The first draft of ‘Photo Me’ was the result of a youth music theatre project devised and led by Karen, Brendon and Dominic. Many of the starting points for the shows’ characters came from those attending the workshops. Since then, the original ‘Photo Me’ themes of pack mentality and isolation have been greatly expanded upon. Here are the results so far!
Synopsis – The individual components of a photo-booth come together. Finding strength in numbers, the booth as a whole reveals itself as an eager, mocking and (mostly) superficial commentator of its customers lives. Eaves-dropping while it focuses, the booth is often challenged, confused and angered by that which it cannot comprehend. As the booth morphs itself into the experiences of its subjects, the scenes shift from the world of the teenage mum, the hostility she faces and the bleeding- heart liberals that rush to her aid, to that of the serial-adulterer, the endearing beauty, the ever hopeful victim, and back to the empty world of the booth itself…
Words, music and musical direction by Dominic Harlan
Dominic Harlan – piano
Directed by Karen Gillingham
Phil Clark- drums
Designed by Brendon O’Connor
Beth Symmons- bass
Words, music and musical direction by Dominic Harlan
Dominic Harlan – piano
Directed by Karen Gillingham
Phil Clark- drums
Designed by Brendon O’Connor
Beth Symmons- bass
Dominic Harlan Pianist, composer, animateur and musical director. Artistic-director Glyndebourne’s ‘Opera Experience’ . Has devised, performed and composed projects for Wigmore Hall, Garsington Festival and Opera North, recorded for Naxos, Avie and Warner Sunset, broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. MD credits include ’Canticles’(Tete a Tete/Streetwise Opera), ‘Modern Major General’ (Proteus), ‘Mahlers’ Ruckert Lieder’ (Streetwise Opera), ‘Ain’t Misbehavin – The Fats Waller Musical Show’ (OTTC). dominic@harlan.me.uk
Karen Gillingham Directing credits include John Browne’s Demon Juice (ROH/ELD), Twenty Women Singing (WNO, touring womens’prisons,) The Real Thing (BBC/ROH), Don Giovanni (devised RESEO/Bastille, Paris), John Webb’s The Ballad of Slippery Jack, Rachel Leach’s South Of the River (ENO community opera), Karen Wimhurst’s The Polymaths (WNO MAX), John Browne’s Dogfight (ENO) and David Poutney’s Chorus! (WNO revival and movement director).
Brendon O’Connor Spatial designer for theatre, film, television, interior/architecture, conference and exhibition both in this country and internationally. includes work for ballet frankfurt, jan fabre, u2, goldman sachs, royal national theatre, the royal court opera north and royal opera house. Lectures at Central School of Speech and Drama, Rose Bruford College of Performing Arts and the University of Hertfordshire.
Laura Corradi – Money Slot – Since graduating (LIPA-2007), Laura’s toured, ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, (including cast album) with Matritech, worked with Ellen Kent Opera and performed in the comedy of ‘Fat Shirley’s: A Trailer Park Opera. For more information check out Laura’s Spotlight link.
Sharon Eckman – Lens/ John’s Wife – Sharon has extensive credits in theatre, radio and television. For further information, check out her Spotlight link or www.sharoneckman.com
Rowan Fenner – Nylon Curtain/ Candy – Rowan’s work encompasses tv, radio and theatre, particularly new commissions. She has also recorded many film soundtracks, including Harry Potter!
Rob Gildon- White Background/John – Rob studied at Manhattan School of Music, New York. Recent work includes Jonathan Dove’s , ‘Man on the Moon” (Channel 4), ‘Critical Mass’ (Almeida/Streetwise) and Garsington opera. Upcoming work, ‘The Cumnor Affair’ (Tête à Tête)
Victoria Holtom – White Background/Young Mum– Victoria trained at Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 2007 with an MA in Acting Musical Theatre. Credits include Principal Singer, (Branded Old Vic), Jill (Jack and the Beanstalk, Gaiety Theatre, Ayr), and Jasmine, (Alladin, Theatre North).
www.tete-a-tete.org.uk
Camilla Mathias – Flash. Trained in London and Paris-inspired by multilingual work(so far worked in
French/Italian/German/Spanish)-also a classical guitarist and professional artist…and half Romanian. More info:
www.camillamathias.com
Daniel McWilliams – Lens/Barry– Daniel has sung at ENO, WNO, Scottish Opera, Pavilion Opera and The Opera Group. He was Rene in the workshop of the new musical Margueritte. He is represented by Grantham-Hazeldine.
Anna-Maria Nabirye- White Background – Credits include Titania, (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cambridge Shakespeare Festival) Nanna Baaba,(Icicle Bicycle – half Moon YPT). She will be performing with The Irrepressables as part of the Arcola Theatre Grimeborn season.
Ayozie Pollendine – Swivel Stool –Ayozie trained on The Knack, run by English National Opera, and has recently graduated from The Royal College of Music. As well as being a performer, Ayozie works extensively as a vocal animateur.
Kate Roscoe- Flash -Trained at Mountview . Credits while in training include Cinderella (Into the Woods ), Rebecca (Rags). Other credits include Frost/Nixon (Donmar Warehouse and Gielgud). Kate is currently rehearsing for The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.
Elena Rossi – Money Slot –Elena trained at Warwick University and LMST. Credits include; Hope,Cochrane theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, UK tour; Production Singer, Costa Cruises; Assasins, Teatro Technis andYiff!, King’s Head. e.c.rossi@gmail.com
Natalie Tulloch- Nylon Curtain/Beautiful Goth – Natalie is from Glasgow and moved to London in 2006. Now 20, she has just completed the musical theatre degree course at Mountview. She is very excited to be taking part in this new project.
Clare Tyndall – Swivel Stool/ Concerned Friend – Clare can currently be seen in Ruby Cupids music video ‘Bingo Wings’, featuring Christopher Biggins, Jessie Wallace and Lynda Bellingham available on YouTube.