Ali Baba and the Faulty Thieves - performed December 2013
By Nigel & Amanda Rowe Director - Amanda Rowe Musical Director - Patience Ling It's pantomime time again! (Oh no it isn't!) Yes it really is, and I am delighted to welcome you to our colourful and music filled production of Ali Baba and the Faulty Thieves. We have a wonderful company of familiar faces mixed with lots of newcomers who have all been working together to entertain you. I thank everyone who has supported me in my debut as director at the Manifest. Cast (in order of appearance) Hobnob Alan Wheeler Mascara Adria Bolton Ali Baba James Carter Hassan Zoe Hammick Morgana Emily Donoghue Cassim Nigel Morton Run Rosamund Pettett Baba Baba Sam Glasgow Shish Kebab Nigel Rowe Chicky Tikka Amanda Rowe Al Rashid Gary Booker Ahmed Gordon Prior Twin Peaks Eleanor Chandler & Aislinn Luckie Adult Chorus Lindsey Sharpe Margherita Petrie Kathy Cross Patti Tomlinson June Wheeler Steve Sadler Junior Chorus Tom Carter Oliver Daniel
Production Team Amanda Rowe, Nigel Rowe, Patience Ling, Doug Newton, June Wheeler, Jude Hussey, Derek Butcher, Bruce Emeny, Dan Carter, Gloria Streames, Jacquie Terry, Yvonne Cobbold, Val Taylor, Teresa Dale, Kathy Cross, Sheena Goddard, Kate Sheffield, Diana Luckie, George Sykes, Alan & June Wheeler, Viv Wheatley, Steve Sadler and other volunteers not mentioned. Awards & Nominations The Play Reviews The Manifest Theatre Group does not regularly stage pantomimes, but when it does, it is well worth the wait. A very traditional panto, Ali Baba and the Faulty Thieves, played to packed houses over five evenings and a matinee at Manningtree theatre last week., and no-one went home disappointed - the audiences joined in where expected with the usual gusto The script was written by long-time members, husband-and-wife team Nigel and Amanda Rowe, and included references to local places, people and topics, and even this newspaper got a mention. What some may not have known was that this talented couple used to be responsible for the pantomimes staged in Great Bromley several years ago, shows which were looked forward to, drawing in people from a wide area. The pair also directed and produced last week's show, Amanda making her debut as director at the Oxford Road theatre. To cap it all, they were cast as the "village idiots", dashing on and off stage and leading the audiences in a sing-song. The magnificent dame, in every sense of the word, was played by Adrian Bolton, and the wardrobe department had certainly worked hard on his costumes, flamboyant to say the least. He was ably backed by Alan Wheeler in keeping the story going. Lesley Pallett Photo Shoot (back row) Nigel, Nigel, Amanda, June, Gary, Gordon, James, Adrian (mid row) Alan, Steve, Lindsey, Emily, Zoe, Rosamund, Patti (front row) Sam, Eleanor, Aislin, Oliver, Tom (click on an image below to view a larger photo - arrow keys navigate through the set) Production Index