The Lighthouse Cat’s Christmas Adventure: A production created in partnership with The Brook Theatre, Play on Words Theatre Company and Loop Dance Company.
Show Programme
Performer: Jade-Ashleigh Jeffrey
Kitty the Lighthouse Cat
Jade-Ashleigh is a London based Actress and all-round creative working in Theatre, Film, Presenting and Workshop facilitation. She’s a graduate of Rose Bruford College training on the American Theatre Arts course and Columbia College Chicago training in acting for film and stage combat and Teaching Artist Practicum.
She’s been leading theatre workshops in mainstream schools and SEN (special educational needs) schools here in the UK and the US with both kids and adults in the community working with companies such as YMCA, The Boys and girls club of San Fransisco, Little Fish Theatre and Collaboration. Her recent work includes touring ‘Catcall’ a TIE production/workshop around schools in London based on consent and the harassment of girls in school.
When not acting she also works within the production side of the industry. In August she worked as Script Supervisor on the final episode of High Life x Google for channel 4. In September 2021 she also worked with Ashmore and Associates in partnership with the National Army Museum creating promenade educational theatre on Caribbean women soldiers in WW2.
Along side this for Black History Month she was commissioned by Chelsea Physic Garden to create a theatrical educational workshops for young people learning about black pioneers that added to our knowledge of plants and science. Her mission as a creative/teaching artist is to use my set skills to inspire, encourage and nurture growth and development of people and creatives. To end the year, she booked the role of ‘Kitty’ in The Lighthouse cats Christmas adventure at The Brook Theatre, Medway.
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Performer: Jack Faires
Uncle Fergus, Carlos the Crab
Jack is delighted to be back at the Brook Theatre with Play On Words and Loop, to help save Christmas once again! His previous work with Play on Words includes ‘The Lion Who Came For Christmas,’ ‘Marvellous Medway’ and ‘Plant Hunters.’ More recently, Jack has been performing in ‘Will Tell and the Big Bad Baron,’ at Edinburgh Fringe with Theatre Fideri Fidera. Jack also has his own theatre company, Last Chance Saloon, touring their comedy musical spoofs across the country.
Performer: Effie McGuire Ward
The Sea Fairy
Effie McGuire Ward is a contemporary dance artist based in Milton Keynes. She undertakes work as a performer, choreographer and teacher across community dance, educational and professional settings. She is also a Loop Dance Collective Member.
Effie trained at Stella Mann College and Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Her performance projects have included working with Shobana Jeyasingh, Rosemary Lee, Hannah Pickett, Gary Clarke, Stopgap Dance Company, Ffin Dance, NOCTURN, JoinedUp Dance and Two Thirds Sky.
Effie first performed in Medway in 2019 appearing as a Fairy for the Brook Theatre’s Christmas production in Chatham created by resident companies Loop Dance, Play on Words Theatre Company and Icon Theatre. Effie is currently a supporting artist for the Collective IDentity Project with Danielle Jones (Teale): engaging people with Parkinson’s in the creation of live and filmed performance work, with an exhibition touring libraries, arts centres and hospitals.
Her teaching and facilitation roles have included delivering classes, workshops and residencies for Rambert, Rambert School, DanceXchange Birmingham, Motionhouse, Arts1 School of Performance, Hull Dance, and Yorkshire Movement and Dance. Alongside her teaching and performance work, Effie co-founded and co-directed MÓTUS, a dance festival for Milton Keynes for its first five years.
Writer, Performer: Miriam Cooper
Tilly The TurtleMiriam trained at the Guildford School of Acting and her theatre work ranges from appearing at the Bristol Old Vic, playing the female lead opposite Ian Lavender in ‘The Ghost Train’ to the Young Vic, London, in Ibsen’s ‘Playing with Fire’. Numerous roles have included Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth, Kate Mundy in ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ for The Dukes Lancaster, Ingrid, in Moira Buffini’s ‘Blavatsky’s Tower’, The Tobacco Factory, Bristol, Flora in ‘A Slight Ache’, ‘Sarah’ in ‘The Lover’, European Arts Company, ‘Julia Margaret Cameron’ the 19th century photographer & ‘Mary Anning’ the fossil hunter from Lyme Regis for Radio 4, ‘Sarah’ in The Two Worlds of Charlie F, UK and US tours, ‘Juliana’ & ‘Berthe’ in Hedda Gabler at The National Theatre, ‘Janet Mackenzie’ in Witness for The Prosecution’ at County Hall London, A Galway Girl’ and ‘Melody’ for Medway Fuse Festival and even ‘Silvery Sally’ a female wizard for Play On Words’ Channel Islands T.I.E. tours!She has co-written all and performed in some of the critically acclaimed children’s Christmas shows since 2010 at The Brook Theatre, Chatham. Her own show ‘Prostitutes Marry in May’ UK and Irish tour ending in Waterloo East Theatre, London, where she received a nomination in the ‘off West-End’ theatre awards for best female performance.She is a Co-Director of Play On Words Theatre based at The brook Theatre, Chatham and is a part lecturer in Drama and Performing Arts at Canterbury Christ Church University. www.miriamcooper.co.uk
Director: Aidan Dooley
Aidan is from Galway, West of Ireland. He trained at Guilford School of Acting and works as a freelance actor, writer and director in London.Highlights of his theatrical career include: ‘Philadelphia Here I Come’ – Wyndhams Theatre London. ‘Elegies for Angels’ – Criterion Theatre London. ‘DA’ – White Bear Theatre London. ‘Players and Painted Stage’, ‘Last Apache Reunion’ – SOS Theatre Bristol. National tours of ‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ ,‘Tales of the Lost Formicans’ – Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company. Galway Girl and Melody in the UK Fuse Festival. ‘Crossed Keys’– Eastern Angles Theatre Company, ‘Beyond the Brooklyn Sky’ – Red Kettle Theatre and ‘Translations’ – National Theatre, London. He has directed two of our previous Christmas shows here at The brook – The Smallest House Mouse and The Christmas Cat & The Christmas Adventures of Archie The Mouse.He has performed his hugely successful solo show ‘Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer’ (the stories of Scott and Shackleton through this ordinary man’s eyes) over the past twenty years, winning awards the prestigious Fringe First at Edinburgh. Now toured worldwide with over 1500 performances – www.tomcreanshow.comHe is the Co - Artistic Director of Play On Words Theatre Co. and works on theatre projects with Youth Theatres and young peoples drama projects all over the UK. He has been an Associate Lecturer in Drama at Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent since 2006. www.aidandooley.co.uk
Choreographer: Nina Atkinson
Nina Atkinson is the founder and Artistic Director of Loop Dance Company, Lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch University (pt0.5) and Honorary Fellow at University of Roehampton.
Loop Dance Co makes the second half of the creative companies who presents the Christmas show, where she has choreographed and performed in a majority of the past Christmas Shows at The Brook Theatre.
Nina completed her undergraduate and MA training at Trinity Laban and founded Loop Dance Company in 1993. She has worked with many well know choreographers, created multiple works for Loop including site specific, site sensitive, installation and film based work with both professional and community performers and has led and overseen many community, youth and educational dance projects.
Nina is currently studying for her PhD at The Centre for Dance Research at Coventry University and is external examiner for Kingston University and Edinburgh College. Her research interests lie in creating artwork for unusual spaces, from large-scale site-specific work to intimate installation experiences. The work is reflective of her dance perspective, emotive and human in its interaction with the viewer. Many of these works have been created in collaboration with artists from different genres bringing creative souls together in a meaningful partnership has become an expertise. http://loopdancecompany.co.uk/
Designer: James Frost
James Frost is a freelance artist, curator, theatre designer and puppeteer. He works to commission in set design, prop, puppet and mask making. He performs his own outdoor puppet shows as Theatre of the Small and explores folk drama and seasonal customs with the Canterbury Hoodeners. His exhibition ‘Animal Guising and the Kentish Hooden Horse’ will be at Maidstone Museum 8 Feb - 17 Jun 2023. James teaches modules in theatre design and cultural studies at Canterbury Christ Church University and is a visiting lecturer in design at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Birmingham City University. He is co-founder of the community group Bringing Alive Sandwich Heritage and trustee of the arts charity In A Space.https://www.jamesedwardfrost.
Photo credit: Caroline Dyal
Composer: Phil Hornsey
Music Composer: Phil HornseyPhil is a musical director, choir master, educator and composer.His work as a musical director has taken him around the country (and beyond) on musicals and pantomimes. He won Showtime on Sunday's Music Score of the Season award for his work on Peter Pan at the Sheffield Lyceum in 2018.Previous compositions include Christmas oratorio Prepare The Way and children's musical One, Two, Three Little Pigs.
Technical Managing - Chris Stevens
With over 40 years in the theatre industry, of which, 30 for Medway council at the Central and Brook Theatres. As a technical manager developing my skills across most genres of entertainment and turning his hand to building operations as he looks to close and breath new life into the Brook Theatre from April 2023.
"It has been my privilege to develop and work on the Brook Christmas show for the last 10 years. To bring all my guile, patience and experience to a show that brings so much joy to children, parents and grandparents alike."
Lighting Design & Show Operation. - Ryan Browring
Ryan has been working in theatre since the age of 16, and works on various shows, live events and festivals. Ryan main roles are lighting design, lighting operation, show control and pyrotechnics.
Show credits: Slam Dunk Festival, Glastonbury 2022, 21 Pilots 2022 Tour, Zorro The Musical, Phantom Of The Opera 2021 Birthday Celebration, The Brook Christmas Shows (2019, 2021, 2022), Forbidden Nights - London & Tour
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Social Media Manager: Becca Townsley
Becca (nee Rebecca Thompson) is a passionate movement artist, who strives to champion the holistic benefits of dance and movement. She is also Loop’s Marketing Manager and Board Secretary. Originally from the South East of England, she graduated with a BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance, from Newcastle College’s Performance Academy in 2011. Throughout her training, was taught by original Loop Collective Members, Jo Burgess and Marie Forbes. She completed Trinity Laban’s Teaching and Learning diploma in 2019, as well as frequently completing CPD, Yoga and Pilates, to round herself as a high quality movement facilitator.Becca has previously performed the roles of the Dancing Fairies in both The Timid Hedgehog and the Forgotten Christmas Forest (2015) and The Smallest House Mouse and The Christmas Cat (2016). Alongside her dance career, she has worked in marketing and design for Creative Companies and School's. This year, she has been behind the scenes, curating the social media content, strategy, and presence online for The Lighthouse Cat's Christmas Adventure, including this Digital Programme.Find out more here and Instagram
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The Brook Theatre
The Brook Theatre are excited that once again they are able to work with two of the Creative Company based at The Brook Theatre to bring you this magical Christmas experience.
"To see the children singing along, and smiling when they leave the theatre makes our day”
