Born in London - on Waterloo Bridge, Colin was raised and educated in Rochdale and Manchester. He studied law for five years, training as a solicitor before becoming an actor. He theatrical debut was at the Cambridge Arts Theatre in Plaintiff In A Pretty Hat followed by The Other House at the Mermaid Theatre in London. Repertory seasons followed in Guildford, Liverpool, Canterbury, Harrogate and the Chichester Festival. In London he has appeared in Run For Your Wife at the Criterion Theatre, The Price of Justice at the Mermaid, Traitors at the Hampstead Theatre and in 1987 as the twins in Corpse! at the Strand Theatre (with Jack Watling playing the Major). In 1996 he starred as Magwitch in the musical version of Great Expectations at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham followed by a tour of major dates. Colin's other theatrical appearances on tour include Private Lives, Time And Time Again, Privates On Parade, Born In The Gardens, Spider's Web, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Death And The Maiden, Why Me ?, a 2003 return to Corpse! this time playing the Major, Strangers On A Train and currently Bedroom Farce. In 1998 he played the entire D'Ascoyne family in Kind Hearts And Coronets - the world premiere of the stage version of the famous 1949 film.
His pantomime appearances have been as diverse as Dick in Dick Whittington, Buttons, Captain Hook, Sarah The Cook and Widow Twankey. Credits as a director include The Oz Trials at Liverpool Playhouse, The Mousetrap in Stockholm and Oslo (in English!) and Bazaar and Rummage at the Duke of Cambridge. His television career, commencing with Sartre's Roads To Freedom, includes Cousin Bette, War and Peace in which he played Prince Anatol Kuragin, The Edwardians, A Fall Of Eagles, The Citadel, Swallows And Amazons Forever, The Famous Five, Hollyoaks, Jonathan Creek, A Dance To The Music Of Time, The Bill, Casualty, Dangerfield and The Knock. He is however principally known for very contrasting roles in two of the BBC's most popular programmes: The Brothers in which he was universally loathed as Paul Merroney, the prototype yuppie and Doctor Who, in which he was universally loved as the flamboyant sixth incarnation of The Doctor, a role he successfully reprised in the stage version Doctor Who: The Ultimate Adventure.
His most recent television appearances have been in Doctors and Sunburn and as the head of MI6 in the spy thriller The Waiting Time with the late John Thaw. Films include Dangerous Davies, The Airzone Solution, The Zero Imperative, The Harpist, Soul's Ark and most recently, a horror film, The Asylum.
For the last ten years Colin has written a weekly column for the Bucks Free Press (1999 Newspaper Of The Year). He is also a busy book reviewer and lyric writer. His children's musical Scrooge - A Ghost Of A Chance, written with composer Sheila Wilson, has been performed in hundreds of schools countrywide.
Colin is married to actress Marion Wyatt. They live in Buckinghamshire with their four daughters, two goats, three cats, three dogs, two horses, thirteen guinea pigs, two degus and a hamster. He says they keep him young - and working !
(Biography from Colin Baker's website : www.colinbakeronline.com)
Julie started her career in the Amateur Theatre when she was working as a staff nurse at the now demolished Chester le Street General Hospital. This was where she met Bill Stephenson who was employed as the Hospital telephonist. Together they organised reviews for the elderly patients. The reviews involved all members of the hospital staff and were so popular that they went on location.
When Bill formed the Theatre Group in 1982 he invited Julie to become a founder member. She was one of eight members who established this now very successful group. Julie has performed parts in such plays as “Blithe Spirit” which was the inaugural production of the theatre group, “No Time For Fig Leaves”, “Beside the Seaside”, “Jane Eyre” (as the Mad Woman), “Wild Goose Chase” and “Post Horn Gallop” before retiring from the stage for the birth of her daughters. Julie continued to support the group and joined the Junior Section in 1993 as a parent helper, eventually graduating to the role of producer in 1997 reuniting with Bill again, producing many memorable shows and pantomimes. Julie was promoted again to joint director of the Junior Section and hopes to continue her partnership with Bill for many years to come.
Contact : julie.dryden@chesterlestreettheatregroup.com (not active)
Bill has now clocked up over 50 years experience in the amateur theatre having started at 14 years of age with Fatfield Amateur Operatic Society. He has appeared in over 320 shows and is still actively involved with groups such as :- Chester le Street Methodist Drama Group where he is Chairman and Director, as well as Dryburn Theatrical Workshop. Bill is Co-Director of the Society's Junior shows as well as producing and appearing in many of the Senior shows.
Bill was Chairman of the Theatre Group since it’s inception in 1982 until ill health prompted him to stand down this year in favour of the perhaps less strenuous post of Vice President. He continues to be Chairman for Chester-le-Street Community Association where we rehearse weekly. Amongst Bill’s favourite parts over the years he particularly liked playing ‘Hobson’ in “Hobson’s Choice”, Willie in “The Sunshine Boys” and Ezra Fitton in “All in Good Time”. He says he is looking forward to many more years of treading the boards as well as directing.
Bill received his NODA medal for 50 years service to the Amateur Theatre following our production of "Oliver!" this year.
Alison came along to help with a UV scene in the Junior Sections production of Sleeping Beauty in November 2000 and the rest, as they say, is history.
In 2001 Alison was delighted to be asked to become Props. Manager for the Junior Section which has involved making anything from Golden Eggs to Walking Encyclopaedia's.
In March 2004 Alison was elected as group Treasurer and is responsible for the financial matters of the group.
Contact : alison.holmes@chesterlestreettheatregroup.com
Secretary : June Donald
June took to the boards at the tender age of 7 playing 'Mary' in her first school play and some may say she hasn't stopped performing since! Many years have elapsed since she last performed to the public; the closest she gets to the stage these days is to sweep it.
She became linked with the Junior section of the group in 2000 when her son joined but it was not until the spring of 2002 when she became actively involved in publicity and fund raising. Since then she has taken on the roles of Front of House manager for the Junior's, Publicity for the Junior's and Fund Raising Manger for the whole group.
She is always keen to hear any fund raising or publicity ideas that you may have and can be contacted at the e-mail address below or alternatively in person at every rehearsal. She is easily identified as the strange little lady wearing a purple tutu at the Saturday afternoon performances!!
Look forward to hearing from you
Contact : june.donald@chesterlestreettheatregroup.com
Jean has been a member of Chester-le-Street Theatre Group since 1987 and she has been Secretary for most of those years. She has also worked a prompter, properties assistant and Booking Secretary at various times throughout those years. Jean does not however restrict her activities to “backstage” work and has ventured on to stage for a minor walk-on part a few years ago and had her first speaking role in "The Fifteen Streets"..
Contact : jean.martin@chesterlestreettheatregroup.com
Steve has never taken to the board like most of the other members of the committee, he would always claim that the British public have done nothing so wrong as to be subjected to it! Instead he busies himself behind the scenes, designing posters, tickets and programmes.
Steve is the Society's photographer and sometime videographer, oh and he's the one you need to blame for the quality of this website, also being the webmaster. Hope you like it.
Contact: steve.harvey@chesterlestreettheatregroup.com
Since graduating from the Junior Section of the theatre group in 2001, Claire has completed a Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies Degree at Roehampton University in London . She has been living back in the North-East since 2006 and is currently working as a Radio Producer of the Sony Award winning Breakfast show on Galaxy Radio.
Claire is still very much a budding member of the theatre group, taking part as one of the original members of the Graduate Section. Claire would like to assist in the development of the graduate section, taking it from strength to strength.
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Junior Section Representative : Joanne Crawley
Joanne joined Front of House for the Junior Section in 2009, and has now progressed to the Junior Section Representative on the Committee following the 2010 AGM.
Joanne has always had an interest in music and theatre, and was in various school plays. She has also recorded various backing tracks for a friend who performs on the pub circuit, and has even performed with him a few times. Joanne has also recorded a CD of her some of her favourite tracks but this is strictly for her own ears!
Joanne now leaves all that to the experts, and loves just being part of this group of talented and committed people.
My message to the Juniors: "HAVE FUN!"
Contact :
Ken has been performing on stage for over 40 years appearing in plays, musicals and concerts. Musicals include: Man of la Mancha, Calamity Jane, South Pacific, A Funny thing Happened on the way to the Forum, Oliver, Chicago, etc, He has played Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady 5 times. Plays include: Becket, The Odd Couple, Educating Rita, Ken has been lucky enough to have been chosen to appear in several high profile shows including: Pilate in The Son Of Man" at Newcastle festival and as Monsieur Bertrand with Danny Larue in "La Cage Aux Folles" which were both pro-am productions.
Contact : ken.martin@chesterlestreettheatregroup.com (not active)