Mick Roberts - Moonface Martin

Mick has been with Benfleet Operatic Society for some years, following his parents into the Society.  He started out at the age of 11 taking the role of the Solicitor in “Patience”.  Since then he has taken a number of parts including personal favourites Pooh Bah in “The Mikado” and the Sergeant in “Iolanthe”.  He was also fortunate enough to have the chance to produce “Trial by Jury”.

Simon Riches - Billy Crocker

By Arrangement with Riches And Wilson

Trained: The Central School of Speech and Drama.

After graduating he worked in theatre management and is best known to the society as the producer and director of the NODA award winning productions of Fiddler on the Roof and Scrooge. He has worked extensively as a performer in theatre and radio and has sung in many of the major concert halls in Europe and the UK.  He has recently returned from studying with Rick Jensen in New York.

He is a director of RAW – for whom he has produced, directed and performed.

Credits: Larkrise (Laura’s Father) Teechers (Director) Perfect Relationships (Singer) Coming Clean (Greg) The Importance of Being Earnest  (John Worthing) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon and Theseus) and most recently to critical acclaim Rodgers And…(Singer) which he also devised. He is the Artistic Director of the annual Battlesbridge Festival.

Sue Kelly - Reno Sweeney

I have one regret about joining BOS 14 years ago- Why didn’t I do it sooner? Until then I had not sang or acted since youth theatre in my teens.  I am an active member having served on committee for most of that time with much support from my long suffering husband, and daughter, who is champing at the bit to join.  This is the bit of my life that brings back my sanity after teaching Science to 11-16 year olds all day.  My first major role was as Nettie Fowler in Carousel, followed by probably my favourite, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof. My best costumes were undoubtedly the Fairy Queen from Iolanthe and the Disciplinarian Policewoman in Trial by Jury (some men may remember that one).  I am thrilled to be playing such a strong character as Reno Sweeney –

“ I’ve been waiting All my Life to be a Lady”

Carol Dulieu - Hope Harcourt

After leaving school in 1981.  I studied drama & theatre arts at Southend Technical College, leaving in 1983.  I did a few local pantomimes. Wizard of Oz,  Snow White, Humpty Dumpty, etc....  After a 7 year gap (& 3 children later) I joined Benfleet Operatic Society as a prompt for the Mikado.  I have had some fun parts in the last few productions, the most major playing Nellie in The Card last year.

The role of Hope this year has been challenging.  Its been a lot of fun trying to get to grips with an American accent.  But also very different to any other part I have played (a little more serious than I had expected!!).

Barry Newman - Elisha Whitney

Barry has never looked back after starting theatrical life in the female chorus of H.M.S. Pinafore.  The following year should have seen him as a daughter in Pirates of Penzance but having transformed from treble to second bass in a few months he became one of the policemen instead. Since then Barry has displayed his talents with various local dramatic and operatic societies without ever being remembered for being anything other than an idiot.  As Eli Whitney he progresses to being a drunken idiot. Next year he will return as a Policeman in Pirates for Benfleet Operatic Society and looks forward to completing the circle the following year by rejoining the ladies chorus - one way or another.

Rob Gray - Lord Evelyn Oakleigh

Rob first sang with BOS in 1969 when his then teacher, Keith Mitchell, invited him to be a Gondolier. Since then he has appeared in over 50 shows in several local groups. This summer Rob returned to The Gondoliers - on tour with Rug Opera.  His favourite shows are Yeomen of The Guard and Pirates, but he also loves singing Grand Opera and Oratorios and in the 100 strong Choristers at Benfleet Methodist. Rob is Project Director for a Business Education Partnership and regularly plays badminton with our Stage Manager.

Lynn Wotton - Erma

Lynn first joined BOS last year making “The Card” her first show with us. This is her first principal character within the society.  Previously she has taken part in many musical festivals and singing competitions and has also taken part in the Celebration of Youth from 2000-2001.  Other shows she has performed in include, “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Annie” during her school years as well as many solo performances in musical concerts.

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Cyndy Jones - Mrs Evangeline Harcourt

I consider myself very fortunate to still be playing parts for Benfleet Operatic Society.  Although I belonged to a group when I was young, there followed a long gap when I concentrated on my family and my job.  I joined the Society in 1987 and have been very lucky in being able to play the more mature parts in some of the Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas, such as “Buttercup”,  “Lady Jane” and “Katisha”.  I have also appeared in the chorus many times which I find great fun and strangely enough, chorus work is sometimes a lot more difficult than having a leading part.  The Society now performs a great variety of shows and I have particularly  enjoyed the roles I have played in “Half-a-Sixpence”, “Salad Days”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, and “The Card”.  Recently I have ventured outside the Society and have played roles in “Lark Rise”,  “The Importance of being Earnest” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.  I am really enjoying the part of “Evangeline” as it is very different to anything I have done before - I hope that I can do it justice!