Neil Hunt
Joined 1998
I joined the Company in late 1998, having recently retired from General Practice in the town, and with unaccustomed time on my hands.
I was welcomed into the backstage environment by the late Bette and the two Master Carpenters who were working on the amazing set of “Old Herbaceous” and taught me so much about scenery construction.
A flair for the making of props allowed me to branch out a little and to receive the accolade of the Anne Summers award in 2003 –the creations which earned me this left very little to the imagination!
Miles Beauchamp pressed me into considering the occasional role of designer and helped paint my first set for Dick Whittington in 2002; since then I have designed the sets for 4 Pantos and two “straight” plays, enjoying the opportunity to work with superb directors and to build some very satisfying props, like the statue of an angel for Nina Berry’s production of “Angels and Saints” and the polystyrene rocks and cave for Rebecca Warnett’s “Aladdin” in 2005.
Also in 2005 I enjoyed the challenge of working with Chairman Andrew,designing and building the set for “Misery”. I never expected to lend my tree-felling axe to the delightful Dolly who used it with devastating effect!
There is great satisfaction ( and not a little exercise) to be had from constructing scenery and even more from seeing the set through to its final painted form; I now count myself lucky to have the time and enthusiasm to assist Master Painter Liz in slopping on the scenic paint and emulsioning the stage floor.
