Doctor Dolittle likes animals. in fact, he likes them so much he fills his house with every kind of creature imaginable. And then one day, he figures out how to speak their language.
Tethered Wits brought this beloved story of the extraordinary animal doctor to life using stunning puppetry in the summer of 2023.
COMPANY
Company
EMMA HODGKINSON
Director / Adaptor
Emma trained at Rose Bruford College and is as a director, writer and actor for the stage. Her directing credits include Jane Eyre (Heartbreak Productions), Blackout (Untamed Productions), and will be directing David Walliams’ Bad Dad in summer 2023 (Heartbreak Productions). She has also acted in a number of stage productions, including Dream On (English Theatre Company), Blackout (Untamed Productions), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Heartbreak Productions), Blithe Spirit (Tethered Wits) and Pericles (White Crane Productions). Her writing credits range from collaborative devised theatre (Wonder with Grimm, The Unreturn of Lydia Osborn) script writing and adaptations for various companies (Jane Eyre, Twelfth Night, Escape from Lockdown, The Great Gatsby) and poetry (Getting Over Myself - And Other People).
GABRIELLA SILLS
Producer / Adaptor
Gabbie is Assistant General Manager / Producer at Seventh Productions under The Partnership Group, where she plays a pivotal role in developing fresh productions and leveraging the group’s acclaimed talent and IP. She recently moved from Fiery Angel, an award winning international production company based in London’s West End. Beyond this, she is Producer and Director of Gabriella Sills Productions, focusing on new writing in the Off West End, and Tethered Wits, an open-air touring troupe. Her shows have won Best Production at the Off West End Awards and Scottish Theatre Awards, been nominated for The Stage Debut Awards and Off West End Awards, and received critical praise.
Selected credits include:
As Producer - Breeding (King’s Head Theatre, produced with Seabright Live in association with Mark Gatiss); Agatha (Theatre503); 1902 (Union Theatre, UK Tour); Blackout (Theatre503, Old Joint Stock); Bits ‘N’ Pieces (Leith Arches); The Great Gatsby (UK Tour); Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (UK Tour); The Railway Children (UK Tour); Doctor Dolittle (UK Tour).
As Associate/Trainee Producer – The 39 Steps (Trafalgar Theatre, UK Tour); Starry (London Workshop, The Other Palace); And Then There Were None (UK & China Tour); Murder on the Orient Express (UK Tour); Rob Brydon: An Evening of Songs & Laughter (Lyceum Theatre, UK Tour); Amy Dowden & Carlos Gu: Reborn (Adelphi Theatre, UK Tour); Everybody Dance with Claire Richards (London Palladium, UK Tour).
With a commitment to innovative storytelling and experience across diverse production formats, Gabbie combines creative vision with commercial savvy. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Stage One Bursary.
ELEANOR DICKENS
Designer / Puppet Director
Eleanor studied Theatre and Performance at Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 2019, but spent most of her time designing sets for the Musical Theatre Society and gigging with Surrey Stage Crew. She went on to work at Monkton Combe School as their Stage Manager, Dramaturg and Scenographer and currently works on the Chaplaincy Team at Dean Close. Eleanor is delighted to be working with Tethered Wits again this summer! Shows as a Designer include: Godspell, A Christmas Carol, Bring It On, Alice, Anything Goes, Legally Blonde, Steel Pier, Animal Farm, Pippin. Crew Roles include: Stage Manager for Strictly Come Surrey 2017, Show Caller for Strictly Come Surrey 2019, Visuals for Disciples and Scouting For Girls
AMY PORTER
Creative Director
Amy has a keen interest in both theatre and music and has performed in venues such as: The Royal Albert Hall, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Gala Theatre, the Bacon Theatre, and The Playhouse Theatre, Cheltenham. She was honoured to sing with the award-winning and internationally renowned chamber choir Tenebrae in Perth, Scotland, under the direction of Nigel Short. Subsequently, she was delighted to join Tenebrae again, this time on tour to Germany, where she performed in three concerts in Bremen Cathedral. Stage credits include: Kate Keller (All My Sons), Ophelia (Hamlet), Sonia (Uncle Vanya), Elvira (Blithe Spirit), Helen (The Last Days of Troy), Cecily (The Importance of Being Earnest), Bianca (Taming of the Shrew), Olivia (Twelfth Night), Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Alison (Look Back in Anger), Kathy (Singin’ in the Rain), Tracy Lord (High Society) and Cathy (The Last Five Years). Amy graduated from Durham University with a First Class Degree in Music, where she held a Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship for the Arts. Durham Alumni, in 2019.
Company
RORY DULKU
DOCTOR DOLITTLE
Rory trained in Acting at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he received a BA (Hons) degree, as well as a number of distinction level Stage Combat qualifications. Recent credits include: Prince Charming in 'Cinderella' (Paul Holman Associates); Edward Rochester in 'Jane Eyre' (Heartbreak Productions); Aladdin in 'Aladdin!' (Lincoln Drill Halls).
Rory is very excited to be involved in Tethered Wits’ summer season. When he’s not performing he spends his time writing and recording songs, faithfully following Liverpool FC and (very occasionally) training his body to pick up heavy things, by picking up slightly lighter heavy things. Rory would like to thank everyone involved in making this production possible and is very excited to see what the season holds.
OLIVER STOCKLEY
GUB-GUB THE PIG/ MOUSE/ HORACE THE HORSE
Oliver Stockley is a recent graduate of The Royal Academy of Music, MA in Musical Theatre. He starred in the lead role of Charley Kringas in 'Merrily We Roll Along' for his graduating show. Other credits whilst training include: A soloist in ‘Hello, Jerry! : A Celebration of Herman'; Josh in 'Drew Gasparini: Walking on Words.'. Oliver and the Goya Theatre Company enjoyed great success in 'Don’t Say Macbeth’ and ‘Sex with Friends (And Other Tiny Catastrophes)’ at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Both shows were nominated for Best Musical at the Musical Theatre Review Awards. He performed in both Stephen Sondheim’s 'Old Friends: A Celebration' (Cameron Mackintosh/Sondheim Theatre) and 'Maria Friedman & Friends' (Sonia Friedman Prods/Menier Chocolate Factory).
OLIVIA WILLIS
ANNIE/ POLYNESIA THE PARROT
Olivia is a dancer, actor and singer who is currently studying for a BA in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Bird College. Olivia has enjoyed working with a diverse range of industry professionals and sharing her interest with likeminded students. Born in Cheltenham, Olivia attended Danceworks studios and was selected to attend the Contemporary Advanced training course in Swindon, and has performed in multiple showcases at the Bacon Theatre and at the Playhouse Theatre Cheltenham. She is thrilled to be offered her first professional role working with the Tethered Wits Theatre Company, and is looking forward to performing in the beautiful outdoor venues across the country.
DEAKIN VAN LEEUWEN
SIDNEY/ JIP THE DOG
Deakin trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama,. His previous credits include: Orsino / Andrew Aguecheek in 'Twelfth Night' (Heartbreak Productions), Joseph Braeburn in 'Much Ado About Murder' (Heartbreak Productions), Oberon / Francis Flute in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (Young Shakespeare Company), Various Characters in 'The Great Christmas Robbery' (Hobgoblin Theatre Company).
AMELIA STANIMEROS
SARAH/ CHE - CHE THE MONKEY/ SERGEANT
Amelia trained at Danceworld Studios, Melbourne, and Bird College, London. Her theatre credits include; Cover Actor in 'Don Giovanni' (The Royal Opera House). Other Credits: Uber Eats World Cup Campaign. Credits whilst training: Ensemble in 'Big Fish'; Father Sky in 'House of Kras' (Dance Film); Angela/Doctor in 'My Brilliant Divorce. Amelia is excited to be a part of the Tethered Wits cast this year taking two brilliant shows around England.