Jason Donovan
Tick (Mitzi)
From 9 February - 4 May 2013
Jason has had a successful and varied career, including both acting and a record-breaking solo recording career, in which he made over 13 million sales and performed internationally to sell-out audiences of thousands. His vocal career began in 1988 when he released ‘Especially for You’ with Kylie Minogue and a debut solo album, Ten Good Reasons. Following the release of his second album in 1989, Jason became the biggest-selling UK and European artist. In the same year, he was voted Best Male Singer and Britain’s Best Album at the Smash Hits Awards.
Theatre roles include: Captain Georg von Trapp in the UK tour of The Sound of Music (David Ian Productions); the Artilleryman in the UK and European tour of The War of the Worlds; Tick in the highly acclaimed West End production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Christian in Festen (Melbourne Theatre Company); Sweeney Todd in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street; Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium); Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (UK tour); John Tydeman in Night Must Fall (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Mordred in Camelot (Covent Garden Festival) and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium).
Film includes: Horseplay, Ned, Tempe Tip, Sorted, The Sun, the Moon and the Stars, The Last Bullet, Rough Diamonds and Prisoners of the Sun.
Television includes: Echo Beach, Loot, MDA (Medical Defence Associates), Heroes, Shadows of the Heart, Neighbours, Golden Pennies, Skyways, I Can Jump Puddles. Jason reached the final of BBC’s hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing, coming third overall, and he subsequently took part in the successful UK tour of the show. He was also a finalist in the ITV smash hit I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. Jason won a range of awards in Australia during his time as Scott Robinson in Neighbours, including Most Popular Actor and Best New Talent.
Richard Grieve
Bernadette
Training: Richard studied drama and dance at Victoria University in Melbourne, before attending the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. Since then, he has worked in film, television, theatre and musical theatre, both in Australia and here in the UK, where he has lived since 2003.
Theatre credits: Richard is best known on television in the UK for his regular roles as Sam Kratz in Neighbours (Grundy Organization) and Dr Lachlan Frazer in Home and Away (Channel 7 Australia) and, most recently, as Jonny Foster in Emmerdale (ITV). He also recently filmed Citizen Shane, a comedy pilot for the BBC and ABC in Australia, with Julia Davis and Marc Wootton. Other television credits include: The Man From Snowy River (the series; Crawford Productions); Newlyweds (Crawford Productions); E Street (Westside Productions); State Coroner (Crawford Productions) and Wintertime (Australian Broadcasting Commission).
Richard’s UK theatre credits: the roles of Mitzi/Tick in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre); Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Dubai); Sir Robert Chiltern in An Ideal Husband (English Theatre of Frankfurt); Lawrence Steene in A Daughter’s a Daughter with Jenny Seagrove, directed by Roy Marsden (Theatre Royal Windsor) and Inspector Barnes in Bells Are Ringing (the Union Theatre). Richard has also performed in national tours of Footloose - the Musical (Mark Goucher Ltd; directed by Karen Bruce); Henry James’s Daisy Miller (directed by Christopher Morahan); Dial M for Murder (Middle Ground Theatre Co); Teen Scream (Chris Moreno Ltd, Theatre Royal Lincoln and Edinburgh Festival; directed by Chris Colby) and There’s No Place Like a Home (Chris Moreno Ltd; directed by Chris Colby).
Theatre credits in Australia: Martin Crimp’s The Misanthrope (Melbourne Theatre Company); Noël Coward’s Design for Living (Sydney Theatre Company) and Molière’s The Will (Harold Park Playhouse). Richard also played Older Patrick in Mame at the Melbourne Concert Hall; the role of Greg Connell in the Australian hit musical The Boy From Oz (directed by Gayle Edwards) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (David Frost Organization; directed by Christopher Renshaw).
Film credits: The Hay Makers (directed by Sam Coates) and Waltzing Matilda (directed by Chris Langman).
GRAHAM WEAVER
Adam (Felicia)
Graham began his professional career in Oliver! at the London Palladium and went on to work extensively with the National Youth Music Theatre, being part of various cast recordings and productions including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 50th birthday celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall. He then went on to train at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and gained a first degree in drama and theatre arts from Goldsmiths College, University of London, where he was able to indulge in his interests for live art and physical theatre.
Theatre credits: Sid in The Pajama Game and HMS Pinafore (both at the Union Theatre, London); Frankie in Forever Plaid (Gatehouse Theatre, London, and Kuala Lumpur); Wolf in Bent (Catford Broadway Theatre, London); John Hickley in Assassins (Landor Theatre, London); Mary Sunshine in Chicago - the Musical (UK tour); ensemble/cover Felicia/Adam in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre, London); Carlo in Save the Last Dance for Me (UK tour).
Recordings and television: ‘Welcome Home’ T-Mobile commercial, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 50th Birthday Celebrations, Peter Pan - the Musical, Rubbish! - the Musical and The BRIT Awards (dancer).
GILES WATLING
Bob
Giles has been involved in entertainment for seemingly ever; his first professional job was as a child actor in the police thriller series Gideon’s Way starring John Gregson, playing his son Malcolm Gideon.
He has a broad spectrum of experience as an actor, director and producer. He is probably best known to the public for his performances in sitcoms but particularly for spending a few years as the cringing Oswald the Vicar in Carla Lane’s Bread, and previously playing Martin Matthews with Harry Worth in How’s Your Father?.
TV drama credits include: 2nd Lieutenant James Marriot in Upstairs Downstairs and Howard Carter in The Tutankhamun Conspiracy, also co-writer.
Theatre credits include: 27 tours, playing mass murderers, priests, cuckolded husbands, police inspectors, earls, lovers, dames in panto and even a pair of twins.
Over the past 30 years or so he has often been described as a “juvenile lead”, a description that was getting worrying when the grey hair overtook the brown. He is happy to report that in the last few years the business has at last let him grow up a little and allowed him to play middle-aged parts like Henry Higgins in Pygmalion (Vienna) and Frank in a tour of Educating Rita. His favourite role is Robert in Don’t Dress for Dinner, which he played at the Duchess Theatre and on numerous tours.
Other credits: Giles has over 75 credits as a director, both in rep and touring. He has done numerous voice-overs, after-dinner speeches and adverts, including one for Carlsberg. He has spent a lot of 2012 impersonating Charles Dickens on a fairly regular basis, it being his 200th anniversary - Dickens, not Watling...
Film credits include: Ray Cooney’s Run for Your Wife, which is being premiered in February 2013.
Awards include: Variety Club Award as BBC TV Personality of 1988.
JULIE STARK
Marion
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: Cover Meatloaf/Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre, London); Florence in Chess (Aberystwyth Arts Centre); Good Fairy in Sleeping Beauty (Tunbridge Wells); Jenny’s Mother in Love Story (Duchess Theatre, London); Marge Perley/cover Jane and Sukie in The Witches of Eastwick (number one UK tour); Shirley/ cover Vonnie in Shout! (number one UK tour); Oolie/ Donna in City of Angels (English Theatre, Frankfurt) and Les Misérables (25th anniversary tour).
Other credits: Ensemble in the Les Misérables movie 2012; soloist at Scott Alan’s debut London concert (Duchess Theatre, London); Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert (02 Arena, London) and several audiobook recordings. She has also recently completed the lead in the short film Children of Angels.
EMMA KINGSTON
Diva
Training: Mountview Acedemy ofTheatre Arts with the Peter Coxhead Award; whilst Training played Clara in Light in the Piazza and Beth in Merrily We Roll Along.
Theatre credits: Miss Lynch/covered and played Jan in Grease (UK tour); Songs of my Life - Ruthie Henshall (Garrick Theatre); Care for a Song (Ipswich Regent).
ELLIE LEAH
Diva / Shirley
Training: Birmingham School of Speech and Drama.
Theatre credits: alternate Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! (international tour); Nun in Sister Act (Palladium Theatre); the Woman in Marry Me a Little (Cheltenham Everyman Theatre); understudy and played Mrs Potts and Madame De La Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast (UK tour); Ragdoll in The Attic workshop (Theatre Royal Haymarket); A Star to Be and understudy Miss Hannigan in Annie (UK tour); Sylvia in Stepping Out (Lincoln Theatre Royal); Lia in Hold Tight It’s 60s Night (Netherlands tour); Gina in Heartbeat (UK tour); So Shy in Aladdin (Boston Blackfriars); Dolly Parton in Legends of Country (UK/ Ireland tour); Presenter/Whybird in CBBC’s Playdays (UK tour); Boompsa Daisy in Treasure Island (Liverpool Everyman) and Bluette in The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers (UK tour). Ellie also spent 10 months sailing round the world aboard the Aurora cruise ship for P&O, performing 15 different shows in their theatre company.
TV includes: vocalist on Bands Reunited for VH1.
Original recordings: The Attic, Santa Clause - the Musical demos, Under the Sea and an ident for the BBC World Service.
LAURA MANSELL
Diva
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts; whilst training played Mama Noah in Children of Eden, Hortense in The Boy Friend and Queen in The Life.
Theatre credits: Rent (Garrick Theatre, London); Precious Maguire (Bridewell Theatre); Crystal/Audrey II (White Bear Theatre).
Other credits: Diva (Priscilla Queen of the Desert Promotions); BBC Proms (Royal Albert Hall); The X Factor. Laura was also a lead production vocalist as part of the Headliners Theatre Company on The Azura (P&O Fleet).
FRANCES MAYLI McCANN
Cynthia
Training: Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: Britain’s Got Talent Runner in I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Musical (original cast UK tour); swing/first cover Cynthia/Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre, London); Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (Churchill Theatre, London); lead vocalist in Highland Heartbeat (His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, and US tour); Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (King’s Theatre, Glasgow); dance captain in Beauty and the Beast (SECC, Glasgow); Snow White in Snow White (SECC, Glasgow).
Television credits: Mia in River City (BBC Scotland); Shona in Lip Service (BBC); series finalist for Britannia High (ITV); Survival Squad in Against All Odds (CBBC); Highland Heartbeat feature on STV’s The Hour and PBS in the States.
ALAN HUNTER
Miss Understanding
Training: CPA College, Essex.
Theatre credits: Lucky in Dames at Sea (Union Theatre, London); Peter Pan (the Castle, Wellingborough); The Boy Friend (48 Hour Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre); Dolly Daydream (Barons Court Theatre, London); Snow White (Central Theatre, Chatham) and Peter Pan (Palace Theatre, Telford). Alan has also performed at the Sage Gateshead, Birmingham Hippodrome, Newcastle City Hall and aboard several cruise ships for Jean Ann Ryan Productions.
Other credits: Sofia’s Diary (Bebo drama) and The Library of Burned Books, a short film for the London Film School.
REGAN SHEPHERD
Ensemble / Farrah / Young Bernadette
Training: Urdang Academy.
Performance credits: dance captain on Vampirette (Manchester Opera House); Four Corners Dance Company (Dean Lee); ensemble in The Witches of Eastwick (UK tour workshop); Masquerade (the Really Useful Group/ Jean Ann Ryan); Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever (Robert Stigwood/Jean Ann Ryan); Show Business (Sky Television); ensemble in Mary Poppins (workshop); Havana Boy in Guys and Dolls (Richmond Theatre); Everybody Dance Now (ITV); Christmas on Broadway (Boulevard Entertainment); Animal Charm (film, Ben Charles Edwards) and Housefull II (Bollywood film).
Choreographic credits: Beauty and the Beast and Jack and the Beanstalk (the Shaw Theatre); Children of Eden (the Urdang Academy); Cbeebies summer song 2009, 10 and 11 (BBC); An Audience With Pearly Gates (various); Christmas Spectacular (Potters Leisure Resort); ASOS (online fashion store); Never Forget Them (Palace Theatre); Eden (various); Real Love - A New Musical (the Underground Theatre); Dirty Dancing for Charity (the Halow Project); Remains of the Day - A New Musical (the Union Theatre); Chefs at Sea (GMTV); Guys and Dolls (Richmond Theatre) and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (the Shaw Theatre).
LEON KAY
Ensemble / Frank
Training: the Arts Educational Schools London.
Theatre credits: Topper/understudy Bob Cratchit in Scrooge (the London Palladium); James in Jesus Christ Superstar (Ljubljana Festival, Slovenia); Anthony Gliardi in The Fix (the Union Theatre, London); swing/understudied and played the Bishop of Digne in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre, London); Slim/understudied and played Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! (UK national tour); soloist in The 12 Tenors (European tour and Istanbul); Larry the Lobster in SpongeBob SquarePants: the Sponge Who Could Fly (UK national tour); Anthony in Sweeney Todd (Union Theatre, London); Seabee Wise in South Pacific (UK national tour); ensemble in Sondheim’s 75th birthday gala (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Dr Chilton in Silence! (ATS Theatre); P J and Liza Minnelli in The Great Pretenders (the Gatehouse Theatre); Josh in The Great British Soap Opera (Jermyn Street Theatre, London, and George Square, Edinburgh Festival); Dick in Dick Whittington (Barnstaple Queen’s Theatre); Emperor in Aladdin (Bournemouth Pavilion).
Recording credits: Josh in The Great British Soap Opera (Cleary and Brunger); Dean in Comrade Rockstar (Woolford and John); Preacher Carcroft in Spitting Distance (RNT, Mark W Dorrell, Grant Olding).
JAMES COHEN
Ensemble
Training: Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Theatre credits: Ensemble/cover Frank in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre, London); Perky Porn Star in Naked Boys Singing! (Arts Theatre, London); Jake Moore in Studio 54 - the Musical (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Sister Fonteyn in Nunsense A-Men! (Arts Theatre, London); Quentin and Robert in The eXtra Factor (UK tour); Pistol’s Page in the RSC production of Henry IV part II (Barbican, London); Tootles in Peter Pan - the Musical (Cambridge Theatre, London); Friedrich von Trapp in The Sound of Music (New Victoria Theatre, Woking); ensemble in Robin: Prince of Sherwood (Piccadilly Theatre, London); four seasons in panto for Paul Holman Associates, twice playing the title role of Aladdin (Carriageworks, Leeds, and Bridlington Spa Theatre); Colin Goose in Mother Goose (Palace Theatre, Redditch) and, most recently, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (Palace Theatre, Newark).
Television includes: the Scarecrow in the final of Over the Rainbow (BBC); EastEnders (BBC); Between the Lines (BBC) and An Ocean Apart.
Film/voice-over film work: The Young Poisoner’s Handbook, The Madness of King George, Fatherland, Richard III; The Secret Garden.
Radio includes: The Snow Queen, War and Peace, Wuthering Heights, Waiting for Aliens, The Cinderella Service; Mr Finchley Goes to Paris (all for the BBC).
Other credits: member of boy band Skandal, who appeared on a variety of radio and TV shows, including The Big Breakfast, Live & Kicking, Trisha, Airline and a nationwide advert for Kodak Ultra. They also supported boy band 5ive on their UK arena tours. James was also a lead vocalist for P&O Cruises on the ship Arcadia.
WAYNE FITZSIMMONS
Ensemble
Training: Arts Educational Schools London, graduating with a first BA (hons) in Musical Theatre.
Theatre credits: Dick Whittington and His Cat (Hackney Empire); Jest End 2012 (Leicester Square); The Yeomen of the Guard (BBC Proms - Royal Albert Hall); Street of Dreams (Manchester Evening News Arena); Annie (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Jest End 2011 (Leicester Square); cover for Joan Collins as Queen Rat in Dick Whittington (Birmingham Hippodrome); Chicago (Istanbul); Candide (Japan); A Chorus Line (Lowry, Manchester); Chicago (Cambridge Theatre); Candide (ENO Coliseum); The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre); Grease (UK and European tour); Jack and the Beanstalk (Grand Opera House, Belfast); Boogie Nights (UK tour); Dick Whittington (Aylesbury Civic Centre).
Other credits: The Phantom of the Opera 25th anniversary concert (Royal Albert Hall); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (workshop - Sam Mendes/Peter Darling); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Really Useful Group corporate events); Romeo and Juliet (fight choreographer - Birmingham Crescent Theatre); It’s a Wonderful Life (workshop - Riverside Studios).
Cast recordings: The Lord of the Rings.
DANN KHARSA
Ensemble
Training: London Studio Centre. Whilst at college, Dann received the Helen Colman Award for the Most Improved All-Rounder.
Theatre credits: Chicago (Garrick Theatre and Cambridge Theatre, London); Cinderella (the Waterside, Aylesbury); Dick Whittington (Courtyard Theatre, Hereford); Harry in Lucky Stiff (tour).
Television credits: The Worst Jobs in History (Channel 4); John Barrowman’s Tonight’s the Night (BBC TV).
Film credits: Fit - the Movie (Kickoff Films).
LIAM MARCELLINO
Ensemble
Training: Graduated with a first-class BA (hons) from London Studio Centre, receiving the Dame Anna Neagle Award on behalf of Cameron Mackintosh for the Student Most Likely to Succeed.
Theatre credits: Ensemble and cover Doody/Teen Angel in Grease (UK tour); swing and understudy Billy Kostecki/ Neil Kellerman in Dirty Dancing (UK tour); ensemble and understudy Troy in High School Musical (Asian tour); Aladdin (Camberley) and guest singer in Barbra and Liza (Leicester Square Theatre).
ASHLEY RUMBLE
Ensemble
Training: Laine Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: Chicago (UK tour); Robinson Crusoe (SECC, Glasgow) and Jack and the Beanstalk (King’s Theatre, Edinburgh).
KATIE BIRTILL
Swing
Training: Royal Academy of Music.
Theatre credits: Sue in Dreamboats and Petticoats (UK tour); Charlotte in A Little Night Music (Sir Jack Lyons Theatre); Maid Marian in Robin Hood (the Marlowe Theatre Arena); multiple roles in Femme Fatale (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); creating the role of Hayley in the original cast for Jet Set Go! (George Square, Edinburgh, and Theatre 503, London); Woman Two in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (George Square); Wendy in Never Land (Merton Abbey Mills).
Vocal credits: Backing vocals for Ramin Karimloo’s Road to Find Out tour, 2012; backing vocals for Russell Watson’s La Voce UK tour, 2011; backing vocals for K T Tunstall, Fyfe Dangerfield, Jon Allen, Michael Ball, Mica Paris, Fran Healy, Craig David, Tony Hadley, Marti Pellow, Suzi Quatro and Elio Pace at Hyde Park Arena for Elvis Forever (BBC Radio 2); backing vocals for Il Divo’s album; lead vocals for function band Down for the Count and for the One Night Stand Big Band. She also appeared in the T-Mobile ‘Welcome Back’ commercial.
Radio credits: Sophie the Psephologist for More or Less on BBC Radio 4 (Simon Terrington).
IAN OSWALD
Swing / Dance Captain
Training: Millingtons Dance Academy/Dolphin Dance Studios.
Theatre credits: Fred Casley, u/s Billy Flynn in Chicago (UK tour); Jules in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre, London); Don Kerr in A Chorus Line; Tanzer, u/s Rote Steifle in Tanz der Vampire (Germany); Purse, u/s Electra/Greaseball in Starlight Express (Germany); jazz lead in Michael Flatley’s Celtic Tiger (world tour); solo rhumba in Simply Ballroom (UK tour); Shane in Boogie Nights 2 (UK tour); Guardian of Souls in Mystique (Horseshoe) and Dick Whittington, Cinderella and Aladdin (Qdos).
Television credits: Top of the Pops, Hollyoaks and Watch Dog.
Film credits: Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides.
AARON SWEENEY-HARRIS
Swing
Training: Arts Educational Schools London, where he received a full scholarship, graduating with a BA (hons) in Musical Theatre.
Theatre credits: Aladdin (O2 Theatre, London); Rock Around the Clock (UK tour); Jack and the Beanstalk (Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton); Hello, Dolly! (UK tour); Cinderella (Theatre Royal Nottingham); Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday gala (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).
TV/film credits: Montel in British cult feature film Morris: a Life With Bells On (Twist Films); dancer in 2012 Tennis Olympic Opens; featured dancer in Katie Melua’s music video ‘The Flood’; backing dancer for the World War II Queen’s Commemoration (BBC1); featured singer in T-Mobile commercial (Partizan).
Aaron has also embarked on a modeling career, taking part in fashion shoots and catwalk, including walking for London Fashion Week.
BLEU WOODWARD
Swing / Assistant Dance Captain
Training: Laine Theatre Arts; whilst training credits included Sally in Follies and Rose Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie.
Theatre credits: Lisa and cover Sophie in Mamma Mia! (International tour); South Pacific (Barbican and national tour).
James Allen
Benji
James is a pupil at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Hazel Grove, where he learns violin and clarinet and sings in the school choir.
Training: NK Theatre Arts (Romiley) and Stockport Junior Voices Choir.
Theatre credits: Lame Boy in The Pied Piper of Hamelin and a member of the young ensemble in Rats’ Tales by Carol Ann Duffy (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester).
Other credits: Bob in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (BBC 3 Radio Drama) and Christmas Carols With the BBC Philharmonic (Stockport Junior Voices Choir).
Adam Beaver
Benji
Adam is nine years old and goes to King David Primary School in Liverpool.
Training: He attends Stagecoach Drama School every Sunday and after - school drama sessions weekly.
Theatre credits: Adam performed onstage in March 2012 at Spotlight on Youth (New Brighton Floral Pavilion Theatre), where he performed as part of a rapping duo act, plus numerous Stagecoach shows including Jiminy Cricket in panto, the Artful Dodger, and High School Musical.
Other: Millenium School of Dance, Liverpool (passed the ISTD under-six dance test); Chicken Tonight (advert); LAMDA Level Award in Performance (entry 3) - acting solo entry - merit (Liverpool).
Adam has said when he grows up he wants to become an actor or a comedian! He is witty (making his older brother and sister giggle regularly) and polite, friendly, outgoing and extremely keen to learn and experience new things.
