WAOS Woking Amateur Operatic Society is a local musical theatre

company based in Woking, Surrey. We have produced over 80

shows since its formation in 1972. We stage two shows a year, here

at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, as well as fundraising concerts and

other social events. We are a registered charity, number 284122.

We welcome all newcomers to the society, both on and off-stage. If you are interested in

volunteering to help in any aspect of our theatre productions, please do contact us via

our website www.waos.info

Committee

Chairman – Graham Kirby-Smith

Treasurer – Keith White

Membership – Sue Gaastra

Committee Member – Louisa Nye

Business Manager – Martine Young

Secretary – Lynda Lawrence

Committee Member – Sam Moylan-Heydt

The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) was founded in 1899 and has a

membership of around 2,500 amateur theatre groups and 3,000 individual enthusiasts

throughout the UK who are engaged in staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and

pantomimes in a wide variety of performing venues, ranging from the country’s leading

professional theatres to tiny village halls.

NODA's mission is to support the education and information needs of individuals and

organisations with high quality services and products that contribute to the success of

amateur theatre, as well as encouraging appreciation of the sector by participants and

audiences alike.

They aim to give a shared voice to the amateur theatre sector; to help amateur societies

and individuals achieve the highest standards of best practice and performance; to

provide leadership and advice to enable amateur theatre to tackle the challenges and

opportunities of the 21st century. If you would like to find out more about NODA and its

range of services, please visit www.noda.org.uk

From the Chairman

Ladies and gentlemen, a very warm welcome to you and

thank you for joining us as we explore The Fortunes and

Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders. Director Martine

Young is back at the helm, and we are very pleased to

welcome back Musical Director Ian Peters, an excellent

partnership which has been wonderfully enhanced by the

enthusiasm and creativity of Assistant Director Elizabeth

Loveder in her WAOS debut on the production team.

Our 2018-2019 season is proving to be another exciting one – our production of

Little Shop of Horrors in November received rave reviews, including these, posted

on our Facebook page: "I knew it would be good, but I didn't think it would be that

good!!! You were all incredible!!" / "I was mesmerised throughout the performance.

My face aches from smiling so much!!" / “Incredible performances, set, sound,

lighting! You absolutely nailed it!!! Wish I could see it again!"

We then reprised our summer Wartime Memories production for the Horsell

Residents Association, as part of Battle's Over, a nationwide Day of

Commemorative Events on 11th November, and in December, we provided

entertainment at the Horsell Care Christmas party and did some carol singing at

the Talbot Inn Ripley Christmas Market. I am very keen for us to continue to

support local community groups and events, so if you would like us to provide

entertainment for you, please do get in touch.

If you think you might like to be involved in the WAOS community, you would be

most welcome! The introduction evening for our next show High Society, will be

on Monday 3rd June at the Old Woking Community Centre. Whether you would

like to perform on stage, join our production team, help backstage, make

costumes, paint scenery or even serve tea at our rehearsals, we would love to

meet you.

Graham Kirby-Smith

From the Director

I was privileged to direct Moll Flanders for WAOS 10 years ago and I am delighted to have been

given a second opportunity. Moll Flanders was the winner of Best Musical in the 1995 TMA Awards.

The music is by George Stiles, who is also the composer for Honk!, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, The

Wind in the Willows and the 2016 version of Half of Sixpence. Based on the book written in 1722 by

Daniel Defoe, the musical tells the story of this child, Betsy, later renamed Moll, born in Newgate

Goal, the result of her mother “pleading the belly”. “Pleading the belly” was a legal defence, to be

saved from the gallows. A pregnant mother could not be hanged because of the child she carried.

Moll’s story is about money, social standing, morality and immorality and the means by which to

achieve these, in Moll’s case, the only means was by using her feminine guile. Despite being called

“the century of Enlightenment”, women had no legal rights: they belonged to their father, and then

to their husbands. Only widows had a modicum of rights. Moll starts as an innocent young girl, and

her travels among the wealthy, which exposes their vanity and shallowness, is the catalyst for her

changes. She possesses a single fault of hubris in that she wishes to be a lady – a station she was

not entitled to. She commits adultery, prostitution, child neglect, and incest in an effort to rise to

this station, only to be brought to confession, forgiveness, and a "proper" life in the middle class.

Defoe himself was a noted Puritan. His views are unambiguous, in that he believes and writes for

hard work, devotion, and the work of providence as grace, and in that spirit, Moll starts the show

with a prayer and ends with a prayer. Moll Flanders is sexy, sassy and strong – an extraordinary

woman with an extraordinary life! If this was not enough, there is a goodly selection of larger than

life characters, dipping in and out of her story.

Martine Young

Director – Martine Young Martine has been interested in the theatre since her school days when she

was already “staging” school plays, with varying degrees of success! She

has been a member of WAOS since 1979, joining as a chorus member,

having already been with Workington Operatic Society in Cumbria for five

years before moving to Surrey. She also sings with St Dunstan’s Choir. She

is an established director for WAOS and other local theatrical societies. Her

directorial credits include The Merry Widow, Camelot, Orpheus in the

Underworld, Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, The

Pirates of Penzance, South Pacific, Iolanthe, Guys and Dolls, The Magic Flute,

Kiss Me Kate, The Mikado and Moll Flanders. She is delighted to have been

given a chance to direct Moll Flanders again with Ian Peters, who is also

reprising his role as the Musical Director. She would like to thank her creative and technical teams,

who have given her constant support. She feels that Moll Flanders is a great period piece of musical

theatre and has loved every moment of directing and bringing Moll and all the other characters to

life. She hopes you will enjoy watching Moll coming to life and reserve judgement!

Musical Director – Ian Peters

Ian's principal musical study has been as a clarinettist. He now works as a

freelance musician and teacher and is on the instrumental teaching staff

for the University of Southampton. He was Head of Woodwind

Performance studies from 1998-2018 and is now lecturing in woodwind

instrumental education. An additional interest in conducting led to

directing several notable youth orchestras, choirs and amateur symphony

orchestras. His first venture into musical theatre was in 1991 with a

production of Gigi for BBLOC in Bournemouth. He has now directed over

70 shows, working with many societies across the South, including

Southampton, Epsom, Swindon, Romsey, Poole, Highcliffe, Waterside,

Portsmouth, Fareham, Walton-on-Thames and Woking. Many of these

productions have achieved NODA awards for excellence, as well as Ian receiving several personal

awards. His association with BBLOC has continued, with regular invitations for amateur premieres,

in the last couple of years these have included Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Chitty Chitty Bang

Bang. Moll Flanders was the first show Ian had worked with WAOS for, some ten years ago, and he

is delighted to have been invited back for this revival.

Assistant Director – Elizabeth Loveder

Elizabeth has been involved with WAOS since 2017 when she appeared in

Kiss Me Kate. This is her first time directing for the company. Previous

directing credits include The Country Wife by William Wycherley in Bristol

and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves for Fairlands Players. Recent onstage

credits include Alice in Two by Jim Cartwright, Watchman in Much Ado

About Nothing both with the Pranksters Theatre Company and as a singer

in Lilies on the Land with Merrow Dramatic Society. When not involved in

community theatre, Elizabeth is a Dramatherapist who specialises in child

and family work. Elizabeth has enjoyed working alongside Martine, and

learning the art of directing a large-scale musical. She would like to thank

her for all the encouragement she has given.

Assistant Musical Director – Samantha Moylan-Heydt

In Sam’s own words “Assistant Musical Director sounds a very lofty title for

standing in front of people and waving my arms around wildly”. As someone

who is fairly musical, but not a musician, Sam doubted that she would be

able to step up and support. Then she remembered that she is really bossy

and very good at organising people! So working hand in hand with

rehearsal pianist Jonathan and the company, they have worked hard and

hope that they have make Ian Peters the Musical Director proud. Sam

would like to thank the lovely cast for their hard work, being so supportive

and welcoming her input. Perhaps she will be able to do it again in the

future?

Rehearsal pianist and répétiteur – Jonathan Rhodes-Smith

Jonathan’s first rehearsal schedule and performance with WAOS was The

Hired Man in 2010 and is still one of his favourite shows – although

Sweeney Todd remains his firm favourite! Since then he has accompanied

every show bar one and played in the “pit” for 14 of the past 18 shows.

Classically trained by his father from the age of six, Jonathan plays for a

number of musical societies and individuals around Surrey and further

afield (in addition to his full time job as an estate agent) but feels most at

home with his friends at WAOS.

He would like to take this opportunity to thank Ian Peters, under whose baton Jonathan has now

performed on four occasions, for his ongoing encouragement and development of his musical

knowledge.

Synopsis Moll Flanders, or to give it its full title, The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders was

published in 1722 by Daniel Defoe. It is written in the form of a fictional autobiography of the girl

known as Moll whose mother was convicted of petty theft and sentenced to be hanged. By "pleading

her belly", Moll's mother earns a stay of execution, as it was not legal or morally acceptable to

execute pregnant criminals. Instead, once the baby is born, the mother is sent to the colonies in

America, mainly Virginia, to serve her punishment. The baby remains in England. Moll, or Betsy as

she was then called, is one of these children. She is initially sold to gypsies who abandon her in

Colchester at the tender age of eight. Parish officers in the Essex town put her in the care of a good

woman, Nurse, who has a small school, where she is raised until adolescence. She tells her nurse

that she wants to be a ‘gentlewoman’ or in other words that she wishes to support herself.

Betsy goes to live at the home of one of the town's women, Lady Constable, who is impressed with

her attitude as companion to her daughter. Romantic confusion ensues as Betsy finds herself

pursued by the lady’s elder son, Cyril, only for this to be ruined by Cyril’s caddish and money

orientated behaviour, once he has obtained Molls favours. He has no qualms about encouraging

his younger brother, Robert, who is madly in love with Betsy, to offer marriage. Robert and Betsy

marry but only five years later, she is left a poor widow with only £1,200 to her name. She renames

herself Moll Flanders, after a spell in The Mint, the debtors’ prison

Betsy begins honing the skill of passing herself off as a widow of fortune to attract a man who will

marry her and provide her with security. The first time she does this, her husband, Henry, goes

bankrupt and leaves her on her own, with his blessing to do the best she can and assume he is

dead. The second time, she makes a match, Jerry, a tobacco planter, who takes her to his mother’s

plantation in Virginia. And they are happy. After two children, Betsy’s happiness there is ruined by

the totally unexpected revelation that her mother-in-law is in fact her own mother, and that,

consequently, she has married her brother. Her mother gives her the financial support to start a

new life back in England.

Life becomes financially up and down. She goes to Bath and meet Mr Biggins, who offers her

protection, which is all he can do since he is married. Eventually Mr Biggins returns to his wife and

Moll has to return to her con skills. She makes a match with a man from Lancashire, who turns out

to be a gentleman without means who had also been conning her that he was wealthy, the

charismatic Jemmy. Alas, these two truly fall in love, but part anyway because they have not a penny

to live on if they stay together. Moll resorts to another conned beau, a banker, Mr Honest, who

marries her then dies in financial ruin after five years, having invested in the South Sea Company.

Truly desperate now, she begins a career of artful thievery, which, by employing her wits, beauty,

charm, and femininity, brings her the financial security she always sought. She comes under the

protection of Mother Midnight, a shady character, who takes to Moll and almost views her as her

daughter. Moll even meets Cyril again, who does not recognise her and she robs him of all his

clothes. Eventually she is caught and sent to back Newgate Goal. Here, she is counselled by a man

of the cloth, who leads her to repentance and enlightenment. The priest, unknown to her, is Jemmy

in disguise. He manages to obtain a pardon for her and both sail back to America, aided by Mother’s

Midnight financial help. One has to assume that, eventually, they live happily ever after!

Supporting our WAOS members

“Hello, my name is Jessie. I'm 17 years old and I have been performing

since the age of seven. I love to perform and I work hard to always improve

my skills by attending dance classes, taking Musical Theatre exams and

performing in amateur dramatic productions, as well as studying for a

Performing Arts BTEC at college alongside two A-levels.

I recently auditioned for the British Youth Music Theatre 2019 company

and was thrilled to be successful. BYMT

is a national youth theatre company

and is the largest in the UK; over 800

young people aged 11 to 21 auditioned

this year and less than 300 were offered places so I feel very

fortunate. I will be attending a two week residential where I will

learn a new production and be taught by industry professionals,

we will then perform the show, here at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre.

As you can imagine an experience like this is costly and although BYMT fundraise all year round to

keep the costs as low as they can, they still need to pass on some costs to the performers. They also

offer bursaries to families who will struggle to meet the cost and I have been very fortunate to have

been offered a bursary however in order to attend I will still need to raise £800. I have various

fundraising activities planned and would be really grateful if you would be willing to make a donation

to help me to achieve my target. If you would like to support me, you can securely donate at

https://www.gofundme.com/jessies-british-youth-music-theatre-course-fees

Thank you very much for your support and I hope you enjoy this performance of Moll Flanders!”

Jessica-Mae Thompson

Cast

Moll Flanders Katherine Winfield

Moll Flanders (age 16) Samantha Stott

Moll Flanders (age 12) Julia Da Costa

Moll Flanders (age 8) Elsie Murza-Murzicz

Elizabeth (Moll’s Mother) Melanie Eloranta

Cyril Will McDermott

Robert Steven Kingaby

Lady Constable Samantha Moylan-Heydt

Corrinder Josie Barnett

Jerry / Fop Patrick Coad

Lucie Louisa Nye

Abe / Tradesman Graham Kirby-Smith

Mr Biggins / Drunkard / Lord Constable Roger Thomas

Daisy Sarah Platt

Mother Midnight Sophie Coad

Mr Honest / Fornicator Mike Bartlett

Jemmy / Gambler / Artist Steve Nottage

Luke / Prison Warden Alex Haben

Ralph / Clerk / Prison Warden Franek Mrozek

Henry Andy Hall

Mayor of Colchester / 2nd Priest Brian Higgs

Nurse Sonia Huntley-Robertson

Judge / Publican Clive Moon

Woman in prison Tasha Bennett

Maid in Virginia Francesca Di Domenico

Girls in cemetery Jessica-Mae Thompson, Julia Da Costa

and Amy Eloranta

Landlady Amanda Carey-McDermott

Publican’s wife Sharon Forsyth

Mrs Biggins Sue Gaastra

1st Priest Alan Wyle

Boy Robert Angus

Man in prison Keith White

Prison Warden Nicky Jordan

Servant Sharon Forsyth

Supporting Cast

Girls in London Genifa Brownsea, Jessica Dunipace and Amy Eloranta

Young Children Rebecca Dunipace and Elsie Murza-Murzicz

Bath Ladies Tasha Bennett, Francesca Di Domenico, Beth Flitton and Dianne Skeel

The Whores Josie Barnett, Tasha Bennett, Cathy Chappell, Zoe Davis,

Francesca Di Domenico, Melanie Eloranta, Sharon Forsyth, Sue Gaastra,

Samantha Moylan-Heydt, Amel Oudjida and Samantha Stott

Barmaids Tasha Bennett, Francesca Di Domenico and Amel Oudjida

Musicians Musical Director Ian Peters

Keyboard Jonathan Rhodes-Smith

Keyboard David Perkins

Production Team

Director Martine Young

Musical Director Ian Peters

Assistant Director Elizabeth Loveder

Assistant Musical Director Samantha Moylan-Heydt

Rehearsal Pianist and Répétiteur Jonathan Rhodes-Smith

Choreography Zoe Davis, Elizabeth Loveder and Martine Young

Production Facilitator Sue Gaastra

Stage Manager Lisa Young

Deputy Stage Manager Victoria Percival

Assistant Stage Manager Mike Griffiths

Crew Brendan Burbage, Ellen Da Costa, Mike Griffiths,

Stuart Roy and Lisa Young

Sound [Show Works] Oscar Thompson

Lighting Mark Cox

Lighting Equipment Tim Collins

Set Design Mike Bartlett

Set Construction Mike Bartlett, Mike Griffiths, Stuart Roy

and Brendan Burbage

Set Painting Lorraine Landon, Dianne Skeel and Julia Da Costa

Projection Imagery and Portrait Art in Scene 5 Julia Da Costa

Props Coordinators Sue Gaastra, Tracey Gillard and Lorraine Landon

Wardrobe [WAOS] Cathy Chappell, Ellen McDermott, Martine Young

and Anne-Marie Gates

Make-Up and Wigs Lynda Lawrence, Julie Lawson, Dianne Skeel

and Amanda Wallace

Chaperone Co-ordinator Gillian Freeman

Chaperones Kirsty Angus, Melanie Bartlett, Vicky Campbell,

Gillian Freeman, Vicki Thompson and Karen Woodland

Front of House Manager Hannah Dare

Front of House Tim Beasley, Julie Corden, Rosemary Culshaw,

Natasha Duffus-Butler, Peter Howitt, Anja Mrozek,

Sylvie Petersen, June Saich and Peter Saich

Box Office Keith White & Lisa Young

Publicity and Media Brian Higgs and Will McDermott

Front of House Display Martine Young

Art, Photography, Programme & Website Lisa Young

ACT 1 Scene 1: Opening

Let Us Tell a Tale (Company)

Scene 2: Newgate Gaol

Lullaby (Elizabeth)

Scene 3: Chorus Scene

A Baby (Company)

Scene 4: Colchester

Moll’s Prayer (Moll)

Scene 5: Lady Constable’s Home

Portrait Song (Artist, Lady Constable, Cyril, Robert, Corrinder and Moll)

Scene 6: The Same

The Seduction (Moll, Cyril, Lady Constable, Robert and Corrinder)

Scene 7: The Same

Her Love Made Her Rich (Moll and Company)

Scene 8: London

The Masque (Luke, Moll, Ralph and Henry)

Scene 9: The Mint

The Mint (Gambler, Drunkard and Fornicator)

Scene 10: A quayside public house and its environs

A Sailor’s Life (Abe, Jerry and Barmaids)

Lap-dogs (Moll, Lucie, Abe and Jerry)

Scene 11: Sailing to Virginia

Sailing to Virginia (Moll and Jerry)

Scene 12: Virginia

Scene 13: The Same

Never Look Back (Moll, Elizabeth, Jerry and Company)

20 MINUTE INTERVAL

The video and audio recording of this performance

by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.

ACT 2 Scene 1: The pump room at Bath

Bath Promenade (Company, Moll and Biggins)

Scene 2: Biggin’s home in London

Frail Man, Beware! (Company)

Scene 3: London

Scene 4: The Bank of England

Frail Man, Rejoice! (Company)

Mr Honest at the Bank (Honest and Moll)

Scene 5: On the road

Stage-coach Song (Company, Daisy and Jemmy)

Mr Honest (Reprise) (Honest, Moll and Jemmy)

Scene 6: Liverpool

Ride (Jemmy and Moll)

The Hour is Late (Jemmy and Moll)

Scene 7: Mother Midnight’s House in London

Mr Honest’s Letters (Honest)

Scene 8: A Coaching house, then London

Mr Honest’s Death (Honest, Moll and Company)

Scene 9: A churchyard

Stolen (Fragment) (Mother Midnight)

Scene 10: Mother Midnight’s House

Damn, Damn, Damn (Moll and Mother Midnight)

Stolen (Mother Midnight)

Scene 11: Daisy’s Hanging

Scene 12: A London Street

I Shall Work Alone (Moll, Tradesman, Fop, Judge and Company)

Scene 13: The streets at night

Come With Me, Whore! (Cyril and Moll)

When a Man’s Dressed Up (Whores)

Scene 14: Mother Midnight’s House

Scene 15: The Old Bailey

Hang, Hang, Hang (Company)

Scene 16: Newgate Gaol

Child of Newgate (Moll)

Scene 17: The Same

Scene 18: The quayside and beyond

The Hour Was Late/Finale (Jemmy, Moll and Company)

Moll Flanders

Katherine Winfield Taking a turn from her usual

backstage role as Sound No. 2,

this is Katie's fifth show with

WAOS, but her first onstage with

the company! She is an avid

theatre-goer and a huge admirer

of composer George Stiles' work,

having previously performed as

the titular role in Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure;

Stiles and Drewe's magical retelling of the J.M Barrie

classic. She is thrilled to be playing the role of the

scandalous Moll Flanders, a character that has

intrigued her since her first reading of Defoe's novel

at age twelve.

Moll Flanders (age 12)

Julia Da Costa Julia joined WAOS in 2017,

performing as Louise in Carousel.

Since then, Julia has played

Young Evelyn in Wartime

Memories, and danced

“Electricity” from Billy Elliot in her

university’s ‘MT’ showcase.

Alongside her first year studying

Fine Art, she has loved being in Moll Flanders and

hopes you enjoy the show.

Elizabeth (Moll’s Mother)

Melanie Eloranta Melanie has been passionate

about performing since an early

age, participating in a variety of

school and college productions.

After graduating she toured Italy

performing Theatre in Education

in schools and colleges. Latterly

she has played Liz in Billy Liar at

the South London Theatre and sung in choirs

including the television competition Last Choir

Standing. Moll Flanders is her third musical with

WAOS and thanks members for their encouragement

and support.

Moll Flanders (age 16)

Samantha Stott After a ten-year absence from

WAOS Sam rejoined the company

for Pride and Prejudice in 2016. In

her seventeen years of amateur

dramatics Sam has performed with

many different companies and

played many different roles. Some

of her favourites include Kitty

Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Annie Oakley in Annie

Get Your Gun, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes plus

Hodel and Chava in two separate performances of

Fiddler on the Roof, the latter being her first ever show

and role at the tender age of sixteen. To play a

sixteen-year old again in this show has been both a

surprise and enormous fun.

Moll Flanders (age 8)

Elsie Murza-Murzicz Elsie has been dancing since she

was three and acting since her

debut in Carousel with WAOS. She

has performed in many dance

shows. Her favourite style is tap

dancing but she also enjoys ballet.

She loves being in Moll because

she gets to wear pretty dresses

and doesn't have lines to remember. Elsie would like

to thank WAOS for making her so welcome and the

chaperones for looking after her.

Cyril

William McDermott Let us tell a tale of Will, rejoining

us on the stage, coached by

wonderful directors. Will's stage

debut was in Blitz, so long ago he

might have been considered a

baby. In admitting that Cyril is very

close to his own personality, we

find that he really is Mr Honest.

Will may have missed opportunities playing the life of

a sailor, but he'll never look back, or work alone as he

joins his mother and sister in the society for Moll, and

he hopes you enjoy the ride.

Robert

Steven Kingaby Steven is delighted to return to

WAOS after a lengthy hiatus from

taking part in shows. He last

performed on the Rhoda McGaw

stage in The Magic Flute in 2016.

A late joiner to the cast, he has

been warmly welcomed by the

cast of Moll Flanders and eased

into his role of the ever petulant Robert Constable.

Corrinder

Josie Barnett Josie is excited to play Corrinder

and has enjoyed “acting” spoilt.

She joined WAOS in November

2017 for 9 to 5 after a seven year

gap from musicals. She is pleased

to have found a friendly group of

people to ease her back into

theatre and welcome her to

Woking.

Lucie

Louisa Nye Louisa joined WAOS in June 2018,

performing her first solo part for

the Society in August’s Wartime

Memories fundraiser. She has

enjoyed returning to musicals

after a 14-year hiatus; during

which she wrote, directed and

performed in Christmas comedy

revue shows and ran live band karaoke in her spare

time.

Lady Constable

Samantha Moylan-Heydt Moll Flanders was the first show

Samantha did with WAOS. She

played the down to earth Mother

Midnight. Ten years on to the

current Moll, she is now playing

the gloriously haughty Lady

Constable. In the past, she has

been in most WAOS shows,

shaking a tail feather in the chorus and playing the

occasional principal. She shows no signs of giving

WAOS a break from her “bossy ways” and is grateful

that WAOS loves her just the way she is! She hopes

you enjoy the show and says “Now concentrate, heads

up, shoulders back, stomach in and make sure you

show your best profile!”

Jerry / Fop

Patrick Coad Patrick joined WAOS nearly ten

years ago and has enjoyed many

parts including Georgie Locke in

Blitz!, John Tallentire in The Hired

Man, Noah in The Children of

Eden, Heathcliff in Wuthering

Heights and Aldolpho in The

Drowsy Chaperone. He is pleased

to take on the part of Jerry, with some new

challenges, including what he considers to be his

most flamboyant costume yet.

Abe / Tradesman

Graham Kirby-Smith Graham has been a member of

WAOS since 2012, and has been

enjoying his first year as Chairman!

He thoroughly enjoyed playing

The Dentist in Little Shop of

Horrors. He is a keen keyboard

player, playing regularly at

Woking’s Christ Church 6:30pm

services and at the annual Jubilee Square Good Friday

service.

Mr Biggins / Drunk / Lord Constable

Roger Thomas A long-standing member of

WAOS, Roger has appeared in

numerous shows over the years,

as well as on stage with other

local societies – everything from

drama to farce. He is also keen on

other types of music, notably

barbershop singing with a local

chorus, and playing the ukulele. He is particularly

fond of this show, with its great music and lyrics.

Mother Midnight

Sophie Coad Sophie studied Performing Arts at

Brooklands College, and after a

long break from performing,

thanks to a few inspiring old

college buddies, decided to get

back on the stage and fell in love

with acting again. Since being a

member of WAOS, Sophie has

played a variety of roles in the chorus and as a

principal – Caroline Bingley in Pride & Prejudice and

Roz in 9 to 5. She is thrilled to be playing Mother

Midnight. A formidable character who uses her wits

and resourcefulness to survive in a society full

inequalities and hypocrisies, where men had all the

power. At least a few things have changed since the

1800s!

Jemmy / Gambler / Artist

Steve Nottage Steve was born into show

business at an early age. He grew

up with his father, a failed

magician, and two half-sisters. He

joined the navy as a submariner.

His seafaring career was short, but

he went down well. Steve is

delighted to play a host of

different roles in his first toga-less production with

WAOS after years on stage with local musical theatre

groups and in old time music hall, a particular passion

of his. He thanks everyone at WAOS for their warm

welcome and requests that any fruit and veg thrown

at him is removed from the tin first!

Daisy

Sarah Platt Sarah first joined WAOS for

Carousel in 2017. Brand new to

performing on stage, she then

caught the bug for theatre. She is

very excited to be part of such a

great cast and show. This will be

her first principal role as Daisy and

she hopes to bring the character

to life in Moll Flanders!

Mr Honest / Fornicator

Mike Bartlett Mike has been performing and/or

set designing with WAOS for

many years; his first show with us

playing Freddie in My Fair Lady.

He has had a variety of lead and

supporting roles both with WAOS

and other local societies,

frequently being enlisted by

Martine as an extra chorus man. Running under a

stage to play both pirate and policeman in The Pirates

of Penzance remains a painful highlight! Mike is

delighted to be performing in Moll for the second

time and that Elsie, his step-daughter, is reprising the

role played by his daughter, Kathryn all those years

ago!

Luke / Prison Warden

Alex Haben Alex has been in many WAOS

shows and has enjoyed playing a

variety of different characters. He

enjoys acting, singing and

sometimes even dancing! He is

excited to be in Moll Flanders and

likes all the different elements in

the story, especially the comical

moments his character shares with Moll.

Ralph / Clerk / Prison Warden

Franek Mrozek Franek started acting 3 years ago with SADS and has taken part in previous WAOS

productions. He thoroughly enjoys his little spotlight moment in Ralph’s duet with Moll.

Henry

Andy Hall Andy has been a member of the society since 2014 when he joined WAOS to be in the

chorus for Wuthering Heights. It is the second time he has been part of a ‘trio’.

Mayor of Colchester / 2nd Priest

Brian Higgs Brian has been involved in the world of musical theatre for some 18 years. He has

performed with various groups in Surrey over the years.

Nurse

Sonia Huntley-Robertson This is Sonia’s 9th show with WAOS. She is thrilled to be performing in Moll Flanders

and is very grateful to be playing the role of the nurse. She would like to thank her

husband and boys for all their loving support! She hopes you all enjoy the show!

Judge / Publican

Clive Moon Clive has often appeared in uniform, and is outraged that in this show his kit has been

stolen!

The Company

Rehearsals

Get involved in our next show: High Society is a musical comedy with a book by Arthur Kopit and

music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The plot centres on a pretentious

Oyster Bay socialite who is planning to wed an equally pretentious

executive, when her ex-husband arrives to disrupt the proceedings!

Find out more at our Introduction Evening You are warmly invited to our introduction evening for our next show High Society. Here you will

meet the director, musical director and the production team. You will find out about the vision and

character breakdown of the show as well as audition pieces and key dates for your diary. It is a

relaxed and informal evening open to everyone, no matter what your stage experience is. We look

forwarding to seeing you!

Date and Time: Monday 3rd June 2019 at 7:45pm

Venue: Old Woking Community Centre

Sundridge Road

Woking, Surrey

GU22 9AT

WAOS.Woking Woking_WAOS woking_waos www.waos.info info@waos.info

WAOS Productions 1973 – 2018 1973 The Boy Friend

1975 Bless The Bride

1976 White Horse Inn / The Gondoliers

1977 Orpheus In The Underworld / Oklahoma!

1978 The Merry Widow / The Geisha

1979 The Gypsy Baron / Ruddigore

1980 Lilac Time / The Desert Song

1981 Free As Air / Bitter Sweet

1982 Merrie England / Carousel

1983 Summer Song / My Fair Lady

1984 The Gipsy Princess / Brigadoon

1985 The Pajama Game / Show Boat

1986 Princess Ida / The Rebel Maid

1987 Viva Mexico / No, No, Nanette

1988 Die Fledermaus / Calamity Jane

1989 Kismet / The Yeomen Of The Guard

1990 Fiddler On The Roof / Half A Sixpence

1991 Oklahoma! / The Merry Widow

1992 Hello Dolly! / The Pirates Of Penzance

1993 Blitz! * / Camelot

1994 Carousel / Lilac Time

1995 Charlie Girl / The Mikado *

1996 Orpheus In The Underworld / The Music Man

1997 Kiss Me, Kate / Gigi *

1998 Brigadoon / Peg O’ My Heart

1999 Anything Goes / Annie Get Your Gun

2000 In The Spotlight / South Pacific †

2001 Robert And Elizabeth / My Fair Lady

2002 Guys And Dolls / Fiddler On The Roof †

2003 A Music Hall Extravaganza / How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

2004 Oklahoma! / Jack The Ripper *†

2005 Calamity Jane †‡ / Little Shop of Horrors

2006 Bye Bye Birdie / The Slipper and The Rose

2007 The Boy Friend / Carousel

2008 Moll Flanders † / Salad Days

2009 Into The Woods * / Songs That Won The War / Blitz!

2010 The Hired Man * / South Pacific

2011 The Pajama Game / The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas

2012 Bugsy Malone / The Pirates of Penzance

2013 Children of Eden † / Anything Goes

2014 Oklahoma! / Oliver!

2015 Wuthering Heights / Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street *†

2016 The Magic Flute / The Drowsy Chaperone / Something Old, Something New / Pride & Prejudice

2017 Kiss Me, Kate * / A Night Of Musical Cabaret / Carousel †

2018 9 to 5 / Wartime Memories / Little Shop of Horrors

* NODA Award Winning Production

† NODA Award Other Than Production

‡ NODA Programme Competition National Winner

Life Member In recognition of her long association with Woking Amateur Operatic Society and her

work performed on the Society’s behalf, we are pleased to acknowledge our life member:

Mrs Peggy Prosser

Patrons of the Society The support of the following patrons of the Society is gratefully acknowledged:

Mrs Theresa Amor

John & Veronica Brown

Mrs Jenny Grayson

Mrs Pam Knight

Mrs Lynda Lawrence

Mr & Mrs R C Norris

Being a patron means that financial support can be given by those who wish to be

involved with the society, but who might be unable to spare the time to help in a more

active manner. For a minimum annual donation of £20 (£30 for couples), patrons receive:

recognition in each show programme

a complimentary programme when buying tickets for a show

If you would like to become a patron, please send your name, postal address, e-mail

address and telephone number, along with your remittance, to: Sue Gaastra, 18 Hill Close,

Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TE or by e-mail to membership@waos.info

During the interval, you will have a chance to enter our free draw

to win 2 free tickets to our next show High Society!

The winner of the Moll Flanders ticket draw is:

Salma El-Sodaney