They Shoot Horses Don't They 1989

PRODUCTION: They Shoot Horses Don't They? (Musical)
PRODUCTION DATE: April 1989
DIRECTED BY: Charles Lewis
STAGED: The Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill
SYNOPSIS: An end of the pier dance marathon becomes a desperate fight to survive for a luckless band of desperate contestants. Each hope that they will take home the life-changing $1000 prize fund or grab their big chance at Hollywood fame. A lurid reality contest that challenges the human spirit and pushes its participants to the very edge of sanity, this is a macabre test of endurance during the 1930s depresion in America. Profoundly desperate and disturbingly exciting.
PLAYWRIGHT: Ray Herman adapted from the book by Horace McCoy.
BHTC NOTES: Burgess Hill Theatre Club were the first amateur group in the United Kingdom to be allowed license from the playwright to produce the play. As detailed in the attached press articles, Director Charles Lewis corresponded directly with the author to get this permission.
Two annual awards were won from the Mid Sussex Times for this production: Best Producer / Director - Charles Lewis & Best Performance In A Musical Drama - Jackie Lander (See Article Below).

CAST

CREW

Barry Goodsell	Lieutenant Stedna	Margaret Coveney	Stage Manager
Mike Akhurst	Rocky Gravo	Peter Coveney	Technical Manager
Colin Skeel	Rollo Peters	Richard Griffin, Roy Lewry	Lighting & -
Norma Somerville	Nurse	Brenda Upton & Harry Peckham	Effects
Charles Lewis	Doctor	Margaret Coveney	Properties
Helen Wiggins	Hotdog Girl	Geoff Twyman	Set Design
Jackie Lander	Gloria May Beatty - Couple 22	Jane Towell	Prompt
John Kitson	Robert Syverten - Couple 22	Rosalind Wood	Front of House
Linda Parry	Ruby Batone - Couple 5	Graham Wood	Box Office
Geoff Braman	Mario Batone - Couple 5	John Kitson	Publicity
Julia Clark	Jackie Mille - Couple 38
Rick Peckham	James Reilly - Couple 38
Phillipa Jones	Mary Hawley - Couple 56
Kevin Gray	Vee Lovell - Couple 56	OTHER DANCERS
Chris Smith	Mack Aston - Couple 20	Kerry Negus & Rob Negus	Couple 51
Jennifer Kitson	Lillian Bacon - Couple 20	Barbara Parsons & Frank Oakley	Couple 33
Adrian Cave	Kid Kamm - Couple 24	Jane Towell & Jim Towell	Couple 61
Helen Smith	Maybelle Manski - Couple 24	Terry Thompsett & Caroline Tinkler	Couple 10
June Colledge	Mrs Violet Layden	Mary Jupp & Bob Dives	Couple 49
Jim Towell	Mr J J Maxwell	Anthony Hole & Pearl White	Couple 73
Jo White	Mrs J Franklin Higby	Christine Lewry & Darren Packham	Couple 41
Maureen Thomas	Mrs William Wallace Witcher	Margaret Negus & Les Negus	Couple 02
Frank Oakley	Cal Halliday	Pat Griffiths & Ken Somerville	Couple 113
Hannah Batten	Miss Anita Louise	Louise Thompsett & Jaimie Todd	Couple 85
Christine Lewry	Miss Mary Brian	Karen Wade & Stephen Lewry	Couple 107
Paul Klimek	The Rev. Oscar Gilder	Nikki Sayers & Ben Dawson	Couple 99