Getting closer to curtain up!

Time marches ever forward... we're running the whole set of shows from this week onward and they're looking good!

If you haven't already you should get booking your tickets! Visit the MKTOC website at www.mktoc.co.uk soon.

Rehearsals under way...

We've just had our second "proper" rehearsal, and all three tales have been blocked. I like to get that out of the way early - it means you can concentrate on the little actions and interactions that bring out the comedy! There are two ways you can stage a show - with complicated set pieces and without! Both "Moorstones Manor" and "Eric Olthwaite" have choreographed set pieces in them; I've gone the other way a bit. This means that I could also concentrate on having a steak dinner downstairs in the Bull restaurant whilst Dave P was blocking "Eric Olthwaite" upstairs!

So who got the better deal?!?

Ripping Yarns - the adventure begins!

Saturday 7 March saw the first read-through of our new production - Michael Palin and Terry Jones' "Ripping Yarns", adapted for stage by nailing some planks to it and adding a hinge to the Y. With an ensemble cast of sixteen, we are attempting three gripping tales - "Murder at Moorstones Manor", "Across the Andes by Frog" and "The Testing of Eric Olthwaite".

This classic BBC series is reckoned to be one of the strongest comedies of it's time - and judging by the enthusiasm and delivery at the reading, MKTOC are set to more than do it justice!

We'll continue to blog as we progress - prepare yourself for murder, shovels and Anuraie!

Meet the cast: Steve Clark

10 questions to help you get to know the cast of MKTOC's production of The Ladykilllers 8 - 12 July '08 (box office: 0845 2410967).

Steve Clark plays Major Courtney, originally played by Cecil Parker.

Q: What’s your favourite comedy?
A: Anything with Rowan Atkinson (except Thin Blue Line!)

Q: Do you have a favourite comedy catch phrase?
A: ''He's hopeless ... you might as well ask the cat'' (Basil Fawlty of Manuel)

Q: What’s your favourite part of putting on a performance?
A: The social element of rehearsing with pals and then the (hopefully favourable) reaction from the audience!

Q: Do you have a preferred medium to enjoy comedy?
A: TV

Q: What’s your proudest on-stage moment?
A: I am particularly proud of panto performances – where the immediate audience reaction can be amazing when you get it right!

Q: What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve had on stage?
A: Realising that another across had fluffed his lines in a scene in a play at the Edinburgh fringe and totally skipped most of the script and indeed the whole point of me being on the stage for the play! The performance never recovered and was a surreal experience lasting about a quarter of the time it should have!!

Q: Who’s your favourite character in The Ladykillers?
A: The Professor

Q: If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
A: I’d probably be roped into some other all consuming dramatic activity!

Q: What’s your dream role?
A: I’d quite fancy playing Basil Fawlty!

Q: Who’s your greatest inspiration?
A: Monty Python

MKTOC's exclusive rights to adapt Palin and Jones' Ripping Yarns

MKTOC are delighted to announce that we have secured the exclusive rights from Michael Palin and Terry Jones to adapt Ripping Yarns (Originally BBC TV 1977) to the stage.

MKTOC will produce the first ever stage production of Ripping Yarns in July 2009 at the Chrysalis Theatre, Camphill, Milton Keynes.

You can read more about the original televised series by these ex-Pythons on Wikipedia.

We will be selecting and adapting three of the nice episodes. More details to follow...

More information about the adaptations (which will involve live stage action combined with pre-recorded film sequences), details of the production team and dates and opportunities for auditions and casting will be posted later this summer.

If you are interested in being involved in this show in any capacity with the production side or as a cast member or would consider sponsoring this very exciting and (by its nature) high profile adaptation, please contact David by phone on 0845 2410967 or email.

Show dates and times: Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th July 2009

The Bolivian Sunshine Dogs at Waterside Festival

There was a great turnout at this years Waterside Festival, the sun shone and a good time was had by all - especially the Bolivian Sunshine Dogs who kicked off their summer of fun with a hugely entertaining set...






Catch them next at:
29 June Olney Recreation Ground
05 July Newport Pagnell Carnival, 5th July
02 Aug The Robin Hood, Clifton Reynes (performing with Kenny Ball and his jazzmen)

Meet the cast: Keith Hargreaves

10 questions to help you get to know the cast of MKTOC's production of The Ladykilllers 8 - 12 July '08 (box office: 0845 2410967).

Keith Hargreaves is the director.

Q: What’s your favourite comedy?
A: Pheonix nights

Q: Do you have a favourite comedy catch phrase?
A: ‘You put it where?’

Q: What’s you’re favourite part of putting on a performance?
A: The performance

Q: Do you have a preferred medium for enjoy comedy?
A: radio

Q: What’s your proudest on-stage moment?
A: An ad lib that saved an entire scene from being missed

Q: What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve had on stage?
A: An ad lib that saved an entire scene from being missed

Q: Who’s your favourite character in The Ladykillers?
A: Lettice

Q: If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
A: Drinking

Q: What’s your dream role?
A: Charlie (in Charlie’s Angels not Willy Wonka)

Q: Who’s your greatest inspiration?
A: Leonard Fenton (Dr Legg in Eastenders)