We had a fantastic night courtesy of Tom O'Connell Productions at Richmond Theatre to celebrate Ray Cooney's 70 years in show business.
Top L-R: James Holmes, Jules Brown, Sue Holderness, Elizabeth Elvin, Arthur Bostrom, Susie Amy, Andrew Hall, Ray Cooney, David Warwick. Bottom L-R: Raphael Bar, Kate Sawyer (me!), Shaun Williamson.
Ray's remarkable career started at just 14 years old as a child-actor. He has worked in theatre and film since then working his way from understudy to one of the most respected and prolific writers, directors and producers in British Theatre. Currently I am touring the UK in the revival of his Olivier Award Winning Play Out of Order.
It has been an absolute honour to work with Ray and it was thrilling to celebrate his amazing career alongside my cast-mates with a gala performance and an after show party with some of the big names of British comedy and theatre.
At the Gala
Top- L-R: June Whitfield. Kate Sawyer (me) & Ray Cooney. Alex Ferns.
Middle- L-R: Tom Conti & Kara Wilson, Ray Cooney. The current and original cast of Out of Order; Wanda Ventham, Sue Holderness, Jules Brown, James Holmes, Elizabeth Elvin, Arthur Bostrom, Andrew Hall, Ray Cooney, Sandra Dickinson, Michael Fenner, David Warwick, Debbie Hicks, Raphael Bar, Susie Amy, Kate Sawyer (me!), Simon Murray, Shaun Williamson, Tom O'Connell.
Bottom: Owain Walbyoff, Natalie Pinkham, Susie Amy & Gethin Jones. The Boys in The Band Cast; John Hopkins, Ben Mansfield, Ian Hallard, Mark Gatiss, Nathan Nolan. Su Pollard.
The Biggest VIPs of the night, as far as I'm concerned: Me with Val & Graham Sawyer, my Mum & Dad!