MKTOC Even More Ripping Yarns

1st to 3rd September 2022 at the Arches, Clifton Reynes, Milton Keynes.

We returned to the Arches Theatre in 2022 to stage open air adaptations of 3 chapters of Ripping Yarns – the Boy’s Own adventure parodies by Michael Palin and Terry Jones (Originally BBC TV 1977). You can read more about the Ripping Yarns series here on Wikipedia.

We have already staged 6 of the 9 episodes (3 indoors in 2009 and 3 more at the Arches theatre in Summer 2021).

‘The Curse of the Claw’: A strange Burmese relic carries a terrible curse that our hero tries to lift to save his family.

‘Whinfrey’s last case’:  Set in 1913, Britain’s greatest (and overworked) secret agent takes a much needed holiday to Cornwall and uncovers a German invasion plot.

‘Murder at Moorstones Manor’:  Hugo and Dora drive down to see Mumsie and Dadsie for a long weekend in the country. But their weekend descends into murder!

This production, by kind permission of Michael Palin and the late Terry Jones’ wife, Alison, raised £2,000 for the National Brain Appeal – a dementia charity.

Show Dates, Times and Ticket Prices

Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd September 2022 at the Arches, Clifton Reynes, near Olney,  Milton Keynes MK46 5DT
Thursday 1st September @ 7.30pm. 
Friday 2nd September @ 7.30pm.
Saturday 3rd September @ 7.30pm. 

Each show included performances of all 3 episodes

Cast

Murder at Moorstones Manor

Charles Chiddingfold – Iain Wood
Hugo Chiddingfold – Stephen Johnson
Lady Chiddingfold – Jane Davis
Dr Farson – David Pibworth
Father – Jon Davis
Manners the butler – Mark Worth
Dora – Charlotte Pask
Ruth – Jodie Commercial
Jehovah’s Witnesses – Sue Walmsley and Trish Worth

The Curse of the Claw

Kevin Orr – Stephen Johnson
Young Kevin – William Totton
Uncle Jack – Jon Davis
Kevin’s mother – Sue Walmsley
Kevin’s father – David Pibworth
Captain Merson – Roger Mann
Grosvenor – Mark Worth
Chief Petty Officer Russell – Charlotte Pask
Lady Agatha – Jodie Commercial
Young Agatha – Alexi Diston
Ship’s crew/Pallbearers/Natives – Jon West, Natalie Stevenson, Jodie Commercial,  Jane Davis, Jon West, Ann Skelly and Alistair White

Winfrey’s Last Case

Orson Wells – David Lovesy
Gerald Winfrey – Jon Davis
Admiral Jefferson – David Pibworth
General Chapman – Alistair White
Lord Raglan – Jon West
Mrs Otway – Ann Skelly
Mr Girton – David Lovesy
Carne – Alistair White
Old Lady – Trisha Worth
Assorted villages and servants – Stephen Johnson, Mark Worth, Roger Mann, Natalie Stevenson, Jane Davis, Sue Walmsley, Jodie Commercial, Charlotte Pask, Ray Monahan and William Totton

Production Team

Directors – David Pibworth and Jon Davis
Marketing & Publicity
– David Lovesy and ProbetsPR
Sound & Lighting – 
Mark Luckin, Peter Lawson and David Howard
Stage Management
– Jade Johnson, Mac and Ray Monahan
Props
– Pam Buckle and David Howard
Costumes
– Steve Clark and the MKTOC costume store