The Darling Buds of May
by
H. E. Bates
Directed by: Derek Slater
23, 26-30 May 1998
The lovable, irrepressible Larkin family who live in Kent 'somewhere
at the end of the rainbow' made their debut in the novel The Darling
Buds of May in 1957 and went on to further delight and beguile audiences both on stage and screen. Pop, who makes a fortune from
a variety of deals but has never paid income tax, lives in rural idyllic
bliss with generous-hearted Ma and their six children. When a young earnest
tax official, MrCharlton, turns up one hot May afternoon in 1957 to investigate,
he is bewitched immediately by eldest daughter Mariette and it isn't long
before he succumbs to the boisterous Larkin family charm and largesse.
| Pop Larkin |
John Pinfield |
| Ma |
Barbara Ritchie |
| 'Charlie' Charlton |
Julian Wood |
| Mariette |
Alison Beswick |
| Montgomery |
James Graham |
| Primrose |
Gemma Pritchard |
| Petunia |
Louise Kelly |
| Zinnia |
Gemma Kelly |
| Victoria |
Kerry Pritchard |
| Miss Pilchester |
Sue Mooney |
| Pauline Jackson |
Ruth Taylor |
| Angela Snow |
Chris Hall |
| The Brigadier |
John Still |
| Sir George Bluff-Gore |
Derrick Jones |
| Lady Bluff-Gore |
Doris Cocking |
| Tax Inspector |
Chris Jorgensson |
| Stage Manager |
Duncan Walker |
| Continuity |
Margaret Williams |
| Lighting |
Cyril Hines
Paul Brady |
| Sound |
Gordon Butler |
| Properties |
Val Donlan
Marjorie Cox
Barbara Hopkinson |
| Wardrobe |
Chris Hall
Jayne Taylor
Joan Heinekey |
| Set Construction |
Cyril Hines
John Rowlands
Doreen Brady
Reg Sykes
Alan Churchouse
Norman Whitelam |
| Scenic Artist |
Shirley Murray |
| Programme Design |
Derek Frith |
| Production Assistant |
Brenda Stringer |
| Our thanks to Chris Bullimore for wigs, and Create Ltd for the loan of the period cooker. |
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