More wacky humour with famous tunes ... This time we are off to Rome! Our second offering from
the pen of Posy Hill features Nero, Agrippina, Octavia and a host of real and imaginary characters
in a delightfully silly story of Roman excess, seductive beauty, togas and nobbly knees – interspersed
with famous operatic arias, duets and choruses in much the same format as last
year’s To Hell With Opera. Click here for a synopsis of Up the Empire in English et en français
The Cast (in order of appearance):
Demetrius
Philosopher
Danny Benjamin
Rupertus
Nero’s spin-doctor
Stanley Taylor
Scribio
Scribe/Rupertus’ assistant
Kathrin Baetschmann
Brigantia
Cartamandua’s daughter
Hannah Bruce
Vindex
Celtic hostage
John Marden
Canosia
Celtic hostage
Jess Hill
Nero
Emperor
Chris Powell
Poppea
Nero’s 2nd wife
Suzy Nelson-Pollard
Paris
Nero’s singing teacher
Peter Scott
Festus
Nero’s right hand man
David Pittuck
Ganymede
Nero’s cup-bearer
Luke Clare-Wrigley
Otto
Poppea’ husband
Phil Thomas
Agrippina
Nero’s mother
Annette Schutt
Livia
Agrippina’s maid
Annie Schmid
Aurelia
Poppea’s attendant
Alexandra Hewson
Calpurnia
Poppea’s attendant
Sammie Jeffes
Cartamandua
Queen of Briganties
Floriane Hostettler
Galba
Roman General
Ray Harari
Legionnaire
Legionnaire
Jérôme Colonna de Lega
Brutus
Roman soldier
Robbie MacDonald
Burrus
Roman soldier
Angus Macdonald
Astarte
Goddess
Nicola Hollyman
Octavia
Nero’s 1st wife
Kate Booth
Lancia
A soldier
Lance Hewson
Giovanni
A soldier
Jonathan Schmid
A cheerleader
Betsy La Fratta
Citizens of Rome
Elizabeth Brown
Robin Brown
Lily Geissbühler
Debbie Groby
Robbie Macdonald
David Manson
Jonathan Schmid
David Stieber
The Production Team:
Written by
Posy Hill
Producer/Conductor
Peter Jeffes
Assistant Producer
Hannah Bruce
Assistant Conductor
Lisa Wingard
Pianists
Rebecca MacDonald & Peter Billington
Stage Manager
Arni Dinius
Set design
John Fox
Costumes
Sue Bergomi & Alison Sellar
Lighting
Martin Leu & Em Clevenstine
Props
Jeannie Taylor
Make-up consultant
Philippa Hulme
Production Secretary
Sammie Jeffes
Chorus of furies, citizens of Rome, soldiers, slaves, bodyguards, dancers and animal trainers!!!
Brian Allardyce, Denise Allen, Terry Angleys, Jean Auriel, Peter Barnett, Pat Blake, Irene Brampton, Janet Clevenstine, Liz Eigenheer, Lucy Elvin, Pascale Fargier, Patricia Laurie, David Macgeorge, Sonja Max, Ina Pietschmann, Melissa Postmaa, Mike Prior, Ginny Rogers, MaryRose Rudaz, Yuriko Schume, Annette Schutt, Wolfgang Schutt, Pam Scott, Anne Truss, Amy Vowles
With special guest appearance and European première by Gloria the Elephant!
