"HALF-A-SIXPENCE"

SSAOS 1970 production

• Book by Beverly Cross
  (based on the novel "KIPPS " by H G Wells)

• Music and Lyrics by David Heneker

• SSAOS Production at the Regent (Mecca) Ltd, South Shields, 9th - 14th November, 1970

A simple story full of 'butcher-boy' tunes. In the original 1963 production Tommy Steele played Kipps , a shop boy in 'Shalford's Drapery Emporium'. Also apprenticed to the tyrannical employer, Mr Shalford , is Sid Pornick who is a Socialist, Buggins , a pessimist, and Pearse , a dandy. Kipps meets his childhood sweetheart, Ann, who happens to be Sid's sister. In the original production Ann was played by Marti Webb. 

They exchange love tokens - and what else could they be? -  they each took 'Half a Sixpence'! This, together with 'Flash, Bang, Wallop! What a Picture', are the two most remembered tunes from the show. 

	The man who is to bring them, firstly, news of Kipps inheritance of a fortune, and who later rescues them when disaster seems to threaten, was an actor-playwright, Harry Chitterlow. The guest artist playing Chitterlow for the Amateurs in this 1970 production was the professional actor, Alan Hockey, who for many years was a member of the SSAOS.
Alan Hockey

Cast

Ken Dunn, Wentworth Driver, Les Snape, Maurice Powell, Jim Grey, Ron Drew, Margaret Wood, Beryl Henderson, Gwyneth Hunter, Alan Hockey, Ann McLennan, Michael Gallagher, Malcolm Becke.

Mrs Botting_ Margaret Wood Pearce-Maurice Powell                Buggins-Len Snape                              Sid Pornick-Wentworth Driver

Kipps -Ken Dunn          Ann Pornick -Gwynneth Hunter

Flo Bates-Edith Kemp               Kate-Pat Meeks         Emma-Linda Stafford Victoria-Angela Hill Mr Shalford Jim Grey Carshot- Ron Drew

Back to Shows Index