Dress Circle’s Grand Reopening

Louise Gold appeared as A Spitting Image puppeteer, and as a show singer, at Dress Circle on 23 November 2002

 

Cast

 

Opening Ceremony

Master Of Ceremonies - Tim McArthur

Lady Opener - Claire Sweeney

Comedy element - Louise Gold (puppeteering The Queen from Spitting Image)

 

First Cabaret

Tim McArthur

The Cast of Noel And Gertie

Robert Irons

Kevin Morrow, Dominic Allen and Paul Hyen from the cast of 125th Street

Frances Ruffelle

Denise Solway

Gay Soper

Issy Van Randwyck

Louise Gold

Jessica Martin

 

Second Cabaret

Tim McArthur

Norma Skiff

Nathan Martin

Chris Coleman

Rebecca Carrington

Clegg Price

Grania and Lizzie Renihan

 

Production Team

Event organiser (not present) - Tanya Lees from Dress Circle

Entertainment organisers (present) - Tim McArthur and Katherine Ives from Trilby Productions

Accompanist (for most entertainments)  - Simon Beck

 

For an account of the day, please click here.

 

Among the freshly put up posters on the wall, was one advertising Louise Gold’s forthcoming cabaret act Louise Gold ... By Appointment, in which she also puppeteers The Queen.

Tim McArthur and Katherine Ives at Trilby Productions were initially responsible for producing Louise Gold’s cabaret act, see “Louise Gold Sings Some Nice Songs” , and produced at least one subsequent short-version performance of  Louise Gold ... By Appointment. Their productions also include Dead By 12 (which Louise Gold has guested on).

Louise Gold puppeteered The Queen amongst many others on Spitting Image .

Besides several appearances on programmes about Spitting Image, Louise Gold also puppeteered The Queen for a FUNdraisng special featuring The Company Of Mary Poppins.

 

Robert Irons had previously appeared in the Side By Side By Sondheim 25th Anniversary Gala.

Gay Soper’s recording credits include Cabaret, Centre Stage Showtime!, and, Let’s Go On With The Show – Hit Songs From The West End & Broadway .She had previously appeared in Ratepayers' Iolanthe & Metropolitan Mikado and The Soap Opera.

Issy Van Randwyck, Gay Soper and Jessica Martin had appeared in Regents Park 70th Anniversary Gala.

Issy Van Randwyck has appeared in Love Life, By Jupiter, Kiss Me Kate, and, Hot ‘n’ Spicey 2. Her recording credits include: Cole Porter - Night And Day, Encore The Very Best From The Musicals, and, The Great Musicals – Laughter And Tears.

Issy Van Randwyck and Grania Renihan feature in the illustrative extracts in The History Of The Musical.

Jessica Martin has appeared in Something For The Boys, One Touch of Venus (2000 Production), A Love Letter To Dan (where she also sang a song with lyrics by Dick Vosburgh) A Lost Musicals Occasion, where she also sang I Love A Film Cliche Because A Film Cliche Is The Best Entertainment I know, and, A Celebration Of The Life And Work Of Dick Vosburgh. She may have appeared in Kids At Heart. She also did voices for Spitting Image and her recording credits include Spit In Your Ear. Her radio credits include being a guest-contestant on Let’s Do The Show Right Here and a member of The Company on Ned Sherrin’s Review Of Revue. She also appeared in the television documentary Best Ever Spitting Image.

Nathan Martin played the piano in Side By Side By Sondheim.

Claire Sweeney’s recording credits include Defiant Dames.

Grania Renihan may have taken part in Thing A Thon, her recording credits include Simply Musicals.

Claire Sweeney had previously presented the BBC TV series A Week In The West End, one which she interviewed Louise Gold (along with her two fellow Mamma Mia dynamos).

Tim McArthur went on to interview Louise Gold on the radio on Tim McArthur Interview, and live on stage in the cabaret show  Death By 12.

Gay Soper went on to appear in Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala. Her recording credits include The Great Musicals - From Broadway to Hollywood.

Louise Gold, and, Issy Van Randwyck have gone on to appear at Dress Circle at the event Shopping With The Stars 2008.

Louise Gold, and, Gay Soper have gone on to appear at Dress Circle at the event Shopping With The Stars 2009.

Grania Renihan, and, Gay Soper’s recording credits include Magic Of The Musicals.

Frances Ruffelle, and, Issy Van Randwyck’s recording credits include 100 Hits Musicals.

Claire Sweeney appeared on ITV’s 50 Greatest Shows, where Louise Gold may also have performed The Queen From Spitting Image.

 

Critics Comments

  “The ribbon was cut by Claire Sweeney with the help of Louise Gold and a certain Royal personage who accompanied her.”  MUSICAL STAGES, Issue 35/36, Winter 2002/2003

 

Links about Dress Circle Grand Reopening

Dress Circle: http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/ - One of the best shops for shopwbiz memorabilia, and certainly one of the best for hard to find CD’s, records and cassettes. Although a great website, the best thing of all about Dress Circle is it’s wonderful shop. Website also has an online message board community.

Dress Circle News article about it’s own re-opening: http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/sectionitemdetails.asp?ContentID=667&SectionID=35 - Mentions Louise’s unique contribution

Dress Circle’s official photographs of the occasion: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/dresscircle/index.html - Includes one of Claire Sweeney with “The Queen”  - The puppeteer (Louise) has somehow managed to get herself out of shot, while keeping the puppet in shot. Also includes one of Louise Gold in the cabaret.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shots of The Re-Opening Day, about 90 photographs!: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/index.html Includes several photographs of Claire Sweeney with “The Queen”, for the majority of which The Puppeteer (Louise) has managed to get herself out of shot. Also includes two photographs of Louise Gold as herself.

Dress Circle’s official photograph of Claire Sweeney and “The Queen”: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/dresscircle/DressCircle_8789bpr.html  - The puppeteer (Louise Gold) has somehow managed to get herself out of shot, while keeping the puppet in shot.

Dress Circle’s official photograph of Louise Gold in the cabaret: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/dresscircle/DressCircle_8880b.html

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot of Louise Gold at The Re-Opening Day: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8750bweb.html (It’s a very nice photograph of her in conversation with Dress Circle’s Staff.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot 1 of  Claire Sweeney, and  Louise Gold performing “The Queen”: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8773cropweb.html The Puppeteer (Louise) is clearly visible behind her puppet in this one.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot 2 of  Claire Sweeney, and  Louise Gold performing “The Queen”: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8785bweb.html The Puppeteer (Louise) is visible underneath her puppet (but without knowing it was Louise you might have difficulty recognising her.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot 1 of  Claire Sweeney, and  “The Queen”: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8789bprweb.html The Puppeteer (Louise Gold) has somehow managed to get herself out of shot, while keeping her puppet in shot.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot 2 of  Claire Sweeney, and  “The Queen”: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8790squareweb.html The Puppeteer (Louise Gold) has somehow managed to get herself out of shot, while keeping her puppet in shot.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot 3 of  Claire Sweeney, and  “The Queen”: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8793bweb.html The Puppeteer (Louise Gold) has somehow managed to get herself out of shot, while keeping her puppet in shot.

Dress Circle’s Press And Stock Shot of Louise Gold in the cabaret: http://www.salamanderphoto.com/decsite/events/specials/dresscircle/DressCircle_8880bweb.html

Tricia Stewart: http://www.triciastewart.com/  - a regular DC boarder and the star turn at the Open Mic session

Theatre Radio’s interview with Louise Gold  http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/display?contentId=88986  

 

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