With an English degree from Manchester University, an MA with Distinction in Creative Writing from Manchester Met, and a career in copy writing, John’s always been all about the words. His first play Great Monsters of Western Street (Queer Up North/Ed Fringe) was awarded a First Scene Award from North West Playwrights and nominated for two Manchester Evening News Drama Awards. His second, Edgar Allan Who? (Green Room, Manchester/Oval, London) was shortlisted for the International Playwriting Festival. Working with North West Playwrights again, his Reality was one of the four short-listed plays for their anniversary showcase, with a small tour.

Most recently he worked with his Something Something Lazarus writing partner Simon on Needle Work. Commissioned for the 10 years of Civil Partnership season at South Hill Park Arts Centre. He’s currently working on a new play about gay fatherhood and the London sex industry. 

This is his first musical. And already it feels like home.

Simon graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First and later a Masters with distinction in Contemporary Arts. His time there saw him explore his passion for music theatre both as a writer and composer. His work was chosen for a number of Live Arts festivals and showcases including performances at London’s ICA and as part of the 1993 National Review of Live Art. He has held many jobs in the theatre world, both regionally and in the West End, from stage management to lighting and set design. As well as writing and composing Simon runs Grow the Story (part of Grow the People Ltd.), a creative consultancy that explores the use of stories for communication and engagement.

His last play was a collaboration with Something Something Lazarus writer John Myatt called Needle Work, a play commissioned by South Hill Park to celebrate ten years of Civil Partnerships. Most recently Simon has rediscovered his love of Improv, studying with Upright Citizens Brigade (New York). His next project explores the mind as a storyteller.

Daisy was drawn to music from a young age, and made her musical direction debut at the age of fourteen, single-handedly orchestrating and leading a 60-strong cast of The Wind In The Willows. By the age of seventeen she began her professional employment as a musical director, bandleader, musician, choir leader and vocal coach in a various theatres across the Home Counties.

Away from the theatre Daisy is involved with a number of organisations teaching singing and the piano to children, and works privately as an audition coach for child performers.   

Daisy is delighted to be involved creatively in Something Something Lazarus, and gratefully thanks her friends and family for all their help and support. 

Alice graduated from ArtsEd with a degree in Musical Theatre five years ago. Since then, she’s enjoyed working around London and the UK as a performer, choreographer, director, teacher, workshop Leader and LAMDA tutor.

Her choreography and directing work includes Peter Pan The Musical Adventure Bloomsbury Theatre, the UK Premier of Addams Family The Musical Secombe Theatre for MMTC, and West End at the Fringe The Space in Edinburgh. Also, shows for Her Majesty’s Theatre and The Shaftesbury Theatre in London, The Borderlines Film Festival, Billy Elliot at Malvern Theatres, and most recently Luke Leighfield’s music Video Fool for Love for Got Got Need Records.

Performing credits include Miss Phelps/Dancer in Matilda The Musical workshops with the RSC, Norma Hubley in Plaza Suite at Waterloo East Theatre, Cynthia in Sex, Lies and Videotape Cockpit Theatre, Anita in West Side Story Fairfield Halls, and, of course, Su Pollard’s understudy in Snow White at Malvern Theatres.

Chris trained in stage management and technical theatre at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama specialising in lighting design. After lighting events like fashion shows, awards nights, film premieres and conferences, Chris became senior technician for the Beck Theatre in Hayes. Lighting shows like Annie Get Your Gun for the theatre and pantomimes for BA Cabin Crew Entertainment Society. Chris is now a senior lighting technician at the Royal National Theatre.

Over the years he has worked with many youth theatre and school companies to adapt their production’s lighting designs to look at home on the vast Olivier and Lyttelton stages as part of the Connections festival. Chris was honoured to light and meet the writers of a Alice by Heart, a new rock musical by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik. He has been part of the NT lighting team working on War Horse, One Man Two Governors and The White Guard. At the National Theatre Chris also worked on the first NT Live broadcast of Phedre, the first ever play to be broadcast live from a stage to cinemas.

Stan works as both a director and producer, he went to the University of Hull Scarborough Campus where he got a BA (Hons) in Theatre and Performance. Since graduating he has both helmed productions and assisted others, learning from directors such as, Justin Audibert, Jamie Rocha Allan, James Farrell and Dan Phillips.  He runs a theatre company called “Irresponsible Decorators” who specialise in New Writing.

Recent work includes: The Dumb Waiter, Maltings Theatre St Albans (Dir), Neville’s Island, Maltings Theatre (Dir), Breathless, Clear Lines Festival (Dir), Handlebards, 2015 Tour (Asst Dir), Warehouse of Dreams, Lion & Unicorn Theatre (Asst Dir), The White Whale, Slung Low (Asst Dir), Crossing the Line, Maltings Theatre (Dir), 76 Million People and Me, Lost Theatre (Dir), Animal Farm, Northampton Uni (Asst Dir) & Fanny & Faggot, Guildford School of Acting (Asst Dir)