In the heart of Macclesfield a strange and remarkable tale unfolds. Step into this theatrical adventure and the incredible story of the astronomer who has brought the moon and stars down to earth. But all is not well. Find out why the town is filled with stars, what has happened to put Macclesfield in such peril, and how you can help the astronomer with his quest.
The Astronomer’s Story is a LAStheatre production in association with Barnaby Festival and Wild Rumpus. The experience is suitable for adults and children, 50 minutes in duration, and takes place in the atmospheric setting of Christ Church, Macclesfield.
Louisa Beadel - Charlie, Musical Director
Louisa trained at the National Youth Theatre and was a part of the Repertory Company. Theatre credits include: Natasha in Three Sister (Squint/Etch Theatre); Whitney in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood: The Rock'N'Roll Panto (City Varieties Music Hall); Ensemble and u/s Suzy and Sarah in Future Conditional (Old Vic); Alice in The Sunset Five (Hull Truck Theatre/DugOut Theatre); Larch in Wolf's Child (Wildworks); Rat Scurvey in Dick Whittington (City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds); Betty in The Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); Kay in Tory Boyz (Ambassadors Theatre); Emma in Contractions (Bikeshed Theatre); Guildenstern in Prince of Denmark (Ambassadors Theatre); Alice Crocker/Musician in Red Riding Hood (Latitude Festival); Peter/Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet (Ambassadors Theatre); Emilia in Othello (Edinburgh Fringe); Helena/Mistress Quince in Living The Dream (National Youth Theatre); Edward/Betty in Cloud 9. Workshops include: Actor/Musician in Long Story Short (Squint/West Yorshire Playhouse); Actor/Musician in Chimera (Wildworks); Moth (Bush Theatre).
Barra Collins - John, Writer, Director
Originally from Ireland, Barra Collins trained at Goldsmiths London and Trinity College Dublin.
Theatre Credits Include:
A Man Of No Importance (Arts Theatre, West End), Home Sweet Home (Barbican), The Many Whoops of Whoops Town (Lyric Hammersmith & Look Left Look Right), ‘Touch’ & ‘Sexy Cockface’ (Soho Theatre), Accomplice (Menier Chocolate Factory), Count Oederland (Arcola), The Spanish Tragedy (Rose Theatre), Romeo And Juliet (UK Tour), The Tempest (UK Tour), Troilus And Cressida (Lost Theatre), ‘Greys Printing Press’, ‘Space Invaders Agency’ & ‘Up Up And Away’ for (Punchdrunk Enrichment), Superjohn (Pleasance), One Hour Plays (E4 Underbelly), ‘Around The World In 80 Days’ & ‘The Ghost Train’ (Jack Studio Theatre), This Lime Tree Bower (Cockpit Theatre), Wild Oats (Upstiars At The Gatehouse), ‘Manor’ & ‘A Diary Of A Chav’ (Tristan Bates), 'Town Hall Cherubs', ‘The Lost Kerry Man’ & ‘The Healer’ (BAC) and NewsRevue (Canal Café Theatre).
Barra is the Artistic Director of LAStheatre.
Kenny Davies - Frank
Kenny trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Actor/Musicianship.
Theatre credits include:
Stephen in LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, Doctor/Minotaur in MILLY AND THE MINOTAUR
(Both at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch) Numbskull/Friar Tuck in ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD , Billy Bungalow in DICK WHITTINGTON, Billy No Mates in JACK AND THE BEASNSTALK , Buttons in CINDERELLA , Wishee Washee in ALADDIN (All at the City Varieties Leeds) Billy Bungalow in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (The New Wolsey Theatre) Norman Bates in Downtown Abbey Rd (The New Vic Theatre, Stoke) George in Missing Pieces (Royal Welsh Centre), Griot Yarnspinner in Story Drum, Xeno /Tortoise in Xeno's Tortoise (Theatre Jemilda), John in Shattered (Brief Candle Theatre)
Mr Honest in Moll Flanders (The New Players Theatre), Dr Buchanan/Mr Kramer in Summer and Smoke (The Rose Theatre), Baptista/Musical director in Taiming Of The Shrew (The Dell, Stratford-Upon-Avon), Tybalt in Rome and Juliet (The Rose Theatre)
Film and TV credits include: Burger Eater in (Mc Donalds Great Taste of America add), Jamie Mellor in (BBC Doctors), Bobby Darrin in Stars in their eyes Kids/Stars in their eyes kids final (Granada Studio), Before their time (Vera media Film), Educational film (Vera media Film), Brian in two adverts for Birds Eye Beef Burgers.
Sophia Hatfield - Mary
Sophia trained at Manchester School of Theatre.
Theatre credits include: Robin Hood and Marian (The New Vic); Spring Reign (The Lowry); Alice (Theatre in the Quarter); An August Bank Holiday Lark, The Grand Gesture and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Northern Broadsides); The Cupboard Under The Stairs (Quondam); The Wind In The Willows (Birmingham Rep); Should Love Hurt This Much? (Bolton Octagon/Dramatically Healthy Theatre Co); Blood Wedding in Wensleydale (North Country Theatre); Eight for New Up North (Lowry Theatre Studio); Summertime Stories (What’s In The Box for Fuse New Theatre).
Film credits include: Scintilla (Liquid Noise Films) and The Best Little Whorehouse In Rochdale for (Biffa Productions)
Sean Turner - Designer
Sean has designed opera, theatre, film and live events both nationally and internationally. He trained at Motley in 2006, three years after studying illustration at Kent Institute of Art and Design.
Sean is the associate designer for award-winning immersive theatre company LAStheatre, creators of the multidisciplinary science/art series The Enlightenment Café. Sean has also developed and designed work for Punchdrunk Enrichment for the past six years, including The House Where Winter Lives, which transferred to the Perth International arts festival in 2014.
For the past two years Sean has designed the actor musician pantomime in Leeds for the City Varieties music hall, but mostly Sean finds himself in fields, derelict warehouses, great halls, castles and hospitals creating theatre in response to all manner of beautiful environments, with passionate interesting people trying to make sense of the stories that fill our lives.
Clare Wallis - Illustrator, Assistant Designer
Since graduating from Chelsea College of Art and Design, Clare has used her drawing talents to craft a career that originated from the Fine Art's. In her early career years she assisted artists such as Damien Hirst and still works alongside The Royal Academy's outreach life drawing workshops. Recently Clare has completed commissions for fashion labels such as Hackett, Bare Minerals and Australia's leading stationary store "TYPO".
Clare continues to expand her illustration work throughout the year in her warehouse/studio situated within the close nit artistic community of Hackney Wick. She continues after 5 years to be an appreciated member of the community. Alongside being an illustrator, Clare works across the spectrum from Tv, Film, advertising, corporate events and festivals. She lends her hand to prop, scenic painting and set building. TV shows such as "The Voice", "TOWIE", "Mel and Sue" "Sunday Brunch" and many more have used Clare's skills and expertise. Over the last few years, the pace and finish of set work has given Clare a revised appreciation for the Fine Art world leading her into specialist decorating for establishments such as the Lanesborough and Eton College.
Anna Harrison - Design Assistant
Anna is creative arts college graduate and aspires to continue the passion of theatre design she gained from this by working within the theatre and events industry.
She has worked on countless shows as a stage hand, stage manager and assistant designer. Also with experience on festival sites as part of the design team, such as 'The lost Carnival'.
She recently directed and designed a student film, along with other creatives, to produce a short film which won the 'best screenplay' award.
Sascha Gilmour - Design Assistant
Sascha is currently studying Theatre and Performance Design at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts after developing a love for all things theatrical and creative. She aspires to advance her skills in costume and set design/making as well as puppetry to work across the theatre and film industry.
Prior to university she has travelled across Europe to develop her knowledge of the arts. This included achieving a place on the 'Young Artists in Tuscany,' project in 2014 and a 1st prize place in the Young Artist NADFAS Competition. Alongside travels, Sascha has developed skills in designing and making clothes with which she now offers alterations.
Recently Sascha has worked on numerous shows that LIPA as part of the design team, contributed to puppetry at the Luminous Landscapes Festival with the Lantern Company in Liverpool and is assisting design with theatre company, 20 Stories High at the Everyman Liverpool later in July.
Freya Morgan - Design Assistant
Freya is an Interior Design graduate currently working in a practice, but aspires to work on experiential projects and set design for theatre and events.
Since studying Interior Design at the University of Central Lancashire, Freya has designed several community and art events around Lancashire.
As part of the Lytham Festival in 2015 she worked as lead designer for the Festival of stories with Fable arts, creating storytelling environments, sets and props. She has also designed set pieces for an ongoing series of immersive cinema events with TheyEatCulture as part of ComiCon.
Ellen Carnegie - Design Assistant
Ellen is currently studying 3-D Design at Manchester School of Art after developing a passion for creating handmade 3-D pieces. She is an aspiring prop maker, hoping to develop these skills to work within the theatre and film industry.
She has experience within decoration teams in festivals such as Pangaea in Manchester, which is a student led project. As well as the design firm Heatherwick Studios.
Jennifer Hanns - Design Assistant
Matthew Collins - Set Construction
Tom Fenwick - Set Construction
Louis Malpass - Set Construction
