Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Funky Dunky....now there's a memory. As well as getting me into theatre (though I crossed sides and went to work on the technical crew) he also supervised our O level history projects.

and I remember Bodywork and Richard Stillgoe and the incredible amounts of booze there was at the after show party. That was one thing you could always rely on was the after show party where we always got plastered.

Did we end up getting contact detials for him. Would love them if they're around.

adlop wrote:Funky Dunky....now there's a memory. As well as getting me into theatre (though I crossed sides and went to work on the technical crew) he also supervised our O level history projects.

and I remember Bodywork and Richard Stillgoe and the incredible amounts of booze there was at the after show party. That was one thing you could always rely on was the after show party where we always got plastered.

Did we end up getting contact detials for him. Would love them if they're around.

I blame years of alcoholism on DNPs after show parties. And I've had a lifetime aversion to Wine thanks to one particularly heavy one, for a play called "Lent" in 1987 if I remember rightly.

But lets face it - 90% of the people involved in the productions were only there for the booze

Mary Clare wrote:...

Allo allo, another person who was there nearer to when I was. Are those towers still working? I would've imagined they might've broken down or something...
Anyway, Funky Dunky... He was a big man, in many ways, and I was one of the people who loved him (no, not that way). My first experience was when I did lighting for the junior play on my LE - I think I got him a bit angry at one stage, and it was scary to say the least. He did come back to CH occasionally and seemed to be doing well.

As for replacing him, Jeff Mayhew is doing a pretty damn good job too - you just have to keep in mind that people like that are kinda irreplaceable, you can only find someone who'll be different and just as good in other ways.

srcudlipp wrote:

adlop wrote:Funky Dunky....now there's a memory. As well as getting me into theatre (though I crossed sides and went to work on the technical crew) he also supervised our O level history projects.

and I remember Bodywork and Richard Stillgoe and the incredible amounts of booze there was at the after show party. That was one thing you could always rely on was the after show party where we always got plastered.

Did we end up getting contact detials for him. Would love them if they're around.

I blame years of alcoholism on DNPs after show parties. And I've had a lifetime aversion to Wine thanks to one particularly heavy one, for a play called "Lent" in 1987 if I remember rightly.

But lets face it - 90% of the people involved in the productions were only there for the booze

Kit Aitken tried hard to get me on stage but No Way. By way of compromise I specialised in lighting using an old fashioned resistance console which gave out so much heat the floor was swamped in perspiration after every performance. I still don't know how it didn't electrocute me.

We didn't even get water let alone booze. (and I had to sing in the Pirates of Penzance chorus because those on stage were too quiet - horror of horrors)

I have nothing but the utmost respect and fond memories of Duncan. He was exemplary as a theatre producer, teacher, tutor and a friend.

Best play by far was "The Hired Man". I was only 14 at the time but it is still the most powerful performance I have seen in a theatre ... oh all right, Les Mis is a little bit better, but not much!

Tim, did I see you at The Castle climbing wall the other day, thought it might be you?!

Sergiu Panaite wrote:Are those towers still working? I would've imagined they might've broken down or something...

When the theatre was first new the towers managed to rip up the surface of the floor, making it even mor difficult to push them about!. Also all of the wood block flooring in the areas around the theatre and music school extension were laid without provision for expansion, so that the floor in the storage area for the towers broke up. We ended up filling the holes in with sand & cement one evening so that we could move the towers for a production!

I work for IBM and a "Sam Noel-Paton" has just had his name splashed across our intranet; surely there can't be more than one Noel-Paton?

That must be his son - he did have a son called Sam I think...

He does have a son called Sam - he was in my year. Say hi from me!

Mr Cudlipp - oh how the mighty have fallen - 2 budding actors: i was a blood cell in Bodyworks and I seem to remember something along the lines of GCSE Drama... now reduced to IT analysts.

Thanks to all who've added to this thread - us kids (thanks Tim) were chuffed to read wot you said bout our dad! I'll let him know he's still remembered, follies and all. Cheers.

fnky dnky jr. wrote:Mr Cudlipp - oh how the mighty have fallen - 2 budding actors: i was a blood cell in Bodyworks and I seem to remember something along the lines of GCSE Drama... now reduced to IT analysts.

Thanks to all who've added to this thread - us kids (thanks Tim) were chuffed to read wot you said bout our dad! I'll let him know he's still remembered, follies and all. Cheers.

Hi Sam!,

Your were a blood cell, and I seem to remember being a sperm! Working with Richard Stilgoe just made us all appreciate your Dad more - even if Stilgoe didn't continuously shout "Eyes, Teeth & T**ts" at us!
It seems strange that most of us ended up as IT analysts, considering how lacking the computer dept was. Only Henry Y escaped IT - he is an Attorney in New York & doing well.
Good to see you are alive and kicking - give my regards to Funky Dunky for me

Stu

srcudlipp wrote:But lets face it - 90% of the people involved in the productions were only there for the booze

I'd have to agree on that one. Remember many drunken after show parties.

fnky dnky jr. wrote:Mr Cudlipp - oh how the mighty have fallen - 2 budding actors: i was a blood cell in Bodyworks and I seem to remember something along the lines of GCSE Drama... now reduced to IT analysts.

I must have got it the wrong way round I was very into computers on my 2/3rd form, then got into theatre and have in one way or another stayed invovled in the arts ever since. My dad still asks me when I'm getting a proper job.....

adlop wrote:Funky Dunky....now there's a memory. As well as getting me into theatre (though I crossed sides and went to work on the technical crew) he also supervised our O level history projects.

and I remember Bodywork and Richard Stillgoe and the incredible amounts of booze there was at the after show party. That was one thing you could always rely on was the after show party where we always got plastered.

Did we end up getting contact detials for him. Would love them if they're around.

I was there... And I was plastered

For those of you who may be interested, I had the pleasure of Uncle Duncan this morning at the theatre (The first time I have seen him since my departure from CH), and can confirm that he is in very good form indeed.