Frognal & Fox - A Life in Song

Frognal & Fox - A Life in Song

Presented by Cinzia Hardy, in association with CaroleW Productions
Written by Fiona Ellis
Directed by Cinzia Hardy

Dive into a showbiz world full of glamour, optimism, rivalry and acceptance. Meet Margaret Frognal (Jane Holman) and Adele Fox (Zoe Lambert), two fading performers, as they showcase their singing and playing talents accompanied by their bemused and cynical pianist. Beneath the theatrical camaraderie lurks a tension, but what is it and will it be resolved?  

Featuring favourite songs from stage and screen by songwriters such as Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Stephen Sondheim and Noel Coward, and lesser-known numbers, this raucous, cabaret-style show is not to be missed.

Duration: Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes, including interval

Suitability: 12+

Tour Dates & Venues

Thurs 30 May, 7.45pm - Alnwick Playhouse
Fri 31 May, 7.45pm - Alnwick Playhouse
Sat 1 Jun, 7.30pm - Amble Parish Hall*
Tues 4 Jun, 7.30pm - Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
Wed 5 Jun, 7.30pm - Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
Thurs 6 Jun, 7.30pm - Gosforth Civic Theatre
Fri 7 Jun, 7.15pm - Edmundbyers Village Hall*
Sat 8 Jun, 7.30pm - Great Whittington Village Hall*
Sun 9 Jun, 7.30pm - Allendale Village Hall*
Wed 12 Jun, 7.30pm - The Exchange 1856
Thurs 13 Jun, 7.30pm - Bishop Auckland Town Hall

Fri 14 Jun, 7.30pm - Hamsteels Community Centre
Sat 15 Jun, 7.30pm - Saltburn Community Theatre
Tues 18 Jun, 7.30pm - The Witham
Wed 19 Jun, 7.30pm - Trimdon Grange Community Centre
Thurs 20 June, 7.30pm - Grassmere Village Hall*
Fri 21 Jun, 7.30pm - Staveley Roundhouse
Sat 22 Jun, 3pm - St John’s Hall, Meadowfield
Tues 25 Jun, 7.30pm - Coundon & Leeholme Community Centre
Wed 26 Jun, 7.30pm - Middleton & Todridge Village Hall
Thurs 27 Jun, 7.30pm - Prohibition Cabaret Bar
Fri 28 Jun, 7.30pm - Prohibition Cabaret Bar

* These dates are presented as part of the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.

The Creative Team

Fiona Ellis, Writer

Fiona’s first theatre jobs were as a stage manager and occasional walk-on actor at the New End and Orange Tree Theatres in London. She also spent time as a community arts worker in Hoxton and ran a rural arts centre in Wiltshire. But it was only when she came to Northumberland that she began writing for the theatre and then for performing arts company November Club. Over the years Fiona has worked closely with November Club to write and shape the narrative of many productions including: Teacups, Zebras and Dancing Kaisers and Operation Pied Piper, both at the National Trust’s Wallington Hall; Lost, Found and Told: audio tales set in Northumberland; Food and Feuds: Two Cooks of Hexham; and A Lit and Phil Carol – with a nod to Mr Dickens at The Lit & Phil in Newcastle upon Tyne. Fiona was a finalist in the 2021 Writer of the Year at Journal Culture Awards.

Cinzia Hardy, Director & Co-Producer

Cinzia is a native of Dublin and has been resident in North East England for the past 25 years where she founded the multi-award-winning Northumberland-based performing arts company, November Club. At November Club she directed and/or produced many of the company’s productions, most notably: The Novocastrian Philosophers’ Club and We Got Mittens Too! at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle; Food and Feuds: Two Cooks of Hexham at Blackfriars Cookery School, Queen’s Hall Cafe Hexham and at Hexham Abbey; Beyond the End of the Road, the award-winning musical at Hexham Auction Mart and regional tour; Dr Mullins’ Anatomy of the Theatre Royal at Newcastle Theatre Royal; Traces & Graces for Heritage Open Days at Whalton Manor House Garden; Twelfth Day with the Delavals at Seaton Delaval Hall; Teacups Zebras and Dancing Kaisers, Operation Pied Piper and many other productions for National Trust’s Wallington Hall.   

Cinzia stepped down from November Club at the end of 2020 and has this year established ClassicsFest, a new Cultural Festival based at the Lit & Phil in collaboration with Newcastle University’s School of History, Classics and Archaeology.

Jane Holman as Margaret Frognal

Jane has been singing for her supper (and acting, playing instruments, directing and musical direction) for the best part of 50 years. Born in Bishop Auckland in 1957 she has worked in virtually every theatre and theatre company in the North East, an area she remains passionate about. She has appeared in many TV and movie roles - Byker Grove, Vera, George Gently, The Dumping Ground, School for Seduction and more. Some of her personal highlights in the theatre include Lush Life, Cabaret, Tyne, Oh What a Lovely War and Lenya for Live Theatre. Threepenny Opera and Close the Coalhouse Door for Northern Stage. Touring Europe as singer/guitarist/songwriter with her band Jazawaki and working with her longtime musical collaborator in The Questionnaires.

Zoe Lambert as Adele Fox

Originally from Yorkshire Zoe has been based in the North East of England for over 30 years. She has worked with the creative team on Frognal & Fox on many varied projects in the past and is looking forward to a musical adventure with his show. Zoe’s recent work includes Hope Is A Four Letter Word (Alphabetti Theatre), Josey The Musical (The November Club) and Cinderella A Fairytale (Northern Stage).

Zoe is an associate with Open Clasp Theatre Company and productions with them include Lasagna, Sugar, Rattle and Roll, Swags and Tales and Twist Of Lemon. Also for Northern Stage, Wind In The Willows, Wizard Of Oz, Threepenny Opera and The Gamblers. For Gala Durham productions include Brassed Off, Sleeping Beauty, Mad Hatters Adventures and Talking Heads Bed Amongst The Lentils. For Live Theatre, Tyne, Tales from the Backyard, Personal Belongings, Cabaret and Rendezvous. Other companies include The November Club, Curious Monkey, The Customs House (Duke in The Cupboard), and New Writing North. Work outside the region includes Comedy Of Errors and The Winters Tale with the RSC. For Northern Broadsides, Sweet William, The Bells, When We Are Married and Comedy Of Errors. The Twits, BFG and The Firebird for Bolton Octagon.

Zoe sings and plays accordion with band Kissed. TV credits include Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

Declan Flannery, Musical Director

Declan is a classically trained pianist, conductor and composer originally from, and currently based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Declan has over twenty years of experience and has worked extensively in a range of musical roles, including as a soloist, musical director, accompanist and recording artist to name a few.

Declan enjoys a busy touring schedule, and regularly performs recitals both across the UK and abroad. He is also the resident musician/accompanist for several venues, institutions and ensembles. 