Theatre Workshop Coulsdon - Member Biography
Chris Argles
Born just after the Second World War, Chris is currently our oldest member. Educated at Reigate Grammar School and various Polytechnics in the sixties, he has worked within the Motor Industry for most of his life. Being a teenager in the sixties "peace and love" era, he has adopted this outlook on life ever since. In an effort to get him to use his free time more productively his father gave him a leaflet for CYTO (Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation) and Chris remembers going to his first rehearsal to see what "peace and love" could be found. Well he became a devotee and then a founder member of TWC (Theatre Workshop Coulsdon) when it emerged from the closing CYTO Coulsdon branch in 1970. He has directed, appeared, or assisted in every one of TWC's productions since.
His favourite parts are recalled as "Old Mr Price" in Lark Rise, "Bottom" in Midsummer Night's Dream, and "Malvolio" in Twelfth Night - incidentally, all open air shows.
Chris's ambition is to keep on playing parts until he is too old to remember any of his lines. (Actually he reached this stage about 10 years ago but no one has had the heart to tell him!)
Chris has a daughter (Kimberley) and a son (Luke) both of who have regularly appeared in TWC productions since they could stand.
Interests outside of Workshop include, doing cryptic crosswords, rugby, playing badminton, meditating and constructing small stained glass panels.
Waiting Man
The Trial (2013)
K's Uncle
The Trial (2013)
Set Construction and Painting
The Trial (2013)
Vermandero - a noble lord
The Changeling (2012)
Set Construction
The Changeling (2012)
Brigand
Charles Stuart - King of England
Set Construction
Hiram T Bagel - Owner/Proprietor of DeLancey's Theater
The Fairytale of New York (2012)
Set Construction
The Fairytale of New York (2012)
Alonso - King of Naples
The Tempest (2011)
Set realisation and construction
The Tempest (2011)
Geoffrey Chaucer
in "The General Prologue", The Canterbury Tales (2011)
The Old Man
in "The Pardoner's Tale", The Canterbury Tales (2011)
Coulsdon Manor Hotel liason
The Canterbury Tales (2011)
KING EGBERT - plain-speaking ruler of Cornucopia
Cinderella's Puss In Boots (2011)
Set Construction and Painting
Cinderella's Puss In Boots (2011)
Dr Abraham Van Helsing
Dracula (2010)
Painting and Props
Dracula (2010)
Director
Treasure Island (2010)
Reverend Pinchme
Deaf On The Nile (2010)
The Bursar
Lords and Ladies (2009)
Mr Sponge
Dark Deeds at St Mildreds (2009)
Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse
The Comedy of Errors (2008)
Ming The Mirthless
Sinbadaladdin (2008)
Director
Kidnapped at Christmas (2007)
Colonel Gardener
Dick Barton - Special Agent (2007)
The Parts Department, botched experiments awaiting recycling
Reverend Giles Henry, the vicar
Pride at Southanger Park (2006)
Brother Paul
Jack The Ripper (2006)
Set and properties construction and painting
Jack The Ripper (2006)
Clopin Tart-Tatin
The Chancellor
Ja'afar, the Chief Wazir
in "The Tale of Shahryar and Shaharazad", The Arabian Nights (2005)
Set and properties construction and painting
The Arabian Nights (2005)
Baptista
The Taming Of The Shrew (2005)
Woodcutter
in "The Spirit in the Bottle", More Grimm Tales (2004)
The King
in "The Frog Prince", More Grimm Tales (2004)
The Man
in "The Musicians of Bremen", More Grimm Tales (2004)
Old Man
in "Briar Rose", More Grimm Tales (2004)
Set and Properties construction and painting
More Grimm Tales (2004)
001
Dr Ho (2004)
Set Construction
Dr Ho (2004)
Director
Old Sergei Nokabolokov, a huntsman
Fox
Wind In The Willows (2003)
Painted by
Wind In The Willows (2003)
Bosun
Director
Wind In The Willows (2003)
Mr Allworthy
The Adventures Of Tom Jones (2002)
A Lieutenant
The Adventures Of Tom Jones (2002)
Ebeneezer Scrooge
A Christmas Carol (2002)
Paintshop
A Christmas Carol (2002)
Sexton
in "The Golden Goose", Grimm's Tales (2001)
Father
in "The Lady & The Lion", Grimm's Tales (2001)
The Hedgehog
in "Hare and The Hedghogs", Grimm's Tales (2001)
The Tailor
in "The Magic Table", Grimm's Tales (2001)
Polonius, the King's counsellor
Hamlet (2001)
Professor Pottering
The Mummy - The Panto (2001)
Paintshop
The Mummy - The Panto (2001)
Osborne
Journey's End (2000)
Robert Shallow
The Merry Wives of Windsor (2000)
Dame Desir
Malvolio
Twelfth Night (1999)
Orin (Week 2)
The Little Shop of Horrors (1999)
Don Rigatoni
The Fairy Godfather (1999)
Timagenes
Zenobia (1998)
Justice Balance
The Recruiting Officer (1998)
Sergeant Duffem
Leonato (Governor of Messina)
Much Ado About Nothing (1997)
Albert
Mort (1997)
Khan Doo; South China Sea Pirate
Raiders of The Lost Shark (1997)
Peter Quince, a carpenter
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1996)
Knobbi-Wan Oggi-Oggi-Oggi,
Cinderella Interstellar (1996)
Director
The Three Musketeers (1996)
Brother Hubert, the Friar
in "THE GENERAL PROLOGUE", The Canterbury Tales (1995)
Olwyn Vitoller, an actor-manager
Wyrd Sisters (1995)
Dr Liversausage, a seafaring quack
Panto Walks The Plank (1995)
Director
The Dracula Spectacula (1994)
Old Price, Jerry Parish
Lark Rise (1994)
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig
Oh What A Lovely War (1994)
Badman Jake McCabe, a mad, bad hombre muchachos
Panto Goes West (1993)
Director
Oliver! (1993)
Will Gamwell, later Will Scarlet
Robin Hood (1993)
Director
Dazzle (1992)
Brazen, also a recruiting officer
The Recruiting Officer (1992)
Shoulders/Captain Smolsky
Bugsy Malone (1992)
Dinky Nine-Eights
Jack The Ripper (1991)
Dame Dustpan, need we say more
Giles Corey
The Crucible (1991)
Saladin, an utter villain
Lionheart! (1990)
Duncan, King if Scotland
MacBeth (1990)
Seyward, Earl of Northumberland
MacBeth (1990)
Director
Treasure Island (1989)
Nick Bottom
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1989)
Director
BOXER
Animal Farm (1988)
FARMER
Animal Farm (1988)
Dame Dumplings
The Christmas Cavalier (1988)
Fabry
RUR (1987)
Director and Producer
Santa In Space (1987)
Lord Mayor
Various
Seafarer (1986)
Director
Director and Producer
The Abbot
The Inn (1984)
Director
Director
Jack The Ripper (1983)
Director
Circles III (1983)
The Court Usher
Toad Of Toad Hall (1982)
Frutti
Cinderella (1981)
Director
Gunslinger (1981)
Saul
The Ghost Train (1980)
Pantalone, a rich merchant
The Servant of Two Masters (1980)
Les
Zigger Zagger (1979)
Recorder
Us And Them (1978)
Weather Wizard
The Rainbow Chasers (1978)
Director and Producer
Co-Ordinator
Christmas Crackers (1978)
Corporation Singer
Christmas Crackers (1978)
Choreography
Christmas Crackers (1978)
The Others
Birthday Party (1977)
Based on an Idea by; Co-Ordinator
Circles II (1977)
Readers
Circles II (1977)
Dracula
The Dracula Spectacula (1977)
Thorin
The Hobbit (1976)
Young Man
Director
Circles (1975)
Readers
Circles (1975)
Birdboot
The Real Inspector Hound (1975)
Director/Producer
Aladdin (1975)
Andrew Elliott
The Iron Workers (1974)
Evens
The Sea (1974)
Director
Treasure Island (1974)
Wardrobe
Treasure Island (1974)
Beauty's Father
Sleeping Beauty (1973)
Producer
MaCrune's Guevara (1973)
unknown
After The Rain (1973)
Brindsley Miller
Black Comedy (1972)
Director
Duet For Two Hands (1972)
Opening Chorus:
Five Score Plus Ten (1972)
None
in "I Beg Your Pardon", Five Score Plus Ten (1972)
Opening Chorus for Second Half
Five Score Plus Ten (1972)
Mr Heller
in "Vaudeville Will Never Die", Five Score Plus Ten (1972)
Widow Twanky
in "Aladdin", Five Score Plus Ten (1972)
The Owl
Estragon
Waiting For Godot (1971)
Actor
Orestes What-you-m'call-it (1971)
Estragon
in "Waiting For Godot", Festival Of Youth Theatre II (1971)