Peter Pan, at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre. Cannon and Ball starred as pirates Tommy and Bobby.
Pictures
Dates, times and prices
Pricing: All shows Stalls and Circle £27, Gallery £23, with £2 discount for concessions. Group discounts and family tickets available on some performances.
| Friday 13th Dec, 7pm Saturday 14th Dec, 2pm and 7pm Sunday 15th Dec, 1pm and 5pm Tuesday 17th Dec, 10:30am and 2pm Wednesday 18th Dec, 10:30am and 2pm Thursday 19th Dec, 10:30am and 2pm Saturday 21st Dec, 2pm and 7pm Sunday 22nd Dec, 1pm and 5pm Monday 23rd Dec, 1pm and 5pm Tuesday 24th Dec, 1pm and 5pm |
Thursday 26th Dec, 2pm and 6pm Friday 27th Dec, 2pm and 6pm Saturday 28th Dec, 2pm and 6pm Sunday 29th Dec, 1pm and 5pm Monday 30th Dec, 1pm and 5pm Tuesday 31st Dec, 1pm and 5pm Thursday 2nd Jan, 2pm and 2pm Friday 3rd Jan, 2pm and 6pm Saturday 4th Jan, 2pm and 6pm Sunday 5th Jan, 1pm and 5pm |
CAST
Pirates Tommy and Bobby: Cannon and Ball
Big Chief Cheeky Chico: Chico
Mrs Smee: Malcolm Lord
Starkey: Andy Eastwood
Captain Hook: Stefan Pejic
Peter Pan: Joshua Wyatt
Tinker Bell: Danielle Lockwood
Wendy: Maisie Melia-Redgrave
John Darling: Alfie Blanchard / Edward Danby
Michael Darling: Max Bainbridge / Ewan Blud
Ensemble: Ruth Cass, Dominic Gore, Kate Kenrick, Adam Martin, Eleanor Rees, Michele Verdicchio
Babes: YSD Theatre School
THE LYCEUM THEATRE BAND
Musical Director/Keyboards: Philip Shute
Bass Guitar: Alex Moore
Drums/Percussion: David Waller
CREATIVE TEAM
Director: David Fleeshman
Choreographer: Thomas Spratt
Musical Supervisor: Olly Ashmore
Lighting and Sound Designer and Production Manager: Carl Knapper
Visual Special Effects: The Twins FX
Fight Director: Philip D’Orleans
Company Stage Manager: Denis Askham
Deputy Stage Manager: Matthew Pain
ASM/Book Cover: Jodie Day
Technical ASM: Stuart Thomson
Sound Operator No 1: Sarah Knapper
Sound Operator No 2: Adam Thompson
Wardrobe Supervisor: Adele Mitchinson
Wardrobe Assistant: Rebecca Swindells
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES Act One
SCENE 1 Once Upon a Time
SCENE 2 The Darlings’ Nursery
SCENE 3 The Rooftops of Crewe
SCENE 4 The Neverlanders’ Camp
SCENE 5 The Road to the Neverlanders’ Camp
SCENE 6 The Neverlanders’ Camp
SCENE 7 The Road to the Neverlanders’ Camp
SCENE 8 Peter’s Underground Home
Interval
Act Two
SCENE 1 The Deck of the Jolly Roger
SCENE 2 Crocodile Creek
SCENE 3 The Deck of the Jolly Roger
SCENE 4 Neverland
SCENE 5 Back Home
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Flying: Flying by Foy
Lighting Suppliers: 4 Wall Entertainment
Pyrotechnics: Le Maitre
Sound Supplier: Stage Sound Services
Technical Consumables: AC Entertainment Technologies
Transport: KB Event
Feathers: Maxine’s Feathers
Programme
Cannon and Ball – Pirates Tommy and Bobby
Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball are one of Britain’s funniest and most successful double acts. In their long career, they have achieved a string of honours that puts them among the all-time greats of show business.
They starred in their own series and also ‘guested’ on all major shows, including Wogan, Parkinson, The Des O’Connor Show, Sunday Night at The London Palladium, Noel’s House Party, Talking Telephone Numbers, The Generation Game and several Royal Variety Performances. To add to their pedigree, they remain the only act to have won three separate National Club Awards and be named as the Variety Club Personalities of the Year. Their feature film The Boys in Blue, in addition to its cinema success, went on to become a video best-seller. The boys were even the subject of This Is Your Life!
Tom and Bob have broken box-office records in theatres all over the UK, including London. In 1981, they played a six-week season at the Dominion Theatre. Every seat was sold before the show opened, and in 1988 their pantomime Babes in the Wood broke all previous pantomime records at the world-famous London Palladium, where Cannon and Ball created the record for the largest box office amount taken in one week in British theatre history. Rock With Laughter 96 fulfilled Tommy and Bobby’s ambition to star in their own rock ‘n’ roll spectacular, their first summer season for producers Qdos Entertainment.
Since then, they have continued to break box office records, and have enjoyed continued success with summer seasons. They came back from the jungle and went on to tour in the comedy play Big Bad Mouse. Once finished, they embarked on another tour, The Best of British Variety, which, due to public demand, they appeared in again the following year. 2010 saw them complete their sell-out tour Rock With Laughter. In 2013, Tommy and Bobby then went on to star in a national tour of Ha Ha Hood! and the Prince of Leaves.
Tommy filmed a guest role in BBC’s Hank Zipzer, written by Henry Winkler, and featured in BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef in 2016. Bobby filmed his regular role playing Lee Mack’s Dad for BBC One’s Not Going Out and Not Going Out Christmas Special. Bobby continued to feature in the part of Barry in Sky One’s Mount Pleasant.
In 2016/17, Cannon and Ball starred in the pantomime Aladdin at Crewe Lyceum, after which they went back on tour, performing in their comedy play The Dressing Room. After the great response and reviews from the show, they decided to tour the show again throughout 2018.
Tommy and Bobby have continued to be a consistent presence on our television screens, starring in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! for ITV1, Celebrity Coach Trip and Last of the Summer Wine for BBC. As well as taking on solo roles, Bobby played guest role Mr Turner in ITV’s Heartbeat, The Fattest Man in Britain and The Security Men, while Tommy played guest role Reg Lawson in Doctors.
During 2018, Bobby filmed a special guest role in Benidorm as Ron Pickford and continued to film Not Going Out for the BBC, during which time Tommy toured his play Seriously Dead, playing the role of Albert Blunderstone.
Whilst they have both had their individual successes on television, they continue as the hilarious comic legends Cannon and Ball. In 2018, they jetted off to Vegas and had a brilliant time filming The Last Laugh in Las Vegas for ITV. They later filmed Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule and The Comedy Years documentary. They finished the year with a successful run in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Crewe Lyceum.
2019 started with Bobby filming with Lee Mack in a new series of BBC One’s Not Going Out. In the spring, he filmed a new television series titled The Cockfields with Sue Johnston, Nigel Havers, Sarah Parish, Kim Cattrall and Joe Wilkinson.
In 2019, Tommy filmed special guest role Derek in Emmerdale for ITV. He then returned to the theatre in October, recreating his character role Albert in Right Place! Wrong Time!
Even though they both continue independently with their involvement in various television and theatre projects, Cannon and Ball extensively toured UK theatres in An Audience With Cannon and Ball throughout 2019.
Chico – Big Chief Cheeky Chico
Look behind the persona that is Chico and you find a truly amazing story – a born entertainer who embodies the PMA philosophy (Positive Mental Attitude) and a person who makes you believe that you can achieve.
Chico was born Yousseph Slimani in Bridgend, Wales, and returned to his father’s native Morocco at the age of two, where he grew up on his grandparents’ farm. The young Chico helped herd the goats and tend the fields until he returned to the UK at the age of 13.
He became a trainee hairdresser, engineer, dancer, compere and singer. It seemed only natural that this man of multitudinous talents should come to prominence in the UK’s favourite talent show, The X Factor. Chico’s irrepressible attitude and showmanship captivated the nation when he jumped into Sharon Osbourne’s pool with a live microphone. He stunned the nation and the audience alike, including the legendary rock and roll hellraiser Ozzy Osbourne, who called Chico “crazy”.
His first single, ‘It’s Chico Time’, knocked Madonna off the top of the charts for his first number one. Chico made it as a finalist on Dancing on Ice, produced his own UK tour with The Russian All Stars, and toured with the legendary Osmonds in Boogie Nights.
He started his own charity, rainbowchildfoundation.co.uk, and aims to help underprivileged children all over the world, and is currently sponsoring villages in South Africa and Malawi that provide education, seed banks, and HIV awareness programmes. They have also reached out to the Rohingya and Syrian refugees, the Rhys Daniels Trust, the Hearing Aid Trust, Noah’s Ark, James Bulger Memorial Trust, Balls to Cancer and many more, reaching over 100,000 children so far.
Chico’s passions are music and fitness, so he created blockfit.co.uk, which is four workouts in one class: dance, combat, HIIT and yoga mediation to original music. He trained over 700 instructors in two years and he is trying to do for PMA health and fitness what Jamie Oliver did for school dinners.
Recently, Chico suffered a full-on stroke but miraculously recovered in under three weeks. The doctors are hailing him as a walking, talking miracle and can only attribute this to his fitness and positive outlook on life. Chico became an ambassador for stroke victims, bringing awareness to this silent killer. Chico’s blockfitretreats.com in the Atlas Mountains, Cyprus, Bali, Portugal and Peru, and Chico’s Block Fit Party bring the best of the fitness industry, music, and wellness and inspirational speakers to help cancer and stroke survivors with rehabilitation and prevention.
Chico is grateful to be alive and believes he is here for a greater purpose, and his mission is to serve others – whether it’s putting a smile on your face through entertainment, making a difference with his charity work or bringing awareness to stroke victims
What time is it? Clearly, it wasn’t Chico Time.
Malcolm Lord – Mrs Smee
Malcolm trained at Mountview Theatre School, London, and he has worked extensively in theatre and television.
With nearly 40 years’ experience in all aspects of theatre and television, he has played a wide range of interesting roles, ranging from Hansel in the opera Hansel and Gretel to a parrot at a Royal Variety Performance for HRH The Prince of Wales. His main claim to fame though is appearing for 13 years in the classic children’s programme Rainbow for Thames Television, initially playing George the pink hippo and then taking on the role of Bungle the bear. Forty years after their conception, Bungle, George and Zippy are still in demand. Malcolm recently brought back his well-known character Bungle to star in Pizza Hut’s television commercial.
Malcolm is no stranger to pantomime: this is his 33rd panto, appearing in several versions of Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Dick Whittington. Many of these were with the legendary John Inman.
Malcolm took a few years’ break from being dame, one year playing Santa in Santa Claus – the Musical in Singapore and the next year playing Friar Tuck in Robin Hood. He was thrilled to return to playing the dame, with the role of Sarah the Cook for Qdos Entertainment at Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe and Orchard Theatre, Dartford, both starring Shane Richie. He spent the summer doing panto in Sydney, Australia, playing Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk. He is now delighted to be joining Qdos Entertainment once again in Crewe for the fourth year running.
Andy Eastwood – Starkey
Andy is delighted to be Starkey this year at the beautiful Crewe Lyceum, one of his favourite theatres. When not in panto, Andy travels the world performing his musical comedy instrumental act, featuring the violin, guitar and his speciality, the ukulele. Andy made history at Oxford University as the only musician ever to give his degree recital on the uke, and is now considered one of the world’s foremost exponents of the instrument.
The legendary Ken Dodd gave Andy his break into theatre, and he made over 300 performances with the great comedian, as well as working with stars such as Max Bygraves, Danny La Rue, Frank Skinner, Des O’Connor and Roy Hudd.
Andy’s one-man show is a popular attraction for cruise liners and functions, and his tour schedule of theatres and cabaret venues has prompted The Stage to call him “the busiest man in show business”. Audiences too have taken him to their hearts; two award-winning summer seasons in Blackpool have earned him the title of the resort’s ‘top solo artist’.
Throughout 2019, Andy has been touring Britain’s theatres with two shows – Those Were the Days and Spirit of the Blitz, and his music festival appearances have taken him to Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic and the USA. Between tour dates, Andy produces a regular series of variety shows at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, and he also finds time to present Andy’s Attic on the Internet radio station Retro Jukebox.
Stefan Pejic – Captain Hook
This is Stefan’s fifth year playing the villain role for Qdos Entertainment; previously, he has played comic roles such as Buttons and Simple Simon for Imagine Theatre for several years. Stefan is celebrating 25 years in the industry this year.
Stefan is an internationally acclaimed stand-up comedian and comedy writer. He is also an additional writer and has worked with many of the UK’s television comedians for channels such as Comedy Central and HBO, and is a writer/producer/director and performer for BBC Wales’ `BBC Sesh, The Social’, and is developing a new musical comedy drama.
He has been associated with brands such as Sony, Disney, Coca-Cola, Harrods and Pepsi, as well as working internationally for high-profile engagements in Paris, Zurich and Oslo. Stefan is also a magician, specialising in comedy magic and mentalism, and also works as a magic advisor for other magicians and theatrical productions, which led him to co-write and direct Britain’s Got Talent’s Matt Edwards’ live show Fourth in 2017.
His recent stage credits include The Invisible Man (lead role), Dan in Night Must Fall, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Al Jolson/Larry Parks in The Other Jolson, Kyle in A Sleight of Mind, Roy Brown in The Bard of Margate, Sammy in The Wedding Singer, Jeff Scott in The Musician and Alfie in Swansea Women. His television and film roles include BBC’s Sherlock, Doctors and Casualty, Jack in Re: Run, Simon in the BAFTA Award-winning Compassionate, Spikey in the HTV soap Nuts and Bolts, and Tate in The Rezort. His commercials include WHSmith, McDonald’s, Nickelodeon, Kellogg’s, Penderyn whisky, Diamond Centre Wales, Bet188.com and Barti Ddu rum.
Fun fact! Stefan became the youngest Butlin’s redcoat at just 13 years old for three summer seasons at Minehead and was the youngest person to be enrolled in a college for a National Diploma in Performing Arts.
Joshua Wyatt – Peter Pan
Joshua trained at the London Studio Centre.
His theatre credits include cover to Albus in the original cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – parts one and two (Palace Theatre); Michael Wormwood in Matilda (Cambridge Theatre); Michael Dork in Loserville (Union Theatre) and Tommy (Blackpool Opera House).
For television, he has appeared on The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV); Children in Need (BBC) and Surprise Surprise (ITV).
Danielle Lockwood – Tinker Bell
Danielle trained at the London Studio Centre. Her theatre credits include playing Linda and cover to Holly in The Wedding Singer (DIMF, Korea); swing to Pearl, Carrie, Rocky 3, Coco and Components in Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany) and ensemble and cover to Buffy and Ashley in Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany).
Her credits whilst training include Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family.
Maisie Melia-Redgrave – Wendy
Maisie is currently in her final year at Performance Preparation Academy, Guildford studying her degree in musical theatre.
Her credits whilst training include Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!, Angel in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, ensemble in Chess and Hope in Urinetown. She was a parade performer in Disneyland Paris.
Ensemble
Ruth Cass
Ruth trained at Renaissance Arts in Leeds. Her theatre credits include original cast playing Heather in Footloose (Norwegian Cruise Line); ensemble in Jack and the Beanstalk (Qdos Entertainment); a production dancer for Costa Cruise Lines and ensemble in Aladdin (Qdos Entertainment). For television and film, her credits include a featured dancer in Victoria (ITV) and a featured dancer for a Retrograde music video (Blackbox Creative).
Dominic Gore
Dominic initially studied at the Centre for Advanced Training in Dance before completing his training at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, Liverpool. His credits include a dancer and singer for Royal Caribbean International; lead vocalist in Boyband Reloaded; a television commercial for Adidas; a dancer and international singer for Costa Cruises; ensemble and understudy to dame and Muddles in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; and a dancer in Lord of the Flies at the Liverpool Empire (Matthew Bourne). Notable credits whilst training include playing the role of Riff in West Side Story, Sonny in Grease, Ren in Footloose and the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, all at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre, and directed by Andrew Margerison.
Kate Kenrick
Kate trained at Cambridge Performing Arts at Bodywork Studios. Her theatre includes a Miranda Hart television special (The London Palladium/BBC); onstage swing as Electra and cover to Jellylorum in Cats (Kilworth House); ensemble in Cinderella (Manchester Opera House); a Nymph and ensemble in Mary Poppins (Stuttgart and Hamburg); swing in Matilda (Cambridge Theatre); ensemble and cover to the Spirit in Jack and the Beanstalk (Crewe, Lyceum Theatre) and Tico in Dora the Explorer Live! (Middle East, European and Asia tours). Kate’s choreography includes assistant choreographer on Kiss Me, Kate (Upstairs at the Gatehouse). She has appeared in the films Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism and appeared in the workshop of Our House.
Adam Martin
Adam started his training at Harlequin Stage School at the age of 17 and then trained at the London Studio Centre for three years, where he gained a BA (hons) in Dance Theatre. During college and since graduation, he has worked for choreographers such as Paul Roberts (One Direction), David Wood (Kylie Minogue) and Alan Harding (Qdos Entertainment), performing on luxury cruise ships, travelling the world. Adam also choreographs shows such as The Jungle Book and Aladdin in the Middle East (Qatar) for Hammond Live. He has performed on various UK tours and music videos, such as ‘Hideaway’ for BBC Radio 1 with Greg James, The Toddlerz Ball and Straight Outta Oz.
Eleanor Rees
Eleanor, originally from Herefordshire, trained professionally at Performers College, Essex. She graduated last year after completing a one-year foundation course and a three-year Diploma in Dance Theatre. Since graduating, Eleanor has recently returned from an eight-month contract at sea with Carnival Cruise Line in the role of dancer and singer. Her other credits include Twisted Elements as a dancer and singer (Kenneth More Theatre); ensemble and understudy to Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (Northampton Royal & Derngate); a dancer at the FA Cup Final (Wembley Arena – Mass Movement); an NFL Final dancer (Wembley Arena – Mass Movement) and Move It.
Michele Verdicchio
Michele, originally from Italy, relocated to the UK in 2017 to train at Performers College in Essex. He is now in his final graduating year, studying for a Trinity Diploma in Dance Theatre. During his training, Michele has been fortunate enough to gain professional experience both on stage and screen. Peter Pan marks Michele’s panto debut.
YSD Theatre School
YSD Theatre School (formerly Yvonne School of Dancing) was founded by Yvonne Nevitt in 1951 and is now owned by her sister, Gail Montague. The school trains and supplies students for both amateur and professional productions. Yvonne and the school have a long association with the Crewe Lyceum Theatre, spanning 80 years. The school enjoys a 100 per cent pass rate in exams in all disciplines, with many students gaining platinum awards. The school has a vocational status, meaning that students are taken through exams to teaching diplomas, GCSE and A-level exams. The school is an approved examination centre of the BTDA Vocational School in all disciplines, including AAD, American tap and singing exams by London College of Music.
Students past and present have gained places at drama colleges, such as GSA, Mountview, Laine Theatre Arts, Arts Educational Schools London, MTA, Trinity and PPA. Many students have gone on to work in London’s West End, in television, film and for the Walt Disney Company.
The school prides itself on theatrical training, performing musicals and concerts throughout the year at the Lyceum Theatre. They run two musical theatre companies, one for adults and a youth company called Curtain Call Productions; they will be shortly auditioning for their next youth production of We Will Rock You, which will be at the Lyceum Theatre in November 2020. The adult cast of Curtain Call has received the Noda Award for Best Musical with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which they performed last November.
YSD students have just returned from performing at Walt Disney World in Florida and will return again in 2021.
PETER’S TEAM: Alfie Blanchard as John, Ewan Blud as Michael, Lost Boys: Tilly Baker, Sophie Hulme, Daisy Jones, Talisha Rogerson, Isabelle Saunders, Ellie May Shenton, Paige Todd, Yazmin Walker
HOOK’S TEAM: Max Bainbridge as Michael, Edward Danby as John, Lost Boys: Isla Cullen, Ellie Morris Davies, Evie Morris Davies, Sophie Gardener, Elliesue Griffiths, Lauren Jones, Willow Mellor, Kornelia Wojcik
Alan McHugh – Co-writer
Alan is a Scottish-based actor and writer, who trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. As an actor, he h. worked and toured with all the country’s major theatre companies and has featured extensively in television, including Outland, Taggart, Still Game, Rab C Nesbitt, High Road, River Scot Squad, Single Father, Sea of Souls, Dear Green Place and double BAFTA winner Limmy’s Show. In addition to his television and feature/short film credits, he has featured in many BBC Radio 4 drama productions.
As a writer for Qdos Entertainment, he has also been involved in writing this year’s pantomimes for The London Palladium and 28 regional venues around the country.
Other writing credits include I Dreamed a Dream (the Susan Boyle musical); River City (BBC Scodand); Week Ending and Saturday Live (BBC Radio 4); Chewin’ the Fat, The Wide Nation and Velvet Cabaret (BBC Radio Scotland); Pulp Video and Know Your Onions (BBC Scotland TV) and Its Behind You! (Oran Mar, Glasgow).
Over the years, he has also been commissioned to write the Christmas shows for many other theatres, including the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow; Perth Theatre; Royal Conservatoire of Scodand; Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline; Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy; Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock; Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock; Falkirk, Rutherglen and Hamilton Town Hall theatres.
For Qdos Entertainment, Alan has played panto dame at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, since 2004, and as you read this, he will be up there playing Baroness Heifer McHardup in Cinderella.
Jonathan Kiley – co-writer
Jonathan trained at the Arts Educational Schools in London and,made an early start to his career on Yorkshire TV children’s programmes. Jonathan made his West End debut in Peter Pan at the London Coliseum, playing Tootles opposite Dorothy Tutin in the title role and Ron Moody as Captain Hook. He went on to play the tide role in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in no less than six productions, and also directed a tour of the show. He played Jesus in two productions of Godspell, Danny Zuko in Grease and Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore at Nottingham Playhouse where he appeared in numerous other productions including The Boy Friend, Mack and Mabel, The Matchmaker, Hamlet, Coriolanus, Mother Courage and Her Children and The Gondoliers. His additional stage credits include the role of Pistol in Henry V, Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bergetto inTis Pity She’s a Whore and Witwould in The Way of the World.
Swapping repertory theatre for the world of rock and roll, Jonathan continued his career touring the United Kingdom and North America in Elvis – the Musical. He then spent two years donning the infamous fishnets of Dr Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s iconic cult musical The Rocky Horror Show which toured extensively across the United Kingdom, Europe and made its theatrical debut in the Middle East. He then went on to direct, choreograph and appear in a national tour of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s Little Shop of Horrors.
Jonathan has appeared in and directed pantomimes in London and across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, starring alongside Norman Wisdom, Les Dawson, Cannon and Ball, Bonnie Langford and John Nettles. In addition to appearing on stage, Jonathan has also produced and directed productions with some of the UK’s biggest stars including Brian Conley, Danny La Rue, Joe Pasquale, Julian Clary, Nigel Havers, John Barrowman, David Hasselhoff and Joan Collins.
Jonathan has worked extensively in the world of pantomime for over three decades, and has been a director of Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, since the company was set up in 2000. He is delighted to be celebrating his 45th year working in show business.
David Fleeshman – Director
David has worked as an actor, director and broadcaster for over 40 years. He has worked in theatre, television, film, radio and lectures in drama. As a director, David has worked at Leeds Playhouse, Theatre Royal York and spent two years . associate director of the Coliseum Theatre, Oldham. At the Library Theatre, Manchester, he directed the European premiere of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues and the regional premiere of My Night With Reg, which won the Manchester Evening News Award for Best Production.
David directed Robin Hood and Peter Pan at the Lowry, Salford, as well as The Wizard of Oz, both at the Lowry and the New Theatre, Oxford. As an actor, he has worked in theatres across the country. Recent work includes Romeo and Juliet and Richard III (Shakespeare Rose Theatre, York); Uncle Vanya (HOME Theatre, Manchester); Darkness, Darkness (Nottingham Playhouse); UK, Ireland and South African tour of War Horse (National Theatre); As You Like It and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester); A View From the Bridge, Death of a Salesman and Of Mice and Men (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Atticus Finch in To IGll a Mockingbird (Haymarket Theatre, Leicester) and Herbie in Gypsy (Leicester Curve). At the Library Theatre, Manchester, he played the leading roles in the European premieres of Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Jake’s Women, as well . Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and The Price, for which he won the Manchester Evening News Award for Best Actor.
His television appearances include major roles in television classics such as Boys From the Blackstuff and Edge of Darkness; comedy classics such as Only Fools and Horses and A Bit of a Do; short stints in Coronation Street, EastEnders and Brookside, and a three-year stint in Emmerdale. Other television work includes Love, Lies and Records, National Treasure, Silent Witness, All the Small Things, Heartbeat, Trial & Retribution, At Home With the Braithwaites, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, The Royal, The Last Detective, DoNovAn with Tom Conti, Bad Girls, Spooks, The Royal Today and Doctors. He has just completed filming on Russell T Davies’ new drama Boys and the new series of All Creatures Great and Small, both to be screened next year. David has appeared in several films, including a Hollywood movie with Wesley Snipes called Unstoppable and Disobedience with Rachel Wei..
David has recorded over 200 radio plays for BBC Radio Drama. His previous productions for Qdos Entertainment include Peter Pan and Dick Whittington (Venue Cymru, Llandudno); Aktddin (Darlington Hippodrome) with Chico .Aladdin; and the 1.t three year’s successful productions of Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Jack and the Beanstalk at Crewe Lyceum.
Thomas Spratt – Choreographer
Thomas trained in Dublin at the Billie Barry Stage School and began his career performing in the West End production of Fame (Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh). Thomas has worked in the UK as an assistant choreographer on the West End hit shows Dancing in the Streets and Dreamboats and Petticoats; Any Dream Will Do concert for the BBC (The London Palladium); Women Freemasons’ 100th anniversary concert (Royal Albert Hall); You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (UK tour); 42nd Street gala (The London Palladium) and Carnaby Street (Hackney Empire and UK tour).
Thomas has worked extensively in Ireland over the past years, performing in Taylors Irish dance show; he choreographed the Irish premiere of Jerry Springer – the Opera (Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin) and choreographed and performed in Mad About Musicals (National Concert Hall). His other Irish choreography credits include Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella (Gaiety Theatre). He has danced for artists such as Alex Party, Happy Clappers and Gina G. When living in Sydney, Thomas choreographed for the Australian Dance and Music Company, and choreographed for the music artist Sam Obernik and Australian DJ Helena for their debut single together, ‘Democratic Dance Floor’.
His touring and international credits include Daniel O’Donnell (rock ‘n’ roll UK and Ireland tour); Red Hurley show (USA); Irish dance show Celtic Rhythms (Holland tour); dance captain on Belle et Fou (Berlin); Tony Kenny’s Irish Celebration (USA) and associate choreographer and created his own character in A Tribute to Glee (Dubai). He has choreographed and danced in many fashion and hairdressing shows and corporate events in the UK and Ireland. He has appeared in the films An Awfully Big Adventure and Disney’s movie Ella Enchanted, where he was assistant to the choreographer Bruno Tonioli (Strictly Come Dancing).
He choreographed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat boys’ performance on The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV) and appeared as a dancer on television shows such as Reign Raw and Penny Dreadful and, most recently, was one of the male dancers in Centenary 1916. His television appearances include advertisements for Vodafone, Lee jeans, Nitelink and Calor Gas and, recently, a UPC flash mob. Thomas can be heard on the radio doing voice-overs for McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Mr Kipling and Levi’s.
For Qdos Entertainment, his choreography credits include Peter Pan, starring Joe Pasquale (Birmingham Hippodrome); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring Craig Revel Horwood (Llandudno); Peter Pan, starring Joe Pasquale (Dartford); Cinderella, starring Brian Conley (Cardiff); Snow White and the Seven Dwarf, starring Sid Owen (Hastings); Aladdin, starring Les Dennis and Noel Sullivan (Crawley); Peter Pan, starring Adam Woodyatt; Jack and the Beanstalk, starring Lisa Riley and Brendan Sheerin; Cinderella, starring Gareth Gates; Aladdin and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring Cannon and Ball; and Jack and the Beanstalk, starring George Sampson, and Cannon and Ball (all Crewe).
Thomas runs a performance company, Fatale Events, and recently has choreographed and performed the song ‘High Water’ onstage with the legendary Bob Dylan when he came to Ireland on his world tour. He recently choreographed, performed and was the host of the Kit Kat Club Cabaret. Thomas is also the choreographer to Irish pop artist and actress Samantha Mumba. He performed in Copenhagen as part of the Irish entry Can-Linn with ‘Heartbeat’ for Eurovision. Thomas is the owner and creative director of the Dance Act Sing Academy.
Olly Ashmore – Musical Supervisor
Olly studied composition and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with honours. As a musical director, supervisor and orchestrator, 011y has worked on West End, UK and international productions, including Fame, Grease, All the Fun of the Fair, Peggy Sue Got Married, The Rocky Horror Show, The Golden Musicals of Broadway, Hair, Boogie Nights, Eternal Flame and Happy Days. He wrote music for Covergirls, produced in Las Vegas, and Aladdin, which toured China and the USA.
Other shows include David Hasselhoff’s Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, Love Forever True, Who Killed Cock Robin?, Lovely Lady, Thames TV’s Rainbow and The Wizard of Oz. Play scores include Measure for Measure, The Mysteries, The Suicide and Great Expectations. Original musicals include Forever Eve, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Love God, Girl Talk and Look Back. For Qdos Entertainment, 011y has composed scores for Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Aladdin and Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates. His menopause musical, Hot Flush!, starring Lesley Joseph, Marti Webb and Rula Lenska, earned Olly the Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Award. 011y has three new albums of original songs out including Magic & Mermaids, Princesses Pirates and Peter Pan.
Olly worked for BBC Television on Going Live!, On Your Marks, The Friday Zone, The Poops and The Demon Headmaster. Shows for BBC Live include Robin Hood, Aladdin and The Big Bash produced at Birmingham’s NEC. He has written scores for short films, including The Time Tangle (LWT); Four (BBC) and Gorilla in the Roses (BBC and Riverdance Film Festival). He’s been guest musical director for RTE and UTV; conducted sessions for Talking Telephone Numbers, The Generation Game and This Morning, and was the musical associate on The Royal Variety Performance for ITV.
Carl Knapper – Lighting and Sound designer and Production Manager
This is Carl’s fourth year creating the lighting design for Qdos Entertainment. Each year is different and Peter Pan will be a magical experience for him this year. Carl has had a busy year once again with the Lyceum and the New Studio space. This year, Carl has designed shows in Ireland, Scotland and Wales with Beyond the Barricade.
Some facts about Peter Pan: it takes about 800 working hours in one week to set the show up before a member of audience sees it on opening night; Carl has a team of 12 staff working backstage; there will be around 300 lighting cues in the show; there will be around 200 sound cues in the show; they will set off 12 pyrotechnics during the show; all the lighting onstage is now LED for energy saving; the cast will have around 100 costume changes between them; they use around three miles of cable; 32,000 people will this year watch Peter Pan, and Tinker Bell is a real fairy.
Philip Shute – Musical Director
Philip’s credits as musical director include Footloose (Southwark Playhouse); The Adventures of Pinocchio (Ambassadors Theatre, London); Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyceum Theatre, Crewe)