Katy Markey

Founder / Choreographer / Teacher / Perfomer
(Musical Theatre, Pop, Classical, Swing)

Katy has been teaching dance, drama and singing, and been choreographing, for a number of years and has been the resident choreographer for React Productions in Brighton for the last 5 years. She began her teaching experience at the age of 16 at The Doris Isaacs School of Dance in Brighton (where she had trained herself) and went on to teach for the J.D and Splitz Schools of Dance, taking the position as Principal for one year. Katy teaches Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Dance Aerobics, Body Conditioning and some Latin & Ballroom. Katy currently balances performing with teaching, and most recently played the Wicked Queen in Snow White for Spillers Pantomimes. She is the Singing Tutor for theatre arts school, Stagecoach Hove, vocal coach at Patcham High School, singing tutor for Accel Music, performing arts tutor for Activ 4 Tours and co-runs her own production company, Buxbaum Productions.

Joe Mott

Founder / Performer
(Swing, Musical Theatre, Pop)

Joe was 9 years old when he first performed as one of Fagin’s gang at The Theatre Royal in Brighton. He has since gone on to play Enjolras in Les Miserables, Mickey in Blood Brothers and Gabriel John Utterson in Jekyll & Hyde. In August 2007 he was accepted into the National Youth Music Theatre to take part in their production of Little Me, which is when he first fell in love with the show. In November 2007 he co-produced, directed & starred in Peter Parnell’s Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World & Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter. Joe then went on to co-found Buxbaum Productions with Katy Markey and together they produced Little Me with Joe directing and performing. Joe is also one half of the extremely popular swing singing duo, Joe and Jamie.

Louis Craig

Performer
(Swing, Pop, Musical Theatre)

Louis has been involved in musical theatre since making his unforgettable stage debut as a fairy in The Garden Plot aged eleven. This was followed by several Darren Vallier musicals including the critically acclaimed A Ring of Roses, Seize the Day, In the Arms of Strangers, Their Scarves Were Red and he can most recently be heard on the original cast recording of Theseus. Credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story and Cyril in Summer Holiday. Film and TV work includes The Bill, EastEnders, The Young Victoria, Woody Allen’s latest movie and adverts. Louis has performed in a number of productions for React Theatre Productions including the hugely popular Swing to the West End which lead to the formation of the cabaret group Reaction. After appearing in, and directing, Blood Brothers, co-directing the group’s award winning production of Les Miserables and being part of the successful team that produced If Life Were a Musical ….!, Louis made his debut as a solo director on the recent, hugely successful Jekyll & Hyde and most recently directed the European amateur premiere of Closer To Heaven for City Theatre Company.

Dan Edwards

Magician

Daniel Edwards is a close up and mentalist card magician, a true one of a kind entertainer who mixes up classic card routines with new, never before seen mentalist routines – mind reading, impossible ace predictions and feats of card manipulation to name a few. At the Sussex Magic Circle, Daniel often performs to friends and fellow magicians and takes part in several of the competitions hosted by the Circle, recently being crowned “Card Competition Winner 2009-2010”. Daniel is also one of the three magicians who form Smoke and Mirrors, the hugely sucessful touring magic night. Whether it is hopping between tables or strolling and mingling with guests, Daniel is able to create an aura of excitement for any celebration – a truly original ice breaker for an event. Moving from group to group entertaining clientele with everyday objects such as borrowed coins, shot glasses and tumblers from the bar, rubber bands and, of course, playing cards, Daniel can show you how this form of magic really helps to bring people together and create a truly ‘magical’ experience.

Oli Evans

Perfomer
(Swing, Musical Theatre, Pop)

Oli is 17 years of age and has been performing for over 7 years. Shows include South Pacific and Feather Boy, which he performed at the National Theatre in London. With Brighton Theatre Group Oli has performed in Children of Eden, played Peter in The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe, and more recently, Ugly in Honk! He then played Bugsy in Bugsy Malone and Stu in Brenda Bly: Teen Detective. Oli performed in Blood Brothers, Jekyll and Hyde, and Les Miserables with React, which received a NODA Award. Oli has achieved Grade 8 in drama, and Grade 4 in Singing, and starred in the Glyndebourne Opera Project that premiered at the BBC Proms. Oli recently gained a place at the prestigious Brit School and began studying there in September this year.

Antony Lloyd-Pay

Performer / Choreographer / Teacher
(Pop, Musical Theatre, Swing)

Antony is 31 years old, and has been performing for a number of years. He has performed in many musicals, dance shows, charity fund raising concerts, Brighton Festival and is a member of 4 part vocal harmony group, Reaction. Antony is proud to have been a solo performer at many prestigious events and has also lent his voice to some music producers on recent CD productions, currently being sold in Dress Circle, London and stores across America. Following huge success in Ballroom & Latin dance competitions, including the National Championships at Blackpool, Antony has recently retrained as a dance teacher, tutoring all ages from three to adults. He teaches both group and private lessons and is Assistant Choreographer for new dance troupe, Steam Heat. Antony has a passion for photography as well as performing and continues to compete nationally in Ballroom & Latin competitions.

Gary Lynn

Performer / Teacher
(Musical Theatre, Pop, Classical, Swing)

Nicki Popkiewicz-Smith

Performer
(Musical Theatre, Pop, Swing, Classical)

Nicki has been singing for as long as she can remember and involved specifically in Musical Theatre for over 20 years. Memorable musicals are Steven Sondheim's Sweeney Todd where she played 'Mrs Lovett', Little Shop of Horrors where she was 'Crystal' for two different Theatre Companies and 1980s favorite Fame! where she played 'Miss Sherman', the hard nosed teacher from the ghetto, again for two Theatre Companies, one of them on tour. Nicki is currently in rehearsals for a production of Scrooge the Musical, playing 'Mrs Fezziwig' and 'Mrs Dilber'. Outside of the musicals, Nicki has thoroughly enjoyed singing with a 'big band', and performed in many concerts; she loves to sing big ballads, soul, gospel and pop. Nicki will next be seen, diverting from her singing, to present Make Your Move Brighton, a dance event at The Brighton Centre, where she will be introducing the acts, including Ballet Rambert and Flawless. In her spare time (!), she is the proud Mum of three children aged from four to seventeen, and wife to her supportive husband, Lee.

Louise Richardson

Performer
(Harpist / Singer)

Louise has been playing the harp for 13 years and has performed with orchestras, as a soloist and part of a duo. During her time with the Brighton Youth Orchestra, Louise was chosen to appear in the advertising campaign for the renovation of The Dome and performed in the re-opening concert. Louise has also recorded a popular lullaby album "My Lullaby CD" with classical singer Sara Mullett, arranging the music herself. Weddings, Christenings and Formal Parties are among some of the functions that Louise has performed at and she enjoys providing the unique atmosphere the harp brings to a special occasion. Louise has taken the Harp's traditional classical sound and given it a modern touch by introducing popular favourites to her repertoire.

Leon Simmonds

Magician

Leon is an award winning member of the Sussex Magic Circle, having won the close-up magic competition 2008 / 09. Leon’s professional repertoire is close-up magic, which he can perform strolling around from group to group at mix-and-mingle events / environments, either sitting or standing in any type of venue for anything up to 3 hours. This makes his magic extremely versatile, very commercial and therefore suitable for all events and venues. Leon also set up his own extremely successful touring magic night with 2 fellow magicians - Smoke and Mirrors. Leon’s freshly unique approach to his art has seen him performing in numerous venues around the south for just about every type of audience possible, all of which have been ‘gob-smacked’ and ‘mesmerised’ but more than anything else, entertained! Leon’s magic happens in your hands, at your fingertips. No rabbits in hats, no special props and definitely no camera tricks, just pure, direct, commercial magic, suitable for any age, and any occasion.

Lea Spells

Performer / Teacher
(Pop, Musical Theatre, Swing)

Lea’s love of performing started at the tender age of three where she appeared in her first dance show. Since then she has performed in numerous musicals including: South Pacific, West Side Story, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Tommy, Witches of Eastwick, Jekyll & Hyde and as Carmen Diaz (Fame), Bridget (A Slice of Saturday Night) and Georgie Bukatinsky (The Full Monty), Hildy (On The Town). Alongside musical theatre, Lea studied Music Performance at Northbrook College, which resulted in her becoming lead vocalist for soul/funk band Perfect Scoundrels for 4 years. Also during her time at Northbrook she performed live for Children in Need on BBC 1. Lea is trained in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Street Jazz, Latin American & Ballroom dancing and has been a teacher and choreographer, having most recently assisted the choreographer on My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Brighton.

Emily Taylor

Performer
(Singer / Songwriter / Pianist)

Emily is seventeen years of age and after many years of singing and playing the piano, decided to focus her deep passion for music into song writing. She currently has a portfolio of around twelve acoustic/soul style songs and also enjoys adapting and performing cover material to suit this acoustic style. Emily’s love for music began with Shine Theatre Group at the age of seven and she has continued to perform with them ever since at venues including The Brighton Dome and at the Houses of Parliament. Emily also has experience in musical theatre and has performed in numerous musicals including Children of Eden, Les Miserables, Blood Brothers, Jekyll and Hyde, Little Me and most recently Erpingham Camp – all with Brighton based companies. Emily is a member of Youth Music Theatre UK and has been lucky enough to have been involved in two of their projects across the country: ‘The Stones Are Hatching’ and ‘Grace Online’. To hear a selection of Emily’s own material, you can visit her Music MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/emily0taylor

Marc Valentine

Performer
(Swing, Musical Theatre, Classical, Pop)

Marc has been living and performing on the south coast for 18 years, working with some of the UK’s most prestigious theatre companies. Theatre credits include, the title role in Sweeney Todd, Valentin Kiss Of The Spiderwoman, Peachum Threepenny Opera, Father Children Of Eden, Mr Pinchley / Bernie Buxbaum / Yulnick Little Me and his most challenging role to date playing the dual personalities of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde in the musical of the same name. In his spare time he is a devoted husband, Sci-fi nut, and works for the worlds leading Health Care Insurer

John Zee

Magician

John is a member of the Young Magic Circle and recently won the award for 'Most Original Act'. John has performed at many weddings, parties and corporate functions and can add that special touch to any event.

Reaction

Performer
(Motown, Pop, Musical Theatre, Swing, 50s/60s/70s)

Reaction are a 4 piece vocal harmony group who formed as an offset from React Productions in 2005. They have since played at numerous events, one of Brighton's top casinos, and helped raise money for Chestnut Tree House children's hospice with several cabaret and big band evenings. Reaction perform a wide range of material from musical theatre to swing, movies to motown, pop, and anything else you may request!

Steam Heat

Steam Heat is the South Coast's newest and hottest dance troupe combining classic routines with modern choreography and able to tailor a performance to suit any event. The group have a wide repertoire but can also learn routines on request for your special event.