Ben Stock

Merlin

Ben trained at GSA and in the West End has appeared in JUNGLE RUMBLE, GREASE, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, DAME EDNA - THE SPECTACLE and OVER MY SHOULDER.

Tours include A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN, TOMFOOLERY, ‘Lumiere’ in DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, 'Noël Coward' in NOËL AND GERTIE, SALAD DAYS and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

Other London work includes GAYS THE WORD, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, RAGS, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES and FOLLOW THAT GIRL.

Regional work includes 'Cornelius' in HELLO DOLLY, ‘Geoffrey in STEPPING OUT and ‘Cosmo’ in GLORIOUS in seasons at Pitlochry, Oldham, Leeds, Sonning, Perth, Frankfurt and Frinton amongst others. He was also in THE TALE OF MR TUMBLE for the Manchester International Festival/CBEEBIES.

For the last twelve years, Ben has played Ugly Sister in CINDERELLA for QDOS/Crossroads and in 2018, Ben and Neal Wright won ‘Best Ugly Sisters’ at The Great British Pantomime Awards. A Music Hall regular, he has appeared with the Leeds City Varieties, Players Theatre, Hiss and Boo and The Paper Mill Theatre Company.

Ben has directed TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, ME AND MY GIRL and I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, (Frinton) Jessica Martin’s solo show A LIFE UNDER LIGHTS, CLUE THE MUSICAL, ADORABLE DORA starring Rosemary Ashe and the UK tour of ELTON JOHN - IT’S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY and was assistant director on MAME at The Hope Mill, Manchester. Musical director credits include A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN, Caroline Sheen's album RAISE THE CURTAIN, Stephen De Martin's album ONE VOICE, GAYS THE WORD, FREE AS AIR, BABY, BYE BYE BIRDIE, OLIVER, and SALAD DAYS. He also presents a weekly radio show on Box Office Radio.

Ben’s solo cabarets have played in London, in New York at Feinstein’s At 54 Below and across the UK and Far East. His albums AND THERE WAS MUSIC and BEN STOCK SINGS NOËL COWARD are available at www.benstock.biz

Claire Lee Shenfield

Mildred Mudd/Ninianne

Claire recently graduated from Cambridge University, and Magical Merlin will be her professional debut.

A former Cambridge Footlight, her roles whilst studying have included Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain, Joanne in RENT, and Felicity in Best Musical at Edinburgh Fringe 2021, On Your Bike.

Lizzie Buckingham

Morgan Le Fay/Lady of the Lake/Crone

Lizzie grew up in York and moved to London to train at The Urdang Academy before going on to earn her MA in Music Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

As a performer, Lizzie has worked on a wide variety of productions from dance and musical theatre, to actor-musicianship and classical theatre. Roles have included Kelly Kapowski in Bayside (The Other Palace Theatre), Antigone in Antigone (AOD), Dick Whittington in Dick Whittington (Market Theatre Hitchin), Myrrhine in Lysistrata (UK Tour), and most recently Actor-Muso in Christmas is Ruined! at The Cockpit.

Lizzie is delighted to be making her West End debut in Magical Merlin.

Stuart Maciver

Lancelot/Grunt

Training: Guildford School of Acting. 

Theatre includes: Swing /2nd Dillamond , (Wicked - Apollo Victoria Theatre), Swing/2nd Dillamond/Wizard, (Wicked International & UK Tour),  Ensemble/1st Ché, Evita (UK/International tour & Dominion Theatre),  Rob & understudy Mickey, An Evening Of Dirty Dancing (UK tour),  Sultan in Dick Whittington & Dandini in Cinderella (The Hall for Cornwall),  Captains Mate, Dick Whittington (Courtyard Hereford),  Vocalist, Headliners Theatre Company (P&O Ventura),  Policeman/understudy & played Aladdin, Aladdin (Courtyard Hereford),  Jamie Wellerstien, The Last Five Years (Brockley Jack),  Nicky, I Sing (The Tabbard, The Landor). 

Lydia Abbotts

Princess Guinevere/Eilonwy/Broomstick

Lydia graduated in 2021 from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with a First Class BA(Hons) in Musical Theatre.

Since graduating, Lydia has performed in Dick Whittington (Pantomime) and this will be her West End debut. 

Lydia is thrilled to be a part of the production Magical Merlin. She would like to thank everyone at Perform, her family and agent for their continued support.

Jordan Donnelly

Magic Dustman/Pendragon/Uther

Training: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Credits whilst training: Harry Macafee in Bye Bye Birdie, Jimmy Powers in City of Angels.

Jordan is delighted to be making his West End debut with Magical Merlin.  

Farirayi Garaba

Ensemble/Swing

Training: Bird College

Theatre: Joy Gainer in Secret Cinema Presents Dirty Dancing (London), Cover Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Sunderland Empire)

TV: Dancer in Sports Relief (BBC)

Farirayi is thrilled to be joining the cast of Magical Merlin and would like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support.

Adam Scotland

Ensemble/Swing

Adam Scotland trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School. He then went on to further his training at Laine Theatre Arts and Liverpool Theatre School. He made his professional debut as Nigel in the original cast (RSC) of Matilda in Stratford Upon Avon.

He has continued to work in both tv and theatre and is very excited to be a part of the magical story of Merlin.

Will Barnett

Book, Music & Lyrics

Will studied Law at Cambridge University and, after a few years spent in advertising at agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, he started working as a Musical Director, pianist and arranger on shows across the country including the West End and the National Theatre.

In 2000, he founded Perform with Lucy Quick and has since written hundreds of songs and shows for children including:  The Circus Adventure, The Magician's Chamber, Around The World, Mermaids & Pirates, Outer Space, Fairytale Forest, Under the Sea, Wild West, The Jungle, Superheroes, Cinderella Rocks, Hercules Beat, Bluebeard's Bride, Rome 'n Jewels, Jack & The Wonderbeans, The Dream, Ebenezer, Outlaw, Robinson Crusoe In Space, The Dream, The Magical Island, Zak & Zara's Cyberspace Adventure, Dangerous City, The Looking Glass, Oz Rebooted, Twisted, Grooove Like An Egyptian, Killa Queen, Alien Invasion, Rise Of The Robots, Beaty & the Beast, The Jungle Book, Arabian Nights, Alice In Wonderland, Narnia, Pinocchio, The Wizard Of Oz, The Ice Queen, Hansel & Gretel, Mr Toad's Wild Adventure, The Secret Garden, Castaway Island and Marigold & Her Magic Toys.

Kirk Jameson

Director

Kirk is a northern theatre director based in Manchester, whose recent credits include the 10th Anniversary Concert Production of Howard Goodall’s Love Story (Cadogan Hall) and The Distance You Have Come (Apollo Theatre). Recently Kirk also acted as associate director on the revival of Stockroom's The Glee Club, which opened at Theatre By The Lake before touring the UK.

Other recent credits include: a reimagining of Peter Pan at the Barn Theatre and the stage adaptation of Dreamworks' Madagascar (UK & International Tour) starring X factor winner Matt Terry; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (London Coliseum, for digital release); Kander & Ebb's And The World Goes Round, Stiles & Drewe's Just So (Barn Theatre); Sleeping Beauty (Palace Theatre Newark); Jack and the Beanstalk (White Rock Theatre, Hastings); the German premiere of The Last Five Years (Frankfurt); Seussical: The Musical (Arts Theatre); I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Arts Theatre - Broadway World Awards nomination for Best Musical Revival); Privates On Parade, Annie Get Your Gun, the World Goes Round (three Offie Award nominations including Best Director), Once Upon a Mattress, Dames at Sea, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (all Union Theatre).

As associate director: Floyd Collins (Wilton's Music Hall); Peter Pan in Concert (Adelphi Theatre); Pipe Dream, The Bakers Wife (Union Theatre).

Kirk also has a long history working with students who are still in training. Recent work includes productions at GSA, Arden, LSMT, RWCMD and UCLan.  

Khiley Williams

Choreographer

Credits include: CINDERELLA (Imagine Theatre), RAPUNZEL (UK Tour), JACK & THE BEANSTALK, PETER PAN, SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS (Paul Holman Associates), SINGIN IN THE RAIN, HAIRSPRAY, JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH, FAME, PETER PAN, SOUND OF MUSIC, OLIVER!, (Gordon Craig Theatre Stevenage), PETER PAN (Manchester Opera House), CRAZY FOR YOU (The London Palladium), ALADDIN (New Wimbledon Theatre), THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR (Dance Captain), Directing & Choreographing the upcoming UK tour of SLEEPING BEAUTY- The New Musical, Movement Direction- UP & UNDER (directed by Ben Roddy), Writing & Choreographing - ALICE IN WONDERLAND (The Gordon Craig Theatre) & RAPUNZEL (UK Tour).

Jo King

Musical Director

Jo is an MD, accompanist and orchestrator/arranger, currently based in Suffolk. Having worked extensively in musical theatre, Jo’s most recent credits as Musical Director include projects for Stagebox and productions for Mano Cruises/Live Business. As MD and orchestrator/arranger, recent credits include Stagebox and the Christmas Spectacular (2021) at Snape Maltings, Suffolk. As a pianist, recent credits include Saga Cruises and Playhouse Productions.

This December, Jo will once again be Musical Director and Orchestrator for the Christmas Spectacular at Snape Maltings. An experienced educator, Jo works with students in training, currently working with Performers College, Masters College and Emil Dale Academy. Jo also works with the University of the Arts London (UAL) in the development of music and performing arts education. 

Jo trained at Goldsmiths College, University of London, gaining a BMus.(hons) in performance together with an MA in Popular Music Research. 

Ryan Dawson Laight

Set & Costume Deisgner

Currently: National Youth Dance Company’s new work choreographed by Alessandra Seutin, Thugography for Botis Seva.

Theatre includes: My Son’s A Queer (The Turbine Theatre); Roundabout 2022 Season (Paines Plough); Two Pairs of Eyes (Newhaven Fort): Blu & The Magic Web (Truestory Theatre); Pinocchio (Chichester Festival Theatre); My Brilliant Friend (National Theatre, Associate Costume Design for Soutra Gilmore); The Wizard of Oz, Crossing Lines, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, A Christmas Carol, Grimm Tales, The Tiger Who Came To Tea (all for Chichester Festival Theatre). Associate Designer at Creation Theatre. Recent work for the company includes Grimm Tales, Alice: A Digital Wonderland, Don Quixote, The Tempest, The Snow Queen, Peter Pan, Brave New World, Swallows and Amazons, Dracula, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, Hamlet, Macbeth, As You Like It, Henry IV, King Lear and Treasure Island; Torch Song (Turbine Theatre, dir. Drew McOnie); for Le Gateau Chocolat: Duckie (Royal Festival Hall), Icons (Edinburgh Festival), Black (Unity Theatre Liverpool/Soho Theatre) and Le Gateau Chocolat (Menier Chocolate Factory); HMS Pinafore, Chess, Blondel and The Mikado (Union Theatre national tours); for the Brit School: Landmines (Oval House), Sticky and Infinite Joy (Southwark Playhouse); Chip Shop The Musical (Octagon Theatre Bolton); Ice Cream Opera (Freedom Arts Studio).

Dance includes: Neighbours (Sadlers Wells); Botis Seva's BLKDOG (Sadler’s Wells, Olivier Award Best New Dance 2019); Blak Whyte Gray (Boy Blue/Barbican, Olivier Award Nomination 2018); REDD (Boy Blue/Barbican Theatre); Madhead (NYDC/Sadler's Wells); Wasteland, Coal (Gary Clark Company, UK Theatre Award for Achievement in Dance); Toro, Mariposa, Ham and Passion (DeNada Dance Theatre); Drew McOnie's Drunk (Leicester Curve/Bridewell Theatre) and Good Morning Midnight (Jermyn Street Theatre); Genius (Anjali); New Ways Of Living (Pink Fringe Brighton); Je Suis (Aakash Odedra Company/Lillian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells); Ruffle (Carlos Pons Guerra/Rambert Dance/Lowry Theatre); Hear Hear (Deaf Men Dancing, Sadler’s Wells).

Education: Ryan has been a visiting designer and lecturer at BRIT School (Croydon), University of Chichester, Aiglon College (Switzerland), ALRA, London Studio Centre, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Trinity Laban, Tring School of Performing Arts, as well as delivering workshops for the Victoria and Albert Museum, Working Title Films, Chichester Festival Theatre, and his own workshops from his studio (Backstage Design Workshop).

www.ryandawsonlaight.com Instagram @laightyboyy @backstagedesignworkshop

Tom Marshall

Sound designer

Tom Marshall has worked in sound for the past twenty five years.

Sound Design credits include: A Chorus Line (Curve, Leicester), The Drifters Girl (Garrick Theatre, London), Amelie (Criterion Theatre, London), Sister Act (UK Tour 2022), A Christmas Carol (Watermill Theatre), Hairspray, (Pimlico Opera), The Boy In The Dress (RSC), Curtains (London Wyndham’s Theatre & UK Tour), White Christmas (London Dominion & UK Tour), Amelie (Watermill Theatre, The Other Palace, London & UK Tour) West Side Story (Curve), Grease (UK Tour), My Beautiful Laundrette (Curve), The Color Purple (Curve & Birmingham Hippodrome), Moll Flanders (Mercury Theatre), Oklahoma! (Grange Park Opera), An Officer And A Gentleman (UK Tour), The Jungle Book (UK tour), Sunset Boulevard (UK Tour), Project Polunin (Sadlers Wells & London Coliseum), Crazy for You (UK Tour), Nativity! (UK Tour), Flashdance (UK tour), A Little Night Music (Watermill Theatre), Working (Southwark Playhouse), Brass (Hackney Empire), Bugsy Malone (Curve), Crazy for You (Watermill Theatre), Oliver! (Grange Park Opera) Legally Blonde (Curve), Tell Me on a Sunday (UK Tour), The Silver Sword (UK Tour), Sweet Charity (Curve), Oliver! (Watermill Theatre), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (London Savoy & UK Tour), Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre, London),The Hired Man (St. James Theatre), West Side Story (Victoria Warehouse, Manchester), My Favourite Year (Bridewell Theatre), The Tailor Made Man (Arts Theatre), Pushing up Poppies (Theatre 503), Legally Blonde, The Life, Crazy For You, Cry Baby & Newsies (Arts Educational School, London).

Sound Recording & Mixing Credits: The Color Purple & Sunset Boulevard for Curve ‘At Home’ season, L’heure Espagnole, Owen Wingrave, A Feast in The Time of Plague for Grange Park Opera. The Found Season and the Interim Season for Grange Park Opera

Tom has acted as an associate sound designer on over thirty shows in the UK and internationally, including The Bodyguard, Warhorse & Gypsy to name a few. Prior to this he worked as No.1 (Head of Sound), opening and mixing numerous large West End shows over the past two decades.

As a freelance mix engineer Tom has had the privilege of working on countless events, such as the 2012 Olympic stadium athletics and touring with many artists including; PJ Harvey, The Coral, The Bees, The Lightning Seeds, Elaine Paige, Lewis Taylor and Martina-Topley-Bird.

www.tommarshallsound.com

Andrew Ellis

Lighting Designer

Andrew Ellis Lighting Designer Trained: Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Recent design credits include: Orpheus In The Underworld for Royal College of Music (Britten Theatre), Giselle for United Ukrainian Ballet (London Coliseum), re|generation for National Youth Ballet (Sadler’s Wells), Into The Spotlight for New English Ballet Theatre (Linbury Theatre), Legally Blonde for Urdang (Bernie Grant), Ballet Icons (Dubai Opera House and London Coliseum), Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan (Royal Opera House & Sky Arts), The Distance You Have Come (Apollo Theatre), Darcey Bussell's British Ballet Gala (Royal Albert Hall), Balletboyz: Deluxe (Sadler’s Wells & International Tours), Eugenius! (The Other Palace), Flashdance, The Musical (UK and International Tour)

Awards: Broadway World UK Award for Best Lighting Design Eugenius! 2018.

www.andrewellislx.com | @andrewellislx

Scott Penrose

Magic Consultant

Scott is a Past President of The Magic Circle and his awards within the industry include the Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year Award and The David Berglas Award for “Outstanding Services to Magic”.

Apart from his skills as a performer, he is in demand for creating and designing magic effects for West End and Broadway theatre, film and television. For film and television Scott has taught magic to the likes of Sir Michael Caine, Woody Allen, Daniel Radcliffe, Catherine Zeta Jones, Stephen Fry and HRH Prince Edward.