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Who's Who? |
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Mark Adams - Director/Producer
Mark is Assistant Head Teacher at Ratton School and
teaches drama full time. He formed The
Rattonians in 1984 with his wife Melanie to
provide an opportunity for ex-pupils of Ratton
School to perform. Since that time he has directed and
produced over 30 musicals for The Rattonians and over 50
musicals in the last 20 years. As well as directing, Mark has
always enjoyed the opportunity to perform and has played
many roles, including Emcee in “Cabaret”, Fagin in “Oliver!”,
Billy Flynn in “Chicago”, Dexter in “High Society”, Bella
Zangler in “Crazy for You” and Sky Masterson in “Guys and
Dolls”. He had a lot of fun working on the role of
Joe/Josephine in “Some Like it Hot”, one of his favourite films.
As Director of Performing Arts at Ratton
School, Mark, with his team, teaches in a purpose-built
music and drama block and many of the school’s pupils come on to
perform with The Rattonians with some going
into professional theatre. Mark is committed to
helping young people develop their communication and confidence
through drama and performing. |
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Melanie Adams - Producer
Melanie has been performing in Rattonians productions
since the group was started in 1984 playing
many lead roles. Her favourites include Maisie
in “The Boy Friend”, Mabel Normand in “Mack
and Mabel”, Sally Bowles in “Cabaret”, Maria in “The
Sound of Music”, Reno in “Anything Goes”, Velma Kelly in
“Chicago”, Nancy in “Oliver!”, Tracey Lord in “High Society”,
The Witch in “Into the Woods” and Charity in “Sweet Charity”.
She particularly enjoys playing comedy roles and is producer
of Rattonians’ shows with her husband, Mark Adams, also
designing the costumes. In 2007 Melanie
enjoyed her directing debut, co-directing
“Fame” with Peter Gurr and it is a challenge
she would take on again should the opportunity arise. She made her
professional debut in pantomime for Kevin Wood in “Snow White”
with Ted Rogers and, as a result, Ted asked
her to form a singing trio called The Ryan Sisters who toured
with Ted in “Danny and Me”, a tribute to Danny Kaye. Melanie
enjoys performing as well as undertaking all
her other commitments for The Rattonians! |
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Jan Lynton - Choreographer
Jan has been a professional
choreographer for over 20 years. Her love for dance began at a very
early age. She started dancing when she was two years old and completed
training in Ballet, American Tap, Modern and Jazz. Her work both as
a professional dancer and choreographer has taken her all around the
world. Jan has choreographed many pantomimes, working with Frankie
Howard,
Larry Grayson, Dilys Watling, Norman Wisdom, Alvin Stardust, Tom O'Connor,
Jimmy Tarbuck and Ken Dodd, to name but a few. She has worked at the
Devonshire Park Theatre where she choreographed "Snow White"
with Ted Rogers and "Aladdin" with Christopher Timothy. Jan
first choreographed for the Rattonians in 1986 and since then has
choreographed
the last 21 shows! Her involvement with the group over the last 15 years
has been special and she calls the Rattonians her 'extended family'.
This year Jan is once again the Rattonians' Stage Manager, so she will
continue to keep a close eye on us right up to the final performance!
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Carl Greenwood - Musical Director
Carl
trained at Leeds College of Music obtaining a BA in Jazz. He is now a
professional musician and an experienced teacher working with adults and
children throughout Sussex at various Stage Schools as well as through
private tuition. In his spare time Carl has also been Musical Director
for a number of local productions. In addition Carl leads his own Big
Band and Jazz groups, performing across the country. Carl enjoys working
with aspiring musicians and performers to help them achieve their full
potential. |
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Youth Group Who's Who? |
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Producers - Mark and
Melanie Adams
Mark and Melanie formed the
Rattonians in 1984. They have produced every one of the Rattonians shows and
have performed in most of them too. They formed the Rattonians youth
Group in 2007 to encourage younger performers to realise their ambitions.
More information can be seen in their respective biographies. |
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Director - Peter Gurr
Peter trained in Performing Arts at
Middlesex University. His first acting role for the Rattonians was in 1994
when he played Mac in "42nd Street". Since then he has played Ernst Ludwig
in "Cabaret", Mac in "High Society", Roscoe Dexter in "Singin' in the Rain".
His favourites are Spats Palazzo in "Some Like it Hot", when he was also
Assistant Director, Charles in "Me and My Girl", Cyril in "Summer Holiday"
and Bernado in "West Side Story". For the Rattonians he has directed
"Into The Woods" at the Devonshire Park Theatre in 2004, co-directed "Fame",
and directed the first Youth Group production of "Les Misérables". |
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Co-Director
/ Choreographer Debbie Hackett
Debbie has been performing in
Eastbourne since the age of 5. She has played many roles in both plays and
musicals including Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady", Daisy in "Daisy Pulls
it Off", Annette in "Steel Magnolias", Anne in "Half a Sixpence" and Audrey
in "Little Shop of Horrors". Debbie has been directing and
choreographing locally for many years and has had some great successes, her
favourites being "Honk" and "The Wiz". For Eastbourne College she directed
and choreographed "A Chorus Line" and for Ratton School choreographing "A
Musical Spectacular" and "The Rock Nativity". She choreographed "Fame" for
the Rattonians. For the Rattonians Debbie has played The Bakers Wife in
"Into the Woods", Sally Smith in "Me and My Girl", Angie in "Summer
Holiday", Anita in "West Side Story", Nickie in "Sweet Charity" and Conchita
Alvarez in "Copacabana". She also runs The Trapdoor Theatre School in
Eastbourne.
http://www.trapdoortheatreschool.co.uk/ |
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Vocal Coach - Paula
Pout
Paula went to Ratton School and was
involved in the performing arts and indeed in Rattonian productions from a
young age. She played Peggy Sawyer in "42nd Street" before going on to train at
the Guildford school
of acting. Paula turned professional and entertained audiences around the
globe in theatre and cabaret on some of the finest cruise liners. Her vast
experience spans from pantomime to summer seasons to concert works, studio
recording and musical theatre. Paula has made the theatre her life and has
come back to Eastbourne playing Helene in "Sweet Charity", Carmen in
both "Fame" and "Fame Forever", and Lola in "Copacabana" |
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Carl Greenwood - Musical Director
Carl
trained at Leeds College of Music obtaining a BA in Jazz. He is now a
professional musician and an experienced teacher working with adults and
children throughout Sussex at various Stage Schools as well as through
private tuition. In his spare time Carl has also been Musical Director
for a number of local productions. In addition Carl leads his own Big
Band and Jazz groups, performing across the country. Carl enjoys working
with aspiring musicians and performers to help them achieve their full
potential. |
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Rattonians
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