Hilairy Theatre Group | Cambridge UK

The Vicar of Dibley

Hilarity Theatre Group proudly presented ‘The Vicar of Dibley’, adapted from the original TV scripts by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer. With all of the favorite characters from the hit show, this fun-filled production had the audience rolling in the aisles! When Alice and Hugo returned from their honeymoon, Geraldine realized the true reason why their photos were so hard to decipher. What could possibly go wrong when Geraldine got involved in the parish’s new live radio show? And when the Bishop wanted to know the plans for that year’s Christmas show, the whole council rallied behind Geraldine to bring some festive cheer. A fantastic sell-out show that left the audience in great spirits!

This amateur production had been adapted from the TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer by kind permission of United Agents. ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ was originally produced by Tiger Aspect Productions.

The Cambridge ADC 2024 Vicar of Dibley Cast

Thea Fennell

Geraldine

Jane Martin-Smith

Alice

Barry Mullins

Hugo

Rob Marsden

Jim

James Nichol

David

James Walters

Owen

Paul Thorpe

Frank

Tracy Birch

Mrs. Cropley

Sarah Colwell

Mrs. Tinker

Siobhan Welton

Mary Tinker

Ella Price

Darcey

Monica Bardini

Henrietta

Betty Barnes

Samantha

Emilie Mullins

Lucy

Kathie Pugh

Musical Assistant

Michelle Harvey-Hyde

Choir

Candy Smellie

Choir

Suzanne Wernham

Choir

Sheena

Choir

Tony Powers

Choir

Abbie Lathwell

Choir

Claire Geraghty

Choir

Jennifer Luckett

Choir

Thea Fennell - Geraldine

Thea is a student at Churchill College, in the final year of her computational biology PhD. Despite her starring (albeit non-speaking…) role at age 4 as a candlestick in Alice in Wonderland, she began a long hiatus from the stage at the start of secondary school – returning only via the medium in of radio in 2020 as the long-suffering Sergeant Susan Calverly, in time-travelling code-cracking radioplay In The Nick of Time with the Cambridge University Light Entertainment Society (CULES). This was followed by a lead role as the enchanting indie musician, witch, and legume enthusiast Angel Aspen in romcom fantasy audiodrama Whitebeam, Aspen, and Shape, produced by the same company.

She resumed treading the boards in person as the fantastical feline Muffins in CULES’ The Prophecy of Destiny (2022). As a member of CULES, she has also engaged in the dark arts of web design, song writing, late-night sound editing, marketing, publicity, graphic design, singing with or without being asked to, assistant direction, dancing, dance coaching, cast welfare, and last-minute costume repairs. Thea is also no stranger to the bright lights of the ADC, as this will be her sixth performance at the venue – her most recent appearances being as Credne the Artisan (Storytelling, Fletcher Players, June 2023) and as the indomitable Lady Croom (Arcadia, Lady Margaret Players, Jan 2024).

To prepare for her upcoming role as the Reverend Geraldine Granger, she has borrowed a cassock off a friendly local vicar and overdrawn her bank account on Curly-Wurlies. She looks forward to seeing you all in St Barnabas – I mean, the ADC – very soon!

Jane Martin-Smith - Alice

Jane moved from London to Cambridge over 10 years ago, and has since been acting in various amateur productions here in Cambridgeshire. So far, her experiences have mainly been in ‘Tragedy’, from classical plays including the Ancient Greek piece “The Bacche”; playing Mercutio in YAC’s version of Romeo and Juliet, and contemporary works such as Ophelia Circus’ production of the “House of Secrets”. Jane’s debut with Hilarity will be her first endeavour into contemporary comedies.

Barry Mullins - Hugo

Barry’s Egor in Pantostein ripped through the acting world, launching him as the ‘One to Watch’ in the Little Eversden Gazette. From those dizzy heights, Barry has been walking the boards of am dram in Cambridgeshire over the past 10 years in a variety of roles.

Barry’s previous career in cyber security has given him the skills required to go undercover and fully immerse in roles. For the role of Hugo, he has been seen in posh pubs asking for a sherry, and in the local gun shop eyeing up the tweed.

This will be his first migration from rural theatre to city theatre and is looking forward to less straw in the staff toilets.

Rob Marsden - Jim

James Nichol - David

James Walters - Owen

James moved to the area recently to work, being originally from a small town in the Northwest. Just before that move, he took his first steps back into acting with Wigan Little Theatre and their production of Towards Zero by Agatha Christie, where he played Ted Latimer. He says “steps back into acting” because it was always something he aspired to do growing up, first in high school before going on to study at Winstanley College. During his time there, James had the opportunity to host a music show, voice a man-eating plant from outer space and play the lead role in a contemporary take on the Scottish play. He even had the privilege of being invited to perform on the Olivier Stage at the National Theatre.

After college, James auditioned for drama schools but was unsuccessful, moving onto more traditional places of employment. He kept the spark going for a while at least by working with drama groups in the area, as well as a five-year stint as a scare actor. It wasn’t until Wigan Little Theatre that the flame was relit, and he has endeavoured to search for opportunities to perform and learn from new faces and experiences. The St Neots Players gave James his first opportunity with The Girl on the Train and is excited to be working with Hilarity Theatre Group on The Vicar of Dibley.

Paul Thorpe - Frank

Paul was a relative late starter to acting. At the ripe old age of 36, he was persuaded to join Bourn Players where he spent the next 8 years as a regular cast member performing in their musical productions including playing Pharaoh in Joseph, Bill Sykes in Oliver and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes.

After moving to near Ely, he had a short break from performing but soon found that the acting itch needed scratching!

So he joined a local Pantomime group where for the last decade he has been cast as either the Baddie or the Dame. It’s here where he found his love of performing comedy and is so excited to be part of this new company.

Tracy Birch - Mrs. Cropley

Tracy grew up in a theatrical family and was soon acting in various plays, dramas and musicals, (some produced by her mother). After attending drama school and winning awards for acting and characterisation, Tracy joined a repertory company where she specialised in portraying different comedy personas.

Having retired from the theatre, Tracy has had a fantastic time being an alpaca farmer and knitwear designer and has often appeared on Create & Craft TV demonstrating knitting techniques and selling her knitting kits. She has written, produced and directed various radio sketches and appeared on Dragons’ Den. Tracy has joined Hilarity to re-engage with the theatre and is delighted to be playing Mrs Cropley; an aging eccentric with a passion for making things… a description that could be applied to both equally!

Sarah Colwell - Mrs. Tinker

Sarah’s love for performing blossomed early! At just 11 years old, she took the stage on “Crackerjack” in 1976, showcasing her talent for impressions. While the “Young Entertainer of the Year” title might have eluded her that year, her passion for entertaining only grew stronger.

In her 20s, Sarah was part of the Drama Centre, a small theatre group and venue in Cambridge, , acting in ‘Tarzan – the Musical’, ‘Our day Out’ and various other productions.
In 2019, Sarah was Queen Rat in the Linton pantomime, and has had various small roles in other local amateur groups.

Sarah is very excited to be a part of this new company loving the idea of comedy for all.

Siobhan Welton - Mary Tinker

Ella Price - Darcey

I grew up singing, dancing and acting in Bury St Edmunds, and went on to train in Musical Theatre at the Chichester Conservatoire when I was 18. After graduating in 2018, I have been working as a dance teacher and fitness instructor around Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and filling my passion for performing with lovely groups like this one! Some recent theatre credits include ‘Mallory/Avril’ in ‘City of Angels’ and ‘Maid’ in ‘My Fair Lady’ with the Bourn Players. I’m very excited to get my ballet shoes out and start working with this wonderful cast!

Monica Bardini - Henrietta

Betty Barnes - Samantha

Emilie Mullins - Lucy

Kathie Pugh - Musical Assistant

Kathie is a seasoned performer and production team member, having managed to fit in a huge number of roles alongside teaching and church activities. From dancing in the presence of HRH Princess Margaret to singing on the soundtrack of Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery, Kathie achieved the ‘highest note we’ve heard sung’ in Video Games Live with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, has waved her arms in front of choirs and bands (which they’ve mostly followed), has choreographed beside a lighthouse, and has generally enjoyed MD, Director and Choreographer roles in professional and community settings with the odd performing role here and there. Kathie is looking forward to choral diversions in the Vicar of Dibley.

Michelle Harvey-Hyde - Choir

Candy Smellie - Choir

I’m recently retired from the University of Cambridge where I worked in multiple departments, mainly in communications roles. Having time on my hands, I decided to study creative writing and am now doing an MA at ARU. My singing ‘career’ is even more varied and started as soon as I left school when I joined CAOS as their youngest member. I’ve sung on stage in so many chorus lines it’s impossible to remember them all though an alluring maiden in Turandot at the Kings Theatre Edinburgh was probably my zenith. I sing now with the New Cambridge Singers where we put on four concerts a year in both the city and the surrounding villages.