Russell Brown - Director
Training: 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!
Past Director Credits: Cats (AMS); Jesus Christ Superstar (AMS); Shrek the Musical (AMS); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AMS); The Phantom of the Opera (AMS); Rock of Ages (AMS) and more.
Past Theatre Credits: Ringmaster in Barnum (AMS); Jacob Marley in Scrooge (AMS); Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (AMS); replacement Barnum in Barnum (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 10 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 38 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.
Past Producer Credits: Hairspray (AMS); Cats (AMS); Jesus Christ Superstar (AMS); Shrek the Musical (AMS); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AMS); The Phantom of the Opera (AMS); Rock of Ages (AMS) and more.
Chris Wadeson - Musical Director
Training: BA (Hons) in Music and MA in Contemporary Arts Research - Lancaster University, Associate of the London College of Music (ALCM) Diploma in Piano Performance.
Chris received his BA in music and MA in contemporary arts research from Lancaster University, where he was a conductor and musical director for a number of student groups and studied piano performance with international pianist Peter Noke. On returning to Barrow he first joined BODS as their rehearsal accompanist for ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and worked with them on a number of shows as accompanist and Musical Director. He even ventured onto the stage himself as Big Jule in Guys and Dolls! Away from the world of musical theatre Chris is also currently the Musical Director of Ulverston Town Band.
This is his first show with Abbey Musical Society as their Musical Director and he was honoured to be asked to join the society. He would like to thank everyone for welcoming him so warmly.
PREVIOUS MD credits: The Producers (Lancaster University); 9-5 (BODS); Young Frankenstein (BODS); The Wizard of Oz (BODS); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (BODS).
Sarah Powell - Choreographer
After the success of Rock of Ages and The Phantom of the Opera, Sarah is happy to be back for the addams family! Sarah started dancing at the age of 10 and has never looked back. She has run her own successful dance school for the past 25 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.
Past choreographer credits: Hairspray (AMS); Cats (AMS); Jesus Christ Superstar (AMS); Shrek the Musical (AMS); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AMS); The Phantom of the Opera (AMS); Rock of Ages (ams) and many more.
Stage manager
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Chris Barker
SET HIRE
Little Shop of Hires
lighting & sound
The Forum Team
wardrobe
Costume hire
DS Costumes
wigs, hair & makeup
marketing & artwork
Lucy Collinge & Megan Bradley
photography
Trailer production
front of house