Say My Name: d-AE-n AAM- STRONG

Originally from the New Forest, Dan trained in Contemporary Theatre at East 15 and later studied at The Curious School of Puppetry. Dan has previously worked with Tall Stories in The Smeds and The Smoos.

Dan’s previous credits include Dragons & Mythical Beasts (International Tour), TheSnowmouse (The Egg), Peter Pan (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Flew The Coop (New Diorama), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scottish Opera) and Pinocchio (Strike-A-Light)

His television credits include Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared (Channel 4), The Third Day (Punchdrunk/HBO)

If you could fly anywhere, where would you fly to?

To the top of Kilimanjaro, I’ve heard the views are amazing up there!

What would your magnificent broom look like and what would it do?

It would glow in the dark and have the softest seat for long journeys. It would shrink when we flew so we were as small as a pea and could explore every tiny nook and cranny!

If you could cast one spell, what would it be?

To instantly turn anything into a stack of pancakes, I love pancakes.

Say My Name: AY-me HA-ris

Amy is originally from Portishead just outside Bristol, she trained at Drama Studio London. Amy previously worked with Tall Stories performing in both Room on the Broom (UK/USA Tour/West End) and The Snowdragon (UK Tour/Sydney Opera House).

Other theatre credits include Four Seasons (Little Bulb Theatre/Bristol Old Vic), The Parcel (Theatre Alibi), Moby Dick (Darkstuff Productions/Tobacco Factory Theatres), As You Like It (Apricity Theatre) and film credits include: Swimming: How Far is Too Far? and Rocket.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

‘Room on the Broom’ has taken me all over the world and introduced me to so many brilliant little fans of the book. I have loved my time on it and keep coming back for more!

What was your favourite story as a child?

‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’ – so much mischief in one story!

What possession would you really not want to lose?

I have a beautiful motorbike that I like to ride in the sunshine. I don’t mind getting lost on it, but I would be very sad if it got lost.

Say My Name: J-oh Lind-lee

Originally from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Joe trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

This is Joe’s first time working with Tall Stories. Other theatre credits include Frozen (Disneyland Paris), The Wave (European Tour), Greenwood Dreams (Claybody Theatre), Spellz (UK Tour) and The Sam Wanamaker Festival (Shakespeare’s Globe). His television and film credits include All at Sea (BBC), Puck (Short Film) and Divine Intervention (Short Film).

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I absolutely loved performing at Disney. Living in Paris was amazing and I spent all day hanging out with Elsa, Anna and Olaf which was pretty cool.

What was your favourite story as a child?

Room on the Broom was definitely a favourite of mine, so much so, that I once went to school dressed as the witch for World Book Day!

What possession would you really not want to lose?

I wouldn’t want to lose my headphones because I need to be listening to music wherever I go (mostly so that I can pretend I’m in a music video).

Say My Name: Na-dee-uh Sh-ash

Nadia is from Northamptonshire and trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. This is Nadia’s first production with Tall Stories. Other theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cheltenham Everyman & tour), Aladdin (Regal, Tenbury Wells), Pockets of Power (Scary Little Girls/Glastonbury Festival), Dick Whittington and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Chipping Norton), The Wishing Tree (Little Angel Theatre and Emily Rising (Little Angel/Goblin Theatre).

Nadia’s TV credits include Casualty, The Midwich Cuckoos, East Enders, Ted Lasso, Years and Years and Kingmakers. She has also appeared in Control (Short film), For The King II (Video Game) voiceover work on various features for Sky Sports and various radio and television commercials.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

Shows where I have learned something new – a new skill, facts about a particular subject and projects that are close to my heart.

What would your magnificent broom look like and what would it do?

There would be room for me and my dog and it would have a magical oxygen bubble around it so that we could dive underwater and swim with whales and dolphins.

If you could cast one spell, what would it be?

I’d make it so that I could speak and understand dog language and my dog Hera could understand English and then we chat to each other.

Say My Name: Eh-d THEEK-stun

Ed Theakston is a performer, theatre-maker and all-round clown who trained on the BA Acting & Contemporary Theatre course at East 15 Acting School. Ed’s theatre credits include Buttons in Cinderella (Compass Theatre), Skin in the Game (New Wimbledon Theatre), Eight Percent (Bush Theatre), The Others (Camden People’s Theatre) and The Elders (Theatro Technis).

On-screen, their feature film debut in The Renata Road had its premiere in Los Angeles, was in the Official Selection of eight international film festivals and won multiple awards including the Milan Gold Award for Best Indie Feature. Ed also appears in the music video for Sam Fender’s breakthrough hit single Dead Boys and short films The Microbial Verdict and Compound.

Other credits include development projects for the RSC, Team Angelica and Complicité. Ed is also a playwright and is currently a member of the Soho Theatre Writers’ Lab.

If you could fly anywhere, where would you fly to?

I’ve always loved Greek myths, so I would fly to the very tip top of Mount Olympus to see if I could find the mythical Greek gods – and Pegasus!

What would your magnificent broom look like and what would it do?

It would be brightly coloured and sparkly and have a glorious long tail that flowed in the wind and a cosy seat for my pet cat (she’s called Squirrel).

If you could cast one spell, what would it be?

I would cast a spell so that all animals could talk to any human who wanted to listen – so we could speak to dogs and cats and horses and frogs and fish.

Say My Name: HOL-lee G-len

Originally from Northern Ireland, Holly now lives in England after studying at Rose Bruford College. Holly is a stage manager who enjoys working in new writing and children’s theatre.

Previous shows Holly has worked on include, Route 158 (Punchdrunk Enrichment/Tour), The Instrumentals (Southbank Centre), WOW! It’s Nighttime (Little Angel Theatre), The Nightwoman (The Barbican) and Sleeping Beauty (The Grange Theatre)

What was your favourite story as a child?

The Hollyhock Wall. I really enjoyed the story because the main character looked like me and I liked the illustrations.

What possession would you really not want to lose?

My childhood teddy bear who I named after one of my sisters.

If you could fly anywhere, where would you fly to?

I would fly all the way to the seaside village my Grandad is from in County Clare.