Nell! The Musical is brought to you by Pudding Lane Productions; a new community theatre group run by theatre lovers, for theatre lovers. The group strives to engage with and give back to the local community by offering amateur theatre at a professional standard.
Keep up to date with the latest developments
from Pudding Lane Productions:
T H E C A S T
NELL GWYN
Georgina Sweet
KING CHARLES II
Jordan Lee
MRS GWYN
Belinda Morgan
MARY-ANN
Esmée Roach
SAMUEL PEPYS
Tom Kenward
LORD BUCKHURST
Jamie Reed
JOHN LACY
Mike Kempton
CHARLES HART
Neil Morgan
MADAM MEGGS
Fiona Elphick
LOUISE DE KEROUAILLE
Isobel Selwyn
MR CHIFFINCH
Mick Glynn
MRS CHIFFINCH
Di Dean
YOUNG NELL
Phoebe Swain
YOUNG MARY-ANN
Elspeth Grice
THE QUEEN
Janice Holwill
YOUNG CHARLES
Albert Whitehouse
HORTENSE MANCINI
Esmée Roach
BARBARA VILLERS
Laurie Esse
ENSEMBLE/SWINGS
James Barber
Julie Billing
Natasha Capozzoli
Julie Cave
Allison Eke
Fiona Elphick
Kathryn Elphick
Mick Glynn
Elspeth Grice
Janice Holwill
Martha Jay
Mike Kempton
Tom Kenward
Pat Mead
Kevin Moore
Neil Morgan
Jamie Reed
Isobel Selwyn
Phoebe Swain
Albert Whitehouse
CO-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 ESSE
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.
CO-DIRECTOR: NAOMI ROSE-MOCK
Naomi Rose-Mock is a seasoned director of over 100 musicals and plays. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with
Dominic Sandford to bring his vision of Nell to the stage for the first time.
Rose-Mock has recently returned home to the UK from the US, where she was recognised for her work with numerous awards, receiving the Florida Theatre Conference’s highest honour for her contributions to theatre. In addition to directing,
Naomi is sought after as a workshop leader, adjudicator and teacher, as well as a classically trained musician.
She has run her own acting studio for many years where she specialises in preparing students for admission auditions to
top university courses, and the professional world. Since the pandemic, she has become a full time narrator; recording close
to 500 audiobooks for Audible.
Naomi has loved being back in the UK and is so thankful for the warm welcome home she has received. She most recently directed Come From Away for YAOS in Yeovil, and Carmen for Bath Opera. Other career highlights include: Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, Cabaret, Parade, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Light in the Piazza, She Loves Me and Sweeney Todd.
Naomi is looking forward to tackling Dear Evan Hansen with Beatnik Theatre Company this Autumn.
PRODUCER/CREATOR: BOB PRICE
With over 40 years of dedicated involvement in community theatre, Bob brings a wealth of experience to every production he touches. His theatrical journey spans more than 100 performances, where he has taken on an impressive variety of roles — from Shakespearean leads to Pantomime Dame, and even portraying Jesus — showcasing his versatility and passion for the stage.
Beyond acting, Bob is an accomplished producer, director, and behind-the-scenes creative. He played a pivotal role in developing the stage facilities at The Charlton’s Village Hall, transforming it into a more dynamic and professional space for local productions. He has produced and directed numerous shows, and his hands-on approach extends to backstage work, set construction, and design. Together with his partner, he has built a wide range of striking and imaginative sets, including the current work on the upcoming production of Nell!
Bob’s involvement in Nell! dates back to 2007, when he collaborated with the creator to help shape the plot. Since then, he has continued to contribute to the project, most recently as part of the scriptwriting team. He is now excited to help bring the vision to life on stage.
CO-PRODUCER: MIKE KEMPTON
Mike’s interest in theatre was first sparked in the 1950s when, as a young lad, he spent time backstage at the Eltham Little Theatre, where his father served as assistant stage manager. Those early experiences showed him what it takes to bring a production to life and left a lasting impression.
Over the years, Mike has been involved with a variety of amateur dramatic groups, contributing in numerous capacities, including set design and construction, backstage crewing, and occasionally stepping onto the stage himself. After relocating to Somerset in 2012, he was fortunate to join both CHADS and Street Theatre, working on several well-received productions. Among these were four outdoor Shakespeare performances, for which he served as part of the production team as well as bringing gravitas to the role of Orsino in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, among other roles. He is a creative set designer and has built elaborate sets from scratch.
Mike is now delighted to be collaborating with Pudding Lane Productions as co-producer for this exciting new outdoor staging of Nell! The Musical. Alongside his role as co-producer, he has designed—and will manage the building of—the set, and plays a key role in the health and safety and insurance side of putting on such a large-scale production.
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