LIVERPOOL’S ROYAL COURT Show Programme
Talent Development
Liverpool’s Royal Court continues on its journey to work towards talent development across the city
There is no doubt Liverpool is renowned for its wealth of talent but we, along with the rest of our city’s theatre organisations and institutions, recognise we need to do more to ensure we are accessible, engaging and aspirational if we are to be truly representative and inclusive of the communities we serve. It is a long-term continuing process and funding is key as is working together with the theatres across the region.
Over the past three years we have laid down the foundations, initiating our plans for meaningful and real change. This includes the theatre’s programming, engagement, accessibility and relationships with artistes, communities, creatives, individuals, institutions, organisations, Schools/FE. We are working towards ensuring our talent development programmes are applicable, realistic and robust.
Listening and engaging in the first instance to a wide cross section of creatives and communities – recognising and taking ownership of our failure to be fully inclusive and to take a proactive approach to ensure there is inclusivity and diversity across the sector
A brief look at a few of our talent development projects so far:
Community
Music AAA (Access All Areas) is a partnership project together with three grassroots organisations: Positive Impact, Capoeira For All, and Catalyst performing arts supported by funding from Youth Music. Children and young people aged 6 – 25 can access free musical instruments, musical theatre, hip hop, dance, singing, drama and performance
Raw Talent
Young people from our youth theatre continue to have access to auditions and employment opportunities – during the past 3 years, 6 young people have been cast in Terriers, written by Maurice Bessman touring to schools and venues across the country.
More recently working with Fury films, 120 young people aged 15 – 25 from across the city took part in audition workshops for the film of Terriers at Fire Fit in South Liverpool, MYA’s Space in Bootle and The Vibe in Huyton. 8 young people will be working with the Director to support the script development.
New Mentor Creatives Scheme
Building on our pilot Mentoring Programme, the new Mentor Creatives Scheme from Liverpool’s Royal Court – in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse, Everyman & Playhouse Theatres and Curious Minds seeks to help develop and nurture Global Majority Creatives working right across the artistic sector.
• Mentor Creatives offers
• One-on-One Mentorship
• Goal Setting and Achievement
• Skill Development
• Regular Networking Opportunities
• Continuous Support
The project is supported by PH Holt Charitable Trust and Liverpool BID, find out more on our website
Boisterous Stage Write
Music Access All Areas
Maurice Bessman
A fresh, new, innovative and relevant youth theatre company based at the iconic Royal Court Theatre designed by young people for young people.
The Royal Court Youth Theatre delivers a range of opportunities free of charge for young people aged 11 – 25 from every part of the City.
If you are interested in a career in the arts or just looking for something to do, come along to one of our sessions or workshops. You will learn about everything from acting to stage management; fundraising to writing scripts.
Do you know a young person who has a passion for theatre, acting, singing, dancing or writing? Tell them to complete an expression of interest form by visiting liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/youth-theatre
Alternatively you can call 0151 702 5892 or email education@royalcourttrust.org
Everybody is welcome at the Royal Court Youth Theatre, there are no auditions or waiting lists to join.
The Eleanor Rathbone Foundation
Cast & Company
Liverpool’s Royal Court presents
Writers
Mince Spies by
Alex Alexandre
Party Time For Jesus by
Paul Ariss
Corned Beef Hash And Runny Eggs by Saved By The Jingle Belle by The Death Of Christmas by Santa Baby by A Christmas Lift by
Iain Christie
David Holmes
Ste Mc
Marya McCann
Sarah Whitehead
Company
Sam Donovan
Jen Baron
Phil Dickinson
Jamie Jenkin
Marie Jones
Sean Gannon
Snowzie Rose
Cast
Tasha Dowd
Lynn Francis
Elliott Kingsley
Joe McGann
Director
Designer
Sound & Lighting Designer
Video Designer
Wardrobe Supervisor
Production Manager
Rehearsal Deputy Stage Manager
Set by Liverpool’s Royal Court
Sean Gannon
John Kavanagh
Jen Baron
Jonathan Defty
Mike Gray
Dave Davies
Head of Technical
Workshop Manager
Scenic Art Manager
Carpenter
Carpenter
Carpenter
Cast Biographies
Tasha Dowd
Tasha Dowd is a multi-instrumentalist Actor Musician based in Liverpool and Leeds. From Drag to Richard III, Tasha’s stage experience is as broad as her musicality. Tasha studied at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and Leeds Conservatoire and has already completed projects with Sky Atlantic, Leeds Playhouse, and the Unity Theatre. With a rich alto voice, Tasha has a strong background in musical theatre as well as singing her original works.
Tasha was recently at Liverpool’s Royal Court with Vernons Girls. Off-stage, Tasha collaborates with theatre companies to compose and musically direct songs for their productions.
Heavily influenced by folk traditions, Tasha has used their skills whilst working for grass-roots companies to tell stories about Climate Change, Class and Identity. This season, Tasha will be playing Lady Macduff in Macbeth and will be joining the ensemble/band in The Coup Coup Club. Tasha plays: Guitar, Banjo, Double and Electric Bass, Drum Kit and Trumpet.
Lynn Francis
Liverpool born Lynn trained at Sandown College. Since leaving college she has worked continually in theatre, television and film.
Theatre credits include: Desperate Scousewives 1 & 2, Psychic Sybal (Theatre Royal St Helens), Four Girls In A Caravan (Theatre Royal St Helens), Waiting For Gateaux (touring), Tuppence to Cross the Mersey (Liverpool Empire, 2005 and 2007), By The Waters Of Liverpool (Liverpool Empire and touring), What Was it Like in the War Nan? (Unity Theatre), Oliver (Neptune Theatre Liverpool), Ebony’s Album (Neptune Theatre Liverpool), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Bluecoat Theatre), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire), Midsummer Nights Dream (touring), My Fair Lady (touring), The Royal, The Salon, Reds And Blues - The Musical, Ladies Day, Hitchhikers Guide To Fazakerly and Haunted Scouse (Royal Court Liverpool), Lennon’s Banjo (Epstein Liverpool).
Television and Film credits include: Reds and Blues: The Ballad Of Dixie and Kenny (Miracle Productions UK), Colour Blind, a film directed by Lenny Henry, Charlie Noades RIP (film), The Lie is Dead (feature film), One Fine Sunday (short film), Dead Drunk (short film), Dave Dot, Demo Man (BBC), No Marks (Channel 4), I’ve Got a Bad Feeling About This (Haphazard Productions).
Lynn has appeared in various pantos across the country including Empress of China: Aladdin (Southampton and Runcorn), Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (Southport), Genie of the Lamp in Aladdin (York), and the Wicked Queen in Snow White (Torquay and Runcorn).
Elliott Kingsley
How’s it going?! My names’s Elliott I’m made up to be finally working at the beautiful Royal Court!
A few bits I’ve done on stage include: Boys from the Blackstuff; National Theatre & Garrick Theatre, The Tempest; Royal & Derngate, The Wonderful World of Dissocia; Liverpool Playhouse; Fiddler on the Roof, The Story Giant and Romeo & Juliet; Liverpool Everyman, Drag Nativity at Chester Storyhouse; and Ira Aldridge: Story Adventure at Shakespeare North Playhouse.
A few bits I’ve done on TV before: Cobra (Sky), Antony (BBC) Merry Christmas, Felix Navidad, I’ll catch you after the show (mines a Guinness..)
Joe McGann
I’ve been making a living as an actor for over 45 years now. I’ve worked extensively in Telly, on Film and on stage. Notable TV jobs include, The Upper Hand, Harry Enfield and Chums, Rockliffes Babies, All Creatures Great and Small and just recently, KAOS.
In Theatre I’ve worked in West End in plays like Of Mice and Men, Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Fool for Love and One Fine Day.
I’ve enjoyed playing in musicals like The Last Ship, Guys and Dolls, Oliver, Elf, Fiddler on the Roof and Blood Brothers
I’m very pleased to be making my debut at The Royal Court.
Rehearsal Photos
Photos by Liverpool’s Royal Court
Company Biographies
Sam Donovan Director
Sam’s credits as a director include Aladdin (Hope Street Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (The Black-e) David Copperfield (County Hall) Christmas Reloaded (Old Red Lion), Our Boys (Criterion.)
Sam is co-founder of Papatango, an Olivier Award winning theatre company, who champion the next generation of brilliant playwrights. Papatango discoveries have won BAFTAs, Critics’ Circle, OffWestEnd, Alfred Fagon and Royal National Theatre Foundation awards, premiering in over twenty countries.
Sam is also co-founder of Merseyside Academy of Drama, The Hope Street Theatre and Performers Theatre School
Jen Baron Set & Costume Designer
Jen graduated from the Liverpool Institue for Performing Arts in 2012. She has designed multiple sets and costumes for shows such as Spring Awakening, Titanic, Terriers and acted as Art Director for a comedy pilot ‘Training Daze’. She had worked with companies such as Young Everyman Playhouse, Proper Job Theatre Company, Royal Court Youth Theatre and The Comedy Trust, where she has also spent time working alongside their young people, running sessions for Prop Making and Scenic painting.
Jen currently holds the position of Scenic Art Manager here at the Royal Court, leading the department in shows on both the main stage and the Studio.
Phil
Dickinson
Sound & Lighting Designer
Phil first started working at the Royal Court as a casual backstage worker on the crew of Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels in 2007 before becoming the technician of the weekly Rawhide comedy club. After a brief attempt at being a college teacher, then spending the next 15 years as an outdoor pursuits instructor in sunny West Yorkshire, Phil was happy to return to Liverpool and the Royal Court as the full-time technician for the renovated Studio venue. In this role Phil has supported all technical aspects of many shows in the Royal Court Studio, including the critically acclaimed shows Storm in a Teacup and The Incident Room, before taking on his first official sound designer credit for the 2023 Christmas show Stocking Fillers.
Jamie Jenkin
Video Designer
Jamie is the in-house graphic and video designer at Liverpool’s Royal Court. Starting as marketing assistant at the theatre in 2005, he has been part of the Royal Court since it’s rebirth as a theatre in 2006. He now designs artwork for all Royal Court productions alongside working on video content for the Royal Court stage and beyond.
Video Designs for Theatre include:
Alan Bleasdale’s Boys From The Blackstuff by James Graham (Liverpool’s Royal Court, National Theatre and Garrick Theatre London), A Thong For Europe, Willy Russell’s Our Day Out - The Musical, A Fistful Of Collars, Lennon, Ladies Day, Hitchhikers Guide to Fazakerley, Ladies Night, Canoeing for Beginners, The Scouse Nativity, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, A Miracle On Great Homer Street, Home, Going Halves, The Royal, The Scouse Cinderella, My Fairfield Lady, Bingo Star, Two Of Us, Royal Court Selection Box, Macca & Beth, The Scouse Sleeping Beauty, The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery, The Scousetrap, The Scouse Jack & The Beanstalk, The Scouse Dick Whittington, Haunted Scouse, Sisters Of Mersey, The Netherely Hillbillies, Haunted Scouse, Come Together and Girls Don’t Play Guitars (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Masquerade, Knee Deep In Promises, Hey Bunny Get Loose, Stocking Fillers and Cosmic (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio); Cured (Liverpool’s Royal Court in association with DaDaFest & Unlimited); The Dream Team and VR Family (Liverpool’s Royal Court Youth Theatre); Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Liverpool Shakespeare Festival); Judy & Liza (National Tour); YNWA (Alterean Productions, international tour); The Big I Am (Liverpool Everyman); Celtic The Musical (Alterean Productions, Pavilion Theatre Glasgow and SEC Glasgow); Sunderland The Musical (Alterean Productions, Empire Theatre Sunderland); Something About George (Something About Productions, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and national tour); The Salford Docker (Salford Community Theatre, Lighthouse Salford); Our Country’s Good (Hope St Theatre); and Peter Pan (Storyhouse Chester). Jamie was also Sound Designer on Hey Bunny Get Loose, Offered Up, Stocking Fillers and Cosmic (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio) and Our Country’s Good (Hope St Theatre).
Marie Jones
Wardrobe Supervisor
Marie studied fashion and then moved on to theatre costume interpretation at Mabel Fletcher College. Marie’s work as a freelance costumier has included costumes for Oldham Coliseum, The Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Jimmy McGovern’s film Liam, Beyond Friendship for Mersey Television and the many pantomime dames who have appeared on the Everyman stage.
She has worked extensively at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and has recently been employed as full time Wardrobe Supervisor at the Royal Court. Most recently Marie’s work at the Everyman and Playhouse has included: Much Ado About Nothing, The Electric Hills, The Flint Street Nativity, The Tempest, Unprotected, Billy Liar, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, Urban Legend, Fly, Breezeblock Park, The Entertainer, Still Life And The Astonished Heart, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Anniversary, Dr Faustus, The May Queen, Cruel Sea and All My Sons. Marie’s other credits include: Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly Miss Molly, Stags and Hens - The Remix, On The Ledge, Misery, Eight Miles High, Council Depot Blues, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out - The Musical, The Salon, Funny Money, Merry Ding Dong, A Fistul Of Collars, Lucky Numbers, Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Reds And Blues - The Musical, Ladies Day, Bouncers, Scouse Of The Antarctic, Pharaoh ‘Cross The Mersey and Down The Dock Road for Royal Court Liverpool, Brouhaha International Street Festival, Working Class Hero on the recent Imagine DVD, Costume Supervisor for many shows at LIPA, The Splash Project at MYPT and Twopence To Cross The Mersey at the Liverpool Empire.
Royal Court Staff
Executive Producer Kevin Fearon
Chief Executive Gillian Miller
Head of Finance & Administration Gary O’Connor
Creative Producer Jess Bolger
Head of Marketing Kofi Ohene-Djan
Head of Operations Ailsa Morris
Executive Chef David Assall
HR & Finance Manager Alison Ward
Graphic Designer & Brand Manager Jamie Jenkin
Assistant Producer Clare Carlucci
Marketing Manager Iain Christie
Workshop Manager John Kavanagh
Social Media Officer Clara Mbirimi
Head of Technical & Production Sean Gannon
Resident Stage Manager Andrew Lock
Scenic Art Manager Jen Baron
Chief LX Jamie Haining
Box Office & Sales Manager Lauren Macauley
Assistant Box Office Manager Laura Lees
Head of Community Engagement Miriam Mussa
Well Being Training Manager Maria Schumann
Costume Supervisor Marie Jones
Finance Administrator Izzie Litwin
Venue Administrator Phil McLoughlin
Youth Theatre Coordinator Vannessa Park
Later Life Coordinator Jay McWinen
Assistant Producer - Talent Development Harvey Robinson
Daytime Technician Gary Currin
Studio Technician Phil Dickinson
LX Technician Martyn Case
HR & Payroll Administrator Gilly Taylor
Executive Assistant Joe Morris
Box Office Assistants
Erica Drummond, Finn Goulden-Jennings, Carl Lees, Scarlet Lees, Anna Miller, Pat O’Neill, Susan Segar, and Angela Simms
Fire Officer Sven Key
Stage Door Allan Dodd
Royal Court Supporters
Kitchen
Head Chefs Kyle Wardale
Chefs Thomas Alexander, Daniel Ambrose, Billie Chisam, Jay Quinn, Josh Eglin, Harrison Mclaughlin, Jake Stephenson, Jack While and Nick Watson
Kitchen Porters Hezekiah Abramson, Ryan Charnock, Debbie Chisam, Louise Dodd, Luke Dunn, Harry Lawlor and Ellis McNeil
Front of House
FOH Manager Kathy Hutson
Assistant FOH Managers Paul Imrie and Brendan Wright
Shift Supervisors Sammy Hunter and Mohan Welstand-Keryk
Bar Supervisors Jordan Barkely
Floor Supervisors Michael Hall and Katie Sherman
Front of House Staff Hebron Abraha, Beth Baccino, Unisa Bangura, Jordan Barkley, Hazel Bawden, Jacob Bee, Cameron Brown, Denise Byrne, Louis Carney-Smith, Sinead CullenBarret, Azize Dia, Holly Evans, Charlotte Freyne, Michael Hall, Lauren Heywood, Samantha Hunter, Lily Hutson, Leighton Jenkins, Callum Johnstone, Elizabeth Kendrick, Michael James, Charlotte Kendrick Jones, Raia Kiernan, Jackie Kirton, Cherry Kim, Takunda Kudzunga, Hansol Lee, Phil Lyne, Sam Massen, Lukas Matuzevicius, Faye McCutcheon, Joseph McGee, Phil McLoughlin, Alison Myers, Isabella Renshaw, Aiden Scott, Theo Stock-Best, Joseph O’Neil, Emma Phythian, Christiano Samuel, Katie Sherman, Charis Stead, Mohan Welstand-Keryk and Samantha Woolley.
Cleaners
Cleaning Supervisor: Debbie Chisam, Billie Chisam, Joanne Kinsella, Claire Wilson and Julie Wright.
And a big thank you to all of our freelance and security staff for their hard work throughout the year.
The Elizabeth Rathbone Charitable Trust
The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust
The John Rayner Charitable Trust
Hyam Wingate Foundation