Private Lives

Clair Henderson (Director) is originally from the NE of England, but spent most of her adult life in the SW, as a member of Royal Navy. This, her chosen career for 22 years, was where she became a member of the Royal Navy Theatre Association. As an Actor, Clair has been in productions ranging from farce/pantomime to solemn psychological drama. She won Best Actress Award for her portrayal of a paranoid psychotic female in a One Act Play festival, an award for which she is really proud. Her favourite role was as the Wife Of Bath Canterbury Tales - Chaucer and the RNTA took this production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They took Edinburgh by storm getting rave reviews. Since making Canada her home Clair chose to volunteer for Bedford Players because she found everyone very welcoming and friendly, and felt it to be a good place to rekindle her thespian interests! Clair is extremely happy to be allowed the privilege of being able to explore all aspects of theatre with the help of Bedford Players. Not only has she acted with us as Kate in Bedroom Farce but also Co-Produced Sorry! Wrong Chimney!, and is now extremely excited to be making her directing debut with Private Lives.

Kim Shaw (Producer) has been involved with community theatre for 16 years. Kim's love of theatre began in 1995 when she, and her daughter, joined Unicorn Theatre. She did everything from soup to nuts including Board Chair, Director, Costumes, SM, etc. Kim has also worked with TAG as ASM. Kim joined Bedford Players as a Front of House volunteer for Busybody. As Stage Manager for Marplot, Kim enjoyed working with this fabulous group! Producing Private Lives has been a big learning curve, but so much fun! Kim would like to thank Karen, Alleen, Kirk, Sandy and hubby John for all their support. Enjoy, as this talented cast takes you into this wonderfully funny play.

Paula Mason (Stage Manager) is very pleased with her decision to return to the role of Stage Manager for this production of Private Lives. Paula had her first experience as stage manager in Bedroom Farce in 2010 and had a wonderful time. As a newbie to the world of theatre Paula feels like she learns something new with every rehearsal, and as always there are always lots of laughs. Paula has a lot of management experience in her day job, but often those leadership rules of the road don't work with Actors!!! Private Lives is a fantastic play and watching the characters come to life under Clair's direction has been a fantastic experience. The actors and all the volunteers that make up the Bedford Player's family should be very proud of another successful show. Thanks to my family for getting their own suppers the past few months and to my friends, I have missed you guys and I promise to have more time with you soon.

Kirk Brown (Assistant Stage Manager) joined Bedford Players late 2007 as Webmaster. You may have spoken with him on our Ticket Line, or seen him working Front of House. He is also a Member-at-Large with the Bedford Players' council. Kirk would like to thank Director Clair Henderson for the opportunity to be a part of this production, to Paula Mason (Stage Manager) and to the cast for the many, many laughs. Kirk would also like to thank his parents, John and Patricia, for their support over the years and wisdom in purchasing the first family computer in the 1980's - knowing that computers would be a big hit and the foresight that they'd need free technical support.

Lynette Mitchell (Sibyl Chase) is delighted to be making her debut with Bedford Players. Lynette's first role, during school years, was to play the part of Cinderella . Since then she's played different roles including Mary Magdela in Saint Ignatius' Passion Play. Lynette wishes to foremost thank her husband, James, her family for being so supportive and helpful while she took on this new role, and a special thank you to her mum-in-law, Sandy, for introducing her to Bedford Players. Lynette has really enjoyed her experience with this cast and crew. Their humour and light-heartedness has made this production a lot of fun! She also wishes to thank Mme Director for casting her in this role!

Michael Taylor (Elyot Chase) says, since joining Bedford Players in 2009 for his first time on stage as Tom Duncan in Maggie's Getting Married, he feels truly fortunate to have also been cast as William Weldon, 'Registered Psychiatrist', in Sorry! Wrong Chimney! As Robert Westerby, in Busybody (where he got to play the killer), and now as Elyot Chase in this thoroughly entertaining production. Having worked with both Ellen Oldford and Robin Saywood in the past, he was very excited to get back on stage with them, and to welcome two very talented new-to-Bedford Players actors; Lynette Mitchell and Rebecca Ambrosino. As usual, everyone involved in what will likely be another successful Bedford Players production has been so helpful and encouraging. Here's hoping you all enjoy the show as much as the cast and crew did getting it ready for you.

Robin Saywood (Victor Prynne) has been involved in community theatre for longer than he likes to admit and his journey has taken through Hubtown Theatre in Truro, Dartmouth Players, Theatre Arts Guild and of course his favourite spot here with Bedford Players. Along the way he has been involved in most facets of the theatre, acting , directing, set building, front of house, served up a few drinks, and had an opportunity over the years to get to know many of you sitting in the audience. Robin says "what wonderful people you are for dragging yourselves out on dark, winter nights, to watch a bunch of people acting the fool and having fun". He says "thank you to you all". He feels so pleased and privileged to be part of Private Lives, a beautifully written Coward play. To be working with such a wonderful ensemble of characters, both on and off stage, a group of dedicated and committed individuals who have been great to work with, always supportive and fun to be around. So Robin says thanks so much to all his fellow cast members, and to Clair for giving him a chance to have a crack at this role. One thing he asks of you, the audience, enjoy yourselves, but also have a little sympathy for Victor.....a nice bloke who deserves better!

Ellen Oldford (Amanda Prynne), originally from Newfoundland, first became involved in theatre in 2003 when she joined Off-Broadway Players (OBP) in Corner Brook where she appeared in Night of the Living Dead, also the original works of Backyard Reality, and Dinner and A Movie. Since moving to Halifax in 2008, Private Lives is Ellen's third production with Bedford Player's, and her most challenging and exciting role to date. In 2010, she appeared in Bedroom Farce and in Busybody. She also appeared in Dartmouth Player's production of Don't Dress for Dinner in 2009. When not pursuing her love of theatre, Ellen works with the provincial government, is an outdoor enthusiast, and recently has acted in two short film projects, NSCAD's Shut Out, and Top of Line Production's 5 Card Jokers Wild.

Rebecca Ambrosino (Louise) is a New York native, and Dalhousie University Student, who is delighted to appear for the first time on the Bedford Players stage. Her most recent role was Soupey Sue in the University of King's College Production of Urinetown, and has many other theatrical and film production roles under her belt. Rebecca is humbled to work with an incredibly talented, and helpful cast and crew, all of whom have given their hearts, and valuable time to this production, to make it the best possible experience it could be for all.