DRAMA STUDIO - Key Persons
Director Christie O'Carroll brings out strong performances in the key roles. Of particular note are Caitlin Mitchard as Jo, who opens the play with an engaging, very well-performed dramatic monologue; and Jenny Barron as her mother, who convincingly portrays an utterly broken woman. Her character is memorable for her emotional manipulation of her daughter, which adds additional dramatic weight to their relationship. The large supporting cast also deliver, all giving good, believable performances.
Director Drew Gowland has also added a huge amount of hilarity with excellent casting and a vibrant overall design for the show.
Hannah is currently studying towards a BA (Hons) in Drama and Performance at Queen Margaret University. She has been involved with youth theatre, RSAMD and as part of university societies, performing and directing.
She gained a High School Youth Drama Achievement Award and started a local primary school drama club, as well as assisting classes at Borders Youth Theatre.
Hannah believes that through Drama you can take the smallest idea and produce something wonderful. Creativity and imagination come alive in a friendly environment and Drama provides a platform for voicing ideas.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Julie McDonald B.Ed, Cert Drama and Mime, TEFL
Julie is passionate about the extraordinary positive effects that Drama can have on children's personal development and education. She believes that Interactive, Creative Drama Technique should be recognised as the most powerful Teaching Technique.
Director Liam Rudden's decision to set this in The Boards, a bar attached to the Edinburgh Playhouse, is effective as it creates a relaxing restaurant-esque atmosphere with audience seating consisting of chairs and bar stools arranged around tables.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Director
- Associate Teacher With the Drama Studio, Featured As Fairy Godmother Whimbrel at an Interactive Storytelling Promotion at the Book Festival.
- Co - Owner of the Drama Studio and Trained at Moray House College College
Louise is Co- Owner of The Drama Studio and trained at Moray House College College and since then has worked as a Primary School Teacher and as a leader in Out of School projects.
Louise trained at Moray House College College and since then has worked as a primary school teacher and as a leader in Out of School projects. In her leisure time Louise takes part in Amateur Dramatics performing annually The Edinburgh Fringe. Her skills include drama, singing, dancing and she also plays piano and woodwind. Louise provides for The Drama Studio a programme for Nursery Education and Themed Parties. Louise is a sound and lighting consultant and also works in computer presentation design.
'The Drama Studio really helped me out when I needed a fairy for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Louise was brilliant she had the character of Fairy Godmother Whimbrel down to a tee and was fantastic at interacting with all the kids.' Sally Oliphant, Usborne Books.
Drama Studio student Luke Watson successfully gained a part in this film after the auditons on Friday. Well done Luke and thanks to all who went along !
Director Matthieu Roy perfectly conducts the scenes where real actors and projected actors mix - ensuring everything is timed correctly and making for a seamless feel to the performance.
's use of the ensemble is outstanding. He uses it to create the furniture and bring the set to life - even fulfilling the age old drama cliché of being trees. Corry chooses to have the ensemble in the auditorium to be the Giant, but with all the voices shouting at different times - and a distorted voice coming over the speakers - it is a strain to hear the lines. Nevertheless, the ensemble provides a slick, well-rehearsed base for the production.
Director Sally Lyall delivers a slick and effective production as part of Captivate Theatre's summer schools programme, with smooth transitions between scenes and between the play's two stories. However it must be said that the transitions, while smooth, are a little confusing - it is largely left to the viewer to ascertain exactly which story one is watching, which is initially a little disorientating. Although the stories become clearly distinct as the play progresses, to begin with only very minor set changes used to signify the transition.
Stewart has recently joined The Drama Studio team having been working with Face2Face Theatre in Madrid and here in Scotland touring with Theatre In Education, performing and developing Scottish History productions for children.
He has also worked various theatre Companies such as Take Away Theatre, M & M Productions, Cheeky Chops Theatre and SayTwo Productions.
Stewart has also works as a show reviewer and has hosted a Strictly Come Dancing Tour.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Susan Singfield B.a ( Hons ), PGCE, M.a ( Ed. ), M.a, Higher Diploma ( Theatre Studies )
Susan initially trained at the University of Warwick, and then began teaching Drama and English in the UK, Germany and the USA.
She continued to study alongside her work as Head of Drama in a Manchester high school, gaining two masters degrees and a higher diploma from the Open University, Lancaster University and Rose Bruford College.
She has also worked extensively for the BBC, as a tutor-in-entertainment, teaching child actors while they are not in school.
Sylvia provides for The Drama Studio administrative support and First Aid assistance. The Drama Studio is very different from work in the chemists !
Zoe Moore as the Witch has a great presence onstage in both the first act as the haggard, powerful old Witch and in the second after her transformation back to youth. Moore's forceful manner is complemented well by the subtle brilliance of Ellie Campbell as the Baker's wife. She performs with great timing and emotion to create a quietly pushy character similar to Lady Macbeth.
At the beginning of Act 1 the voices of both Jack and Cinderella feel strained but they quickly find their feet and produce excellent performances - especially Jack's solo Giants in the Sky. Heather McFarlane makes Cinderella's story one of the most interesting and real as in Act 2 she and her husband (Gordon Horne) become tired of royal married life. The airhead Jack grows on you as Ross Tucker's performance progresses: his dopiness, general vacant expression and good heartedness make him a very endearing character.
A gem hidden in this production is Scott Coltman, who gives one of the most hilarious and generally enjoyable performances as Mysterious Man. From the moment the first strange rhyme comes out of his mouth he brings great energy and grabs your attention. Towards the end of the play the Mysterious Man and the Baker (Kieran Wynne) perform a duet of No More where Coltman's excellent voice shines through.