Our Curve Associates are leading artists, practitioners and companies who, with our support, create cutting-edge new work which is showcased at Curve, across the UK and internationally.
Associate Artists
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Aakash Odedra Company
Aakash Odedra Company
Aakash Odedra Company was founded in Leicester in 2011 by Anand Bhatt and Aakash Odedra. The company is named after Artistic Director Aakash Odedra, a choreographer and one of the most talented British South Asian dancers.
Born in Birmingham, Aakash trained in bharatanatyam and kathak, then moved to India as a student of the renowned Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar. Aakash is a globally recognised and award winning artist, and has performed over 300 full length performances in 40 countries.
In 2018, Aakash Odedra Company became part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. As a not-for-profit organisation they are governed by a voluntary board of trustees and any surplus funds from their work are invested directly back into their mission of creating a happier and healthier society through dance and the arts.
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Akram Khan Company
Akram Khan Company
In July 1999 in the foyer of the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, an animated and curiosity-filled conversation took place between the young gifted dancer and choreographer Akram Khan, and an ambitious former dancer and just recently graduated arts manager, Farooq Chaudhry.
That conversation laid the foundation stone for a dynamic collaboration, culminating in the creation of Akram Khan Company one year later.
Inspired by Akram Khan’s early training in the Indian classical dance form Kathak, and the hybrid language that organically emerged when Akram’s kathak training encountered contemporary dance in his teens, a vision began to form, fuelled by a desire to learn and create through collaboration with the very best people across all the disciplines in the arts.
The rules were simple: take risks, think big and daring, explore the unfamiliar, avoid compromise and tell stories through dance that are compelling and relevant, with artistic integrity.
In almost 25 years, Akram Khan Company is now undisputedly one of the foremost innovative dance companies in the world. The programmes range from kathak and modern solos to artist-to-artist collaborations and ensemble productions. The Company has a major international presence and enjoys busy tours that reach out to many cultures and peoples across the globe. Akram Khan has been the recipient of numerous international dance awards, the most notable being an Olivier Award for his solo production DESH in 2012.
A milestone in the Company’s journey was the creation of a section of the London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in 2012.
Akram Khan Company enjoys artistic association with Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, Curve in Leicester, and other leading venues and festivals around the world.
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Dame Arlene Phillips
Dame Arlene Phillips
Dame Arlene Phillips is a world-renowned, award-winning choreographer and theatre director, honoured with a Damehood for services to dance and charity.
From creating the provocative and revolutionary dance group Hot Gossip in the 1970’s to working with stars from film, TV and theatre, Arlene has become a household name.
Her work includes choreographing hit West End and Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and iconic music videos, through to her television work as a dance show judge and presenter.
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Ben Cracknell
Ben Cracknell
Ben Cracknell is a multi-award-winning lighting designer and an Associate Artist at Curve Theatre, Leicester.
With a career spanning London’s West End, international stages, and television, Ben is renowned for his imaginative and evocative work that brings stories to life through light. He is also a passionate collaborator, known for his creative synergy with directors, designers, and production teams across a wide range of genres.
A graduate of Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, Ben was honoured with a Fellowship in 2021, a testament to his creative excellence and contribution to the industry.
His West End credits include KINKY BOOTS (Coliseum); CLUELESS (Trafalgar Theatre), DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS (Menier Chocolate Factory), THE WIZARD OF OZ, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (London Palladium); HEATHERS, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (Theatre Royal Haymarket); GREASE (Dominion Theatre), THE DRIFTERS GIRL, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR (Garrick Theatre); ANNIE (Piccadilly Theatre); and THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF MUSICAL (Noël Coward Theatre). He has also lit numerous London Palladium pantomimes, including GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, SNOW WHITE, DICK WHITTINGTON, CINDERELLA, ROBIN HOOD, PETER PAN, and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.
Regionally and on National Tours, Ben’s portfolio is equally impressive, with productions such as THE MERRY WIDOW, LEGALLY BLONDE, BEAUTIUL, SUNSET BOULEVARD, THE COLOR PURPLE, BILLY ELLIOT, THE CHER SHOW, THE OSMONDS, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, and SHREK, among many others.
His international work includes Heathers (New York), Wicked (International Tour), Maria Theresa (Ronnacher Theatre, Vienna), Abenteurland (Dusseldorf and German. Tour), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Toronto & Australia), We Will Rock You (Manila & World Tour), Chess (Japan & Canada), Legally Blonde (South Korea), Dracula (Singapore & Bangkok), and Inala (International Tour). His operatic and European credits include La Clemenza di Tito (Opéra de Lausanne / Bilbao Opera), Faust, 1984 (Stuttgart), Romeo und Julia (Theater Trier), and numerous acclaimed productions at the English Theatre Frankfurt.
On television, Ben has lit The Olivier Awards (2011–2025), The Classic BRIT Awards, The Prince’s Trust Awards, Il Divo Live, and Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra.
Ben is a two-time Knight of Illumination Award winner, recognised for Best Lighting Design. -
Dougal Irvine
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Grant Olding
Grant Olding
From his studio between the Black Mountains and the Golden Valley award winning composer, lyricist, multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Grant Olding writes and produces music for the stage, television, film, musical theatre and dance.
Having trained as an actor at the Central School and Speech and Drama, Grant was the Bridewell Theatre Company’s resident composer from 2003 to 2004, and is now a proud Associate Artist at Shakespeare’s Globe and Curve in Leicester.
Composition highlights in theatre include his many collaborations with Nicholas Hytner both at the Bridge Theatre: RICHARD II, LA BELLE SAUVAGE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, TWO LADIES, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, ALYS ALWAYS, YOUNG MARX and at the National Theatre: TIMON OF ATHENS, TRAVELLING LIGHT, GREAT BRITAIN, ENGLAND PEOPLE VERY NICE, THE ALCHEMIST, SOUTHWARK FAIR, THE MAN OF MODE and most notably writing and performing the songs in ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS, the National Theatre’s smash hit comedy starring James Corden, which ran for over three years in the West End and Broadway where Grant was nominated for a Tony Award and won the Drama Desk Award for best music in a play.
Grant has written scores for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre including ROMEO & JULIET, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and BARTHOLOMEW FAIR.
Grant has also written many scores for the Royal Shakespeare Company including THE ROVER, THE FANTASTIC FOLLIES OF MRS RICH, and THE HYPOCRITE as well as DON QUIXOTE and OPPENHEIMER which both transferred to the West End.
For Curve, Grant wrote the music and lyrics to the musical SIMPLY CINDERELLA which opened the £69million venue, as well as scoring OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD, RICHARD III, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.
In 2013 Grant wrote the songs and score for the animated feature film SAVING SANTA starring Martin Freeman and Tim Curry, and for the same creative team in 2021/22 Grant scored the Warner Brother’s animated TV series MOLEY starring Warwick Davis, Stanley Tucci, Gemma Arterton and Richard E Grant.
Other television highlights include scoring the film CHRISTMAS CAROLE starring Suranne Jones for Sky, three series of UPSTART CROW for the BBC and two series of MARLEY’S GHOSTS for UKTV Gold. Also for the BBC he has scored sitcoms including I WANT MY WIFE BACK and THE BLEAK OLD SHOP OF STUFF, as well as one off films like A CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG and THE PACT.
In 2016 Grant’s first full length dance piece JEKYLL & HYDE premiered at the Old Vic Theatre, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, and in 2021 the pair’s first classical ballet MERLIN premiered with the Northern Ballet Company and in 2022 was broadcast in cinemas.
Grant is also the musical director for Hay Shantymen
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Hareet Deol
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Jake Brunger
Jake Brunger
Jake Brunger is a London-based playwright, lyricist and screenwriter originally from Nottingham.
Jake co-wrote the Christmas film TINSEL TOWN starring Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson (“some very funny lines, some cockle-warming sub-plots and the cast is cracking too” – ★★★★ BBC News Online) which was released on Sky Cinema and globally in December 2025. His debut feature film LOVE SARAH starring Celia Imrie, Bill Paterson and Rupert Penry-Jones premiered at Glasgow Film Festival and upon its theatrical release reached #1 at the New Zealand Box Office and #4 at the Australian Box Office. It was subsequently released on Netflix, reaching #5 in Netflix’s Top 10 Films.
His stage adaptation of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF (★★★★ The Times, The Telegraph, The Observer, Daily Mail, Metro, Daily Express, Whatsonstage) ran for a limited 12-week season at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and produced by Mark Goucher & Love Productions. The show originally premiered at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham. The Original West End Cast Recording – available on Spotify and Apple Music – was produced and released by Sony Masterworks Broadway. The show is now available for licensing through Music Theatre International, with over 100 licensed productions taking place across the UK in 2025/2026. The Australian premiere will open in Sydney in 2027.
Jake’s critically acclaimed stage musical adaptation of Sue Townsend’s bestselling novel THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13 3/4 (★★★★★ Evening Standard, Whatsonstage ★★★★ The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian) ran for a 16-week summer season at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End following runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Leicester Curve. The show was nominated for the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical with the Original London Cast Recording released by Sony Masterworks Broadway. The show is now regularly performed by theatre companies and schools all over the UK with the first actor-musician revival opening at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.
Jake’s stage play FOUR PLAY (“a tightly-structured, intelligent play that veers from laugh-out-loud comedy to thoughtful drama with real skill” – The Stage) was first seen at the Old Vic Theatre starring Richard Madden and Jeremy Irvine before completing a sell-out four-week run at Theatre 503. The playtext is published by Nick Hern Books and has enjoyed subsequent productions across the UK including a six-week off-West End revival in 2025, and it is regularly performed by drama schools. It had its US premiere in San Francisco in Summer 2024 at Theatre Rhinoceros, the oldest LGBTQ+ theatre in America. A Spanish language translation is currently running at Teatro Sogem Wilberto Cantón in Mexico City until September 8th 2026.
Jake’s new stage musical adaptation of TREASURE ISLAND (★★★★ The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Mail on Sunday) ran at Bristol Old Vic from 4th December 2025 to 10th January 2026 and is nominated for the UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children & Young People, which will be announced on October 12th 2026. His other plays include PEOPLE LIKE US (Pleasance Theatre) directed by Kirsty Patrick Ward and SAM’S GAME (Lakeside Arts Centre) directed by Indhu Rubasingham. He also wrote five episodes of the Emmy-nominated Norwegian animated Netflix TV series ELIASfor Animando.
He has worked extensively as a musical theatre librettist and lyricist, including RED RIDING HOOD, TREASURE ISLAND and CHICKEN LITTLE for Singapore Repertory Theatre, PRODIGY for National Youth Music Theatre, THE GREAT BRITISH SOAP OPERA and the cult fan-favourite JET SET GO! which ran at Edinburgh Fringe before transferring for two sell-out seasons at Theatre 503 and Jermyn Street Theatre. His musical theatre work is licensed worldwide by MTI and Concord Theatricals. Jake and his co-writer composer Pippa Cleary headlined their own sell-out concert at Live at Zedel starring Callum Scott Howells and Rosemary Ashe, which can be viewed on YouTube here.
After studying Drama at Bristol University he started his career as an assistant/associate director in the West End with credits including CALENDAR GIRLS (Noël Coward Theatre), DEATHTRAP directed by Matthew Warchus starring Simon Russell Beale and Jonathan Groff (Noël Coward Theatre) and BARKING IN ESSEX starring Lee Evans, Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes (Wyndham’s Theatre). He co-directed PUB QUIZ at Manchester Royal Exchange Studio, which he also wrote, and was literary associate for David Pugh Ltd.
Jake currently has numerous TV and film projects in development with script commissions for Jude Law’s Riff Raff Entertainment, The Bureau/wiip, Buccaneer Media and Darrall Macqueen as well as developing an original stage project with BAFTA-winning screenwriter Anthony McCarten and new stage musicals for Crossroads Live, Melting Pot, PW Productions and Roast Productions. His original new stage musical MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU – written on attachment to the National Theatre Studio – workshopped in London starring Caroline Quentin and Anita Dobson, and is anticipated to premiere in 2027/8, produced by Tim Johanson Productions.
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Jay Varsani
Jay Varsani
Jay Varsani is an award-winning, consistent and reliable professional Actor with a wide range of experience on stage and screen, who trained at East 15 Drama School.
Theatre credits include: RALEGH: THE TREASON TRIAL (Shakespeare’s Globe); MEMOIRS OF AN ASIAN FOOTBALL CASUAL (Leicester Curve); HOMING BIRDS (Kali Theatre – National tour); JABALA AND THE JIN (Lyrric Hammersmith).
Television Credits include: WORLD ON FIRE (Mammoth Screen); RIPPER STREET (Tiger Aspect Productions); LOKI S2 (Marvel Studios); GANGS OF LONDON S2 (Sky Atlantic); THE LAZARUS PROJECT (Sky Atlantic)
Film credits include: GLOVES OFF (MoliFilms Entertainment); GOLDEN YEARS (MoliFilms Entertainment);
ANT MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (Marvel Studios); HEART OF STONE (Skydance/Netflix); NAPOLEON (Paramount Pictures). -
Kay Magson CDG
Kay Magson CDG
Yorkshire born theatre Casting Director Kay Magson was a formidable force in British theatre for over 30 years.
Following her death in 2023, Kay left behind a phenomenal legacy in the many actors she cast and with audiences who possibly didn’t realise they had been touched by that special Magson magic that Kay brought to all of the shows she was responsible for casting.
Growing up in a working class community in the north of England in the 1970s, a career in the theatre was never on the cards. Kay’s mother, Jean was a primary school teacher and her father, Harry worked at the Rowntree’s chocolate factory in York. Magson went on to read Spanish and Hispanic studies at Newcastle University in 1981. Language and literature were her passion and this degree was “just for her”. After her formal degree, Kay studied short-hand typing at Newcastle Polytechnic in order to get a “proper job”, working first as a secretary at the Courage Brewery in Horsforth; this brought Magson to the place she would forever call home in West Yorkshire. When the brewery closed down, Kay took a job as a secretary at the old Leeds Playhouse, working under visionary Artistic Director John Harrison. At that time, the theatre was operating out of a portacabin at Leeds University, before the team moved to the magnificent new theatre on Quarry Hill in Leeds. Alongside a formidable team led by Harrison and later Artistic Director Jude Kelly, Kay was part of the team who not only opened one of the UK’s most successful regional theatres (dubbed the “National of the North”), but helped put regional theatre on the map as theatre hurtled towards the 21st century and the focus started to move away from the capital. Kay stayed with the Playhouse for 20 years (eventually as their resident casting director), before embarking on a hugely successful and eclectic freelance career in casting.
Today the role of casting director is ubiquitous and an essential part of any theatre team, however, when Kay started her career the role of Casting Director was very much in its infancy and as one of the very first people to inhabit this new role, Kay was a trailblazer and helped define what the casting director does today. Kay’s superb taste in actors, ability to spot unique talent and desire to promote regional actors and those from underrepresented backgrounds meant she was a natural in this new role. At the Playhouse, Kay helped put together ensembles of actors which featured Ian McKellen, Josie Walker, Patrick Stewart, Kay Mellor, Warren Mitchell, Anne Reid, Sheila Hancock, Willie Ross, Sharon D Clarke and Patricia Routledge. Directors enjoyed her sagacious, laconic and witty insights. Actors loved her warmth, kindness and sense of mischief.
Like all great artists, Kay was able to surf a multitude of different genres within her field and since going freelance, her work was seen in London’s West End, in most of our regional theatres and in touring venues the length and breadth of the UK. Magson leapt effortlessly from Shakespeare, to new works, radical revivals of plays from the canon to large scale musicals, pantomimes and community events. Whether it was a play by Stephen Sondheim or a rock ‘n’ roll panto, Kay made everyone feel relaxed in the audition room merely with her presence, she cut through ego and theatre-babble.
Kay was meticulous in her work, setting up audition days with military-style precision, curating them to ensure actors were always treated with respect. Her audition rooms were filled with laughter, joy and ensured the actor was the focus of the meeting, empowering them to do their very best work. Kay’s vibrant personality, immaculate taste and warmth always set the tone and any bumps along the rocky road of making theatre were always met with stoicism, panache, Yorkshire wit and an ingenious, understated wisdom.
Kay adored working with young people and whether it was putting together a team of 60 local kids for Leeds Playhouse’s ANNIE or inspiring young actors in training at the recently opened Leeds Conservatoire, Kay’s generosity of spirit, altruism and unassuming knowledge was felt deeply by all of the young people she helped to nurture and inspire, often leading to dazzling and memorable stage debuts.
Kay was rarely seen at opening nights, eschewing the showbiz scene for a quiet life with her three beloved cats in Pudsey, West Yorkshire. Some of the greatest casting ideas have been borne from a spare room in a terraced house in Pudsey. Kay would take pride in visiting all of the companies she had brought together, enjoying a matinee visit, often with her mum Jean. However, Kay was an avid Manchester United fan and the only time she’d miss a matinee was if her beloved United were playing that afternoon.
Kay was never star struck with the plethora of world-famous actors, writers, directors, producers and stage designers she collaborated with. However, when working on the David Essex musical All the Fun of the Fair, Kay did revert to her teenage self, having been a member of the Essex fan club for many decades!
Kay battled her illness with a dignified defiance, quietly and privately navigating her new reality, supported by the incredibly kind and resourceful NHS consultants and nurses at St James’ University Hospital (Jimmy’s) in Leeds. Kay continued working as long as she could; her final project was to be Curve theatre’s upcoming production of Evita, where Kay delivered sensational casting with Martha Kirby and Tyrone Huntley in the leading roles. Kay was recently represented at arguably the most famous theatre in the world, the London Palladium, with a production of The Wizard of Oz.
Kay Magson was born 13 January 1962 and died 7 September 2023. She is survived by her mother Jean Magson.
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Mel Knott
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National Youth Music Theatre
National Youth Music Theatre
National Youth Music Theatre offer workshops and productions for young people aged 10 - 23, led by industry professionals.
Founded in 1976 by Jeremy James Taylor, National Youth Music Theatre’s (NYMT) beginnings were at Belmont, the Mill Hill Junior School. Here, the young cast created THE BALLAD OF SALOMON PAVEY.
Following it school performance, the inaugural NYMT show went to the Edinburgh Fringe were it won a Fringe First award and an invitation to bring it to London as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
In 1988, NYMT moved to Sadlers Wells, providing an annual three-week season. An excellent first season at Sadlers Wells led to the BBC broadcast of THE RAGGED CHILD the following Christmas, a host of productions across the UK and others as far afield as Tokyo, Norway, Greece and New York.
In 1991, invitations to perform in Hong Kong and Toronto were followed by short season on Broadway in the 2,600 seat City Center Theater with THE THREEPENNY OPERA and PENDRAGON – which won Critic’s Choice in the New York Times and which also won the coveted HAMADA Edinburgh Festival Award.
In 1996, BUGSY MALONE was perfomed at the Queen’s Theatre in the West End at Christmas 1997 for an 11-week capacity run. The following busy years saw NYMT spread its workshops into Northern Ireland, the North East and East Anglia. During this time, Howard Goodall and Charles Hart gave NYMT THE KISSING DANCE, which was performed at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio Theatre. They then followed this with the highly acclaimed THE DREAMING.
NYMT’s production of OKLAHOMA!, which opened at the Waterfront, Belfast in 2002, moved to the Cardiff International Festival of Musicals. In the summer of 2003, Sir Alan Ayckbourn wrote and directed a new work, ORVIN, CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS, for NYMT, which he presented in his own theatre, the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.
In the summer of 2009 NYMT staged a new production of Howard Goodall and Melvyn Bragg’s THE HIRED MAN. Following performances at the new Hull Truck Theatre, the show was reprised in London at RADA’s Vanburgh Theatre in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and in the presence of Lord Bragg.
In 2011 NYMT received an invitation from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to perform for a reception at Buckingham Palace celebrating Young People in the Performing Arts. The specially commissioned performance was inspired by Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET.
In April 2012 the company marked its 35th anniversary at London’s Vaudeville Theatre with a concert featuring alumni Matt Lucas, Gina Beck, Amy Nuttall, Lara Pulver, Michael Jibson and Ian Virgo. Later that year, NYMT produced Jason Robert Brown’s musical 13 at The Apollo Theatre in London.
In 2016, NYMT became an Associate Artist of Curve, produced the multi-award winning rock musical, SPRING AWAKENING.
The 2020 season attracted more applicants than ever. However, it soon became clear that NYMT’s usual Easter residential rehearsals could not go ahead as the country went into lockdown. NYMT’s creative teams – like everyone else – adapted online with readthroughs, workshops, Q&A evenings with alumni, quiz nights and virtual performances.
Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, NYMT managed to perform a trio of productions, including a production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, staged in Manchester Cathedral.
In 2024, NYMT launched its new adult theatre company: Platform. Its first performance was in October in Manchester and then at The Other Palace in London as part of the 2025 season launch and unveiling of a new NYMT brand.
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Pippa Cleary
Pippa Cleary
Pippa Cleary is an award-winning British musical theatre composer, songwriter and lyricist.
She is currently the only female British composer to have had three musicals produced in the West End: the Olivier-nominated My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?), The Great British Bake Off Musical and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical (nominated for an Evening Standard Best New Musical Award and UK Theatre Award).
At the 2023 Olivier Awards, Pippa wrote the first original opening number ‘The West End Stage’ which was performed by Hannah Waddingham at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alongside acclaimed American screenwriter Philip LaZebnik (Pocahontas, Prince of Egypt, Mulan), Pippa Cleary has written songs for an upcoming animated movie musical Journey to The Christmas Star with Storm films in Norway. Pippa Cleary’s career as a musical theatre composer and original songwriter is impressively diverse. Her extensive portfolio showcases notable credits such as Bank of Dave (Leicester Curve/Lowry Theatre), Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure (Bristol Old Vic), Prince Andrew the Musical (Channel 4), which was nominated in the Comedy Entertainment category at the 62nd annual Rose d’Or Awards, along with Prodigy (The Other Palace), In The Willows (UK Tour), and Jet Set Go! (Jermyn Street Theatre). She has also contributed to The Snow Gorilla (Rose Theatre Kingston), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BBC), Snow White and Me (Europe and US Productions), and Next Fall (Southwark Playhouse).
Pippa’s work also includes music for adverts, including the award-winning ‘I Love Doing Dishes’ campaign for Finish, Everything is Fine for Coinbase and ‘The Feelings’ for ‘This is Jelly’. Pippa has also written numerous Pop songs which have been featured on multiple of the ‘Hot Pop’ albums. Pippa Cleary won the Times Carol Competition 2011 for her song ‘In the Snow’ which was performed by the Bach choir at Cadogan Hall. Pippa Cleary’s voice featured on the popular award-winning children’s app ‘Hip Hop Hen’ which helps teach phonics through song. Pippa also won The Arts Foundation Fellowship for Composition in 2012 and is mentored by the renowned composer Claude-Michel Schönberg.
While studying music at Bristol University, Pippa Cleary met her long-term writing partner, Jake Brunger. As a musical theatre composer, Pippa has collaborated with Jake on numerous popular shows, including The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, The Great British Soap Opera, Prodigy, and the recent West End production of The Great British Bake Off Musical. Together, they have also created three children’s musicals for the Singapore Repertory Theatre: Red Riding Hood, Treasure Island, and Chicken Little.
As well as her songwriting, Pippa Cleary also founded and created her award-winning business Pippa’s Poppets, teaching music and drama for under 5s in preschool settings around London. Since starting out in 2008, Pippa’s love for writing original children’s songs has created a unique and bespoke experience for all her nursery and kindergarten clients.
Pippa’s Poppets also runs birthday parties, Father Christmas visits, half term workshops and personalised birthday songs written by Pippa.
Pippa Cleary has been visually impaired since birth, but this has never held her back. She has an exceptional musical ear and she collaborates with many orchestrators, producers and musical directors, to pursue her creative endeavours.
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Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage’s mission is to centre perspectives from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora, embedded as part of cultural experiences for all.
Since 2010, Serendipity has established a successful portfolio of trailblazing projects, establishing itself as a key contributor to cultural practice locally, nationally and internationally.
Programmes include the flagship dance festival, Let’s Dance International Frontiers, Black History Month and the annual Windrush Day Lecture.
Serendipity has also established a legacy: hosting the Living Archive, documenting Black arts, heritage and culture, publishing the voices of Black arts practitioners and community activists, nurturing artists to create high quality new work, and mentoring young people.
In 2015, Serendipity became a charity and a National Portfolio Organisation in 2018, supported by Arts Council England. Serendipity’s strength lies in its strategic role, as a Black-led organisation, working in partnership with artists, venues, educational institutions, museums, producers, directors, promoters, media companies, agencies and international forums.
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Sheep Soup
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Tasha Taylor Johnson
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Sarah Travis