Professor Samuel King

Clive Nolan is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the recent development of progressive and symphonic rock. Born in Gloucestershire, he was a pupil at Wycliffe College and King's School, Gloucester. He completed his B. Mus and M. Mus degrees at London University where he studied composition, orchestration and conducting. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowland (1992–present), Strangers on a Train (1993–1994), Arena (1995–present) and Caamora (2006–present) as well as writing music and lyrics for Arena, Shadowland, Caamora and numerous other projects.

Nolan is the founder member of The Caamora Theatre Company formed to produce and perform the musicals of Clive Nolan. The premiere of 'She' took place in Katowice Wyspianski Theatre in Poland in October 2007. Subsequently, full theatrical performances of 'She' were performed in January 2010 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, followed by the eight-man 'She in Concert' variation in Holland in September 2011. In February 2012 theatrical version of 'She' debuted in the UK in Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre. Recently, the revived theatre shows were performed at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2015 during the anniversary event, "The Fire and the Quest" and again in Cheltenham in 2016. 'She in Concert" was also performed in Germany in 2015 and Holland in 2016.

Nolan released his second musical 'Alchemy', with libretto based on the composer's original story, early in 2013. In February 2013 the live show was recorded for the DVD at the famous Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, Poland. The full theatrical shows of 'Alchemy' were performed by the Caamora Theatre Company at the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre in September 2013. In 2013 and 2014 the concert version of 'Alchemy' headlined musical and theatre events in the UK (CRS, Wath) and Holland (Zoetermeer). The CRS concert was nominated for the Best Live Act of 2014. In August 2014 'Alchemy' was performed over a week at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the London Off-West End. In November 2014, 'Alchemy in Concert' took place in Reichenbach, Germany. In September 2015 the musical returned to the Cheltenham Playhouse as part of "The Fire and the Quest" festival.

In 2016 the Norwegian branch of Caamora was formed from the initiative of the founder members of 'Hurum Prog', Morten L. Clason and Ingar Diskerud. Caamora Norway produced and performed a series of 'Alchemy' shows in Norway in May 2017.

In October 2016 Clive performed a set of concerts in Uruguay and Norway accompanied by the best opera and musical theatre artists. The Norwegian show 'An Evening with Clive Nolan and Friends' was released on DVD in 2017.

Clive's third musical 'King's Ransom' was released on CD and premiered on stage at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2017. Live DVD will be released in the near future.

In 2018 Clive signed both ‘Alchemy' and ‘King’s Ransom’ to a film company with a view to bringing these musicals to the silver screen. "The Professor King Chronicles" are planned to be released in cinemas in 2020 and 2021.

Clive was voted Best Keyboard Player by Classic Rock Society in the years: 1995, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2017. In 2010 the Bolivian government awarded him with the title of Honorary Visitor to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for his theatre work in the city of Santa Cruz. In 2013 he was awarded with the Polish MLWZ "Golden Lexicon Award" for Outstanding Achievements in Music for his musical 'Alchemy'.

Eva Bonaduce

Gemma Ashley is one of the UK’s most requested sopranos for wedding and events throughout the UK. With classical and musical theatre training she has a diverse singing and music background. She is also a trained dancer and has stunned audiences with her exceptional on stage performances. During her career spanning over twelve years, Gemma has had the opportunity to work as a guest artist for various cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America. She has also served as the on-board showteam’s lead vocalist for some of the leading and most popular cruise lines. Gemma’s contribution in the field of music and crossover singing is phenomenal and worth acknowledging. She has not only sung the National Anthem at Wembley Stadium, on several occasions but she has also appeared on BBC1 “The Voice UK” and various other UK TV shows. Since 2012 Gemma has been receiving vocal training under highly experienced vocal coach David Barrett. Barrett is training her around the operatic “Bel Canto” tradition of ‘good singing’ and beauty of tone.

Since 2015 Gemma has been a key member of the Caamora Theatre Company and performed the roles of Ustane (2015, 2016) and Queen Ayesha (2016) in Clive Nolan's first musical 'She'. In 2016 she was cast in the lead role of Eva Bonaduce in Nolan's third musical 'King's Ransom” and recorded the vocals for the forthcoming CD. Since 2017 Gemma will also play Eva Bonaduce in “Alchemy”. Gemma accompanied Clive Nolan in a series of acoustic shows performed around Europe including France, the Netherlands and Norway. The Norwegian show 'An Evening with Clive Nolan and Friends' was released on DVD in 2017.

In September 2016 Gemma launched her very own Music agency, Stand Proud Music. The music specialises in female classical crossover singers for wedding and events throughout the UK. In 2016 Gemma released her first solo album entitled “ Vera Voce”.

William Gardelle

Jamie Anderson has always had a love for musicals, having been lucky enough to perform in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' (Reuben), 'Cabaret' (Cliff Bradshaw) and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (Jesus) amongst others. At the University of Gloucestershire Jamie performed 'West Side Story' (Tony), 'Babes in Arms' (Valentine White) and 'Godspell' (Judas), at the Everyman theatre in Cheltenham, with the latter touring Gloucestershire as well as having a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. After graduating from the University of Gloucestershire with a degree in Performance Art, Jamie relocated to London, working as an actor and touring the country with Theatre in Education productions of the 'Happy Prince' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. More recently he has enjoyed playing bass for local band Rhythm Strings, as well as taking part in local concerts for charity. Jamie is excited and honoured to be playing the part of William in Clive Nolan's new musical, 'King’s Ransom'.

Dr. Josephine Kendrick

Verity White is an award-winning, Cheltenham based singer, known for her powerful vocals and engaging stage presence. Verity is a backing vocalist in the U.K. prog-rock band Pendragon, and enjoyed touring with them last year. She has performed on notable stages across Europe including Carfest, Glastonbudget, De Boerderji, Z-7 and Camp Besitval, and will be continuing to tour across the world through 2017.

Verity recently released her debut EP 'Parentheses', which became one of Koid 9 magazines top releases of 2016, and continues to regularly release new rock music with an album planned in 2017. Verity was also the vocals behind the 'Robin of Sherwood', 'Knights of the Apocalypse' remake for ITV, portrayed Aretha Franklin in the touring Joliet Blues Band show, and has had a few singles released as a session vocalist for Almighty Records.

In 2013 she was offered the role of Mrs. Muncey in Clive Nolan's musical 'Alchemy', which she performed at the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre as well as in venues in Holland, Germany and the UK; this was then expanded to include the part of Jessamine for the off West-End production, a role she truly made her own! She has also played both Rehani and Ustane in Clive Nolan's reworking of his previous musical, 'She'.

She is thrilled to be revisiting both Mrs Muncey and Jessamine in 'Alchemy' and delighted to be the romantic lead, Dr Josephine Kendrick, in 'King's Ransom'.

Colonel Luther Scovil

Chris Longman is an actor, singer and musician. Principally known as an ex- lead vocalist of the Steampunk alternative rock band METROPOLIS. He has many years’ experience as a performer in theatre, film and television, starring in many productions; recent theatre highlights include Greaves and Captain Farrel in Clive Nolan’s 'Alchemy', Anatoly in 'Chess', Sky Masterson in 'Guys & Dolls', Jamie in 'The Last 5 Years', Richard III in 'Richard III', Ellyot Chase in 'Private Lives', Felix Humble in 'Humble Boy' and Mitch in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Recent screen credits include 'Jason Bourne', 'Fast and Furious 6', 'Rev', 'Downton Abbey', 'Above Suspicion' and 'White Heat'. Chris also co-directed the first theatrical performances of Clive Nolan’s 'Alchemy'. He is also an expert 3D modelling motion-graphics and visual effects designer, animator and editor, and runs his own media company Skillbox Media Ltd. He also lectures in Computer Games Design and Development in Cambridge. In 2017 he took part in the CD recording of Clive Nolan's third musical 'King's Ransom' cast in the role of Colonel Luther Scovil.

Edwin Deeks

Chris Lewis started his music and stage career with various local bands. He was signed to Charisma Records and co-wrote with Robert John Godfrey (The Enid) on a symphonic rock album 'Fall of Hyperion' (released on the Charisma label). In the making of this album he worked alongside the talents of, among others, the guitarist Jim Scott (The Pretenders) and percussionist Tristram Fry. His vocals are featured on a track called 'Hyperion' on an Enid Album called 'The Stand'. He continued his song writing and was later signed to Humber records. At present he performs concert pieces ranging from easy listening through rock to opera as well as his work with Caamora.  He joined the Caamora Theatre Company in 2011 as a chorus member and an understudy for one of the 'She' leading role of Holly. In February 2012 he featured as Holly in one of the Cheltenham shows performed at the Playhouse Theatre. Subsequently, he was cast in the role of Thomas Anzeray in Clive Nolan's 'Alchemy', which he masterly performed on a CD, during the world live premiere of the musical in Poland in February 2013 and subsequently at the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre as well as in venues in Holland and the UK. In August 2014 he performed the roles of Thomas Anzeray and Milosh in the Off-West End production of 'Alchemy' that took place at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London. In 2016 he was cast as Edwin Deeks in Nolan's third musical 'King's Ransom'.

Tom Worthy

Robbie Gardner was trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His musical credits include: 'Babes in Arms' (Everyman, Cheltenham), 'Godspell' (Everyman, Cheltenham), 'Return to the Forbidden Planet' (Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham), 'Free and Easy' (Edinburgh Fringe), 'The Buccaneer' (Farnbourgh Theatre, London). He was a lead vocalist for production suite (Costa del Sol, Spain and Porte Plata, Dominican Republic) and a lead vocalist for Focus Theatre, a cabaret group touring around the UK. He then went on for three years to be the lead vocalist on the P&O’s Australian cruise line. His theatre credits include: 'Murder in the Cathedral' (Playhouse, Cheltenham), 'Women Who Cooked Her Husband' (Everyman, Cheltenham), 'Dancing with Auntie' (Edinburgh Fringe), 'Viva la faff' (Canal Café Theatre London). His TV credits include: 'Flattened' (ITV), 'Anatomy of a Human' (Discovery Channel.) He joined the Caamora Theatre Company in November 2014 and debuted as William Gardelle at the Christmas production of Clive Nolan's 'Alchemy' in Devizes. He reappeared as William in the anniversary festival, “The Fire and the Quest”, celebrating 10 years of Clive Nolan musicals, at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2015. Robbie is currently working as a Managing Director at an established silk printing company outside of Tewkesbury.

Helena Blake

Joy-Amy Wigman originally trained at The London School of Musical Theatre. She performed in various theatre, short film and radio productions over the years as well as working as a solo singer. Joy-Amy is a writer/performer for the monthly comedy sketch show 'Knowing Smirk', which has recently seen success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She joined the Caamora Theatre Company in early 2015 and took part in Clive Nolan's musicals 'She' and 'Alchemy' at 'The Fire and the Quest' jubilee festival at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2015 as well as in Reichenbach, Germany. In 2017 she took part in the CD recording of Clive Nolan's third musical 'King's Ransom' in the role of Martha Kitson.

Captain Fergus Maunder  (Cheltenham 2018)

Iain Barton began performing as a child in the Gloucester Scouts & Guides Gang Show where he was introduced to musical theatre and comedy sketches. It is in the Gang Show where he first met his good friend Ian Baldwin. Iain continued to enjoy musical theatre with local groups Manor Players, Promenade Productions and the Gloucester Youth Factory (GYF) and it was with the GYF that he performed at the National Youth Theatre awards in the Queen Elizabeth Hall with their production of ‘The Boyfriend’. Following a short spell working at local insurance companies Iain returned to education, studying Performance Art and Media Communication at the University of Gloucestershire. On the first day of term he was delighted to discover that another ‘I.B.’ (Ian Baldwin) had also joined the course. The course was focused on contemporary theatre and performance and Iain embraced these new concepts performing many alternative productions alongside Ian and others. Iain did not disregard his musical theatre interest during these years and joined the University musical society performing as Curly in ‘Oklahoma’ and Riff in ‘West Side Story’ at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

Following his study Iain found work in a film and television Production Company producing and presenting work in this country and abroad. Iain has toured extensively in the UK with productions as varied as ‘The Jerry Lee Lewis Story’ playing Dewey Phillips, as Tony Hancock in ‘Seriously Funny’, Elwood Blues in the ‘Joliet Blues Band’, Tubby Clayton in ‘Talbot House – A home from home’ and Bob Newhart in ‘An Evening with the Humour of Bob Newhart and Tom Lehrer’.

Most recently Iain has been touring as Farmer George in the open air theatre production of ‘Little Grey Fergie’, the international version of the Norwegian programme ‘Gratass’ where he accompanies the trouble making live action magic tractor, Fergie.

Jacob Alderdyce

Ross Andrews is an actor, singer, writer, composer, TV presenter, and director. Over the last 30 years he has performed all over the world, on stage and TV. His performing career started in a Cheltenham dance school, and the Everyman Youth Theatre, and has acted in lead roles such as Tevye in 'Fiddler on the Roof', Adam in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', and many more. As a writer and composer he has written musical adaptations of the classic novels, '1984', 'Gullivers Travels', 'Lady Chatterley's Lover', and 'Fall of the House of Usher'. He has performed for many years in festivals with his soundtrack band, writing new soundtracks to old black and white horror films including, 'Nosferatu', 'Dr Caligari', 'Metropolis', The Last Human', and 'Night of the Living Dead'. He has many books released mostly about the Paranormal, including the Books in Amberley's Paranormal series, 'Paranormal Cheltenham', 'Paranormal Forest of Dean', and 'Paranormal Oxford', and because of his love of the paranormal has appeared in the last two TV series 'Great British Ghosts'. In 2013 he joined the Caamora Theatre Company and was cast in the roles of Captain Farrell, Ben Greaves and Professor King in Clive Nolan's 'Alchemy'. In August 2014, he performed the roles of Captain and Greaves at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the London off-West End. His first love is musical theatre, and he has spent the last 10 years performing his musical theatre cabaret show all over the world, which he managed to fit in between gigs with his band 'Frankensteins Lobster – The World's First Rock Ukulele Band'.

Roza Yakovna

Natalie Barnett is a proud mother of little Edward. She is a self taught seamstress and an accomplished carpenter joiner. She joined the Caamora Theatre Company in 2012 as a member of chorus in the first British theatre production of Clive Nolan's musical 'She'. In 2013 she designed and made the costumes for 'Alchemy' as well as the 2016 production of 'She' and 2017 premiere of 'King's Ransom'. Natalie designed and made the set for the off West End production of 'Alchemy' in 2014, and the Cheltenham production of 'She' in 2016. She is a member of a successful cabaret trio Symphony. Trained as a ballet dancer, she choreographed and took part in numerous dancing shows. In her spare time, Natalie is an accomplished cosplayer.

Paper Boy

Emily Frechter was born in Hertfordshire and now lives in Cheltenham. She has been performing since the age of 4 in small school productions and subsequently in Dance and Performing Art Summer School taking lead roles in shows like 'Oliver Twist' (cast as Oliver), and 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' (as Janet), as well as leads in small pantos. She joined The Caamora Theatre Company in June 2015 as a chorus member and a solo dancer and took part in the jubilee production of Clive Nolan's musical, 'She', staged at the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2015 and in the concert production performed in November in Reichenbach, Germany. In 2017 she took part in the CD recording of Clive Nolan's new musical 'King's Ransom' in the role of a paper boy.

Martha Kitson

Caron Morgan became involved in musical theatre in 2012 with the first Cheltenham production of Clive Nolan's "She" alongside her daughter, Natalie Barnett, in the costume department. This led to her involvement with the Caamora Chorus in Nolan's second musical, "Alchemy" in 2013. Since then, she has been a core member of the Caamora Chorus and the right arm of Natalie with costume, props and set design. Her acting and singing experience includes Cheltenham productions of "Alchemy" (2013, 2015) and "She" (2016) as well as the off-West End production of "Alchemy" (2014). In 2017 she took part in the CD recording of Clive Nolan's third musical "King's Ransom" and she was cast as Martha Kitson in the Cheltenham premiere of the musical in September 2017. She is the mother of five children, who are all active in the field of art - playing instruments, sculpting, painting and drawing. She has nurtured love of arts and performing arts in all the children .

Captain Fergus Maunder  (Cheltenham 2017)

Ian Baldwin has a first class honours degree in Performance Art and Media from The University of Gloucestershire and has been performing in some form or other for the past twenty five years. Currently, he is a horn player with 'The Joliet Blues Band', playing some of Britain’s largest festivals as well as a part-time bassist (amongst other things) for 'Frankenstein's Lobster' (The World’s first ukulele rock band). He has also written original music to a number of plays and musicals. Most recently he has appeared as Wackford Squeers in an adaptation of 'Nicholas Nickleby', and is a regular voice artist for InEar Entertainment’s horror based audio books as well as appearing as Mr Bradshaw in their podcast sitcom – 'Supermarket Matters'. He was also part of the Chorus in the Cheltenham production of 'Alchemy', where he also understudied the role of Milosh. This, in between improvising as part of the Offstage Theatre Company’s 'Off The Cuff' show and teaching adults the art of improvised comedy, as well as shouting ‘Great Scott!’ as Dr Watson in a series of Sherlock Holmes spoofs for BBC radio has kept him pretty busy over the last couple of years. Last February he finished writing the second in a series of children’s books and has a short story being published later in the year. In August 2014 he directed and performed in the Off-West End production of 'Alchemy' at the London Jermyn Street Theatre. Directing 'Alchemy' was not be the first time that Ian was part of a London show having been lucky enough to appear on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre not only once, but twice in new plays as part of the BT National Connections initiative in the mid-nineties. Although not his directorial debut, 'Alchemy' is certainly the most high profile show that he has undertaken in this role and he has greatly enjoyed the challenge! In 2017 Ian directed the stage premiere of Clive Nolan's third musical 'King's Ransom', in which he also plays the part of Fergus Maunder.