Meet the Phantom of the Opera cast!
This August, Courtyard Productions and X-Entricity Theatre are bringing The Phantom of The Opera in Concert live to the stage! Here you can meet the principal cast and creative team of the show…
Steve Liddle: Director
Steve was part of the original cast of X-Entricity back in 2002 and performed in all of their productions until he decided to come off the stage in 2006 to be the Artistic Director. Since then, he has directed nearly all of their Musical Theatre productions and concerts.
Steve’s professional musical career started as the Musical Director of, and performer in, the UK touring show Back to Broadway. Originally a classically trained vocalist, he is now a vocal coach and session vocalist. His vocal career has stretched into nearly every genre and has seen him perform in many concerts, proms and events nationwide for many bands and orchestras, including The Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra, The Studio Orchestra, A Night on Broadway, Music of the Night for MTJ Productions and most recently Steve made his West End Debut in Welsh in the West End at Crazy Coqs in London.
Steve is well known locally as one of the two lead vocalists for popular party band, The Hey Yahs, who have performed nationwide and regularly perform their own headline show at The Courtyard. They will be back in March 2024 for their seventh headline show! He is also well known for his role as Frankie Valli for The Silhouettes who performed for Her Late Majesty the Queen II Diamond Jubilee event.
In December 2020, Steve made his official recording debut, duetting ‘Silent Night’ with X-Factor and Union J star, Jaymi Hensley, in his Christmas Album This is Christmas (available on iTunes and Spotify) which reached number 15 in the UK album charts.
Theatre credits include; Lola in Kinky Boots (The Courtyard), Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors (The Courtyard), Chino in West Side Story (Cheltenham Everyman)
Last year, Steve joined Hereford Academy of Dance as a tutor for the newly offered Musical Theatre classes alongside Sarah-Jane Matthews, our Choreographer and the Principal of the academy. If you are interested in being trained by this dynamic duo, then you can contact the school directly via their website here.
Andrew Hopkins: Musical Director
Andrew graduated from the GSA Conservatoire in 2004, where he was the Sean McGrath scholar. His first job as musical director was for She Stoops to Conquer at Hampton Court Palace in the presence of HRH The Earl of Wessex.
West End credits include: It Happened In Key West (Charing Cross Theatre), Only For Now (Arcola Theatre), Choose Love (Zedel), Make It A Double (Crazy Coqs) and Forever Yours (Pheasantry).
Other musicals include: Scrooge (Leicester Curve), Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (Electric Theatre), The Doris Day Story (UK Tour), Noel and Gertie (Sheringham Little Theatre) and Just a Housewife (UK Tour).
Pantomimes include: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Lichfield Garrick), Peter Pan (Lichfield Garrick), Robinson Crusoe (Chipping Norton), Snow White (Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield) and Cinderella (Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen).
As founder and resident conductor of The Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra, Andrew has conducted performances at some of the world’s finest concert venues, including An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (St David’s Hall, Cardiff) and A Night on Broadway (Teatru Manoel, the national theatre of Malta) as well as touring the UK with orchestral concerts featuring some of the highest profile musical theatre artists.
Further international credits include productions in the United Arab Emirates, including Sideshow, Little Women, Ordinary Days and [Title of Show] at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy. He has given masterclasses in both technical singing and acting through song in Dubai, Cairo, New York, and Malta as well as teaching at all the major drama schools in the UK.
Andrew has worked with some of the biggest names in Musical Theatre, including Dame Julie Andrews, Dame Angela Lansbury, Sir Trevor Nunn and Leslie Bricusse.
Recordings include: It’s Not Really The Apocalypse (Original Concept Album), It Happened In Key West (Original Cast) and My Land’s Shore (New Cast Album).
Megan Reid: Christine Daaé
Megan has recently completed a Foundation in Musical Theatre at Artsed London where she hopes to stay to complete her degree. She has performed many times at The Courtyard with Aspire Dance Studio, Hereford Musical Theatre Company, Hereford Gilbert & Sullivan Society and X-Entricity.
Favourite roles to date are Cosette in Les Misérables, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, Gingy in Shrek and the title role in Anastasia the musical.
Meg is beyond delighted to be given such an amazing opportunity to play the iconic role of Christine with such an incredible cast, company and orchestra.
Matthew Harcourt: The Phantom
Matthew Harcourt is a Singer, Musical Director, Director, Conductor, and Performer from Wokingham, Berkshire. This is his first time working with X-entricity and he is delighted to be performing his dream role in this phenomenal production of Phantom. Matthew has performed in Musical Theatre shows for the last 11 years and in 2022, he became a founding member of Midas Theatre, a fledgling theatre collective formed to bring together passionate performers, musicians, and theatre makers to create exceptional fringe theatre. Details of Midas Theatre’s next exciting show can be found on their website.
As Actor: Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Reuben in Joseph, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Munkustrap in Cats, Tom in Murder Ballad, Orin in Little Shop of Horrors, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Sammy in The Wedding Singer, Collins in Rent, Man in I Live You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. As Director & Musical Director: Joseph, Legally Blonde, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, In The Heights. As Musical Director/Conductor: Honk!, Barnum, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Dogfight, Green Day’s American Idiot, Carousel. As Director: Chicago. Visit Matthew’s website for more details on his next project.
Cameron Eldridge: Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny
Cameron is about to embark on his studies at the Royal College of Music as a first study singer, in September.
Up until now he has been a keen performer and vocalist and has played many roles such as; Sweaty Eddie in Sister act to Horatio in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. As well as gaining performing experience he has been studying at The Royal College of Music Junior Department whilst at sixth form; travelling to London every Saturday, performing arias and duets from various Operas, this has led him to perform at some incredibly high profile venues, such as; The Royal Albert Hall and St James’ Palace.
This is Cameron’s first X-Entricity production and he is thrilled to be playing one of his dream roles as ‘Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.’
Shelley Rivers: Carlotta Guidicelli
Shelley trained in musical theatre at Laine Theatre Arts and opera at The RNCM.
Most recently you may have seen her performing as Judy Garland on ITV’s Saturday night show “Starstruck.”
Her favourite theatre and opera credits include the title role in Nell Gwynn, Maria in The Sound of Music, Eliza in My Fair Lady, Cunegonde in Candide, Adele in Die Fledermaus and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. TV and film credits include ITV’s Coronation Street, BBC’s Four O’clock Club and Feature film The Girl with The Gifts (Warner Bros.)
Shelley has toured all over the world on land and sea with her one woman show “Symphony” and a career highlight for Shelley was being asked to sing for David Beckham at Old Trafford; home to Manchester United.
Shelley is thrilled to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to perform in her favourite musical “The Phantom Of The Opera” with such an amazing company.
Eddie Bindloss: Monsieur André
Eddie has had a lifelong passion for the arts, performing in school shows since he was 8. He continued to study acting through secondary school and college, where he first found out about X-Entricity.
Eddie’s first role with them was as Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls, since then he has done several shows with the company; taking to the streets as Action in West Side Story, getting dolled up in ‘drag’ as an Angel for Kinky Boots, and waddling around on his knees as Lord Farquaad in Shrek.
Eddie will soon be starting further dramatic education at the Fourth Monkey acting school in London, and is looking forward to embarking on new and exciting challenges!
Jack Ludwig: Monsieur Firmin
Jack started performing from a young age touring with choirs and singing in countries all over the world. He studied Dance at The School of the Arts, followed by Musical Theatre at CPA Studios, London. Whilst in training, Jack was cast as a dancer in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Jack also trained in Irish Dancing, competing in the World Championships where he joined the Riverdance lineup to achieve the Longest ‘Riverdance’ Line Guinness World Record and shortly after toured China.
Theatre credits include: Titanic the Musical (TIE Tour), Gaelforce Dance (China & Germany), Dance Masters (3 European Tours), Rhythm of the Dance (UK Tour), Celtic Dream (UK Tour), Rhythm of the Dance (Baku European Olympic Games), Jack & The Beanstalks (Lowestoft), Aladdin (Tenbury Wells).
Jack has worked for CDM agency representing performers in all areas of the industry and directed the UK Tour DEAR SANTA which has led to him producing professional productions and working as a freelance creative. Jack made his West End debut as Irish Dance Choreographer and Irish Dance Ensemble in The Pirate Queen UK Premier 2020 at the London Coliseum.
Jack is so excited to be performing with the outstanding X-Entricity for the first time and sharing the stage with such talented, lovely people.
Sam Morrish: Ubaldo Piangi
Sam has been performing from a young age, appearing in several shows throughout school and college. After taking a hiatus to study for a degree, Sam returned to the stage in 2017 appearing as Sweaty Eddie in Hereford Musical Theatre Company’s production of Sister Act.
Since then, Sam has joined X-Entricity and has been with them ever since. He has played a number of great roles (adopting a lot of accents!) including Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls, Chino in West Side Story, Charlie Price in Kinky Boots, and the eponymous green ogre himself in Shrek The Musical.
Sam is thrilled to be joining such an exciting production of The Phantom of the Opera in the role of Ubaldo Piangi – especially excited to be alongside an incredible 45-piece orchestra. He hopes you enjoy every second! And remember, stay out of box 5…
Beth Melling: Madame Giry
Since graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Beth has taken a more ‘behind the scenes’ role, working as a singing teacher and choir leader throughout Herefordshire.
Her last performance with an orchestra was 8 years ago at the Birmingham Town Hall, playing the role of Mary Magdalene in Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God, where she was 7 months pregnant! Now that her children are in school, she is thrilled to return to the stage. Beth’s vocal passions span classical, musical theatre, and jazz, with a special highlight being performing in The Phantom of the Opera.
Gratitude to X-entricity Theatre for this incredible opportunity!
Chloe Violet Morgan: Meg Giry
Chloe Violet Morgan, a 17-year-old performer, has six years of classical training under her belt. With an impressive repertoire, she has graced the stage in numerous Ludwig Theatre Arts productions, leaving audiences captivated.
This year Chloe took part in the Herefordshire performing arts festival, and she claimed victory in both her categories and took centre stage at the winners’ gala. Currently, she continues to pursue her passion for performing arts at Hereford College of Arts, where her dedication and talent are bound to shine even brighter in the future.
About the show…
Get ready to be transported to the catacombs of the Paris Opera House by a live 45 piece orchestra and glorious vocalists in this concert performance of The Phantom of the Opera. A masked figure falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.
Phantom Of The Opera in Concert runs from Monday 28 – Wednesday 30 August at The Courtyard.