THE CREATIVE TEAM
Nell! The Musical is brought to you by Pudding Lane Productions; a new community theatre group run by theatre lovers, for theatre lovers.
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from Pudding Lane Productions:
THE NELL TEAM
Director/Creator: Dominic Sandford
Dominic is the visionary behind Nell! The Musical, a project he has nurtured on and off since the 1980s. After decades of development, he is thrilled to finally bring Nell to the stage.
A passionate musician, performer, and songwriter, Dominic's musical journey began early—he professionally released a single in Belgium at just 17. More recently, he has embraced his love of the 1980s through his musical alter ego, DadDoes80s, creating original songs and music videos complete with mullet and retro sunglasses. He holds a BA in Creative Music Technology and is an adept pianist, singer and guitarist.
Growing up in a family of actors, theatre and performance have always been a part of Dominic’s life. He is active in local amateur dramatics and favours comedic roles—from pantomime dames to bumbling policemen. His flair for directing began with outdoor Shakespeare productions and he continues to direct local pantomimes and community theatre.
Dominic’s experience extends behind the scenes as well; he has worked as a professional sound engineer in studios across Europe and as a sound and lighting technician at Strode Theatre.
Dominic brings a wealth of experience, a deep love of storytelling, and a warm sense of humour to every production he leads.
Musical Director: Laurie Sandford
Laurie is a versatile and accomplished musician, composer, and performer with a dynamic background in music, theatre, and the arts. Raised in a creative household, she began classical violin training at the age of five and gradually expanded her musical repertoire to include voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele.
She formally trained in Musical Theatre, undertaking Estill Voice Training as part of her diploma, before shifting her focus to original composition. Laurie went on to earn a First-Class Honours degree in Songwriting and Creative Artistry from The Academy of Contemporary Music, where she began writing and releasing her own material.
As a Musical Director, Laurie has worked on numerous productions, including H.M.S. Pinafore at Strode Theatre, for which she arranged the score for a small ensemble. She also leads a local community choir, regularly producing variety shows that highlight her flair for both musical and theatrical storytelling.
Laurie's love of theatre extends beyond music: she has performed in local pantomimes and Shakespeare productions, and reached the English final of the All England Theatre Festival with her performance as ‘Em’ in Tamsin Oglesby’s My Best Friend.
Currently, Laurie is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Orchestration for Film, Games, and Television. She has arranged the full score for Nell! The Musical while also contributing to its scriptwriting.
More coming soon...