Mother Abbess Jenny Nixon
Jenny is a member of the Cotswold Players and has had several roles in plays and musicals, including Anna in The King and I, for which she was nominated for a Rose Bowl Award. With Glitter and Twisted Company she played Dame Carruthers in Yeoman of the Guard and also performed alongside Grace Hawker in her cabaret show Just a Bowl of Cherries in early 2020. When not on stage, Jenny is an artist based in Minchinhampton.
Maria Rainer Grace Hawker
For seven years Grace has been performing at Cirencester’s Barn Theatre, in various leading roles such as Hope Harcourt (Anything Goes), Yum-Yum (The Mikado) and Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof) to name a few favourites. Grace is also a regular on stage with Glitter & Twisted Theatre Co. in Stroud. Her performance as Amalia Balash (She Loves Me) in 2019 won her the prestigious Rose Bowl Award for Best Actress (Musical).
Sister Berthe Louise Abbott
A cabaret artiste in her 20s, Louise has since acted with Cirencester Parish Players, Bingham Players, Stratton Drama Group and Chedworth Drama.
Her favourite productions have been She Stoops to Conquer, When We Are Married, ‘Allo, ‘Allo, See How They Run, Hobson’s Choice, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Real Inspector Hound, Rumours, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
and Season’s Greetings. She has also done some film work with Horizon One and Cotswold TV.
Sister Margaretta Erin Sutton
As I am currently pursuing a career in Musical Theatre, this production was extremely enjoyable to
be a part of, especially after COVID-19 times and with such a talented cast. I have been part of The
Longborough Opera Youth Chorus in which I have partook in productions such as the Cunning Little
Vixen and Orpheus in the Underworld. I have also begun to delve into the Musical Theatre world
with productions such as Sister Act.
Sister Sophia and Frau Schmidt the housekeeper Jazz James
This is Jasmine’s first show with Bonzo Productions, and she has previously enjoyed performing in Cheltenham in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The King and I, and The Three Musketeers. Right before the pandemic, she played Ruth Condomine in Blythe Spirit and Tiggy in Bombshells. She played Sister Sophia many years ago (age 18), and is delighted to reprise this role, along with Frau Schmidt, with such a talented group.
Captain Georg Von Trapp Richard Murray
Richard has been lucky enough to have played a number of leading roles in Musical productions around the county over the last thirty years or so. Curly in Oklahoma, Billy in Carousel, Sky and Nathan in Guys and Dolls, The Emcee in Cabaret, Billy in Anything Goes (for which he won Best Actor in a Musical at the Bristol Evening Post
Rosebowl awards), George in Aspects of Love, Archie in The Secret Garden, Lumiere in Beauty & The Beast, Dexter in High Society - to name a few. He is thrilled to be
playing Georg Von Trapp. The Sound of Music is one of his all time favourite films.
Franz the butler Oscar Vince
Oscar appeared in Bonzo Productions’ Much ado about Nothing’ and is now studying drama at Cirencester College.
Rolf George Roffe
This is my second bout with Bonzo Productions after last years production of Romeo and Juliet. The jump from playing a radical lovestruck Italian teen to a radicalised lovestruck Nazi teen has been a rewarding challenge. Having previously played Jean Valjean in an amateur production of Les Mis I enjoyed tackling the songs in this show however the same cannot be said for the dance which, thanks to my two left feet, was more akin to a Saturday Night ‘Fever-Dream.
Baroness Elsa Schroeder Karen Roffe
This is Karen’s first show with Bonzo Productions. Her only previous role in a musical was in ‘The Boyfriend’ at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre and on tour in Cornwall in 1983! Leaving singing to others since then she has enjoyed acting in many happy productions (and a few stressful ones) since her early teens. Some favourite plays include ‘Amadeus’, ‘An Inspector Calls’, ‘Hayfever’, ‘The Crucible’, ‘Present Laughter’ and more recently ‘Season’s Greetings’ for Chedworth Drama.
Max Detweiler Ross Aldridge (Director)
Ross has played Macbeth, Iachimoiago, Polonius and Bottom in previous Shakespeare productions as well as Fagin Doolittle and other roles in in Bristol musicals. This is his 6th director / acting role with Bonzo Productions at Chedworth Manor.
Herr Zeller Jamie Roffe
Jamie has enjoyed acting since he was a child. He has been fortunate to act in a broad range of productions in theatres from sunny Swindon to even sunnier Hong Kong.
Plays include, An Inspector Calls, Habeas Corpus, Amadeus and since returning to Chedworth in 2003 he has been part of the Chedworth Drama Group in many productions including Hobson's Choice and recently in Seasons Greetings. This is his 2nd Bonzo production having loved every minute of playing Mercutio last year. Following the auditions for this years musical Ross was very quick to offer him a part.....in a non-singing role!! Still he loves playing the villain.
Baron Elberfield Dave Whittles
Dave Whittles has performed in several outdoor Shakespeare productions with Bonzo Productions, most recently in Romeo and Juliet.
He has also debuted with Cotswold Arcadians this year, in The Tempest as Adrian of the royals. This is his first musical, all should be grateful that he is not in a singing role.
Baroness Elberfield Sue Sharman
Sue was in numerous school productions before making her debut in Chedworth Drama 2000 subsequently went on to appear in 7 more productions then in 2015 appeared in Midsummer's Night Dream with Chedworth Drama and Bonzo productions at Chedworth Manor.
This will be Sue's first foray into Musical Theatre.
Admiral von Schreiber Mark Beer
Mark has been a professional actor for 35 years and has toured the UK and Ireland in a wide variety of character roles, and featured and presented in numerous TV programmes and films. At 17 he was awarded
Bronze Medal at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, and in 2017 was nominated for a Norman Beaton Fellowship Award by BBC Radio Drama. He recently appeared on stage at the Arts Theatre Leicester Square in Home: For a Lost Soldier.
Frau Zeller Sue Nashe
Sue has acted in all four Shakespeare plays at The Manor but this will be her first chance in some singing roles in a musical.
New Postulant Lizzie Siddons
Lizzi spent the first six years of her life in Cincinnati Ohio and currently lives in Cirencester.
Lizzi’s passion is musical theatre and has achieved Grade 6 in LAMDA (acting). She attends both Stagecoach Cirencester and the West End Musical Theatre School and has performed at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Cheltenham’s Everyman, Shaftesbury Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End.
As a result of testing positive for Covid, Lizzie is gutted not to be performing in week one.
Ursula Belle Fortt
Meet me Belle and my pony Keef. Keef is a 2 year old miniature Shetland and I am pony mad. Keef hopes to build a career in performing and being a therapy pony.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT...
NUNS ENSEMBLE
and contestants in the festival
Ruth Bullingham
I currently have been attending stagecoach cirencester for 6 years and have done many shows at the sundial theatre, a few are: hairspray, the wizard of oz, and singing in the rain. Followed by many shows at Rendcomb theatre, with my school. Singing, dancing and acting is my passion and I hope to pursue a career in performing.
Anna Gage
Having sung in various amateur choirs and choral groups, this is the first role in a production which I have in played since school! A life long love of The Sound of Music drew me to the audition and having recently moved to the area, it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to join the ensemble.
Amy Benson
This is Amy's debut performance. Outside of the theatre she works as a speech and language therapist in Gloucester and is an avid novelist.
Anna Sheridan
I have always been interested in theatre, even from a young age. Musicals excite me and I love being a nun. I'm 17 and study Performing Arts at Cirencester College. An extra hobby for me is music; I play the drums and saxophone when I'm not constantly singing. Being in The Sound of Music has been a highlight from rehearsals to performances.
Anna is gutted to be isolating and missing the first week's performances.
Liz Brucksgaard
Liz lives in Stroud with her fiancé and two rescue dogs and cats. She enjoys travelling to South Africa to assist in Rhino and Big Cat preservation. Liz is also a writer and has had her work published in local press and magazines. The Sound of Music is only her second foray into the world of musical theatre, having previously played the role of Mama Morton in Chicago, for a Stroud theatre company.
Isabelle Brennan
Isabelle has been attending Stagecoach for 6 years and is passionate about performing. She has been involved in many shows with Stagecoach, a few include: Hairspray, Singin’ in the rain and Beauty and the Beast. She has also passed a number of LAMDA exams and is due to take her grade 6 exam after summer. This is her second show with bonzo productions and she looks forward to being a nun in the nuns ensemble!
Isobel is gutted to be isolating and having to miss the first week's performances.
Sheila Veuve
Played Mrs. Bumble in a Farmor's School production of 'Oliver!''. Wrote and directed Chedworth cubs in Jungle Book and Chedworth brownies in The Wizard of Oz. Sang the role of Counsel in a Chedworth production of Trial by Jury.
More recently sang in The Merchant of Venice in Chedworth. Most proud achievement: writing and directing a stage version of the first Harry Potter book - in French - at Farmor's School.
Gillie McCollum
Gillie was a member of the choir at school and joined a group of parents at her children’s prep school in Lymington (20 years ago), singing Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Trial by Jury’, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘The Mikado’. Extremely amateur but very good fun! She plays piano and organ (badly) and is hoping this production may be a catalyst for more.
Rebecca Allen
I am very excited to be part of this amazing show! I’m 18 years old and from cirencester. I have attended Stagecoach Cirencester for 15 years and in September I’m off to the University of Winchester to study musical theatre!
Cerys Burgess
I’m very excited to be a part of this production, it’s been so fun to work with so many talented people. I’ve been at Stagecoach Cirencester for 13 years, and in September I will be starting my second year in Performing Arts at Cirencester College. I will be learning about both Musical Theatre and Classical Theatre. This is my first performance in a proper theatre production. Cerys is gutted to be isolating for the first week's performances.
Teresa Irving
Teresa enjoys singing all types of music and has been a member of the Chedworth Singers for 20 years. She has always wanted to be in a musical and was thrilled to be asked to join the Nun’s ensemble in The Sound of Music. She is enjoying it enormously, despite the challenges of learning Latin!
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT...
Liesl Emma Lygo
Hi! I’m Emma and I am actually 18 going on 19. The Sound of Music holds a special place in my heart as it was the very first show I performed in, as Marta in 2013. I have previously performed in shows including The Wizard of Oz as Dorothy and pantomimes including Aladdin and Robin Hood. I was supposed to be performing as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde last May but unfortunately that was cancelled due to lockdown, so I am very excited to be continuing acting after a year of very little. This will be my last show before going to study at the Guildford School of Acting. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of the Sound of Music team and I hope you enjoy the show just as much as we do!
Louisa Agnes Warner
Agnes is a dancer and singer and thoroughly enjoys musical theatre. She has reached intermediate level in ISTD ballet, tap and modern as well as RAD ballet and grade 6 in singing. She performed in her school production of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat and was part of the Longborough Opera Youth Chorus in the production of Orpheus in the Underworld. She is excited to be playing the part of Louisa in her first role for Bonzo Productions.
Friedrich Barnaby Welch
I have been doing musical theatre since year 2, and have represented the BARN Academy in the past, with two plays, a solo during the Christmas lights switch on in Cirencester, and Remembrance Day. I’ve loved acting and singing for as long as I can remember, and this play is no different. This is my first play that isn’t a school or BARN Academy play, so I am very excited.
Brigitta Georgia Dibbs
11 year old Georgia Dibbs feels at home on stage. She has previously be in the professional production of the Barns Theatre’s A Christmas Carol and a Voice over in their one man show Peter Pan.
You may have seen her in ITVs kids Christmas special News at 5.5 and a good energy commercial.
Georgia loves to read and climb trees and to do both at the same time is a dream day for her.
Kurt Orlando Crow
10 year old Orlando participated in 3 Bonzo Production Shakespeare plays, he had speaking parts in, Merchant of Venice , Much Ado About Nothing and last year’s Romeo and Juliet as well as various singing roles.
He will be starring in Oliver Twist, the upcoming Stratton Primary School production.
4 years ago he started his drama lessons at Barn academy before called Smart Stage where he has played James in James and the Giant Peach, Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland, Duck in Honk and Pubert Addams The Addams Family.
Marta Charlotte Austen
Charlotte is 11 years old and this is her first role for Bonzo Productions. She has previously appeared as a mermaid, fairy, lost boy and pirate in Creation Theatre's production of Peter Pan. She loves acting, singing and dancing and is very excited to be playing Marta.
Gretl Ophelia Williams
Ophelia Devine Williams is 9 years old. She loves singing, dancing and playing the piano. She wants to be an astronaut ! This is her first performance in front of a live audience.
Liesl Flora Kenning
I am lucky to have been in three of Ross' past productions. A fairy in 'A midsummer night's dream' a choir girl in 'The Merchant of Venice' and lastly 'Violetta in Much Ado About Nothing'. I like to play and write music. I have always loved musicals, especially 'The Sound of Music', which is why I am so excited to play Liesl.
Louisa Gemma Bianco
Gemma was born in Milan 13 years ago and then she moved to Switzerland.
She currently lives in Sevenaoks.
Gemma started her music studies at the Conservatory of Lugano in Switzerland where she was part
of the Coro Clairiére with which she performed the operetta Brundibar that was broadcasted by RSI
on National television and on the Radio.
At the Conservatory Gemma also took individual singing lessons with the Soprano Monica Trini.
She attended summer musical theatre intensives in Milano at the Teatro La Scala and in London as
the West End stage, the West End Kids and Sylvia Young courses.
Gemma recently took part in the New Talent British Youth international Competition where she
won the Gold award for her Singing.
She now currently attends CYM in London (a part of Junior Guildhall) where she studies voice and
piano.
She just passed Grade 3 Voice with distinction.
Friedrich Freddie Summers
Drama has always been my passion, I love to sing, act and dance. I have played a variety of roles both comedy and a bad guy!
I am obsessed with musical theatre and spend much of my free time learning songs.
This is my first time performing for Bonzo Productions and I have loved performing outside, another first.
Brigitta Lucy Paris-Johnstone
Lucy oozes rhythm and would rather dance and sing than walk and talk. As a shy child and the youngest volunteer at her primary school concert she sang Castle on a Cloud solo for around 100 parents. Lucy took up singing lessons over lockdown and won the award for most progress at Theatre Studio Cheltenham 2020, recognising her commitment and diligence. She is beyond delighted to be part of The Sound of Music at Chedworth.
Kurt George Latimer
George is a chorister with the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum of Dean Close Preparatory
School. He sings Evensong at Tewkesbury Abbey and has sung with the choir at other venues, such
as St Pauls Cathedral. In 2019 he was part of the choir’s tour to Sweden, singing at the Cathedrals in
Uppsala and Vasteras. He has also recorded with the choir, most recently with the Gesualdo Six. At
school he loves drama and has recently performed in his school production of Bugsy Malone.
Marta Charlotte Austen
Charlotte is 11 years old and this is her first role for Bonzo Productions. She has previously appeared as a mermaid, fairy, lost boy and pirate in Creation Theatre's production of Peter Pan. She loves acting, singing and dancing and is very excited to be playing Marta.
Gretl Cicely Williams
Cicely Devine-Williams Age 10 has been singing since she was a toddler!
She started lessons two years ago and is already grade five, her last two were distinctions. A student of stage coach, and Sheila Price ballet school, she loves acting, dancing and singing in any shape or form and wants to be a star... watch this space!
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT...
Perdita Williams
Perdita Devine-Williams is 6 years old. Very much the performer at home she loves singing and wants to be a ballerina.
Pixie - Iris Phillips
Pixie is 6 years old and loves to sing, dance and act.
She has been performing since she was 3 years old.
She loves getting involved with live performances and is very excited to be a part of The Sound of Music.
Her previous experience includes performing with the All Aboard Pirate Show - live at Butlins, being a contestant in the Mister Maker and The Shapes live show and participating in a number of Pantomimes song
sheets. As well as her love for the stage, she is a keen artist and animal lover. She has chickens and loves to horse ride. She hopes you all enjoy the show!
Toni Summers
Lizzie Spivey