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Amanda Whittington

AMANDA WHITTINGTON

  (1968 - )
Nationality:    English
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    Alan Brodie Representation Ltd  represented by Kara Fitzpatrick

Amanda Whittington has been described as Britain's 'most consistently popular female dramatist' (the Guardian'). Her plays include BE MY BABY, which was originally produced by Soho Theatre and subsequently staged throughout the UK. LADIES DAY and its sequel LADIES DOWN UNDER (Hull Truck/UK Tours) are also widely performed. Her new play the THRILL OF LOVE runs February-March 2013 at the New Vic, Stoke and Stephen Joseph, Scarborough. All are published by Nick Hern Books. Forthcoming productions include the DUG OUT, which Splice Theatre opens at the Tobacco Factory Bristol in May 2013 and MY JUDY GARLAND LIFE (adapted from the book by Susie Boyt) for Nottingham Playhouse in 2014. She writes regularly for BBC Radio 4, with recent radio dramas including Womans Hour series ONE UPON A TIME and PARADISE PLACE, LOUISAS (Weird Tales) and the NINE DAYS QUEEN (Afternoon Drama). Past stage productions includes AMATEUR GIRL (Hull Truck), an adaptation of SATURDAY NIGHT & SUNDAY MORNING (New Perspectives), SATIN 'N' STEEL (Nottingham Playhouse/ Bolton Octagon), BOLLYWOOD JANE (Leicester Haymarket/West Yorkshire Playhouse), TIPPING the VELVET (adapted from the novel by Sarah Waters/ Guildhall School of Music and Drama) and the WILLS' GIRLS (Tobacco Factory, Bristol). Amanda began her writing career as a journalist for titles including New Statesman and Society and the Face. She has also written for television and was joint winner of the BBC2 Dennis Potter Award in 2001.

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below is a list of Amanda Whittington's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Amateur Girl         Be My Baby         Bollywood Jane         Boy On the Hill, The         Dug Out, The         Kiss Me Quickstep         Ladies' Day         Ladies Down Under         Last Stop Louisa's         My Judy Garland Life         Players Angels         Runaway Girl         Satin 'n' Steel         Saturday Night And Sunday Morning         Scarlet Bus, The         Shirley's Song         Thrill Of Love, The         Tipping the Velvet         Twist And Shout         Wills's Girls, The

Amateur Girl

Amateur Girl
Julie is an auxiliary nurse, working long hours for a low wage in a Nottingham hospital. She cares for the elderly and feels her own life is passing her by. Clubbing with the girls breaks the routine but Julie longs for some real excitment and a bit of spare cash. When her new boyfriend buys a camcorder, Julie sees a lucrative new career on the horizon. She's drawn into the world of amateur girls: the so-called stars of home-made pornography on satellite TV and the internet. Yet Julie's new life can't stay secret for long. What begins as a bit of fun becomes anything but. Based on real stories, Amateur Girl is a hard-hitting, wry yet poignant one-woman play about the reality behind the fantasy business.

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  1            Other:  -

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Be My Baby

Be My Baby
Set in 1964, Be My Baby follows the fortunes of Mary Adams, aged 19 and seven months pregnant. Sent to a mother and baby home, Mary and her fellow inmates have to cope with the shame of their pregnancy and the dawning realisation they must give up their baby for adoption. Yet despite the daily battles with a no-nonsense Matron, the girl's effervescence shines through. As they escape into the girl-groups songs they love, a touching and funny piece of work unfolds, which is not only punctuated but defined by the songs of the day.

Notes:
"Has the heartstring-tugging potency of A pop classic". the Independent.

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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Music:
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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  6            Other:  -

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Bollywood Jane

Synopsis:
Single mum Kate has done a runner from the bloke next door. After landing up in Bradford with Jane, her disenchanted 16 year old daughter, it's all looking pretty grim. But when Jane meets local lad Dini, she's swept into the fantasy world of Shak Ruhk Khan and Bollywood films. Life is more fun in sequins and saris but Jane, Dini and Kate soon find they can't escape reality forever. the Wizard of Oz meets A Taste of Honey in this explosive fusion of lip-synched song and gritty Drama.

Notes:
"Bollywood is big in theatre At the moment but this is the most successful integration I have seen. A lovely show." the Guardian

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Boy On the Hill, The

Synopsis:
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Notes:
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1st Produced:
New Perspectives    

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Dug Out, The

Dug Out, The
Park Street, 1944: A black GI is shot dead. Park Street, 1974: An IRA bomb explodes. Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick. One more hour you'll never get back. One more night passes and nothing has changed. the future is now, man, it's now, man, it's now. And what are you doing with it, 'ey? An exciting, original play inspired by the legendary Bristol nightclub, the Dug Out. Based on real-life events, this is an uplifting tale of black and white teenage clubbers in the 1970s, set against a classic love story of thirty years earlier.

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1st Produced:

Organisations:
Splice Theatre

1st Published:

Music:
-

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  extras

Further Reference:
-

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Kiss Me Quickstep

Kiss Me Quickstep
Kiss Me Quickstep is the story of competitive ballroom dancing - both on and off the dance floor - and the real people behind the fixed smile and fake tans. Justin and Jodie have finally made it to Blackpool's national championships - via the motorway hard shoulder. Luka's come all the way from Russia. Nancy's been training for this since she was just three. Lee and Samantha arrive on a wave of success. But what if your dance-floor dreams are turning into a nightmare? How do you stop dancing to other people's tunes? What can you do if your partner's secret could cost you the crown? And, even when the whole world's at your feel, it only takes one false step. . . A must for all fans Strictly Come Dancing. . .

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
An Oldham Coliseum Theatre and New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme Production

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
comedy drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Ladies' Day

Ladies' Day
Work, love and life are one hard slog for the fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. their luck changes when Linda finds tickets to Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot in York. Out go the hairnets and overalls as the girls do themselves up and head for the races. As the day unfolds, the champagne flows, secrets spill out and their horses keep winning. By the last race, the girls are on course for a life-changing win. Follow their further adventures in Ladies Down Under.

Notes:
"Ladies Day has the makings of A huge hit; with its Yorkshire heart And soul it has All the warmth of A Calendar Girls or A Full Monty." Yorkshire Evening Post

1st Produced:
Hull Truck Theatre >>>     02 Jun 2005

Organisations:

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
comedy/Drama Comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  4            Other:  the 6 male parts can all be played by one actor

Further Reference:

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Ladies Down Under

Ladies Down Under
After hitting the jackpot at Ladies Day in York, the fish-filleting foursome are celebrating in style with the trip of a lifetime to Australia. As they travel from Hull to the Gold Coast, Uluru and the bright lights of Sydney, they embark on a journey of self-discovery. While Shelley dreams of luxury and glamour, her mates set their sights on exploring the outback. As Shelley sees there's more to Oz than sun-kissed beaches, Pearl finds herself with a mountain to climb. the sequel to Ladies Day.

Notes:
"Were it not for the height of their heels, one might confidently say Whittington's creations could run And run". the Guardian.

1st Produced:
Hull Truck Theatre >>>     12 Apr 2007

Organisations:

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
comedy/Drama Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  4            Other:  9 male parts may be played by two actors

Further Reference:

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Last Stop Louisa's

Synopsis:
It's business as usual at Louisa's, a cheap and cheerful roadside cafe. Louisa and her husband Pete seem happy with their lot but when Pete's brother Joe returns home from the USA, he brings old scores to settle and a chance for Louisa to escape her humdrum life.

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
Show of Strength Company

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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My Judy Garland Life

Synopsis:
looks at the joy and heartache of hero worship. Based on an autobiographical memoir, My Judy Garland Life tells the story of how author Susie Boyt grew up under the spell of the famous singer.

Notes:
adapted from the book by Susie Boyt

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
adaptation

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Players Angels

Players Angels
the play is set in 1950s Nottingham, and follows a group of friends who work on the production line of the John Player tobacco factory. Cyn is an aspiring starlet, beautiful and sassy; Vee has just got married but feels insecure about what her new situation requires; Glad has a dark but wonderful secret; and Mae, who comes to work in the big city, has a warm heart and an open mind, and might just rescue them all in the end. . .

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
New Perspectives

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Runaway Girl

Synopsis:
This comedy-Drama celebrates the sights and sounds of Soho in the 1960's. Shirley Sutton has run away from her home town in search of her mother. She finds herself in the heart of swinging London, a world of Mods, street folk and glamourous gangsters. the bright lights dazzle her but Shirley soon finds that Soho is a dangerous place - especially when you're sixteen, alone and pregnant.

Notes:
Second Play in A Trilogy

1st Produced:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Youth play, 75 min Youth Audience

Parts:
Male:  12            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Satin 'n' Steel

Satin 'n' Steel
When karaoke singer Teena White meets veteran Vince Steel, she leaves her dead-end job behind and sets out on the road to fame and fortune. As Satin n Steel, they form a duo and fall in love but life can't quite compare to the love songs they sing. Just when it seems Teena's dream will come true, a guilty secret bursts their showbiz bubble. This bitter-sweet comedy Drama explores the world of one-nighters, cruises and holiday camps, pulling back the glitter curtain to reveal northern clubland in the raw.

Notes:
"A script packed with hope, emotion, love, jealousy And sadness. British theatre Guide.

1st Produced:
Nottingham Playhouse >>>     25 Feb 2005

Organisations:
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1st Published:

Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Drama Play with Music

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Saturday Night And Sunday Morning

Synopsis:
Alan Sillitoe's ground-breaking picture of 1950's Nottingham, as seen through the eyes of the unforgettable Arthur Seaton, was immortalised on screen by Albert Finney. Taking Sillitoe's brilliant novel as its inspiration, this fast-moving new stage adaptation brings Arthur raging back to life. Classic kitchen sink Drama fused with high-energy action tells the funny, passionate and painful tale of the original angry young man and the three women in his life. Can be performed with six actors.

Notes:
"Amanda Whittington's stage Adaptation makes the Almost 50-year-old classic seem less nostalgic than prophetic". the Guardian.

1st Produced:

Organisations:
New Perspectives Theatre Company

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Drama Adaptation

Parts:
Male:  10            Female:  8            Other:  doubling possible

Further Reference:

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Scarlet Bus, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
Theatre Writing Partnership

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Shirley's Song

Synopsis:
It is 21 years since the teenage Shirley Sutton came to London. Now in her late thirties, she is a nightclub singer who has put her troubled past behind her - or so she thinks. Shirley runs the Pink Flamingo with the flamboyant female impersonator, Nicki Piccadilly. But when Nicki hires a new waitress for the club, Shirley is forced to confront the ghosts of her past.

Notes:
Third Play in A Trilogy

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Youth play, 60 min Youth Audience

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Thrill Of Love, The

Thrill Of Love, The
Ruth Ellis was the last woman to hanged in Britain, convicted of the cold-blooded killing of her unfaithful lover. This gripping new play by the author of the hugely popular Be My Baby takes a new look at the real woman behind the headlines and at the events that drive her to murder. A divorcee with a young child to care for, Ruth works in the kind of nightclubs where there's more than just drink on offer. the girls work hard, play hard and dream of a movie-star life. then she meets the wealthy, womanising David, a racing driver with whom she becomes obsessed. Fame comes but not in the way she imagines. Why does their relationship end in murder? When on trial Ruth pleads not guilty but offers no defence. Why does she show no remorse? And, just who is it she's trying to protect?

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
A New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme production

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Tipping the Velvet

Synopsis:
A controversial exploration of lesbian sex, desire and economic oppression in the late Victorian era. Nancy Astley, an oyster girl from Whitstable, falls in love with Kitty Butler, a male impersonator and stage performer.

Notes:
adapted from the novel by Sarah Waters

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Guildhall School of Music and Drama

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Lesbian, full length adaptation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Twist And Shout

Synopsis:
This comedy-Drama celebrates the early days of Beatlemania. When the Beatles come to town, local band Rocky Storm and the Rainclouds win a coveted slot on the bill. Every schoolgirl in town is desperate to see the show but 15 year old Shirley Sutton has a very personal reason for wanting to meet her idol, John Lennon. This character-led play explores the styles, sounds and social mores of the Sixties. It is set in Mansfield (north Nottinghamshire) but could easily be adapted to the many British towns in which the Beatles performed

Notes:
First Play in A Trilogy. music by John Cheetham

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
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1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Youth play, 90 min Youth Audience

Parts:
Male:  15            Female:  17            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Wills's Girls, The

Synopsis:
It's 1954 and all the girls in Bristol want to work at WD & HO Wills, the biggest and best employer in town. the Wills's Girls have a good wage, a tobacco allowance and quite a reputation. On the factory floor, Cyn dreams of being a beauty queen and Vee adjusts to married life. Widowed Glad and her young supervisor Bill have a secret of their own. When Glad's 15 year old niece Mae comes to work at Wills's, they won't be able to keep it for long. Based on real stories of life in the tobacco industry, the Wills's Girls is a celebration of working women and was adapted as a BBC Radio Four Woman's Hour serial.

Notes:
"It is the recollection of good times now distant - comradeship, simple pleasures, support for those in trouble - which makes this A joyous evening As well As A very funny one". the Stage.

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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