The Crypt Project: New Depths Company

Jenna Omeltschenko
PRODUCER

Jenna graduated from the University of Manchester with a History degree before realising her first love was theatre. She began working with a wide variety of theatre companies in Manchester. Jenna became an associate of PANDA (Performing Arts Network and Development Agency) and is a founding member of the Producers Consortium, which was set up in response to an obvious need for producers in the North West. She also began working as a freelance producer with emerging companies Sharpening SAWDS, Pen-ultimate and Eggs Collective.

In 2009, Jenna moved to London and began working at the Lyric Hammersmith as Assistant Producer. While there she worked on the Storm project, which was designed to give theatre practitioners time out to be creative again. Jenna then moved into the role of Producer working specifically with young people and emerging artists where she ran the Lyric Young Company.

After moving back to Manchester Jenna worked as Associate Producer on ‘The Mill – City of Dreams’ in Bradford and then at the Oldham Coliseum as Education Officer.

Jenna became the first young person to join Contact Theatre’s Board in December 2008 and is currently working as a freelance theatre producer in the North West.

Sarah is a Manchester based Director who is currently a Lecturer and Manager at The Arden School of Theatre. Sarah trained at Manchester Metropolitan University and completed her MA at Manchester University. After working professionally as an actor on graduating from drama school Sarah re-trained in directing and has worked across the UK and Europe directing mainly theatre and some film.

Sarah also works as an actor with her agent Elite Talent and co-runs the actors led scriptwriting group ’Scriptworks’ based at Contact Theatre. Recent credits include a North West tour of the play ‘Remember Me’ by Jason Crouch, premiered at ‘24/7 Theatre Festival in 2009.

Sarah recently worked with Joe O’Byrne as an actor in his latest short film ‘The Watcher’ earlier this year.

Sarah is also directing Blackbird for House of Orphans at this year's Re:play Festival.

Jason is a writer, technician and designer. His work has been seen at a number of theatres in the North West, not least at The Library Theatre during the premier of First Stage - part of Re:Play 2009. His play "Remember Me", directed by Sarah Meadows, was most recently performed at Contact in Manchester, a theatre that has also furnished him with his first professional commission.

For The Crypt Project he is working as dramaturg, assisting the actors to develop their own dialogue. As this is a devised piece, each performer creates their own material - which is crafted through directed improvisation, and by refining and revising the resultant text. This process is proving to be both challenging and exciting, and one which will deliver a worthy successor to last year's much lauded performance.

With Sarah Meadows and Conor McKee, Jason co-runs Scriptworks – a script development group working in partnership with Contact Theatre. Scriptworks has been working with playwrights and actors from the North West since 2008.

Amy originally started her career over 10 years ago in Wales where she trained as a Stage Manager at the Royal Welsh College Of Music and Drama. Since graduating she has worked as a freelancer for a number of companies including the Wales Millennium Centre, Theatre Royal Bath and Chester Performs to name but a few.

When not involved in theatre, Amy works extensively on events and festivals such as Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, the FA cup closing ceremony and Walk the Plank productions. Amy has also been privileged to work on all the episodes of Series 3 of Dr Who.

Amy is co-director of Q Creative Northwest who supply Stage Management and Technical staff to creative and arts based companies throughout the North West. She is very excited about her first opportunity to work with Happystorm on this interesting and innovative project.

Amy Chandler
STAGE MANAGER

Lawrence Reekie
SOUND DESIGN

Lawrence began getting involved in music at twelve years old where he began writing and performing songs with bands, in which he played bass. After studying at Ayr College in Scotland for three years in 2005, he gained a HND in Music and Audio Technology. With little prospects on offer in Ayrshire, Lawrence moved to Manchester to start his career.

Here he spent all his time doing work experience at any venues which allowed him to learn. The Greenroom Arts Centre and Contact were the main buildings. Here he learnt about theatre and being a Theatrical Technician. With a solid understanding of music, acoustics and engineering, Lawrence developed his Lighting, AV and set designing skills. After five years he has worked from a stage hand to production manager. Throughout this time he was producing electronic music and playing bass for an alternative hip hop band AjahUK. AjahUK toured nationally and internationally, whilst Dig Deeper/ Binary Damage played festivals and underground party scenes.

When he found a full time job at Contact, Lawrence left AjahUK to allow time to develop sound design projects and his home studio. Since then, Lawrence has done sound design for various shows including Country Boy Struggle.

Ian is an actor, writer, director and producer.

His credits include:
Theatre: Job #143 (24/7 Theatre Festival), The Bench (Botlon Octagon Theatre), Game of Two Halves (Library Theatre), Occupational Therapy and Broken Biscuits (both Studio Salford), Strawberry Jack (Tales From Paradise Heights), Paperboys (Mediamedea).

Radio: Curlito's Way (Salford City Radio), The Thief And The Miner (BBC Made in Manchester), coming soon..... Lexipedanticology.

TV: Coronation Street, Moving On, Emmerdale.

Film: Looking For Lucky, You Are Here, Turners War, Fairly Drunk and coming soon..... Lost Generation and When People Get Hurt.

Kerry is a graduate from the University of Huddersfield with an MA in Ensemble Physical Theatre (under the tutorship of John Britton leader of the Duende Ensemble), also with a combined degree in English Literature and Theatre Studies.

Since moving back to Manchester Kerry has enjoyed performing in a variety of productions including film, musical theatre, cabaret, panto, acting within the Manchester fringe theatre scene and organising a performance event for the Not Part Of festival. Other achievements include modelling for the front cover of 'The Bridal Magazine' (2011) and a speaking role for the television advertisment 'Biggest Loser' (2011).

Matthew trained at Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts and is Joint Artistic Director of Happystorm Theatre.

Theatre includes: The Blonde Bombshells Of 1943 (No.1 National Tour), Macbeth (Pendley Shakespeare Festival), Strawberry Jack (Tales From Paradise Heights), Snow White (Preston Charter Theatre), The Play That Killed Me (Come As You Arts), The Duchess Of Malfi (Globe Theatre, Sam Wanamaker Festival), Romeo And Juliet (Royal Armouries, Leeds), The Laramie Project (Hope Theatre).

TV: Emmerdale (YTV), Waterloo Road (BBC), Hollyoaks (Mersey TV) and The Bradford Riots (Channel 4). Soon to start filming BBC Drama Accused.

Radio: Rock (Dark Smile Productions).

An accomplished musician, Matthew wrote and recorded the soundtrack for Be Rain For Me and composed and recorded the soundtracks for the radio plays Dreaming of Foxes (Ted Hughes' life story) and Rock (Rock Hudson's life story) both for Dark Smile Productions.

Matthew directed Happystorm's debut play, Be Rain For Me and was assistant director / tour manager on The Myth of Escape tour.

Denise’s background includes training in clowning and physical theatre with Philippe Gaulier, John Wright and Mick Barnfather; Mick recently directed her in Penny Dreadful Theatre Co.’s production Etherdome that went to Edinburgh last Summer and then toured Britain and Ireland.

TV credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Shameless.

Denise is currently working on a one-woman show due to be produced next April/May and is thrilled to be working once more with Happystorm Theatre having been part of the original cast in May 2011.

Denise is currently filming ITV Drama Scott and Bailey.

Previous credits include: Another Country (Community Arts North West), Manchester (Contact Theatre), Locked In (Greenroom), Halloween with Eggs Collective at Islington Mill, The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (Elite / RNCM) and Plays Don’t Get Any Newer Than This! (Rocket Theatre / Sale Waterside Arts Centre).

Jessica’s solo work includes Stalking My Neighbour (winner of Greenroom’s Instant Win 2011! commission) as part of hÅb and Blank Media Collective’s Emergency Accommodation. Her site specific piece The Swayze Stall was part of the first Mayhem in the Market event from Question Your Teaspoons.

Jessica Lau
ACTOR

Nathan trained at the Birmingham School of Acting and has a LAMDA Acting Diploma with Distinction. Since graduating he has had main and notable roles on television, stage and radio.

A few highlights of his credits include: How to be a Prince (BBC), Dalziel and Pascoe (ITV/Talkback Thames), The Bill (ITV), Welcome Home (BBC Radio) House of Goddess (Cornucopia Theatre Co.), Service with a Smile (The Workers Theatre Company) and ForeverTwentySeven (Insignia Media) a site specific thriller developed for the Lowry.

Sophie graduated from the University of Hull in 2010 with a first class honours degree in Drama and English, during which she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and toured a production to the Komaba Agora Theater in Tokyo.

In September 2011 she completed a Masters degree in Acting: The British Tradition with Distinction at the Birmingham School of Acting. Sophie recently appeared in the 'Playing Up North' showcase with Actors Centre North. She is now very much looking forward to working with Happystorm on her first public performance since training.

Susi trained at NCDT accredited MMU School of Theatre and with Song of The Goat Theatre, Poland.

Theatre includes: The World Premiere of Jim Cartwright's Wedded (Rocket Theatre); The Crypt Project, The Myth of Escape and Be Rain For Me (Happystorm Theatre); Adult Child / Dead Child (Midlands Arts Centre and Edinburgh Fringe), God Wept and the Devil Laughed (Come As You Arts North West), 2012 Games (Lost Theatre / Come As You Arts North West), Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing (Manchester Actors Company).

TV: Emmerdale (ITV); Coronation Street (ITV); The Bill (Talkback Thames); Tarrant Lets The Kids Loose (Watch TV) and Crimewatch (BBC).

Visit www.susiwrenshaw.co.uk for showreel, voice reel and more.

Susi is Joint Artistic Director of Happystorm Theatre.

Since graduating from The University of Salford with a degree in Performing Arts Christabel has appeared in a North West tour of All Because Of Molly with Organised Chaos and toured schools with a TIE production of OUTLOUD with Hope Theatre Company.

Christabel also appeared in No Place Like Home as part of the 24:7 Theatre Festival where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Christabel took part in the original production of The Crypt Project with Happystorm Theatre in 2011 and was delighted to be part of the next instalment.

Alan is 35 years old and is hoping to get into journalism. He has some acting experience and has been lucky enough to be involved on both sides of the camera in a short film called Two Hats. Alan starred in Two Hats which he also wrote, filmed and edited. The film was screened at Salford Arts Theatre.

Clare studied for a degree in theatre, literature and music at Chester College graduating in 1986 from Liverpool University. After graduating she played characters as diverse as Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors, Constanza in Amadeus and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

Clare then decided to take time out to raise a family and became involved in the Criminal Justice System, firstly as a criminal caseworker and then as an associate prosecutor. Clare says, "Time flew by and before I knew it I was 46!"

She returned to acting in November 2011 and will be appearing in two episodes of Crimes That Shook The Nation as Sally Howes QC and as a detective on the History channel. She played Mary in the short film Second Self and assisted backstage for Midnight at The Lass O’Gowrie. She is currently assisting backstage for another Lass O’Gowrie play. "I’m rediscovering my passion for acting and the theatre. New Beginnings," says Clare.

Clare Hughes
GUIDE

HELENA DAVIES - Graphic Designer

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