Ryhope Comprehensive School
STARDUST CAST
Henry Ford
The narrator is characterised by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Clown, played by Henry Ford. He symbolically represents all the past pop stars – including Otis Redding and Buddy Holly. It is a singing and an acting part – examples of some of the songs being “Time”, “Ziggy Stardust”, and “Lady Stardust”.
Henry feels he has benefitted from the productions of “Tommy” and “Stardust”. It has given him a taste for the music business, and he would like a career in singing. Given the chance of another part like this in the future, he would jump at it.
Jeff Stoker
The lead is taken by 5th former Jeff Stoker, playing Jim McClaine, the local lad who rises to stardom. Jeff says it was his sense of adventure which prompted him to enter the audition, and he was lucky enough to land the lead part. In “Stardust” his role includes both singing and acting, and he says he would jump at the chance of a part in another production.
(Mr Gerrie please note). He sees “Stardust” as a picture of the pop culture, but also says it is slightly exaggerated. All in all he has enjoyed the whole production, and promises it will be alright on the night.
Diane Hepple
Jim’s girlfriend Danielle is played by sixth former Diane Hepple. She had a major part in “Tommy” last year and was keen to audition for “Stardust” as soon as she heard about it. Diane is quite a professional, for she is also a member of a Sunderland drama group.
She is particularly suited for this part, and says she can identify with the character of Danielle.
Gargantua and Pantagruel
Porter Lee Austin, the American manager of Jim, and Felix Hoffman, PL’s right-hand man, are played by two sixth form introverts, Martin Softly and Garry Shaw. The Inseperables both enjoy working on the show and consider it their first step to international stardom..(Martin is open to any offers – quick though, because some lucky fans have already capitalised on his potential) Gary sees Felix as a quiet genius, who bursts into song at any opportune (or inopportune) moment. Martin, on the other hand, considers PL to be an insensitive American business man, always willing and ready to make a quick buck. Martin also says that some particular qualities of the girls in the production have got him having a both once a month.
Anita Douglas
Cabaret Singer Anita Douglas (now Anita Cudworth) has recently been in touch with us and commented:-
…my goodness I was only 16 at the time. I had left school and started work and had to keep coming back on night times and weekends to do the show. when they did the documentary I could not get the time of work so they had to record me during one of the live shows and that meant turning all the house lights up, so instead of singing into the dark I could see everyone this made me very nerves at the time, but when I look back on it what a great memory and what a great time to be at Ryhope comp something to tell my grandkids about.
CAST
Singing Actors
Stray Cats
Jim Jeff Stoker
Johnny John Deacon
Alex Steven Crake
Rod Steven child
J.D. Chris Cowie
*************
Mike Steven Barrass
Porter Lee Martin Softly
Felix Gary Shaw
Danielle Diane Hepple
Ronnettes Dorothy Martin
Leslie Hardy
Gillian Fishwick
Jim’s Mother Margaret Briggs
Rock & Roll Clown Henry Ford
Cabaret Singer Anita Douglas
Hippie Girl Amanda Hepple
Exotic Dancer Susan Cain
Spiritual Mother Cecelia Pearson
Actors
Waitress Lynn Davidson
TV Interviewer David Nisbett
DJ Martin Softly
“New Faces” Compere David Nisbett
“New Faces” Panel Stuart Nicholson
Alex Slark
Barbara Widdowfield
Chris Pratt
Club Secretary Ian Tulley
Manager Gordon Davis
Jim’s Wife Denise Lawton
Porter Lee’s Wife Sandra Gardiner
Smoochy Girl Julie Griffiths
Brian Colin Green
Barnacle Barney Robert Mason
Barman Peter Reid
Time Dancer Pat Taylor
TV Director Ian Tully
TV Producer Alex Slark
Dancers
Elaine Downing, Denise Lawton, Jean Eltringham, Suzanne Edmonds, Anita Place,
Joanne Dent, Diane Ayre, June Miller, Gillian Fishwick, Pat Taylor, Catherine Longstaff,
Colin Copeland, Anita Douglas, Stuart Ferguson, Stephen Allen, Christine Liddle,
Joan Thompson, Denise Taylor, Elsie Harrison, Jackie Cornish, Hazel Williams.
Band
Cornets Loshy, Vince, Joe, Stewy, Eric, Brian, David, Margaret
Tenor Horns Susan, Paul
Baritones Lynn, Trevor
Euphenium Willis
Trombone Ian
Bass Julie, Duggie
Rock Band
John, cliff, Gareth, Bill, George.
And
2,000 crazy first year teenyboppers for the filmed airport scene.
The massed Smith Street Choir
Workers
Director Malcolm C Gerrie
Musical Direction George Robinson
Bill Scott
Producer Ivan Hargreaves
Assistant Director Andy Smith
General Manager Dave Treweeke
Stage Design Ivan Hargreaves
Costume Eileen Burdon
Lynn Rickeard
Kathleen Brown
Stage Manager Neil Reid
Props Manager Bob Pendlington
Make Up Elizabeth Bisset
John Roberts
Set Construction Neil Reid
Dave Smith
Artistic Director George Ives
Special Effects Kelvin Hughes
Choreography Susan McAlinden
Floor Manager Ken Stewart
Treasurer Sandra Smith
Refreshments Sheila Richbell
Lighting Michael Taylor
Keith Bell
Sound Les Reid
Graham Snowdon
Stephen Parnaby
Backstage Andy Conn
Colin McCoy
Vaguely Backstage Kenny Maynard
Colin Copeland
Photography Jim Pace
Malcolm C Gerrie
Musical Composition William E Scott
Lyrics:
“Let us Live” Lesley Wilkinson
Jennifer Cotterill
Others Malcolm C Gerrie
Musical Arrangements George Robinson
Cleaning, Caretakers, Typing, Cleaners, Patience, Office Staff, Efficiency, Teaching Staff,
Laughs, Etc.
TA!
All the cast, and everyone else involved backstage, frontstage, understage and somewhere near stage, wants to thank each other. there are many others to whom thanks are due; and as this programme is going to press well before the productions, some names will unavoidably go unmentioned. So firstly, thanks to the Unknown Benefactors. We hope you bought tickets so that you can see the results of your generosity. Mr Copland’s name doesn’t appear anywhere else on this programme – it should – he’s been positively helpful and enthusiastic from the beginning.
The rest of the names are not in any sort of order. Some individuals and organisations have been incredibly generous, but we give equal thanks to all of them:
White Sound Equipment, Sunderland for sound equipment; Bib and Tucker Fashions, Newcastle, and High Fashion, Newcastle for supply of T-Shirts; West One Male Boutique, Sunderland, for clothes for Lady Stardust scene; Graham Reeves, Newcastle Polytechnic, for T-Shirt design; Experiment in Leisure; Annie Tyson, University Theatre Newcastle, for choreographic assistance; London Weekend television for all sorts of help, including checking with lots of music publishers; The Newcastle Journal; The New Musical Express – what’s this, what’s this? – ed; Coelfrith Arts Centre; Sergeant Pepper’s Boutique, Sunderland for something or other; The North Eastern Co-operative Society, for a lot of general help, and for several useful contacts; Miway Builders, Newcastle, and SGB Scaffolding, Seaton Sluice, for scaffolding and turntable; British Airways, North-East Division and the Directorate of Newcastle Airport, for facilities for filming; Cumulus Films and Amber Films, for help with filming; BBC and ITN for information and material; Sunderland Hospitals Broadcasts, for help with sound recording, Saxons of Sunderland, for information and help; Binns of Sunderland, particularly the display team, for synthetic camel dung, an inflatable clown, angels, clouds etc; The American Consulate General, Edinburgh, for a flag; Vaux Breweries, for authentic bar properties Lennie Ross and “Jason”.
Stardust at Ryhope
One
1) “Time” Rock ‘n’ Roll Clown
2) Jim and Mike……..First Meeting
3) Bar…….Stray Cats meet Mike
4) Silksworth Youth Club
4) Bar……..Mike gets Working Men’s Gig
6) Workingmen’s Club
7) Mike meets Brian…..Gets Club a’ Gogo Gig
8) Cub a’ Gogo
9) New Faces
Two
1) Narration London 1967/6
2) Recording Studio
3) Bag O’ Nails Club
4) Group’s Flat
5) Narration
6) Top of the Pops
7) Taped Conversation
Three
1) USA
2) Lady Stardust
3) Fame
4) Silksworth Council Houses
5) Woodstock
6) Death
Four
1) Stray Cats Leave
2) Sanctus
3) Narration………Phone
4) Ziggy Stardust
5) Mike and Ziggy
6) You’ve Got A Friend
7) Porter Lee Tries
8) Interview