RUSSELL BROWN - DIRECTOR

BA in Drama and Theatrical Arts - University of Leeds; The Steven Joseph Theatre School graduate.

Russ was taught direction and stage craft at The Steven Joseph Theatre School. During this time he was fortunate enough to work with Alan Ayckbourn, Alan Bennett and Andrew Lloyd Webber amongst others in roles both on and backstage.

Russ started AMS in 1999 and since then has performed in a number of their shows. In 2018 he took over the role of artistic director, a role which he loves. He hopes you enjoy the show!

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Previous Acting Credits include: Ringmaster in Barnum (AMS); Jacob Marley in Scrooge (AMS); Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (AMS); replacement Barnum in Barnum (AMS) and more.

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Previous Director Credits: Cats (AMS);, Jesus Christ Superstar (AMS);, Shrek the Musical (AMS);, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AMS); The Phantom of the Opera (AMS) and more.

NICK COLLINGE - PRODUCER

Nick is very proud of Abbey Musical Society. It's a running joke with members if we need a job doing Nick can do it! He took on the role of Chairman & Producer 9 years ago and loves the challenges it brings. Being producer gives him all kinds of logistical problem but he always found a magical or ingenious way of finding a solution. Nick has been in Abbey for 37 years and has been involved in far too many shows to list, over 70 in fact, but some of his highlights have been sporting a Michael Jackson red leather jacket in "The Wedding Singer”, pushing him out of his comfort zone and singing Teen Angel in "Grease" and his easily forgotten (to all but himself) debut cameo, as a child in "The Great Waltz" (1987).

Being Producer has not been the only job he has undertaken at Abbey in that time he has also done many others including, stage management, prop design and construction, promotion, photographer, chief chocolate biscuit eater, provider of free food and general dogsbody, these have all come under his jurisdiction at one time or another.

Previous Producer Credits Include: Hairspray (AMS); Cats (AMS);, Jesus Christ Superstar (AMS);, Shrek the Musical (AMS);, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AMS); The Phantom of the Opera (AMS) and more.

AILSA MCINTOSH - VOCAL COACH

Ailsa has been performing on stage many years, making her stage debut aged 6 as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz and later taking her first principle role as Dorothy aged 11. She has a BA (Hons) in Music from Leeds College of Music, and now teaches singing privately and at Deemon Performance Academy, she also sings in local bands Sugarfoot and Soul Survivors. Some of Ailsa’s favourite roles on stage include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (Barrow Savoyards), Guinevere in Camelot (Ulverston Amateurs), The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (BODS), and of course Christine in The Phantom of the Opera (AMS) earlier this year!

Ailsa has been involved in the production of Shows and Concerts since 2008 and has had the pleasure of working with several different groups and societies during that time including WMTC, Barrow Savoyards and BODS where she has co-produced/directed several concerts and the very successful musical 9 to 5. Ailsa has also been teaching and directing Deemon Performance Academy's annual shows since 2011 and was MD/Director for their double bill productions of The Sound of Music and Chicago in 2023. This is Ailsa's first foray into Musical Direction with Abbey Musical Society and it has been a pleasure to share the role with Sam Southern for this production of Rock of Ages. It has been great fun to move to the other side of the piano and see the cast have such a good time working on this show!

SAMUEL SOUTHERN - VOCAL COACH

Sam would like to welcome you, one and all, to this spectacle of kick-assery, and invite you to come with us as we journey back to the raucous drug-hazed; lama-obsessed 80s.

This is Sam’s first time on the production team for a Barrow show, and his first time musical directing since university. Prior to this, Sam has been the musical director for Big Fish, Chicago, and Spamalot among other productions. It has been wonderful to work with the cast and production team of Rock of Ages, and he is hugely grateful for the opportunity to be back in this role.

SARAH POWELL - CHOREOGRAPHER

After the success of The Phantom of the Opera and Summer Holiday, Sarah is happy to be back for Rock of Ages!

Sarah started dancing at the age of 10 and has never looked back. She has run her own successful dance school for the past 24 years (Instep School of Dance) and loves every second of it. Alongside the choreography for Abbey, Sarah has played various lead roles, small parts and been in the chorus and embraces any role given. This show will be a blast and she can’t wait for you all to see it.

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Previous Choreographer Credits Include: Hairspray (AMS); Cats (AMS);, Jesus Christ Superstar (AMS);, Shrek the Musical (AMS);, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AMS); The Phantom of the Opera (AMS) and more.

PRODUCTION TEAM