THE UGLY DUCKLING
25 November- 30 December 1999
The Dukes' Christmas family treat is a new version of the favourite Hans Andersen story, The Ugly Duckling.
In the farmyard, rock-and-rolling Mr Rooster struts his stuff and the adoring hens
are his backing singers. But Doris Duckling's family is not a happy brood.
Young Desdemona is always being picked on by her naughty sister and brother
Dilly and DaIly. And she just doesn't look like a duckling should...
Meanwhile, wicked Mr Fox is watching, trying to lure everyone into his trap. Will he be frying tonight, or can Desdemona escape to the Wild where she seems to belong?
This is a production which brings the farmyard setting spectacularly to life with a cast of ducks, frogs, chickens and swans. Costumes are cunningly designed to give an amusing hint at the all-too-human characters of the animals.
With music, jokes and that touching story, The Ugly Duckling is bound to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. The upbeat songs, spectacle and humour make this a fairytale suitable for all ages, and especially for 3 to 12 year olds.
The cast, featuring many local favourites, includes Lucia Black, Nick Cam, Zoo Henry, Adam Kay, Kay Purcell and Sue McCormick.
With an all North-West creative team, The Ugly Duckling is written by children's author Neil Duffield, directed by Eileen Murphy, and is designed by Richard Foxton with music by Rick Juckes.
The Ugly Duckling runs from 25 November to 30 December, with performances at 10.3Oam, 2pm and 7pm, depending on the day. Tickets start at £6.50, and family tickets save £6 off the full price. Booking is open now on 0152466645.
Ends. 10.11.99
See over for notes [notes are reproduced in full here]
THE UGLY DUCKLING
NOTES
LUCY BLACK Dilly/Frog/Swan
Lucy played Teresa Phillips in the Dukes' most recent production, How the Other Half Loves. Trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Theatre includes appearances for Bristol Old Vic, Eastern Angles and the Royal National Theatre Studio Television includes Casualty (BBC) and The Levels (HTV).
NICK CAMM Mr Fox/Mr Rooster
Played 6 1A parts in the Dukes' last children's production, The BFG. In the Dukes' Promenade season last year he played Ligniere in Cyrano de Bergerac and Lord Ashton in Around the World in 80 Days. Recently appeared in Kes at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Recent TV appearances include The Factory, Casualty, Cops, and Heartbeat. Drums and backing sings for the band Boomhauer. Nick is a member of Target Casting, the Lancaster actors' agency, and lives in Lancaster.
ZOE HENRY Desdemona
Zoe played Mary Featherstone in the Dukes' How the Other Half Loves. Graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Theatre in 1997. Theatre includes the one woman show Flightpath with More Music in Morecambe, Six White Horses at the Contact Theatre, Keeping Tom Nice and Brimstone and Treacle at the Oldham Coliseum. Previous theatre for the Dukes includes Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and The BFG. TV credits include Cold Feet, Log in Coronation Street and Emma in The Grafters, all for Granada Television. Zoe can be seen as Julia in the new Granada film Seeing Red, and has just been nominated for a Manchester Evening News Award.
ADAM KAY DaIly/Frog
Played Bob Phillips in the Dukes' November production, How the Other Half Loves. Played the dastardly villain, Stapleton, in the Dukes' summer production, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
SUEMcCORMICK Doris
Lives in Lancaster. Sue played the mad Scottish lady, Frances Cromarty, in Around the World in
80 Days in the Dukes' Williamson Park production last year. TV includes The Ward, Emmerdale,
Coronation Street and Casualty.
KAY PURCELL Polma Donnalka
The Ugly Duckling is Kay's third Christmas show at The Dukes. She played Fairy in Dick Whiffington and the title in The Snow Queen. Kay also played Paulina in A Winters Tale for The
Dukes' Promenade season. She appeared recently at the Dukes providing the vocals for A Tribute to Duke Ellington. Other theatre includes A Christmas Carol at the Library Theatre, Manchester, also directed by Eileen Murphy. Kay was nominated in the Manchester Evening News Awards for her role as Lenore in Generations of Dead at Contact Theatre. Recent Television appearances include Casualty, Children's Ward, Cops and Emmerdale. Kay is a member of Target Casting, Lancaster
NEIL DUFFIELD Author
Neil lives in Bolton and has written extensively for audiences of children and young people. His most recent productions include Fast Eddy for Tiebreak Theatre, Stepney Tales for the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, The Jungle Book for Dundee Rep, The House at Pooh Comer for Polka Theatre,
Tinker; Tailor for Cleveland Theatre Company, and Aladdin and the Magic Lamp for The Byre Theatre, St. Andrews.
EILEEN MURPHY Director
Lives in Bolton and pleased to be working in Lancaster for the first time. Directed the original production of this version of The Ugly Duckling for M6 Theatre Company in 1990.
RICHARD FOXTON Designer
Among other design work, was Resident Designer at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton until May this year, designing 39 productions and winning many awards.
RICK JUCKES Composer
Rick is a Liverpool-based composer and musical director. He has written the music for 21 plays at Liverpool's Everyman and Playhouse theatres, over 200 songs for children's TV and scores of TV theme tunes. This is the fourth play by Neil Duffield for which Rick has written and directed the music.
TC HOWARD Choreographer
Second Christmas show at the Dukes, following playing Tommy the Cat in Dick Whittington. TC's busy and varied professional career began in Lancaster with Ludus dance company.