Forever Plaid Cast

Character	Actor	Biography
Frankie	Richard Pope	Richard graduated this year with a music degree from Bristol University. During his time as a student he played a wide range of parts including Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire , Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, Johnny in Anthony Minghella's Hang Up, ultimately winning a national prize for acting at this year's National Student Drama Festival for his portrayal of Captain Stanhope in R.C. Sheriff's play Journey's End. Until recently Richard was the resident singer at the popular Bristol nightspot Byzantium. He has also played the role of Figaro in La Nozze de Figaro, Jesus in John Stainer's oratorio The Crucifixion and sung a solo recital at the South Bank's Purcell Room.
Jinx	Andrew Emerson	Jinx in Ovation's Christmas production of Forever Plaid was Andrew's first role after graduating from Mountview Theatre School at the end of last year. Since then he has played the leading role, Iain McGregor, in the workshop production of the new musical Macgregor, and has sung in a music video as well as performing in several improvisation workshops. At Mountview, Andrew's roles included Bobby in Company, *Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream* and Action in West Side Story. Andrew is an accomplished writer and has won many national and international awards for his radio plays.**
Sparky	Tim McArthur	Tim graduated from Mountview Theatre School in 1995. He has just starred in a brand new musical Kids Need Friends performed in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales and The Laughter Makers in Exeter with Robert Powell and Barry Cryer. Tim presented The Wonderful West End at Litchfield and supported Bobby Davro at Bridlington. Recently Tim guested at the Jermyn Street Theatre in An Evening with Paul Hull and Simply Barbra with Steven Brinberg. Other credits include many theatre roles, Radio 2's A Chorus Line and Kiss Me Kate. Future plans: two handers with Barb Jungr and Helen Lederer, The Laughter Makers, From Stage to Screen and Tim's cabaret show A Little Romance in the Dark.
Smudge	Ian Brandon	Ian recently graduated from the London School of Musical Theatre at Her Majesty's Theatre where he featured in 'Tis Pity She's A Whore, A Taste of Honey, The Crucible and Unidentified Human Remains & The True Nature of Love. Other theatre work includes Anatoly in Chess, Angel Gabriel in Rock Naticity at the Riley Smith Theatre, Leeds, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz and Claude in Hair at the City Varieties, Leeds. Other shows include Grease, Guys and Dolls and Fiddler on the Roof. Ian has also recorded some demos for the composer Charles Miller, directed The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and musically directed A Chorus Line at Leeds University.
	John Plews	Director John trained at LAMDA and spent several years in Rep including a long stay at the Theatre Royal, Windsor. He has directed and produced numerous shows including many for cruise lines Cunard and P & O. At Upstairs at the Gatehouse John has directed Forever Plaid (also Edinburgh and National Tour) From a Jack to a King, It'S Only Make Believe (which he co-wrote) and A Slice of Saturday Night. John is very much involved in the day to day administration of Ovation Theatres and Upstairs at the Gatehouse.
	Racky	Choreographer / Tour Manager Racky trained on the Musical Theatre course at the Arts Educational School in London. Whilst there she appeared in and stage-managed many of the school's productions including Tin Pan Alley and Dracula Spectacula. She stage-managed Peter Schaffer's Black Comedy at the Bedlam Theatre during the 1996 Edinburgh Festival. Racky also choreographed Ovation's production of Forever Plaid, Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate. Racky's aspirations lie in performing as well as wishing to further her career in choreography.
	Michael Roulston	Musical Director / Pianist - Edinburgh Michael studied Music and Performing Arts at Middlesex University until 1995. He may be familiar from London appearances in the duo Peter & Mike, including Carlton television's The Warehouse and Mayhem at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Michael is also a vocal coach and regularly accompanies the renowned singing teacher Ian Adam, most recently for his Scandinavian Masterclasses. until recently he was Tim McArthur's Musical Director including a production for West End Cares at The Talk of London. Michael is thrilled to be working on Forever Plaid again since the Christmas revival Upstairs at the Gatehouse.
	Tim Hussain	Bass Player Tim is currently studying for his BA Hons in Popular Music at the London College of Music specialising in Jazz. He has worked as a session musician for the Warner Brothers Record Label and lives in South London.
	Christopher Whitehead	Pianist - Tour Chris trained at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts on a three year Musical Theatre course. Work as a performer includes How to Succeed in Business at the New Arch Theatre, Un Ballo in Maschera at the Holland Park Theatre, Dido and Aenas at Broomhill and various cabarets at Centrestage in Covent Garden, the Everyman Theatre in Hampstead and the Etcetera Theatre, Camden. As a Musical Director, credits include Sleeping Beauty at the Prince Regent Theatre, Farnborough, Sherlock Holmes - The Musical at the Wyvern Centre, Sittingbourne, When Movies were Movies National Tour and Playing the Halls National Tour. As well as a stint at The Actors' Centre as resident Musical Theatre accompanist and vocal coach, Chris is the lead singer of Carbon Copy who have just recorded their debut album, Revelations in Revolutions. In his spare time Chris can be found shopping or dreaming about shopping!