THE MUSICAL

SOUVENIR BROCHURE
PRINCIPAL

FUNDER

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

On behalf of Belfast Operatic Company, may Iwelcomeyou to what promises
to be another spectacular production in this beautiful theatre, The Grand Opera
House, Belfast. We find ourselves here for the second time this season, hot
on the heels of what was another ground-breaking musical adaptation of A
Christmas Carol last November. When I became the chair of this company last
year, I never imagined I would be writing another programme foreword so soon
after the last!

presents...

JAMES HUISH
Chairman

This time we have taken on the challenge of one of Rodgers and Hammersteins
lesser known musicals Cinderella. Recently revived for Broadway and having
been nominated for a number of Tony awards, it was the perfect time to bring
this beautiful score to Belfast audiences, and we were delighted to be granted
performance rights while the show is still running on Broadway - a rarity for any
amateur company.
Originally written for Julie Andrews as a live television-theatre collaborated
broadcast, the musical has been revived time and time again, including a Disney
adaptation starring Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg and Bernadette Peters.
Now our very own Alice Johnston lives out her Cinderella dream on this stage.

Belfast Operatic Company are a group of friends and colleagues from all walks of life; brought together
by their love of theatre and music - and in a sense have become a family through their love of performing
together. Each individual on stage has contributed a lot of hard
work and dedication in a shorter than usual rehearsal schedule to
maintain a professional standard while balancing work and family
commitments.

A DIVINE MUSICAL COMEDY

TUE 14 - SAT 18
APRIL 2015
TH

PRINCIPAL

FUNDER

Box Office:
028 9024 1919 or
book online at
www.goh.co.uk

TH

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Glen Slater
Book by Cheri & Bill Steinkellner
Additional book material by
Douglas Carter Beane

An amateur production by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd. on behalf of MTI New York

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of

the Company for their time, energy and dedication to the show
and for making rehearsals fun and exciting. Special thanks too
are due to the huge support network which you dont see on
stage, from the Committee who have supported me this year,
to the various teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes
to make every aspect of the show reflect our Directors
vision. Thanks are also due to the Arts Council of Northern
Ireland, who without generous funding we would not have
been able to stage such a lavish production.
Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank
you, our audience, for your continuing support of
Belfast Operatic Company. I invite you to sit back,
relax and enjoy tonights performance; and if you
are interested in learning more about the company,
forthcoming shows and concerts, or how you can get
involved, please contact us via e-mail (secretary@
belfastoperatic.co.uk), follow us atfacebook.
com/belfastoperaticor you can Tweet us @
belfastoperatic or on Twitter.com/belfastoperatic We would love to hear from you!

A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT

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Lisnagarvey Youth Society

presents...

The

Wizard
Oz

28th - 30th August,

Island Hall, Lisburn

of

A GIANT OF A PANTOMIME

Tickets 10 - available from Box Office

www.laganvalleyisland.co.uk
028 9250 9254

Lisnagarvey bring their annual

pantomime back to the Island Hall this
year with Jack and the Beanstalk.
Saturday 6th - Saturday 13th
December 2014, Island Hall, Lisburn

THOMPSON STEELE
President

Welcome to Belfast Operatic Companys twenty-sixth production at The Grand

Opera House, Belfast. Many of you, just like me, may have been surprised to
learn that Rogers and Hammerstein II wrote a show entitled Cinderella. This
talented duo for a period of forty years dominated the Broadway stage with such
musicals as Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, The King and I,
and Carousel. During the past fifty four years the Belfast Operatic Company
has only performed one of their shows, Oklahoma. In the spring of 1994, the
company stage the show at The Grand Opera House and in the autumn of that
year it was our entry for the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera. We
have however, presented two concerts devoted entirely to their work, along with
The Studio Symphony Orchestra.

Rehearsals for Cinderella, commenced very shortly after the final curtain came down on A Christmas
Carol and since then our production team of Wilfie Pyper, Colin Scott, Anne Gillespie, Jennifer Rooney,
Timothy Bell, Carole McClure, Margaret Mehaffey and Clare Donnelly, have been extremely busy bringing
this show to fruition. So sit back and enjoy the finished article. Thank you for your continued and valued
support.

MUSICAL SYNOPSIS
The action takes place once upon a time in a kingdom far away.
ACT I
Prologue

Scene 1: The Village Square

The sweetest sounds
The Prince is giving a ball

ACT II

The Fairy Godmother, Cinderella and the Ensemble

Cinderella and Christopher
Lionel, the Stepfamily, Cinderella and the Villagers

Scene 2: The Stepmothers Manor House immediately following

In my own little corner

Scene 3: The Royal Parlour immediately following
Boys and Girls like you and me
Reprise: The sweetest sounds
Scene 4: The Manor House one week later
Reprise: In my own little corner

Entracte
Scene 1: The Royal Ballroom
Gavotte
Loneliness of Evening
The Cinderella Waltz
Ten Minutes ago

Cinderella
The King and Queen
Christopher and Cinderella

Scene 2: The Royal Gardens immediately following

Stepsisters Lament
Do I love you because youre beautiful?
Scene 3: Outside the Royal Palace immediately following
Reprise: Do I love you because youre beautiful?

Christopher, the Maidens and other Guests

Christopher
Christopher, Cinderella and the Guests
Christopher, Cinderella and the Company

Grace and Joy

Christopher and Cinderella

Christopher, King, Queen and Cinderella

Cinderella

Scene 5: The Pumpkin Patch Behind the Manor House immediately following
Fol-de-rol

The Fairy Godmother
Impossible

The Fairy Godmother and Cinderella
The Transformation

The Fairy Godmother and Cinderella
Its Possible Finale Act 1

Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Coachman and Footmen

Scene 4: The Manor House later that night

When youre driving through the moonlight

A lovely night
Reprise: A lovely night

Cinderella, the Stepmother, Grace and Joy

Cinderella, the Stepmother, Grace and Joy
Cinderella

Scene 5: Throughout the Kingdom the following day and night

The search

Lionel, Christopher and the Maidens
Scene 6: The Manor House the following morning
Scene 7: The Wedding Finale
There is music in you

The Fairy Godmother and the Company

DIGITAL : LITHO : LARGE FORMAT

PRINT SPECIALISTS

Belfast
Operatic
Company
gratefully acknowledge the
financial support of
Arts Council Northern Ireland

MacBook Pro

mediadesignandprint.com
B1.06 Portview Trade Centre,
310 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HE
T: 028 9045 9864, E: printing@mediadesignandprint.com

LESSANS RIDING
STABLES
A wide range of facilities and
lessons available for all levels from beginner to expert, contact
us to see what we do!

Lets Be Friends!
Support the Belfast Operatic Company by becoming our friend.
Your support is invaluable to the
Company which, in common with
other amateur operatic companies
in Northern Ireland have to raise
their own funds to stage the high
quality productions which we in BOC
have been performing in the Grand
Opera House for over 20 years.
The continuing support of our
Friends is an essential part of
the lifeblood of the Company.

Why become a friend?

Enjoy our annual Friends evening
Keep up to date with company activities
Priority booking for shows and concerts
How much does it cost?
Special introductory offer for 2014 of 15 per person OR
20 per couple

For further information, please contact our Friends Co-Ordinator on jmskerr@yahoo.co.uk or fill in the reverse of this flier and send by post to
Mrs Joy Kerr, 42 Ferris Bay Road, Islandmagee, BT40 3RT

126 Monlough Rd, Saintfield,

Ballynahinch BT24 7EU
028 9751 0141
www.lessansridingstables.com

www.belfastoperatic.org

@belfastoperatic

facebook.com/belfastoperatic

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

DIRECTOR
Wilfie Pyper

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Colin Scott

Director Wilfie Pyper is delighted to be working again with Belfast Operatic Company on this premier
production of A Christmas Carol. He has spent a lifetime in theatre and is regarded as one of
Northern Irelands leading musical theatre directors.

Colin Scott is probably one of the youngest Musical Directors on the amateur operatic scene in
Ireland. Since our Company was founded in 1960 it has always had a reputation for outstanding choral
singing and Colin has ensured that this fine quality has been well and truly maintained.

Wilfie has been resident director with Belfast Operatic Company for some 27 years. His catalogue
of productions for them at The Grand Opera House include Oklahoma, The Pirates Of Penzance
(Broadway and traditional), Show Boat, Brigadoon, The Mikado, Kiss Me Kate, Hello Dolly
[twice], Annie Get Your Gun, Calamity Jane, Fiddler on The Roof and Orpheus in the Underworld
Titanic the Musical (twice) and Beauty and the Beast. Included in these was the highly acclaimed Irish premiere of Titanic
the Musical. The show swept the boards at the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Association of Irish Music Societies,
gaining for Wilfie a Best Director Award. This organization recently recognized his work with another Best Director award for
his highly acclaimed Grand Opera House production of Beauty and the Beast. In 2012 he was awarded a further Best Director
award for his Centenary production of Titanic the Musical, a year which also saw a Best Director award for The Sound of
Music. This made him the first person in Northern Ireland to gain best director awards in both tiers of AIMS in the same year
and the first in Ireland for seventeen years.

In 2006 Colin took up the baton for the first time at a very prestigious concert the Company had been
asked to perform for the Northern Ireland Tourist Board at the old Harland & Wolff Drawing Office,
the exact spot where the Titanic was designed. The programme provided for their enjoyment was excerpts from Titanic The
Musical which had been a huge Broadway hit in 1995 and the Companys 2005 production. In late 2007 after the departure of
our M.D. , Colin stepped onto the rostrum.

Wilfie has had the pleasure of directing Rush Musical Society in God bless Archie Dean, Anything Goes and following a
Dublin run of Mac and Mabel he travelled with them on a tour to Sweden. For a number of years he has also directed the
Lisnagarvey Operatic and Dramatic Society in the Island Centre, Lisburn and productions there include Guys and Dolls,
Oklahoma, Me and My Girl, My Fair Lady, Calamity Jane, Carousel, Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, The Merry
Widow, Annie Get Your Gun and The Sound of Music. He was also delighted to direct the N.I. premier of Meet Me in St
Louis for the Fortwilliam Society at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.

Unfortunately Colins professional career came to a swift halt in 2000 when an innate serious eye problem manifested itself.
This brought him home to Belfast where he was accepted as a student nurse at Queens University, Belfast. After 3 years
study he qualified as a State Registered Nurse and now works at the Royal Victoria Hospital. The Company has been very
fortunate to be able to capitalise on what may have at first appeared to be a great misfortune for Colin. His family are thrilled
that all his highly promising musical talent has not been wasted but rather exposed to theatre goers and concert patrons.
Undoubtedly one of his greatest challenges with the Company was the musical programme for 2010. This was the year the
Company celebrated its 50th Birthday in the Grand Opera House and Ulster hall. Colin was delighted when BOC won the Best
Chorus at the AIMS Seminar for Beauty and the Beast, and also with the outstanding ovation received by the Company at the
Ulster Hall - and since, in the centenary production of Titanic The Musical.

As well as being head of drama at the Belfast School of Performing Arts, Wilfie directs for schools throughout the province
including St Marys College, Wellington College, Stranmillis PS, Sullivan Upper and this year makes his debut with Belfast High
Schools production of Little Shop of Horrors.
This season he has had the pleasure of already directing Sound of Music, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmads carol, Me and My
girl and in June he has productions of Beauty and the Best and Bugsy Malone.
Wilfie is regularly in demand as a performer, adjudicator and compere. In 2009 he received a Best Male Performer nomination
in the multi award winning Dublin based Festival Production Companys Gondoliers at the prestigious international Gilbert
and Sullivan festival in Buxton.

Since his primary school days he has perfected his musical education with a particular aptitude for playing brass instruments.
He was fortunate to attend a high school where Jacqui Vance, Head of Music was an expert repetateur and musical director.
This sowed a seed which caused him to pursue a career as a professional musician. He was enabled to do this when he won
a scholarship to Trinity College, London. Throughout his time at college he worked extensively as a performer with All Souls
Symphony Orchestra, Paddington Brass Ensemble, London Festival Orchestra and Spittlefield Opera House.

He has also recently founded the Belfast Pops Orchestra, a charitable orchestra made of professional musicians, who
performed with the Belfast Operatic Company last year in their Christmas Concert in the Ulster Hall, and is looking forward to
a repeat performance this year, once again at the Ulster Hall.

CHOREOGRAPHER
Jennifer Rooney
Jennifer Rooneyis currently the
Resident Movement Director on
the musical 'Once' in London. She
trained at the Northern School of
Contemporary Dance and began her
career working for The Walt Disney
Company (US) as a performer before
building a career as a choreographer
in Ireland.
Event credits include, The Special Olympics Opening
Ceremony (Croke Park Dublin), Children in Need Live
(BBCNI), Belfast Fashion Week 2009, Toccata (Tour of
India and Africa), Maritime Festival (City Hall Belfast),
Waterloo Ball (Belfast). Theatre credits include; Teenage
Kicks(Millennium Forum, Derry), 4 Quartets(Maiden
Voyage Dance Company),Sweet Charity, The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Break, Hatch(MAC
Belfast),Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver! (Stranmillis
College Theatre),Oklahoma, The Pirates of Penzance,
Carousel, Anything Goes(The Ardowen Theatre,
Enniskillen),Nativity (Riverside Theatre, Coleraine),The
Mikado(Island Hall, Lisburn andBuxton Gilbert & Sullivan
Festival 2013)

ASSISTANT
CHOREOGRAPHER
Timothy Bell
Timothy is delighted to have been
asked to join Belfast Operatic
Companys production team for
Cinderella and he has had a
wonderful time working alongside
Jennifer Rooney, Wilfie and Colin.
Tim's stage work began at the age
of 4 with Mc Masters Stage School, Bangor, with whom
he now teaches and choreographs. Over the years he has
performed and choreographed with numerous societies and
youth theatres in the north and workshops in Dublin with
Festival Productions. Timothy won the Association of Irish
Musical Societies Best Supporting Male Award in 2006 for
his role as Will Parker in Oklahoma. He has worked with
the National Youth Theatre, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury,
Churchill Theatre Bromley and Qdos productions. Timothy
was assistant choreographer for the Grand Opera House
youth productions of Bugsy Malone, Honk!, Annie and will
assist on this years production of Guys and Dolls.

ACCOMPANIST
Anne Gillespie
Anne began playing the piano at the age of six under the tutelage of Phyllis Boyd in her home town
of Ballycastle. She continued her musical studies at Ballycastle High School and was privileged
to also study under Sister Colista at Cross and Passion College. Anne later went on to study
Music and Education at Stranmillis College, Belfast where she completed her Grades in pianoforte
from Trinity College, London and also studied for the performance diploma L.T.C.L. with Beatrice
McGimpsey.
Upon Graduation Anne was appointed music specialist at Mossgrove Primary School, well noted for
its musical productions, which she enjoys directing and accompanying.
She is a mother of two, and took a long break from professional playing whilst her daughters
Laura and Gemma were growing up. Having raised her family, Anne returned to work as a
professional accompanist in 2009. Her first major show was Hello, Dolly! and since then Anne
has worked extensively as accompanist with both company and non-company members. She is also
accompanist for Belfast School of Performing Arts. Anne has thoroughly enjoyed working with
the company on Cinderella and is delighted to be taking part in this spectacular show with the
company.

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Carole McClure
Carole is delighted to have been invited to work with Belfast Operatic Company for this
production of Cinderella the Musical and to have re-established her working relationship with
both Wilfie Pyper and Colin Scott.
Caroles involvement with theatre began as a teenager when she first joined her church Drama
Group and over the years has performed, choreographed, accompanied and directed. Along with
over 30 years teaching experience requiring excellent organisational and personable skills, Carole
brings a depth of experience to her position through her involvement with school productions as
both Director and Musical Director.
Carole was also a member of Belfast Operatic from 1996 to 2011 performing in the chorus and
working as Production Manager from 2000.
Recently Carole has been involved in the production of a few Strictly Come Dancing charity
events and enjoyed working with Wilfie as a judge and a compere.
Carole is the Head of a peripatetic service for the SEELB supporting pupils with Specific
Learning Difficulties in west and south County Down and manages a large staff who support
over 350 pupils.
Carole has enjoyed working with Choreographers Jennifer Rooney and Tim Bell, both new to
Belfast Operatic and is looking forward to renewing her working relationship with the Opera
House Technical Team and the Companys Technical Team again. She hopes that her role has
helped to make all elements of the show run smoothly and would like to thank the Production
Team and cast members for their very valued support.

Tuesday 30 September Saturday 4 October

Box Office: 028 9024 1919
Book Online: www.goh.co.uk
Based on the Dickens novel
it will engage you with its pathos and drama
while delighting you with its outstanding musical numbers
Food, Glorious Food, Id Do Anything, Where Is Love?,
Consider Yourself , As Long As He Needs Me, Who Will Buy,
Oom-Pah-Pah and Reviewing The Situation
are just some of the Musical Theatre classics
Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart
Produced for the Broadway stage by David Merrick and Donald Albery

THE CAST
Cinderella
Fairy Godmother
Christopher
Lionel
Stepmother
Joy
Grace
Queen Constantina
King Maximilian
Baker
Butcher
Cheese Seller
Cloth Merchant
Young Cinderella

Alice Johnston
Elizabeth Boyd
Samuel Moore
Jamie Clements
Laura Kerr
Kirsten Magee
Rachel Brown
Shirley Adair
Ian McMaster
Joff Manning
Hall Graham
Martin Bannon
Keith Pyper
Charlotte Houston

4 Village Ladies
Karen Glass, Sarah Morrow,
Megan Pentland, Diane Richardson
3 Village Sisters
Ellen Mawhinney, Amy Chambers, Holly Topping
Footmen
Martin Bannon, Sean Roe, Hall Graham,
David Young, Keith Pyper, Joff Manning

Dancers
Amy Chambers, Jane Clarke, Hannah McVeigh,
Ellen Mawhinney, Gemma Quigley, Lauren Russell,
Shane Berger, Feildhim Brennan, Adam McIlveen,
Joff Manning, Ashton Montgomery, Ciaran Conlon
Female Chorus
Sandra Benson, Lauren Callender, Emma Dawson,
Karen Glass, Cathy Hewitt, Wendi Kane, Joy Kerr,
Seanna Kerr, Heather McCloskey, Claire McRoberts,
Tina McVeigh Heather Miller, Sarah Morrow,
Aisling Owens, Alana Patterson, Megan Pentland,
Diane Richardson, Hazel Robinson, Marion Taylor,
Taylor Willis
Male Chorus
Martin Bannon, Jackie Brown, Hall Graham,
Mark Leeman, Stephen McGurk, David Mehaffey,
Keith Pyper, Gary Redpath, Sean Roe,
David Rutherford, Ross White, David Young
Children - (Belfast School of Performing Arts)
Lewis Atcheson, Gemma Carlisle, Charlotte
Houston, Eoin Kelly, Lucia McLaughlin, Michael
Nevin, Holly Topping, Erin Tumilson, Georgia Wells

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Director
Musical Director
Choreographer
Asst. Choreographer
Production Manager
Stage Manager
Accompanist
Set Design
Lighting Design

Wilfie Pyper
Colin Scott
Jennifer Rooney
Timothy Bell
Carole McClure
Clare Donnelly
Anne Gillespie
Scenic Projects Ltd
Alistair Kerr,
Ack Productions
Sound Design Jody Trehy
Studio 42 Sound, Dublin

Mic Fitting
James Huish, Naomi Liberante, Thomas Hamilton,
Jolene & Philippa OHara
Costumes That Looks Good
Wardrobe Mistress Margaret Mehaffey
Wardrobe Team
Catherine Harvey, Evelyn Stainer, Mary Hewitt,
Maree Robinson, June Kirkpatrick, Diane Nevin,
Katherine Nevin, Anne Preston, Maureen Steele
Properties Mistress Miriam McDermott
Properties Team
Dot Fee, Brian Moore, Sarah Leeman,
Valerie Greenlees
Make-Up Artiste
Asst. Make-Up Artiste
Wigs
Wig Mistress
Assisted by

Shelly Blair
Aisling Toner
Derek Easton Wigs
Sandra Byrne
Siobhan Scullion

Stage Crew
Colin McRoberts, Jonathan McRoberts, Jennie
McRoberts, Chris Thompson, Andy McKnight,
Julie Kane, Francine Hughes, Martin Bradley, Mal
Hannah, Vijay Sharma, Scott McClure, Kathryn
Brooker, Eric McClure, Graeme Hassard,
James Huish
Childrens Chaperones
Melissa Patton, Carol Sykes, Martine Vitty,
Nicole Smyth, Debbie Faulkner, Karen Topping
Programme Design Gary Redpath
Editorial Karen Glass
Photography Davy Scott Photography
Marketing Team
Gary Redpath, Elizabeth Boyd, Debbie West, Cathy
Hewitt, Ian McMaster, Iain Mercer, Anne Morrow,
Wendi Kane
Front of House
Jennie McRoberts, Anne Morrow, Susan Taylor,
Anne Stevenson, Debbie West, Margaret McCrory,
Linda Hopley, Richard Couser, David Robinson,
Natalie Cooke
Pony supplied by
Pony Handler
Rats supplied by
Special FX by

Lessans Riding Stables

Kathryn Brooker
Stacie Craig
ACK Productions

THE CAST
CINDERELLA
Alice Johnston
I have become avidly involved in the life
of the Belfast Operatic Company and have
appeared on the Grand Opera House Stage
in several principal roles including Cupid,
Orpheus in the Underworld, Minnie Fay,
Hello Dolly, Belle in the companys 50th
Anniversary performance of the Disney
classic Beauty and the Beast, Calamity,
Calamity Jane, Caroline Neville in the
Centenary production of Titanic: The
Musical and The Ghost of Christmas
Past, A Christmas Carol.
During the week I am kept very busy working as a
Primary 2 teacher in Rosetta Primary school, which I
totally adore! Out of the classroom, and off stage,
I actively participate in childrens work within my
church the Salvation Army on the Cregagh
Road, where I lead the childrens choir, help
with Sunday school and assist with musical
productions, dance and drama activities
within the childrens church. Im so excited
to get the opportunity to play the role of
another Disney princess after playing Belle
in BOCs production of Beauty and the
Beast at the Grand Opera House in April
2010. I cannot wait to wear a beautiful
ball gown, dance with a prince and have
my very own pair of glass slippers! It
will be wonderful to meet lots of little
girls whose dream is to be a Disney
princess, letting them know that they
too could one day have their wish
granted like I have! Getting to sing a
Rodgers and Hammerstein score is
also a real treat in itself.

PRINCE CHRISTOPHER
Samuel Moore
Samuel is 21 and hails from Newtownabbey, and is
totally delighted to be playing Prince Christopher
in this evenings performance. Samuel is now
appearing in his 3rd show for Belfast Operatic
Company, having recently appeared as Marley in
Belfast Operatic Companys seasonal spectacular
A Christmas Carol and Charles Clarke in the
companys award-winning production of Titanic:
The Musical.
Alongside performing with BOC, Samuel is also a founding member and
keen advocate of Kandu Theatre, an ambitious group of young people
passionately dedicated to delivering high quality entertainment to
Belfast and beyond.
Samuel loves music in general and also plays the guitar
and bagpipes; in 2011 he was won the World Pipe Band
Championships with Seven Towers Pipe Band. When not
on stage Samuel works for PwC as a research developer
and is also currently studying for a BSc in Computing
Systems. Samuel would like to thank his family
for their continued support throughout all his
endeavours, without whom most of what he does
would be impossible!

FAIRY GODMOTHER
Elizabeth Ross
Elizabeth joined Belfast Operatic Company in 1983 and
has played many leading roles. Favourite appearances in
the Grand Opera House include Kate in Kiss Me Kate,
The title role in The Merry Widow, Eurydice in Orpheus
in the Underworld, Katie Brown in Calamity Jane, and
most of the Gilbert and Sullivan heroines.
Apart from her involvement with BOC, Elizabeth is in demand as
soloist with many of the provinces choral societies, with performances
taking her all over Ireland. She appeared with the late James Ellis on
Ulster Television, has broadcast often for both BBC and Downtown
Radio and has joined the Ulster Orchestra and the Belfast Pops
Orchestra as soloist in their concerts. In 2010 Elizabeth appeared as
soloist in John Rutters Magnificat in Belfasts Waterfront Theatre,
under the baton of the composer himself.
In October 2008 Elizabeth presented her own one-woman show to
sell out audiences next door in The Baby Grand. Following universal
acclaim she returned there in October 2010 and plans are being
finalised to bring an enhanced show to a larger audience in the Autumn
of 2014.

LIONEL
Jamie Clements
Since delivering an acclaimed debut as the impish
Artful Dodger in St Agnes Oliver! at the tender age
of 11, Jamie has grown quite familiar with the famous
boards of the Grand Opera House stage. As a member
of Belfast Operatic Company, he has donned the guise
of a courtly Harold Bride in Titanic: The Musical
and more recently, a love-struck Young Scrooge in A
Christmas Carol.
Through his medical education, Jamie has developed
a proclivity for a very different type of theatre,
winning the RCSEd National Students Surgical
Skills Competition 2012/2013, in addition to
such accolades as the Milroy Medal for
Outstanding Performance in Physiology
and Biochemistry, the Hayley Clarke
Memorial Medal in Haematology and the
RVH Malcolm Exhibition Prize in Medicine.
This year, he has undertaken an intercalated
Masters Degree in Research and is relishing the
challenges of translational cancer medicine.
Jamie is an avid sportsman and the current captain of
Invictus Swimming Club. He placed 15th in Ireland in the
2014 CrossFit Open and is tentatively balancing his musical
and academic commitments with preparations for the 2014
Titanic Games, where he will be representing an emergent
Belfast-based box, CrossFit Castrum.

JOY
Rachel Brown
GRACE
Kirsten Magee

Kirsten joined the company in 2008 after relocating

here from her native Edinburgh. During her time
in Edinburgh she performed regularly in the Kings
Theatre, taking the roles of Dorothy in The Wizard
of Oz and Tuptim in The King and I.
Her first show with Belfast Operatic Company was
Beauty and the Beast where she appeared as a
Silly Girl alongside her stage sister Rachel! She
then played Katie Brown in Calamity Jane before
taking some time out to have 2 babies.
In real life Kirsten is a commercial litigator
with a leading Belfast law firm and is Head of
Dance at Belfast School of Performing Arts. She
choreographed the companys 50th anniversary
moved Ulster Hall concert and acted as Dance
Captain for Cinderella. Kirsten is delighted to make
her return to the Opera House stage as wicked
stepsister Grace.

Rachel joined Belfast Operatic Company in

2007 for Orpheus in the Underworld. She
has played Ermengarde in Hello Dolly and
a silly girl in Beauty and the Beast. Rachel
is really enjoying the experience of playing
the part of Joy, one the ugly sisters in
Cinderella. This is her biggest role to date
with BOC and she thinks it is great to have
the opportunity to work with such talented
people.
Rachel has been acting since the age of five and has been a
member of the Belvoir Players since childhood. For the past seven
years she has also been teaching speech and drama and musical
theatre to all ages. Rachel is a psychology graduate from Queens
University and now works for the South Eastern Health and Social
Care Trust as a support worker for adults with disabilities. Rachel
loves making use of her musical and dramatic skills as part of her
work. As excited as Rachel is about performing in Cinderella this
week, it doesnt come close to her joy to be getting married in
August!

STEP MOTHER
Laura Kerr
Laura is delighted to be back at The Grand Opera House, Belfast, playing the role of the Wicked
Stepmother in Belfast Operatic Companys production of Cinderella. A sharp contrast to her recent
portrayal of Penny, the Fairy Godmothers apprentice in the Lambeg Players Pantomime Cinderella at
Lisburns Island Centre in January!
A member of BOC for several years, Lauras other roles include Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly, Alice Beanne in Titanic: The Musical,
Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Adelaide Adams in Calamity Jane and Mrs Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol. Earlier this
year, Laura reprised the role of Miss Hannigan in Annie at The National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Laura is a Primary School Teacher and next week directs her school show, Wizard of Oz in Lisburns Island Centre. Following
this, Laura is straight into rehearsals for Sam Crees 3 act play, Separate Beds, playing Ivy, the house maid, with the Lambeg
Players. Laura will be part of the production team for the Grand Opera House summer theatre project this year, Guys and
Dolls.

QUEEN CONSTANTINA
Shirley Adair

Shirley, a teacher from Larne, caught the acting bug

while attending Carrickfergus Grammar School, playing
the role of Katie Brown in Calamity Jane. She went on
to study English and Theatre Studies at University of
Ulster Coleraine appearing in various productions at
The Riverside Theatre including The Crucible and an
abridged version of The Hobbit. After leaving university,
she gained great experience with the New Irish Choir and
Orchestra and during a four year stint with Castleward
Opera she played minor roles in Madame Butterfly, The
Marriage of Figaro and Martha.
Shirley joined Belfast Operatic in 2001 and made her
principal debut in 2005 playing Kate Murphy in the Irish
premiere of Titanic: The Musical. She has since enjoyed
playing various minor roles in the company productions
including most recently Mother Scrooge in A Christmas
Carol and performs as a concert soloist. Shirley is looking
forward to playing the role of Queen Constantina who, for
all her histrionics, truly loves her family and wants only
the best for her son, the charming Prince Christopher.

KING MAXIMILLIAN
Ian McMaster
Ian joined BOC in 2007 after returning from working overseas for 2 years. Musical theatre was a
new departure for him having originally trained in voice, brass (orchestral and brass bands) and
piano. Combining this with a love of amateur dramatics after studying drama and music at University
it seemed the obvious outlet. He loves being part of Belfast Operatic Company and always looks
forward to the next show or concert where he has had opportunities to perform some solos and
duets.
As for casting and show roles he says it
seems as though he has progressed (or
been promoted?) having come from being
Trolley Pusher Number 2 in Hello Dolly to
a Knife in Beauty and the Beast to Bald
Man in Calamity Jane and now this, his
first Principal role!! He was also part of last
years very successful show A Christmas
Carol playing Mr Smythe and an Undertaker
and a Drunk. Apart from performing with
BOC Ian has also served on the committee
and spent a short time as the company
treasurer.
When not at rehearsals or meetings Ian is
Head of Learning & Development for BRC
Partnership an international training and
management company based in Northern
Ireland which means lots of variety and
working with many different people and
organisations and at all levels. He has also
recently launched SingergyNI which is a
music based experience aimed at employees
and organisations for team building and
motivation.

THE ORCHESTRA

Cinderella The Musical

featuring...
The children of the Belfast School of Performing Arts

SUMMER YOUTH PROJECT

Open to all aged 6 - 16 years!

FEAR
July
2014

2 week Youth Project finishing with three

performances in The Mac, Belfast. Auditions
for lead roles will take place on the first day!

e-mail info@thebspa.co.uk
for further info or to register!

THE HEAT
IS ON IN
SAIGON

AMERICAN
DREAM

BUI
DOI

Wed 27th - Sat 30th August 2014

The Mac, Belfast
Box Office - 028 9023 5053 or
book online - www.themaclive.co.uk

Directed by JAMES HUISH. Original Stage Production by CAMERON MACKINTOSH

Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHNBERG, Lyrics by RICHARD MALTBY JR & ALAIN BOUBLIL
School Edition specially adapted & licensed by JOSEF WEINBERGER LTD on behalf of MTI and CAMERON MACKINTOSH

Leader Dervlagh Cooper

Violin 1 Alys Jackson
Violin 2 Kathleen Gillespie
Cathy Magee Gough
Hayley Howe
Viola David Campbell
Joel Lowry
Cello David McCann
Kerry Bryson
Bass Martina Masterson
Flute/Piccolo Richard Douglas
Clarinet Gillian McCutcheon
David Mayes
Oboe/Cor Anglais Paul McCrisken
Bassoon Patrick McEarlean
Trumpet Al Wallace
Phillip Ferguson
Horns Charlie Doherty
Dominic McHugh
Laura Salt
Trombone Jimmy Kitchen
Timpani Colin Place
Drums Brian Rice
Keyboard Anne Gillespie
Conductor Colin Scott

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

COMMITTEE

Belfast Operatic Company gratefully

acknowledges the support of the following -

President
Chairman
Vice-chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Friends Secretary

Belvoir Players
Coastways Removal
Davy Scott - Photography
Media Design and Print
Gary Redpath - Programme Design
The Staff of the Grand Opera House
June from That Looks Good
Wellington College Music Department
Sullivan Upper Music Department
Nikki Devlin & the Belfast City Council

Thompson Steele
James Huish
Richard Couser
Tina McVeigh
Liz Boyd
Joy Kerr

Committee Members
Linda Hopley, Gary Redpath, Keith Pyper, Iain
Mercer, Hall Graham, Jennie McRoberts
Company Auditor

Hilary Morrow

AIMS Reps
Gary Redpath, Maureen Steele, Thompson Steele
Librarian - David Young & Diane Richardson

Belfast Operatic Company presents...

Musical Director
Colin Scott
Orchestra led by
Stephen Cullen

g
fe at u r i n
Belfast

pops

tra

Orches

Get your programme signed by Cinderella and Prince Christopher after the show!

December 6th 2014

The Ulster Hall, Belfast
Box Office: 028 9033 4455 or
Book Online at www.waterfront.co.uk
Tickets cost 15, show starts 7.30pm

designed by www.navigatorblue.com

St. Itas Primary School, 4 Alderwood Hill, Belfast, BT8 6YY

Monday 30th June-Friday 4th July 2014 8:30am-5:00pm
Junior programme P.1 P.3
Senior programme P.4 P.7

Hon. Patron James Nesbitt

fully qualifie
list
ecia
d sp

a
te
er
ch
s

Classes include art, mime, poetry,

improvisation, hip hop and drama.
Have fun and develop your
creative side!

For information contact Mrs. Anne Carson 0771 0618289

or mrsc.youthlyric@btinternet.com
www.youthlyric.co.uk