to the SouthBank is Tribute to the Lady .Peggy Ashcroft plays Baylis,Gielgud and Richardson areamong those taking part,Redgrave and Thorndike arein the audience . In her curtainspeech Ashcroft repeats Baylis'threat to come back and hauntThe Old Vic should her and heraunt Emma Cons' work everbe put at risk .

E ca . .Theatre leased to visitingcompanies . The first production isThe White Devil, withGlendaJackson .

John Gielgud and RalphRichardson in No Man's Land

iz) ; ,It becomes the home of theProspect Theatre Company.Productions include Hamletwith Derek Jacobi, Antony andCleopatra with Alec McCowenand DorothyTutin, and SaintJoan with Eileen Atkins .

The theatre is put up for sale .Canadian businessman EdMirvish restores it to its formerglory. The facade of the buildingis based on an 1830 engraving,and the auditorium on thedesigns of 1871 . A giant sign ishung on the scaffolding : 'LilianBaylis, you're going to love this .Honest Ed .'

Jonathan Miller directs 17productions and collects fiveOlivier Awards.

Peter Hall's classic repertoryseason includes Beckett'sWaiting for Godot, with BenKingsley and Alan Howard .

The Mirvish family putsthe theatre on the market .Suggestions for changing itinto a themed pub, a bingohall or a lap-dancing clubprovoke widespread outrageand protests . In response topublic and political pressure, it'sacquired byThe Old VicTheatreTrust 2000, a registered charityset up by Sally Greene .

David Suchet andMichael Sheen inAmodeus

Transfer of theAlmeida'sproduction of The IcemanCometh is a huge success .Kevin Spacey wins the EveningStandard Drama and OlivierAwards as Best Actor.

First production under theownership of theTrust is PeterHall's production ofAmodeus,which is nominated for fiveOlivierAwards .

Announcement thatThe Old Vic will once againbecome a producing house .Kevin Spacey is appointed firstartistic director ofThe Old VicTheatre Company.

The new Company's first seasonopens in September with Cloacaby Maria Goos, directed bySpacey, which is followed by anew version ofAladdin, with IanMcKellen asWidowTwankey .

The season continues withNationalAnthems by DennisMcIntyre, starring Spacey, MaryStuart Masterson and StevenWeber, and ends with ThePhildolephio Story, starringJennifer Ehle asTracy Lord . InSeptember, Spacey makes hisUK Shakespearean debut in thetitle role of Richard II, with BenMiles as Bolingbroke .

ImogenStubbsandBen Wishaw in Hamlet

S

a

The Old Vic's education and community initiatives reflect the workon our stage and introduce thousands of young people and localsto creative learning opportunities .

Creative LearningEach production is accompanied by a comprehensive series ofCreative Learning events, backstage tours and ticket offers . Eachevent offers access to both the work on The Old Vic stage and theorganisation's rich history . Much of the work supports the nationalcurriculum and often improves the personal and social skills ofthe participants-developing confidence, problem solving andcommunication . Please pick up a Creative Learning newsletter atthe box office or visit www.oldvictheatre .com for more details .

Since 1998, more than 35,000 young people and adults have tokenpart in workshops, events and community projects. And in the lastyeorolone, more than 12,000 under25s have taken advantage of the£72 tickets we make available throughout the season . For furtherdetails, or to be added to our mailing list please e-moilyour detailsto steve.winter@oldvictheotre .com orphone 0207981 0982.

Creative CommunityCreative Community initiatives offer Lambeth and Southwark residentsthe chance to develop their creative arts skills, as well as makingreduced-price tickets available when possible . We're currently workingwith St Mungo's homeless service, The Children's Country HolidaysFund and the Evelina Children's Hospital on projects inspired byTheOld Vic's present and past productions . The'Aladdio Community Day'and'Pantomime Paraphernalia' workshops, sponsored by 1, will see usworking with some 900 children, families and community organisationsin the lead up to Christmas .

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Recent events include: recordings with a live audience for BBC Radio4's Justo Minute; concerts with Macy Gray and Damien Rice ; poppromos for bands including The ScissorSisters ; feature films includingDe-lovely starring Kevin Kline; audiences with Alastair Campbell andTony Benn ; filming for a video installation by artist Sam Taylor-Wood;The Fabian Society inaugural annual lecture, chaired byTony Blair,and conferences for companies including Pearson and Eurostar.

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SPECIAL OFFERS .YOU CAN USE THE EXCLUSIVE F I

S' LI E FORBOOKING TICKETS OR, IF Y

CHANGE YOUR MINDFOR ANY REASON, THERE'S A FREE AND EASYTICKET-EXCHANGE SERVICE. AND W WON'TCHARGE YOU BOOKING FEES .

FRIENDS' MEMBERSHIP EPHONE 0870 060 6635

THE OLD VICCLULoved by actors and audiences alike, The OldVic has been saved fromthe threat of closure thanks to the kind generosity of its supporters .A regular series ofspecial fundraising events and gala nights helpsto keep it in the public eye and retain its place as one of the mostillustrious theatres in the world. As a member ofThe Old Vic Clubyou'll have the chance tojoin in these exciting opportunities, as wellas enjoy all the benefits offered to Friends.The Old Vic Club membership £75-£1,000Tojoin, phone0207928 2651

Gold Members: DrYvoinnoBadow, Wendy Becker Payton, Karen& David Brush, SirRonald & I.adyCohen, Glen Donovan-Earth, Joachim Fleury, HonWilliam&Mrs Gibson,Adam M& Carrie Glinsman,Susannah Knights, in memory of Helen MacLean Goldie, MadeleineMalik, Colin&Mary Morrison,Allison Pearson &Anthony Lane, Mr & MrsWilliam Reeves, Mr &Mrs John Ricciardi, Mr &MrsTimothyRitchie, Miriam Stoppard .

Silver Members: Cheryl Anderson, JeffreyArcher, SirdarAlyAziz, Lisa & Andrew Barnett, LynnBeaumont, Wendy BravermanAssociates, Kate Carolan, SifTrevor Chi[in CVO &LadyChinn, MrsDenise Cohen, Kay Ellen Consolver, Verity Danziger, Paul Darling QC, Maria de LourdesDesloge,Yvonne Dias-Azedo, Julian & Heather Goodhew, Painela, Lady Harlech, Linda 1 Hipkiss, Larry &PeggyLevy, Zoha McLoughlin, Claire Milton, GenevieveMuinzer, John Myers, Rachel Paflin,Pembury Leisure Ltd, Nick Perry, Judith Pleasance, Linda Powell, Pedro Poaa, Marion Prain, MTRainey, Joyce Reuben, David Richards, Alison Roberts, Ariella Rota, Dasha Shenkman, Mark &Deirdre Simpson, Sue Smith, Kalman Sporn, Maundy & Laurie Todd, Karen Walker, RobinWoodhead, Mrs Julia Youd-Thomas .

. nerican Friends: Lauren Baker, David Ccistern, SusanneChristopherShutz, Noralee&Jon Sedmak .

ILURPIURATEMEMBERSHIPOur corporate membership scheme offers companies, theirstaff and clients an excellent opportunity to engage withThe Old Vic Theatre Company's work - both on stage andbehind-the-scenes . Generous and flexible benefits includetickets, hospitality, exclusive member evenings and branding .Corporate membership £4,000-£7,500+vatFor further information and tojoin, contact Rachael Stevenson 0207902 7582 .

Platinum Members: Classic FM, McCann-Erickson, Mouton Cadet,The Nest, M&C Saatchi

We also offer a range of opportunities for corporatesupporters, and aim to develop successful and innovativepartnerships . To find out more, contact Vivien Wallaceon 0207902 7585 .

THE OLD VICTHEATRE TRUSTThe Old Vic is ownedand operated by The Old Vic Theatre Trust,a registered charity set up in 1998 to save the building from closure.In 2004, the Trust launched The Old Vic Theatre Company, underKevin Spacey's artistic leadership . TheTrust has both saved the buildingfrom closure and funded capital repairs, as well as supported manyof theTheatre's on-going activities, such as Old Vic New Voices andeducation and outreach work . We don't receive public funding andwould not have survived without our many donors . If you'd like tosupport us, please contact Rebecca King Lassman on 020 7928 2651 .

With thank. to The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, The Amberstone First, Anonymous,Bloomberg, Robe i t Bourne &Sally Greene, TheCHCAR Charitable Trust, Jacquesde Bruyu,David Graham, Richard & Susan Hayden, Heritage Lottery Fund, Netjets, The New YorkCommunityTrust-l.ady Lynn Forester de Rothschild Fund, QuercusIfust, The RayneFoundation,the BasilSamuel CharitableTrust, The Foundation forSport & the Arts, IfreTrusthouse CharitableFoundation, Garfield Weston Foundation .

And 3i, The RichardAttenbornugh CharitableTrust, Carlton Communications, CHK CharitiesLimited, John CoatesTrust, the John S Cohen Foundation, Columbia Foundation, San Francisco,RikkiConway, TheSidney & Elizabeth Comb Charitable Trust, Daedalus Foundation,The DianoglyFoundation, Fidelity UK Foundation,Theodore J Forstmann, Goldnran Sachs, The HoraceWGoldsmith Foundation,The Gosling Foundation, Frontage of London, Henry& Marie-JosteKravis,The Kreitnian Foundation,The Mackintosh Foundation,The Mercers' Company,The MooseFoundation, Olivier Foundation, The Laura Pels Foundation, The PeltzTrust, Polo Ralph Lauren,Lie Eva &Hans K RausingTrust, John Reid, The Dr Mortimer &Theresa SacklerFoundation,TheArchie Sherman CharitableTrust, Sir HarrySolomon, The Stone Foundation,The Bernard

Sunley Charitable Foundation, Mrs PM Swaine,The RoyalVictoria Hall Foundation, ldmpkins plc,Treasury Holdings,TheVic-Wells Association, Barry & Tcri Volpert, TheWeinbeng Foundation,The Harold HyaniWingateFoundation,The Wolfson Foundation, Sue Berman & Michael Zamkow

Foundation, Dirk &Natasha Ziff.

Old Vic NewVoices godparents : KevinAdeson, Michael Brade, Kate Carolan, Richard Harding, Ban

Hundal, Mr &MrsSolKerzner, Mac McCloskey & ].onSlinn, John Maclntosh & Anna Verdi, SirIanMcKellen, Moxic Picttues,Mr &Mrs PYrros Vardinoyannis, Gavin Wilson, Mr&Mrs AllenYorke.

Old Vic NewVoices Major Donors Circle TheAlpert Family Foundation, Len Blavatnik, Robert

Kaplan, Mr&Mrs Kenneth I . . eel, Stephanie & Carter McClelland,

Education projects sponsors : Bi, Sarah Houqhton, Mont Blanc de la Alts Patronage

Award, Morgan Stanley.

U 1!LV Wt.PRODUCTIONS P1Old Vic Productions is a major investor inThe Old Vic TheatreCompany. Launched in 1993, by Chairman Richard Attenboroughand Chief Executive Sally Greene as Criterion Productions, its airsis to give theatre-lovers the opportunity to participate in theatreproductions. Stephen Daldry, Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons and KevinSpaceyjoined the board in 2000.

Old Vic Productions is co-producing Billy Elliot: The MusicalwithWorking Title Films at the Victoria Palace Theatre. The company hasalso produced, co-produced or participated in more than 70 shows,including The Vagina Monologues tour and West End run, TrevorNunn's Olivier Award-winning Hamlet, Sexual Perversity in Chicago,and the Reduced Shakespeare Company, which recently enjoyeda 10-year run in the West End.

Old Vic Productions continues to invest in musicals and plays in theWest End and on Broadway . If you're interested in becoming a share-holder or finding out more, please call Ros Povey on 020 7981 0945or visit www.oldvictheatre .com