Mad Cow Productions

The Mad Cow Herd

We're here!

We're good!

We're growing!

If you wish to contact us, please go to Contact The Cows.

Robert Hinton - Man In The Chair

Having grown up in Yorkshire, Robert, with Alex and sons Andy and Al, came to Shrewsbury in 1992. He has been a regular performer in musicals and plays for about twelve years now. Sometimes he thinks it will kill him, but mostly he likes to think it keeps him young!

Robert has spent a lot of time listening to music from an early age and thinks this gives him a lot in common with “Man in Chair”. Always a fan of albums rather than single songs, he loves to lose himself in a record for an hour or two. He likes obscure lyrics that keep him guessing as to what the writer meant (Bob Dylan is a favourite). And when it comes to musicals, he thinks perfection comes from George and Ira Gershwin. Robert wouldn’t want to take the similarity to “Man in Chair” too far, though – for one thing he enjoys real life, not just musical fantasyland!

Arnold Croutch -Stuat Main

Stuart, a Dentist by profession, first watched MCP when his daughter Harriet was performing in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Though he was training the last time he seriously performed, spurred on by Harriet’s good reports of the fun she enjoyed with The Cows, he decided to join himself. For The Producers Stuart was cast in the minor role of Mr Marks but having found his theatrical legs again, he then auditioned for a lead in Not Now Darling and got it!

We hope that Stuart’s example might encourage all of the men out there watching this play, who just might fancy having a go, that this hobby isn’t only for the youngsters!!

Max Bialystock

played By

James Archer

This is James' first role with MCP and what a role!

A Bayston Hill boy, James has been heavily involved on the local Amateur Dramatic scene for some years. Currently putting the finishing touches to his PGCE James works at SCAT where he fittingly teaches Performing Arts. James is very excited at gaining such an iconic part and has thrown himself into the heavy reheasal commitment like a true professional!!

Leo Bloom

played by

James Pinches

Also new to MCP this will be James first role in the main house at Theatre Severn. James, from Shrewsbury, is a student at SCAT where he taught by, among others, James Archer! Over the past few months Alex and Lisa have watched him slowly morf into Leo, they envisage a nasty scene when they try to get his Blue Blanket from him after the show is over!

Lighting Designer-Tom Mulliner

Local boy Tom, a pupil at Meole Brace School, was a lighting assistant on Forum, where The Cows were struck by his hard work and enthusiasm. So despite his tender years, GCSE's next summer, Tom is delighted to be undertaking his first full design at Theatre Severn for MCP.

In Order Of Appearance

Alisdair Hinton - Pseudolus

Alisdair was born in Derbyshire but moved to Shrewsbury aged three. He is currently an undergraduate student at Royal Holloway, University of London, studying for a B.A. (Hons) in Theatre Studies and Drama.

His love of theatre started at Prestfelde School and continued to develop at Shrewsbury School, where he was involved in many plays and musicals, mainly as an actor but also as a Director. He also enjoyed getting very dirty and needing regular physiotherapy playing rugby!

René Artois: Stephen de Launey

Originally from Plymouth, Stephen first moved to Newcastle where he read Politics and Economics and has subsequently moved to various locations in the UK with work. He came to Shropshire in 1990 when his work with the Inland Revenue brought him from Wilmslow to Telford and has lived there ever since. Stephen now works for a large multi national IT company but is always keen to point out that he has a role in general business management with no technical IT involvement - so it’s no use hoping he can fix your computer. With a keen interest in politics starting at school, Stephen started down the path of becoming a candidate for Parliament in his early 20's but eventually chose a 'back seat' role preferring to be involved in party political organisation - though latterly he spent 7 years as a town councillor in Wellington.

Assistant to the Director: Hollie Whittles

Hollie Whittles (née Cresswell) was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire and currently lives near Telford with her husband Alex and their two cats; Ronnie and playful kitten Gizmo! She has worked as a Retail Manager, IT/Skills Trainer, Software Tester and a Programme Manager. She is currently an IT Consultant for FraggleWorks (www.fraggleworks.com) which specialises in website design and internet consultancy.

Hollie got to know Alex and Lisa after playing in the orchestral pits of many shows in which they were performing. Post show one night, in the pub, she agreed to ‘fix’ a band of professional musicians who would play for nothing in their first Mad Cow production for the princely sum of a mince-pie. Incidentally she never received the mince pie but has continued to help out the Mad Cows turning her hand to being ‘Assistant To The Director’ and developing this web site ... maybe now she'll get that elusive mince pie!