Gallery
"And now the stage is filled by A Girl Miss Red, an original musical, featuring children alongside adults. We’re getting a montage of setpiece songs and dances, all energising and impeccably choreographed. Lots to admire here."
Richard Stamp @FringeGuru
The Wee Review
“With a flat out brilliant children’s cast. I have never seen acting from a children’s cast of such quality in my life. Some real stars amongst that group.”
“This is a show that has the potential to be the British Annie.”
Thos Ribbits
MUSICALTALK
The “A Girl Miss Red interview” is from 58 minutes in.
CAST
Grace MacDonald/Bendle
MARTHA
Grace trained in Performance at Northumbria University and went on to train in contemporary dance at La Escuela Profesional de Danza de Mazatlán with Delfos Danza in Mexico.
After graduating she toured and worked in children’s theatre around the UK and abroad for 5 years. Back in the UK she now teaches drama and Performing Arts. Grace has performed several lead roles including Judy Haynes in White Christmas, Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act and Truly Scrumptious at the Bristol Hippodrome. Grace performed as Eva in Evita with Bath Light Opera, winning the Rose Bowl best musical theatre actress award, 2023. She then played Mabel in Mack and Mabel at the Theatre Royal Bath.
Lizzie Rose
CHOREOGRAPHER AND CAST MEMBER: MISS COLES/ AUNT CECILIE
Lizzie trained at Bird College in London, studying dance, musical theatre and acting. She has played Princess Fiona in Shrek the musical and Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street.
Lizzie has performed in professional pantomimes with UK Productions including Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Peter Pan, in which she understudied the role of Wendy - complete with having “flying” lessons!
Her choreographic work includes Oklahoma, Grease, CATS, and Evita. She is currently working on Oliver, which will be performed at the Theatre Royal, Bath.
James Canning
MR. BRACKEN (HEADMASTER)
James has been performing in musicals for nearly 40 years. He has played many leading roles, including Billy Bigelow in 'Carousel', Judas in 'Jesus Christ Superstar', Jamie in 'The Last Five Years', Sweeney Todd in 'Sweeney Todd', Gaston in 'Beauty and the Beast', Officer Lockstock in ‘Urinetown’ and Juan Perón in ‘Evita’.
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Sophie Baxter
MISS STACEY , W
Sophie trained in Musical Theatre at Performance Preparation Academy, Guildford. After several professional performing contracts both around the UK and abroad, she chose to perform closer to home. She most recently performed as Lottie Ames in the musical production of Mack and Mabel at the Theatre Royal, Bath.
Joanna Finley
MRS. RATHBOURN
Joanna has been performing in choirs and musical theatre groups in the South West for over 20 years. With Bath Light Operatic Group she has performed in 42nd Street, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Sound of Music, Sister Act, Annie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and played Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar at The Theatre Royal, Bath. Other performances include new musicals Freckles (Actors Church Covent Garden) and The Decent Rogues (Bridewell Theatre London).
Ali Canning
MRS. POTHERTHWISTLE
Ali has been involved in musical theatre since she was young. She has played a variety of roles ranging from the title role in Gigi to Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd. She sings with a well-renowned close harmony group 'Ten in a Bar' and runs a small private practice in Swindon teaching singing.
Ben Canning
GEORGE POTHERTHWISTLE
Ben has played a variety of roles including the title role in ‘Oliver!’ and Doody in ‘Grease’. Recently Ben achieved a distinction in ABRSM grade 8 singing, and will be studying for a BA honours degree in Music at the University of Nottingham from September.
"kids"
All the children train at The Dorothy Coleborn School of Dancing in Bath.
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Sasha Jennings
FRAN ETHEL RED
Sasha has drama, dance and singing lessons in Bath and recently sang a solo and duo for the DC ‘Snapshot’ 100 anniversary show at The Theatre Royal, Bath. She took part in The Mid Somerset Festival this year for the first time and has since been invited to compete for Bath Young Actor of the year (Junior) with only two other contenders.
In 2021 she was cast in the part of Cosette in the Cameron Mackintosh Production on tour to Bristol Hippodrome which was sadly cancelled due to the Pandemic.
Becky Baxter
CLARA
Becky is a member of Bath Acting and Theatre Studio (B.A.T.S), D. C. school, Curtain Up and is an Advanced member at Stagebox in London. She performed a solo in the D.C. show and has previously performed in several pantomimes there. She recently played the title role in Moana at Curtain up Theatre school. This year Becky won the Yr 8 solo Acting award at The M S Festival. Becky has Grade 5 LAMDA (distinction) and Grade 6 Musical Theatre (distinction.) Her recent other grades - Ballet: RAD Intermediate Foundation and ISTD Silver Jazz.
Frederick Spedo Mirandola
ARTURO
Frederick is a Junior Associate at the Royal Ballet School and is training at Grade 4 in ballet, and Grade 3 in modern dance and tap. He recently performed at the Snapshot show showcasing his dancing across five areas. He also performed in the title role in a tableaux from Oliver. He is a member of B.A.T.S and was the Yr 6 solo Drama winner at the M S Festival. He previously performed the role of mini Shrek and Lord Farquard’s father in Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal, Bath.
Ellie Baxter
WANDA
Ellie is a member of B.A.T.S, D C dancing school, Curtain Up and Stagebox in London. This year she has performed at Theatre Royal in Bath in the Christmas pantomime, and performed a solo in the D. C. show. In March she took part in the MS Festival where she won the award with Catherine for the most outstanding Duo.
Catherine Mattingly
HATTIE, FRAN UNDERSTUDY
Catherine trains in dance and singing and is a member of B.A.T S. She achieved 95% in her Grade 4 Musical Theatre exam. This year Catherine received the award for highest mark over four individual categories (including her Shakespeare monologue) at the MS Festival and has also been selected to compete for Bath Young Actor of the Year in October 2023.
Eva Bentley
STELLA-ROSE
Eva has two dance trophies in ballroom, is advanced foundation for ballet and has Grade 5 in tap and modern (Distinction). She’s a member of Curtain Up theatre school and performed in Grease and Macbeth. Eva played Alice in her school play, Alice in Wonderland. She also participated in the 100 year anniversary performance for the D.C. School at the Theatre Royal.
Kit Baxter
NEVILLE
Kit belongs to B.A.T.S, Curtain up Theatre School and Stage box, London. In the MS Festival this year, he won the Repertoire Drama Trophy years 8-10. He recently performed at The Snapshot show in a leading part. He is currently preparing for Grade 6 MUSICAL Theatre with Amanda Hickmore.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Matt Finch
COMPOSER/ ARRANGER
Matt started writing musicals following his Masters in Composition which was funded by the Mackintosh Foundation. He has written 6 musical. A Girl MissRed has had the most performances! Matt composes and arranges music for choirs and is also the Musical Director for Bath Light Operatic Group. Matt is also a producer of choir events in the local area. Most recently he organised a 10 hour concert of local Bath choirs, with over 650 singers, raising over £5000 for charity.
Mel Lawman
WRITER/ LYRICIST/ DIRECTOR
Mel is currently developing the new musical COUCH with Clement Ishamael, the worldwide musical director of the Lion King. Five songs from their show have been recorded at RKA studios with a Broadway and West End Cast. The show is to go into workshop this year.
Mel runs and owns Bath Acting and Theatre Studio (B.A.T.S) which nurtures young performing talent. Several students have won and been runners up for Bath Young Actor of The Year.
Amanda Hickmore
VOCAL COACH
Amanda graduated from The Conservatoire of Music in Birmingham and then went on to train at the Mayer - Lissmann Opera School in London, eventually gaining a coveted place in British Youth Opera.
During her career, she has worked extensively in both opera and musical theatre (which is her passion) including a UK tour and Sadler’s Wells production of The King and I and an eighteenth month run in Phantom of the Opera in the West End.
She now lives in Bath and has a large teaching practice dedicated to helping young people achieve a solid vocal technique, together with a strong sense of performance, confidence and self belief.
Assisting Direction - Lara Lawman
Lighting and Sound - SPIROLUX, Bath
Costume and Props - Dare We Productions
BATS Graphics - Lucas and Lara Lawman
Printing Red Rocko, Bath
With thanks to parents and Chief Chaperones - Karin Baxter and Sam Jennings