Made with Xara Web Designer
Keswick Amateur Operatic Society
Chris Briggs - Artistic Director - and Herr Shultz! This is Chris’ 12th year with
KAOS having joined the Society to help only with Stage Management in Kiss me Kate in
1999! He has played many roles with the Society including Emile de Becque (South
Pacific), Chief Sitting Bull (Annie Get Your Gun), Parchester the Solicitor (Me and My Girl),
Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls), Tevye the Milkman (Fiddler on the Roof – for which he
received a Best Actor nomination) and Professor Higgins (My Fair Lady). Chris has also
produced and directed many of our recent shows including Pirates of Penzance (2002), Me
and My Girl (2003), The Mikado (2006), Oklahoma! (2008) and The Gondoliers (2010).
Chris recently appeared in the world premiere of “Behind the Times” at the Green Room in Carlisle and
directed the Allerdale Players in their Christmas Pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk”. Chris, having
already been given the part of Herr Schultz, took over the role of Artistic Director early in the production
when Mike Eccles unfortunately had to withdraw due to family illness.
David Sutton - Musical Director. David was educated at Winchester College
Choir School and Churcher’s College followed by Gonville & Caius College,
Cambridge. After some years with the Welsh National Opera David worked
for 20 years as repetiteur for the English National Opera, moving on to the
Scottish Opera and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Since
moving to Carlisle he has been the soloist in two piano concertos with the City
of Carlisle Symphony Orchestra and was repetiteur for Lakeland Opera’s La
Traviata and Carmen.
Neil Lawson - EMCEE. Willkommen auf meiner wunderbaren Kabarett! Hier ist das
Leben schön, die Mädchen sind schön, auch das Orchester ist schön. Vielen Dank für Ihr
Kommen in meiner Einfahrt.
Bienvenue sur mon cabaret merveilleux! Ici la vie est belle, les filles sont belles,
l'orchestre est magnifique. Merci d'être venu dans mon allée.
Welcome to my wunderful cabarett! Here life is beautiful, the girls are beautiful even the
orchestra is beautiful. Thank you for being at my entrance.
Jenni Thornton - Sally Bowles. After graduating from Liverpool Institute of
Performing Arts with a BA Hons in Performing Arts Music in 2008 Jenni went straight into
her first professional musical. "Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi" written and directed by
Phil Wilmott, which ran for 3 months at The Liverpool Playhouse in aid of the Capital of
Culture and was a great success. Jenni continued to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe with
a production of "A...My Name Is Alice” before returning to the Lakes and joining Keswick
Amateur Operatic Society last year, for their production of “The Gondoliers”. Her proudest
moment was performing "Ticket to Ride" with her 8 part acapella group, to the song's
original performer - Sir Paul McCartney.
James Hutchinson - Clifford Bradshaw. James graduated from Mountview
Academy of Theatre Arts with a BA(Hons) in 2002. Productions whilst at Mountview
included Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely), Assassins (Zangara), Cinderella (Ugly Sister), A
Chorus Line (Larry). Theatre credits include Nanki Poo in the national tour of The Mikado
with Opera della Luna, the USA and Canadian tours of The Mikado with Carl Rosa Opera
Company, the UK tour of The Gondoliers (Carl Rosa Opera Company), two seasons with
the G & S Opera Company at Buxton Opera House (Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore,
Mikado, Yeoman of the Guard, Patience, Gondoliers), Prince Charming in Cinderella for
Leeds City Varieties and the original London cast of Amazons. James considers his
greatest achievement to be his role as rehearsal actor for Blind Date (LWT) – I was
desperate! Now living in Keswick, James owns The Square Orange Café Bar,
www.thesquareorange.co.uk - I know, a shameless plug!
Lynda Lowth - Fraulein Schneider. This is Lynda’s ninth year with KAOS. Her
love affair with musicals began in l963 and since then she has been in many shows
in many places! Some of her favourite roles include Bloody Mary (South Pacific),
Golde (Fiddler on the Roof) and Mrs Higgins (My Fair Lady). The role she enjoyed
most of all is Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! – a role she has played twice, most memorably
in 2008 with KAOS when she fractured her knee-cap and played the last three
performances in a wheelchair – the expression “break a leg” became reality!!
Lynda was nominated for a NODA award for her portrayal as Mrs Higgins in our 2009 production of My
Fair Lady and though she didn’t succeed she was thrilled to be considered. She thinks Fraulein
Schneider is probably the most challenging role of them all.
Jonathan Denny - Ernst Ludwig. Born in 1963 Jonathan made his debut with KAOS
in The Gondoliers in 2010. He works as a Barista at the world famous Square Orange café
bar in Keswick.
Esther Potts - Fraulein Kost This is Esther’s fourth production with KAOS. This year she
is looking forward to playing Fraulein Kost. She is also a member of other amateur societies in
Cumbria and Lancashire, including Kendal, where she starred as a ‘hotbox girl’ in Guys ‘n Dolls
last November. When Esther isn’t treading the boards she is found pottering on her patio,
gardening for clients and selling outdoor gear.
Tuesday 3rd May to Saturday 7th May 2011
