Dick Whittington 2006
Iain directs his 11 th Paignton Panto on the trot, having been involved with the society since 1980. He appeared as either principal comic or Dame each year until he took over the director’s reigns. He also serves as Company Secretary. He has also been heavily involved with Toads Stage Musical Company since 1979 and is company Secretary there as well. Iain has appeared with all local societies in all manor of productions and this show will mark his 130 th production (80 of those in Principal roles). He has played a large variety of roles (From Valmont in “Les Liaisons Dangerueses” and Hatch in “The Sea” to Cosmo in “Singing in the Rain” and Nanki Poo in “Mikado” to name but 4) but in recent years has shown his abilities more as a director. He has staged 11 pantomimes for PPP, and the last 3 musicals for Newton Abbot Musical Comedy Society as well as this Junes Princess Theatre Toads musical “Summer Holiday”. Iain’s most recent appearance on stage was a rather revealing one, as Harold in the enormously successful Toads production of “The Full Monty”. Iain is also the South Devon Representative for NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) with 16 societies under his jurisdiction. When not engaged in matters theatrical he is a Legal Executive for a local firm of Solicitors.
Professionally trained at the Houghton Jacobs College in Liverpool, Elaine was originally destined for a career teaching Dance, but decided to gain her Equity Card, and never looked back. This led to a string of appearances in Major summer Season shows around the country and in Major Pantomimes at such venues as Manchester’s Palace Theatre, Liverpool Empire and Bristol Hippodrome, with such stars as Jim Davidson, Ton O’Connor, Davey Jones, and Roger De Courcy. A season at the Princess Theatre brought her to Torbay, and she decided to stay, get married, and start a family. The call of the stage proved too strong and she joined Toads Stage Musical Company in 1996. She has since played a string of roles for them, and has also choreographed a number of their more recent shows including both 2006 shows “Summer Holiday” and “Full Monty” . She also appeared in the latter playing wife to Iain Douglas !!! Elaine has co-choreographed the last 6 Paignton Panto’s as well as appearing as Principal Boy in “Mother Goose” and the cat in the last “Dick Whittington”.
Amanda has been involved with PPP since she was 7, starting has a very cute junior dancer (with incredibly long hair) and then making the jump to senior dancer, and then principal roles. She has been dancing since the age of 3, and prior to Paignton Panto appeared in Torquay’s Princess Theatre Pantomime. Having danced in many shows across the bay (musicals and Pantomime) and in Babbacombe Theatre summer seasons, she then decided to take further raining at North London Dance Studio. Since returning to the bay she has made her name as a choreographer, and locally has taught dance at Exeter University, Alison Axford Theatre School, and the Italia Conti School in Plymouth. She also provided some dancers for Debbie McGee’s Ballet Imaginaire when it visited Torquay. Elaine has choreographed for PPP for the last 6 seasons and also for Toads Stage Musical Company for 2 of their recent shows. Her mother continues the strong family connections with PPP, as she is currently the Treasurer and manages our Front of house affairs. Amanda recently got married, and regular followers of PPP will probably remember her as Amanda Read !