FIRST VOICE - STEPHEN SMITH: Steve is really looking forward to the role of First Voice - especially after his hugely successful role as 'Sir John Gielgud' in the World Premiere production of '3 Knights and 2 Welshmen' earlier this year. Growing up only a short distance from Stratford on Avon and visiting the Memorial Theatre often, Gielgud's name remains for him the epitome of excellence in Shakespearean verse speaking.
- LORD DENNING MASTER OF THE ROLLS : RON MELDON : Ron's most recent appearance was as Dr Haggart in The Late Christopher Bean (for Swansea Little Theatre). In an earlier century, Ron played Eric in An Inspector Calls, Constant in The Provoked Wife, Trevor in Bedroom Farce, and many others. In recent years, his own plays, such as Leir & Co (a modern re-imagination of King Lear), the surrealistic psychodrama Sleight of Mind and the comedy The Crash Landing of Oscar Romeo have been performed at Swansea Grand.
TOM JONES - LYNDON JEREMIAH: Lord, make up the Celestial sofa bed and stock up the Beer Fridge on high, I’m ready to meet my maker. With Bucket list now complete this is truly a day for celebration. After playing the Greatest Actor in the World, I will now be playing the World’s Greatest Performer. Richard Burton and now Sir Tom Jones, both Welsh, both controversial and both magnificent.Does it get any better than that? Playing Tom will be dream come true. Huge expectations, I cannot wait.
BILL WYMAN : CHRIS HAWKINS : As well as his daily show on 6 Music, Chris presents Playlist programmes on Radio 2. He can frequently be heard on BBC Radio 5 live and regularly appears on BBC Breakfast TV, The BBC News Channel, and Channel 5; and has also presented films on BBC Inside Out.Chris started his radio career as a teenager at BBC Radio Shropshire. He combined his studies at Nottingham University with work as a reporter at BBC Radio Nottingham. On graduating he remained at Radio Nottingham, presenting a mix of music and news programmes, before taking up a daily show at BBC GLR (now BBC London). He has been presenting on 6 Music since the station launched in 2002. Beyond the studio, Chris has DJ’ed at major UK music festivals and awards ceremonies, including the BAFTA’s. He blogs for the BBC website and has written for The Huffington Post, Music Week and UK Music. Along the way, Chris has presented shows on Absolute Radio, LBC, and Real Radio. He has fronted chart shows on the BBC World Service, hosted Radio 4 documentaries and counts as a career high his appearance as a competitor on Ken Bruce’s Celebrity PopMaster. In 2017 he captained a winning team on Christmas University Challenge, soon after his appearance on Celebrity Mastermind. He also once 'punched' Harry, on the comedy series Harry Hill's TV Burp. He also played the role of Dylan Thomas at the Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea in a recreated presentation of the radio broadcast 'Swansea and the Arts'.
DOROTHY SQUIRES : DREENA MORGAN - HARVEY. Dorothy Squires was an internationally renown singer and caberet artist. She was born in 1915 in Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire, as Edna May Squires. In the mid 1930s she joined her first dance band as vocalist, The Denza Dance Orchesta in Llanelli, Wales. Dorothy Squires is honoured with a Blue Plaque at her childhood home, Aston House, Dafen, Llanelli. Squires did most of her work with the orchestra of Billy Reid, who was her partner for many years. After she joined his orchestra in 1936, he began to write songs for her to perform. Her litigiousness was so excessive that, on 5 March 1987, the High Court declared her to be a "vexatious litigant", preventing her from commencing any further legal actions without the permission of the Court. Dorothy was married to the actor Roger Moore notable for his roles as The Saint and later as James Bond 007. Dorothy died on April 14, 1998 in Llwynypia.
VIOLET SHENTON : JANE CUMMINGS. Jane is a retired secondary Drama Teacher and Examiner from London. Enjoying life in Swansea and active member of Swansea Little Theatre. Most recently seen in 'The Ghost Train'. Jane takes on the role of Mrs Violet Shenton the landlady of British music genius and one of the first to recognise the talent that was Tom Jones and The Squires, Joe Meek. But recognition of his creative genius has been overshadowed by the manner in which he died on February 3, 1967, at the age of 37 – he committed suicide in his studio after shooting his landlady, Violet , dead. An inquest jury found Meek deliberately killed Mrs Shelton, who ran a leather shop with her husband downstairs.
AVA GARDNER : ORNA KLEMENT. Mum, writer, musician and composer Orna Klement is a Native New Yorker and will step into the starry role of Ava Gardner. Ava Lavinia Gardner was an American actress and singer. Gardner was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941, and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers. She was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress for her work in Mogambo, and also received BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for other films. A prolific gather of husbands, they included Frank Sinatra (m. 1951 - 1957) · Artie Shaw (m. 1945 - 1946) · Mickey Rooney (m. 1942 - 1943)
ANN BEAULIEU : DONNA FREED. Donna is not only an accomplished author, journalist and broadcaster but can now add the role of Elvis Presley's mother-in-law to her impressive CV. Donna takes on the role of Ann Beaulieu in my production of 'Just Help Yourself', the explosive autobiography of Vernon Hopkins the man who rose to international fame alongside Tom Jones in the band which Vernon founded in the early 60s in South Wales.
JOHN LENNON : PAUL WHITTAKER. 30 years living in Swansea. Originally from Liverpool AND a genuine Scouser. Paul is one of our regions most recognisable and vibrant characters on the entertainment, cultural and commercial scene. His earthy Merseyside tones will resonate with just a hint of John's legendary wit. He runs a marketing and events company entering its 20th year. Lifelong Beatles fan and guitarist.
FREDA WOODWARD : CERI WILLIAMS. Casting for the various role in my upcoming production of 'Just Help Yourself' by Vernon Hopkins, the revealing memoir of life Vernon Hopkins, has brought so many great people on board. Joining the cast as Tom Jones' mother Freda is respected and highly accomplished Harrow Scholl of Art graduate artist and owner of the Grey Dog Gallery in Mumbles Ceri Williams
ELTON JOHN : PETER JONES. Casting the role of Elton John in my production of 'Just Help Yourself' by Vernon Hopkins was easy. My first call was to Pete Jones. Not only a performer and film producer whose TV and film credits include Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive and Svengali, Pete is also an author of the best-selling book Kids in the Riot: High and Low with The Libertines and is currently co-producing Tosh: A Swansea Football Fairytale. His favourite Elton John song is ‘Passengers”!
JOE MEEK : STEVE DEWITT. Steve is very excited to play the role of one of his childhood heroes. He grew up in this era and after spending nearly 45 years in radio, he knows this music era well. Steve started at Swansea Sound in 1975 as a commercial voice over and progressed to presenting live shows a year later. Apart from 10 years at BBC Wales as a Producer/Presenter and TV Channel Director, he has spent his whole radio career at Swansea Sound. He still presents on Swansea Sound to this day. He has narrated the soundtrack of an album and many TV documentaries over the years and is excited about this role of one of the legends of the 60’s, Joe Meek.
J G BALLARD: JOHN FENNER. Nearly 60 years as actor and singer have led John to an enormous number of rôles in theatre in the South Warwickshire area, ranging from light opera to modern musicals and from farce to Shakespeare. Favourite rôles include Doolittle (My Fair Lady) and Mr Mushnik (Little Shop of Horrors) in musicals, and Norman Thayer, Jr. (On Golden Pond) and Andrew Crocker-Harris (The Browning Version) in drama.
Land Lady Mu : Christina Grant . Born in London, Tina came to Swansea aged 12 where she lived, was educated and learned her love of Art. Has travelled extensively in the Uk, Europe and USA (having lived in Washington DC for 3 years). Attended Cheltenham College of Art to obtain a BA in Fine Art Painting and followed with an MA in Drawing at Oxford Brookes. Returned to Swansea a little over 2 years ago ( which she has always considered her home) and now teaches Art on a voluntary basis, as a therapy to the bereaved, Carers and others recovering from life changing events. Conceived, created and runs Artbreak, she runs art courses, in conjunction with bereavement and Carers organisations.re to edit.
CHRIS ELLIS : David Brayley is a successful author from Swansea who has written books with Welsh sporting legends such as Ashley Williams and James Hook. He has also received acclaim for his children’s book, ‘Champion of Champions’. An experienced speaker, David visits schools across the UK to inspire young people to engage with reading and writing via sport. He has also given many talks about his humorous and unconventional route in becoming an author. A self confessed quiz addict, he has appeared on several TV quiz shows including Mastermind, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Eggheads. He’s married with two daughters.
PONTY JOHN THE DRIVER : GABE CAMERON Gabe has worked on a number of radio programs and stations including Touch / Red Dragon, The Late Show (BBC Radio Wales), TV & Film roles include appearances in Pobol y Cwm (BBC), Dinas (S4C), The Little Match Girl (HTV), Return to Treasure Island (HTV/Disney), The Doll and more recently Trollied, Stella and Casualty. Theatre appearances in West Side Story, Godspell, Mame, My Fair Lady, the role of King Herald in Jesus Chris Superstar, Caryl Churchill’s Cloud Nine, Goldini's Servant of Two Masters, The Miracle Plays and Encore. Gabe is responsible for the stage management of many of the Chris Needs theatre shows.
MRS GEE : JUDY MURDOCH. Having acted both overseas and in U.K. for more years than Judy cares to count, she looks forward to taking part in 'Just Help Yourself', a recorded play which would bring back memories of her microphone moments as a news reader for BFBS in Malta. Having done everything from Panto to Shakespeare, it would be difficult to select one particular production - suffice it to say she has enjoyed them all.
TONY CARTWRIGHT : ANTON MULLAN – In 1961 I started my rock and roll career playing bass guitar in Liverpool bands – legendary clubs from the Iron Door, Cavern, Peppermint Lounge, Blue Angel etc. In late 60’s formed my own band called TRILOGY, very successful underground outfit – started writing music for the BBC in 1974 – a long career from A QUESTION OF SPORT, ATTENBOROUGH to BIG COOK LITTLE COOK FOR CBEEBIES! And even a US Billboard Hot 100 singles Number One in 2012 – Still writing and rockin’!
- TOM JONES SNR: WYN THOMAS. Wyn has been presenting and producing for over thirty years on various radio stations including the BBC and Swansea Sound and bring to Radio Tircoed a unique style of broadcasting. During this period, a extremely large number of interviews have been conducted. Wyn started his career on Radio Freeway (Morriston Hospital Radio) and presented a weekly show for over twenty years. Also during those years he presented and produced a variety of programmes for Swansea Sound. In 2004 Wyn started making contributions to BBC Radio Wales. Wyn's had a notable exclusive achievement was at the Voices of a Nation Concert 1999 (Opening of the Welsh Assembly) in being the only interviewer backstage were he interviewed many well known Welsh personalities. Wyn presents & produces Drive which includes the acclaimed interview slot the After 5 Guest, features & a variety of music.
ALPHONSO THE WAITER : CHARLES WILSON-WATKINS. Swansea born and privately educated at three local private schools, Dumbarton House School (closed), where Catherine Zeta Jones attended, then Emmanuel School (closed) where Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia attended and finally Ffynone House School (still open !) After school, gained a post-16 teaching qualification. The last 14 years, worked away in Surrey as a Patient Ambulance Driver. Since 2015, have written family history articles for a free monthly magazine, The Bay. Also complied numerous reference material in the library about the Swansea men who died in both the First and Second World Wars
MICKEY GEE : DAVE BROOKES. Dave's worked in media for the best part of 25 years, for several radio stations and presented music, sport and phone in based programmes. He's often said of his career 'that feeling of broadcasting live to your audience gets me every time as radio is such a unique medium where you may have an audience of thousands but in reality you're talking to just one person'. He's also worked as a University Researcher, College Lecturer, Human Resources Officer and Seminar Presenter but started out in the world of radio as a Flying Eye travel reporter, presenting live travel reports from 2,000 feet up in a tiny Seneca plane. "I had a really good view of the roads up there. The sad thing is I can name every junction across the South Wales stretch of the M4".
He's chuffed to be asked to be a part of Just Help Yourself and says acting takes him back to his school play days where he appeared in every Christmas Production and in small intimate situation plays. He's married to Helen and recently became a dad to William, and with 2 cats Bo & Izzy there's plenty to keep him busy, and that's before we even take into account his daily Drivetime Radio Programme on Swansea Sound.
He's chuffed to be asked to be a part of Just Help Yourself and says acting takes him back to his school play days where he appeared in every Christmas Production and in small intimate situation plays. He's married to Helen and recently became a dad to William, and with 2 cats Bo & Izzy there's plenty to keep him busy, and that's before we even take into account his daily Drivetime Radio Programme on Swansea Sound.
ANDY DAVIES as: DANNY WILLIAMS, ENGELBERT HUMPERDINK, FRANK CHAPMAN, ROGER DALTRY, BARRY GIBB, ROD STEWART, LANCE DE GAULT, ELVIS PRESELY, WILSON PICKETT, MICK JAGGER