Biographies for the West End production as per October 1992
Benedicte Adrian - Composer / Maria Vittoria
Ingrid Bjørnov – Composer / Musical Director
Benedicte Adrian (born 22. Oct. 1963) and Ingrid Bjørnov (born
5. Dec. 1963) met in the sandbox at the age of 2. They began their musical
education at an early age, and their friendship throughout childhood developed
into a musical partnership. At the age of fifteen they were offered a
recording contract by Ole A. Sørli, and the pop duo Dollie was
a reality. Their self-composed debut album “First Act” (1980)
turned gold, sold over 50,000 units and won the group a Norwegian Grammy
as the youngest artists ever. Two more albums, “Dollie´s Diary”
and “Limelight”, were released before the girls left high
school in 1982. In 1984 their artist name was changed to Dollie de Luxe
before the release of their fourth album, containing Norway´s Eurovision
Song Contest entry for that year. By this time Adrian and Bjørnov
had matured into two exceptional and individual talents. Adrian, always
the lead singer of the two, had been training her voice professionally,
and at the age of twenty it was clear that she possessed a rare and brilliant
coloratura soprano. Bjørnov, with the most sophisticated keyboard
technology at her fingertips, had begun to arrange and orchestrate the
group´s music. With the unlike combination of a Mozart aria and
a Rolling Stones classic, the single “Queen of the Night / Satisfaction”
was released in late 1984. Its success was remarkable and with the album
“Rock vs Opera” released in 15 countries, Dollie de Luxe found
their long deserved international recognition. 1985 and 1986 were spent
touring Scandinavia and Europe, giving numerous television appearances
and concerts. In October 1986 Dollie de Luxe performed at Expo ´86
in Vancouver, Canada. Their first concerts at the 1500-seat Xerox Theatre
played to capacity and the organisers had to re-open the 4000-seat Expo
Theatre for the group to play the four final days. Again Dollie de Luxe
received standing ovations from capacity audiences, earning them the label
“discovery of the World Exposition”. Following the success
of Rock vs. Opera, the path was clear to combine this new style with original
music. Thus Bjørnov, Adrian and Sørli came to be exclusively
engaged in Which Witch, an operamusical based on an extraordinary event
described in “Malleus Maleficarum”, a 15th century handbook
for witch trials. The concert version of Which Witch was originally commissioned
for the Bergen International Festival where it premiered on May 27th,
1987. With Bjørnov leading the band, Adrian starring as Maria Vittoria,
it played to an audience of both rock fans and opera lovers, united in
their rapturous appreciation. The following summer the concert version
was performed in North America to audiences averaging more than 2000 people.
Both 1989 and 1990 were spent with the Which Witch concert tour, and except
for a “creative break” in 1991, touring was the main activity,
besides further developing work on the operamusical. On Midsummer’s
night 1992, in the midst of the team’s preparations for the West
End production, the concert version played to an audience of over 16,000
people at the Holmenkollen ski jump, an all-time Norwegian record. In
addition to their work leading up to the West End production, Adrian and
Bjørnov in 1992 have given a series of promotional concerts in
the Nordic countries and in London.
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Ole Anders Sørli - Producer
Ole Anders Sørli (born 12. Sept. 1944) was a professional musician
from 1962-1967 in the group The Cool Cats, a sales manager for a local
record company from 1969-1971 and general manager for Polydor, Norway
from 1972-1977. From 1974-1979, he was general secretary of the Norwegian
Record Companies Association. In 1978 he established his own companies
Notabene Records and OAS Music, of which he is producer and managing director.
Notabene Records is Norway's oldest independent record company. In 1981
Sørli founded the Norwegian Independent Record Companies Association
(FONO), of which he was chairman 1981-1984. Sørli has produced
and marketed a series of hit albums, including “Felicia´s
Swedish Suite”, Cornelis Vreeswijk (1978 - sales 60,000); “In
Smurfland”, Geir Børresen (1978 – 270,000); “First
Act”, Dollie (1980 – 55,000; Norwegian Grammy); “Juba
Juba”, Knutsen & Ludvigsen (1983 – 110,000; Norwegian
Grammy), “Queen of the Night / Satisfaction” single (1985
- released in 25 countries; sales in France 250,000); and “Which
Witch” (1987 – 43,000; Norwegian Grammy). He has directed
and produced concert tours in Norway, Germany, Finland and Denmark for
The Cool Cats (1964 – 1967); the “Rock vs. Opera” /
“Which Witch” summer tour in Canada / USA (1987 - 13 concerts;
attendance: 29,000); and nearly 60 “Which Witch” concerts
in 1987-1992 (the Holmenkollen concert in 1992 was on the Billboard’s
Top Ten Concert Grosses list). In 1987 Sørli wrote the original
manuscript for Which Witch, and in 1989 he obtained Norway’s biggest
private sponsorship contract (value: NOK 9 mill.) with Norsk Hydro for
the project. The last couple of years he has allocated more and more time
to the task of putting on Which Witch in the West End.
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Piers Haggard - Director
Piers Haggard has a rich experience as a director for theatre, film and
TV. His theatre career began as assistant director to Tony Richardson,
Lindsay Anderson and Roger Blin at the Royal Court Theatre in London.
He worked at the Brussels Rideau, the Dundee Repertory Theatre and the
Glasgow Citizens Theatre before he joined the National Theatre at The
Old Vic working on productions with Sir Laurence Olivier, George Devine,
Bill Gaskill and John Dexter. In 1981 he returned to the theatre to direct
The Ticket of Leave Man. His feature films include the 17th century witchcraft
horror film The Blood on Satan's Claw (1970), the mad comedy The Fiendish
Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980) starring Peter Sellers, the thriller Venom
(1982) with Sarah Miles, Oliver Reed, and Klaus Kinski, and A Summer Story
(1988) a tragic love story starring Imogen Stubbs. As a TV director he
has received most recognition from the musical series Pennies from Heaven
(BBC 1978) with Bob Hoskins and Cheryl Campbell (UK BAFTA Award 1979).
Other well-known productions are Mrs. Reinhart (BBC 1981) by Edna O'Brien,
and Knockback (BBC 1984) with Pauline Collins (US ACE Award 1985). He
has directed two musicals for TV; Gershwin's Tiptoes and Noel Coward´s
A Talent to Amuse. Since 1987 he has been working mostly in America with
TV productions such as Liza Minelli Special (1988) and Back Home (1989)
(EMMY nomination, Gold Award N.Y. Film Festival) to his credit.
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Richard Hudson - Set Designer
Richard Hudson’s theatre work includes Andromache, One Way Pendulum,
Bussy D’Ambois, The Tempest, Too Clever by Half, Candide and King
Lear at the Old Vic, La Bete on Broadway and at the Lyric Hammersmith,
Into the Woods at the Phoenix Theatre, The Misanthrope at the Bristol
Old Vic and the Royal National Theatre, The Master Builder and A Clockwork
Orange at the R.S.C. Hippolytos at the Almeida, The Emperor at The Royal
Court, Don Carlos at the Royal Exchange Manchester and Twelfth Night at
the Goodman Theatre, Chicago. His Opera credits include The Queen of Spades
at Glyndebourne, Figaro’s Wedding for English National Opera, Lucia
di Lammermoor for Zurich Opera and Bayerisches Staatsoper, Munich, A Night
at the Chinese Opera and Count Ory for Kent Opera, Candide, La Vie Parisienne,
The Vanishing Bridegroom and Mary Stuart for Scottish Opera, Don Pasquale
for Opera Northern Ireland, Manon for Opera North and Mignon for Wexford.
Future projects include The Force of Destiny for English National Opera,
Die Meistersinger von Nurnburg at Covent Garden and The Tales of Hoffman
for Vienna Staatsoper.
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Kit Hesketh-Harvey - Lyricist
Kit Hesketh-Harvey won the Vivien Ellis award in 1988 for his musical
Orlando which was written with James McConnell. Kit’s film credits
include the screenplay for the Merchant-Ivory film adaptation of E. M.
Forster’s novel Maurice, Other People directed by Willi Patterson,
Brancusi, an original screenplay commissioned by Shearer Productions,
Woodbrook, directed by Jack Clayton, Berlin, which Kit translated and
revised the original screenplay into English, I Light a Candle, a television
film commissioned by New Era Productions, and Moulin Rouge for Crossbow
Films. His current projects include a family Television adaptation of
Hans Christian Anderson, Witch Way Wicked and a feature screenplay on
the life of the second Earl of Rochester entitled Rochester. He has been
commissioned by Atlantic Productions to write a new musical with James
McConnell entitled Yusopov. This has been workshopped at Oxford University
with Stephen Sondheim under the patronage of Cameron Mackintosh. Cameron
Mackintosh also commissioned Kit to write an Untitled Revue in the Spring
of 1990. Kit is also working on a revision of The Desert Song for Noel
Gay Theatre. Kit is also responsible for the translation of Die Fledermaus
which was directed by Simon Callow for Scottish Opera. Since 1983, Kit
has played half of the cabaret, songwriting and performing duo Kit and
the Widow and has frequently performed on television and television, as
well as in many West End venues.
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Martin Koch - Musical Supervisor
Martin Koch trained at the Royal College of Music where he was awarded
a scholarship. Martin’s West End credits include Musical Director
of Chicago, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, The Pirates
of Penzance, See-Saw, Mack and Mabel, Blondel, The Boy Friend, Follies,
Les Miserables, Into The Woods and Miss Saigon. His composition and arrangement
credits include Shirley Bassey (U.S.A. Tour) Charles Aznavour (Album),
Simone Kleinsma (Album), BBC Radio Orchestra, The SWF German Radio Orchestra
and Masquerade. Conducting experience includes the London Philharmonic
Orchestra, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, The Metropole Orchestra and the
London Studio Orchestra. Martin was Musical Director of Les Miserables
for its London premiere at the Barbican and at the Palace Theatre and
has taken part in four cast recordings of Les Miserables; the London cast
recording, the Symphonic Collection, the Viennese cast recording and the
Amsterdam cast album. He has also supervised productions of Les Miserables
in London, Oslo, Vienna and Gdansk. Most recently, he has been Musical
Supervisor of Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and was Musical
Director on the Miss Saigon cast recording which went gold on the day
it was released. He was also involved with the pre-planning of the Japanese
production. Martin was Musical Supervisor and arranger for Just So at
the Watermill Theatre, Newbury and at the Tricycle Theatre in London.
Martin Koch is the Musical Supervisor for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.
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Mark Bailey - Costume Designer
Mark Bailey read Drama at Hull University before studying theatre design
at Croydon College of Art. On graduating Mark was awarded an Arts Council
Designers in Dance Bursary to work with Nadine Baylis on designs for Glaswerk,
for Werkcentrum Dans of Rotterdam. Mark’s designs include Look Back
in Anger, Wind in the Willows, Theme and Variations, Passengers, Naomi
and Chorus of Disapproval at Theatre Clwyd. He then designed Journeys
Among the Dead and Candide both at Riverside Studios, London. In 1989
he designed six productions as guest designer at the Theatre Royal Studio,
Plymouth including Rat in the Skull, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, and When
I was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout. Mark has also designed Hard Times
for the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham and subsequent tour, Sea Monkeys
for the Crucible Theatre Studio, Sheffield, Re-Development, for the Orange
Tree Theatre, Master Harold and The Boys, at Bristol Old Vic, and Ladders
and Snakes at Opera North. Current and future projects include Walpurgis
Night, at The Gate Theatre (Notting Hill), Broken Pieces for the Guildhall
and Judgement in Stone, a new musical based on the Ruth Rendell Novel
which opened at the Tramway, Glasgow before coming to the Lyric Theatre
Hammersmith. He is currently designing The Double Dealer for Jonathan
Miller at the Gate Theatre, Dublin.
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William Tuckett - Choreographer
William Tuckett joined The Royal Ballet Upper School in 1986 and, as a
student choreographed Going Underground (1986) which won the Ursula Moreton
Award, Boys & Girls (1986), created for the Wembley Save the Children
Gala, Between the Sheets (1986) and I am a Kenwood Mixer (1986) both for
Dance Umbrella at the ICA. For the latter he was the joint winner of a
Cosmopolitan Dance Award. In 1987, he choreographed On Classicism, performed
at the Royal Ballet School and winner of the Ursula Moreton Award, Private
Conversation for the Sportsman´s Trust Gala at the Royal Opera House
and Shropshire Lad for Dance Umbrella. The following year he created Plea
to Autumn as part of the celebrations to commemorate Dame Ninette de Valois´
90th birthday at the Royal Opera House and Bach Cello Suite for the Royal
Ballet School. William joined Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet (now The Birmingham
Royal Ballet) in September 1988 and performed in a wide variety of roles
in the company´s repertoire, including the Moor in Fokines Petrushka,
before transferring to The Royal Ballet in September 1990. He has created
three one-act works for The Birmingham Royal Ballet, Those Unheard (June
1989), Game (April 1990) and License My Roving Hands (May 1991). His first
work for The Royal Ballet Enclosure was premiered at the Royal Opera House
in August 1990, and was followed by his first work for the Rambert Dance
Company, Slippage (April 1991) and the choreography for The Royal Opera´s
new production of Capriccio (January 1991). Present Histories, William’s
second work for The Royal Ballet, was premiered in November 1991.
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Mark Henderson - Lighting Designer
Mark began working in the theatre in 1975 touring with opera and dance
companies as a lighting technician. Since 1978 he has lit over 300 productions
in the UK and overseas. Theatre credits include the London West End productions
of The Dresser, Family Reunion, The Corn is Green, Mr. Cinders, Not in
Front of the Audience, Mutiny, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Figaro, Spin of
the Wheel, Arturo Ui, Follies, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Girlfriends, The
Rink, Budgie, The Sneeze, Merchant of Venice, Stop the World, Gasping,
Carmen Jones, The Rose Tattoo, Beckett, The Philanderer, Sophisticated
Ladies, Heartbreak House. In 1992 he lit the touring production of My
Fair Lady. Mark has lit Rowan Atkinson’s last West End show and
his tours in the UK, Far East, Australia and Broadway and most recently
for the HBO in Boston. Work for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford
and London includes, Mephisto, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Churchill
Play, Richard II, Macbeth, Penny for a Song, Kiss me Kate, Measure for
Measure, Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest. His credits at the National
Theatre are; Cat on a Hot Tin Toof, The Shaughraun, The Changeling, The
Magic Olympical Games, Hedda Gabler, Hamlet, Beaux Stratagem, Ma Rainey’s
Black Bottom, Voysey Inheritance, Whale, Racing Demon, Long Day’s
Journey into Night, Neapolitan Millionairess, Murmering Judges, Pygmalion.
Opera credits include productions for English National Opera, National
Studio, Opera North, Hong Kong Opera, for Welsh National Opera this year,
Tosca and for the Royal Opera House this year, The Flying Dutchman, The
Judas Tree and Beatrix Potter. Ballet credits include Ballet Rambert,
London Contempory Dance, Sadlers Wells and the Royal Ballet.
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Bobby Aitken - Sound Designer
Bobby Aitken is a sound designer with the design and rental company, Autograph.
He has worked extensively in theatre and music both in the country and
throughout the world. His West End theatre sound design credits include
Lennon, Time, High Society, The Boyfriend, Metropolis, Children of Eden,
Return to the Forbidden Planet and From a Jack to a King.
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Graham Bickley - Bishop Daniel
Graham Bickley trained in both dance and drama at the Liverpool Theatre
School. He began his career working in TV and in Cabaret before making
his West End debut at the Shaftesbury Theatre in They´re Playing
Our Song in 1981. In 1982 he appeared in the highly acclaimed production
of Pirates Of Penzance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. During that same
year Graham also sang with the Bernard Herman Orchestra on Radio 2 and
made appearances in Mrs. Coles Music Hall at the Mill At Sonning and Juke
Box at the Astoria Theatre. Between 1984/6 Graham made several LP’s
and had numerous television and radio appearances as part of the very
popular vocal group Stutz Bear Cats. In 1986 he left the group to appear
in the national Theatre´s production of Jacques Brel Is Alive And
Well And Living In Paris and the revue Its Better With A Band at the Donmar
Warehouse. In 1987 Graham appeared in the Cameron Mackintosh musical Les
Miserables, first as Grantaire and then in the leading role of Marius.
He took time out from this to play the title role in a workshop production
of the new musical Matador at the Donmar Warehouse. In 1989 he played
the leading role of Stephen in Metropolis at the Piccadilly. Whilst starring
in the West End Graham was cast as Joey Boswell in Carla Lane´s
hit television series Bread. He recorded 26 episodes for BBC TV and played
in the stage show of Bread at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth and London´s
Dominion Theatre. Last year Graham recorded a further 13 episodes of Bread
and took part in the extensive provincial tour of the stageshow. He has
recently completed a successful run in the all-star production of Cinderella
at Richmond Theatre. Graham has recently returned to Les Miserables as
Enjolras in their limited season of special guest stars. He is currently
co-staring with Rosemary Ford in a new musical revue, The Greatest Shows
In Town, in Bournemouth.
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Jahn Teigen - The Executioner
Jahn Teigen performed throughout the 60’s and early 70’s with
Norwegian and British bands. Jahn represented Norway in the European finals
of the Eurovision Song Contest 3 times. His 1978 entry with the song Mile
After Mile earned him his infamous 0 points, and is to date one of the
more renowned Norwegian contributions to international music. Following
the Paris concert he released an album called This Years Looser and turned
the “failure” into a tremendous success. Jahn has written
and produced a great number of shows as part of a musical comedy group.
He has also played in several theatre productions in Norway; The Phantom´s
Merry Wedding, Summer in Tyrol and as Riff Raff in Rocky Horror Show.
In addition he has written and played the leading role in the comedy film
The tale of St. Olav. In May 1985 Jahn Teigen toured Scandinavia with
The London Symphony Orchestra before he and Anita Skorgan secured the
leading roles in the rock version of Puccini´s La Boheme for Wiener
Kammer-Oper. In 1987 he hosted the TV production Hallo Scandinavia and
appeared in Boheme ´87 at The Norwegian Opera House. In autumn 1988
he released the album Clown without a stage selling more than 100,000
copies. Later that year he hosted the Saturday night television youth
series A Whale of a Time. The following year Jahn released a compilation
album showing the broad variety of his music over the years. Jahn Teigen
has released a total of 26 albums and has won the Norwegian Grammy award
in 1972, 1978 and 1983. He was voted “Artist of the Year”
in 1979 and 1988 and in 1983 won the Knokke festival in Belgium. He has
toured the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany,
Holland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden. The role of
the Executioner from Which Witch was written specially for Jahn Teigen.
His first performance was at the premiere of the concert version at the
Bergen Festival in May 1987 and he has since performed at many of the
most important Which Witch concerts.
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Billy Hartman - Cardinal Gonzaga
Billy Hartman trained at Queen Margaret Drama School in Edinburgh. His
theatre work includes many fringe productions and rep. at Oldham: Perth;
Greenwich; Derby; Manchester Library; Southampton; Inverness; Leicester
Haymarket and singing with Opera North, Leeds. Touring Theatre includes:
playing Sylvio in A Servant of Two Masters for The Cambridge Theatre Co.,
The Seer in The Brahan Seer, Eden Court Theatre Scottish Tour, Touchstone
in As You Like It, Kent in King Lear for The Oxford Stage Co.; Massetto
in Don Giovanni and Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro for Music Theatre
Works in Glasgow (Mayfest), Stuttgart, Vienna (Festival and filmed for
TV) and The Barbican, London. Other London appearances include The Young
Elvis in Elvis (Astoria); Rick Slick in The Butler Did It (Arts); Isaac
in The Hired Man (Astoria); Willy in Homework (Battersea Arts); Bill Sykes
in Oliver! (Sadlers Wells) and Jebb, the father, in The Little Match Girl
(Orange Tree). Over 100 TV credits include leading roles in David Edgar’s
Trilogy Vote For Them, Minder, A Fairly Secret Army, Passing Clouds, Dear
Heart, Oh Boy, the award winning Screen Two Shadow On The Earth and, most
recently, Trainer, Civvies, Taggart and Head Over Heels. Billy has had
wide experience in variety, recording and playing bass in a number of
rock bands. His films include April Fools Day, Doody’s Dream and,
as Dougal, in Highlander.
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Vivien Parry - Anna Regina
Vivien trained at Arts Educational. Theatre Work includes: Bring Me Sunshine,
Bring Me Smiles at The New End. Up And Under, Just Between Ourselves,
Cinderella at Northampton. It’s A Girl, Beggars Opera at the Belgrade,
Coventry. Bel-Ami at Stratford East. The title role of Lysistrata for
Cracked Mirror Theatre Co. Mrs. Johnston in Willy Russell’s Blood
Brothers at The Albery. Television includes: Take Me Home, directed by
Jane Howell, Chimera, and The Bill. Vivien also does backing vocals for
The Band Charlie Dobres and This Perfect Life.
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Stig Rossen - Anton Fugger
Stig’s interest in performing started when he took up Ballroom Dancing
at the age of six and over the next twelve years, while developing his
dancing skills to competition level, stimulated his involvement in all
aspects of theatre. Stig’s career was interrupted in 1982 when he
was conscripted to The Royal Danish Life Guards. He spent three years
in the Army going through both Sergeant and Officer School, where he discovered
his passion for parachuting which stayed with him even when he eventually
left the Army in 1985, a First Lieutenant. Having now decided to become
a professional actor, Stig auditioned for Guildhall School of Music &
Drama, London in 1987 and was the first Dane to be accepted onto the Acting
Course. Three months prior to completing his studies, Stig attended an
open audition for Les Miserables, a musical he had seen seven times, and
in which it was his ambition to appear. Feeling confident, Stig chose
to sing Bring Him Home, the main number of Valjean, the leading character
in the show - a make or break decision, which was rewarded when he was
offered a place in the ensemble and understudying Valjean. So Stig left
Guildhall to join the Company and before he knew what had hit him, he
was asked to take over the lead after a mere three months in the Chorus.
He happily accepted and suddenly, at 28, the youngest actor ever to be
offered the role, he found himself playing a challenging character part
and demanding singing role in London’s West End. Whilst performing
eight taxing shows a week, Stig managed to find time to record and release
an album with a Danish symphony orchestra, Sonderjyllands Symfoniorkester.
The album Starry Starry Nights was released in September 1991 and went
gold in four months. In November and January, Stig and the Symphony Orchestra
did ten sell-out concerts in Denmark with English conductor David Firman,
who also conducted the album. Hoping to expand his already large Scandinavian
following, Stig sang the album in English and, of course, included Bring
Him Home! Having portrayed the part of Valjean for five hundred performances,
Stig left the show in January 1992 to challenge himself with other projects.
While rehearsing Which Witch he co-starred in a concert in Copenhagen
with Jose Carreras, Elaine Page and Tommy Körberg. Simultaneous with
his appearance in “Which Witch” Stig is preparing his third
album, to be released in 1993.
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Gay Soper - Gertrude
Gay Soper trained at LAMDA and has been playing leading roles in the West
End for over twenty years, beginning with Canterbury Tales at the Phoenix
in 1968. This was followed by productions such as the farce The Licentious
Fly at the Mermaid; Godspell at the Roundhouse and at Wyndhams with David
Essex and Jeremy Irons; Billy at Drury Lane as ‘Barbara’ opposite
Michael Crawford; Side by Side By Sondheim taking over from Julia Mackenzie;
Good by CP Taylor at the Aldwych for the Royal Shakespeare Co; The Mitford
Girls as ‘Debo’ at Chichester and the Globe; The Ratepayers
Iolanthe as ‘Phyllis’ at Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Phoenix;
and more recently, she spent three years at the Palace Theatre as ‘Madame
Thenardier’ to great acclaim in Les Miserables, which she then recorded
on the award winning CD, the symphonic recording of the entire score.
Gay has also worked extensively in the provinces and on tour in roles
as diverse as ‘Hilaret’ in Lock up Your Daughters; ‘Mrs
Darling’ in Peter Pan with George Cole and LuLu; all Betjeman’s
women characters in Betjemania also performing in New York and on TER
Records; ‘Dotty’ in Stoppards Jumpers; ‘Maria’
in Twelfth Night; Principal Boy in Chichester’s first pantomime
as ‘Jack’ in Jack and the Beanstalk to Frankie Howards Simple
Simon; and most recently ‘Mrs. Dexter’ in The Case of the
Dead Flamingo Dancer at Leatherhead. On television she has played everything
from modern drama - The Needle Match by Alan Plater, to Agatha Christie
and from The History of Mr. Polly as ‘Minnie Larkins’ to Remember
Jack Buchanan in which she played ‘Elsie Randolph’ opposite
Christopher Gable for STV. Her most recent appearance was a ‘Mrs.
Lippitsky’ in Moon and Son for the BBC, but she is probably best
known for the sit com series Romany Jones and the satirical series Rude
Health as ‘Veronica Sweet’, the long suffering wife of ‘Charles
Sweet” played by John Wells. The childrens series The Flumps made
her voices enormously popular - she played all the characters, sang the
songs and narrated the stories, and this was shown regularly on the Watch
with Mother lot for over ten years. Gay also enjoys a busy voice over
career - has appeared in many TV commercials and her latest venture has
been a recital which she helped to compile An Evening of Romance and Elegance
in which she narrates and reads poems from the Regency period. She is
delighted to have been given the honour of reciting some of Shelleys poetry
in Westminster Abbey this August to mark the Bi-centenary of Shelley’s
birth.
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Leo Andrew - Pier Luigi
Leo was born in South Wales and decided to pursue a theatrical career
after teaching in a Comprehensive School. His West-End credit include:
Chess as Anatoly Sergievsky, On Your Toes as Hank J. Smith, Joseph &
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Narrator, Underneath the Arches and
the R.S.C.’s production of Poppy. Other theatre credits include
Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (1981 National Tour), Anthony Hope in
Sweeney Todd and Bobby in Company, the 1983 Chichester Festival Season
playing Amiens in As You Like It and Malcolm in Macbeth, the world premiere
of The Final Furlong and a revue called Musical Chairs which he also choreographed.
Leo was also choreographer and assistant to John Dexter for the West-End
production of Gigi. Television work includes the BAFTA Tribute to Julie
Andrews, a TVS special with Max Wall and two Royal Variety Shows. Concert
work includes Chess and The Music of George Gershwin with the Odense Symphony
Orchestra and various concert galas at the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
with the Danish Concert Orchestra, The Music of Rogers and Hammerstein
with the London Pops Orchestra and many appearances on Radio 2’s
Friday Night is Music Night. Recent theatre work includes ‘The Counsel
for the Plaintiff’ in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury,
‘Simplicitas’ in The Arcadians, the role of ‘Edward
VIII’ in the new musical, The Windsors by Edward Scago and Les Reid,
The Best of Broadway at the Istanbul Theatre Festival and many concerts
with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra including most recently Expo ‘92
at Seville. Leo has just spent the summer appearing in The Greatest Shows
in Town at the BIC Centre in Bournemouth and playing the roles of ‘Peter’
and ‘Simon Zealotes’ in the 20th Anniversary Concert Spectacular
tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.
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John Ayldon - The Pope
John was principal bass with the original D’Oyly Carte Opera for
many years worldwide and recorded many Gilbert and Sullivan roles. His
credits include Pooh Bah in The Mikado, Old Adam in Ruddigore, Pelegrin
in The Count of Luxembourg (all for New Sadler’s Wells Opera), The
Sacristan in Tosca, Frank in Die Fledermaus for Welsh National Opera,
the title role in Don Pasquale, Geronimo in The Secret Marriage, Schaunard
in La Boheme, Canciano in School of Fathers, First Soldier in Salome and
many concert performances at The Albert Hall, The Festival Hall, The Barbican,
The Queen Elizabeth Hall and also in Hong Kong and Singapore. John recently
appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical The Phantom Of The
Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, in London. He is well known for
his many concert appearances throughout Britain.
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Sara Weymouth - Giulia
Since graduating from the Guildford School of Acting with the Student
Prize, Sara has worked extensively in theatre, playing seasons in Coventry,
Leicester, Manchester, Guildford, Salisbury, Chichester and Bristol. Productions
to date include: Charley’s Aunt, Ten Little Indians, Tarantara!,
Grease, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well, Rookery Nook, Merrily We Roll
Along, Seduced, The Birthday Party, Ghosts, Victory!, Culture Vultures,
War and Pieces and A Finer Kind of Feeling. Sara has starred in various
commercial pantomimes, has worked on the Fringe, and her West End credits
include Howard Goodall’s musical Girlfriends, Night of 100 Stars,
Bitter Sweet with New Sadlers Wells Opera. She spent six months at Chichester,
culminating in the transfer of A Little Night Music to the Piccadilly
Theatre, London, playing the part of Petra. Sara then went on to play
Jenny in Scottish Opera’s The Threepenny Opera and Nancy in a successful
run of Lionel Bart’s production of Oliver with the NYMT at Sadlers
Wells. Sara has worked with the BBC in Songs from the Shows and Friday
Night is Music Night for Radio 2. Theatre work in 1991 included the comedy
role of Gladys in the Bristol Old Vic’s production of Pal Joey followed
by a 14 week tour of the UK premiere of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated
Ladies. At Christmas Sara played Isobella in Puss in Boots at the Theatre
Royal, Windsor. Television work includes The Bill for Thames Television.
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Maria Kesselman - Maria Vittoria at certain performances
Maria trained at the Arts Educational School and made her professional
debut as a dancer with Festival Ballet (aged 11) in The Nutcracker at
the Royal Festival Hall. At 15 she danced the role of the Russian Girl
in Benjamin Britten’s opera Death in Venice at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden and the Aldeburgh Festival. After further study at the Guildhall
School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music with Marion Studholme,
she attained her ARCM and (dip) RCM and won a scholarship to study at
the Mozarteaum in Austria for the Salzburg Festival in 1986. Maria then
successfully auditioned for Andrew Lloyd-Webber to understudy the lead
role of Christine in the original London production of Phantom of the
Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the role she went on to play twice
a week for several months opposite Michael Crawford. A variety of theatre,
Radio and Concert work followed, including Jenny Lind in Barnum and the
original cast of Leslie Bricusse’s musical Sherlock Holmes. She
played Deanna Durbin in Benny Green’s touring production of Two
Smart Girls and sang excerpts from the show on BBC1’s Primetime
as a guest of David Jacobs. Most recently Maria received critical acclaim
for her performance as Melinda at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, in Gloria
Theatre’s musical adaptation of Ruth Rendell’s A Judgement
in Stone with Sheila Hancock. No stranger to the concert platform, Maria
has given solo performances at the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth
Hall, and regular recitals for the English National Opera of Kurt Weill’s
Broadway songs. She regularly appears as Star Singer on Friday Night Is
Music Night and the Steve Race Show for the BBC, and has appeared internationally
in cabaret.
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David Arneil - Blind
David was born in Glasgow and trained at the Royal Scottish Academy where
he was the recipient of the Hyacinth Havergal Award and the Duncan MacRae
Prize for Special Merit. His professional career started in Perth where
he appeared at the Repertory in A Christmas Carol and The Slab Boys. Further
appearances on the Scottish Fringe included The Hired Man, The Respectable
Wedding and the role of Horst in Bent before appearing at the Edinburgh
Festival in Busqueda and the Musical Revue Spread A Little Happiness.
In between these commitments David was a member of the A-Capella Group
Tom The Man And The Angry Reactions which performed at the People’s
Theatre, Newcastle, The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and the Tron Theatre
in Glasgow amongst others. There hasn’t been much time for television
so far but David appeared as Danny Ferguson in the Rogues Gallery episode
of Taggart for Scottish Television. David comes to Witch Which directly
from appearing as Jolie in Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre in London.
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Kerry-Jane Beddows - Flower Girl / Dance Captain
Kerry began her career as a classically trained dancer and later moved
across into mainstream theatre. Her West End credits include Children
of Eden at The Prince Edward Theatre, Velma in West Side Story, and Collette
and Anne Dindon in La Cage aux Folles, at the London Palladium. Amongst
her extensive provincial credits are the title role of Peter Pan at The
Opera House, Manchester, Polly Browne in The Boy Friend, Panacea in A
Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum at Bristol Old Vic, Go to
Hell Kitty in Chicago, Juliska in A Gypsy Princess at the Sadlers Wells
Theatre, the Day-by-Day girl in Godspell with Alvin Stardust and Bernie
in a new musical, Just Another Monday. She toured Europe with the American
cast of Hair in which she played the lead - Sheila. Her T.V. credits include
A Proper Little Nooreyeff for Yorkshire T.V. and shows with Harry Secombe,
Val Doonican and Paul Daniels. Kerry has recently returned from a World
Tour with The Stadium Theatre Company, and during rehearsals for Which
Witch, she will be spending her Sundays at The Barbican in One Touch of
Venus.
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Derek Joshua Cullen - Cardinal Gonzaga’s Assistant / Acrobat
Derek Joshua Cullen was born in Swansea and has been involved with Theatre
from an early age. As a member of the West Glamorgan Contemporary Dance
Company he performed in a Gala for the Prince and Princess of Wales and
appeared in numerous pantomimes, summer seasons and variety shows throughout
the country. In 1984 Derek won the Cosmopolitan Young Dancer of the Year
which awarded him a scholarship to train at the Bush Davies School. In
1985 he won Saturday Superstores Search for a Star which resulted in many
TV guest appearances including Wogan. Having completed his training Derek
was cast in the West End production of Cats being the youngest artist
to ever dance the lead role of Mistoffoles. Other theatre credits include,
Louis in The King and I, Bobby in The Boyfriend, Private Harwin in Winnie
and Harry Mossop in Sherlock Holmes The Musical. In the Palladium charity
gala Stairway To The Stars Derek had the honour of dancing with Cheta
Revera. Returning to Cats Derek played the roles of Skimbleshanks, Coricopat,
Bill Bailey and Mungojerrie. Derek’s Film and Television credits
include, Anna, Great Balls of Fire, Lipstick on Your Collar, The Paul
Daniels Christmas Special, The Royal Variety Show, Maxwell’s House
with Wayne Sleep, The Little and Large Show, The Les Dennis Christmas
Special, and Supermarket a feature film in which Derek played the dramatic
lead role of Thomas. Derek has recently had the pleasure of choreographing
Catherine Zeta Jones in her debut Pop Video. Derek has recorded a number
of his own compositions and dedicates most of his spare time to composing
and song-writing.
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Julian Forsyth - Jailor
Theatre: Includes The Blue Angel and Measure for Measure (RSC), Fagin
in Oliver! (Sadler’s Wells), Lulu with Joanne Whalley-Kilmer and
Scenes from an Execution with Glenda Jackson (both Almeida), Les Miserables
(Palace Theatre), Oedipus (Royal Exchange), Mephistopheles in Goethe’s
Faust, Danton’s Death (both Young Vic), and repertory at Birmingham,
Leicester, York, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Belfast, Exeter, Perth, and Farnham
in roles ranging from Noel Coward in Noel and Gertie and Algernon in The
Importance of Being Earnest to Snoopy, Black Dog and Fungus the Bogeyman.
TV: This is David Harper, Poirot, Wogan, Heroes. Recordings include Fagin
in Oliver! on the TER label with Sheila Hancock and Josephine Barstow.
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Paul Gyngell - Doctor
Paul Gyngell has had a long and varied career in all aspects of show business.
His many credits to date include the lead role of ‘Tommy’
in the R.S.C’s production of ‘Carrie’ in Stratford and
on Broadway, he created the role of ‘Leopard’ in Just So directed
by Julia Mackenzie, Moll Flanders directed by Wendy Toye, Tom Browns School
Days by Peter Coe, Bud n’ Ches National Tour, Joseph at the Albery,
The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Prince Edward Theatre with Sarah
Brightman, and recently toured England starring in The Wonderful West
End as well as recently returning from Seville following his appearance
in the Royal Gala Concert of the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber for Expo
‘92 with Sarah Brightman, Michael Ball etc. in the presence of HRH
Prince and Princess of Wales. Television includes presenting The Children’s
Royal Variety Show and appearing in the Royal Variety’s Tribute
to Cameron Mackintosh, The Look of Love directed by Gillian Lynn, soloist
in Name that Tune, 3-2-1, Starburst, Live from Her Majesty’s, Rory
Bremner and There’s More, a comedy series with Brian Conley and
Jimmy Cricket. Paul also travelled to Australia to sing with the Western
Australia Symphony Orchestra and has released records with both MCA and
Music UK.
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Stephen Hanley - Doctor
Yorkshire born and proud of it! Stephen originally trained as a theatre
designer with the National Theatre of at the Old Vic in 1971/2 and followed
a very successful career in theatre and fashion design until 1983, at
which time he turned to a full time singing and acting career. Credits
from that date include radio performances for the BBC, opera performances
in Wolf Ferrari’s Susanna’s Secret, Donald Swann’s The
Road Goes Ever On and Perelandra and his first full-length opera broadcast
in Anthony Hedges, Shadow in the Sun. Concert performances include guest
appearances with Max Jaffa, Edwin Harper and Donald Swann and the stage
presentation of We Are Not Amused. Major musicals at the Manchester Opera
House: Evita and the Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance. He has
made four world cruises, directing, designing and performing leading roles
in The Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, Dial M For Murder, The
Odd Couple, Blithe Spirit, White Horse Inn and The Boyfriend to mention
but a few. He appeared in the new musical Some Enchanted Evening at the
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford and the Chichester Festival Theatre;
this was followed by two productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney
Todd, at Perth and Chelmsford in the role of Judge and in a new musical
adaptation of Great Expectations at the Liverpool Playhouse. During October
1989, Stephen recorded the first of a series of programmes for the popular
Radio 2 series Songs from the Shows. In February 1990, he returned to
the National Theatre, this time as a performer, for the British premiere
of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday In The Park With George. TV credits
include Jewel in the Crown, Crown Court, Harry’s Game, The Bounder,
Enemies of the State, Calendar and Look North. More recently, Stephen
created the role of the Professor in the Peter Hall production of the
new musical Born Again at Chichester Festival Theatre, followed by a year
in the famous West End production of Phantom of the Opera.
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Tammi Jacobs - Townswoman
Trained at the Royal Ballet and Arts Educational Schools. Theatre includes
seasons at The Royal Opera House, The Royal Court, Bristol Old Vic and
Nottingham Playhouse. Productions include Death of a Salesman, Pravda,
Lucy Lockett in The Beggars Opera and the national tour of Cats. Most
recently Les Miserables playing Madame Thenardier on many occasions. Tammi
has worked extensively on radio. Television credits include Angels, The
Gentle Touch and The Squad. On film Quadrophenia, Bloody Kids and Icedance.
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Stephanie Johns - Swing
After a two year dance and drama course, Stephanie’s first professional
role was in Gypsy playing the part of Dainty June (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield),
she later returned to play the title role in Cinderella and principal
roles in Godspell. Further credits include: Isobel in The Pirates Of Penzance
(Theatre Royal, Plymouth), Gertie in Oklahoma! (UK tour), Damn Yankees
(Birmingham Repertory), Chicago (Oldham Repertory), The leading role of
Ruby in Hold Tight It’s Sixties Night (UK tour). Charity Shows include
My One and Only (London Palladium) and Howard Goodalls Girlfriends (The
Arts). Stephanie’s most recent appearance was in Aspects Of Love
in which she understudied and played Giulietta Trapani.
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Barbara King - Claudia
Barbara King trained at the Arts Educational School in Tring and on the
musical theatre course in London. She made her professional debut in Puss
In Boots at the Thorndike Theatre, Deatherhead. Her West End performances
include two successful years starring as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at
the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, during which time she appeared in the 1985
and 1986 Royal Variety Performances. She recently completed a three year
run in the cast of Cats; in which she played Demeter and Rumpleteazer,
both in the West End and on the national tour. Other theatre work includes
the national tour of the Rodgers and Hart musical, The Girlfriend, playing
the title role opposite Patrick Mower, Francesa in West Side Story at
the Nottingham Playhouse, principal girl in Mother Goose at Leatherhead
and Kitty Brown in The Girlfriend at the Mercury, Colchester. At the Theatre
Royal, York, Barbara appeared in the British premiere of Seven Brides
for Seven Brothers playing Alice, Cinderella and the principal girl in
Humpty Dumpty. She can also be heard on the original cast recording of
The Girlfriend.
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Samantha Lavender - First Witch
Samantha studied voice with Patricia Clark at the Royal Academy of Music
in London and graduated in the summer of 1989. As well as extensive experience
in the field of opera, she appeared in the National Tour of the musical
Chess directed by Anthony Van Laast. She also appeared in the Sondheim
Charity Gala Being Alive at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow. Most recently,
Samantha played a Nun in the National Tour of The Sound of Music directed
by Wendy Toye, and understudied and played Sister Margaretta.
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Peter Ledbury - Doctor
Peter Ledbury trained at The Guildhall School Of Music And Drama. His
credits include Richard Herncastle in Lost Empires, Cambridge Theatre
Company, Hortensio in Kiss Me Kate, Royal Shakespeare Company, Feuilly
in Les Miserables, Palace Theatre, The Steward in the West End Premiere
of Into The Woods, Pheonix, and he created the role of The Broker in The
Hunting Of The Snark, Prince Edward. Since this is his third original
West End Show, bearing in mind the fortunes of the other two, he hopes
it’s third time lucky! TV credits include: T. Bag (Thames), Hannay
(LWT), and Casualty.
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Michael McLean - Swing
Michael McLean was trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,
where he won the Caird scholarship. He made his professional debut as
Frosch, the drunken jailer, in the newly-formed Opera 80 production of
Die Fledermaus. After several seasons with regional theatres playing an
assortment of roles in opera, musical theatre and plays, Michael moved
to the West End to appear in a variety of productions including Daisy
Pulls It Off, The Messiah, Spin The Wheel, Lend Me A Tenor, Chess, Les
Misérables and, most recently, the Ken Hill production of The Phantom
of the Opera.
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Tim Morgan - Archdeacon
Tim Morgan was born in Treorchy and studied as an actor at the Welsh College
of Music and Drama before taking a postgraduate course in singing. He
has made many broadcasts for Radio Wales and appeared in an opera master
class with Dame Joan Hammond on television. He was recently awarded the
Wolfson Foundation Singing Prize. Tim Morgan’s roles include Macheath
The Beggar’s Opera, Aeneas Dido and Aeneas, Noel Coward Cowardy
Custard and the Mad Hatter Alice in Wonderland. With the D’Oyly
Carte Opera Company he sang Dick Deadeye, Sergeant of Police, Ko-Ko, Strephon
and Antonio The Gondoliers. With Welsh National Opera he appeared as Malatesta
Don Pasquale and with DGOS Opera Ireland as Silvano Un Ballo In Maschera.
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Kevin A.J. Ranson - The Burgermeister
Kevin was last in the West End playing Miguel in Matador at the Queens
Theatre. His other West End credits include the Purser in Anything Goes
at the Prince Edward Theatre, The Fire Chief in Phantom of the Opera also
playing Piangi and Monsieur Andre on numerous occasions, Kismet at the
Shaftesbury, My Fair Lady and an original cast member of Me and My Girl
both at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Mr. Throttle in The Mystery
of Edwin Drood at the Savoy. His most recent provincial work includes
The Sunset Boulevard at Sydmonton Festival, Follow The Star at Chichester.
Also other roles include the title role and Tupman in Pickwick, Pontius
Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Old Father Time and Paddock in The Arcadians,
Sleek in The Gingerbread Man, Roy Hudd’s Old Thyme Music Hall, pantomime
and summer shows. Recent Film and television work has been Duet For One,
King and Castle and a well known beer commercial. When relaxing Kevin
can be found in his garden or kitchen, playing golf or at his local -
but not necessarily in that order!
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Joanne Robley-Dixon - Cardinal Gonzaga’s Assistant / Acrobat
Joanne trained as a dancer at the London School of Contemporary Dance.
She is also trained as a gymnast. Her career in Musicals includes Barnum
with Michael Crawford, 42nd Street at Drury Lane, Jesus Christ Superstar
on tour, Hello Dolly and Notre Dame at the Fire Station, Oxford. She also
played The Princess in Stravinski’s Soldiers Tale for Birmingham
Music Theatre. During Barnum Joanne learned many circuit skills, which
gave her the opportunity to play the trapeze artist in Circus Senso at
the Edinburgh Festival, a touring show of Circus Burlesque, and an International
and British tour with Ra-Ra Zoo Theatre Circus, and also a season in a
traditional Big Top with Austen Brothers Circus performing a web act.
Joanne has performed in Television Commercials, Children’s TV and
in the films, Blue Money, Madame Suzatska and the BBC version of Barnum.
Having played in many theatres up and down the country, Joanne is happy
to be back in the West End and learning more aerial skills.
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Samantha Shaw - Witch
Samantha Shaw trained at Arts Educational. Her repertory theatre credits
include Audrey in The Little Shop of Horrors, Dorothy in The Wizard of
Oz, Godspell at Theatre Clwyd. Donna Rosita at Bristol Old Vic. Mary in
Its A Girl at York, Annie at Colchester. Dot in Silver Lady at Birmingham.
Laura in From A Jack To A King, Balthazar in Romeo and Juliet, Alice in
Dick Whitington And His Kool Kool Cat at the Everyman Theatre Liverpool.
National Tours: Be Bop a Lula, Oliver, Just A Verse and Chorus, Mr. Cinders.
West End productions include Oliver at the Aldwych, Chess at The Prince
Edward and Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre in which she played the
factory girl. Samantha also played the role of Fantine at various performances.
Samantha’s television credits include: Victoria Wood As Seen On
TV and Let’s Pretend. Other engagements include appearing as a member
of the Stephen Hill Singers and Nigel Brooks Singers in concert tours
and at the Barbican and on radio broadcasts. Also trade shows and conference
work. Samantha was a featured backing vocalist for Joe Longthorne and
worked with him on numerous cabaret and television appearances.
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Karen Skinns - Witch
Karen’s appearance in Aspects of Love marked her West End debut.
Her previous roles include Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar), Polly
Browne (The Boyfriend), Sybil (Private Lives), Mabel (Pirates of Penzance),
Swetlana Sergiesvsky and Florence Vassey (Chess) and she recently appeared
in Merrily We Roll Along at the Leicester Haymarket. She has appeared
on BBC’s Scene Today and the concert recording of Bernadette and
was recently invited to sing the part of Christine (Phantom of the Opera)
at a Royal Gala Concert for the Duke and Duchess of York.
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Issy Van Randwyck - Blind
The unknown quantity of the dodgy Dutchy - closet clog collector, makes
her West End debut. Has recently appeared at the Pizza on the Park in
her own revue Life is a Minestrone and with Larry Adler at Pizza on the
Park, The Edinburgh Festival (’91) and the Purcell Room. Other cabaret
credits include eighteen months as the only ‘real’ girl in
the revue at Madame Jo Jo, Queen’s of the Night with Denice Wharmby
and Kate Percival, tour of India for Taj Group of Hotels, Jakarta Kermis
‘91 music festival (Indonesia). Theatre work includes By Jupiter
(Rodgers & Hart) at the Barbican, Love Life (Weill & Lerner) at
the Theatre Museum and Two’s Company at Southwold Summer Theatre
‘92 with Peter Reeves. She has also worked in film and TV - First
Impressions, Life is a Bird called Paradise, P’s & Q’s
(BBC 2) with Tony Slattery and several European chat shows. Recording
work includes work with Malcolm McLaren for the title track of Carry On
Columbus.
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Steen Young - Swing
Steen was born in Fettercairn, Scotland, and trained in Performing Arts
at the Thamesdown College in Swindon, Doreen Bird’s and Steps New
York. He has gained varied experience in Bolero - London Festival Ballet.
Cinderella - Scottish Ballet. In Equus he played the leading role of Alan
Strang, Chino in the national tour of West Side Story and Snowboy in the
Dublin production. He was also in the West End revival of Song and Dance
at the Shaftesbury Theatre which led him to understudy and play Tom Thumb
in the U.K. tour of Barnum. He is also the Scottish Kung Fu champion and
has recently gained his “high grade” in weaponry, taking him
closer to his goal of becoming a stunt man. His T.V. and film credits
include stunt doubling for Bob Geldof in his video Room 19. Playing cameo
roles in Godspell and Never Come Back which led him to appearing in the
American film The Pebble and the Penguin, releasing next year, where he
was able to use his circus and martial arts skills to the full.
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Biographies for 1993 Summer Tour as per June 1993
Benedicte Adrian - Maria Vittoria / Witch
Ingrid Bjørnov - Musical Director / Keyboards
Benedicte Adrian (born 22. Oct. 1963) and Ingrid Bjørnov (born 5.
Dec. 1963) met in the sandbox at the age of 2. They began their musical
education at an early age, and their friendship throughout childhood developed
into a musical partnership. At the age of fifteen they were offered a
recording contract by Ole A. Sørli, and the pop duo Dollie was a reality.
Their self-composed debut album “First Act” (1980) turned gold, sold over
50,000 units and won the group a Norwegian Grammy as the youngest artists
ever. Two more albums, “Dollie´s Diary” and “Limelight”, were released
before the girls left high school in 1982. In 1984 their artist name was
changed to Dollie de Luxe before the release of their fourth album, containing
Norway’s Eurovision Song Contest entry for that year. By this time Adrian
and Bjørnov had matured into two exceptional and individual talents. Adrian,
always the lead singer of the two, had been training her voice professionally,
and at the age of twenty it was clear that she possessed a rare and brilliant
coloratura soprano. Bjørnov, with the most sophisticated keyboard technology
at her fingertips, had begun to arrange and orchestrate the group’s music.
With the unlike combination of a Mozart aria and a Rolling Stones classic,
the single “Queen of the Night / Satisfaction” was released in late 1984.
Its success was remarkable and with the album “Rock vs. Opera” released
in 15 countries, Dollie de Luxe found their long deserved international
recognition. 1985 and 1986 were spent touring Scandinavia and Europe,
giving numerous television appearances and concerts. In October 1986 Dollie
de Luxe performed at Expo ´86 in Vancouver, Canada. Their first concerts
at the 1500-seat Xerox Theatre played to capacity and the organizers had
to re-open the 4000-seat Expo Theatre for the group to play the four final
days. Again Dollie de Luxe received standing ovations from capacity audiences,
earning them the label “discovery of the World Exposition”. Following
the success of Rock vs. Opera, the path was clear to combine this new
style with original music. Thus Bjørnov, Adrian and Sørli came to be exclusively
engaged in Which Witch, an operamusical based on an extraordinary event
described in “Malleus Maleficarum”, a 15th century handbook for witch
trials. The concert version of Which Witch was originally commissioned
for the Bergen International Festival where it premiered on May 27th,
1987. With Bjørnov leading the band, Adrian starring as Maria Vittoria,
it played to an audience of both rock fans and opera lovers, united in
their rapturous appreciation. The following summer the concert version
was performed in North America to audiences averaging more than 2000 people.
Both 1989 and 1990 were spent with the Which Witch concert tour, and except
for a “creative break” in 1991, touring was the main activity, besides
further developing work on the opera musical. On Midsummer’s night 1992,
in the midst of the team’s preparations for the West End production, the
concert version played to an audience of over 16,000 people at the Holmenkollen
ski jump, an all-time Norwegian record. In addition to their work leading
up to the West End production, Adrian and Bjørnov in 1992 have given a
series of promotional concerts in the Nordic countries and in London.
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Johnny Logan – Bishop Daniel
Johnny Logan is the only artist, who’s won the Eurovision Song Contest
three times – twice as singer and composer, and once as composer, all
of them for Ireland. As well as being popular for his participation in
The Eurovision, he also is a well respected composer and artist with a
wide variety in his music – he has sung with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
and Elvis Presley’s band. He has preformed in front of a full audience
in 33 countries, and was one of the first western artists who often preformed
in the Eastern Block countries. The role as Bishop Daniel was Logan’s
first big part in a musical, even though he’d had a part in “Adam and
Eve” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Starlight Express”.
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Billy Hartman - Cardinal Gonzaga
Billy Hartman trained at Queen Margaret Drama School in Edinburgh.
His theatre work includes many fringe productions and rep. at Oldham:
Perth; Greenwich; Derby; Manchester Library; Southampton; Inverness; Leicester
Haymarket and singing with Opera North, Leeds. Touring Theatre includes:
playing Sylvio in A Servant of Two Masters for The Cambridge Theatre Co.,
The Seer in The Brahan Seer, Eden Court Theatre Scottish Tour, Touchstone
in As You Like It, Kent in King Lear for The Oxford Stage Co.; Massetto
in Don Giovanni and Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro for Music Theatre
Works in Glasgow (Mayfest), Stuttgart, Vienna (Festival and filmed for
TV) and The Barbican, London. Other London appearances include The Young
Elvis in Elvis (Astoria); Rick Slick in The Butler Did It (Arts); Isaac
in The Hired Man (Astoria); Willy in Homework (Battersea Arts); Bill Sykes
in Oliver! (Sadlers Wells) and Jebb, the father, in The Little Match Girl
(Orange Tree). Over 100 TV credits include leading roles in David Edgar’s
Trilogy Vote For Them, Minder, A Fairly Secret Army, Passing Clouds, Dear
Heart, Oh Boy, the award winning Screen Two Shadow On The Earth and, most
recently, Trainer, Civvies, Taggart and Head Over Heels. Billy has had
wide experience in variety, recording and playing bass in a number of
rock bands. His films include April Fools Day, Doody’s Dream and, as Dougal,
in Highlander.
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Vivien Parry - Anna Regina
Vivien trained at Arts Educational. Theatre Work includes: Bring Me
Sunshine, Bring Me Smiles at The New End. Up And Under, Just Between Ourselves,
Cinderella at Northampton. It’s A Girl, Beggars Opera at the Belgrade,
Coventry. Bel-Ami at Stratford East. The title role of Lysistrata for
Cracked Mirror Theatre Co. Mrs. Johnston in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers
at The Albery. Television includes: Take Me Home, directed by Jane Howell,
Chimera, and The Bill. Vivien also does backing vocals for The Band Charlie
Dobres and This Perfect Life.
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Paul Gyngell – Anton Fugger
Paul Gyngell has had a long and varied career in all aspects of show
business. His many credits to date include the lead role of ‘Tommy’ in
the R.S.C’s production of ‘Carrie’ in Stratford and on Broadway, he created
the role of ‘Leopard’ in Just So directed by Julia Mackenzie, Moll Flanders
directed by Wendy Toye, Tom Browns School Days by Peter Coe, Bud n’ Ches
National Tour, Joseph at the Albery, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
at the Prince Edward Theatre with Sarah Brightman, and recently toured
England starring in The Wonderful West End as well as recently returning
from Seville following his appearance in the Royal Gala Concert of the
Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber for Expo ‘92 with Sarah Brightman, Michael
Ball etc. in the presence of HRH Prince and Princess of Wales. Television
includes presenting The Children’s Royal Variety Show and appearing in
the Royal Variety’s Tribute to Cameron Mackintosh, The Look of Love directed
by Gillian Lynn, soloist in Name that Tune, 3-2-1, Starburst, Live from
Her Majesty’s, Rory Bremner and There’s More, a comedy series with Brian
Conley and Jimmy Cricket. Paul also travelled to Australia to sing with
the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra and has released records with
both MCA and Music UK.
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Julian Forsyth – Pier Luigi
Theatre: Includes The Blue Angel and Measure for Measure (RSC), Fagin
in Oliver! (Sadler’s Wells), Lulu with Joanne Whalley-Kilmer and Scenes
from an Execution with Glenda Jackson (both Almeida), Les Miserables (Palace
Theatre), Oedipus (Royal Exchange), Mephistopheles in Goethe’s Faust,
Danton’s Death (both Young Vic), and repertory at Birmingham, Leicester,
York, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Belfast, Exeter, Perth, and Farnham in roles
ranging from Noel Coward in Noel and Gertie and Algernon in The Importance
of Being Earnest to Snoopy, Black Dog and Fungus the Bogeyman. TV: This
is David Harper, Poirot, Wogan, Heroes. Recordings include Fagin in Oliver!
On the TER label with Sheila Hancock and Josephine Barstow.
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Maria Kesselman - Giulia
Maria trained at the Arts Educational School and made her professional
debut as a dancer with Festival Ballet (aged 11) in The Nutcracker at
the Royal Festival Hall. At 15 she danced the role of the Russian Girl
in Benjamin Britten’s opera Death in Venice at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden and the Aldeburgh Festival. After further study at the Guildhall
School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music with Marion Studholme,
she attained her ARCM and (dip) RCM and won a scholarship to study at
the Mozarteaum in Austria for the Salzburg Festival in 1986. Maria then
successfully auditioned for Andrew Lloyd-Webber to understudy the lead
role of Christine in the original London production of Phantom of the
Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the role she went on to play twice a week
for several months opposite Michael Crawford. A variety of theatre, Radio
and Concert work followed, including Jenny Lind in Barnum and the original
cast of Leslie Bricusse’s musical Sherlock Holmes. She played Deanna Durbin
in Benny Green’s touring production of Two Smart Girls and sang excerpts
from the show on BBC1’s Primetime as a guest of David Jacobs. Most recently
Maria received critical acclaim for her performance as Melinda at the
Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, in Gloria Theatre’s musical adaptation of Ruth
Rendell’s A Judgement in Stone with Sheila Hancock. No stranger to the
concert platform, Maria has given solo performances at the Royal Festival
Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, and regular recitals for the English National
Opera of Kurt Weill’s Broadway songs. She regularly appears as Star Singer
on Friday Night Is Music Night and the Steve Race Show for the BBC, and
has appeared internationally in cabaret.
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Biographies for 1994 Summer Concerts as per
June 1994
Benedicte Adrian - Maria Vittoria / Witch
Ingrid Bjørnov - Musical Director / Keyboards
Benedicte Adrian (born 22. Oct. 1963) and Ingrid Bjørnov (born 5.
Dec. 1963) met in the sandbox at the age of 2. They began their musical
education at an early age, and their friendship throughout childhood developed
into a musical partnership. At the age of fifteen they were offered a
recording contract by Ole A. Sørli, and the pop duo Dollie was a reality.
Their self-composed debut album “First Act” (1980) turned gold, sold over
50,000 units and won the group a Norwegian Grammy as the youngest artists
ever. Two more albums, “Dollie´s Diary” and “Limelight”, were released
before the girls left high school in 1982. In 1984 their artist name was
changed to Dollie de Luxe before the release of their fourth album, containing
Norway’s Eurovision Song Contest entry for that year. By this time Adrian
and Bjørnov had matured into two exceptional and individual talents. Adrian,
always the lead singer of the two, had been training her voice professionally,
and at the age of twenty it was clear that she possessed a rare and brilliant
coloratura soprano. Bjørnov, with the most sophisticated keyboard technology
at her fingertips, had begun to arrange and orchestrate the group’s music.
With the unlike combination of a Mozart aria and a Rolling Stones classic,
the single “Queen of the Night / Satisfaction” was released in late 1984.
Its success was remarkable and with the album “Rock vs. Opera” released
in 15 countries, Dollie de Luxe found their long deserved international
recognition. 1985 and 1986 were spent touring Scandinavia and Europe,
giving numerous television appearances and concerts. In October 1986 Dollie
de Luxe performed at Expo ´86 in Vancouver, Canada. Their first concerts
at the 1500-seat Xerox Theatre played to capacity and the organizers had
to re-open the 4000-seat Expo Theatre for the group to play the four final
days. Again Dollie de Luxe received standing ovations from capacity audiences,
earning them the label “discovery of the World Exposition”. Following
the success of Rock vs. Opera, the path was clear to combine this new
style with original music. Thus Bjørnov, Adrian and Sørli came to be exclusively
engaged in Which Witch, an operamusical based on an extraordinary event
described in “Malleus Maleficarum”, a 15th century handbook for witch
trials. The concert version of Which Witch was originally commissioned
for the Bergen International Festival where it premiered on May 27th,
1987. With Bjørnov leading the band, Adrian starring as Maria Vittoria,
it played to an audience of both rock fans and opera lovers, united in
their rapturous appreciation. The following summer the concert version
was performed in North America to audiences averaging more than 2000 people.
Both 1989 and 1990 were spent with the Which Witch concert tour, and except
for a “creative break” in 1991, touring was the main activity, besides
further developing work on the opera musical. On Midsummer’s night 1992,
in the midst of the team’s preparations for the West End production, the
concert version played to an audience of over 16,000 people at the Holmenkollen
ski jump, an all-time Norwegian record. In addition to their work leading
up to the West End production, Adrian and Bjørnov in 1992 have given a
series of promotional concerts in the Nordic countries and in London.
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Paul-Ottar Haga – Bishop Daniel
Paul-Ottar Haga comes from a farming family in Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag.
He grew up with Stiklestad as his closest neighbour and
has been able to evolve through 20 years of acting in “Olavsspelet”. He
graduated from Statens Teaterhøyskole in 1990, then made his début as
the main character Archbishop Olav Engelbrektson in “St. Olavs Skrin”
at The Norwegian Theatre, and has been tied to The Norwegian Theatre ever
since. He has performed in plays such as: Antigone, “Medmenneske”, Merchant
of Venice, The Threepenny Opera, Three Sisters and Cyrano de Bergerac.
One of his greatest roles was playing Peer Gynt in 1993’s great TV production
by NRK. 1994 also saw Paul-Ottar in William Shakespeare’s Trolius and
Cressida, at The Norwegian Theatre.
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Inger Lise Rypdal – Anna Regina
Inger Lise Rypdal was born in Toten and had her début in Romeo and
Juliet in 1968, followed by the hit “Mrs. Johnsen” in 1969. She recorded
more than 20 LP’s and her first film role was Dear Maren in 1976. She
also played in Lucie, Over the Boarder, and in two Swedish films, “Vandring
I Solen” and “Enkel Resa”, as well as a few smaller parts. She has also
done well in the theatre and cabaret section, with quite a few performances.
Her last three successes have been “Æille Menneskja Mine” in 1991, “Piaf”
in 1992 and “Trost I Taklampa” in 1993.
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Jahn Teigen - The Executioner
Jahn Teigen performed throughout the 60’s and early 70’s with Norwegian
and British bands. Jahn represented Norway in the European finals of the
Eurovision Song Contest 3 times. His 1978 entry with the song Mile After
Mile earned him his infamous 0 points, and is to date one of the more
renowned Norwegian contributions to international music. Following the
Paris concert he released an album called This Years Looser and turned
the “failure” into a tremendous success. Jahn has written and produced
a great number of shows as part of a musical comedy group. He has also
played in several theatre productions in Norway; The Phantom’s Merry Wedding,
Summer in Tyrol and as Riff Raff in Rocky Horror Show. In addition he
has written and played the leading role in the comedy film The tale of
St. Olav. In May 1985 Jahn Teigen toured Scandinavia with The London Symphony
Orchestra before he and Anita Skorgan secured the leading roles in the
rock version of Puccini’s La Boheme for Wiener Kammer-Oper. In 1987 he
hosted the TV production Hallo Scandinavia and appeared in Boheme ´87
at The Norwegian Opera House. In autumn 1988 he released the album Clown
without a stage selling more than 100,000 copies. Later that year he hosted
the Saturday night television youth series A Whale of a Time. The following
year Jahn released a compilation album showing the broad variety of his
music over the years. Jahn Teigen has released a total of 26 albums and
has won the Norwegian Grammy award in 1972, 1978 and 1983. He was voted
“Artist of the Year” in 1979 and 1988 and in 1983 won the Knokke festival
in Belgium. He has toured the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, England,
Finland, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
The role of the Executioner from Which Witch was written specially for
Jahn Teigen. His first performance was at the premiere of the concert
version at the Bergen Festival in May 1987 and he has since performed
at many of the most important Which Witch concerts.
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Njål Sparbo – Cardinal Gonzaga
Njål Sparbo was born in Gothenburg, but grew up in Oslo. He has worked
as a freelance singer since 1989, and after his official début in 1991
he became one of Norway’s most promising romance singers. He has been
on tour with “Rikskonsertene” in cooperation with pianist Einar Steen-Nøkleberg,
he has had TV programs on NRK, and has recorded his first CD with songs
from Grieg and Schubert. In the autumn of 1993 he held his own concert,
called Russian Evening, with pianist Einar Henning Smedbye. Sparbo has
performed at a lot of festivals in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Island, Italy,
Spain, France and England, as romance singer and as a soloist in different
oratories. He has also participated in the quartet Quattro Stagioni, in
the new music ensemble Cikada and BIT 20. Earlier he has had different
roles at The Norwegian Opera, Oslo Summer Opera, Sandefjord Opera, Trondheim
Opera, Riksopera and Opera Mobile.
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Magne Lindholm – Pier Luigi
Magne Lindholm was born and raised in Skien and is a pillar in Norwegian
music theatre. He is employed by The Norwegian Theatre; he has been there
since 1970 when he had his début in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
He has also been a guest at The Norwegian Opera, where he played the part
of Colline in La Boheme and in Brygge Theatre, where he played Baghere
in The Jungle Book, and got outstanding critics. At The Norwegian Theatre
he has had major roles in “Bør Børsom Jr.”, “Kjæm Du I Kveld”, Romeo And
Juliet, “Jeppe”, “Så Lenge Skuta Kan Gå”, “Piaf”, West Side Story, ”Trost
I Taklampa”, Les Miserables and ”Emil I Lønneberget”. He has also been
performing in many other areas of the entertainment industry.
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Veslemøy Solberg – Giulia
Veslemøy Solberg was raised in Bø in Telemark. There she worked mainly
with folk music and later on went to Bergen, where she took part in many
cabarets, musicals and in a jazz band. She is originally an accountant
and has a degree in the Nordic languages from the University in Bergen.
From 1991 onwards Veslemøy has worked professionally, and she became a
full time artist in 1993. The summer of 1991 she participated in Ole Paus’
summer cabaret in Bergen. This landed her a part as a singer and actress
in Rune Larsen’s Casablanca series on TV 2 in 1992. In 1993 she was a
member of the women trio The Sweetmints, played Mother Christmas in Per
Asplin’s “Putti Plutti Pott” and herself created a CD singing poems
by Halldis Moren Vesaas. She performed in Gustav Lorentzen’s TV-series
First Class and in Parents’ Meeting on NRK.
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Stig Krogstad – Anton Fugger
Stig Krogstad was born in Bergen where he made his début in Kiss Me
Kate in 1990. Later on he played in Chess and Aida at The Bergen Opera,
and then went on to Romerike College in 1991/1992. He now lives in Denmark,
where he attended drama classes at Herning College and now performs at
The Copenhagen Theatre. He has had parts such as Daddy Warbucks in Annie,
Sitting Bull in Annie Get Your Gun, and has landed major parts in Les
Miserables and Cabaret. In 1993 he participated in NRK’s “Tett på Dollie
de Luxe”, where he preformed a duet from Which Witch, You Are My Love,
with Benedicte Adrian.
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Conductor Arnulv Hegstad
Arnulv Hegstad has had his conductor education in Norway, The
Netherlands and Germany. His début was in 1954 with The Oslo Philharmonic
Orchestra. He has conducted all the leading Norwegian orchestras as well
as many others in Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Hungary, Iceland and Finland.
He has had many performances on TV and radio, and has had guest performances
at The Norwegian Opera in both opera and ballet productions. He has been
a choir conductor since 1950, and in 1973 became a professor in conducting
at Oslo Music Conservatory.
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Cæciliaforeningen
Cæciliaforeningen is a well-sized, mixed choir in Oslo.
The choir got its name from the music Saint Cecilia. It was founded as
early as in 1879 by Thorvald Lammers. The choir has held concerts with
The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as performing with a long list
of soloists, other choirs and orchestras. Cæciliaforeningen has had the
honour of introducing a long list of the classical masters’ works in Norway,
among them Handel's Messiah, Bach's Christmas Oratorium and St. John’s
Passion, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Mendelson’s Elias. The
choir has since 1989 taken part in numerous concert performances of Which
Witch. Cæciliaforeningen is still a growing choir with many traditions;
currently the choir has approx. 90 members, most of them with a musical
education and background. Arnulv Hegstad has conducted the choir since
1977.
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Akademisk Korforening
Akademisk Korforening was founded in 1930 as a mixed choir at The
University of Oslo, Arnulv Hegstad has conducted this choir since 1954.
The choir has approx. 100 members, mostly armatures, but it has managed
to achieve a professional status and to participate in various concerts
every year. The choir has performed on TV and radio in Norway and other
countries, and has released a series of CD’s. In 1983 the choir won the
price for large choirs in the European TV competition “Let The People
Sing”.
