See this fantastic local theatre troupe in three more chapters from the Boy's Own adventure parodies written by Michael Palin and the late Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. They have already staged 6 of the 9 episodes, so catch these last three while you can by booking your tickets at our What's On page. Here are the episode we're staging this time:
Whinfrey's Last Case: Set in 1913, Britain's greatest (and overworked) secret agent takes a much-needed holiday to Cornwall and uncovers a German invasion plot
Murder at Moorstones Manor: Hugo and Dora drive down to see Mumsie and Dadsie for a long weekend in the country. But their weekend descends into murder
The Curse of the Claw: A strange Burmese relic carries a terrible curse that our hero tries to lift to save his family
Directors David Pibworth and Jon Davies have cast the performance with some outstanding local actors, many of whom are familiar faces at The Arches. So, who is playing who?
Winfrey's Last Case
Orson Wells - Richard Duncombe
Gerald Winfrey - Jon Davis
Admiral Jefferson - David Pibworth
General Chapman - Alistair White
Lord Raglan - Jon West
Mrs Otway - Anne Skelly
Mr Girton - David Lovesy
Carne - TBC
Old Lady - Trisha Worth
Smooth German - Stephen Johnson
Mr Ferris - Carl Defriend
Army Captain - TBC
Another Eddie - TBC
Vinney - TBC
Meat Porter - Roger Mann
Mrs Partington Natalie Stephenson
Assistant Butler - Richard Duncombe
Butler - Mark Worth
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Charles Chiddingfold - Iain Wood
Hugo Chiddingfold - Stephen Johnson
Lady Chiddingfold - Jane Davis
Dr Farson - Dave Pibworth
Father - Jon Davis
Manners the, butler - Mark Worth
Dora - Charlotte Pask
Ruth - Jodie Commercial
Jehovah's Witness 1 - Sue Walmsley
Jehovah's Witness 2 - Trish Worth
The Curse of the Claw
Kevin Orr - Stephen Johnson
Young Kevin - William Totton
Uncle Jack - Jon Davis
Kevin's mother - Sue Walmsley
Kevin's father - David Pibworth
Captain Merson - Roger Mann
Grovesnor - Carl Defriend
Chief Petty Officer Russell - Charlotte Pask
Lady Agatha - Jodie Commercial
Young Agatha - Alexis Diston
Ship's stoker - Mark Worth
Ship's engineer - Jane Davis
Ship's crew/Pallbearers/Natives - Jon West, Natalie Stevenson and Alistair White
For the second year running, MKTOC and The Arches will donate all monies raised through ticket sales for these performances to the National Brain Appeal. In 2021, a grand total of £10,000 was raised by ticket sales and generous donations.
"Please help us smash this amazing total and raise valuable funds for this incredible charity!"
This charity was chosen because the brilliant Terry Jones sadly died in 2020 from frontotemporal dementia. David Pibworth (owner of The Arches) also lost his father to dementia. So, this is a charity close to all our hearts.
Get your tickets for Ripping Yarns while you still can by clicking here.
Until next time ...
DAVID PIBWORTH
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about Ripping Yarns at The Arches Theatre, The Arches Theatre or eating out in Olney, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01234 241357 and let's see how I can help.
David is the owner and Artistic Director of The Arches Theatre in Clifton Reynes near Milton Keynes. Productions are underneath some flood arches on the disused Midland railway line (Bedford to Northampton). It is equidistant from Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes. You bring your food, drink and chairs and enjoy the varied shows that are produced. This year - 2022 - there are 12 productions on throughout the season, from Shakespeare to Ripping Yarns plus a music weekend.
David has been involved in 'Light Ent' for many years, working with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson adapting the scripts of 'Steptoe and Son' and those of Tony Hancock to the stage. He has produced shows for Norman Wisdom (which makes him feel old), Al Murray, and Joe Pasquale amongst others, and also worked in the music business promoting and producing shows with Chas and Dave, Neil Inness, Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and others of that ilk.
He is also the director of a film school for young people in his home town of Olney as well as supporting many local events.
He recently negotiated permission from Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to stage a short run of 'Porridge' on stage which proved a success.
This year the annual charity performance at The Arches Theatre will be the last of 'Ripping Yarns' by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, with the profits being donated to The National Brain Appeal' for research into dementia as David's father and uncle died of it, as did Michael Palin's friend and writing partner Terry Jones. Last year they raised an astonishing £10,000 and are hoping to get somewhere close again with the support of audiences and sponsors.
David also has a stage hire company and his wife Julie runs a livery yard, so they are surrounded by horses, dogs, light entertainment and and a 17 year old daughter.
He plays in a comedy jazz band and collects strange props such as the Spitting Image puppets of Denis Thatcher and Alan Bennett, the child catchers bike from the stage show of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and various other 'things' all of which he sells to raise money for the Arches Theatre, although he always finds it hard to part from these props. However as the theatre receives no funding at all, he is always devising ways to keep it going! Sponsors are always welcome!
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