Nuffield Theatre
on9th to 13th June 1992
Anthony Shaffer changed the whole genre of the thriller mystery with his play Sleuth. Born in Liverpool in 1926 he is the twin brother of Peter Shaffer - author of the Maskers’ last production at The Plaza, Romsey, Amadeus.
Mystery thrillers may now be divided into pre- and post- Sleuth, Anthony Shaffer's best known play which was first staged in 1970. Up to this time they had all been variations on the classic English Country House mystery novel - the typical Agatha Christie ‘whodunnit’. Shaffer’s twist was to let the audience see who had done it, and leave them wondering if the criminal would get away with it.
Murderer followed in 1979 and has never been staged in Southampton before: following the same format the audience is able to watch a rather gruesome murder being committed-during the first 30 minutes of the play - throughout which time the actors have no dialogue.
Anthony Shaffer married the actress Diane Cilento in 1985, and has pursued careers as a barrister and Journalist in addition to writing four novels and a number of screenplays including Hitchcock’s Frenzy; Sleuth; Death on the Nile; and Absolution in 1981.
Michael Patterson June 1992.
| Cast | |
| Ken Spencer | Norman Bartholomew |
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chairman of the company and a founding member, Ken is well known in local theatrical circles and has appeared and directed at the Nuffield on many occasions. He is a freelance TV designer. |
| Kate Atkinson | Millie Sykes |
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19 year old Kate was born in New Zealand and subsequently studied drama at Southampton Technical College. she is now a student nurse at Winchester Hospital. This is her first appearance at the Nuffield. |
| Graham Buchanan | Det Sgt Stenning |
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a founder member of the Maskers, Graham is a project engineer with Pirelli Cables in Southampton and lives in Bitterne. He has appeared in many leading roles for the company. |
| Mollie Manns | Elizabeth Bartholomew |
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born in Devon, Mollie was with a professional touring company, the Garrick Players, before joining the Maskers in 1970. By day she is a marketing assistant at Southampton Institute of Higher Education. |
| For the Maskers | |
| Directed by | Michael Patterson |
| Designed by | John Hamon |
| Stage Manager | Belinda Drew |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Ali Mountford |
| Lighting Design | Ron Tillyer |
| Sound | Lawrie Gee |
| Properties | Dawn Finbow, Meri Lawther |
| Set construction | Chris Finbow, Geoff Cook, Edwin Beecroft |
| Special effects | Tony Lawther |
| Assisted by | Kevin Mitchell, Martin Caveney |
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