Robin Herron
After a break of 25 years to play rugby, shoot, water ski, serve in the TA and raise a family, Robin Herron found himself deposited by a lady who was to become his wife backstage at Whitley Bay Operatic Society's production of Summer Song at the Playhouse about 22 years ago and after over 120 productions feels as though he has been a itinerant resident of one or another of 32 theatrical venues ever since. A member also of six other local groups including Whitley Bay Pantomime Society, Tynemouth Pageant, Tynemouth Priory Theatre and Peoples Theatre he has just finished playing the title role in Mother Goose, his seventh panto with St Peter's Panto in Monkseaton.
Having carried out many backstage roles including several as Stage Manager / DSM props manager, designer builder etc. he eventually crossed the great divide and began acting seven years ago with several parts in Collingwood and the Tars of the Tyne an outdoor production at Tynemouth Castle.
Robin's first part with Whitley Bay Theatre Company was as Colonel Von Strohm in 'Allo 'Allo followed by the male lead of Dod, a Northumbrian farmer in the award winning play 'Bloodlines' by local playwright Noreen Rees, possibly his favourite role. Since then he has taken parts in many Whitley Bay Theatre Company productions including Pardon me Prime Minister, Dad's Army, Trivial Pursuits, See How They Run, Murdered to Death with smaller parts in others, and co-director of Run for Your Wife.
Like Elizabeth Purcell his inability to sing is apocryphal but has played minor parts with Whitley Bay Operatics Society including Maria's father in West Side Story and photographer and cameraman in Singin' in the Rain.
Apart from Whitley Bay Theatre Company he has production managed and designed and built sets for many local productions including the Passion Play which closed Whitley Bay town centre one Saturday in 2003 and other open air and touring productions.
Robin has recently performed at Tynemouth Priory Theatre as a last minute replacement alongside Emmeline Barnston in Daisy Pulls it Off and as Mr Peggotty in David Copperfield and plans to continue performing with them.
To keep himself off the streets Robin also manages the props and staging for all the main groups of which he is a member and would accept that he is probably the 'Mr Props' of Tyneside supplying most local theatre groups, many school and church groups and supporting Edinburgh Fringe shows and National Tours with props costume and staging. A regular attender at NODA Summer Schools, apart from training in most non-musical skills, he has established theatrical contacts and friends countrywide and beyond.
In 2008 he directed Tynemouth Pageant Players annual touring production Tynemouth Tales, performing with Michael Price, and Laura Beattie, and culminating in two performances at the Castle in support of Heritage Open Day, for which annual event he has taken on many re-enactment roles in recent years.
Robin joined the Whitley Bay Theatre Company as Vice-Chairman in 2005 and has worked along side Chris Johnson as Chair ever since. The Society has seen many changes over the last few years and both Chris and Robin have been at the forefront of it all.
Having disposed of the distractions of former wives Robin lives in Benton with his cats, still works almost full time and has two grown children, who consider their father's incessant theatrical activities to be a tolerated eccentricity.