The Cast

Sid James - With his battered features, wicked leer and possibly the most recognisable laugh in show business, Sid James appeared to the world as a streetwise Cockney ex-heavyweight boxer, an image that he actively encouraged because he knew that it would endear him to millions of fans worldwide. But Sid was no more an East End boy than he was a fighter. "Nobody could ever think of me as a star, " Sid once said. " All I can do is play myself." But being 'himself' was all he needed, because Sid James was loved by millions worldwide, and when he tragically died on stage at the Sunderland Empire on 26th April 1976, the world lost a unique talent. Playing age – forty, eventually late fifties

Kenneth Williams- Despite his appearance in most of the 'Carry On' comedies, Williams always harboured secret longings to be taken seriously as an actor.Born into a working class London family, his local accent would soon disappear, to be replaced by a fruitily camp drawl in which he delivered his trademark "Oh, stop messing about."Never satisfied with his career (he dismissed the 'Carry Ons' as "a mess"), he never really escaped the comedy straitjacket and also had problems coming to terms with his homosexuality. The manner of his death has caused some dispute - it has been claimed it was suicide - but his last diary entry pretty much sums up his attitude to life. "Oh, what's the bloody point?"
Playing age - late thirties, eventually early fifties

Barbara Windsor -Barbara Ann Deeks was born in 1937 to dressmaker and bus driver parents. An only child, she was gifted academically, passing her 11-plus exams with the highest mark in North London. Barbara discovered her love for singing and dancing at an early age, after a visit to the theatre with her grandfather. Babs became known as the eternal ‘dolly bird’, going on to appear in nine early ’Carry On’ films. Her absence from the later films was due to her belief that they had gone beyond their “innocent sauciness”. Barbara’s off-screen life has attracted as much attention as her on-screen roles. Her famed romances with the likes of gangster Ronnie Knight and 'Carry On' colleague Sid James, did little to keep her out of the tabloids
Playing age – Twenty five, eventually late thirties

Imogen Hassall - Imogen is sometimes referred to as "The Countess of Cleavage" as she was better known for her glamorous celebrity than her acting talent. Imogen was born on August 25th 1942, in Woking, Surrey, England and rose to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an international B-movie starlet. To her frustration, her fame was brief and she never became a star in her own right. She died at age 38, in London on November 16th 1980, after taking an overdose of sleeping pills.

Sally – Sid’s dresser, Petite, intense, in denial of herself
Playing age - eighteen, eventually mid-thirties

Eddie – One of Ronnie Knight’s heavies - huge, East-Ender
Playing age – Mid thirties

These are the only characters portrayed in the play, although I would be really interested in anyone getting in contact with me if they feel they could impersonate any of the other great Carry On stars i.e - Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Joan Sims, Peter Butterworth Etc as I have a few ideas up my sleeve! Thanks Nick

Carry On Casting

Carry On Casting

Do you have a nice pair of entendre ?
When did you last have a good innuendo?

Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick
By
Terry Johnson
Crescent Theatre 15th — 29th March 2008

To get you all in the “Carry On mood” and to help towards fundraising for the theatre, we shall be holding a
Carry On Familiarisation Evening on Sunday 2nd Dec 2pm - Crescent Bar
Entrance Fee £2.00 includes “nibbles” and a film show!

Cast
Sid James Kenneth Williams Barbara Windsor Sally Imogen Hassel Eddie

The evening will give you a chance to find out what the play is all about, the characters, the rehearsal period and some of my ideas for the show. It will also give you chance to ask any questions and collect the relevant information I will be providing for the auditions . Following this you will be subjected...sorry shown, some classic clips and interviews from the Carry On’s which are, undoubtedly the most successful series of British films ever made.

Auditions
Tue 4th Dec - 7.30pm
Sun 9th Dec - 3.pm

Reading scripts can be obtained from Jackie Blackwood or Carolyn Bourne

Look forward to seeing you there!
Nick Owen -Director 0771 741 8003 Email nickowen99@yahoo.co.uk