Great British Women and Heroines throughout History

Cast List and Biography

Narrator, Creator, Producer and Director

The Right Hon, Mrs Ponsonby-Smythe - Wendy Keeble

In 1910 Eugenie Smythe married Aloysius Ponsonby and moved into Ponsonby Hall in the hamlet of Much Humping on the Hill. In 1911 she gave birth to the first of their three children Algernon, followed by Petunia in 1913 and Cuthbert in 1915. Before her marriage Eugenie “trod the boards” in London and was in many productions culminating in her starring role as “Flighty Flo” in the musical “Hey There Sailor!” Unfortunately the show was forced to close early following an incident, when, during a lively dance routine her shoe flew off and injured the King! His Royal Highness was concussed for a few moments and Eugenie was arrested by the Police. His Majesty recovered and sent his equerry Aloysius Ponsonby to secure her release and, as they say, the rest is history! Mrs Ponsonby-Smythe has continued her interest in the arts and since the outbreak of war has provided an annual show displaying the many delights of Much Humping!

Boadicea

Clara Smythe - Gay Clarke

Clara is a cousin of Mrs Ponsonby-Smythe and came to live in Much Humping to recover her nerves from the bombing raids in London . Her time here has been spent quietly living in “Shivering Timbers Cottage” on the edge of Much Humping Common, where she knits undergarments for the troops overseas. This is the first role she has taken with Much Humping Thespians and has made her costume entirely from bits and pieces she has found around the cottage.

Queen Elizabeth the 1st

Clarissa Smythe - Sue White

Clarrisa is sister to Clara and also cousin of Mrs Ponsonby-Smythe, she came to Much Humping to look after her sister and to help out at Much Humping Farm. Clarrisa has taken enthusiastically to farming over the last three years and is hoping to publish a book that she has written entitled “Surprising things you can do with Potatoes”. She has taken over the role from Mrs Petunia Ponsonby-Pyle, who felt it would be inappropriate to continue playing Much Humping's Virgin Queen in her eighth month of pregnancy.

Queen Victoria

Hermione Ponsonby-Smythe - Sally Rowlandson

“Hermione is destined for a great theatrical career” declares Mrs. Ponsonby-Smythe. She joined the Much Humping Thespians in their 1940 production of Romeo and Juliet where, due to the call-up, she played both parts. Sadly the production was halted in its first performance when Hermione fell during the balcony scene breaking her leg. Regardless of the pain, she valiantly, went on the next night with her leg in plaster. Unfortunately, due to the strong medication she was taking, broke into a song and dance routine that resulted in breaking her other leg, finally forcing the production to close. When the war is over she hopes to pursue a full time acting career, in the meantime, she is happy to be a “Humper”!

Grace Darling

Beatrice Ponsonby-Smythe - Emily Phelps

“Beatrice is another hugely talented member of the family” says Mrs Ponsonby-Smythe in the “Humping Herald”. “Like her cousin Hermione, Beattie will be on the stage in London 's West End very soon” she predicts. Beatrice, Beattie for short, made her debut in our last pantomime “Robinson Crusoe” where she played “Black Patch the Pirate” with gusto. Since the outbreak of the war Beatrice has taken a variety of jobs, most recently driving the local bus between Much Humping, Greater Humping and Little Humping. She has also taken the time to become pen pals with a lot of serviceman and must be popular if the huge postbag addressed to, Bea, Much Humping on the Hill, Beds, is anything to go by!

Florence Nightingale

Harriet Hamilton-Huntley - Emily Walters

Harriet is Hermione's non-identical twin sister and therefore another niece of Mrs.Ponsonby-Smythe. “Dear little Harriet is much more academic than her sister and is currently studying Pitman's shorthand and typing and is working as a secretary to her husband Henry Hamilton-Huntley, at present incarcerated in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Dear Henry is a solicitor and upon his return we can look forward to many complicated legal documents being typed up by our own little Harriet”. She was the first of the sisters to join Much Humping Thespians and has played many a role, most notably, 1 st and 2 nd villager, Girl 1, Man 1, Dick Whittington's cat, and, of course, the rear end of the Pantomime horse. Whilst practising her typing, like Clarrisa, Harriet is also writing a tourist book inviting people to come and see Much Humping on the Hill!

Mrs Pankhurst

Mrs Violet Smithers - Ali Arnold

Violet is not, never has been and never will be a member of the Ponsonby-Smythe family. She took over as librarian when local man Mr Ivor Goodreade was called up, since then many people have remarked on the number of political books to be found on the shelves of Much Humpings Library. The Herald asked Mrs Smithers for a comment and she replied “It's time to give the Much Humping women a greater platform to display their political talents and to give Greater Humping and Little Humping a chance to get Humping issues out in the open!” Mrs Smithers wrote the part of Mrs Pankhurst for herself.

Mr Giovanni - Ric Accastello

Mr. Giovanni is an Italian prisoner of war, currently working at Ponsonby Hall where he is painting the ceilings. He hopes, if permitted, to remain in this country after the war has ended as he finds painting Much Humping on the Hill strangely satisfying.