Top Girls

May 1993

A Contemporary, Drama

Written by Caryl Churchill.

Directed by Helen Ayres, Julian Chaloner.

Produced by Helen Ayres.

An award-winning production

The production poster

About This Production

This play was repeated for 'A' level students at Torquay Technical College when Debbie Plummer took the parts of Patient Griselda and Nell.

Cast

Marlene: Sue Burgess
Isabella Bird: Jane Tuson
Lady Nijo: Val Meek
Dull Gret: Jo Lumber
Pope Joan: Carol Davies
Patient Griselda: Rosemary Chaloner
Waitress: Isabel Coulton
Joyce: Jane Tuson
Mrs Kidd: Jane Tuson
Win: Val Meek
Angie: Jo Lumber
Nell: Rosemary Chaloner
Louise: Carol Davies
Kit: Isabel Coulton
Shona: Isabel Coulton
Jeanine: Debbie Plummer

Production Team

Stage Manager: Sandy Baines
Deputy Stage Manager: Doreen Pooley
Assistant Stage Manager: Richard Hoare, Nick Wain
Set Designer: Helen Ayres, Julian Chaloner
Backcloth: Chris Hall
Lighting: Ray Burgess, Daniel Male
Sound: Jonathon Grant
Wardrobe: Maggie Taylor
Make-up: Debbie Plummer, Sue Michelmore (as Sue Mitchelmore)
Hairdresser: Gill Evans
Front of House: Cathie Pannell
Publicity: Helen Ayres, Veronica Brown
Armourer: Paul Wonnacott
Photographer: John Taylor
Sound Mixing: Noel Goodey
Sound Archive: Gary Wonnacott, Simon Fox
Box Office: Jackie Lugger

Awards

Production awarded Best Production by South Devon Drama Federation

Programme

Gallery

: The Dinner Party: Women both real and fictional from the past celebrate Marlene's promotion to Managing Director of the Top Girls Employment Agency. Clockwise from top: Carol Davies as Pope Joan, Sue Burgess as Marlene, Val Meek as Lady Nijo, Jane Tuson as Isabella Bird, Jo Lumber as Dull Gret, and Rosemary Chaloner as Patient Griselda in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-01-web)

: Patient Griselda drinks a toast to the top girls at the dinner party in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-02-web)

: Isabella amuses Marlene and Lady Nijo with tales of her travels abroad in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-03-web)

: Dull Gret tells the story of her fearsome fight with devils in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-04-web)

: Isabella, Gret and Patient Griselda abandon themselves to a tipsy dance at the end of the dinner party in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-05-web)

: The Employment Agency: Wolf-whistles and congratulations from Win (Val Meek) and Nell (Rosemary Chaloner) greet Marlene, the new Managing Director of Top Girls in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-06-web)

: Marlene interviews Jeanine (Debbie Plummer) who wants a top secretarial job in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-07-web)

: Joyce's Back Yard: Kit (Isabel Coulton) and Angie (Jo Lumber) hide in the shed for some private girl-talk in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-08-web)

: Joyce (Jane Tuson) remonstrates with an angry Angie, her supposed daughter but really her niece. Watched by a wary Kit, Angie thinks of murdering her mother who she now believes is Auntie Marlene. From rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-09-web)

: The Agency Again: Nell interviews the confident Shona (Isabel Coulton) who's looking for a real top job in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-10-web)

: While Win takes on the very experienced Louise (Carol Davies) who wants an even better position than the good but unappreciated one she's just left in rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-11-web)

: Mrs Kidd (Jane Tuson) pleads with Marlene to give up her position as Manager of Top Girls in favour of Mr Kiddo. Marlene sends her off with a flea in her ear - much to delight of Angie, who has come up to London in the hope of staying permanently. from rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-12-web)

: Joyce's Kitchen - One Year Earlier: Marlene, on one of her rare visits, brings presents for her rejected daughter Angie - before she and her sister Joyce begin the recriminations 'that end in one almighty row. From rehearsals for the SBADS 1993 production of Top Girls.(File: SBADS-1993-Top-Girls-13-web)