Planet Rabbit Productions

STILL LIFE. by Noel Coward. December 2011
Set in a railway station refreshment room in 1936, two happily married strangers - a suburban housewife and a doctor - develop a close acquaintance after a chance meeting. This deepens into affection and eventually into love and they begin a love affair, which they try to enjoy while they can. Helpless in the face of their emotions we follow their pitiful love affair, from its tentative beginnings to its inevitable end. Set to a backdrop of station life we also meet a host of colourful characters. This was the original stage play which went on to become the film 'Brief Encounter'. We presented this as a radio play reading with period costumes, nostalgic props, orginal sound effects and cocoa & mince pies.
This 10 date tour visited: METHLEY, BOSTON SPA, CHERRY BURTON, PICKERING, HEYWOOD, GREETLAND, GRASSINGTON, BROUGH, HAWORTH, DENSHAW.
CAST: Narrator/Mildred...Fiona Organ. Albert...Michael Wardle. Myrtle...Karen McCarthy. Beryl...Hannah Levy. Stanley/Johnnie...Alexander Bennett. Alec...Richard Dipple. Laura...Ursula Holden Gill. Bill/Young Man...Jack Hatley. PERSONNEL: Producer/Director...Claire Spratt. Sound & technical equipment...Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster Image...Helen Butler. Poster Artwork...Mark Peart. Carpenter...David Barnes.

BLITZ BRIDE. by Claire Spratt. July-October 2011
It's wartime Britain and ATS girl Ruby is set to wed Henry, although sooner than planned, (if Henry and her Dad, Arthur, have anything to do with it), for Ruby to avoid a posting abroad! Stationed away from home it is left for her mother, Peggy, and her heavily pregnant best friend, Nancy, to organise the lot. Based on true anecdotes and full of nostalgia, laughs and a wartime sing song. A one-act play. This had 4 performances at the Buxton Festival Fringe in July 2011, followed by a private booking in Buxton, a 5 date August tour visiting: HOLMFIRTH, HAWORTH, GRASSINGTON, WHITBY, REDCAR and a 6 date October tour visiting: BOSTON SPA, CHERRY BURTON, DENSHAW, GREETLAND, PICKERING, BROUGH. This production was nominated for Best Production at the Buxton Festival Fringe.
CAST: Peggy...Carol Ann Dunne. Nancy...Fiona Organ. Ruby, Mrs York, Henry, Arthur...Hannah Levy. PERSONNEL: Producer/Director...Claire Spratt. Sound & technical equipment...Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster artwork...Mark Strudwick (Buxton), Mark Peart (tour). Stage Manager (Buxton)...Kathryn Smith. Catering (tour)...Helen Butler

SMALL PORTIONS by Claire Spratt. July 2011
Six short comedy plays on one bill performed by 5 actors. 'Tea Towels & Tiaras', 'Nightwatch', 'The Joy of Painting', 'Fancy Pants', 'Star Gazing' & 'Foot Day'. Performed 4 times at the Buxton Festival Fringe in July 2011. CAST: Richard Hollick, Karen McCarthy, Fiona Organ, Tracy Gabbitas & Jenny Stokes. PERSONNEL: Producer/Director...Claire Spratt. Stage Manager...Kathryn Smith. Sound & technical equipment...Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster artwork...Mark Strudwick.

STAR MAKERS - Confessions from the Boards by Claire Spratt. October 2010
It's panto time at the Theatre Royal. Join usherettes Trudy & Miriam, stage door keeper Pam, autograph hunting Kerry-Ann, stage manager Kate & the star of the show Suzi Monroe for a backstage pass at the theatre's busiest show of the year. As well as the laughs this backstage tour overflows with pathos and tenderness.
This 10 date tour visited: WHITBY, SALTBURN, PICKERING, BRIDLINGTON, TADCASTER, BROUGH, NORLAND, GLOSSOP, BUXTON.
CAST: Kerry-Ann, Trudy, Kate...Fiona Organ. Suzi, Pam, Miriam...Ingrid Evans
PERSONNEL: Producer/Director...Claire Spratt. Sound effects & equipment...Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Stage Manager...Gayle Dennis. Poster Artwork...Mark Strudwick.

 ELSIE AND NORM'S 'MACBETH'  by John Christopher-Wood. June 2010
Elsie and Norm, fed up with playing Trivial Pursuit and watching television, have decided to have a bash at a bit of culture by staging a production of Macbeth in their living-room - playing all the characters between them. Well, all the characters that is except for Banquo (which is played by a large toy panda in a kilt) and his son Fleance (played by a smaller toy panda in a kilt). The hilarious results are guaranteed to set Shakespeare spinning in his grave! This production included one member of the audience taking a cameo role at each performance.
This 8 date tour visited: GLOSSOP, BURLEY-IN-WHARFEDALE, TADCASTER, BROUGH, PICKERING, SALTBURN, WHITBY, BRIDLINGTON.
CAST: Elsie...Roberta Kerr. Norm...Gerry Hinks
PERSONNEL: Producer...Claire Butler. Director...Andy Fox. Choreographer...Sue Brackenbury, Stage Manager...Fiona Organ. Sound Equipment...Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster Artwork...Selina Hallam

 SORRY, I LOVE YOU...  by John Goodrum. March 2010
Helen sits dejectedly on a pavement having just broken up with her boyfriend. The next two people she meets prove to be significant to her life in very different ways: one is a tramp, the other is Jools. A whimsical romantic comedy with a charming twist which suggests that occasionally relationships need a little help - sometimes from the least expected sources.
The 6 date tour visited: TADCASTER, PICKERING, SALTBURN, WHITBY, BROUGH, BRIDLINGTON.
CAST: Helen...Jayne Ashley. Jools...Richard Dipple. Tramp...Michael Wardle.
PERSONNEL: Produced & directed by Claire Butler. Production Assistant - Fiona Organ. Sound Effects & Equipment - Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Carpenter - Nick Butler. Poster Artwork - Selina Hallam.

 NIGHTWATCH. by Claire Butler. October 2009
Pete & Susan have put up with their thoughtless neighbours blocking their car in for years and can take no more. This production became a finalist in the Daffodil Theatre Awards 2009. Performed at The Stantonbury Theatre, Milton Keynes, on Sunday 25th October 2009. Written & directed by Claire Butler. CAST: Pete...Ian Hayles, Susan...Gayle Dennis, WPC...Fiona Organ. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd.

 BAZAAR & RUMMAGE. by Sue Townsend. September 2009
Gwenda, a neurotic do-gooder and ex-agoraphobic, leads a self-help group of 3 agoraphobic women who are now venturing out to run a local jumble sale at a church hall. Supervised by Gwenda, and assisted by sensible trainee social worker Fliss, their personal stories unfold and fears erupt while sorting the rummage. Written with the sharply observed humour of Sue Townsend, (Adrian Mole, The Queen & I). Featuring 6 musical numbers written specifically for Planet Rabbit by Nathan Dawe.
This 8 date tour visited: HULL, BRIDLINGTON, TADCASTER, OSWALDTWISTLE, BINGLEY, GLOSSOP, WHITBY, PICKERING.
CAST: Gwenda...Jackie Grimwood, Fliss...Fiona Organ, Katrina...Samantha Worrall, Bell-Bell...Julie Guard, Margaret...Annette Marriette, WPC...Jackie Grimwood.
PERSONNEL: Producer...Claire Butler, Director...Harry Gallagher, Composer...Nathan Dawe, Choreographer...Sue Brackenbury, Stage Manager...Jen Sanderson, Sound Effects & Equipment...Mick Spratt of Wigwam Acoustics, Poster Artwork...Selina Hallam

 ANORAK OF FIRE - THE LIFE & TIMES OF GUS GASCOIGNE, TRAINSPOTTER. by Stephen Dinsdale. July 2009
With his NHS spectacles, flask, sandwiches and beloved anorak clad with badges, Gus Gascoigne is a lovable teenage geek. He cannot see beyond trainspotting and enthusiastically tells the story of his life, love, locos, the joys of spotting and the history of his anorak - the anorak of fire - which he proudly wears after inheriting it from the greatest spotter that ever lived. A genuinely funny one act play. Starring Chris Leach as Gus Gascoigne. Directed by Andy Fox. Produced by Claire Butler. Stage Managed by Jen Sanderson. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Performed 4 times as part of the Buxton Festival Fringe 2009, plus 4 additional performances; LEEDS, GLOSSOP, HEBDEN BRIDGE, HEYWOOD. Poster photography - Helen Butler. Poster Artwork - Selina Hallam

 STANDBY ON STAGE PLEASE! by Claire Butler. July 2009
Suzi, a one time famous TV actress, is starring in a top pantomime. Her inability to remember any of her lines, her ludicrous requests to those around her and her constant off-stage wittering in the direction of the long-suffering stage manager, Kate make for a hilarious two-hander comedy. This one act play is set in the wings of a theatre. Written and directed by Claire Butler. Performed twice at the Buxton Festival Fringe in July 2009. Starring Fiona Organ as Kate and Emily Trebicki as Suzi. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster artwork by Selina Hallam

 GEORGE - DON'T DO THAT. by Joyce Grenfell. May/July 2009
Joyce Grenfell's famous nursery school sketches. Six separate comedy monologues of a primary school teacher addressing a classroom of four year-olds. Both clever and funny, you feel you are surrounded by classmates Neville, Lavinia, Sidney, Hazel, Susan and, of course, George as their innocent behaviour is brought to life through their teacher. Written by the legendary Joyce Grenfell. This production played twice in July 2009 as part of the Buxton Festival Fringe, and presented at a private function for the Howdenshire Women's Institute Annual Rally, East Yorkshire in May. Performed by Gayle Dennis. Produced & directed by Claire Butler. Sound by Wigwam Acoustics Ltd. Poster Artwork by Selina Hallam

 GROPING FOR WORDS. a comedy by Sue Townsend. September 2008
Joyce begins teaching an adult literacy class. Her pupils are faced with the frustration and embarrassment of learning to read and write in adulthood. Complete with nursery classroom and Wendy House, we follow four mismatched people thrust together in one pursuit which is both touching and laugh-out-loud funny. Written with wonderful humour and sharp wit in true Sue Townsend fashion, (Adrian Mole, The Queen & I). This production was directed by Peter Martin, (Len Reynolds - Emmerdale, Joe - The Royle Family, Ernie - Brassed Off).
This 16 date tour visited: NORTH FERRIBY, HEBDEN BRIDGE, BAILDON, BURLEY-IN-WHARFDALE, CHERRY BURTON, HALIFAX, PATELEY BRIDGE, WHITBY, GRIMSBY, TADCASTER, PICKERING, GAINSBOROUGH, HUTTON RUDBY, LYTHAM ST ANNES, GLOSSOP, SLAITHEWAITE.
CAST: Kevin...Chris Leach, Joyce...Gayle Dennis, George...Michael Wardle, Thelma...Laura Spratt.
PERSONNEL:Producer...Claire Butler, Director...Peter Martin, Stage Manager...Cat Robson,
Technical Support...Mick Spratt, Lighting Supplier...Dave Simpson, Carpenter...Nick Butler.

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