Côte Richmond
is proud to sponsor
the Friends scheme
Spring 2010Moscow City Ballet perform
Sleeping Beauty
For Richmond Theatre’s Friends, Ambassador
Friends, and Matcham Club Members
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:49 Page 1
Friends upgradesWould you like more from your Friends
membership? Then why not upgrade
and get even more benefits and ticket
savings. Ask the Box Office for moreinformation about the different levels
or get hold of a copy of the Friendsleaflet. You can upgrade at any time
as we’ll work out the cost pro-rata.
Twitter ye not...Follow us at twitter.com/RichmondTheatre and we’ll keep you updated with the latest theatre news as well astitbits and gossip. It’s also a greatway for you to tell us what youthink of the shows you see here.
Make a date with us!If you come to the theatre alone,
or would simply like to meet other
theatre-goers the Mid-Week Meet
is just for you. For an extra £5 in
addition to your ticket you will
receive a post-show drink and
programme, as well as the use of a
private area in the Stalls Bar. It’s
available on selected shows, so check
with the Box Office when booking.
It’s behind you!
Snow White may have left
the theatre, but our 2010
production of Sleeping Beauty
is now on sale. Check out the
Hot Tickets section for details
of Friends discounts.
GOSH - it’s Snow WhiteThe cast of our pantomime paid
a welcome visit to Great Ormond
Street Hospital to meet the children.
Richmond Theatre’s show is helping
to raise funds for Theatre for
Theatres Appeal to pay for two
new operating theatres at the
world-famous hospital.
Olivia Taylor, aged three,
with the cast
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 2
The pantomime has ended, it’s snowing hard, and the
general election campaign has already started. It can
only mean one thing – the start of the Spring season!
We have made a few changes to Applause. The Stage
Door section will bring you details of new productions or
events and your chance to book before the general public.
It also has the latest casting news and any changes to
our programme. The Hot Tickets section has some of the
current offers, but there is not the space to show you
them all. If you have internet access and haven’t yet
registered online with us, please do so as you will then
receive details of offers from the West End and other
regional theatres. If you don’t have a computer, you can
still take advantage of them by asking the Box Office
when booking your tickets.
Our 110th anniversary celebrations continue apace
and this issue also talks to our very own ‘Mr Showbiz’
marking a birthday of his own. We’ve had fun compiling
this issue – I hope it’s as enjoyable reading it.
Nick Bagge
Friends Co-ordinator
020 8332 4523
Welcome
The Green Richmond Surrey TW9 1QJ
Box Office 0844 871 7659 (transaction fee applies)
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 3
Belinda Lang is no stranger
to Noël Coward; in fact, she’s
rather an expert on his work.
This month, she appears in
Richmond alongside Robert
Bathurst and Serena Evans
in Present Laughter, a
wickedly funny play set in the
glamorous world of theatre.
Devilishly handsome leading
man Garry Essendine is
visited by a terrifying group
of ex-wives, lawyers, writers
and one-night stands – so
it’s all back-biting and
vengeful repartee.
This is Belinda’s first go at
directing. Over coffee during a
rehearsal break, I ask her how
to direct oneself on stage.
‘This is a good question,” she
muses. ‘The actor-director is
an old theatrical tradition –
and my character is pretty
straightforward – so I am
hoping that I’ll be okay if I
don’t bump into the furniture.
It’s a thrilling, wonderful
bunch of actors. I’m not
thinking much about my
acting – more about the bigger
picture, so that’s healthy.’
Belinda’s stage experience
is vast: she last appeared in
Richmond Theatre last year
in Song at Twilight and has
starred in Life x3, Hobson’s
Choice, Dead Funny,
The Women, Tales From
Hollywood, Antigone,
Hay Fever, Three Sisters 2
and previous productions
of Present Laughter. She’s
a well-known face on TV
too, first in the BBC series
To Serve Them All My Days,
then in Dear John, Stay
Lucky, Second Thoughts,
Bust, The Inspector Alleyn
Mysteries, Making News –
and the one we all remember
with affection, her role as
harassed mother Bill in
Two Point Four Children.
Coward’s Bel of the Ball
Belinda Lang makes her directing debut with a Noël Coward classic,
but, as she told Victoria Kingston, her feet remain firmly on the ground.
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 4
Coward is special to
Belinda. ‘He gets under my
skin. He wrote with the most
disciplined structure, but
underneath are big ideas
about human beings and
what makes them tick. His
writing is profound and
moving, but done with grace
and lack of pretension. As
with all great writers, his
words carry you along and
if you just speak the lines
with truth, it will take you
on a wonderful journey.’
Although Coward sets the
play in the 1930s, Belinda
sets it in 1949. ‘I wanted to
get away from the war,’ she
explains. ‘1949 was such an
interesting year – not least
for women. Also, the 30s have
become a very specific era
and you can fall into the trap
of playing the period, not the
play. It’s rather idiotic that a
30s play will be full of art
deco furniture, which wouldn’t
be the case – many people
would have older things in
their houses, just as we do
now. There’s an expectation
of entering a totally art deco
world – and I wanted to
escape that.’
In real life, Belinda is
married to actor Hugh Fraser
and they have a daughter, Lily.
It’s a famously happy marriage
but she is reluctant to discuss
it. ‘I hate reading about
people’s tips,’ she laughs.
‘I haven’t a clue really. Work
is very important to both of
us – it keeps us grounded.’
It’s well known that for
women in middle age, acting
parts are thinner on the
ground. ‘Yes and who knows
what will happen in the future,
but I’ve been very fortunate
so far. I know I can no longer
sit around waiting for that
fabulous job to come along –
it won’t happen because I’m
not a megastar by any means.
I’m a sort of middle player,
so I keep my nose to the
grindstone and look for
interesting work.’
Belinda once told me her
childhood piano teacher told
her acting would be a waste
of a brain. He was completely
wrong of course – she has
approached all her work with
intelligence and painstaking
attention to detail. Are there,
I ask her, any parts she still
wants to tackle? ‘Yes, but I
don’t necessarily know what
they are yet. The nice thing is
you never know what bizarre,
wonderful thing someone will
offer you, that will open up a
new side of yourself - like
being given a chink of light
in your persona. You know,
with life and acting - it’s all
a bit of an adventure really.’
Belinda Lang will be
starring in Present Laughter,
Mon 18 - Sat 23 Jan.
For more information
check out
www.ambassadortickets.com/
richmond or call the
Box Office on 0844 871 7659.
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 5
Asides
It’s official - we really are No.1!Richmond Theatre is now part of the UK’s largest theatre group.
Our parent company, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), has
completed a £90 million deal to buy the 17 UK theatres of Live
Nation, including The Lyceum and Apollo Victoria Theatre in
London. The portfolio stretches from Bristol to Edinburgh, taking
in Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Sunderland
and when Aylesbury’s theatre opens later this year will number
40. Howard Panter, ATG’s co-founder, said Live Nation had some
of the world’s best productions. ‘Our aim is to help maintain the
shows and theatres as vibrant successes.’ Former BBC Director
General Greg Dyke joins the company in the new role of Executive
Chairman. ‘ATG is a great British success story,’ he told Applause,
‘and the acquisition of the Live Nation Theatres will make the
Group even more successful.’
Meanwhile there was more good news for ATG’s owners Howard
Panter and Rosemary Squire as they beat Andrew Lloyd Webber
to the top slot of a poll of the 100 most influential people in
theatre published annually by industry newspaper, The Stage.
Second bite - a classicHollywood comes to Richmond in February with the UK release
of the remake of the 1941 classic monster movie The Wolfman.
Like the original, the new film, starring Benico Del Toro,
Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt, is set in Victorian England
and cast and crew spent a week at in Richmond Theatre’s
auditorium in May 2008 to film a performance of Hamlet.
One click and you help usEasyfundraising.org.uk is a free fund-raising service where you
can raise funds for the Richmond Theatre Trust when you shop
online. You still shop directly with each retailer as you would
normally, but simply by using the links from the website first
at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/rtt each purchase you make
will generate a cash-back donation to the trust at no extra
cost to you.
Liverpool Empire Theatre
The Wolfman
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 6
Stage Door
My Dad’s Army
Arnold Ridley is remembered
as the doddery Private
Godfrey in BBC TV’s Dad’s
Army, but he was also the
author of the classic comedy
thriller Ghost Train. In this
free talk, Arnold’s son
Nicolas describes his
father’s extraordinary life.
The talk will include readings
from Godfrey’s Ghost, his book
about his father, followed by a
question and answer session
and a book signing. The event
is at 5.15pm on Wed 10 Mar,
immediately after that day’s
matinee of Haunted at
Richmond Theatre.
Wife After Death
Tom Conti stars in a new
comedy by Eric Chappell from
Mon 17 - Fri 22 May, 7.45pm
(Wed and Sat, also 2.30pm)
about a hugely successful
television comedian who has
died leaving his wife, agent
and gag writer (Conti) bereft.
But who is best placed to
benefit from the legacy?
Tickets £15 - £28.
Ruby Wax - Losing It?
Ruby Wax and acclaimed
musician Judith Owen combine
their talents in a new show,
prior to the West End. When
Ruby painted her house beige
for the 47th time people
realised something was
wrong. There was only one
thing for it – send her to the
Priory! This is Ruby at her best.
Sun 23 May 7.30pm, tickets £20.
A contribution from ticket sales
will be donated to Comic Relief.
Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show
Join the British Comedy Award
winner for an evening of
anarchic comedy, celebrity
satire and music spoofs as
she returns to her live roots
with old favourites and new
material. Suitable for ages 14+
Sun 13 Jun, tickets £18.50.
Blood Brothers
The cast for Willy Russell’s
multi-award-winning musical
includes Lyn Paul, one of the
original members of the
chart-topping New Seekers.
Considered by many as the
quintessential Mrs Johnstone,
Lyn performed the role in the
West End and now on tour.
Runs Mon 22 - Sat 27 Mar
(Wed and Sat, also 2.30pm),
tickets £14 - £29.
Witness for the Prosecution
The cast has been announced
for the latest instalment from
the Agatha Christie Theatre
Company. It stars Honeysuckle
Weeks, Denis Lill, Ben Nealon,
Robert Duncan, Peter Byrne,
Jennifer Wilson and Mark
Wynter. Runs Mon 10 - Sat 15
May, 7.45pm (Wed and Sat,
also 2.30pm), tickets £14 - £26.
To book for any of these
shows and take advantage
of your priority booking
contact the Box Office
0844 871 7659.
The very latest news, including three new shows now
on sale to Friends, a free talk and two casting updates
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 7
Without a doubt, Tom Conti
is one of the nicest guys in
theatreland. He’s the thinking
woman’s heartthrob – with
a warm smile, a distinctive
mellow voice that is both
velvety and gravely at the
same time with a slight
Scottish brogue – and an
irrepressible sense of humour.
Over coffee at Richmond
Theatre, Tom talks about Wife
After Death, a brand-new play
by Eric Chappell, coming to us
next May. ‘Eric wrote all the
Rising Damp series for TV –
and it’s such a pleasure to
find a play that’s written by
a craftsman. His writing is
character-driven, which the
best comedy is, and you feel
you know the people you’re
watching.’
The plot is this: a much-loved
comic has died – and the play
opens on the morning of his
funeral. Tom plays Harvey, the
comic’s scriptwriter and friend;
he mourns the loss of his
chum but has other conflicting
Growing Old Disgracefully
Tom Conti tells Victoria Kingston why he still gets excited about new plays
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 8
feelings. ‘Suddenly, his rent has
gone,’ laughs Tom. ‘The writer
truly did love him – he was a
close friend, but still, the main
source of his income has died.
He has to hurriedly arrange a
season of re-runs on the
satellite channels.’
Does a play that’s hot off
the press have an added buzz?
‘Actors of my generation were
brought up on the hunt for a
smashing new play. Now it’s
difficult to get theatres to take
them. A trusty Bernard Shaw is
fine – they’ll instantly book it –
but there will be resistance to
anything that’s untried, even
by a well-known writer like Eric.
As soon as I read this play,
I loved it.’
Tom will also be directing,
as he frequently does. Is it
difficult, when combined with
acting? ‘No, there’s no great
magic to it. Directors come in
all shapes and sizes – some
have great concepts for plays –
the Eskimo Hamlet – and they
don’t understand actors. Then
other directors concentrate
solely on the actors and don’t
really understand the play.
When I am directing, the first
person I talk to is the designer
– it’s something as mundane as
where do I put the doors and
windows? Then you create a
model of the set. When the
actors arrive several weeks
later, you can really get the
production under way. In many
ways, good actors will direct
themselves. If they need to be
told everything, I tend not to
cast them again. I mean, I’ve
heard an actor say – I’m no
good with props. Well, what are
they doing in the theatre then?’
Tom is part of an acting
family. His wife Kara Wilson
and their daughter Nina starred
with him at Richmond Theatre
in the 2000 production of Neil
Simon’s Last of the Red Hot
Lovers, which he also directed.
They don’t, he assures me,
have any clashing egos. ‘We
just get on with it. Kara and I
have a grandson now – and
because Nina and her husband
are both comics, they are
constantly doing gigs, so we
get roped in to babysit Arthur,
which we love. Your
life changes, doesn’t it?’
There is a bias towards
young actors nowadays. Does
that get in the way? ‘Certainly
for women – less so for men,’
he muses. ‘It’s very strange.
There are TV series with older
actors, which pull in huge
viewing figures, which is an
embarrassment to the TV
companies because they
have this thing about casting
younger people. Look at
Foyles War. Michael Kitchen
is no kid – he’s fabulous.
Look at Cranford, New Tricks.
Commissioning editors seem
to forget that young people
don’t watch much television.
There’s no point in trying to
lure them.’
He’s looking forward to
being back in Richmond
Theatre. ‘I love it – apart from
the dressing rooms,’ he laughs.
‘It’s a beautiful theatre and
the audiences are very
discerning. They won’t take
anything tawdry.’
Are there any parts he
yearns to play? King Lear?
‘No, no, no,’ he laughs. ‘Can’t
be bothered with that. I never
understand it when actors say,
“I want to give my Lear.” I
mean, why? It’s extraordinary.
An actor needs to be thinking –
what do the audience want?
What will make them laugh or
cry? Not – oh, how wonderful
that I can give them my Lear.
We’re not in the business
of changing people’s lives –
we have momentary effect –
we give pleasure if we’re lucky.
I think this play is engaging –
with real people and real
human problems – it’s a
good play that happens
to be very funny.
That’s all I hope for.’
Tom Conti is appearing
in Wife After Death
Mon 17 - Sat 22 May
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 9
Norman’s Wisdom
From Charlie Chaplin to John
Gielgud, Charlton Heston and
Judi Dench, Richmond Theatre
has played host to some of the
biggest names in theatre in its
glittering 110-year history. The
theatre, built by arguably the
country’s greatest architect,
Frank Matcham, is justifiably
proud of its heritage and of
the people who have made it
such a success story.
One such person is Norman
Fenner, the theatre’s honorary
archivist, who is celebrating a
milestone of his own – his 90th
birthday. Born in Fulham, and
still living in the same house,
his first visit to a theatre was in
1924 when his mother took him
to see Sinbad the Sailor.
The early signs were not good.
‘I was terrified,’ said Norman,
‘and had to be carried out
screaming.’ But far from
being a setback, he was soon
a Saturday regular at theatres
in Fulham, Chelsea, Shepherd’s
Bush and Richmond.
At the tender age of ten he
Norman Fenner, Richmond Theatre’s honorary archivist, talks to Nick Bagge
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 10
was forced by his mother
to take part in a tableaux
portraying Dante. ‘All was
going well until one of the
flaring torches held by a row
of Roman centurions caught
fire where it shouldn’t have.
The sight of him trying to
extinguish it and at the same
time keeping perfectly still
was too much for me and I
‘corpsed’. Exit in disgrace!’
Norman left school at 14 and
began working in the diamond
and jewellery trade, supplying
the likes of Asprey, Cartier and
Boucheron. ‘I was paid 12/6
(65p) for working Monday
to Friday and a half-day on
Saturday. In spite of the low
wage I managed to visit the
theatre about three times a
week. A seat in the Dress
Circle was 9d (4 1/2p), so things
haven’t changed much!’
His life was interrupted by
the war, and in 1940 he joined
the Army. ‘This was a sign of
how desperate things had
become as I was probably more
of a hindrance than an asset.’
Demobbed in 1946, he
became a civil servant in the
Ministry of the Arts, and also
joined The Tavistock Repertory
Company, first as a ‘dogsbody’,
but later a designer for more
than 100 productions. ‘Most
evenings were spent designing,
building and painting the
scenery, returning home at
well past midnight much to my
mother’s annoyance.’ In the
1960s Norman helped train
William Dudley, probably this
country’s most famous theatre
designer and six times an
Olivier Award winner.
Back at the day job, in 1970,
he was about to write a report
that would have lasting
implications both for the
country and himself. The
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith,
needed urgent repairs – and
the architect’s name? Frank
Matcham. ‘I realised the
immense value of Matcham.
His theatres [he designed at
least 80] allowed great intimacy
and fabulous acoustics, but
they were also things of
beauty.’ Norman’s paper
helped preserve Matcham’s
theatres in all their glory.
Soon after retiring, Norman
was delighted to accept the
role of honorary archivist at
Richmond Theatre. ‘There was
no archive at all to speak of
back then. ‘Someone started
a list of the shows until 1912
so all the early ones were
done for me and I did the rest
from then on – it’s amazing
to see all the famous actors
who have played here.’
To mark Norman’s 90th
birthday and to thank him
for his life-long dedication to
Richmond Theatre, the Ivy
Room has been renamed in his
honour. Karin Gartzke, Chief
Executive, said, ‘To us, Norman
is a national treasure, which is
why we felt it appropriate to
dedicate the room to him.’
You can join Norman for
a guided tour of Richmond
Theatre. The tours take place
on the first Saturday of most
months at 12 noon. Tickets are
£3 from the Box Office, but are
free to Friends and Matcham
Club members.
You can hire the room
from £25. Contact the Theatre
Manager on 020 8332 4500.
History in the Making
As part of our 110th
anniversary celebrations we
are delighted to announce
that the Heritage Lottery
Fund have awarded Richmond
Theatre Trust £49,700 for two
exciting arts heritage projects.
Supported by the V&A and
Museum of Richmond, they will
bring together people from
different backgrounds and
generations to learn about the
history of Richmond Theatre
and to create an exhibition
and performance to share
their learning with the wider
community. There will also
be a permanent board
detailing the history outside
the front of the theatre.
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:50 Page 11
Hot Tickets
Richmond Theatre
2-for-1 ticket offers
Haunted
Mon 8 – Fri 12 Mar,
all performances
Oh What a Lovely War
Tue 27 – Fri 30 Apr,
all performances
Maximum: Richmond Friends,
2 tickets; Richmond Family
Friends and Matcham Club
members, 4 tickets.
Not available to
Ambassador Friends.
My Wonderful Day
Mon 15 – Fri 19 Feb,
All performances.
Matcham Club only.
Maximum: four tickets.
Friends Post Show First Night Parties
Supported by
My Wonderful Day Mon 15 Feb
Hedda Gabler Mon 15 Mar
Tickets £5 (includes a drink)
Maximum: Richmond Friends,
2 tickets; Richmond Family
Friends and Matcham Club
members, 4 tickets.
West End and Regional TheatreHairspray
Shaftesbury Theatre
Starring Brian Conley
£25 off tickets on selected dates
The History Boys
Theatre Royal, Brighton
Alan Bennett’s award-winning
comedy. 2-for-1 on Mon 29 Mar
on selected tickets
Richmond Theatre standard discounts
This is just a small selection of the ticket offers available to Friends. For the latest offers go
online to www.ambassadortickets.com. You may also book tickets in person or by calling
the Box Office on 0844 871 7659 (Matcham Club members should use their own hotline).
Terms and conditions: Offers are subject to availability, are not retrospective, cannot be combined with any other offer,
and may be withdrawn at any time. Some offers may be available only online.
Laughter in the Rain
Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Best tickets £19 on Thu 4 Mar
at 7.45pm
Evita
Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Tue 23 Mar - Sat 10 Apr
£5 off selected tickets
One Night of Robbie Williams
Regent Theatre, Stoke
Sat 5 June
£2 off selected tickets
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
New Wimbledon Theatre
2-for-1 on Tue 16 and Wed 17
March, both 7.30pm
(price bands £18.75,
£17.75 and £13.25 only).
Maximum: Richmond Friends,
2 tickets. Richmond Family
Friends and Matcham Club
members, 4 tickets. Please
quote Richmond Friend Offer.
Ambassador Friend
£5 off up to four
Stalls/Dress Circle seats
Saturday matinee
Richmond FriendRichmond FamilyFriend
As Ambassador Friend, plus
£5 off up to two (Family four)
Stalls/Dress Circle seats
Mon-Wed eve
Matcham Club
As Ambassador and
Richmond Friend, plus
£5 off up to four
Stalls/Dress Circle seats
Mon-Fri eve and Wed & Sat mats
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:51 Page 12
DiningOffers
FishWorks13-19 The Square Old Market,
Richmond TW9 1EA.
Tel 020 8948 5965
www.fishworks.co.uk
OFFER: £12.50 for two courses
plus a complementary glass
of wine Available Mon - Fri,
12pm-3pm and 6pm-7pm.
Not valid with any other offer.
Brouge Bistro5 Hill Street, Richmond TW9
1SX. Tel 020 8332 0055
www.brouge.com.uk
OFFER: 25% discount off the
bill with offer card. This offer
is not valid in conjunction
with any other promotion.
Maximum 6 people.
Pizza ExpressLion House, Richmond
TW9 1RE. Tel 020 8948 7460
www.pizzaexpress.com
OFFER: 20% discount off the
bill with offer card. This offer
is not valid in conjunction
with any other promotion.
Porridge
New Wimbledon Theatre
Mon 15 - Sat 20 Feb
£5 off selected tickets
The Hobbit
New Wimbledon Theatre
Tue 4 - Sun 9 May
£5 off selected tickets
High School Musical 2
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Mon 22 - Sat 27 Feb
£3 to £5 off selected tickets
Snow White on Ice
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Wed 2 - Sun 6 June
£3 to £5 off selected tickets
The Sound of Music
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Tue 22 - Sat 10 July
£3 to £4 off selected tickets
Côte Bistro24 Hill Street, Richmond
TW9 1TW. Tel 020 8948 5971
www.cote-restaurants.co.uk
Sponsors of the Richmond
Theatre Friends scheme and
winner of the Which? Good
Food Guide – Best Value
Restaurant in the UK award.
OFFER: a complementary
glass of Kir Royale with offer
card, for pre-theatre menu,
prices £9.95 - £11.90
La Buvette6 Church Walk, Richmond
TW9 1SN. Tel 020 8940 6264
www.labuvette.co.uk
OFFER: a complementary glass
of Kir with offer card, prices
£14.50-£17 for three courses.
Not valid with any other offer
or promotion. Valid all week,
maximum of four guests
per card.
Pizzeria Rustica32 The Quadrant, Richmond
TW9 1DN. Tel 020 8332 6262.
www.pizzeriarustica.co.uk
OFFER: 20% discount off final
bill with offer card. Pre- and
post-theatre only. Not valid in
conjunction with any other
promotion, set or lunch menu
offer. Maximum six guests
per booking.
Why not make your visit to Richmond Theatre even better
with these special discounts from our corporate partners.
Offer cards are available in the bars and foyer.
Rosamund Pike stars in Hedda Gabler
RT Applause Spring 10 14/1/10 14:51 Page 13
La Buvette
La Buvette has established itself as
Richmond’s premier, independent
French restaurant.
The informal, intimate dining room
and secluded courtyard, for al fresco
dining, has welcomed guests from far and
wide, whilst maintaining popularity with
neighbours and friends of Richmond.
Since opening in September 2004 it
has created close working relationships
with the Arts of Richmond, including
alliances with Richmond Theatre,
Curzon Cinema (the old Film House)
and The Orange Tree Theatre.
Originally an annexe to St. Mary
Magdalene Church in Richmond Town
Centre, the building was used as a
canteen, bridge club and latterly a
café until La Buvette opened. It has
established itself as the most fashionable
and charming bistro-style eatery in
Richmond town centre, welcoming
theatre, film and sports stars, politicians
and artists, whilst maintaining popularity
with neighbours and friends. Menus are
strongly influenced by regional French
cooking and the wine list remains
predominantly French.
La Buvette, 6 Church Walk,
Richmond TW9 1SN.
Telephone 020 8940 6264
www.labuvette.co.uk
Parker Car Service
Telephone 020 8560 0000
www.parkercarservice.com
Parker Car Service is one of the largest
and longest running car services in
London and is licensed by Transport for
London. They provide a five-star service
on every journey, with drivers who are
friendly, reliable, trained and security-
checked. Using London’s first GPRS
technology in all cars means they can
tell you exactly when your journey time
starts. Their chauffeur division dates
from 1956. Parker Car Service has a long
tradition of taking good care of all their
customers with service and safety
their top priority.
With more than 300 cars available,
24 hours-a-day, seven days a week, they
can supply executive saloons, estate
cars, minibuses and vans for parcels
up to transit size.
Parker Car Service also provides an
expert airport transfer service and has
vast experience in handling the demands
of prestige corporate clients, including
Richmond Theatre. They accept all
major credit cards.
Next time you visit Richmond
Theatre, consider using Parker Cars.
They will take you there in comfort
and return you home safely after
the show.
From two of ourCorporate Partners
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I love ‘Rob Roy’s Cave’ – Gilderoy’s Cave,
Burn O’Vat, Dinnet, Scotland
It is an hour away from Aberdeen, where I
grew up. It was thought that Rob Roy hid there
when he was trying to evade the law. It is a
spectacular red stone amphitheatre shaped
gorge with an entrance, which is hidden
partially by a huge boulder. Standing in it
makes me feel like an adventurous explorer.
Steven Spielberg films I grew up watching
his films. He is a great storyteller and they
are magical to see. He is probably the
David Lean of my generation. I watch them
over and over again. John Williams’ music
is also a huge part of what makes them
so special. E.T. is my favourite film.
This photo of me I usually do not
like my photo being taken but I think
this one is fun and cheeky. I share
the hobby of photography with
some of my dearest friends and
one, Katrina More-Molyneux, took
this photo of me that I am very
fond of – it was taken very shortly
after I heard I was going to play Spike.
Long walks in my wellies I love going for
long walks with my friends, putting on my
wellies and, when it is cold, wrapping up
warm in a beanie hat, scarf and coat.
There is nothing better than warming up
afterwards with a cup of coffee and cake.
Rosamund Pike Google her! You’ll see why
and see the film, An Education. I have a bit
of a crush on her. My mother would approve
if I brought her home and it would make my
friends hugely envious. I bet she is a laugh!
I hate Any chap who has had the pleasure
to go out with Rosamund Pike
Having said that, I feel that the likelihood
of her wanting to meet me, let alone go out
with me has been very swiftly eliminated!
Goat’s Cheese Yuk! I find both the taste and
the grainy texture horrible. Whoever looked
at a goat and thought it would be a good
idea to milk it should be strung up; and the
person who decided to make cheese from
it should be made to watch! As you can tell,
I feel very strongly about this.
Big Brother It seems to be a circus,
which celebrates stupidity and embraces
ignorance a little too much.
Pessimism It is such an unhelpful trait.
I very much admire Michael Caine. I am
reading his autobiography at the moment.
He lives his life with the motto, coined from
Winston Churchill – ‘If you are going through
hell, keep going’. I would like to think that,
when I am up against it, I could make
the best of the difficulties too.
Cranky Health and Safety These words
cause a unanimous rolling of eyes!
People should be given more credit that
they can look after their own well-being.
Children especially – I saw in the paper
that conkers now had to be played
with protective eyewear! Surely
children, with a little guidance, should
be encouraged to indulge their
imagination by being able to play
outdoors, climbing trees etc. Bumps
and grazes are par of the course
to develop their common sense.
Love it,Hate it
Actor Sholto Morgan, is soon to make
his professional debut in Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler:
My Part in His Downfall at Richmond Theatre, 25 - 30 Jan
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