Goodbye Mick - Who left us on 22/11/2007
It is with great sadness that we have to say, that one of our longest serving and probably most popular members,
Mick Deveney, has died after a long illness. We cannot let Mick's passing go unheralded and have tried to sum up Mick's contribution to the company
in a few words although they do not do justice to someone who was so loved by all who knew him:-
Mick’s first show with Top Hatters (our former name) was ‘Fings Ain’t Wot They Used to Be’ back in November 1984
and from that very first show he had members and audience alike eating out of the palms of his hands. 2 shows later saw Mick
in his first leading role in Mr Cinders. Mick from the outset used to stumble over his words and became very adept at making it up as he went along
– however this show contained one 3 page song of complete gobbledy gook but he managed it word perfect every performance!! Mick was desperate to
be one of the officers of the company but wasn’t sure what he could do so we created a role specially for him ‘transport officer’ he was the one and
only holder of the title and was exceptionally proud and managed each show to book a vehicle to move the scenery!!
Mick starred in all shows up to 1997 (Top Hatters had by now become Phoenix Players) sometimes in a lead role and others in a supporting role. For a
while Mick ventured out and did a couple of shows with Griffin players and also took time to concentrate on his very popular group, Gerry and The
Attricks but he remained a loyal member of Phoenix and performed many more times with the company sometimes taking just a cameo role and more
than once did he get a huge round of applause just for stepping on the stage and uttering one line – such was the audiences love for him.
After he retired Mick became our scenery builder and stage manager for a show or 2 but then the acting bug took back over. Mick was a natural
performer and enjoyed in the last few years acting with his partner, Maggy Brown and her 2 daughters Courtney and Kimberley. The last performances
with Phoenix were in Summer Holiday and Billy both brilliant character pieces that Mick made his own his and in both characters’ partner was actually Maggy and he joked that no one else would dare to go on stage with him anymore as he constantly forgot his lines and kept ad-libbing!!
Mick performed in at least 30 shows with us but was constantly a member of the company in other supporting roles even if he wasn't acting. On stage
and off he was a most loyal and supportive member who always made us laugh and we will surely be a poorer, sadder company without him.
It is with great sadness that we have to say, that one of our longest serving and probably most popular members,
Mick Deveney, has died after a long illness. We cannot let Mick's passing go unheralded and have tried to sum up Mick's contribution to the company
in a few words although they do not do justice to someone who was so loved by all who knew him:-
Mick’s first show with Top Hatters (our former name) was ‘Fings Ain’t Wot They Used to Be’ back in November 1984
and from that very first show he had members and audience alike eating out of the palms of his hands. 2 shows later saw Mick
in his first leading role in Mr Cinders. Mick from the outset used to stumble over his words and became very adept at making it up as he went along
– however this show contained one 3 page song of complete gobbledy gook but he managed it word perfect every performance!! Mick was desperate to
be one of the officers of the company but wasn’t sure what he could do so we created a role specially for him ‘transport officer’ he was the one and
only holder of the title and was exceptionally proud and managed each show to book a vehicle to move the scenery!!
Mick starred in all shows up to 1997 (Top Hatters had by now become Phoenix Players) sometimes in a lead role and others in a supporting role. For a
while Mick ventured out and did a couple of shows with Griffin players and also took time to concentrate on his very popular group, Gerry and The
Attricks but he remained a loyal member of Phoenix and performed many more times with the company sometimes taking just a cameo role and more
than once did he get a huge round of applause just for stepping on the stage and uttering one line – such was the audiences love for him.
After he retired Mick became our scenery builder and stage manager for a show or 2 but then the acting bug took back over. Mick was a natural
performer and enjoyed in the last few years acting with his partner, Maggy Brown and her 2 daughters Courtney and Kimberley. The last performances
with Phoenix were in Summer Holiday and Billy both brilliant character pieces that Mick made his own his and in both characters’ partner was actually Maggy and he joked that no one else would dare to go on stage with him anymore as he constantly forgot his lines and kept ad-libbing!!
Mick performed in at least 30 shows with us but was constantly a member of the company in other supporting roles even if he wasn't acting. On stage
and off he was a most loyal and supportive member who always made us laugh and we will surely be a poorer, sadder company without him.
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