Examples of Gill’s Acting Experience

Comedy play

WAITING FOR GOD

“Gill, You’ve brought our crotchety, foul-mouthed Diana to life - the audience love you. Bravo on your accomplished, fluent and hilarious performance.” Verity Mann Director

Diana Trent, comedy

REHEARSAL SCENE

Rehearsal scene for Waiting for God - Diana has slept with Tom and Jane doesn’t approve.

character actress

“ Plays set in homes for the elderly have become almost a sub-genre of their own these days, with the portrayal of old people as being either barking mad, pathetically downtrodden or at the very best endearingly dotty.

Diana Trent, played with bracing cynicism by Gill Barham, Is having none of this. She has no illusions about her dreary life at the Bayview Retirement Home, run by the penny- pinching Harvey Baines (Mark Hobson) who was inexplicably appointed to this position after a three-week training course (supervised perhaps by Basil Fawlty.)

Diana’s acid references to “the sound of thudding bodies” and “hearses circling like sharks” make it clear in the first few minutes of the production that she is not going to be a dear old lady. As a former photo- journalist and war-correspondent she would probably have felt more at home in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, instead of seeing out her last days with the dreadful Harvey and his sidekick Jane.

Heather Taylor throws herself into this role; being told by Diana that “I am not bloody deaf, neither am I simple” has no effect on her relentless cheeriness, which sets everyone’s teeth on edge and probably reconciles the residents to the prospect of a cost-cutting early death.

Diana’s scenes with her niece Sarah (played by Laura Rothwell) show that underneath her automatically cynical responses there is emotional vulnerability and more regrets than she cares to admit.” John Rigby

A scene from a stage play featuring a man in a brown jacket and hat bending towards a woman in an orange dress seated on a bench, with a detailed set of a cozy bedroom or living room in the background. GILL BARHAM as OLGA in Ladies in Lavender
GILL BARHAM as OLGA with curly hair in historical attire, standing with her hands pressed together near her face, looking upward. The background is dark with a light-colored surface on the right side.
GILL BARHAM as Agatha Christie sitting at an office desk, holding a pencil and looking down, surrounded by books, a vintage telephone, and decorative items, in a warmly lit room.
GILL BARHAM as Agatha Christie in a patterned suit standing next to a chair in a room with bookshelves, a desk with papers, and a large television screen displaying a green outdoor scene.
A middle-aged GILL BARHAM with short blonde hair wearing a gray hat, a black coat with a cream-colored fur collar, pearl necklace, and patterned cuffs, standing with her hands clasped.

"I've had the pleasure of directing Gill when I cast her in the role of Agatha Christie in the production of Murder, Margaret and Me. 

Gill was a pleasure to direct and took direction well, attended every rehearsal and was reliable. 

Gill has great presence and uses the stage well. 

I cast Gill for her voice/accent which was perfect for the part of Agatha Christie. Gill had great tone, articulation and inflection to her voice and was able to project well." 

Sue Borg 

Three women dressed as colonial-era maids, sitting on a bench with arms crossed, making serious or stern facial expressions, in front of a blue wall with a mirror.
GILL BARHAM dressed in vintage clothing with white gloves holding a purple handbag and pointing her finger, standing in a living room set. The scene appears to be part of a theatrical play or reenactment.

Morning Gill, I just want to say, on behalf of myself and four friends, many congratulations on your performance in the play at Delph. I always feel comfortable watching you on stage, I certainly did last night.

A tour de force for you all, a brilliant night. 

I speak for us all though we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves very much. 

Love Carole xxx

I have recently taken small roles in low budget films for independant directors and my next lead theatre role is as Diana in Waiting for God.

I am always keen to explore more acting and extra roles. As a trained Soprano I have a good ear for accents and inflexions and am often cast because of these skills.