Production Team

Over a span of 45 years, I have dedicated my professional life to the field of music education, serving diverse age groups from early childhood to senior citizens in both Nottingham and central London. My commitment to fostering and honing the musical talents of my students has been a cornerstone of my career. Now that I am mostly retired, I have been using my time to develop ideas and music I have written over the years.

Among these compositions is "Dear Bernard", a piece conceptualised in 1983-84 and inspired by the works of Ivor Novello. This composition, though dormant for years, has recently undergone a revival as I engaged with industry professionals to enhance both its narrative and musical components and provide invaluable guidance.

While I have extensive experience in curating school-based productions and orchestrating large-scale borough performances, I am relatively new to the commercial theatre sector. Presently I am bearing the financial responsibilities of this project independently. The Stage One bursary scheme represents a critical opportunity for this endeavour as this funding would pave the way for a concert performance of "Dear Bernard" in the upcoming spring, followed by a full production later in the year. The bursary would not only provide financial relief but also enable collaboration with industry experts to bring to fruition this upbeat original idea, which promises to be a significant contribution to the musical theatre landscape

David trained as a classical singer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has worked extensively as a performer in opera, operetta, musicals and pantomimes. Notable credits include Gastone in Jonathan Miller’s production of La Traviata, Bunthorne in Patience at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, Mr. Bumble in Daniel Evans’ production of Oliver! at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Auctioneer/Jeweller/Passarino in The Phantom of the Operaand over twenty appearances in panto, primarily as dame.

As a director, David has staged over fifty productions. His version of Ruddigore was Time Out Critic’s Choice, and his productions of Who Will Carry the Word? and See Me ForMyself were nominated for Off West End Awards.

As a writer, David has written innumerable pantomimes for both amateur and professional companies. He also wrote the script for a UK tour of Robin Hood and Kristina Rihanoff’s Dance to the Music.

Follow David on Twitter and Instagram @PhippsDavis

Dino is a Linklaters-trained senior banking lawyer with extensive experience within financial institutions. He advises on a broad range of in-house matters, from lending transactions to commercial contracts and company secretarial matters. He completed his undergraduate degree in Modern Languages (Spanish & Portuguese) at Trinity College, Oxford, and gained his legal qualifications at The College of Law, London. Dino is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and, in his spare time, he is a director, the company secretary and chair of the board of trustees of Sputnik Theatre Company Limited, an independent British theatre company dedicated to sourcing, translating and producing international drama for British audiences; the legal and business consultant of I-PATH (International Performing Arts and Theatre Limited), a dance and performing arts examination board offering Ofqual-regulated exams; and a trustee of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust.

Chris is a graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with career expertise spanning the opera, musical theatre, classical and contemporary music genres.

He works in London as a musical director, vocal coach, pianist, and arranger and is an IPATH singing teacher, utilising Estill voice training where he constantly keeps up to date with the latest vocal science and safe singing guidance.

Chris has MD’d and vocal coached on musicals and operas both internationally and regionally' including in the USA, The Middle East, South East Asia and all around the UK in addition to working on the high seas as a Musical Director for 'P&O Cruises.

He has taught at many prestigious arts London institutions including, The Urdang Academy, Rose Bruford College, Arts Ed and London School of Musical Theatre.

He is also currently a musical theatre practitioner at The Guildhall School Of Music and Drama, Be.Training Programme at Northfleet School For Girls, David Stinson Theatre School and is musical director to the Claremont Project Gospel Choir giving recent performances at the Tate Modern and Old Vic Theatre respectively. 

Chris is passionate about making music fun for all and improving wellbeing and confidence through singing and voice work.