Home | News | This Season | Next Season | Bookings | Auditions | Members | Archive | History | Location | Links | Contact Us Witness for the
Prosecution
|
| Cast | |
| Greta | Anna Connolly |
| Carter | Richard Banks |
| Mr Mayhew | Horry Stapleton |
| Leonard Vole | Matt Arnold |
| Sir Wilfred Robarts QC | Tony Donnelly |
| Inspector Hearne | Matt Clowry |
| Detective | David Adams |
| Romaine | Allison Henderson |
| Clerk of the Court | Desni Hanford |
| Mr Justice Wainwright | Dave Watkins |
| Mr Myers QC | Ian Saxton |
| Court Usher | Jenny Devonshire |
| Court Stenographer | Sarah O'Hanlon |
| Warder | Andrew Kelly |
| Mrs Barton | Viv Stapleton |
| Mrs Brogan-Moore | Linda Saxton |
| Jury Foreman | Jane O'Grady |
| Juror | Annette Tranter |
| Policeman | David Adams |
| Dr Wyatt | David Capocci |
| Janet MacKenzie | Eleanor McEnery |
| Mr Clegg | Mathew Weller |
| Diana | Kelly Russell |
| Crew | |
| Stage Manager | Stephanie David |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Helen Bezer |
| Set Design | Richard Banks |
| Set Construction | John Vinnels, Ron Andrews, Horry Stapleton, Ian Saxton, Steve Grubb, David Capocci, Jane O'Grady, David Adams, Annette Tranter, Eleanor McEnery, Helen Banks, Ella Banks |
| Costumes | Richard Banks |
| Properties | Richard Banks |
| Lighting Rigging | Jerry McKeon, Christine McKeon |
| Lighting Operation | Jerry McKeon |
| Sound | David Murray |
| Backstage | Louise Ody |
Review
Play courts new talent
Roz Betts had intended to direct the latest production at the Edward Alderton Theatre in Bexleyheath but unfortunately she had a serious accident and had to pass the task over to another member of the company. At very little notice, Richard Banks stepped into the breach and was immediately faced by an awesome project that might well have made many experienced directors flinch - let alone someone who had never directed a stage production or even acted as a principal performer before.
He does have one claim to fame, however, having performed in a church Nativity play at the age of 22. Since joining the Edward Alderton Theatre in 2004, Richard's small part in Arthur Miller's The Crucible has been boosted by other tasks such as acting as a prompt, stage manager, and sound engineer. Thus, to actually direct a play seemed like the perfect opportunity to make real progress in his challenging new activity. Here I have to comment that without people like Richard around, non-professional theatre would die, and I admire his enthusiasm and courage.
The play was Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, which is generally considered one of her best works. It is set in a criminal court and the chambers of the defending QC (Tony Donnelly) and has a cast of 23 characters. The logistics associated with the scene changes were cleverly handled, but the use of characters who had barely acted before meant that eleven members of the cast had never trod the boards of the EAT before.
Nevertheless, the early scenes were very good and there were delightful performances by the QC's secretary Anna Connell (a star in the making) and a superb performance by Tony Donnelly. There was also a good contribution by Ian Saxon as the prosecution QC, while Eleanor McEnery as a Scottish housekeeper was superb. However, the sparring and war of words between the two QCs lacked dramatic power and the (seeming very guilty) defendant (Matt Arnold) was a little too flippant, so the culmination of the trial lacked the realism and impact it badly needed.
A fine set and operatic and emotional incidental music helped to bring atmosphere to the production and generate an entertaining play. It could have been better, yet remained an unlikely achievement for everyone concerned.
Roy Atterbury
Kentish Times | 27 October 2005
Comment
This was my first direction since my University days and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The much missed Roy Atterbury’s review was erroneous because Roz was never due to direct Witness, but this was the first production after she had her horrific accident and ended up in hospital, and Roy mistook a get well message for a reference that I had taken over the direction.
My
overriding memory was of panic as I was finding it nigh on impossible
to find a replacement for Dave Hampton who had been due to play the
judge; everywhere I turned, people were otherwise engaged and
couldn’t do the role for me. With three weeks to go Dave Watkins
took on the role much to my relief and I ended up playing Mr Carter
myself. It was a big cast production and it saw some faces that became
regulars make their first appearances on the EAT stage.
I was also immensely grateful to those performers who took on the
non-speaking roles. Viv Stapleton and Linda Saxton became known as the
‘Bimbo Barristers’ and their reading matter on the last night is
best left as a secret, though if looks could kill, Helen Bezer and I
would be at least six feet under. Also I remember fondly Sarah
O’Hanlon studiously typing away on the Stenograph and Jenny
Devonshire building her part, lengthening her speech of ad-libs every
night, much to everyone’s amusement.
I thoroughly enjoyed the production and will always remain grateful to
Roz for allowing me to direct.
Richard Banks (Director), March 2008
