PAUL SAVIDENT

John Newman and Daphne Palmer formed Newpalm in 1970 and it quickly became established as one of the UK's leading theatrical production companies. In addition to being partners in Newpalm Productions, John and Daphne have extensive backgrounds and careers in various areas of the theatre and entertainment, as actors, directors and producers.

They have been producers for thirty years and John is a member of the Society of West End Theatre Managers and the Theatre Management Association.

Newpalm has presented hundreds of touring productions in the UK and overseas in Canada and Hong Kong as well as in London's West End. Some of the most notable West End productions have been The Blue Angel, in association with the RSC, directed by Trevor Nunn at the Globe Theatre, 70 Girls 70 starring Dora Bryan at the Vaudeville Theatre, The Boys Next Door starring Steve Guttenberg at the Comedy Theatre, Dangerous Obsession starring Dinsdale Landen and Jeremy Bullock at the Apollo Theatre, Peter Pan – The Musical starring Lulu and George Cole at the Cambridge Theatre, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Prince of Wales Theatre and the Old Vic, Allo, Allo at the Prince of Wales, East by Steven Berkoff at the Vaudeville Theatre and Peter Pan – The Musical starring Bonnie Langford and Joss Ackland at the Aldwych Theatre.

National touring productions have included Alan Ayckbourn's Time of My Life and Henceforward, Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell with Dennis Waterman and the musicals Gypsy with Ruth Madoc and John Bardon, Peter Pan, 70 Girls 70, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Newpalm has been responsible for the operation of the Civic Theatre Chelmsford's presentations for many years. During this time they have presented over 500 productions including regional premieres of As If, Dead Funny, Extremities, Broken Glass, Death and the Maiden and Ben Elton's Popcorn and Alan Bennett's The Madness of George III. They also recently presented Cameron Mackintosh's production of Les Miserables The Concert at Chelmsford's Hyland Park Arena.

Many of this country's famous stars have worked with Newpalm on tour, overseas, in the West End or in their repertory seasons at Chelmsford including Michael Ball, Cilla Black, Lionel Blair, Anna Carteret, Brian Conley, Windsor Davies, Nyree Dawn Porter, Ken Dodd, Noel Gordon, Larry Grayson, Anita Harris, Frankie Howerd, Gareth Hunt, Hog Inman, Gordon Jackson, Arthur Lowe, Ruth Madoc, Brian Murphy, Sue Nicholls, Bill Owen, Pat Phoenix, Una Stubbs, Mollie Sugden, Eric Sykes, Richard Todd, Max Wall, Simon Ward, Denis Waterman, Gary Wilmot, Barbara Windsor and Frank Windsor.

Latest touring productions include Alan Ayckbourn's Time and Time Again, Lanza, and the eighth national tour of Ladies Night plus twenty four weeks of Mystery and Suspense thriller seasons visiting the country's major theatres.