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GRADUATE NEWSLET TER FOUR•SUMMER 2004
See me now
Jesse reaches for the stars
Taryn
on the
IN
CALIFORNIA
SONY SIDE
OF THE STREET
Taryn Israelsohn
imagined a life in theatre
or films when she
graduated (Management
1999). Instead she is
rubbing shoulders with
some of the hottest
names in the music
industry, such as Lemar
and Charlotte Church.
Taryn is the Personal
Assistant to the Vice
President of Sony UK and
also works for the Director
of Sony’s A&R Division.
It is a task that makes 27
year old Taryn a Jill of all
trades in the music
industry and a key
member of the Sony team.
Taryn credited LIPA with
opening the door of
opportunity for her in to
“big time music
management”.
continued on page 4.
California based LIPA graduate
Jesse Harlin is working with
the stars… Star Wars that is.
He is a composer with LucasArts, the company
headed by famous director and movie-maker
George Lucas.
Jesse, an American, who graduated in Music
in 1999, said: “Mostly, I write for videogames.
Currently, I’m composing a largely original
soundtrack for Star Wars: Republic Commando,
our new first person shooter.”
He is also editing music, including the original
John Williams’ Star Wars scores, for use in
new games at LucasArts.
Said Jesse of his time at LIPA: “It was fantastic.
LIPA was everything I had been looking for in a
college.” Later adding: “It was the attention to the
business of being a
See page 14 for
professional musician
the
Big Q&A
that made LIPA really
interview with Jesse.
special.”
Sarah’s second series with
CBBC’s Byker Grove
Sarah Lawton had barely finished her degree before
making her TV debut playing youth leader Chrissie
Harrison in CBBC’s popular youth drama Byker Grove.
Sarah (Acting 2003) explains: “I auditioned for the part in Byker Grove a week
before the LIPA Acting Showcase last year and started filming just after the
Showcase at the end of June.”
Sarah has been signed up for a second series, which is currently in production.
Byker Grove will be back on our screens in early September.
Sarah says: “It’s a fantastic experience for me, I’m improving my camera technique
and working with a new director every five weeks which is great for making
contacts!”
“I’ve been involved in a few other projects since I left: a couple of small TV roles,
a play and also a short film called I Am Dead which won the Northern Film and
Media Award and is currently being shown at several film festivals.”
DOUBLE ACT
Getting gunged on live TV
goes with the territory for
Jessica and Laura Thompson
(Dance 2000 – professional
surname Tilli). This is because
the identical twins help to
present the Saturday morning
popular children’s TV
programme – CITV’s Ministry
of Mayhem.
The twins’ links have to be
delivered in complete unison.
Their appearances in the show
also involve high energy and
bags of enthusiasm. They
might not have been quite so
enthusiastic about their recent
challenge. Both had to endure
the gunge tank – at least this
was another task they could
do in unison!
Charlotte
joins Transitions
Dance Company
NIKKI DISCOVERS GOLD,
PLATINUM AND LIPA
Singer Nikki Belle was just 18 when a song she
recorded with a new group Mousse T vs Hot and
Juicy climbed to number one in the UK Charts. Horny,
led to them appearing on Top of the Pops, travelling
the world doing gigs and earning a gold disc in
South Africa and platinum in Australia.
While she was with Hot & Juicy, they recorded
more songs but none of them were released
after the smash-hit debut. Six years later Nikki
is making a comeback with help from LIPA.
She signed up for a New Deal for Musicians
course and became an entrepreneurial
apprentice with Honey Records through
LIPA’s CAMEO Project.
Soon after arriving at LIPA, Nikki had stars in
her eyes again when she was picked in the
backing group for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Liverpool duo Jemini became famous as the
contestants scoring ‘nul points’. But Nikki says the
experience was fantastic. She has also backed Atomic
Kitten and as a member of Hot and Juicy, played
before 80,000 people at the Stade De France in Paris.
Recently two compilations, Floor Fillers and Clubland
Exchange, have been issued featuring Nikki’s Scouse
House single Music is my Life. She is hoping to head
for performances in Ibiza during the summer.
Every year London-based Transitions
Dance Company receives over 200
applications from recently qualified
dance graduates competing for just nine
places in the company. Charlotte Habib,
who graduated from BA (Hons)
Performing Arts Dance in June 2003,
became the first LIPA graduate to gain
a place with this prestigious company
starting with them in September 2003.
The company is currently on a six month tour,
taking five dance pieces to venues in the UK
and overseas. The company has worked with
five choreographers including Rafael Bonachela,
who choreographed all of Kylie Minogue’s
dances for her 2002 Fever world tour.
Former company members have established
themselves at the forefront of dance practice as
dancers and choreographers with companies
such as Adventures in Motion Pictures, Alias
Compagnie, Siobhan Davies Dance Company,
DV8, Rambert Dance Company, the
Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs.
Charlotte says: “I’m so excited about the tour,
especially our dates in Asia and Italy. Having
the chance to travel to new places whilst
performing is fantastic.”
And as for Charlotte’s next step - since working
with the choreographers Charlotte has been
offered a contract in Portugal with Miguel
Peirera due to start in July 2005.
2
Nikki looks back at her incredible experiences and
says: “If I had known then what I have learned at
LIPA things would have turned out so much
differently. Thanks to New Deal and CAMEO
I know a lot about contracts, and management
and I have been given the chance to network
and meet some really helpful and
knowledgeable people.”
England’s Euro 2004 anthem
- LIPA Link
The Football Association
selected a remix of the Farm’s
1990 hit “Alltogethernow” as
the official football song for
the Euro 2004 championships.
Two members of the Farm –
Peter Hooton and Keith Mullin –
are mentors for the New Deal for
Musicians programme at LIPA.
Singer songwriter Peter Hooton says:
“It’s a fantastic honour to have the
song chosen to be the official
England anthem.”
BBC Radio 1 DJ Spoony remixed the
track. It includes singing by members
of the St Francis Xavier Roman
Catholic Boy’s School choir in
Liverpool and some backing vocals
from regulars at the Rose and Crown
in Liverpool city centre.
Contacting the Editor
Thank you to all the graduates who contributed to the fourth edition of
‘See Me Now’. The next edition will be published in June 2005 and we would
welcome your contributions.
Thanks are also due to staff at LIPA: Corinne Lewis, Ellie Ellis and
Mark Featherstone-Witty for their writing contributions.
Jenny Parkins
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Mount Street, Liverpool L1 9HF, UK.
Telephone: + 44 (0)151 330 3143
E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +44 (0)151 330 3131
The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the
Institute and we reserve the right to edit any material.
LIPA graduates
win BAFTA race
LIPA graduates have brought
home their first BAFTA.
Three LIPA graduates were on the
30-strong team that created Project
Gotham Racing 2. This X-box computer
game scooped the best racing game of
the year award at the inaugural British
Academy of Film and Television
(BAFTA) Games Awards on 25th
February 2004.
Project Gotham Racing 2 is created by
Bizarre Creations, a medium-sized
games developer based in the North
West and was published by Microsoft.
The team behind the game is made up
of mini-teams of games designers,
graphic artists, programmers, producers
and audio-designers, plus another team
of staff at the game’s publishers.
Ged Talbot (2000 Sound Technology), who is pictured above left, was one of the game
designers, working with the lead designer who is the company’s MD.
Ged tells us: “Project Gotham Racing 2 is actually the third in the series. Metropolis
Street Racer (released on the Sega Dreamcast 2001) was the first. I have worked on all
three titles. The games designers work on the concept and structure and for Project
Gotham 2, my main role was adding new features and improving on the previous
versions. We began by brainstorming how we could improve on the first version – what
new features would make it look better, what cars to use, what racing circuits to feature,
how to make it easier to play, and so on. Further in to the project, I looked at the game
play, inputted into where the races would be set, what type of races they would be and
worked with the publishers to ensure everything would seem as realistic as possible, for
example down to the detail of researching car statistics like acceleration speeds etc.”
The end result is that Project Gotham Racing 2 feaures over 100 high performance cars
from top manufacturers, including Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW. It also features over 100
circuits in 13 cities such as London, Tokyo, San Francisco, and New York. Each of the
areas in the cities has been accurately modelled to capture their most intricate
geographical details.
Mathias Grunwaldt (Music 2003), who is pictured above on the right, worked on the
sound effects of both the car and the game’s environment with two other audiodesigners and a programmer. He started with Bizarre Creations in January 2003 during
his last semester, taking over from another LIPA graduate Rainer Heesch (Sound
Technology 2002). Rainer was involved until the late stages of the project though.
Mathias explains: “I’ve always wanted to work in music for computer games and
because I knew Rainer, he let me know when he was leaving which gave me the
advantage of being able to apply at the right time. I took over from Rainer who left to
study a Masters in Film Sound.”
Like Mathias, Ged had wanted to work in computer game design for many years but he
gained his break with Bizarre Creations in a different way. When he orginally
approached Bizarre Creations for work, they said he needed to get more experience.
That was what prompted Ged to apply to study a degree at LIPA. By chance, a couple
of years later, whilst working part-time in a computer game shop, he met the Bizarre
Creations owner again and asked about work opportunities. This time his application
was successful. He actually started work at Bizarre Creations on the day he handed in
his final year dissertation. Ged says: “My Sound Technology degree has helped me in
this job because it involved engineering and production skills which are transferable but
perhaps more importantly than that, I learnt a lot about the creative process at LIPA and
it is the creative aspect of this role that is the most challenging.”
They are all chuffed that the game won this BAFTA. Ged says: “It was fantastic,
especially as we are a small developer and were competing against some of the really
big companies in the industry.”
Inside the mind
of a
serial
killer
Playing the
complex character
of Nurse Kelly
Yorke in BBC1
popular drama
Holby City has
been Rachel
Leskovac’s most high profile TV role to date.
It has, arguably, been her most challenging
too, as Nurse Kelly was revealed to be a
serial killer. This was a central plot-line that
gripped Holby City’s eight million regular
viewers throughout the autumn, right up to
the dramatic climax at Christmas-time.
Not long after she graduated in 1998, Rachel landed
a lead role in the West End musical Spend, Spend,
Spend, playing the young Viv Nicholson alongside
Barbara Dickson. Rachel’s work earned her a
nomination for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in
2000 (1999 season) for Best Actress in a Musical.
Before her major part in Holby City, Rachel had
already got plenty of TV work under her belt, with roles
in At Home with the Braithwaites, Where the Heart Is,
Red Cap, North Square, Casualty and Heartbeat.
Since making her dramatic exit from Holby City,
Rachel has returned to the theatre and is starring in
Billy Liar, alongside Ralf Little (The Royle Family).
This production is currently on a national tour before
transferring to the West End.
Minister hails
LIPA scheme
LIPA’s delivery of the
New Deal for Musicians
(NDfM) programme is
being featured on the
official website of the
Adult Learning
Inspectorate (ALI) as
an example of good
practice. This is after LIPA won a seal of approval
from a team of examiners from the Adult
Learning Inspectorate. It is the first ever NDfM
programme to be included on the website.
Andrew Smith, Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions says: “LIPA is a highly successful training
provider for the Government’s New Deal for
Musicians and thoroughly deserves the recognition
it has received. LIPA is a great example of NDfM
making a real difference to young people, helping
them to make the first important steps into a highly
competitive industry.”
The ALI website praises LIPA for organising master
classes which enabled trainees to learn from people
like Mel C, Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman and
Andy McCluskey of OMD.
3
“I learned so many
transferable skills during
my time at LIPA which was
fantastic for my career,”
said South African born
Taryn.
When she first arrived at
Sony’s UK headquarters in
London, she immediately
felt at home. In the
photograph gallery of
Sony’s top signings was a
snap of Jan Burton, a
class-mate of Taryn’s from
their LIPA days. She then
learned Sony also handle
another LIPA-linked act,
The Zutons.
She had a number of jobs
after leaving LIPA, including
spells with Warner Music
and Universal Pictures,
before being hired by Sony
on a temporary contract to
produce a PowerPoint
presentation, one of the
skills she learned at LIPA.
The offer of a full-time job
followed and then her
elevation of PA to the Vice
President.
In her job, Taryn regularly
speaks with some of
Sony’s big signings and
their managers and agents.
She says: “My job is to be
in the loop so that I know
what is going on,
organising and making
sure the right things are in
the right place. It might be
arranging a gig and making
sure the correct set is there
at the right time. I am
usually juggling loads of
things at the same time.
The Vice President is
brilliant to work with. He
has an amazing ear and
can spot a potential hit
record. So the job I do is
really exciting.”
“The course I did at LIPA
was just perfect for what I
had in mind and so far it
has all fallen into place.
I am a much more
confident person because
of my time at LIPA. That is
important because the
music industry can be a
very tough environment.
Luckily at Sony everybody
is brilliant. It is like a family
atmosphere here.”
4
Saori took the brave step of setting up her own
company (in collaboration with her
boyfriend) in 2003 and she has not
looked back since!
After graduating from LIPA in 2002 with
a degree in Management, she worked
for a local promoter over the summer,
where amongst other jobs she
co-planned, organised and controlled
the Bizarre Festival with an audience of
38,000 kids. She then joined a
marketing agency in Bonn, whose
clients include Smirnoff Ice and Jim
Beam. Here she gained a lot of
experience of sponsorship work for German festivals.
Her highlight was the sponsorship for the VIP area of
the Robbie Williams’ summer tour.
But after a year of this, Saori said: “I really wanted to
return to what I loved doing most which is planning
and organising live entertainment. City Entertainment
was born as a part-time company in April 2003 and our
first job was planning and co-ordinating an event for
Sony Entertainment and Sony Music Germany, thanks
to my contact with Sandy Worm who was also a 2002
Management graduate.”
This and her business planning skills, which she
attributes to LIPA, gave her the confidence to leave her
agency job and concentrate on running City
Entertainment as a full-time occupation.
She says: “Since then we have been involved in tour
managing and merchandising for the Irish Folk Festival
in Germany and Switzerland. We’ve done a lot of tour
managing work for Moya Brennan and we are
planning, organising and supervising the official
Pre-and Aftershow for the RhEINKULTUR in July, which
is Germany’s biggest open air festival. We are also
working with our first sponsor STEP IN (an agency for
work & travel and work & study
programmes in Australia). STEP IN will
sponsor the Hip Hop stage at
RhEINKULTUR. We are involved with
the planning and are supervising an
accompanying marketing campaign for
them, which includes a collaboration
with Germany’s leading music
television station VIVA. Later on in the
year, we will team up with VIVA again to
get involved in a new-talent-competition
as jurors together with EMI. Finally, we
are also working as local support on an
international conference for Renewable
Energies, which was initiated by Germany’s chancellor,
Gerhard Schroeder. More than 2,000 participants are
expected to meet in Bonn, including many government
ministers and representatives from the United
Nations.”
She explains these are just a few examples of the
things they have on their books and adds: “We’ve
already got many more things planned for 2005.
Starting my own business was the best decision I ever
made. I love that I can do what I want the way that I
want to do it. I owe so much of that to the
management lecturers at LIPA. I learned so much
during my time at LIPA and I used so much of the
knowledge I gained from LIPA in setting up my
company and making it a success.”
Siri’s film debut in
continued from front cover
Organising the Aftershow for a 170,000
capacity music festival, tour managing
Moya Brennan (lead singer of Clannad):
these are all in a day’s work for Saori
Koenig and she loves it.
US horror movie
Taryn City Entertainment
2003 Acting graduate Siri Steinmo
has already got two film roles under
her belt.
It’s a small theatre company, though, that keeps Siri
in touch with her LIPA roots.
Her debut in the US film scene came with a part in
the thriller Digital Reaper, about a cop trying to solve
serial killings that are broadcast on the internet.
The main role was played by Armand Assante of
Judge Dredd fame. Siri played the secretary of one
of the victims, taking part in two scenes. The film
debuts in the US later this year, when a decision will
be made about a cinema season.
“It was an amazing experience for me, as when I
took part I had not yet graduated from LIPA. I felt
like a little kid in a candy store and learned so much
in my two days of filming.”
This year Siri played in the British film
Zemanovaload, a comedy starring Irish comedian
Ed Byrne and Ralf Little from The Royle Family.
“I had a very small part as a Page 3 girl in that film
but I did play two sex scenes (can you print that in
the Alumni newsletter?)” Yes, Siri, we just did.
Hat-trick of hits
for Raghav
Ex-LIPA music student Raghav’s debut
solo single, called Can’t Get Enough,
stormed straight in at number 10 in the
UK’s official single charts in February.
It followed hot on the heels of another top 10 hit, as Raghav
was featured on 2 Play’s funky, dancehall track So Confused,
which was released on the Universal-distributed Inferno label in
January and stayed in the top 10 for a month.
Siri recently travelled to Manchester’s Printworks
Cinema to watch the film being screened.
She is a founder member of the intriguingly named
(I went to Uni and all I got was this) Lousy Theatre
Company – an elongated name, which even Siri
admits, will confound the poster-writers.
Lousy was formed in 2003 with co-LIPA acting
grads, Stuart Price, Hayley Doyle, Dean Elliot,
Sean Gleason and Sam Exley.
They did six shows at LIPA during the latter half of
their final year, performing in various Liverpool
venues such as the Unity Theatre, The Casa, The
Pilgrim and LIPA itself.
The company then went to the Edinburgh Fringe to
perform Now That’s What I Call a Karaoke Musical
written by Stuart Price.
Most recently Raghav appears on It Can’t Be Right, featuring British rapper Naila Boss. This was the
Inferno label’s follow up to So Confused and reached number eight in May.
Since arriving in London, Siri has performed in a
rehearsed reading at the Royal Court Theatre’s
Young Writers’ Festival. Stuart Price, described by
Siri as ‘ever talented’, wrote the piece.
The award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter was Radio One’s hot tip for one to look out for in
2004. In addition to a gruelling UK tour schedule and radio interviews, he has also made a number of
TV appearances this year – on Channel 4’s Popworld, BBC1’s Blue Peter, and BBC2’s Never Mind the
Buzzcocks.
Currently, Siri is rehearsing for a short play for the
Kings Head Theatre in London, being directed by
Kathrin Bigler, also a LIPA graduate.
Raghav is currently finishing off his debut album, which is planned for release this summer. It will
have tracks produced by Mustaq (Mis-teeq, Damage, Beverley Knight, Terry Hall), who worked with
him on his debut single, plus Grammy award winning reggae duo ‘Sly and Robbie’ (No Doubt,
Bob Marley, Simply Red, The Rolling Stones).
NOMADIC KASPAR
SETS HIS ROOTS
IN AN ALLOTMENT
Recently she was offered a part in a new musical,
City Girls, due to open for a two week run at the
Bridewell Theatre this summer.
Siri, who hails from America, is also going to the
States in July to perform in the LIPA Acting
Showcase event in New York.
The world, as the saying goes, may be a stage, but
for Kaspar Wimberley, the stage is a local allotment.
Kaspar is Artistic Director with the newly formed
Treacle Theatre Company, who are planning a
performance next year in a Bristol allotment.
If that sounds unusual, Kaspar’s first shot at ‘unusual’ locations was the
Williamson Tunnels beneath Liverpool’s Edge Hill area, less than a mile from
LIPA.
Kaspar studied Theatre and Performance Design at LIPA, graduating in 2003
and for his final year project he worked with fellow final year design student
Susanne Kudielka on Deeptuned. This was a classical concert that took place
in the labyrinth of tunnels created by the so-called Mole of Edge Hill.
Kaspar explained: “Susanne wanted to do a classical concert and I really
wanted to do something outside a theatre that would be exciting and I found
this leaflet about the tunnels.”
“That project helped me realise what I wanted to do – working in site specific
theatre and working with writers on devised performances.”
That ambition has now led to the curtain raiser among the cabbage patches
and strawberry beds in Bristol.
Kaspar is also working on a puppetry show to accompany an upcoming tour
by emerging folk musician Owen Thomas. In August he will be directing the
Jersey Arts Centre Summer School and this autumn he will be tutoring a
Scenography module at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Kaspar says: “My first year after graduating from LIPA proved an exciting,
challenging, unexpected time for me. I have become a nomadic performance
artist who seems to be forever packing his bags to collect places, people and
ideas that are slowly growing into exciting possibilities for the future.”
“My first stop was in Wales where I acted as the Lighting Design Tutor for the
University of Wales, Aberystwyth, after which I directed and designed the
musical event Fairplay in Jersey with Susanne Kudielka as part of National
Fairtrade Fortnight. I then went on to design Lovefuries, a new touring
production by Lurking Truth Theatre Company.”
Last year was also marked out for him by winning the top prize in the Jersey
Telecom Student Arts competition. His entry consisted of a selection of model
boxes for theatre sets, including one for the set of Sweeney Todd.
www.treacletheatre.co.uk
5
Liam Potter
...two years on
LIPA is the lead partner in CAMEO, a two year
project, whose mission has been to develop
innovative ways to assist disadvantaged people
into entrepreneurship in the creative sector.
CAMEO stands for Coaching and Mentoring for
Empowerment and Opportunity. As the name
suggests, the CAMEO Project supports individuals
by providing a range of coaching and mentoring
support mechanisms to empower individuals to
develop their own successful enterprises.
LIPA has teamed
up with a range
of local and
regional
development
partners, national
strategic
partners and
transnational
partners to develop, deliver, monitor and finally
disseminate the best practice findings of this twoyear project. CAMEO is part funded through the
European Social Fund (ESF) Equal programme.
Entrepreneurial apprenticeships
One of the key aims of the project has been to pilot trailblazing
entrepreneurial apprenticeships. These are far removed from
traditional apprenticeships, when young people were indentured for
years to learn crafts such as bricklaying, joinery and electrical
engineering. These apprentices work with established businesses in
film, music and creative media.
To date, 60 young people have taken part in the apprenticeships.
They have not only been equipped for work opportunities in the
creative sector but also with coaching and mentoring from
entrepreneurial experts. They gain business know-how so they can
adapt to changing circumstances. The new entrepreneurs have not
only benefited from hands-on paid work placements and coaching
and mentoring, but also from a system of activities including
symposiums and business skills seminars. The ultimate aim has
been to equip them with enough knowledge and confidence to start
their own businesses. However, the skills are transferable and
adaptable to changing work and business circumstances. This
means the experience and knowledge gained through CAMEO will
enable the apprentices to follow other career paths as well. LIPA is
the link, helping both the development or associate partner as well as
the participants. The resources of LIPA are available to participants
during the time they are taking part in the CAMEO Project. Here is a
small sample of individuals who have benefited:
6
Lewis Boardman
Lewis Boardman is carving out a career as
a DJ, working alongside one of the
country’s best-known music talents,
Yousef. After attending a CAMEO induction
course at LIPA, Lewis set his sights on
working as a DJ with Liverpool
organisation Chibuku, which organises
dance events, including Circus club nights at the Masque in
Liverpool’s Seel Street. Chibuku agreed to take Lewis under its wing
as an apprentice. Within weeks he was seeing his name appearing on
posters for house music nights at the Circus club nights. Chibuku
founder Richard McGinnis said: “We were told that Lewis wanted to
come to work with us by Gary Owen, CAMEO Development Manager.
After he started we heard a demo CD he had done and realized he
was a talented DJ. So now he has his own residency at Circus. What
impressed Yousef and me was that Lewis did not tell us he had
already done some dee-jaying. He was prepared to start at the very
bottom and work his way up in a true entrepreneurial fashion. CAMEO
is ideal for somebody like Lewis because he is able to learn from
people already experienced in the profession, people such as Yousef.”
Merseysider Yousef, who DJs on Radio One as well as at top
nightspots across Europe, has helped Lewis by passing on
experience to the 21 year old from Ormskirk. Yousef said: “When
Lewis started to do dee-jaying I went into the room at the Masque
and the place was totally rockin’.” Lewis also went to the Winter
Music Conference in Miami, where he and Yousef represented Circus
playing at the Crowbar billed as Carl Cox versus Circus. Richard
McGinnis said: “It was a great party. Lewis played well and we had
everyone from Puff Daddy to Niaomi Campbell in attendance to
sample the Liverpool vibe!”
Nick Hanson
Nick Hanson has just started work as a
content researcher with Conker Media, a
television company that is part of Mersey
Television, producers of Hollyoaks and
Grange Hill.
The new role for Nick comes after he took his first steps towards a
career in the film world by signing up with Hurricane Films for his
CAMEO entrepreneurial apprenticeship. Hurricane Films is one of
the CAMEO Project development partners. It was established in
March 2000 and has made a number of documentary and drama
films, one for BBC Education about under-age drinking.
At Hurricane Films Nick worked as a researcher, which gave him
the chance to experience film making, from the initial ideas stage to
completion of filming. Nick said: “I got a lot of experience through
the CAMEO project. It is just amazing to see how much work and
effort goes into the production process. Having mentors like Sol
Papadopoulos (founder of Hurricane) has been a tremendous
opportunity for me. I worked on ideas for films and did a lot of
research work. I learned so much through CAMEO and now as a
result, I am working with one of the biggest programme production
companies in the country.”
Liam Potter wants to follow
in the footsteps of top DJ
Fat Boy Slim and is off to a
great start having launched
himself into the world of
dee-jaying – as DJ Forza –
at local venues. For his
entrepreneurial apprenticeship the 21 year old from
Liverpool was pointed in the direction of Partizan
Media. Partizan Media, one of the development
partners in CAMEO, was co-founded by lead singer
Peter Hooton from The Farm, and has proved ideal for
Liam. Peter Hooton said: “The CAMEO project aims to
enable and encourage young people who would
otherwise not have the chance for a professional
career in our industry. We are very keen to show our
apprentices how the media works. Liam wrote articles
for use on Partizan’s website
(www.partizanmedia.com), including reviews of local
gigs. He also benefited from sitting in on research
work we were doing for a documentary on clubs for
Greyhound Films that was broadcast on Granada TV.
Liam’s intended career choice is to be a professional
DJ. Many famous DJs were writers before they
switched careers.”
Liam says: “Being accepted onto this project has been
an incredible opportunity for me. I have learnt directly
from people like Peter Hooton and his team, as well as
having regular contact with LIPA. Eventually my big
ambition is to be a record producer and this will really
give me a good start on that road.”
THE CRITIC’S
CHOICE
A review in The Sunday Times Culture magazine has
rated Sarah Randle’s ‘Come Around’ from her debut
album The Sparrow amongst the top 20 songs of 2003.
“Anyone who still plays their copy of Carole King’s Tapestry from time to time
owes it to themselves to hear Sarah Randle - surely only a slot on Later away
from being a star. This slice of white soul is the standout track on her debut
album”, wrote Mark Edwards and Dan Cairns.
Sarah who studied Performing Arts (Music) at LIPA and graduated in 1998,
released the album in October 2003 and is currently on a UK wide tour, which
has included a performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Chris Rea produced her debut album, which was released under his new record
label: Jazee Blue. Gus Dudgeon, the legendary music producer had sent a note
to Chris together with a demo track. Sarah’s voice stood out from the many tapes
Chris had been sent and on hearing her ability to sing such a wide range of
music, Chris knew that Sarah was the perfect new talent that Jazzee Blue had
been looking for.
With musical influences ranging from Nina Simone to Ray Charles, Sarah has
chosen her role models carefully and, with the help of those who have discovered
and encouraged her talent, Sarah is determined to achieve her dreams.
Hot off the press –
we’re told she’s just about to sign with Universal,
who see her as a new Bonnie Raitt.
Charlene Smith
Charlene Smith’s
apprenticeship was
managed by CAMEO
Project development
partner - Positive Impact.
This Liverpool organisation
was established in the
1990s to offer a creative and imaginative approach to
breaking down barriers to learning and to find
opportunities in arts, media and radio for the area’s
diverse community. Since joining the apprenticeship
scheme, the 22 year old from Toxteth has worked as
a trainee on a ‘soap opera’ based around an innercity Liverpool community. It was broadcast weekly on
BBC Radio Merseyside. Her tasks included compiling
a location biography to ensure continuity and
consistency in the programme. She also attended
script conferences.
Blonde,Bright and
Beautiful
Paul Wilkes releases his first EP this
summer after winning critical acclaim for
his debut work. Paul took part in the
New Deal for Musicians programme
during 2003 at LIPA and was also a
CAMEO apprentice with Honey Records.
Clubbers website, Gigwise.com described
Paul as a genuine talent.
But the 20 year old Merseyside
singer/songwriter earned his greatest praise
from Keith Mullin, his mentor, at LIPA. Keith,
best known as a member of the Liverpool
band, The Farm, said: “It’s a pleasure to
work with such a great future talent.”
Paul’s first EP, Blonde, Bright and Beautiful,
is to be released by Honey Records later
this summer, followed by a second in the
autumn.
Barbara Phillips, co-founder of Positive Impact, said:
“The project aims to help people who would not
normally have the chance to access opportunities in
the performing arts. The Grove was a radio
production made by us at Positive Impact, via the
CAMEO project and involved us working with LIPA
and BBC Radio Merseyside. It enabled us to give
people experience and to discover new talent.”
Since completing her apprenticeship, Charlene has
taken the next step in her ambition to become a
television or stage director and has joined the BBC
as a trainee researcher. She is currently working on
A Question of Sport.
Photos by Ray Farley
Since bursting onto the music scene,
Paul has played over 100 gigs across the
North West and has a tour starting in the
summer, taking in performances in England
and Ireland.
Reminiscing about his time at LIPA, Paul
commented: “Doing the New Deal for
Musicians course was definitely worth it.
The mentors were great and I enjoyed it.
It's a brilliant course.”
Photographer: Dave Evans
7
Solveig plays
Karen Carpenter
From teenage
heart-throb to
monk
Ex-Acting student Jochen
Schropp’s first major TV
role back in native
Germany was in teendrama Sternenfänger
(Starcatchers). This is the German equivalent
of Dawson’s Creek. It was filmed on location at
Lake Constance in the South of Germany with
a great soundtrack, featuring music from the
Café del Mar compilations, by Air and Moby.
Jochen played one of the lead roles, a character
called Nico Kiesbach. The TV series was aired in
2002 on German TV channel ARD.
Norwegian born Solveig
Borgen (Acting 2002) is
about to embark on a
second tour of the
Carpenters UK, playing
the lead singer Karen
Carpenter, supported by
a 20 piece orchestra.
On playing Karen Carpenter, she
says: “It’s an honour. People do say
I look and sound like Karen but of
course no one can really compare to
her. Really we are a tribute band that
is offering new interpretations of the
songs. I’m very happy to be singing
those beautiful songs. Also seeing
the audience reaction is amazing,
as many of them sing along. It’s a
unique experience.”
Solveig is currently in rehearsals for
the second tour, which has eight
dates this summer. This year she has
also taken on the role of artistic
director and is joined by fellow LIPA
2002 Acting classmate Becca Horn,
who is playing the narrator.
Solveig says: “This year’s tour is
more theatrical than last year’s, with
more movement and choreography
and I think it flows better.”
The show features 18 songs and all
the Carpenter classics such as Close
To You, Top Of The World, Please,
Mr. Postman, We’ve Only Just Begun
and the epic Calling Occupants Of
Interplanetary Craft.
Over 1,000 people originally applied
for Solveig’s part and 40 people were
auditioned. “I was delighted when I
found out I had the part back in
January 2003 because it was my first
big lead since graduating”,
says Solveig.
“Our first tour consisted of five
concerts between April and July 2003
round venues in the Midlands and
was a complete sell out.”
8
When not playing Karen Carpenter,
Solveig can usually be found
performing with her own pop band
Distant Early Warning (pictured left)
back in Norway.
She says: “Things seem to be really
taking off for the band, we have an
EP on its way and are expecting to
sign with a Norwegian record label.”
Of her time at LIPA she says: “LIPA
really developed me as a human
being, as a performer and as a
thinker. I learnt how to act
professionally, the importance of
being on time and of being prepared
and how to behave. Having worked
with a lot of people professionally,
you really notice when people don’t
behave in that way.”
Check out Solveig’s band at
www.distant-early-warning.com
Since then Jochen has moved to Berlin and has
performed in several German TV series and movies
in leading and supporting roles. These include Der
kleine Mönch (The Little Monk) for German TV
channel ZDF, a comedy-series set in a monastery,
in which he played one of five monks. He has just
finished filming Der Schönste Tag im Leben (The
Most Beautiful Day In Life), a short film with a
German A-list cast in which he plays the role of
callboy Phil. He says: “It was a small role - but since
most of the dialogue was improvised and my
character was not as clean-cut as most of the other
offers I get, this was a great opportunity to have fun
and prove I’m ready for more.”
Jochen’s next appearance on German TV is in the
episode Katz und Maus of ZDF crime-series SoKo
Wismar, to be aired in October.
If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Jochen is
making music with a friend who played for many
German bands. He adds he’s also planning on
subtitling his German showreel and trying to find an
agent in Great Britain or the US.
Jochen has just heard he’s landed a plum role or
should that be plump role in “popp dich schlank”,
roughly translates as “the shagging diet”, for German
TV channel pro 7. He plays Paul, a screenwriter for
a kids-show who goes on the shagging diet with his
co-author Paula to look good when he meets his
high school love after ten years for the first time.
He has to gain 20 pounds by August.
www.jochenschropp.de
Hope Street revived?
The building we bought on Hope Street, although
structurally solid is slowly falling to bits. Aside
from this, it wasn’t designed for what we use it
for and need to use it for. Our greatest need is for
large spaces – for rehearsals and dance.
We are currently on to Plan 6B (which gives you
some idea how tricky this is and how thoughtful we
are having to be)! Plan 6B envisages two new
buildings; one on Upper Duke Street (on the
grassy bit just beyond the circle and facing the
road) and the other where the old building
currently is and, possibly, a bit round the corner
(so Upper Duke Street again). The first building will
be teaching spaces and the second, student
accommodation. So, for the first time, it is possible
for students to live on campus.
The final decision is scheduled to take place after
See Me Now goes to press, but it’s looking more
likely than unlikely.
Three’s a company
for dancing trio
Holly
MacArthur,
Penny Caffery
and Rachel
Wynn have
formed their
own dance company in
Liverpool.
The trio decided to stay in the city after
graduating from LIPA in 2001, each
wishing to work as a freelance dance
artist. They decided to join forces and
create their own opportunities by
forming Dance In-Tension. It has
enabled them to perform, teach others
to enjoy dance and also to create jobs
for other LIPA graduates.
Dance In-Tension is based on four
aspects, Performance, Outreach and
Education, Agency (creating work for
fellow artists) and finally Space (they
are currently looking for a future studio
and general meeting place for artists).
The three are directors of the company
and with support and advice from Music
Bias, Dance In-Tension became a
reality.
Holly MacArthur is currently
choreographing with up and coming
Liverpool girl band, Minx. She is
lecturing at various universities
(including LIPA) and colleges, and also
performing with Knowsley Music
Theatre, playing the part of Cassie in
A Chorus Line.
Penny Caffery recently won NODA’S
Choreographer of the Year Award for
the North West. She has been
choreographing A Chorus Line for
Knowsley Music Theatre, having
recently returned from Euro Disney
where she choreographed The Wiz.
Penny is also performing with JAK-I,
Jacqui Jones’ innovative dance, music
and technology project that is currently
touring venues around Britain. Jacqui is
also a LIPA graduate and is a part-time
dance lecturer here.
Rachel Wynn is a partner in the
Chester based Stagecoach, as well as
being assistant choreographer and
director for Castaway, having done
Copacabana, Honk and West Side Story.
She has also been teaching in schools
and colleges around Merseyside.
Dance In-Tension has performed at
New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion, as well
as at LIPA, where they introduced their
innovative use of interactive sound
technology, using fellow dance course
graduates Paul Bennett and Monyca
Giles. They produced their own devised
piece entitled In Anger at the Bluecoat
Arts Centre in Liverpool, based on the
play Look Back In Anger by John
Osborne, again using sound
technology. This was choreographed
by Jacqui Jones, who was assisted by
Patricia Beranek.
The company is currently working on
a teacher training pack to help aid and
improve dance tuition in schools.
Reunions
Mark, LIPA’s CEO, tells us: “One of my joys,
a complete and real joy, is turning up in
various cities across the world and meeting
graduates to share lives, reminiscences and
generally plan the future of the world.”
Opposite left you
can see Lynette
Howell (2000
Management) who
took Mark to a
captivating LA film
school showcase
evening, with
Thomas Hien (2000
Music) - far left and
Chris Anderson
(1998 Music).
FULL HOUSES
THANKS TO ADAM
Proving that LIPA’s
management students
are ready and able to
take on responsible
roles in the industry
immediately, Adam
Burgan bagged
a Marketing Officer post at Shrewsbury’s
main theatre venue, as his first graduate job.
He started on Monday 16th June 2003,
having attended his last lecture on Friday
13th June. This is the type of role that most
graduates would aspire to after they had
already been in work for two to five years.
Shrewsbury Music Hall is Shropshire’s most popular
entertainment venue. It houses a 384 seated
auditorium (550 standing) and is a receiving theatre
with a varied programme of dance, drama, comedy,
live music, family shows etc. Examples of recent acts
include Bob Geldof, The Vagina Monologues,
Jeremy Hardy and Jasmin Vadimon Dance Company.
Many light entertainment acts consistently sell out
and so he is always excited when the smaller events
do well. Adam comments: “I’ve been working hard
on promoting dance and drama and it’s great to see
that the audiences for these types of events are
developing and growing larger. Also I’ve taken over
the drama and dance programming from the General
Manager (Lezley Picton), which I really enjoy.”
He adds: “I’ve been most proud of our pantomime
though. With 97.2% capacity over 56 performances,
this puts our pantomime as one of the most
successful in the country and that’s something I’m
delighted to be part of.”
He forgot to take the camera to Berlin, but he’s not forgotten
drinks and chats with Simone Dollmann (2000 Management),
Florentine Schara (2000 Dance), Chandra Fleig (2002 Sound
Tech), Beatrice Seidt (2001 Performance Design), Bettina
Scheibe (2000 Performance Design) and Jolyon Greenaway
(2000 Performance Design).
This year was the
last year we held
auditions in
Germany (it’s the
popularity of budget
flights to Liverpool
and Manchester). So
the Auf Wiedersehen
Tour was historic.
Gunnar Graewert
(Music 2000) and
Ulrike Pittroff (2003
Management) joined
us, as you can see
opposite left, to talk
about their time at
LIPA.
13
Miss Minx in the
male world
of dee-jaying
LIPA’s Jesse: George Lucas is my boss
Jesse Harlin, a 1999 music graduate and a composer
with the world-famous LucasArts organisation, is the
focus of this issue’s Big Interview.
Q: Where were you born?
A: In the tiny little town of Pine Grove Mills,
Pennsylvania but spent most of my pre-LIPA
life growing up in suburban Philadelphia.
Q: How did you find LIPA as a place of
learning?
A: It was fantastic. LIPA was everything I had
been looking for in a college. I had originally
been attending a more traditional, classical
music university program in the States and
came to feel that they were training fantastic
musicians, who would be dumped into the job
market in four years without any professional
business training. It seemed like a completely
irresponsible approach to education. No one
will hire you if all you can do is play the notes
on the page. There are thousands of people
who can do that. Convincing an employer
(game developer, film director, musical
producer, whatever) that you’re the right
person for the job is strictly an issue of
presentation and salesmanship. LIPA stressed
that repeatedly, whether it was through a
course like Professional Preparation or by
placing me in a situation where I was
interacting with industry professionals.
The nuts and bolts harmony training and film
scoring classes were important, but it was the
attention to the business of being a
professional musician that made LIPA really
special. There still aren’t many places in the
world that teach this to musicians as part of
their standard training.
Q: How did LIPA help you in your career?
A: As our final composition projects, fellow
LIPA-alumni Paul Stroud and I co-composed
the music to Space Debris, a game released
in 1999 for the Sony Playstation. This was an
opportunity arranged for us through our
composition teacher, Ian Gardner. Immediately
following Space Debris, I worked on a second
game, Incoming Forces, for the same
development company. By the time I went
back to the States, I already had two game
credits under my belt. This gave me a
tremendous foot-in-the-door advantage when
it came to lining up my new projects and
putting together a resume and demo.
Q: Where did you work after graduation?
A: Immediately after graduation (literally the
next morning), I moved back to the United
States. I headed off to Los Angeles to be
closer to the entertainment industry and
started doing a number of different things.
First, was completing the second game,
Incoming Forces. After that, I attended the
University of Southern California’s graduate
program in Scoring for Motion Pictures and
Television, which was an enormous opportunity
for me. I spent an intensive year doing nothing
but learning how to write music for film and
conducting live ensembles - two skills that
have come in very handy for game scoring.
14
After that, I worked as a video game tester for
THQ. Again, this was incredibly valuable.
I got to see a side of game development that
outside contracted composers almost never
see and I got to learn the lingo of the industry.
Q: When did you join the Lucas
organisation and how did that come about?
A: I started working at LucasArts in March of
2003. When I moved to Los Angeles in 1999,
I began to market myself to every game
company that I could find an address for sending demos, mailing resumes, etc. I made
it a point to attend all of the big videogame
trade shows, as well. It was at one of these
annual industry shows, GDC, that I happened
to speak with someone in the LucasArts Sound
Department about a job they had opening up
for a Staff Composer. I handed in my resume,
jumped in my car the next day, and drove back
down to Los Angeles.
By the time I got home, I had a message
waiting for me on my machine that LucasArts
was interested in hearing a demo and talking
with me further. Things went along and
eventually it came down to a choice of me or
one other composer, and I didn’t get the job.
However, LucasArts asked me to keep in touch
and so I did - making sure to stop by and say
“Hi” at GDC the next year and dropping off a
new demo. Eight months later, I got an e-mail
out of the blue saying that they had a second
Staff Composer job becoming available and
they wondered if I was still interested. Three
months, a few interviews, and a couple more
demos later, I moved up to San Francisco.
Q: What does your job involve?
A: Mostly, I write music for videogames.
Currently, I’m composing a largely original
soundtrack for Star Wars: Republic
Commando, our new first person shooter.
I also do a bunch of music editing - taking
existing music like John Williams' Star Wars
scores and editing them into new cues to fit a
specific need in a game (looping battle cues,
ambient suspense cues, scoring trailers for
marketing use, etc.) which I’ve done for games
like Republic Commando, Secret Weapons
Over Normandy and Gladius.
One of the greatest
rock films ever made
Becci Davies had set her
sights on a career in dee-jaying, a
profession dominated by males. So she
signed up for a New Deal for Musicians
(NDfM) scheme at LIPA.
LIPA was delighted with Becci’s decision, believing it will encourage
more females to go for a spin on high-tech record decks.
Becci said the NDfM scheme, run in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus,
gave her a good grounding in the music business.
Her stint at LIPA led to Becci making her debut as a dee-jay at a special
event for emerging talent, showing off her love for electro funky US
house music.
Said Becci: “I have been interested in dance music since I started
clubbing a few years ago. But I never imagined one day I would be
looking at a career as a dee-jay. I have been to the club scene in Ibiza
and it is just out of this world. The dee-jays there are like big stars.”
“Going to LIPA really helped to build up my confidence and also gave
me the chance to make good contacts,” said Becci, or Miss Minx to
use her DJ name.
She added: “The facilities available at LIPA were brilliant for me and I
can look forward to a career in music. Everyone in my family is
delighted at the prospect of me being a dee-jay, especially my mother.”
NO ‘MIS-TEEQING’
Neil’s beatbox skills
Twickenham born Neil Thomas, 23, (2003 Music) is a
guitarist with the band Knights, an ’80s disco outfit.
He makes his presence known on stage thanks to his
beatbox skills and jumping around a lot.
The fans must love it. Recently, Knights sold out at the 606 Club
in Chelsea, won gig of the month at the Half Moon in Putney
and also headlined a three-day music event in London’s
Ladbroke Grove. “We’ve been offered slots at various festivals
this summer,” beamed Neil.
Recently, he has been teaching Su-Elise from Mis-Teeq how to
beatbox, though the tuition only continued for a few weeks.
“It’s because I was expensive (£100 an hour!),” said Neil.
Her management, though, recently got in touch with Neil to
book more beatbox sessions.
Neil also played drums with a soul function band that performed
at Warwick Castle a few weeks ago. “The main hall where we
played was full of suits of armour and mediaeval paraphernalia,
and there was a waxwork of Oliver Cromwell staring at the band
all night. A bit surreal.”
When he is not beatboxing, drumming or playing guitar, Neil
writes and records his own material.
“My plan is to ride with the band I’m playing with and see where
that gets me, and carry on pushing my own stuff. Ultimately,
I want to be an artist in my own right. I’ve had a terrific response
to my demos to date, and a management company has asked
if they can help me as an artist, so I’ve said “yes please.”
Mark eyes his first big signing
Meanwhile, Jesse’s brother Ryan Harlin, who studied
the Sound Technology degree programme at LIPA,
has produced several music-related documentaries
that have received great recognition.
He’s one-half of Emo Riot Productions, an award-winning video production house.
The pair recently finished editing some behind the scenes footage for an upcoming
Warped Tour DVD with an imminent release date from Kung Fu Records.
Their official debut rockumentary Do You Remember? 15 Years of The Bouncing
Souls won awards at the Noise Pop film festival in San Francisco and the DIY film
festival. It was ranked “alongside the greatest rock films ever made”, by Alternative
Press in the USA.
Ryan tell us their next project is getting underway, which is a rockumentary of the
Mighty Mighty Bosstones. www.emoriotproductions.com/
Mark Gale (Management 2003) decided to do
some unpaid work experience after graduating
from LIPA and it paved the way for a full-time
dream job in the music industry.
He is with BMG Music Publishing – or Bertlesman as some
call it – one of the world’s biggest record and music groups.
Mark works in the A & R department at its London office.
Said Mark: “I'm working with a roster of about 20 artists and
writers, some fairly established and some new acts. I’m also
involved in pitching songs for other acts and setting up
co-writing sessions. Prospects are looking okay and I aim to
sign my first act this year and hopefully have some success,
particularly with some of the new acts I’m working on.”
Mark tells us he is still in contact with a number of other ex-LIPA
students who are doing well in the music business. “Off the
management course Julia Jeory, is doing really well managing
a girl band, Liam Keightley is doing some management and
promoting some gig nights and off the Sound Technology
course, Joe Hirst has been producing some really good bands.”
15
A triumphant
return
Photographer: Chris Brown
LIPA’s production of Jonathan
Harvey’s stage play Beautiful
Thing at the National Student
Drama Festival at Scarborough
this year scooped three awards.
Julie Kearney (Theatre and Performance
Technology graduate from 2003)
achieved the Stage Electrics Award for
Lighting Design, while final year acting
students Kevin Kemp (left) and Paul
Stocker (right) achieved the Judges’
Award for Acting. The overall production
received the Festgoers award for best
performance.
The cast who first performed the show
in LIPA’s 2003 Spring season, included
graduating acting students Jane Riley,
Sian Polhill-Thomas, Jordan Cluroe,
Stuart Reid and Jonathan Phillip-Morgan
(Director). Both the cast and the creative
team behind the production gained more
from the experience than the coveted
awards, as Iain Ormsby-Knox, Head of
Acting, explains: “Adrian Gee (Assistant
Designer) and a first year was offered a
placement designing the summer
season at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in
Scarborough. Jordan Cluroe and Kevin
Kemp were invited to take part in the
playreading for the International Student
playscript competition. All six of the cast
were asked by Hampstead Theatre new
writing department to take part in staging
several mini performances at the end of
the festival; Gjermund Andresen
(designer) had lengthy discussions with
a designer which included possible
future ventures and the same can be
said of sound designer Neil Haris”.
We congratulate them and salute
their achievement.
So, who won the
Angel Fund this year?
16
LIPA 4:19, a part-time performing arts
academy for four to 19 year olds, was
launched last September and has
proved to be a great success.
Over 300 youngsters enrolled making it full up
from day one. We are now into our third term
of operating the Saturday morning and
afternoon classes in acting, dancing and
singing. The atmosphere here each week is
vibrant, exciting and fun.
We advertised staffing vacancies for LIPA 4:19
in the graduate newsletter last year and in the
end LIPA 4:19 has employed six LIPA
graduates to help train the youngsters. They
are Paul Bennett (Dance 2003) Jo Cook (Music
2003), Jo Freeman (Acting 2000), Kaya Ulrikke
Herstad (Music 2003) Jane Lewis (Acting 2000)
and Richard Reeday (Music 2003).
Vicki says: “This was a big career move,
being responsible for a larger budget,
managing staff within the arts team, and
it is not specifically focused on one area
of the arts - the job allows me to
develop all art forms with a wide variety
of groups.”
Vicki is responsible for the strategic
development of arts projects and
festivals throughout the Wigan Borough
including cross district collaboration
with boroughs throughout Greater
Manchester and beyond.
She initiates arts projects and festivals,
employing artists to work with a variety
of groups including youth groups, youth
dance and youth theatre groups,
groups with disabilities, ethnic minority
groups etc.
She’s also responsible for developing
the arts strategy report in Wigan.
On a day to day basis she offers advice
to groups and professional artists on
funding and the delivery of their work.
Of her time at LIPA, she remarks:
“I really wouldn’t be in this position if it
wasn’t for my degree. The Community
Arts degree was not just about writing
essays but about ‘being out there and
finding work for yourself’, which enabled
me to get my foot on the ladder very
early on. It also provided me with both
the practical and academic skills which
are vital in my work.”
A Jolly Good Show
The Lord of the Dance is not only famous for its breathtaking dance
performances but also for its big production dazzle – the lights, the
costumes and the special effects. It has become the highest grossing
dance show in the world since it began in 1996 – and currently has
four dance troupes touring the show all over the globe.
Photographer: Nick Coughlin
Meanwhile, Richard Reardon joined the 10 strong-crew of the show just before
Christmas. He is responsible for some of the lighting and works stage left each night on
the logistics of making all set changes appear seamless. This means that his typical day
starts at 5.45pm, when the crew do the pre-show set ups and ends at 10.30pm. Richard
says: “This is a good first job, although my ultimate ambition is to work in television.
The only downside to working on a West End musical is that you do tend to get the
songs stuck in your head. My favourite moment so far was when Maureen Lipman
cooked soup for all the people in the crew. It was also great when I realized that Donna
was a LIPA graduate so we got together and had a nice chat about our times at LIPA.”
At the time of graduating in July 2002
Vicki Sellers, who studied Community
Arts, was already working at the
Empire Theatre, Liverpool as the
Education and Outreach Worker, as
well as working as a freelance
community artist throughout the
North West. In October 2002 she was
appointed as the Disability Arts
Development Officer for Preston City
Council and then in January 2004 was
appointed as the Arts & Cultural
Development Officer for Wigan
Leisure & Culture Trust.
A Lady Sings the Blues: a showcase of Diana Ross
songs performed by Ros Lewis-Ortiz (Acting 2004) at
Liverpool Playhouse in October 2004 as a part of
Liverpool’s Black History Month – a community festival.
Currently, five graduates or undergraduates are involved
with a member of the music staff MDing.
Iconic Productions: a productions company start-up, to
be based in Liverpool, providing nationwide school and
theatre tours. Four third year students will form the
nucleus of the company.
Latterling Lidenskap: an existing Norwegian theatre
company returning to contribute to the Children’s Culture
Week and Summer Theatre at Arendal, Norway this
summer with a children’s show and an atmospheric one
person presentation of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Obscenes: a cabaret chanson show that began as a
Final Performance Project and has now become the
foundation of a company, which aims to tour in Europe
and appear at Edinburgh this year; our support enabled
two sell-out return shows at the Unity Theatre.
Restorative Arts: a company started by Alexandra
Russell (Community Arts 2003) which, as she says ‘offers
a refreshing new vitalised perspective on rehabilitation
and the prevention of re-offending behaviour using
processes inspired by a ‘What works?’ approach.’
Songs for a New World: a new company, Rodney Street
Productions, has been set up to bring new musicals to
Norway and showcase Norwegian talent in Norway.
First out is this Robert Brown work to be performed in the
Drammens Teater (Norway) in August.
Since the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie
opened in October at the Shaftesbury Theatre,
London, it has played to packed houses.
Donna plays in the ensemble and is also Amanda Holden’s understudy and has played
the lead of Millie, a number of times. Since graduating from LIPA, Donna has performed
in a number of West End musicals including Peggy Sue Got Married and The Full Monty.
She has also met a number of Hollywood legends along the way, including Kevin
Spacey and Robert De Niro.
IN WIGAN
Six robust entrepreneurial initiatives gained
funding from our Angel Fund, soon to be
renamed ‘The First Year Out Fund’. The
funding is largely the interest on a six figure
capital sum donated by the parents of one of
our Norwegian graduates.
Thoroughly modern roles A GREAT SUCCESS
for two LIPA graduates
The opening cast included Amanda Holden (from BBC1 drama Cutting It), playing the
lead role of Millie; Maureen Lipman; (since replaced by Anita Dobson); Sheila Ferguson,
lead singer with the Three Degrees and last but not least, LIPA 1999 Acting graduate
Donna Steele. Behind the scenes another of our graduates - Richard Reardon (Theatre
and Performance Technology 2003) has been working with the crew.
Making a difference Thanks a LOT for
dream machine
David Jolly (Theatre and Performance
Technology 2002) joined the European tour in
January 2003 as the Moving Lights Technician
and general lighting specialist, which means
he repairs and maintains all the moving lights
and the star cloth. This has taken him to eight
countries from Germany to the Ukraine.
The lighting crew is made up of four people,
including David. Altogether there are 70
moving lights to set up for each gig, then there are the other types of lights, the
lighting rig and the huge amount of cabling.
The lighting equipment takes up an entire articulated truck on its own, while the
other aspects of the set fill two more.
In some weeks they may be doing five performances in five different venues.
In others they may have virtually a full week in one venue. David explains:
“We usually start unloading at 8am. Depending on the venue, the set up can take
anything from five hours to eight hours. The show runs until 10pm so if we are
packing up to get to our next venue after a performance, it can easily be after
midnight by the time we’re finished.”
Shalique Ahad and Paul Opara have
launched their own dream machine
in Liverpool to give hopeful Miss
Dynamites, Missy Elliots and Dizzee
Rascals on Merseyside the chance
of a start in the music industry.
Their ambitious project is all the more remarkable
because Shalique only recently completed a
LOT – Longer Occupational Training - programme
at LIPA.
Paul (stage name Pablo) also benefited from the
LOT course, eventually becoming a learner mentor
at LIPA.
It was in that role that he first met Shalique and the
pair have formed their own music management
company UCE, or Urban Creationz Entertainment.
UCE will be focusing on the urban and dance
music scene. They staged their first showcase gig
in June at the Masque in Seel Street to parade
eight of the artists and performers they have
already signed-up on their books.
In autumn they plan a bigger event in a top
Liverpool hotel so that undiscovered talent can
perform before an audience of A & R people and
record company representatives.
Shalique – also known by his stage name Slick has been a music lover since the age of ten and
by 14 he was doing gigs as a DJ in back gardens
for friends but it was not until he joined LIPA on a
LOT programme that things really gelled for
Shalique.
“I owe everything to LIPA. I was given confidence,
knowledge and know-how and the chance to
network. I can hardly believe that so soon after
finishing the course I am set up in business. We
believe the talent in Liverpool rivals that in London.”
Paul, who had set his sights on a career in music
from the age of 14, agrees with Shalique that LIPA
has been the catalyst in their own dream machine.
“Being here has opened so many doors for us.
We are taking calls not only from Liverpool, but
London and even America, from people who want
to be on our books. There is so much untapped
talent out there and we want to provide a platform
for those people. What we have learned at LIPA
has been priceless.”
So it can be quite a punishing schedule. The largest venue they have performed at
was an Olympic stadium in Munich. Technically, it is the venues in the Ukraine that
have presented the most challenges. For example, as the electricity system is so
different, they had to enlist a local electrician to tour with the crew.
Since graduating, David has also worked as the desk programmer for the
Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2003 UK tour and on lighting for two major Sky Box
Office wrestling events. He has worked at the Bridgewater Hall and other similar
venues and on society weddings. One of his jobs involved lighting the exterior of
Blenheim Palace. In the future, he hopes to get involved in more lighting design for
dance shows, which is his favourite type of lighting work.
Left to right: Paul and Shalique
17
LIPA TRIO CELEBRATE
The music of Frank Zappa provided an inspiration for three
German LIPA students. It led to the forming of a successful stage
production company, STAGECRAFT ENTERTAINMENT LTD.
Tommi Eisele (Performance Design 2001), Wolf Rahlfs (Acting 2001), and
Daniel Knapp formed STAGECRAFT ENTERTAINMENT LTD, and their first
production was the world premiere of Zappa’s only musical, Thing-Fish.
The catalyst to fulfilling legendary Zappa’s dream of turning his work into
a stage show was when the three young Germans met at LIPA and made
it their mission to bring the show to the public.
Tommi contacted the Zappa Family Trust to ask permission to stage
Thing-Fish. A year later, Zappa’s widow Gail gave initial permission for a
small-scale production of a couple of scenes that took place at LIPA.
The production proved to be a major success, selling out every
performance weeks before opening, and attracting visitors from across
Europe. Gail Zappa has remained close to the project ever since and has
given the company considerable encouragement. The Liverpool success
encouraged the group to form STAGECRAFT ENTERTAINMENT LTD and
begin their major project of producing a full-scale stage version in London
last autumn.
The work won critical praise, with Tom Morris, artistic director at London’s
Battersea Arts Centre, going on record as saying that “this is an
experimental project with real potential which I unhesitatingly recommend
for support.” People from across the world travelled to London for the
premiere, particularly Zappa fans from the US and Germany.
Daniel played the lead role, Wolf the director, while Tommi acted as art
director and graphic designer for the London production. Together they
produced the show, with a team that included nine other former LIPA
students. The names of the other LIPA students involved in the London
production are: Dirk Neuhof (Lighting designer / Performance Design
graduate 2001), Franziska Smolarek (production designer / Performance
Design graduate 2002), Sandra Dehler (additional costume maker /
Performance Design graduate 2001), Chris Rogers (played the role of
“Evil Prince” / Music graduate 2003), Chris Thompson (played the role of
“Harry”), Tim Rowland (played “Harry-as-a-boy” / Acting graduate 2001),
Simon Johns (played a Mammy Nun / Acting graduate 2001), Rainer Heesch
(sound / Sound Technology graduate 2002) and Paolo Greco (sound
collages / Music graduate 2001).
Check out Tommi’s website on www.portofolato.de
Jonny Springer
THE LIFE OF ZAPPA
Go Jonathan, go Kelly…
Two of our graduates
have become Olivier
award winners.
Both Jonathan Glew
(Acting 2001) and Kelly
O’Leary (Music 1998) are in
the ensemble of Jerry Springer - The Opera in the West
End. This year it was the ensemble that won ‘best
performance in a supporting role in a musical’. It’s the
first time that an ensemble has been given this award.
Jerry Springer – The Opera has also received
outstanding critical acclaim, with many five star reviews
in the national papers.
Without giving too much away: Act One is an
outrageous episode of the famous TV chat show. In Act
Two Jerry Springer ends up in hell, reconciling a quarrel
between the Devil and God.
Jonathan Glew plays chat show audience member
Delmarr Levine, but as he is also understudy for the
role of Jerry Springer, he has played the lead 18 times.
Jonathan describes the show as a “lewd crude comedy
with lots of swearing”.
Kelly O’Leary is a swing, which means she
understudies eight roles in the ensemble.
As ensemble members both are on stage for the full
two hours of the show.
The show is shortly due to transfer to San Francisco
and then Broadway.
Rock and Roll - Oli Roll (2001 Dance) plays one
of the main dancers in the Queen and Ben Elton
musical We Will Rock You, which is playing at the
Dominion Theatre in the West End.
CATCHING UP WITH
...Gail McLintock (2000 Community Arts)
18
is right on track
Keyboard player and songwriter Martin Sjølie (Music 2002) has been
gaining album credits on a number of chart-topping records.
Martin worked on three tracks for Rachel Steven’s (ex-S-Club Seven) debut album
Funkydory. Here he is credited for his Grand Piano, Rhodes and additional
Programming and Assistant Producer.
On new teenage singer/songwriter Amy Studt’s December single All I Wanna Do,
his credits are Fender Rhodes, Assistant Producer.
Martin worked on another top selling debut album: Clay Aiken’s (the runner up in
American Idol two), album Measure of A Man. Martin played additional keyboards
and acted as assistant engineer.
Martin has also worked with a number of UK Pop Idols. He assisted the producer
on the title track of Gareth Gates’ second album, Go Your Own Way. On Michelle
McManus’ debut album he played keyboards and assisted the producer, and did
the same on Sam & Mark’s first two singles.
He has also worked on projects with Triple 8, Sarah Whatmore, Atomic Kitten and
songwriter Desmond Child in the last year.
“Since graduating I have been working as the
Training Officer at The Youth Stress Centre in
Glasgow (aye its wild sometimes!). We provide
training and support to teenagers with a general
focus of ‘Emotional Literacy and Stress Management’.
Of course we use - drama, groupwork, theatre masks
and expressive arts! (thanks to all my wonderful LIPA
tutors x). We got our work into the mainstream
schooling system in North Glasgow and continue to
be in high demand, running external training in our
methods! I’m lucky - got my ideal punk job. I hope
you all are doin well and I think of (some of you)
often ho ho. All the best and thanks Gail x.”
CATCHING UP WITH
...Gunnar Graewert (2000 Music)
“I’m still enjoying every day of my life as a writer and
producer here in Munich. After my graduation,
I worked as a Production Assistant with a successful
music producer called Axel Kroell (Wet, Wet, Wet,
Quincy Jones, Grandmaster Flash, Xavier Naidoo
and several other German acts) and did some film
music and pop productions. However, I decided that
I would like to be my own boss and left last spring in
order to set up my own studio and have since built a
studio in one of the rooms of a 20-year existing
studio complex in the centre of the city. I signed a
publishing deal with Universal, which enables me to
write for German and international pop acts. Since
then, I’ve been writing and producing for acts such
as Bananafishbones, Mousse T/Emma Lanford, B3,
Jasmin Wagner, Michael Mittermeier and many
others. I’ve also been teaching songwriting at the
University of Regensburg. So many things I’m doing
now would be so impossible if I had not visited LIPA,
so I can’t thank you enough for that time!”
He explains: “For the last year, I have been working at Stereo Studio 1 in Oslo with
producer David Eriksen, assisting on productions, playing, programming,
engineering and writing. Most of the work mentioned above has come through
working with David and other people in our studio complex, as well as through
other connections in the Norwegian and English music industry.”
TAKING A BITE
OF THE
BIG
APPLE
Life on both sides of
He adds: “I do still write my own stuff, and being in a place like this (Studio 1), I am
fortunate enough to have very good channels publishing-wise. Thanks to this, a few
songs are on hold for exciting projects...”
the desk
Oli does seven performances a week and in addition
to his dancing, his part is also quite demanding
vocally. He said he’s had an amazing time on the
show. Before joining the cast of We Will Rock You,
he performed in a European tour of Chicago.
Left to right: Wolf Erik Rahlfs, Tommi Eisele, Daniel Knapp (as “Thing-Fish”), photograph by Franziska Smolarek.
Martin’s music career
Nick Pemberton (Sound Technology
2002) was appointed UK Sales
Manager for Audient on 1st December
2003. He started off being responsible
for its Aztec Live performance range
of consoles and is now taking over all
UK sales for Audient PLC and LA
Audio in the live and install market.
Before joining Audient, Nick had
notched up several years’ worth of
experience working as a freelance live
sound engineer. He gained a lot of his
work via South West Audio, based in
Bristol, having worked with them before
he started his studies at LIPA, during
university holidays and immediately after
graduating. During his time as a
freelancer he was Front of House
Engineer for English Symphony
Orchestra and the cold stream guards,
Monitor Engineer at Glastonbury and
various other festivals and has worked
with hundreds of performers including
Will Young, So Solid Crew, Rachel
Stevens, Liberty-X, Louise, Atomic
Kitten, Top Loader and Busted.
Nick is happy in his new role. He says:
“I am selling products that I really
believe in at the cutting edge of the
technology. Having been at the front
end as an engineer, that means that I
can relate to the customer from the
same side of the desk. I also keep up
my freelance work, to keep my toe in
the water, which is something that
Audient is very supportive of.”
In February he returned to LIPA to take
part in a friendly showdown between
Yamaha and Audient as part of the
Sound Technology programme’s
industry week.
The event was called “The working
benefits of analogue versus digital in the
live arena”, with Nick presenting the
case for analogue.
He says: “It was a really positive event
with a very fair debate. I was pleased
with the fact that a really high proportion
of LIPA students came up to me after
the event to find out more about our
latest Aztec desk.”
Recalling his time as a student here,
Nick says: “LIPA helped me mature both
in my skills as a technician and also as
a person. I learnt how to get on with
people, meet new people, and greet
new people, which is absolutely
essential in the job I do now. On the
technology side of things LIPA was
simply invaluable.”
Nora Krug has certainly
made her mark in her
chosen profession as a
freelance illustrator and
animator in New York.
Her portfolio contains published work in the New
York Times, Polygram Records magazine and on
Japanese TV, plus a number of the top specialist
art publications in the States. She’s also picked
up a variety of prestigious awards along the way.
After graduating from LIPA’s Performance Design
degree in 1999, Nora moved to Berlin to study a
Masters in illustration and documentary film at the
University of Arts. She had been inspired to follow
this route after creating a documentary about the
patients of a psychiatric hospital in Sarajevo after
the war, during her studies at LIPA.
Whilst in Berlin, she created ‘Land of Potatoes’, a
documentary about two Japanese girls who work as
confectioners in an East German bakery and
‘how-to-bow.com’, an animated internet guide book
to Japanese business etiquette. How-to-bow.com
has won three awards including a NY Art Directors’
Club Distinguished Merit (in 2004). It was also
featured on NHK First Japanese Television in 2003.
After gaining her Masters degree in Berlin, a
Fulbright and a DAAD (German Academic Exchange
Service) scholarship brought her to New York in
2002 to study the Master of Fine Arts illustration
programme at the School of the Visual Arts.
Ever since then she has been living as a successful
freelance illustrator in New York. In addition to the
New York Times and their website, her publication
list includes Playboy magazine, Seed magazine and
Nylon magazine. Specialist art publications include
NY Art Director’s Club annual, CMYK magazine and
Vasava Artworks.
19
Companions
At graduation this year we are honouring ten
people, who have either shared their skills
and experiences with us or are about to.
Ken Campbell
Tim Firth
Hot Gossip, Blue Peter); music
videos (AC/DC, The Bee Gees,
Aretha Franklin, Boy George,
Elton John, Diana Ross, Tina
Turner, Robbie Williams). She has
a Tony, two Oliviers, a BAFTA, an
Emmy and more. In 2002, Arlene
was presented with an OBE for
Services to Dance.
Willy Russell
filmed, as was Shirley Valentine,
Our Day Out and Dancin’ Thru
The Dark. He also provided the
scores. His novel, The Wrong Boy,
appeared three years ago and he
is turning it into a TV series.
He is also starting work on a film
based on his 1980s TV series One
Summer. His album Hoovering the
Moon has recently appeared.
He is on tour with Tim Firth with
their show In Other Words.
Jon Webster
Ken’s productions and exploits in
British theatre over 25 years are
legendary – as is his breadth of
skills: playwright, actor, director
and comedian. Starting with his
Ken Campbell Roadshow and then
The Science Fiction Theatre of
Liverpool, he progressed to
directing Neil Oram’s 22 hour cult
play cycle The Warp, before
moving on to Illuminnatus! which
opened the Cottesloe Theatre at
the Royal National Theatre. He has
acted in other people’s shows
(recently ART), written at least
seven theatre shows, three
children’s plays, various TV and
film scripts, as well as presenting
three science series for Channel 4.
He is currently touring his latest
show The History of Comedy:
Part one, Ventriloquism.
Sam Mendes, a fellow student at
university, directed all his plays.
Alan Ayckbourn has commissioned
him to write plays; his most recent,
The Safari Party, was directed by
Ayckbourn and transferred to the
new Hampstead Theatre.
At the same time, Tim’s first
musical, Our House, with music
and lyrics by Madness, won the
Olivier for Best New Musical.
Tim has written a Screen One film
(Money for Nothing) and a
television series (All Quiet on the
Preston Front). His most recent
television film was Cruise of the
Gods. His most recent films are
Blackball and Calendar Girls; his
most recent album is Harmless
Flirting. He is on tour with
Willy Russell with their show In
Other Words.
The Bangles
Terry Marshall
Terry has managed a career as a
musician (starting out being paid
when he was 14 playing alto sax
in dance bands) and as the MD of
the UK’s most familiar music
amplifier – Marshall Amps, created
by his father. He has played
saxophone alongside Jimi Hendrix,
Ritchie Blackmore, Elliott Randall,
Big Jim Sullivan and many more.
He has also been a generous
benefactor of the Institute.
Susanna Hoffs, sisters Vicki and
Debbi Peterson and Michael Steele
achieved several No 1 hits as well
as four multi-platinum albums.
Their second album Different Light,
went triple platinum. The Bangles
became the first all female band to
have a No 1 for four weeks
running. Their Greatest Hits
collection charted in the UK for 97
weeks and became the No 4
album in the UK at the time.
Liverpool’s Atomic Kitten reminded
everyone of the enduring
attraction of Eternal Flame.
20
Arlene Phillips
Arlene’s choreography has been
seen everywhere. Here are just a
few examples: theatre (We Will
Rock You, Starlight Express,
Grease, Saturday Night Fever,
The Music of Andrew Lloyd
Webber); film (Annie, Legend,
Monty Python’s Meaning of Life);
concert arenas (EFX at MGM
Grand, Lord of the Dance,
Manchester XVII Commonwealth
Games, The BRIT Awards, Party at
the Palace); television (The Hot
Shoe Show, Dancin’ To The Hits,
Willy is multi-talented. His
landmark shows continue
scarcely missing a beat – his
musical Blood Brothers has just
completed another sell-out run at
the Liverpool Empire. Educating
Rita began on stage and was
Five years after joining Virgin
Records Retail as an assistant
manager in Hull, he became the
Director of Virgin Music. Five
years later, he was the Managing
Director of Virgin Records UK.
On the way, he invented the
Now That’s What I Call Music
brand, now reaching the 56th
compilation, making it the most
successful compilation brand in
the world. He also invented
The Mercury Music Prize. He has
assisted Genesis, Peter Gabriel,
UB40, Mike and the Mechanics
and Erasure. Jon now manages
people like D*Note.
LIPA Diplomas in Performing Arts
We have launched three inter-connected
one-year Institute diplomas in acting,
dancing and singing, aimed at preundergraduate students.
Half the time is spent learning one of three
featured disciplines. The rest of the time is
partly spent learning the other two (so acting
for dancers and singers, dancing for actors and singers and singing for
actors and dancers). Everyone takes core studies: organisational and
personal management skills, as well as a broad understanding of the culture
and economics of the performing arts economy.
Nearly 70 students are likely to join us in September 2004. These courses
join the existing LIPA Diploma in Popular Music and Sound Technology.
10th Anniversary Gala
30TH JANUARY 2006 – A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
The venue is booked, the show is being created and the guest list
underway. Monday 30th January 2006 will be exactly ten years since
we held our Inauguration on 30th January 1996.
Those we have spoken with, who took part the first time, have said
they’d never forgotten it. If you can manage to participate in 2006,
you’ll not forget it either.
This event will be part of a series of events including a TV series
(although it’s proving hard to land this one), a coffee table book
‘LIPA in Pictures: The First Ten Years’ and an anniversary logo chosen
by Paul and a reception hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife
- these are just for starters.
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