Little Pixie Productions - Associate Creatives

 

Michaela Betts - Associate Composer

Michaela has always been surrounded by music coming from a musical family of song writers, singers, guitarists and pianists. She took up piano at the age of 6 and was inspired to perform after seeing her first musical 'Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'. From an early age she wrote tunes on the piano but began more serious song writing for her music GCSE coursework. One of these songs 'Now You're Here' was signed and released as a single in Europe. Another of these songs made her a runner up in a BBC 'Going Live' song writing competition.

At 16 she received a scholorship to study full-time at The Arts Educational School Tring (now Tring Park). Here she gained her Grade 8 ABRSM in piano and singing and met her mentor Tom Marandola who later introduced her to Laine Theatre Arts. Whilst at Arts Ed she toured America and France as a soloist with their Chamber Choir directed by Vaughan Meakins and performed with them on BBC2's Choir of the Year competition as a semi-finalist.

On leaving Arts Ed, she pursued a singing career in the pop industry, performing in venues including Olympia Stadium, Jermyn Street Theatre, The Marquee, The Orange Club and The Road House to name a few. She joined the girl band 'The Space Babes' signed to Perfect Entertainment and met the film & TV composer Rob Lord. Projects with Rob have included (among other things) the soundtrack to the award-winning Hollywood feature film 'Slipstream' starring Sean Astin and Vinnie Jones and Hitchcock's 'Gas' for director Sylvie Bolioli. Through Rob she met the composer and recording artist Mark Tschanz whom she worked with on the short film 'Teknolust' starring Tilda Swinton. More recent vocal sessions have included The Nutcracker (the Untold Story) - based on music by Tchaikovsky, lyrics by Tim Rice and sessions for Joe Glassman at Hum Productions.

Through working in televison she was approached by the BBC to teach the actress Gina McKee how to play Bach's Well Tempered Clavier on the piano for the film 'Mothertime', directed by Matthew Jacobs. At this time she met the BBC TV Producer Des Burkinshaw who was looking for singers for an untitled recording project. This went on to become 'Theghostorchestra' with whom she released an album in 2005 and performed 'Songs of Love and Loss' with at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival. She also joined forces with the TV editor and musician Mike Willetts to perform on several dance singles including 'Miss U Bad' released on Black Caviar Records. Another TV creative Harry Leckstein invited her to lead singing workshops for his youth project 'The London Urban Collective'. This project empowers young people to write, record and promote their own album for an independent release under the guidance of Freeport Records in association with Universal Music, Community Channel and Youth Music Week. This lead to the staging of 'Purgatory' - an original Hipopera that sets Dante's Inferno in modern day London, which ran at The Pleasance Theatre in Islington leading to a run at The Edinburgh Festival.

Michaela currently lives in Surrey with her partner and 2 year old daugher Ruby-Lou.

Michaela composed the music for Turned Out Nice Again! and Granny's Big Top Tale (Little Pixie Productions).

For further information or to contact Michaela go to www.michaelabetts.co.uk

 

Matt Chell - Associate Set Designer 

After graduating from Teeside Academy (Visual Language), Matt went on to work for the Mantis Community Arts Collective (Murual) and the Derby Playhouse (Scenery).

Currently producing “sculpturines” for the National Trust. Matt also works in an innercity school (Children).

Matt designed and built the pond for Granny's Big Top Tale and designed and built the set for Turned Out Nice Again! and What Became of the Red Shoes? (Little Pixie Productions).

 

Adam McCready - Associate Sound Designer

Adam has been a Sound Designer and Operator in theatre for thirteen years, beginning at Derby Playhouse after being a rock musician and sound engineer.

Designs and compositions include: The Taming of the Shrew (Derby Live), Peter Pan (Qudos), Skybus (Derby Live), Associate Sound Designer on Sister Act (Teatro Nazionale, Milan), Glee Cub (Hull Truck Theatre), The Ashes (Nottingham Playhouse), Granny's Big Top Tale (Little Pixie Productions), NEAT 11 Festival (TWP), Lysistrata (Derby LIVE), Assumption (Colchester Mercury Theatre), Squeakers and The Mountain Top (Derby LIVE), Ears Wide Open (TWP), Merchant of Venice, Puss in Boots and Wind in the Willows (Derby LIVE), Momentum Festival 2010 (Theatre Writing Partnership), Mother came Too (Derby LIVE), Dolly (New Perspectives), Town (Northampton Royal Theatre), King David Man of Blood (Colchester Mercury Theatre), Our House (Derby Opera Company), Cranford, Broken Hearted, A Lady with a Lamp, Women on the Verge of HRT, A Pair of Pinters, Snow Queen (Derby LIVE), Turned Out Nice Again!, What Became of the Red Shoes? (Little Pixie Productions), Twelfth Night (Creation Theatre Company, Oxford), Peer Gynt (Derby LIVE), Step Up/Dream Up, Wasteland (New Perspectives), Edward II (Battersea Arts Centre, London),Tracy Beaker Gets Real (UK Tour), Whisky Galore (UK Tour), The Promise (New Wimbledon Theatre), Anorak of Fire (London Arts Theatre and UK Tour), Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (New London Theatre), The Tempest, Stepping Out (Derby Playhouse),Chicken Soup with Barley (Tricycle Theatre), The Spirit of the Man (UK Tour), I Have Been Here Before, After Miss Julie, The White Album, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty (Nottingham Playhouse), Mother Courage and Her Children (Eclipse Theatre UK Tour). Sam’s Game, Samuels Head on My Table, The Execution of Damiens, Three Short Plays About Africa (Momentum Festival). Twinkle Little Star (York Theatre Royal, Lakeside Arts Notts, UK Tour).

Adam has also operated sound in the West End and toured the UK and Europe on many shows including Little Shop of Horrors, CATS, Carousel, Fame, Blood Brothers, Whistle Down the Wind, Leader of the Pack, Soul Train, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

For further information or to contact Adam go to  www.adamtheatresound.com

Adam is also a member of EMTAC

 

Drew Baumohl - Associate Graphic and Lighting Designer 

Drew's main profession is in theatre and he is currently Deputy Head of Lighting and Sound at Nottingham Playhouse. In his spare time he also works as a freelance photographer and graphic designer.

Drew photographed and produced the poster design for Granny's Big Top Tale, Turned Out Nice Again! and What Became of the Red Shoes? (Little Pixie Productions). He also designed the poster designs for The Nightingale of South Bank and Operatastic! The Accesible Guide to Opera (Relative Pitch Opera). Lighting designs include Granny's Big Top Tale and Turned Out Nice Again! (Little Pixie Productions).

For more information on his work visit www.drewbaumohlphotography.com or feel free to contact him at drew@drewbaumohlphotography.com

 

Rich Swainson - Associate Media Producer

 

Richard is a freelance videographer and video producer. He designs, films and edits promotional videos and theatrical trailers as well as documentaries and interviews. Recently he has created work for Nottingham Playhouse, New Perspectives Theatre Company, CAST restaurant, Australian Dance Theatre and of course, Little Pixie Productions. Having worked previously at Alton Towers, in the Entertainments department and now at Nottingham Playhouse as a Front of House Manager and Online Content Developer, Richard's experience within the arts and leisure environments gives him a real understanding of what is needed to showcase creative work.

For Little Pixie Productions Richard has produced the promo films for Granny's Big Top Tale, Turned Out Nice Again! and What Became of the Red Shoes? He has also produced the promo film for our new show The NIghtngale of South Bank (Relative Pitch Opera).

For more information about his work visit Swainson Productions