Geoff Hinde

Geoff was a very versatile actor with a wonderful sense of humour, who acted in dozens of plays at the Garrick.

 

A youth actor, his first senior mainstage show was in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1982. In Chicago, in 1987, he was memorably cast in the babies' chorus dressed in bonnet and nappy, a real challenge for him being a non-dancer.

1988 was a busy year for Geoff, with him first taking part in Pack of Lies, then appearing in a Garrick production at the Edinburgh Fringe and finally appearing in Night and Day, being described by critic Rick Bowen as "the slimy, sycophantic Wagner, played perfectly by Geoff Hinde".

In 1990, he played the Stage Manager in the Garrick’s Northern Amateur Premiere production of La Cage Aux Folles and, in 1999, he was to be found running around Dunham Massey stable courtyard in a nightshirt as Mr Thwackum in Tom Jones. His final performance for the Garrick was in 2003 in The Hollow, playing the bluff country squire in full tweeds.

Geoff was also associated with other local amateur societies such as The Club Theatre (now The Altrincham Little Theatre) where he was actor, stage manager and lighting technician; Cheadle Players; and Wilmslow Green Room taking part in productions at Gawsworth Hall. 

In addition to his massive involvement with theatre, and outside his job as computer software training manager, he was a talented musician and a member of Timperley Hockey Club for over 40 years both as a player, where his nickname was appropriately The Red Shadow with his theatrical background, and then later as Vice- President. 

Geoff also enthusiastically took part in all the social and fund-raising efforts at the Garrick, and he was wonderful company in the bar with his great sense of humour and ready smile. He always had a twinkle in his eye.