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The Roman Invasion of Ramsbottom
The Red Brick Auditorium, Square Chapel, Halifax
April 2001
Everyone knows the Romans are famous for their roads, but very few know of the human dramas that lie behind the building of those arrow atraight chariotways that crossed the empire. This play, written by John Wiles, shares some of those secrets.
Conkus Maximus, Minister of Transport, is proud of the latest project - the C6 from Rome to Carlisle - and is visiting Mancunium to open it personally. He, however, is not the only one with an interest. Mafia boss Don Giuseppe Baloni can sense a business opportunity and can visualise spaghetti houses at every junction.
There is just one small problem of which they are unaware: The Roman's Return, Ramsbottom, a typical Lancashire local pub, right on the C6.
The production has live music played by the Hebden Bridge Junior Band. The band was formed in 1971 by Brian Haydn Robinson who continues as Musical Director, teaching and encouraging children aged 7 to 19 to play brass instruments. The band has perfomed widely both locally and abroad.
CAST
The Brotherhood
Maserati - Akeel
Fiat - George
Momma - Hayley
Lamborgini - Lucy
Ferrari - Pravindah
Don Guiseppe Baloni - Ryan
Virgil, his secretary - Simon
The Romans (Evil Tribunes)
Sardonicus - Bethan
Acrimonius - Chris B
Sarcasticus - Dean
Parsimonius - Lauren
Soldiers
Ingenius - Adam
Euphonius, a sergeant major - Alex G
Conkus' secretary - Briony
Scandalus - Calum
Gaius Julius Agricola, Governor - Chris K
Congenial - Jennie
Samba, a majorette - Jodie
Minimus - Matthew
Conkus Maximus - Neale
Poisonus - Robert
Plonkus, a wine waiter - Alex S
Rufus - Tamar
Hilarius - Tom
Majorettes & Cloggers
April, Clare, Jodie, Katie
Lucy, Martha, Nicola, Stephanie, Vanessa
HEBDEN BRIDGE JUNIOR BAND
Cornet - Emma L
Cornet - Tim
Cornet - Martyn
Cornet - Craig
Cornet - Natalie
Cornet - Fay
Cornet - Emma S
Cornet - Kylie
Cornet - Bridget
Cornet - Matthew
Fleugelhorn - Tara
Fleugelhorn - Rory
Tenor Horn - Jenny
Tenor Horn - John
Baritone - Ben T
Baritone - Richard
Euphonium - Ellen
Roman Aristocrats
Frigida, very posh - Amanda
Lady Supercelia, a pea brained yuppie - Amy B
Cotta, a typical aristo - Amy L
Julia, Brutus' bossy wife - Chiara
Labienus, down to earth - Daniel Sm
Julius Brutus, a glutton - Daniel Sy
Pompus Monotonus, Supercelia's husband - Oliver
Philipa, slightly catty - Phoebe
The Britons
Connie Clegg - Abby
Accrington Stanley - Alex D
Wally Winterbottom - Alex S
Elsie Shuttleworth, bossy wife - Amy S
Gracie Trotter - Andrea
Bertha Blenkinsop - April
Bet Clitheroe - Clare
Sam, the pianist - Dave Nelson
Little Lil - Elise
Victoria Trotter - Emma W
Jack Trotter - Gordon
Annie Trotter - Helen
Albert Trotter - Jude Murphy
Feda Howard - Lisa
WPC Gloria - Nicola
Sidney Shuttleworth, hen pecked husband - Robert
Dolly Diggle - Ruth
Vera Platt - Vanessa
Trombone - Clive
Trombone - George M
Trombone - Freya
Trombone - Holly
Bass - Ben M
Bass - Monica
Bass - Heather
Bass - Elizabeth
Percussion - George
Guest Players
Cornet - Mark Robinson
Tenor Horn - Claire Gallagher
Tenor Horn - Sarah Rawlinson
Trombone - Andrew Eastwood
Musical Director - Brian Haydn Robinson
Directed by Robert Garrett & Gail Waddington
Music fdirected by Dave Nelson
Set by Tony Clark & Chris O'Ryan
Lighting by Laurence Dowson & Tony Clark
Coatume by Aileen Walker, Tracy Drake, Jo Hallgarth, Sue Margetts, Jan Holden & Rose Helme