Hugh Casterton has worked in most theatres thoughout East Midlands both as a performer and conductor. Hugh has directed the majority of his productions over the last 30 years for companys such as Leicester Amateur Operatic Society and Newark Amateur Operatic Society, also many with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society. He is head of Music at Thomas Magnus School, Newark and director of the Magnus Swing Band which has toured the continant.

Bob Castle

Colin Cook started at the age of 14 with the YMCA drama group and went on to enjoy semi-professional work in his 20s as a Dinner Cabaret performer. The lead role in the 1968 YMCA production of ‘Me and my Girl’ was his first taste of musicals. He has performed many times with the Leicester Drama Society at the Little Theatre, also Curley (Oklahoma) at the DeMontfort Hall with Leicester Amateur Operatic Society. Subsequent shows with LAOS include Professor Higgins (My Fair Lady), Able Frank (State Fair) and Andrew Carnes (Oklahoma). He has played onstage with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society in the roles of Madame Lucy (Irene) and Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls). Colin has directed shows such as ‘South Pacific’ and with KPAOS directed ‘Music Man’.

David Cound commenced his musical career at the tender age of 9 as a Chorister at Winchester College Choir School. He subsequently gained a wide reputation as a tenor soloist in Oratorio all over the Midlands and sang for many years in opera, operetta and musicals. He subsequently took up conducting and studied under Neville Dilkes. He has now conducted over 70 musical productions from ‘Sullivan’ to ‘Sondheim’ and from ‘Henneker’ to ‘Herman’, including 5 award winning productions at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera in Ireland. David was a Musical Director at the NODA Operatic Summer School from 1984 to 1997 also the Ripon Operatic Summer School.

Nisha Patel has been a member of KPAOS for many years. During this time she has performed in a number of shows inc. ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’, ‘Copacbana’ and ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. She is also a member of LAOS having performed in ‘Sweet Charity’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and took the role of Dance Captain in ‘Summer Holiday’. She has been teaching dance since the age of 16 and runs numerous dance classes for Oadby & Wigston Borough Council. She also teaches after school dance clubs for various schools across Leicestershire.

Greg Pichery Greg trained at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts graduating in 1989. He worked as a professional dancer, singer and actor for 18 years in musical theatre in the West End, on national tours and around the world. His performing credits include: Phil Dolan II in "On Your Toes", Smee in "Peter Pan", Mr Sowerberry in Oliver! ", Roscoe Dexter in "Singin' in the Rain", Chino in "West Side Story", Uncle Henry in "The Wizard of Oz", Harry the Horse in "Guys and Dolls" , Dwarf in "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe ", "The Sound of Mu sic" & "Calamity Jane", all for director Paul Kerryson at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre. Other performing credits include: Phil Dolan II in " On Your Toes" (Royal Festival Hall & 2004 Japanese Tour), Swing and Dance Captain on "Peter Pan -A Musical Adventure" (Royal Festival Hall). Dermah & Etienne in "La Cage Aux Folies" 2002 UK Tour. Alphonse Dubois in "Divorce me, Darling!" (Chichester Festival Theatre) which won the 1997 TMA award for Best Musical. "42nd Street " (Dominion Theatre, London, Original UK Touring Production & 1997 UK Tour). Rattlesnake in "Calamity Jane" (Sadler's Wells Theatre&1996UKTour). "GuysandDolls "(FestivalTheatre, Edinburgh). "MyOneandOnlyin Concert" (London Palladium). "Mother Goose" (Theatre Royal, York). "Cinderella" (Cliffs Pavilion, Southend). "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (PalaceTheatre, Manchester & Theatre Royal, Nottingham). "Aladdin" Civic Hall, Camberley. He can also be heard on TER recordings of "West Side Story" & "Divorce Me, Darling!" Greg's most recent production credits include: Associate choreographer to Adam Cooper on the World Premiere of "Simply Cinderella" which was the first production to be presented at Curve, Leicester as well as "On Your Toes" (Leicester Haymarket, Royal Festival Hall, London & 2004 Japanese Tour), "Singin' in the Rain" (Sadler's Wells, London) and "Garbo the Musical" (Oscars Theatre, Stockholm). Greg was also Assistant choreographer on "Follies" (Royal Festival Hall, London). He directed and choreographed "Little Shop of Horrors " and the sell-out production of " High School Musical " at the Cresset Theatre, Peterborough. He has recently choreographed "Thoroughly Modern Millie" for LCPA and "The Boy Friend" for Stella Mann College, Bedford. Greg has also choreographed pantomimes at The Cresset Theatre, Peterborough and the Peepul Centre, Leicester. Other directing credits include: "Sweet Charity" (Little Theatre, Leicester), the sell out production of "The Full Monty"(Curve, Leicester), "Grease" & "Me and My Girl" for Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Centre in New York, USA. Greg is currently Artistic Director at Leicester College of Performing Arts (www.lcpa.co.uk), where he teaches Mu sical Theatre, Jazz Technique and Double Work. .

Tony Rifugiato has been active on the Leicestershire Music Scene since his school days. He learnt to play cornet at Melton Borough Band and by the time he was 16 held the position of principle cornet. He then played cornet, trumpet and percussion for various bands, orchestras and theatre productions around the Leicester area. In 1983 he founded Mel-Tone, Meltons music shop. 1991 saw the formation of Melton Orchestra, which was Tonys first foray into the world of conducting. Having played in so many theatre productions, it was only a matter of time before he took up the baton in the pit. His first production as MD was ‘The Pajama Game’ in 1992 for Melton Mowbray Amateur Operatic Society. In 1993 Tony founded his own theatre company, The Enthusiastic Theatre Company, performing rock-based musicals such as Fame, Little Shop Of Horrors and Return to the Forbidden Planet. ETC continues to run alongside his other commitments with other societies such as Knighton Park, Wigston, Loughborough and Melton. Tony plays the drums and sings in a four piece band and fronts a recently formed 20 piece big band playing Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald hits. In his spare time he goes to sleep!

Mary Spencer has a wide experience of stage work and has taken leads in over 30 musical shows, pantomimes and in opera. She is a professional singer, has broadcast on radio and appeared in various television productions. Mary has directed for Leicester Amateur Operatic Society since 1984, also Market Harborough and Newark Palace Theatre. Mary produced many of Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Societys earlier shows.

Alice Tarry Alice trained at the Italia Conti Acadamy. She began her theatrical career appearing in various productions at the Haymarket Theatre including ‘Joseph’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘The Miracle Worker’. Her West End appearances include ‘Annie’ and ‘42nd Street’ with Catherine Zeta Jones. She toured with the Danny La Rue company and Hello Dolly UK Tour, she also assisted on Tommy Steel’s tour of ‘Singing in the Rain’.

Christine Tarry has been involved in amateur theatre for more years, she says, than she really cares to recall. Her first venture onto the stage was with Sunday school concerts at a very early age. After leaving school and, as she thought, reaching maturity, she appeared with the Syston Operatic Society in their production of ‘The Gondoliers’ by Gilbert and Sullivan. She has also taken part in productions with King Richards Road, Knighton Park and the Leicester Amateur Operatic Society. It was also with the Syston group that she was given the opportunity to embark upon direction. Since then she has also directed at Melton, Market Harborough and of course several years with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society. She has enjoyed the challenge of performing in many principle roles including Eliza (My Fair Lady), Dolly Levi (Hello Dolly), Kate (Kiss me Kate) and Golde (Fiddler on the Roof).

Rebecca Wilkinson

Sarah Woodcock-Tarry has been dancing from the age of 3, performing in many productions with her dancing school, pantomimes with Syston Operatic Society and at the Haymarket Theatre. She has choreographed foe Newark, Wigston and Leicester companies. Sarah has choreographed with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society since 1993, which has given her the opportunity to work on productions with many different styles!

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LATEST NOVELS BY A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY

WHITE NOISE IS HEAVENLY BLUE

This gripping tale of the continual fight between good and evil is now on general sale worldwide

The author writes science fiction under the name of Tabbie Browne and says that is all you need to know!

The sequel ‘The Spiral’ is also Available through all leading bookstores

...Dare you read it alone?

at Amazon where it has already received two 5 star reviews

and at UKBookland.co.uk

‘Unforgivable Error’

is the latest book from the pen of local author Tabbie Browne

THE SECRET IS OUT! With now having loyal readers amongst members of the society, we have discovered the identity of Tabbie Browne.

She is none other than Frances Harris who celebrates ten years with Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society this year. Her books are available from all leading booksellers, on line at Amazon, UKBookland.co.uk and on the new website of Stephen Butt (just retired from BBC Radio Leicester) Tempus Omnia Revelat, select gifts from Leicestershire.

If you would like to know more, or join her band of followers you can contact her at frances@kpaos.co.uk