See me now Bryan's perfect Storm(zy)
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See me now
G R A D U A T E N E W S L E T T E R N I N E T E E N • S U M M E R 2 019
Photograph by Solveig Selj
Bryan’s perfect Storm(zy)
“When Fraser T calls, you know Gorillaz and Drake. the songs came from just having
you will be working on some top It turned out to be work on musicians in the studio to jam.
level material so I had to say yes Stormzy’s award-winning album Then, when I came back on the
to this.” Bryan Wilson (Sound Gang Signs & Prayer. Bryan, who project six months later, I saw
Technology, 2008) had decided is 33, worked on six tracks, how they developed from a jam
to stop working as an engineer, including Blinded by Your Grace, into a full-blown song. The
when he was approached about Pt. 2 featuring MNEK. “Being passion, care and love Stormzy
one last project by songwriter- involved from the inception of puts into the work was top
producer Fraser T Smith, who’s the project was really something notch.”
worked with the likes of Adele, special to witness. Quite a few of (continued on page 4)
Solo
‘GRAMMY’
win
What started as a journey
of self-discovery for Malin
Pettersen, ended with her
winning the Norwegian
equivalent of a GRAMMY.
References Pt.1 was
named Best Country Album
at the Spellemanprisen in
March. Malin, who
completed the Foundation
Certificate in Popular Music
and Sound Technology
(2008), says the win was a
huge surprise. “I remember
walking down the stairs
from the stage to the press
room, with the award in my
hand, wondering if it was all
real. It was crazy.”
A member of the band
Lucky Lips for 12 years,
References Pt.1 was Welcome to the house of fun
Malin’s first solo album. “There are no words to explain June last year and couldn’t be
She says she needed to do how overjoyed I was.” Acting happier. “I love children and I love
it to develop. “I wanted to graduate Evie Pickerill (2014) is exploring the world of imagination.
figure out, who I was describing how it felt to land her CBeebies is a great way for
musically without them. dream job as a children’s children to learn and have fun, I
“I love them to pieces, so presenter for the BBC. “It’s been feel so lucky to be on the channel.”
it was not to distance an ambition of mine since I was 16, CBeebies is aimed primarily at
myself from them. I wanted so to achieve it was something pre-school children, broadcasting
to become more evolved really special.” programmes throughout the day
as a musician, songwriter Evie, who is from the West and early evening. CBeebies
and producer, so I could Midlands, is one of a team of House is the channel’s on-air
then bring those skills to presenters on CBeebies House on home, with presenters providing
the band’s music too.” the BBC children’s channel continuity and content between the
CBeebies. She started the job in programmes.
(continued on page 5) (continued on page 11)
Stevie shines on Take That tour Don’t stop me now
Riding pillion on the back of Gary Barlow’s audiences, having previously danced at the “We all knew that we were working on
motorbike would be a fantasy moment for BRIT Awards with Little Mix and Dua Lipa. something that could potentially be huge
many people. For Stevie Mahoney, as a The arena tour, though, was on another and that was quite exciting in itself.” Less
dancer performing with Take That on their level. “The crowds were unbelievable, so than two years after leaving LIPA, Sound
spectacular Odyssey tour, it was a nightly loud and crazy. Many have been loyal Technology graduate Tom Melling is
occurrence. superfans for 30 years.” reflecting on being part of the Oscar- and
Our 2013 Dance graduate was one of 14 The fans weren’t the only ones making a BAFTA-winning sound team that worked
female dancers on the tour, which started in noise. Stevie explains: “The picture was on Bohemian Rhapsody.
February and ended with a final taken on opening night. I screamed so loud “The set pieces throughout the movie
performance at Cardiff Stadium in June. my voice went down the mic, which made are so exciting, that it’s hard for people
“It was their greatest hits tour, so every Gary laugh.” not to enjoy them. I think, right from the
number was a different style, from showgirl The 28-year-old describes the band as start of the mix, it was clear that the movie
and commercial, via Fosse, to 90s grooves. kind, humble and appreciative of the talents was going to be pretty special - especially
For Pray we used sign language. The and energy of the dancers and crew. It’s the from a sound point of view.”
costumes were fabulous - who doesn’t love kind of professionalism that Stevie
Tom works at Twickenham Studios and
a catsuit? My favourite number was Sure, as absorbed from her training here: “It’s
was sound mix technician on the film. The
it used Kim Gavin’s original choreography important to have discipline and respect; to
movie won Best Sound at the BAFTAs
from the band’s MTV performance in 1993.” know how to conduct yourself
and Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound
Stevie, originally from Liverpool but now professionally on and off the stage. You are
based in London, got offered a place on the a product and you need to showcase the Editing at the Oscars. Fellow Sound
tour after being invited to a private audition best version of you. That’s the key to having Technology graduates Will Miller (2014),
via her agents Dancers Inc. a long and successful career in this Twickenham Studios, and Rory de
She is used to performing before huge industry.” Carteret (2012), at Boom Post, also
worked on the film.
For Tom – who is from Cheshire but
Stevie, front, riding pillion now based in London – it was a great
behind Gary Barlow
opportunity to work with experienced,
established professionals. “The sound
team on this film were not only a group of
insanely talented individuals, but also
some of the nicest people I have ever met.
“You can learn so much by just
observing people and I picked up so
many different things from every single
person that was in that room.”
There are now four Sound Technology
graduates at Twickenham Studios. Tom
says having those connections really
helped. “I had to move my entire life down
to London. That’s quite a hard thing to do,
but having the guys at Twickenham, who
had been in the exact same situation,
made that so much easier.
“There is also a rough judgement from
Caring for the carers Twickenham on what you already know,
so everyone knows what needs to be built
on, instead of having to build knowledge
Having caring responsibilities for a loved from the ground up.”
Kacey on a CYC visit to
one at home can be hard. It’s especially so Knowsley Safari Park
for a young person. As activities coordinator
at Cheshire Young Carers (CYC), Kacey
Baker is part of a team offering support and
respite for 6- to 18-year-olds caring for a
parent or sibling.
Kacey, 26, explains some of the problems
facing those she works with: “They often fall
behind peers in education, become
increasingly isolated or miss out on
experiences that typical children have. The
work I do at CYC ensures that the young
carers we support, have the chance for
these childhood experiences and the Her work is more than a job to Kacey:
opportunity to build lasting friendships.” “Brendon Burns [our Head of Applied
The school summer holidays will be a Theatre & Community Drama] once said
busy time for our 2014 Community Drama that what we do as facilitators and artists is
graduate, as she co-ordinates a continuous a ‘vocation not a career’. This rings true for
six-week programme of activities ranging me with the work I am doing in the third
from theatre trips to canal boat experiences sector. My facilitation skills allow me to
and muddy trails at Manley Mere. engage large groups of children on trips
There were no holiday activities before and in evening sessions. This engagement
Kacey joined the organisation and it’s ensures they have fun and are always safe.
something she has worked hard to develop “It’s extremely rewarding, especially when
alongside her colleagues. Last year, she ran it is bettering the lives of the next
over 70 events. generation.”
2
From Weller to Winterfell One step back,
two steps forward
It’s been a landmark year for Hannah Peel Weller’s album True Meanings. This led to her
(Music, 2004): a new album, high-profile scoring his orchestral shows at the Royal
collaborations and scoring a feature-length Festival Hall in October, with Hannah directing
Game of Thrones documentary. “Twelve the orchestra. “I only conducted, because he
months of total joy,” says Hannah. “It feels like encouraged me to do it over and over again.
years of trying ideas out and experimenting I was very happy to let someone much more
have grown into one fruitful tree.” experienced do it, but you know I’m so glad it
As well as the Game of Thrones happened.
documentary The Last Watch, which marked “I learnt a lot about myself. I’d do it all again
the end of the final series, Hannah also wrote in a heartbeat.”
many of the string arrangements for Paul Earlier in the year, she released Particles in
Space, a re-imagining of her acclaimed album
Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia,
collaborating with a series of artists, producers
and engineers to re-work each track.
While in March 2019, her work with new
Faber poet Will Burns Chalk Hill Blue, a
combination of spoken word and electronic
music, was released.
Hannah says respect and keeping an open
mind are key to working with other artists.
“Music to me is always collaborative. It’s like an
energy, a subconscious communication of Taking a break from performing has
sorts that doesn’t even need to be verbal. certainly worked for Sophie Cooke. Last
“If you work with other people you get an year, she co-wrote her first top ten
entirely new viewpoint on your own music too. single. “It was amazing. I really needed
You see everything with perspective. It’s that to verify that I’d made the right
immensely valuable to developing but it’s not decision in stepping back from being an
always easy to do, as we all have egos at artist.”
times to satisfy.” Sophie (Music, 2015) co-wrote All I
Hannah’s currently writing a new piece of Am for Jess Glynne, which reached
music for Bristol-based Paraorchestra and number seven in the UK singles chart
preparing for more live performances with Will and was on the number one album
Burns. “We will be playing a special version of Always In Between. Up until 2018
the record at The Barbican in London. It’s a Sophie, who is from Newbury, but now
Paul Weller and Hannah at the soundcheck for BBC Radio Two
In Concert. Photograph by Andy Croft dream come true to play there. I can’t wait.” based in London, had been writing,
recording and performing as Frances.
“I loved making the music, but the love
stopped there. Touring and international
promotion are exhausting, overwhelming
Telling The Winter’s Tale to kids and you can feel like a rag doll being
pulled between different marketing
territories.
Billed as ‘the perfect introduction to actors to play live music within their shows, “I’d always wanted to write for/with
Shakespeare’ for young audiences, the which I think is great.” other artists and produce. I thought it
National Theatre’s production of The Ebony is a member of award-winning was the perfect opportunity to give
Winter’s Tale saw the Bard’s classic story of gospel choir Manchester Inspirational myself a break and give it a real go. As
jealousy adapted for children. Voices. Earlier this year, the choir performed expected, I absolutely love it.”
Ebony Feare (Acting, 2003) played with Take That at their Manchester concerts. In January, the 25-year-old started
Camilla (Camillo in the original version) in “It was a ‘wow’ experience. It was so surreal writing a blog The Big A: Tales of an
the production. “We added dance, songs being on stage with Take That and Lulu Anxious Millennial. “I first experienced
and a live band including myself playing the performing in front of 21,000 people each anxiety during my time at LIPA. It was
cajón. We also had Gina the sheep, an night for five nights.” really tough for me. Luckily LIPA were
amazing puppet, who would get involved supportive.
with the audience, which the kids loved.” “I think us artistic folk are a little more
Ebony, originally from Leicester and now prone to mental health problems. It
living in Manchester, explains: “The play comes with the territory. It doesn’t help
deals with jealousy, adults making wrong that most of us are competent
decisions and love. I guess this is what performers too, so we’re able to cover it
some of our young audiences may see at up. Talking is so, so important.”
home, so it’s very relatable. Sophie continues to write with other
“The language used is beautiful, so for artists and has begun working as a
children to be introduced to Shakespeare’s producer. She also has new material to
writing through children’s theatre is release under her own name. “I’m just
fantastic. It’s simplified and adapted in a figuring out how I want to release it and
way that children will enjoy even more.” how I want to go about it. There’ll be no
Among Ebony’s other recent credits are big international tours this time, so a
Babe the Sheep Pig and the UK tour of major label isn’t an option.
Hare and Tortoise. “It wasn’t a choice to do “Retaining the ownership of my
more family shows, but I enjoy it more. masters is what is important to me, so
Maybe it’s because I’m an actor-musician Photograph by Ori Jones
that’s what my manager and I are
and most children’s theatres like to use working on right now.”
3
Making mega hits Technical theatre in Tromsø
As a product manager for Universal Music in
Johanna Coraline Jensen (TPT, 2015) able to see what
Germany, Tom-Hendrik Uebelgünn
describes Hålogaland Teater as a theatre was actually
(Management, 2017) gets to work with some
which “does everything”. She tells us: “I going on.”
of the biggest artists in the world to promote
can go from doing an immersive toddler Johanna, who
their new releases.
show in a tent for ten babies, to a large- is 26, played
“I look after a roster of international artists
within the dance and electronic repertoire, scale musical to a multi-venue show, where another
but the term electronic is so broad and has the audience is split into three groups and important role on
influences on so many other genres. So, I ends up on a floating stage on the sea.” Le Père. Having
have the pleasure to not only work with core Since 2016, she has been a stage spent time
electronic DJ/producers like DJ Snake, manager at the theatre in her hometown of growing up in Photograph by
Gisle Bjørneby
Marshmello and The Chemical Brothers, but Tromsø, where she regularly works with Belfort in France,
also with artists like Years & Years, Katy Perry, fellow LIPA graduates. Jørn Fuller-Gee she translated
Maggie Rogers and The Weeknd.” (Acting, 2004) is a permanent actor there the French play
Based in his hometown of Berlin, 26-year- and Mari Lotherington (TPD, 2013) and into Norwegian,
old Tom-Hendrik explains: “It entails a lot of Gjermund Andresen (TPD, 2004) have which she will do on another production
marketing and project management, but also designed some of her shows. later this year.
a lot of team management and coordination, Last year, the theatre staged Le Père by Another recent rewarding show for
as I work with an in-house team of TV, press Florian Zeller, which is about a character Johanna was Tobias og dagen det smalt.
and radio promoters, digital sales specialists, with Alzheimer’s and how he sees the The play addressed gender nonconformity
content creation managers and many more.” world. During the play, the set shifted to for younger audiences and won a Hedda
“I work across 15+ artists and campaigns reflect his condition, with 14 carefully Award, Norway’s biggest theatre accolade,
at once. My day-to-day schedule can really choreographed scene changes. “To make for Best Children’s Play.
vary from putting together promo schedules, the furniture and props disappear Next up, is Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, which
when the artist is on tour, to creating a seamlessly, the technicians had to wear opens in September. “The set involves
unique content plan building up to a night vision goggles and move quietly in foam machines and a giant sandbox. The
release.” the dark, while also guiding actors to their role of younger and older Peer is being
Although Tom-Hendrik says all his artists next spot. While rehearsing the show I had played by two women. It will be really
are equally exciting, one stood out, in an infrared camera and monitor, so I was interesting to see their take on it.”
particular, for him last year. “The Years &
Years record release show we did in Berlin
was an absolute highlight. We transformed
the whole venue into a Years & Years world.”
A royal appointment
Over the last two years, Tom Munno Tom in front of Windsor Castle
(Sound Technology, 2017) has worked on
a whole series of high-profile live TV
events, but there’s one that stands out:
the wedding of Prince Harry to Megan
Markle in May 2018.
“The royal wedding was a personal
highlight. It involved climbing up various
towers around Windsor Castle to rig
Tom-Hendrik with microphones along the route of the
superstar Katy Perry couple’s procession.
“It was nice to know that I played a very
small part in a historic event - albeit a bit
scary to think that the microphones that I
rigged were live to 1.9 billion people.”
Bryan’s perfect Storm(zy) Tom, who is from Bedford but now
based in Reading, works as a sound
continued from page 1
engineer for NEP UK: a company that
Bryan, who hails from Toronto in Canada and now supplies equipment and crew for TV
lives in London, tells us he was overwhelmed by the outside broadcasts. As well as the royal
reaction to the album: “It’s pretty incredible. That wedding, his credits include Michael
album represented the end of the engineering
McIntyre’s Big Show, ESPN’s Wimbledon
portion of my career and became the first UK album
coverage and the Korean tennis open.
I had worked on that went on to number one and got
The job involves a lot of travel, which
Platinum certification. It was also BRIT and Ivor
Tom loves, and working in some highly
Novello Award-winning and Mercury Prize-
pressurised situations. “I learnt quite early
nominated: what a great way to finish.”
Since then, Bryan has worked with American duo on that communication is key if something
Sofi Tukker, attracting more awards attention with two goes wrong. I will aim to clearly
GRAMMY nominations. “I would definitely say I’m communicate what’s happening over
proud (and surprised) to be able to say I’m a multi- radio before I do anything else. by working on live broadcasts throughout
GRAMMY-nominated producer/songwriter/mixer “I’ve also learnt to relax. For example, his time here. Tom confirms the technical
so soon. walking to a problem instead of running. It skills weren’t all he learnt. “LIPA was very
“But it isn’t so much the awards themselves for means when I arrive, I’m in a better frame good at ensuring that there were enough
specific projects that make me happy. For me, the of mind and have had more time to think group-based tasks to allow us to develop
culmination of awards and titles represent all the about a solution.” our team working skills. This is vital in
hard work and tedious moments and whatever else A career in broadcasting has long been something like broadcast, which is such a
you had to go through to get to where you are now.” an ambition of Tom’s and was confirmed collaborative effort.”
4
Solo ‘GRAMMY’ win Photograph by
Solveig Selj Buyer Jess
continued from page 1
Malin, who is from Oslo, found working solo
plays a blinder
had its pros and cons. “It was much easier to
put processes in motion and set a timeline that On an early morning film shoot, Jessica
fitted me, but, when tough decisions came Imrie may be the first person on set. She
along, I didn’t really have anyone to ask about may also be carrying a large arrangement
of flowers, so all that can be seen of her is
them.”
a pair of legs. As assistant/petty cash
For her next project, 31-year-old Malin took
buyer for TV shows such as McMafia and
another step into the unknown, recording a
films such as biopic Tolkien it’s her
collection of songs that feature just her vocal
responsibility to make sure that the
and guitar. “After the full band production of
standby art team have everything they
References Pt. 1, I wanted to get back to the knowledge I gained at LIPA. If I’m talking to
need, before the cameras roll.
core of the song.” sound techs, I know that I have some actual
Jess (Theatre & Performance Design,
Whether working with a band or on her own, understanding of what we’re talking about.”
2015) explains: “I work to a budget and
Malin’s time here will continue to be an “It helps me define what I need, which is a
have a float to purchase action props,
influence. “I feel empowered because of huge advantage.”
consumables and hero props that the on-
set team and actors need for certain
shots. Usually I work to a list provided by
the set decorator or the buyer, fulfilling the
list creatively and within the constraints of
Music and laughter the period that the drama or film is set in.
In theatre terms, it would be the
equivalent to an assistant stage manager
Music and humour may not always go hand interest and passion for music and have the or stage manager with a bit of assistant
in hand, but for composer, producer and same music references. We co-write the designer thrown into the mix.”
musical director Lars Devik they have songs. Usually, I do the arrangements and
proved to be a winning combination. the production. However, Ylvis are very
Lars has worked extensively with musical much part of that process too as executive
comedy duo, Ylvis. He composed and producers.”
produced the tracks for Stories from That spirit of collaboration is something
Norway, which won the Gullruten that the 40-year-old recalls from his days
(Norwegian Emmy) Award for Best Comedy here. “I learnt a lot from working with such a
in 2018. The show also picked up the gong wide range of talent from all over the world.
for Best Comedy Format at the 2019 I was totally open-minded – which LIPA
International Format Awards in Cannes in encourages its students to be. I treasure
April. He also wrote and produced Ylvis’ those three years of my life greatly. So
YouTube hits such as Stonehenge, Jan many good memories, both musically and
Egeland, The Cabin and Massachusetts. socially.”
Brothers Vegard and Bård Ylvisåker, who Lars (Music, 2003) also enjoys getting out
make up Ylvis, and Lars have a shared of the studio. He was musical director for
history as well as a shared taste in comedy: Ylvis’ Expensive Jacket Tour, which played
Jess on the set of
“Vegard, Bård and I grew up together. I venues including Oslo Spektrum, The Peaky Blinders with a
guess that makes our collaboration and Globe in Stockholm and the Pohoda Drexel – those cut throat
razors don’t blunt
way of writing quite unique, since we know Festival in Slovakia.
themselves
each other so well. Words and music go Recently, Lars again helped to turn music
hand in hand, but usually we make rough into comedy gold as musical supervisor on
music sketches first and then they put down The Book of Mormon at Det Norske Teatret: The 26-year-old got her first break soon
the lyrics afterwards. Sometimes we work “The music is so cleverly written and after graduating when she joined the crew
individually on music parts and then put arranged, yet the creators make fun of the of series three of Peaky Blinders, which
ideas together. Christian Løchstøer is also musical genre at the same time. We all had was then filming in Liverpool. She spent
heavily involved, mainly on the lyric part. a blast working on this material, the three years in the city, but is now based
“Obviously, we share the same sense of ensemble, the band and me.” The show back in her native London.
humour. I guess we grew up together went on to be the longest running musical Since then she has worked in the art
musically too, as we shared the same nerdy in Norway. department on shows including the fourth
Left to right: Vegard Ylvisåker, series of Peaky Blinders and series three
Lars Devik, Bård Ylvisåker.
Photograph by Pål Schaathun of Victoria and films including The Secret
Garden, to be released next year.
Jess recently had her first opportunity
to work abroad, filming a gritty drama
about the Iraq war for Channel 4 in
Morocco.
On recent projects including the film
Ghost Stories, starring Martin Freeman
and an Andrew Davies adaptation of Jane
Austen’s Sanditon, which will air this
autumn on ITV, she has taken a step up to
work as production buyer.
Jess loves her job but warns those
aspiring to work in the industry to be
prepared for long hours and to keep the
secrets of filming to themselves: “I am
banned from watching with my friends
now – I give everything away.”
5
Beth rocks out Mercury rising
in Birmingham “I’m a working-class lad from Leeds, from a
single parent family. I didn’t go to Cambridge
For rock fan Beth Hogan or Oxford and I’ve no theatrical ancestry. To get
(Management, 2010), championing to where I am now, I had to start at the bottom,
her home county’s musical heritage, learning my craft on the London and
is a dream job. Originally from Edinburgh fringes.” So says Ryan McBryde*,
the newly appointed creative director of
Wolverhampton and now based in
Mercury Theatre in Colchester. The journey has
Birmingham, she is project
taken him via the West End and the world of
coordinator for Home of Metal.
German theatre, with several award milestones
“Just like we associate Liverpool
along the way.
with The Beatles, Birmingham is the
Ryan (Acting, 1999) explains how he came to 2018 UK Theatre Award for Best Musical
birthplace of Black Sabbath and
direct in Germany: “I started out working at the Production and won Best New Musical at The
heavy metal. Our job, through English Theatre of Frankfurt, directing English Stage Debut Awards.
exhibitions and events, is to join the language productions. My work got spotted by The 41-year-old’s many other credits include
dots between the music, social a producer in Stuttgart, who invited me to resident director on Billy Elliot and Bat Boy in
histories of the fans and visual arts to direct plays like The Crucible, 1984 and Faust the West End and working for the RSC on the
produce a new perspective on in German. It was genuinely daunting at first, development of Matilda the Musical.
celebrating heavy metal.” but the German actors spoke fantastic English, Directing was always Ryan’s passion. When
so we never had problems understanding one he was studying here, he and four other
another. I work with a bilingual text, which I graduates established theatre company Rogue
action within an inch of its life. Once I’d learnt State. They went on to create a name for
what the action verbs were in German, I was themselves in fringe theatre, with Ryan
good to go.” directing five of their productions. As an actor,
Language proved to be no barrier. 1984 was it was the rehearsal process and creating a
nominated for the prestigious Deutscher performance that he enjoyed most. He is
Theaterpreis Der Faust and Faust won the delighted therefore to be back at Mercury
Stuttgart Audience Award. Ryan ranks both Theatre in his new role, responsible for the
among his favourite pieces of work. Another of artistic vision and creative direction there.
his recent favourites was Pieces of String at
Mercury Theatre, which was nominated for the *Ryan Stephenson at LIPA
This year, Home of Metal is hosting
a major exhibition at Birmingham
Museum and Art Gallery alongside a
season of events to celebrate 50
years of Black Sabbath. The
Roberta distresses Macbeth
exhibition features rare fan When Roberta McKeown (TPD, 2012)
memorabilia and recreated scenes
joined the National Theatre’s tour of
from the band’s history. “Getting
everything over has been incredibly Macbeth as a wardrobe deputy, it was a
hard work for the team, with the total departure from her previous jobs.
million rolls of red tape you have to “Macbeth was my fourth tour and it was
cut through to import things such as completely different. I’ve been working on
Ozzy Osbourne’s boots.” musicals for the past few years, lots of
Bookings have come from all over singing, dancing and bright lights. The
the world from Sweden to South show was so dark and serious, but that
Africa, Japan to Lebanon. “Seeing
was not true for the cast and crew.”
the community come together speaks
Roberta explains how the post-
volumes to the world’s love for the
genre. The fans live and breathe it. apocalyptic setting impacted the
We have amazing volunteers and I costumes: “Everything in the world is
hear the term ‘I found my tribe’ from barely surviving except for plastic. The
them a lot. I think that resonates with costumes were modern day and military-
a lot of fans.” orientated. Varying types of khakis and
The 30-year-old describes her camos were used and pieces of plastic Roberta backstage with
degree here “as a secret weapon in the head of Macbeth
were sewn in to give the feel that the
the industry”. She explains: “I had
garments had been mended in that
access to hands on, real world
universe. the studio, I’ve made costumes for various
industry experience and I wasn’t
waiting for my first job to apply my “There’s so much blood used during the Netflix dramas and Amazon productions.
new skills. I also have to shout out to show, it was essential that items of clothing I’ve made items from kimonos to chef
the Music Law classes, from were thoroughly cleaned, then had to be uniforms, to period silk dresses for a
contracts to PRS to funding heavily broken down again to look like remake of The Secret Garden. After
applications, the education I received they’d never been washed, so I had to Macbeth, I made hazmat suits for Zara, an
has been completely invaluable.” consistently distress the costumes to make outdoor event with Walk the Plank and
Beth completed her final year them look like they belonged.” Mind the Gap.”
placement with Heavy Metal Records
Twenty-nine-year-old Roberta, who Roberta’s latest project is a return to
and first worked for Home of Metal in
comes from Liverpool, tells us: “Between musicals, as head of wardrobe for the new
2011. “If I could go back and tell
16-year-old Beth this is my job, she tours, I come back to the city and divide UK tour of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
wouldn’t believe it! There have been my time working at Fabrication studio, produced by Jason Donovan. “It’s the
so many ‘fan girl’ moments along where I do costume making for Mary Lamb biggest role I’ve undertaken, and I can’t
the way.” and my own design work. Since working at wait to get stuck in.”
6
The alumni network
Studying here offers you the opportunity to network from day one. A chance to meet like-
minded people at the start of their careers and then work and develop together throughout
your time here.
These connections and friendships often last long after you leave offering you a ready-made
pool of talent and support to help you throughout your career, whether that be forming a band
together or, hosting a day of one-act plays, as witnessed by Mark when he visited London to
see Six Plays, One Day at the Tristan Bates Theatre, The Actors Centre.
Mark’s big day out All together now
When Billie Van* arrived at LIPA in 2009, she’d never
met her fellow Norwegian Music students Jonas
Alaska** and Mikhael Paskalev***. In the ten years
since, they’ve regularly worked together and are
about to release their first album as a band.
Recording under the name Hollywood since April
2018, they’ve already released four singles. Billie,
who is from Asker and now based in Oslo, says:
“Getting to know Jonas and Mik at LIPA turned out
to be one of the best things that could have
happened to me. We started playing and hanging
out and have done ever since then, and Jonas and I
have a son.”
Since leaving us in 2011, all three pursued solo
careers, releasing albums under their own names
but continued to work together, helping out on each
other’s projects. Billie explains why they decided to
form a band. “Being a solo artist and ‘the boss’ can
be a bit lonely at times and scary too.
Stephen Smith and
“Forming a band gave us a new drive and writing
Matthew Bromwich with others is different and challenging in a good
way. I think we all needed that. Being a band, a
gang, made it easier to do all the things we wanted
There was a moment when I mental health and the misuse of to do, but didn’t dare do in our solo projects.”
emerged from Leicester Square tube drugs, blindfolding the audience, so Hollywood has a fourth LIPA graduate in their line-
station at two o’clock one February we could only listen. up, drummer Marius Simonsen (Music, 2005). The
Saturday afternoon, when I Paved with Gold and Ashes came band has got their first live dates over the summer
wondered: what I am doing here? By next, a powerful ensemble piece with with their debut album to follow. Billie, who’s 35-
near ten o’clock that night, I knew. Grace Cherry, Louise Courtney, Amy years-old, says: “I’m super excited and super
Actually, I knew before three struck, Leeson, Emma Kniebe and Julia nervous. I’m playing piano in the band and I’m
which was part way through To She Thurston (all Acting, 2018) who also practicing like crazy.
or Not to She co-written and had written the piece. “We’re finishing the album and rehearsing for the
performed by Emma Bentley (Acting, Before the last show, Poetry in festival at the same time. It’s a lot right now, but I’m
2014). I was convinced it was an Motion, at eight thirty (a delightful, looking forward to it.”
already published text, not an inimitable, rhyming show by Bethany
original work. Emma had also Fox (Acting, 2016) with Oliver Burkill
brilliantly networked with four others (Acting, 2016) in this two hander and
trained elsewhere. Django Holder (Sound Technology,
The next show was an hour later, 2016) directing and sound
so I found myself in a pub around designing), we watched a rather
the corner from the Actors Centre, harrowing Blasphemy, directed by
happily surrounded by four Jonah York starring Robyn Lovell,
graduates explaining what the Matthew Bromwich (all Acting, 2017)
reality of an acting life was like. and Katie Hamilton (Acting, 2018).
(I wondered, what with four breaks That was followed by a grippingly
ahead, how I was going to stay on energetic Berkoff double bill,
my feet.) Dog/Actor, mesmerizingly delivered
Backing up a bit: Matthew and directed by Stephen Smith.
Bromwich and Stephen Smith (both It was a landmark
Acting, 2017) had come up with the afternoon/evening, nothing less. We
idea of featuring six shows on one want, and will support, this to be a At LIPA:
day, with our graduates, in London. yearly event under Matthew and * Merete Pascual
Paul Daly (Acting, 2017) provided Stephen’s leadership. As a Founder, ** Jonas Aslaksen
the second show, The Story’s End, a I shall never forget this first outing. I *** Jean Skaaden
solo piece he performed about am proud and grateful to them both.
7
Florence fights for freedom
A recent government report included the estimate that there were
some 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK. It’s a shocking
statistic that offers a narrow window on a worldwide problem. Helping
those affected is a cause close to the heart of Florence McCudden,
an outreach caseworker with charity City Hearts.
Until recently, the 24-year-old supported survivors in South
Yorkshire. By helping to meet their material, physical and
psychological needs, she enabled them to move on to lead
independent, peaceful and fulfilling lives.
In May, Florence made the move to carry out the charity’s work
further afield, when she swapped the rain of Yorkshire for the blazing
sun of Africa. “I’m working on the Emerging Voices project, which is
an innovative research programme, using digital media and creative
arts, to address the issues of slavery in Ghana. The participants are
children and young people that City Hearts Africa supports. The
project aims to equip them with the knowledge needed to build
anti-slavery strategies. It also aims to measure the effectiveness of
the use of heritage sites, artefacts and modern narratives in order to become really passionate about working with them using various
challenge slavery as a severe human rights abuse.” skills, not just the creative arts, in order to help change their world and
Florence, from Ripon, started volunteering with City Hearts in society for the better and create some impact towards their recovery
Liverpool in the final year of her studies, working with victims as part of in whatever way.”
her final project before graduating from our Community Drama As well as giving the young people working with the project in
programme in 2016. She began working for the charity in Yorkshire in Ghana a voice, she is clear about the need to raise awareness in the
September 2017. UK: “It’s our public responsibility to help. There are some useful
“My training at LIPA helped me gain confidence to understand, resources such as the Human Trafficking Foundation, Antislavery.org
meet and work with the most vulnerable of people. I have since and the City Hearts website for more information.”
Ebony’s a top girl The sounds of Shakespeare
When Caryl Churchill wrote Top Girls in 1982, it reflected what it Growing up near Stratford-upon-Avon, Jake Smith had the Royal
meant to be a woman at the time and the rise of Thatcherism. Shakespeare Company (RSC) practically on his doorstep. Having been
Fast forward nearly 40 years and it’s been revived by the involved with the RSC since 2012, the Sound Technology (2016) graduate
National Theatre, with Ebony Jonelle* (FC Acting, 2015; Acting, is now based there as a
2018) among the cast. sound operator.
Ebony tells us: “A lot of people have spoken about the play’s “I did my BTEC in Music
relevance in regards to Brexit. Towards the end, there’s a lot of Technology at Stratford-
talk about class and people working for the individual. Despite it upon-Avon College and took
being set in the 80s, a lot of the conversations we’re having as a a job in the restaurant and
society today are similar.” bar at the theatre to find my
Twenty-four-year-old Ebony, who comes from Newmarket in feet. I got chatting to
Suffolk, plays the waitress in the opening scene and someone from the sound
understudies the roles of Angie, Kit and Shona. “It’s been a lot to department and mentioned I
was interested in pursuing
learn, but such a brilliant experience. With all the understudying,
live sound.” Jake ended up
I’m involved in every scene, allowing me to work in close contact
doing a four-week placement
with the vast majority of the cast and being able to really see the
there before coming to study
production as a whole.
here.
“We’re a cast of all women and we get on like a house on fire.
The 25-year-old continued
We all know we’re part of something very special. Eighteen to work there during summer
women taking a bow together every night on the Lyttelton stage breaks and decided it was
is very empowering.” definitely the path he wanted
During rehearsals for Top Girls, which has received five-star to follow: “Having had the
reviews, Caryl Churchill even paid a few visits. “It was invaluable opportunity to work on
to the cast and Lyndsey Turner - our genius director. She was projects in many disciplines Jake in the RSC’s Swan Theatre
very generous with as part of the Sound
sharing her initial Technology course, I realised, in my second year, that theatre sound was
intentions and allowing the what I really wanted to pursue. Being able to lean on the experience I’d
team to play with certain had at the RSC at that time, solidified the direction I wanted to take my
aspects of the text. career in.”
“I think it’s the first After graduation, Jake landed a fixed-term contract in the RSC’s sound
professional production, department, where he works with fellow Sound Technology graduate
where each character is Claire Windsor (2004). Since then, he’s worked on productions including
played by an individual, as Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol and the UK tour of Romeo and Juliet.
opposed to the cast being Last year, Jake went to Washington DC with Hamlet. He tells us: “It was
doubled and actors a fantastic experience, but also a challenge as the disciplines within
playing multiple roles. It’s theatre in the US do differ quite a lot to those in the UK.”
the way Caryl Churchill He is currently sound operator for The Provoked Wife (alongside 2016
intended the play to be.” TPT graduate Aimee Woods) and Venice Preserved. Later this year, he’ll
be part of the technical team bringing the anticipated adaptation of David
Ebony in rehearsal for Top Girls. * Ebony Chamberlain-King Walliams’ The Boy in the Dress to the stage, with music by Robbie
Photograph by Johan Persson at LIPA Williams and Guy Chambers (a LIPA Companion).
8
Snapshots
2015 Graduates Welcome to the
eighteenth edition of
The graduates featured
in this edition of
Snapshots studied one
of the following Higher
Snapshots, a series Education programmes
of alumni newsletter running in 2015:
supplements providing
BA (Hons) Acting
short profiles of
graduates from LIPA’s BA (Hons)
Community Drama
Higher Education
programmes, nearly BA (Hons) Dance
four years after they
BA (Hons) Music
graduated.
BA (Hons) Music,
Theatre and Entertainment
The 2016 graduate
Management
supplement will be
BA (Hons) Sound
issued with next
Technology
summer’s edition of
LIPA’s alumni newsletter. BA (Hons) Theatre and
Performance Design
Graduates will be
contacted in spring 2020, BA (Hons) Theatre and
Performance Technology
however, you can update
your profile at any time
by ringing Jan Buchanan
in alumni relations on
+44 (0)151 330 3261, by
emailing
alumni@lipa.ac.uk or by
writing to The Liverpool
Institute for Performing
Arts, Mount Street,
Liverpool L1 9HF, UK.
Full details of our current Higher Education programmes can be found at www.lipa.ac.uk If you graduated in 2015 and you’re not featured in this supplement then please do get in touch – we’d love to hear what you are up to. The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Mount Street, Liverpool L1 9HF, UK. Telephone +44(0) 151 330 3000
Enterprise news
Some 76 percent of those working in the creative and performing arts industries are self-
employed. That’s why the ability to create and manage your own work is a cornerstone of our
curriculum.
According to our records around 160 new businesses have been started by our graduates.
Here is one of the recent ones, alongside two of the more established enterprises.
Starting from scratch In 2005, Chris, who is from
Warrington, founded specialist
audio and lighting hire
When rehearsing at home with his band became too much for company dBS Solutions,
his family, drummer Adam Trevor had to find somewhere else to providing support and
practice. The solution became the catalyst for his own business. equipment to the
Adam (PMST, 2015) decided to build a rehearsal room in the entertainment, sports and
family garden. It was to be the start of Scratch Studio, Adam event industry. Chris says.
says: “When I was practising with my band, I realised there “Building your own business is
weren’t enough affordable recording opportunities. So, using the very much 50 percent doing
skills I developed while studying, I started to record the tracks the work and 50 percent
and master them myself. networking. Talking and helping
“Then I realised that I could offer this out to other bands and people find a solution to their
musicians.” problems, this is the bit I feel
Based in West Derby, Liverpool, Scratch Studio opened for makes all the difference.”
business in 2017. It offers an in-house service from start to finish: As well as being managing director at Warrington based dBS
from the initial recording, to taking photos of the session, mixing Solutions, Chris is also a successful sound designer. His credits
and mastering the tracks and printing the CDs. In 2018, Adam include: Legally Blonde, UK tour; Spamalot, UK, South Korea and
successfully applied for a grant from our Graduate Business Dubai and the premiere of We’ll Live and Die in These Towns at
Development Fund. “The money really enabled me to push on the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Later this year, dBS Solutions will be supplying equipment for
a full season of theatre for an 800-seater marquee, a first for the
company, with Chris sound designer for the two largest
productions. The company will also be supporting up to seven
Christmas shows, making 2019 one of their busiest years yet.
Seamless
A successful work placement can lead to employment and the
start of a career. But Management graduate Chris Meehan
(2006) can trace the start of his success to a placement that
Adam, left, with clients
Dave Robertson and
never happened. “My third-year
Damon C Scott from work placement fell through.
Storm Queen So, I convinced our lecturers to let
us start up our own business
with the business. I was able to put more investment into instead.”
marketing and upgrade my equipment.” The idea was to use technology
But it wasn’t just the money that helped. “The application to create an easier way for artists
process, including putting together a business case, helped me to engage with publishing and
to plan and develop strategies for the future.” once given the go-ahead, Chris
Scratch Studios continues to grow. It has recently started to worked with fellow Management
work on spoken word recordings and taken its equipment on the student and co-founder Phil
road to record bigger groups and choirs. Adam, who also Cooper (Management, 2006)
studied at Edge Hill University, says: “LIPA has helped me to devising a business plan for
understand that you need to take every opportunity available to Sentric Music Publishing.
you in this industry. After the placement ended,
“You also have to create opportunities for yourself and be they returned to LIPA and by the time Chris finished the course in
proactive.” May, he was ready to start full-time at Sentric. “It was seamless.”
Thirteen years on and Sentric looks after the music of over
Problem solver
150,000 songwriters representing over 1.3m songs. With offices
in the UK, Europe and the USA, it’s been nominated as Publisher
of the Year at the Music Week Awards five times and won two
Two years of freelancing was enough for Chris Bogg (TPT, 2003) BMI awards for Drake’s One Dance.
to spot a business opportunity. “After working for several different Chris believes as well as learning the practicalities needed to
hire companies, I realised that there was a gap in the local start a business, LIPA also gave him the belief to do so. “You
market for a rental company with the highest standards. create a business plan and are then given the chance to manage
“Companies existed in the corporate sector but in theatre, live that as a real project.
music and events the standards of equipment and staff were “That, and working on outside projects, gave you the
lower and seemed to lack attention to detail.” confidence to know that you could do it.”
9Hot City Horns backstage with
Ticket to ride
Paul McCartney and his band.
Paul first left, Kenji sixth left and
Mike first right. Photography:
MPL Communications/MJ Kim
“We started in the crowd and as we made Paul (trombone), Mike (trumpet) and third Mike and Paul first met Paul McCartney at
our way to the stage, Jon Bon Jovi winked at member Kenji Fenton (saxophone) were first their graduation ceremony, Mike says:
us and Chris Rock fist pumped us.” Paul approached about joining the Freshen Up “We’ve spoken with Paul a few times about it
Burton (Music, 2008), who along with fellow tour by Paul McCartney’s musical director and he thinks it’s great. We’ve even shown
Music graduate Mike Davis (2008), makes and keyboard player Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens. him our graduation ‘handshake’ pictures.”
up two-thirds of Hot City Horns, is recalling Paul Burton explains: “We worked with him a They believe their time here and what they
their first live performance on stage with Paul few years ago for a charity concert at the learnt played an important role in them
McCartney. “Then to get into position, we Royal Albert Hall with Paul Weller, Deep being asked to join him on tour. Paul says:
had to budge Meryl Streep out of the way.” Purple and Bruce Dickinson. “As was shown by Paul’s MD contacting us
The show was at Grand Central Station, “Then last year he made contact. We met a few years after working with him, an
New York last year as part of the publicity for a coffee and discussed how Paul was important lesson is that you never know how
campaign for Paul McCartney’s number one wanting to add brass to the gig for the one bit of work will affect your future. It’s so
album Egypt Station. Mike says: “Seeing the upcoming tour and it all happened from important to always give your all to anything
reaction of the crowd outside the station, there.” you do.
performing live with Paul for the first time The Freshen Up tour started in Canada in “LIPA was also a great platform to meet
and the show being streamed live on September last year and has so far visited like-minded people and we still regularly
YouTube is something we won’t forget.” Japan, Europe, South America and USA. work with people we met there.”
Kick-start for Jung dancer
‘That which we do not bring to consciousness, appears in our lives as feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, but she is thrilled to
fate.’ The quote, from Carl Jung, proved inspirational to Mathilde get this opportunity so soon: “I came out of LIPA with the tools to be able
Caeyers. It was the spark that led her to create Eksogen*, a to confidently jump into a professional career: a variety of techniques, a
contemporary dance project that has received Norwegian Arts Council good work ethic, versatility, social skills and the confidence in my
funding to the tune of £20,000. personal artistry. LIPA also showed me the process of creating large
Mathilde tells us: “Eksogen will be a contemporary dance performance scale stage productions on a professional level.”
with integrated live video design and electronic music. We are a team of And those other funding applications paid off - she also received two
three dancers (Intakt Dance), a musician, a lighting and video designer, a miscellaneous grants worth £8,000 to go to professional dance
producer and a stage designer. Eksogen aims to explore whether there is workshops around Europe.
a potential for violence in every human body. It will be an abstract
*Eksogen translates
interpretation of human consciousness through the philosophical lens of
as exogenous
Carl Jung.”
(having an external cause
The project was made possible, when our 2018 Dance graduate, who
or origin).
was born in Antwerp, but has lived most of her life in Tromsø, took part in
UREDD, a mentoring programme in the north of Norway. Aimed at young
artists at the start of their careers, it
sets out to boost personal growth,
while offering support in practical
skills such as budgeting and
marketing. Encouraged by her
mentor, Mathilde completed 15 funding
applications. She didn’t expect to be successful with any of them, so she
was delighted to receive the grant.
As part of the award, Intakt Dance and the team spent two weeks in a
dance residency with Dansearena Nord to start creating the show.
They were also allocated a producer to spend 12 months with them to
develop the work.
Rehearsals for Eksogen will start in August, with the premiere at a
Tromsø theatre on the 31st of the month.
Photograph by
Mathilde, 24, is now working hard on realising her creative vision. She Jens Kristian Nilsen
10Living in Quick, send in the clowns
the (magic) If you are looking for a quick-change artist,
Benjamin Stratton* is your man. In March, he
credits include Potted Potter, which
compresses the seven Harry Potter novels into
was one of just four actors bringing over 100 seventy minutes and The Complete Works of
moment roles to life in The 39 Steps at Lyric Theatre,
Belfast.
William Shakespeare (Abridged) Revised. It’s a
very specific genre of physical comedy that
“It’s all about living in the moment,” “I was one of the two clowns who cover a requires skills in clowning, movement and
for Ferne Collins (Community multitude of characters throughout the play. We improvisation.
Drama, 2015), that’s the essence of had to form a strong chemistry during Versatile Ben, who is from Oxford, also has
what she wants to achieve in her rehearsals to be a believable vaudevillian ambitions to write and direct. His play Once a
workshops for people with double act. My roles ranged from a music hall Coward was recently performed as a rehearsed
dementia. The two-hour sessions, compere to a sheriff to a villainous German reading at the Arts Theatre, West End.
part of Small Things Theatre professor to an extremely excitable old Scottish Ultimately, he would love to write and direct
Company’s Storybox project, are lady. We had quick changes, that had to take films.
delivered in care homes, libraries less than three seconds, before coming back When we caught up with the 30-year-old, he
and hospices. onstage in a different costume with a different was auditioning and spending time on his
She explains what her role as a accent. If you missed a costume change or a writing. He offers sage advice to worried actors
facilitator involves: “Each session run-around, the whole show was in trouble. looking for that elusive next role. “The
has a theme, for example, a day at “My final change was running off as the auditioning, the travelling to castings and the
the beach would involve us villain, throwing my costume at the amazing constant rejections are the WORK. That is your
dressing up, taking along flags and costume girls, putting on a Sherlock Holmes- JOB. When you get that one yes in ten noes,
other sensory objects. Along with style costume and running the entire length of then you can do what you were meant to do.
the participants, we then come up the theatre around the front of house to re-enter Social media is very deceptive, people post
with creative ideas for stories, in the audience in around 30 seconds.” about their successes, but not their failures.”
songs and poems. Some of the Ben (Acting, 2012) has become an expert at
people we work with are brilliant at playing multiple characters. His previous *Benjamin Watts at LIPA
improvisation, others might just
raise their head to see what’s going
Ben, left and the rest of the cast
on. We don’t do reminiscence
work, so there is no pressure on
anyone to try to remember
anything, not even their own
name.”
Encouraging those taking part to
just enjoy the present brings its
own magic moments. “We did a
session with a Hollywood theme
and, at the end of it, one of our
ladies stood up and gave a lovely
speech thanking everyone for
coming along to the premiere. Her
carer told us later how astonished
she was – the woman hadn’t
spoken for months.”
It’s the variety of working with
clients of all ages and from all
sectors of society that Ferne enjoys
most. She recently worked on a
theatre for democracy project for
looked-after young people and care
leavers in Oldham. Over twelve
weeks, they put together and
rehearsed a show about what they
wanted to do next with their lives,
culminating in a performance in
front of social workers and council
staff early this year. She says that
the ability to go out into the
community and create her own
work is crucial in her field and one
of the most important things that Welcome to the house of fun continued from page 1
she learnt from her time here.
This can include comedy sketches, songs, ourselves too seriously, which is important.”
Aside from her freelance raps, dances, storytelling, puppetry and make- One year into the job, Evie continues to have
projects, the busy 26-year-old also and-do demonstrations. Twenty-six-year-old Evie “the best time” at CBeebies and, looking ahead,
works six days a week as a director says she often relies on skills learnt at LIPA to hopes to continue as a presenter. “It’s actually
and workshop leader at a Footlights help her. “The improvisation classes we did have quite nice to add elements of your own
theatre school in Manchester and been really useful, especially when performing personality on screen, but of course you are a
delivers sessions at local schools. comedy sketches. We also learnt not to take heightened version of yourself.”
11You can also read
