JON KEEN - Director

Jon is the longest serving active member of CATS having been involved since - wait for it - 1985! During this time he has acted, directed, written, created programmes and posters as well as being on the committee several times as secretary, and is currently the society's Treasurer. Oh yes, and he has also become a Dad in that time. OK, the dad thing happened a while ago, but Emily is still one of our favourite young chorus members. Jon's writing speacialty is with pantomimes and there are so many versions of Dick Whittington, Cinderella (ium) and Snow White that it has become something of an art form to spot a new joke! In fact he is so good at writing pantomimes, he even wrote in a second Widow Twankey, just so he could play the part! Indeed, dressing up in a frock seems a favourite for Jon as he has played at least four panto Dames! Jon has also been in proper plays; including "Fish out of Water" where he and Lee Gosden both had to strip down to the swimming trunks! Not a pretty sight! "The Ghost Train", "Trivial Pursuits" and the "Wizard of Oz" have all had Jon in the cast list. The "Wizard of Oz" had one of Jon's worst roles - which was that of the wizard and Mr Marvel. Jon particularly objected to having to climb into a balloon shaped bit of hardboard and then prettily float away! He played Bottom in our production of "A Midsummer Night's dream" and went all the way to Stratford, just to find the best Ass's head! In October last year he experienced his worst moment on stage when he appeared in "Baby sitting Calvin" in a lilac coloured fleece baby-gro. That will teach him to allow the director and co-star to create his costume based on a boiler suit! But he was the one who chose the colour! Jon has also performed in the Quince Players production of "Mother Goose" and having had a very successful stint directing Ayckborne's "A Chrous of Disapproval".