After months of preparation and LISTS galore, we had the absolute privilege of producing Childish Things 4 in April 2008, with the best team behind the scenes we could have asked for, let alone the stellar cast who gave their time to Helen & Douglas House. We can now confirm that we raised over £45,000, which is amazing!
Huge thanks go to Ben Kellet our Director who was described as ‘unflappable’ in extreme circumstances backstage!
Enormous thanks to Jamie Baskeyfield, Manager of the New Theatre, Oxford – for giving us the theatre for free, plus profit on all retail sales and to all his team, on the day and in the weeks leading up to the show, so many of whom worked for nothing and with such enthusiasm and energy. None of our endless demands on their time were ever too much trouble!
Stage Electrics – you are all incredible, we really couldn’t do it without you!
Thank you Ceridwen, our lovely Music Therapist for coaching and encouraging the Posse.
Richard Branson and Virgin Airways for donating the raffle prize which raised over £6,000.
Savills, Cluttons and the Nuffield College for free parking for our cast and families.
Pete Griffith for his wonderful photography www.allpeoplephotography.com to see and order photos of the show.
Ann Sinfield for catering for cast and crew.
Cokethorpe school for lending us a minibus and driver to collect Out of the Blue from Heathrow at 7.30 to get them on stage at 10pm!
Thanks to so many people for their help - we can’t possibly name you all here but hope you know how much you are appreciated.
Thank you to our CAST:-
Rowan Atkinson, Bill Bailey, James Campbell, Jimmy Carr, Ally Craig, Cogwheel Dogs, Katie Dale, Idiots of Ants, Kevin Eldon, Out of the Blue, Philip Pope and to the Helen & Douglas House Posse who accompanied ‘I’ll be There for You’ so brilliantly with their percussion.
They are: Tom Dawes, Aylisha Graham, James Lewis, Alex Pearson, Cam Pickering, Emily Pickering, Bethan Rees, Chloe Tudor, Ingrid Warren, Elisha Wilton, Sarah Rogerson, Mark Birch – with direction from Ceridwen Rees.
We will now leave it to others to sum up the show and atmosphere!
“Wow! Last night's show was superb. There was a real sense of fun coming from the stage, that all the performers were enjoying themselves as much as the audience. You have waved your magic wands once again - well done to everyone involved. Must book my tickets for next year soon!!
with love and admiration”
“Many congratulations to you and the rest of the team on the fantastic evening you provided for us all yesterday. Childish Things just gets better and better each year! The cast was phenomenal and I have not laughed as long or as hard for a very long time! Jimmy Carr and Bill Bailey were brilliant, as were the rest of the comedians, musicians and singers - and what a coup getting Rowan Atkinson! Amazing night!
I hope the event raised a huge amount for Helen & Douglas House - it truly deserved to!”
“Firstly a huge CONGRATULATIONS, on such a great success. Once again with a lot of hard work, much patience and composure you have produced a wonderful event for all to enjoy.”
“Well done! Fantastic night – What a coup getting Rowan Atkinson too!
Hope you raised shed loads.
Brava!”
“Wow! What a huge success.
Just wanted to say thank you to you both not only for fantastically organising such a brilliant event but for including Alex in it all.
Alex thoroughly enjoyed himself not only on stage but meeting the performers as well. He had been so excited all day about meeting Jimmy Carr as he is in the film 'Stormbreaker' which is one of Alex's favourites. Jimmy was especially lovely and sat with Alex chatting for quite a while and of course for Alex to meet 'Mr Bean' was a real special bonus.
David and I enjoyed it all too - apart from the show which we loved, it was such a joy to see Alex having such a great time.
Well done to you both and many many thanks.”
“Last night was fantastic, even better than last year!”
“Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed Childish Things 4 -
it was great fun and a real privilege to share the stage with such
talented and committed performers (both professional and amateur!)
and of course safe in the knowledge that the whole thing will run
smoothly owing to the passion of you two very special people
backed up by the almost as lovely unflappable Ben, the ever-helpful
New Theatre staff and your wonderful team of helpers!
Congratulations on yet another brilliant night for H&DH”
“Amazing amazing amazing – it was so very good, I laughed and laughed and laughed. I liked it even more than last year (which I had not thought was possible). A massive well done to you both, I don’t quite know how you orchestrate something of that enormity so absolutely perfectly.
I hope you both manage to have a really big rest now!”
