APE THEATRE COMPANY | EPPING

Every production by APE requires the collaboration and assistance of a number of parties only a small number of which are noted below:

Matt Allen - Matt founded APE in 1988 whilst studying in his final year at the Guildford school of acting. Matt's theatre credits include National tours of 'Godspell', 'Bittersweet', 'Tutti Fruitti', 'On the Razzle' and 'Moonlight Serenade' which went into the west end. Also in the West End he spent a year in 'Buddy' playing one of the Crickets, appeared in the critically acclaimed 'Cabaret' at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Sam Mendes, and the musical 'Sweat'. Matt enjoyed working on the premiere of Alan Ayckbourns 'Musical Jigsaw Play', Chester Gateway's 'Blue Moon', Noel Coward's 'Bitter-Sweet', and toured Germany with 'The Great Gatsby'. Screen credits include the film 'The K Hole', the 'ITV Telethon', 'The Gloria Hunniford Show', 'The Ron Lucas Show', 'Piltdown Man' for Japanes TV and a salami commercial for the Swiss. Matt has written and directed the films 'Alone', 'Beautiful People' and 'The Sentence'. He wrote "Johnny be Good" Ape's safe sex play, before co-writing with Andrew Mulquin the plays "Pills Thrills and Automobills", and Vicious Circle. Outside of Ape Matt enjoys his time Paragliding.

Yvonne and Ron Allen - Yvonne handles the administration side to APE and Ron helps keep the cars on the road.

Mark Wheeller - Mark lives in Southampton, with his wife Rachel and three children (Ollie, Charlie & Daisy). He works at Oaklands Community School as a part time Drama teacher/Youth Theatre Director and also undertakes consultancy work across the country and has accepted one commission a year. His best known play 'Too Much Punch For Judy',is now one of the most performed plays across the world (followed closely by 'Legal Weapon') and has achieved considerable Festival success. DBDA publish this along with 'Dan Nolan – Missing', 'Graham - The World’s Fastest Blindman!' (Radio Forth - "Pick Of The (Edinburgh) Fringe"), 'Hard To Swallow' (Royal National Theatre Lloyds Young Theatre Challenge winner), 'Legal Weapon', 'The Gate Escape', 'Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road?' and his successful, allegorical (Pythonesque) Drugs Musical (& colour storybook) 'Wacky Soap'. Nelson Thornes publish Mark's play 'Arson About'. His musicals; 'Blackout', 'King Arthur (All Shook Up)', 'No Place for a Girl' (described as a Zigger Zagger for Girls), ''The Most Absurd Xmas Musical In The World ... Ever!!!' are published by School Play Productions along with 'Sweet FA' a play about Wimbledon Ladies footballer Sarah (aka Sedge) Stanbury. Together with Rachel, his wife, Mark also wrote the stories for 'Tufty's Adventures' and the twelve editions of the 'Tufty Tales' comic (RoSPA 1994). Mark Wheeller is an avid Glamrock fan!

For more information on Mark please visit his Web site:
www.amdram.co.uk/wheellerplays/

Andrew Mulquin - Now an established and respected Director, and Writer for ‘APE’, Andrew has become very valued by us all. Andrew is very aware of, and is good at, sorting out the problems that can develop on tour. Not only has Andrew directed and performed at least one of the roles in each of our plays he has also written with Matt the plays 'Pills Thrills @nd Automobiles', and 'Vicious Circle' Ape's play for years 7 and 8. He is charged with the role of updating and keeping all the scripts and workshops fresh and relevant. After nearly 8 years with 'Ape' Andrew still enjoys both the experience and the challenges each new cast brings. Outside of 'Ape' Andrew works as an actor and loves the insight and energy he gains from his work with different directors.

Many thanks must go to all who have supported APE over the many years including all the R.S.O.s , County Councils , Police Authorities, Army, R.A.F., Government and all in the APE Family. Ape would especially like to thank Dan Carlin (Sth.Area Essex), and Belita Clahar(Camden) for being the catalyst behind 'Pills, Thrills @nd Automobiles' and 'Vicious Circle' respectively. Without their encouragement and input these plays would not have happened.