The Baker's Wife
Chris Arden (Aimable) This is Chris's first production with the Society, having performed with many company members in various other productions over the years. Chris now relishes the character opportunities that the more mature roles provide, particular favourites being Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof) and Emile (South Pacific). Aimable may now rise to the top of the list, because the part is so charming and the show, with its beautifully melodic score, so enchanting. Oh, and also, where else can a middle-aged roué romance a gorgeous young girl, particularly under the direction of his wife? Finally, if there isn't a programme quiz to identify the various regional accents being murdered in this portrayal, there should be!!
Nicola Henderson (Genevieve) graduated in with a BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Arts from Birmingham in 2005 and has always been a performer! She began singing from a young age, and attended the British National Theatre School for four years where she achieved success in LAMDA exams. She has performed in musicals and concerts ranging from Les Misérables, Smokey Joe's Café, Miss Saigon, West Side Story and, most recently, Titanic! The Musical and Witches of Eastwick with WWOS. She is the lead singer of the fabulous professional function band Firefly! and spends her days working in publishing for Rough Guides Travel. This is Nicola's first production with the Society, and she is incredibly excited to be playing such a lovely role in such a wonderful musical!
Richard Cooper (Dominique) has been involved with various operatic groups in the local area, both on stage and in the pit, and is very pleased to be making his debut with TEPOS Music Box. In his spare time Richard is Head of Music at the Tramshed Performing Arts Centre, Woolwich. Previous roles include Bill (Hand of Bridge), Frederic (Pirates of Penzance), Counsel for the Plaintiff (Trial by Jury), Mr Wells (The Sorcerer), Satyavan (Savitri), Joseph (Joseph...), Kay (Snow Queen), Box (Cox and Box). Richard is currently working on the role of Jamie in a production of The Last Five Years.
Sue Wootton (Denise) is in her 29th show with the Society, having previously performed for 10 years in cabaret. Her principal roles include Nancy (Oliver!), Tzeitel (Fiddler on the Roof), Ruth (Pirates of Penzance), Lizzie Stride (Jack the Ripper), Mrs Pearce (My Fair Lady) and many others.
Keith Jarman (Claude) The Baker's Wife is Keith's second show with us, but he comes with an extensive background in amateur theatre, having taken part in 178 productions as actor, dancer, director, choreographer, stage manager and sound engineer over the last 47 years with Erith Playhouse, Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre, and Hulviz, DAODS, Utopians, Erith Operatic and the Piccola Opera Group. His two favourite roles have been Alfie (1984) and Sweeney Todd (1999). In his spare time, Keith also runs a youngsters' group at Erith and stage manages shows for his dance teacher wife, Stella.
Ian Wootton (M Martine) After first performing in Carmen aged 12, Ian had nearly 15 years appearing in cabaret (mostly as a musician) where he met Sue (now a veteran of 28 Society shows!). Ian needed 25 years to recover before having the strength to appear in the 2000 TEPOS concert. Since then, he has performed in most of the concerts and in the last three shows; so he thought it was time he auditioned and, as no one else turned up, the part of the teacher became his!
Eric Whiting (M.le.Marquis).
Christopher Betterton (M.le.Cure)joined TEPOS in 1995 for the production of Carousel the following year, in which he was given the non-singing role of the Heavenly Friend. Not being the sort of person to take the hint, he has subsequently managed to grab the roles of Freddy (My Fair Lady), Prez (The Pajama Game), Strephon (Iolanthe), Gerald (Me and My Girl) and Mr Snow (Carousel). Christopher seems to be playing another pompous character this year...and is now worried that 'someone' might just be trying to tell him something!
Marion Terry (Therese) joined the Society in 1980, for the production of Oklahoma!, and has been in every show bar one since. She also is a member of Hulviz Operatic Society, Utopians and the Bob Hope Theatre, taking part in many productions. Marion has played a number of quite diverse parts, from Mrs Higgins (My Fair Lady) and Baroness Schräder (The Sound of Music) to Fruma Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof), the unfortunate Annie Chapman (Jack the Ripper) and many more. During her spare time (!!!), Marion sings with a group which raises money for Multiple Sclerosis charities.
Rose Walker (Hortense) has been performing with the Society since 1987 and, despite the recent change of name to TEPOS Music Box, now considers the Company to be part of her extended family! The Baker's Wife was an unknown quantity at the start, but being cast as Hortense has proved to be a most enjoyable experience. Not having to talk with a French accent was a bonus but she probably won't be able to face a baguette, a croissant or a strawberry tart for some time!
Ian Templeton (Barnaby) Having enjoyed various roles over a number of years, Ian, in his opinion, has moved too rapidly from youngsters to older character parts, usually the downright doddery or even dead. So it is a relief that more recently, slightly younger parts have come along again. Barnaby, the local butcher, is simply a male chauvinist. He knows a woman's place in the world and he misses no opportunity in putting any female getting out of line firmly back where she belongs. Ian's wife, Jackie, says he'd better not get any ideas!!!
Kevin Spicer (Antoine) has been involved in amateur theatre, either on stage, behind it, or in front of it, for the last 33 years, starting long before his birth, obviously! In that time he has played many roles including Kipps (Half a Sixpence), The Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance), Jack (Into the Woods), Bobby (Company) and Ko-Ko (The Mikado). He has also directed shows such as Oh! What a Lovely War, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver! (twice) and Return to the Forbidden Planet. He is very much looking forward to playing Antonio in the south east premiere of Phantom of the Country Opera with Bromley Players at the Bob Hope Theatre in June.
Bud Abbott (Doumergue) started out as a know nothing about music at around the age of 40, and is now coming quickly to the end of his singing career as a know nothing about music at the age of very plus 70. He wishes it to be known that in his ignorance he has enjoyed every minute of it and would thoroughly recommend the hobby to any one. Do come and join us!
David Adams (Pierre) A latecomer to musicals, David has been involved in amateur dramatics for many years and is a founder member of the St Martin's Players where he recently played 'Count de Cash' (the villain) in pantomime. Other shows with this Society include The Mikado, Fiddler on the Roof, Iolanthe, The End of the Pier Show and Me and My Girl. David is pleased to be involved with this production and hopes everyone enjoys the show.
Jane Hughes (Simone) is thrilled to be part of a new production; The Baker's Wife was unheard of by many of the cast, but we have all fallen under its spell - the lovely music and quaint story have been a breath of fresh air. Jane hopes you enjoy it as much as she does. Jane has been singing and performing since she was nine (which, she says, is a long time now) and attended the London College of Music. Jane has played many lead roles, and has performed in Old Time Music Hall and in concerts across South East London.
Elizabeth Pinel (Inez) first trod the boards while at university in Southampton, purely to prove that not all scientists hide backstage. Elizabeth's day job is as a librarian, and she hopes that her performance as a 'niece' will go some way to dispelling the staid image normally associated with this career.
Carol Mitchell (Nicole) has loved doing this show as it has been great to do something slightly different, although playing a French tart is not such a change from English posh tart Lady Jacquie (Me and My Girl) and man-eating Mae (The Pajama Game), her previous characters with TEPOS, so she is more alarmed than ever at being typecast! Other past roles include Tzeitel (Fiddler on the Roof), Sylvia (Annie Get Your Gun) and Sara Murphy (Red Hot and Cole). Carol has also enjoyed dancing in the big open-air extravaganzas Music of the Night and Musical Nights both in Woolwich and Plymouth.
Alex Arden (Philippe) Desperately denying accusations of nepotism, Alex is thrilled to return to the Bob Hope Theatre on stage, rather than crewing backstage for other local societies. A child star on the London and Broadway stage (Catford Broadway, that is!), Alex has not appeared in a named role since he was 10. Although he auditioned for Pompom, he reluctantly accepted the part of Philippe, mainly because cats don't play guitar. He is a little concerned about serenading his father but, heh, that's showbiz!! He would like to thank everyone for making him feel so welcome, as part of a small but beautifully formed cast.
Sue Parker (Suzanne) has been involved in stage productions since the age of seven, and is currently the Head of Drama at a north east London school. She joined TEPOS as a chorus member in October 2006 for Carousel the following year. She enjoyed herself so much that she has stayed. Since joining, Sue has also taken part in the Platinum Collection concert and is looking forward to playing Suzanne in The Baker's Wife.
Pat Cox (Francoise) has been with the company since 1986, and has performed in most of the shows during her time with us - albeit in the chorus. Pat has also performed in many of the company's autumn concerts, which she very much enjoys.

Sheila Arden (Director) After many years as a performer, Sheila turned to directing 17 years ago. She sees it as a happy combination of her profession (school teacher) and the many roles she has taken - both onstage and backstage - over the years! Shows she has directed include Brigadoon, Camelot, Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, The King and I (Churchill Theatre); Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Oklahoma!, Me and My Girl, Guys and Dolls (Lewisham Theatre); The Matchgirls, Sweet Charity (co-directed), Cabaret, On The Town, Annie, Chess (Bob Hope Theatre); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Music Man (The Stag Theatre). This is her first production for this Company - and her fourth consecutive show with MD Alan Thompson! She would like to thank the Society for their warm welcome and hard work over what has been a very short rehearsal period, and hopes that the audience will be swept along by the warmth, humour and pathos of the inhabitants of Concorde.
Alan Thompson (Musical Director) is a native of Jarrow but came south at an early age; having decided to make a career out of music, he hasn't been able to afford the journey back! Alan spent 28 years with the Royal Artillery Band, where he played the piano, 'cello and clarinet (not all at the same time!), and has been MD of every show since 1971. He classes himself as a 'musical navvy' and will turn his hand to most things - all offers gratefully received!

This TEPOS Music Box production was stage managed by Steve Grubb supported by his crew Charlie Barnes and Esther Brown. The 'Romance' dance set was by Larissa Webb who also acted as the props manager. The technical co-ordinator was Jackie Templeton and Glyn Turner was the Bob Hope Theatre liaison. Scenery and furniture was provided by the Bob Hope Theatre, Members and friends of the Society. Lighting desing was by Stuart Gain and operated by Joanne Templeton. James Priddle provided the sound design and operation. Marion Terry & Carol Mitchell were the wardrobe co-ordinators and Joan Bird looked after the Box Office. Valerie Read was the front of house manager helped by members and friends of the Society. Leonard Walker took the House photographs, Elizabeth Pinel looked after the poster design and Christopher Betterton designed the programme.