A celebration of all things 'Musical Theatre' presented to you by a stellar cast of 'Top Turns'. 

Our talented cast has appeared in many shows in Londons Glittering West End, Shimmering Broadway and indeed, all over the world. Shows including 'The Lion King', 'Grease', 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'Sweeney Todd' not to mention 'Joseph', La Cage aux Folles, 'Cats'..... the list goes on. 

Sit back and listen to some of your old favourite show tunes and be introduced to some new exciting ones that are set to light up the West End stage in the coming months. 

So come and get a slice of the best musical theatre in the world, right here at The Eastbourne Hippodrome Theatre. 

Show-Tunes Cast

Richard Gauntlett

Richard began his career in the musical BARNUM playing The White Faced Clown with Michael Crawford at the Opera House in Manchester, Victoria Palace in London and the BBC film version. Eight years later he returned for the British tour playing the Ringmaster and taking over as P.T.Barnum.

Richard’s career has varied from Grand Opera to Circus, from West End Musicals to Vaudeville using his huge variety of special skills which have always fascinated him. He now is regarded as one of the industry experts on British Pantomime often directing two and writing at least four a year as well as advising on routines and traditional “business” for leading companies.

He played Puck in Britton’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at La Feniche Opera House in Venice and for Hamburg State Opera, CUPID for the Breganz Opera Festival, Austria in MASQUERADE which transferred to London’s Royal Opera House. For Opera Della Luna Richard has played Rev. Bender in THE PARSON’S PIRATES, Toby in ROBINSON CRUSOE, J.W.Wells in THE SORCERER and Ko Ko in THE MIKADO.

Richard played the comic fall-guy Lefou in the original cast of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Dominion Theatre in the West End where he remained for the entire run. He performed in the UK tour of CATS and in 2004/5 Richard joined the West End cast of LION KING playing Timon.

Richard has toured the world with his array of variety acts working for many of the Cruise Lines – Cunard, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and is a proud member of The Grand Order Of Water Rats.

Television work includes playing a baddie (Urak) in the DR. WHO adventure TIME AND THE RANI.  Film work includes several fleeting glimpses as one of Bob Hoskins' stunt doubles' in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT. 

As a writer Richard last year wrote episodes for ITV’s  ‘The Sooty Show’ and is now hard at work writing pantomimes for this years season – he will be writing, directing and appearing at The Theatre Royal in Norwich – for the 19th year running – as The Fairy Godmother in a brand new Cinderella. 

He is currently touring the country as resident patter man with the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company in THE MIKADO, YEOMAN OF THE GUARD and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

Sherrie Pennington

Sherrie trained at Laine Theatre Arts and graduated with an honours musical theatre diploma as well as gaining teaching qualifications in modern, ballet, tap and national dance. 

Sherrie danced from an early age performing in numerous pantomimes and summer seasons here at the Royal Hippodrome, and made her West End debut at the age of 14 in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium. On leaving college she joined The Wonderful Rock'n'Roll West End as lead singer, understudied and played the part of Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Dominion Theatre) later returning to play a Silly Girl, Belle and Babette on the U.K Tour, Rosalia and Maria in West Side Story (National tour), Betty Palmer in Babes In Arms (Cardiff International Music Festival), Rosie in Sweet Charity and ensemble in Me And My Girl (Sheffield Crucible), Lisa in Mamma Mia (Prince Edward) Usherette and Lick me Bite me in the award winning original cast of Mel Brooks The Producers (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) understudy Janet Van Der Graff and Kitty in the original London production of The Drowsy Chaperone with Elaine Paige (Novello), Cinderella (Theatre Royal Norwich), understudy Candida in Stephen Fry's Cinderella (The Old Vic), Maud Dunlop and Marian Paroo in The Music Man and Lady-in-waiting and Kathy Selden in Singin' In The Rain (Chichester Festival Theatre and Palace Theatre), understudy Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), My Fair Lady at The Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, Ensemble in White Christmas, the original London cast of Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre), and the world premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory directed by Sam Mendes (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Sherrie appeared in the live production of the Sound of Music for ITV, Oklahoma at the Royal Albert Hall which was broadcast live for BBC4, and most recently finished filming on Sanditon for ITV which is aired this autumn and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie for Film Four, which is due for release next year .

Sherrie has taken part in a workshop for The Count of Monte Cristo, was Associate Choreographer for Bright Lights Big City at Hoxton Hall and her other T.V and film credits include The Laurence Olivier Awards, The 1996 and 2004 Royal Variety Performances, Blue Peter, This Morning, Children in Need, Surprise Surprise, Don't Make Me Angry, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, John Barrowman's Tonight's The Night, The Sound of Musicals and Mamma Mia Here We Go Again.

John McManus

John was born in Edinburgh and moved to London after winning the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber scholarship to train at Arts Ed, London 

West End: Sweeney Todd ( Adelphi Theatre ) Scrooge ( London Palladium ) Top Hat ( Aldwych Theatre & Tour ) Grease ( Victoria Palace & Tour ) When Pig Fly ( Arts theatre ) West Side Story ( Royal Festival Hall ) and Scooby-Doo Musical mysteries ( London Palladium) 

International & Uk Tours in Cats, Miss Saigon, Spamalot, Doctor Dolittle, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, My Fair Lady & Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat understudying Philip Schofield in the title role.

Rep season at Chichester Festival Theatre , Dundee and Perth Rep , Theatre Royal Bath, Theatre at the Mill ,Belfast  and Lincoln Theatre Royal in : A Midsummer  Nights Dream , The Slab Boys , My Cousin Rachel, Me and my Girl , HMS Pinafore , Into the Woods , The wind in the Willows  , Jet set go ! , Sweeney Todd, The Snow Queen, The Three Musketeers, The Great Gatsby, The Magic Fishbone, Sunshine on Leith, Leader of the Pack, The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance.

Television: Eastenders (BBC ) Taboo ( BBC) Taggart (ITV ) Take the high Road  ( STV ) Living Dangerously ( BBC ) Deception & Shutterstock ( E4) A Christmas Carol ( BBC ) & Sally4Ever ( Sky)

Commercials for: Coca Cola Ltd, Rowntree’s fruit pastilles, Bright-house, Paddy Power, Ford Motor Cars  & Boots the chemist. 

John is looking forward to working on this production with some lovely good jolly old chums! Ha

Nova Skipp

Nova trained at Arts Ed - Chiswick.

Theatre work includes West End productions of Aspects of Love, Phantom of the Opera, Salad Days, Chess In Concert and The Sound of Music.

On tour, Nova has appeared in Annie, Cats (in Germany), The King & I, Acorn Antiques, The Two Most Perfect Things, Abigail's Party, Carrie's War, and, most recently, alongside Sheridan Smith in Funny Girl.

Repertory work includes leading roles in Oklahoma!, Carousel, The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, Bedroom Farce, The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Side by Side by Sondheim, Kes, Pardon Me Prime Minister and Hay Fever.

Nova is also a favourite at various fringe venues in London, such as the Landor Theatre, where she appeared in Follies, Meet me in St Louis and Damn Yankees, and Upstairs at the Gatehouse, where she has performed in Anything Goes and Nice Work if you can get it.

She also created the role of Kathryn in the new musical, Apartment 40C at the St James Theatre Studio, now the Other Palace.

Alongside her theatrical career, Nova loves to perform in cabaret, including prestigious venues such as Pizza On the Park, Quaglinos Restaurant and the Park Lane Hotel. She has headlined for the Saga Rose cruise ship, and regularly performs with the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra. She has also co-written and plays the title role of Julie Andrews in The Sound of Julie. 

www.novaskipp.com

David Pendlebury

David trained at Leicester University (BA Hons) and London College of Music (ALCM).

THEATRE credits include:

West End:

Kiss of the Spider Woman (Shaftesbury Theatre); City of Angels (Prince of Wales Theatre); The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre); Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Dominion Theatre); HMS Pinafore (Savoy Theatre and Shubert Theatre, Connecticut, USA); Disney’s The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre);The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary (Royal Albert Hall)

Fringe:

Edmund Kean: Child of the Sun (King’s Head Theatre, Islington); Once Upon A Mattress (Union Theatre, London); Profumo The Musical (Waterloo East Theatre, London); Anything Goes (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London); In Gay Company (Jermyn Street Theatre); Nice Work If You Can Get It (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London)

Regional:

Jesus Christ Superstar (Civic Theatre, Chelmsford); Leonardo, A Portrait of Love (Old Fire Station, Oxford); The Pirates of Penzance, Little Shop of Horrors and Me & My Girl (Kilworth House Theatre, Leics.)

Tours:

Chess (Original National & International Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (20thAnniversary National Tour); The Producers (International Tour - China)

Workshops:

The Last Maharajah (Wyndham’s Theatre, London)

OPERA credits include:

Aida (National Indoor Arena, Birmingham); Carmen (Dortmund, Munich and Zurich)

TELEVISION credits include:

The Laurence Olivier Awards 1993 and 1998 (BBC); The Prince’s Trust: A Royal Gala 1997 (Carlton); The Making of Disney’s’ Beauty and the Beast’; Jim Davidson’s Generation Game 1997 (BBC).

RECORDINGS include:

Bristow; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Original London Cast); Missouri; Nosferatu; Jumpin’ The Tracks; Starlight Express (Booth Singer).

COMMERCIALS & CORPORATE credits include: Toyota; Canon Pixma MX Printer;

OTHER credits include:

David performs with the international vocal group, The WestEnders, touring theatres and headlining on cruise ships;

CHARITY:

Chairman of West End Cares (1994 – 2003) & Theatrecares (2003 – 2008); Founder, Chairman & Trustee of the charity, The Make A Difference Trust (trading as TheatreMAD) (2008 – 2016), devising & producing fundraising events such as West End Eurovision, West End Bares, A West End Christmas, Late Night Cabarets, Midnight Matinees & the annual Theatre Bucket Collections Appeal.

Jo Martell

Jo is delighted to be back here at the Hippodrome where her career began over 25 years ago in ‘The Black and White minstrel’ show.

Since graduating from The Guildford School of Acting, having completed a three-year diploma course in Musical Theatre and winning the Principal's Award, Jo has appeared in many leading roles in musicals such as 'Frenchy' and cover to 'Rizzo' in "Grease" (Cambridge Theatre, Westend); 'Miranda' in "Shakespeare & Rock n Roll" (Musical Theater Berlin); 'Gloria Estefan' in "La Vida Loca" (UK tour) & Lead vocalist in “Livin La vida Loca”; (UK tour), Lead Vocalist on the QE2; “Aspects of Love" (Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich) "Hair" (Octagon Theatre, Yeovil) and ‘Elizabeth Garrett Anderson’ in “Elizabeth GA” a new musical in which she also sang on the original recording.

Leading roles in pantomimes include: 'Pinocchio ' in "Pinocchio" (Paul Robeson Theatre, Hounslow); 'Princess So-shi' in "Aladdin" at (The Capitol, Horsham) and ‘Princess Jasmine’ in “Aladdin” at (The Wylletts Centre, Potters Bar), 'Tiger Lily' in "Peter Pan" (The Capitol, Horsham), 'Liza' in "Dick Whittington" (Theatre Royal York), ‘Jill’ in Jack & The Beanstalk” (The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon).

Plays include: Cover to the leading roles of 'Zelda' and 'Josie' in "Sitting Pretty" a new play with Maureen Lipman (UK Tour); 'Bridget' in "A Chorus of Disapproval" (The Wolsey Theatre) 'Anna Trueman', "Deadly Nightcap" (Steven Craig Theatre), ‘Bird of Paradise’ and cover to 'Bride' in "The Wedding" (The Café Royale, London); ‘Titania’ “A Midsummers Night Dream”, (USA Tour).

Film/TV work includes: 'Anne Boleyn' in "The Execution of Anne Boleyn" (BBC), ‘Native Girl’ in Robinson Crusoe & Smith, TV film (BBC), 'Featured Wedding Dancer' in Feature film "Alexander the Great",  'Rosa' in the feature film, "This is Cannes"; 'Evey' in "The Apple Junction”, as well as several short films, corporate films, commercials and modelling shoots.

Jo also set up her own company ‘The Disco Divas’ providing bespoke entertainment and appeared in several plays for AKT productions, a company providing corporate roleplay. Her latest role is ‘Mummy’ to 3 boys, her most challenging and rewarding yet! 

‘

Adam Crossley

Assistant Choreographer Credits: Adam is currently assisting on Singin' In The Rain at the Adelphi Theatre, London, as part of the 48-Hour Showtime Challenge, in aid of the Lewy Body Society.

Performance Credits incude: Dance Captain/Cover Jimmy Winter in NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - Upstairs At The Gatehouse; Dance Captain/Onstage Swing in SUMMER HOLIDAY UK TOUR; Dexter/Ensemble in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE - Niagara Falls, Canada; Ensemble/Understudy Roger in GREASE & Ensemble/Understudy Look-Out Idiot in COLUMBUS! - THE MUSICAL - Original Cast, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony Of The Seas; Dance Captain/Nikos in LEGALLY BLONDE - Upstairs At The Gatehouse; Rolf in THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Gala Theatre, Durham

TV and Corporate Credits include: SANDITON for ITV; Dance Captain in BMWi3 LAUNCH

Natalie Roberts

Natalie trained at The Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.  Theatre credits include Stubb in Moby Dick the Musical, Woman 1 in Songs for a New World,  Mary in Godspell, Angela in Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens,  Ensemble in Smile, Roberta Victor in  Working the musical , Sally in Follies and Jessica in the  UK premier of ‘It’s Only Life’. 

As a session singer Natalie has also worked with T’Pau, ABC, Martine McCutcheon, Katrina and the Waves 

Concerts include A Night at the Musicals (west end) The Magic of the Musicals (UK tour) The Magic of Rogers and Hammerstein (UK tour) and A Handful of Keys (west end).  Natalie also performed as the lead female vocalist in productions for Sun Cruises and P&O cruise lines. Natalie performs a one-woman show in cabaret, recent gigs include Proud in Brighton and The Pheasantry jazz club London.  Alongside performing Natalie runs her own theatre school in Eastbourne (NRPA) and works as a free-lance director and vocal coach. 

Steve Stapley

Steve has over 25 years of experience in musical theatre.

Theatre credits include La Cage Aux Folles, Jesus Christ Superstar,  Chess and A Little Night Music.

In 2014, along with friends, he set up the theatre company 'Against the Tide' producing the Uk premiere of John Bucchino's 'It's Only Life' for the Brighton Fringe.

Steve was also involved in running the Phoenix Fusion Choir

He can be heard on the original cast recordings of the musicals 'Nosferatu', 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Success'.

He is looking forward to performing at The Royal Hippodrome in this project with an exciting new company.

Jane James

Jane is delighted to be appearing with By-the-Sea Productions and has appeared in numerous shows working professionally for ten years.

Some of her favourite musical roles have included Rose in “Gypsy”, Anna in “The King & I”, Kate in "Kiss Me Kate", Julie in “Showboat”, Carmen in Bizet’s Opera, Annie in “Annie Get Your Gun” Miss Hannigan in “Annie”, Maria  in "The Sound of Music“, and most recently she played the role of Stella Eames in "Follies".

She has appeared in the West End at the famous Players Theatre, the Lyric, Shaftsbury Avenue and at the Bloomsbury Theatre, spent two summers in Jersey, toured the UK in “Godspell” and “Oh! What a Lovely War”, appeared in “King’s Rhapsody” at the Churchill Theatre Bromley, played Widow Corney and Lady Thiang in Aberystwyth, as well as working in pantomime, plays, film, tv and on various studio recordings. 

Now and then she has put on a different hat and directed several musical productions for young people. Jane is excited to be performing with this talented new company.

Dale Adams

Dale first received his passion for theatre when he was a child performing in many professional productions, including “The Wizard of Oz” (De La Warr Pavillion) and Handel’s “Rodelinda” (Glyndebourne Opera House).

He is a graduate of Arts Educational Schools, London, where he was awarded a full scholarship under the Dance and Drama Award Scheme.

Since graduating he’s performed in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (London Road) as the role of Anthony; originated the roles of Steve and Rocks in the UK premieres of LA musicals, “Adam and Eve and Steve” and “BARK!” (Edinburgh and Kings Head), and performed in the live stage adaptation of Dreamworks’ “IGOR!” at the Bahrain Exhibition Centre.

Additional credits include Buttons in “Cinderella” (Regal Theatre), Muddles in “Snow White” and the titular role in “Peter Pan” (Dubai).

He has also been touring the UK and appearing on cruises for P&O, Saga and Cunard for over 2 years as Frankie Valli in the awarding-winning “Walk Like A Man” after a successful run at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Some of his favourite moments on stage to date have been singing alongside Michael Ball on Radio 2’s “Friday Night is Music Night”, performing with headliners including Kerry Ellis, Sharon Dee Clarke and Danielle Hope in Adam Hepkin’s “Magic of the Musicals” (UK tour) and singing to honour Stephen Sondheim at the “2011 Lawrence Olivier Award Ceremony” (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Rising Stars

Star Bray 

Star trained on the Musical Theatre Triple Threat course at the University of Chichester and graduated in 2017 with a First and an extra specialism in Arts Management. She now runs her local business ‘RAPA Sing’ as well as being a senior teacher for the Trapdoor Theatre School. After taking on the role of swing whilst away training, Star is currently performing in her 6th Summer Season ‘Viva Variety’ here at the Hippodrome as a lead vocalist which runs until late October. To add to her busy schedule, she has also been working as a freelance choreographer/assistant for various local and touring companies including APL Productions, Lewes Operatics and the Rattonians. Since taking on so much work in the coaching side of the industry, Star hasn’t been performing quite as much as she’d like and so is grateful for this opportunity that By The Sea has given her.

Performance Credits: Beth (Merrily We Roll Along), Lily (The Secret Garden), Queen (The Life), Polly (Crazy For You)

Choreography Credits: The Phantom Of The Opera, The Wiz, Secret Santa, Follies, Top Hat

Jade Watson 

Jade has been performing since the age of 7 with local companies around Bexhill and Eastbourne area performances such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoatat, Little shop of horrors and Les Miserables to name but a few. Jade trained in Musical Theatre at Bexhill college with a grading of triple distinction and also has an LCM grade 1-6 in singing. 

Kelcie Black

Kelcie has recently graduated from the London College of Music, where she achieved a first class honours degree in Musical Theatre. During her time there she met and worked with some amazing practitioners who helped her to enhance her craft. Whilst at LCM she was also involved in shows such as 9 To 5 and Rags, in which she played Bella. Before her training, she was heavily involved in performances in Eastbourne and Bexhill. Her best local roles have been Vivienne in The Rattonian’s Legally Blonde, Kate McGowan in Bexhill College’s Titanic, Eve in Children of Eden and Frenchy in Grease, both of which were performed at the Bexhill High Academy. She is so excited to be performing locally again and is delighted to be sharing the stage with so many incredible people.

Maisie Edwards

Maisie is currently studying A levels but her dream is a career in Musical Theatre. She is hoping to take up full time professional training in London. 

Maisie's training so far has been with Amanda Williams at Lacey theatre Arts. 

Local Credits Include Likes of us, Seussical, Dick Whittington, Miss Saigon, Cats, Into the woods, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Fame, South Pacific, Our house , Beauty and the Beast, Anything Goes, Annie, Sweeney Todd, Evita and Grease. 

Professional Qdos Pantomimes- Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan. 

Film - Brighton

Maisie feels privileged to be working with such a fabulous cast and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Junior Ensemble

Matinee:

AMELIE ASKEW

CARYS ASKEW

EDWARD RANNIE

ELLA BROCKWELL

FREDDIE WOODGATE

JOSEPHINE HUMBLE

LARA YATES

MILLIE MOORE

RORY WOOD

RUTH BOOTHBY

SADIE YATES

SUMMER GARRATT

Evening:

BONNIE WYMAN WALSHAW

DEVANIE TRAVERS

ELIJAH WYMAN-WALSHAW

FLORENCE BIRCH

FLOSSIE BAXTER-SCOTT

GEORGIE GANDER

ISLA BUDD

ISLA-BELLE HEATH

KRISTIAN ADAMS

LIA LOPEZ-GITTINS

NATALIA TURNER

POPPY WEST

SUMMER PARRY

ZEPHAN ROBINSON

Production Photographs