RoCo Dramatic Society - Searching For Doctor Branovic

Searching For Doctor Branovic
A comedy by David Tristram
by arrangement with Concord Theatricals

Performed; 25th-27th June 2026

Produced by Elena Strefford-Caine

Cast
Emma Tyler – Katherine Gilboy
Joe Tyler – Stephen Graham
Detective Inspector Monroe – Andrew Lamb
Branovic – Stephen Bartlewska-Brown
Mrs. Banister – Mary Shalvey

Production
Producer – Elena Strefford-Caine
Technical Supervisor – Stephen Bartlewska-Brown
Technical Operator – Jess Collins
Stage Manager – Lloyd Coulson
Stage Crew – Wai Kee Chan, Lloyd Coulson, Elizabeth Pal, Fionnegan Stones, Elena Strefford-Caine, Tira Teague and Eleanor Wood
Props & Set Builders – Stephen Bartlewska-Brown, Wai Kee Chan, Jess Collins, Lloyd Coulson, Lucy Holland-Selby, Andrew Lamb, Elizabeth Pal, Mary Shalvey, Fionnegan Stones, Elena Strefford-Caine, Tira Teague, Eleanor Wood & the company.
Costumes – Mary Shalvey & the company.
Hair & Make-Up – Mary Shalvey, Elena Strefford-Caine & the company.
Assist. Producer – Andrew Lamb
Prompt – Harriet-Lee Glover
Music – Elena Strefford-Caine
Publicity Artwork & Materials – Andrew Lamb
Van Drivers – Daisy Wilkinson, Kathryn Wilkinson and Leo Wilkinson
Hospital Gurney Provided by Leeds Arts Centre

Theatre Management
Box Office Supervisor – Andrew Lamb
Box Office Assistants – Vivien Hughes and Charlotte Wild
Front Of House Manager – Sheila Telfer
Stewards & Bar Staff – Sheana Dudley, Fiona Gray, John Gray, Claire Kennedy, Karen Lamb, Rachel Lowe, Tim Lowe, Brian Marston, Jill Marston, Tira Teague and Charlotte Wild
First Aiders – John Burgess, Max Dudley and Sheana Dudley

RoCo wishes to thank all those members and friends who have helped to make this production possible.

Synopsis

Emma Tyler mourns the sudden and unexpected death of her husband, Joe. But all is not as it seems and, deep in the bowels of a nearby hospital, something stirs. Enter Detective Inspector Monroe, a man who knows about the unexpected - not that he’s particularly happy about it. The grumpy, beleaguered detective soon finds himself right in the middle of a mystery that threatens to unhinge his sanity.

Directors Notes

"Taking on the role of director for the first time has been both an exciting and daunting experience. As my directorial debut, I naturally wanted everything to go well—from the first read-through to the final performance. Along the way, I’ve discovered that directing is as much about trust and collaboration as it is about vision, and I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a dedicated and talented group of people. One of the greatest pleasures has been watching this cast bring their characters to life. Seeing performances of the relationship between characters grow and develop through rehearsals has been immensely rewarding, and I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment, enthusiasm, and humour that everyone has brought to the process. Fortunately, (unlike some of the characters you’ll meet this evening) they have all remained exactly where they were supposed to be throughout rehearsals.

Of course, every production has its challenges; building the set proved to be one of ours! What began as a seemingly straightforward task building the kitchen door, quickly became a significant undertaking. At times, progress felt slower than a fully loaded gurney being pushed uphill. However, it perfectly demonstrated the spirit of RoCo Dramatic Society - faced with obstacles, members came together, shared ideas, rolled up their sleeves, and worked tirelessly to create the wonderful set you see before you. A special shout out to the LCAN (Leeds Community Arts Network) for providing the gurney that they used for their performance of 1984! It is a testament to what can be achieved when a community pulls together with a shared goal. One of the things I’ve learned throughout this journey is that theatre is truly a team effort. The audience sees the cast on stage, but every performance is supported by countless hours of work from people behind the scenes — our production team, set builders, costume team, technical crew, front-of-house volunteers, and everyone else who contributes their time and talents. My sincere thanks go to each and every one of them. Any rumours that our budget was boosted through a particularly successful insurance claim remain entirely unsubstantiated.

A small “tit-bit” from rehearsals: some of our biggest laughs happened when things didn’t quite go to plan. Forgotten lines, interesting meows, unexpected entrances, and the occasional bout of uncontrollable giggling have all become part of the story of this production. There were even moments when certain items — or people — appeared to go missing entirely, prompting investigations that would have challenged even the most suspicious inspector. What has struck me most throughout this process is the sense of community that exists within RoCo Dramatic Society. Whether helping with rehearsals, painting sets, moving furniture, solving problems, or simply offering encouragement, people have consistently stepped forward to help. As a first-time director, that support has been invaluable and greatly appreciated.

I hope you enjoy watching ‘SEARCHING FOR DOCTOR BRANOVIC’ as much as we have enjoyed creating it. Thank you for supporting local theatre and RoCo. Your support allows groups like ours to continue bringing stories to life and providing opportunities for people to share their passion for the performing arts. Now, before anyone starts asking awkward questions, inspecting paperwork, or counting bodies, I’ll simply say: enjoy the show!"

– Elena Strefford-Caine

"My wife, Vivien has been very much involved with RoCo in various capacities for 60 years, and I myself have hardly missed a performance in the last 30 years. I have always found the productions and performances to be of the highest class - doubly impressive given that you have always been a relatively small team. However, this latest offering must be close to the best thing I've ever seen you do. The acting by all cast members was absolutely superb - I don't want to single anybody out, but I have to say that Katherine in particular with her timing, delivery, body language and facial expression was outstanding, even amongst delivery of such a high standard by all concerned. It was a small cast with a lot of dialogue, and nobody missed a beat! My sincerest congratulations to all involved - on and off stage. Those who didn't come to see the play are the losers, and I'm disappointed on your behalf that the audiences weren't bigger. Take pride in the fact that those of us who did come were royally entertained! I've seen worse presentations by professionals. Please pass my sincerest appreciation to all involved. Very best wishes - and looking forward to the Murder Mystery later in the year!"

– David Hughes

Photo Gallery

Browse a selection of photos taken during the rehearsals of Searching For Doctor Branovic, along with a selection of the publicity artwork produced for the production.

The Poster