Half A Sixpence
Half a Sixpence was based on H.G. Wells’s novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul. Arthur Kipps, an orphan who inherits a fortune, climbs the social ladder before losing everything and realizing that you just can’t buy happiness.
The novel is somewhat autobiographical, being inspired by the rapid changes in Wells’s own life when his early novels brought him financial security.
David Heneker wrote both music and lyrics. The show was originally written as a star vehicle for pop star Tommy Steele – indeed, Steele’s character appeared in 12 of the show’s 15 musical numbers.
Cast & Creative
Cast List
| Character | Actor |
| Kipps | Mark Fallon |
| Ann | Annie Morwood |
| Sid | Tony Smith |
| Buggins | Anthony Chalmers |
| Pearce | Edz Barrett |
| Flo | Jan Croxson |
| Kate | Louise Ellard |
| Victoria | Sarah Perkins |
| Emma | Helen Donald |
| Shalford | Laurence Keal |
| Carshot | Tony Makepeace |
| Chitterlow | Chris Storer |
| Mrs Walsingham | Angela Sturgeon |
| Mrs Botting | Barbara Thomas |
| Helen Walsingham | Lizzie Brignall |
| Young Walsingham | Paul Turnbull |
| Dancers | Veronica Callow |
| Dancers | Cathy Hough |
| Dancers | Wendy Howard |
| Dancers | Kate Leader |
| Dancers | Hamilton Faber |
| Dancers | Jeremy Rye |
| Dancers | Rob Spurgeon |
| Chorus | Rebecca Brown |
| Chorus | Suzy Deal |
| Chorus | Marion Mclaren |
| Chorus | Guy Pearson |
| Chorus | Barbara Thomas |
| Teenagers | Jonathan Raynham |
| Teenagers | Samantha Raynham |
| Teenagers | Emma Taylor |
| Teenagers | Lee Thomas |
| Dressed Crew | Jane Bean |
| Dressed Crew | Peter Czaja |
| Dressed Crew | Helen Smith |
| Dressed Crew | Eric Williams |
Creative Team
| Role | Name |
| Director | Wesley Henderson Roe |
| Musical Director | Philip Shute |
| Choreographer | Melanie Edwards |
| Production Manager | Claire Williams |
| Stage Manager | Peter Czaja |
| Sound Recording | Stuart Vaughan |
| Sound Operation | Stuart Costigan |
| Lighting Design | Mike Bradbury |
| Costumes | Suzy Deal |
| Staging Design | Wesley Henderson Roe |
| FOH Manager | Clare Henderson Roe |