For more than ten years, Muse & Music’s troupe of highly-experienced actors has been injecting seasonal warmth into London’s West End and elsewhere.
Christmas shoppers and tourists alike make up our regular audiences for an action-packed hour in which they can leave their worries at the door and relax for an enriching programme of song, prose and poetry.
Everything relating to Yuletide – both topical and historical - is covered from year to year – be it carols, songs from the shows, comedy and Christmas sketches.
The concept of a lunchtime Christmas event in the West End was developed by Gillian Royale and Charmian May. In 1995, they saw a niche in an otherwise over-worked market. No-one was catering for people looking for this type of entertainment after a morning’s hectic shopping or sightseeing; one that was short enough to allow them to perhaps go off somewhere for a Christmas lunch – or afternoon tea in one of the many prestigious hotels in the area.
Presented in the delightful Jermyn Street Theatre, just off Piccadilly Circus, Muse & Music’s Christmas presentations are regarded as a positive way to start the festive season.
Cast for 2009
Nova’s recent work includes The King And I (Anna), Side by Side By Sondheim (Young Sally), both at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage; Follies at the Landor Theatre, Clapham; Acorn Antiques tour (Miss Cuff) and the Sound of Music at the London Palladium. She has co-written and performed the title role in The Sound of Julie -- the Julie Andrews Story. She also has a solo album, Once Upon A Dream.Vinny trained at London’s Corona Academy and was in the original cast of BBC TV’s Grange Hill playing Antoni Karamanopolis. He was in other productions for children’s television and also worked on stage in London for the RSC. Vinny has travelled the world singing and acting and has recorded many voice-overs, radio jingles and television commercials.
Kate trained at the London Theatre School. Recent theatre: Life Model (Hazel) at the Electric Theatre, Guildford. Other roles include Hayyah in Ghetto; Titania/Hippoly in Midsummer Night’s Dream; Portia in Julius Caesar; Mother/Madam in Soho and Mrs. Millament in The Way Of The World.
Fergus trained at Mountview. Theatre includes The Seagull (Medevidenko) at the Lion and Unicorn; Orpheus (Dyonosos) at the BAC; Plague -- The Musical (Lord Mayor) at the Edinburgh Fringe; Lone Star (Ray), Hobson’s Choice (Willie Mossop) and The Importance Of Being Earnest (Algernon), all at The Old Sorting Office, Barnes. Films: When The Whales Came (Young Bird Man) for 20TH Century Fox. Radio: The Road To Durham (Young Chris) BBC Radio 4.
Hannah is a graduate of both Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music. Credits include Cathy in the Last Five Years (Apollo, Shaftsbury Avenue); Liesl in The Sound Of Music (London Palladium) and Mrs. Stalin in Stalin -- The Musical in Edinburgh. Recordings include backing singer for Elton John (Wembley Stadium) and several galas at the Royal National Theatre.
Jack trained at Queen Margaret University and the Royal Academy of Music. Roles in training in Oh What A Lovely War, The Bells Are Ringing (Jeff/Hastings); Electra (Orestes) and Time And The Conways (Alan Conway). Television: Big Joe (Pilot). Concert: Elton John at the Royal Albert Hall and Fast Forward 3 at the Royal National Theatre.
Production Team for 2009
Producer Kim Allen has worked extensively in theatre and has enjoyed performing in the past with Muse & Music. This is her the fourth year as producer.Andrew Lynford trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked as an actor and director on television and in theatre. He has devised and directed the Muse & Music Christmas revue at the Jermyn Street Theatre for the past three years. He is currently writing for television and producing twelve pantomimes this Christmas all over the UK for Holman Associates.
Director David Massey is currently assistant to the Resident Director on Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre. He wishes everyone a wonderful Christmas and a happy and peaceful 2010.
Musical Director Bob Broad has worked extensively in the West End and elsewhere and has recorded and broadcast for Radios 3 and 4. Recent credits include Assistant Musical Director for My Fair Lady (Cyprus, Singapore and London) and Company (London); Musical Director, A Slice of Saturday Night (Edinburgh Festival); A Night of Theatre (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Jest End, now running at the Jermyn Street Theatre.
Choreographer Joel Montague is currently appearing in Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre. He trained at YSD in Crewe, Cheshire and later gained a BA Hons in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting. He has also choreographed productions of West Side Story, Les Miserables, Sound Of Music and Footloose. Joel has recently founded a youth group in Crewe called Curtain Call Production who are presenting Hairspray and Beauty And The Beast in 2010.
