03, Run 1

James Harris (Director)

James spent his early days as a stunt double for stumpy film stars. When Bob Hoskins career took a nose dive, so did James's. Undaunted, he formed HMS Comedy in 1998 and has since written for NewsRevue, a Tango commercial, News Huddlines and The Treason Show, and is about to have a sitcom screened on ITV’s The Sitcom Trials. He was writer/producer for two Edinburgh sketch shows: Evolution and Revolution and is the producer of Absolute Comedy at Madame Jojo’s.

Pete Smith (Musical Director)

Pete trained at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating as a harpsichordist. After spending a few years as a performer, musical director and teacher he left the playing world for an easier life, returning to the Academy where he has worked as manager for the past 15 years. Cats, Mamma Mia and Miss Saigon look impressive in a biography but Pete’s never played a note in any of them, just fringe comedy shows including

Marc Blakewill (Script editor)

Taunted and bullied at school for his mercurial intelligence, prodigious athleticism and long straight pubes, Marc decided to prove that Microsoft Word is mightier than the sword. He has written for BBC Radio’s Weekending and News Huddlines, The Eleven O'Clock Show, The Sitcom Trials, The Treason Show and was the principal writer of two Edinburgh sketch shows Evolution and Revolution. Marc WLTM single woman with large income.

Barnaby Thomas (Performer)

Theatre credits include Edward Gant’s Amazing Feat’s of Loneliness (Plymouth Theatre Royal Drum), I am Dandy (BAC, touring nationally and India) Pangandaran (Old Red Lion, Camden People’s Theatre), Sofa (National Theatre of Romania) I wannabewolfman (BAC, Traverse, touring) Film credits include: Full Frontal, Cradle of Fear, Closed Circuit, Que Sera Sera. He can be seen in the forthcoming The Island with his own company Dead Face and irregularly on the London comedy circuit..

Claire Barker (Performer)

Claire obtained a Masters degree in Advanced Theatre Practice at Central and promptly took up a weighty starring role as ... 'Mr Elephant'. She has worked as a professional street entertainer and has directed a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Since hearing that her daughter is appearing in NewsRevue, Claire's Mum commented that "it's such a shame all the current news seems to be about imminent war and celebrity paedophiles, as people won't really want to see sketches about that, will they?" Bless.

Elizabeth Bower (Performer)

Elizabeth’s most recent job as a pantomime fairy and kids TV presenter on Milkshake did not prepare her for the onslaught of NewsRevue. However appearing as Ralph’s Little sidekick on the Ralf Little Show opened her mind and widened her vocabulary enough to compensate for this. Other work includes getting married in the film The Follower, getting shot in the action short, Hole Hearted, getting attacked by a puppet in the musical, Pumpkin Soup and losing it completely as Lady Macbeth.

Sy Thomas (Performer)

Sy studied drama at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth where roles included Jean in Rhinoceros and Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice. He is also a frequent performer of stand up comedy and has twice been semi-finalist in the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award. At last year’s Edinburgh Festival Sy played the title role in The Emperor’s New Clothes and Friar Laurence, Mercutio and Baron Copulate in Shakespeare for Breakfast – Romeo and Juliet the Panto! Which was reprised for Christmas at the Pleasance Theatre in London.