JACQUI WALKER: Chair
Jacqui is from Derbyshire and grew up visiting theatres which developed her love of the Performing Arts. After studying drama at university She became "addicted to performing on stage while in my first amateur role for HATS in Willy Russell's Stags and Hens - I've never looked back and have performed in scores of pantos and plays."
"Twenty-odd years ago I moved to Cumbria to start a family and found CADS. These days, as Chair, I'm committed to seeing the continued success of the society. But, with all this experience behind me, I know how hard it can be to keep an amateur group going. The best part of being in CADS is making new friends, working as a team and developing new skills and confidence. And thanks to CADS I've developed news interests and skills in crafts, stage management, production and more recently in directing. Along the way there has been much fun and laughter."
JANE SUGDEN: Treasurer
Jane joined CADS in 2010, and has trod the boards in many productions. She became treasurer twelve years ago but also tries her hand at all the backstage jobs: stage management, production, costume, set building, lighting, sound and, even, directing.
"I'm a retired nurse, living in Gilcrux with my husband, Ken. We met during my first production with CADS - as Katherine Parr in the Regina Monologues. Ken got talking to me during the interval, his chat up line being "you're really funny, you could do stand-up."
NICK STANLEY
With CADS since the start, and a valued member, Nick Stanley became an actor and a director with CADS utilising his knowledge and experience for teaching, writing, and open-mic readings of his creative writing. Nick was an English teacher but often directed his students to put on plays.
It was Nick who started up monthly play readings to encourage new members to CADS. He was also the first person in CADS to direct a Shakespeare play and he has enjoyed directing restoration plays such as Way of the World.
LEN WAINWRIGHT
Len began his acting career in 1968 with Liverpool Youth Theatre, where he once helped Willy Russell change a tyre!
A founder member of CADS, he has acted in and directed many plays over the years. Len's ambition is to play Prospero, but he doesn't think he's old enough yet.
STEVE DANIELS
LOUISE WATSON
DAVID PURCELL
David Purcell, born in Barton on Sea Hampshire, is the son of Actors Roy Purcell and Myrtle Moss. After a professional career including Theatre, Television and Films David retrained as a Solicitor and became a Criminal Defence advocate also working to protect the victims of Domestic Violence. He later became a Part-time Judge. He calls this his "Improvised Performing Arts period."
We're delighted David has returned to his acting roots and he has appeared in a number of short film, commercials, and even a music video by Dizzee Rascal. David is also an experienced director and his brother, Andrew, is a respected Production Designer for television. We're in good hands!
STEPHANIE LOUISE TOMLINSON
MARK LECKENBY
Mark had roles in three productions directed by David Purcell and Nick Stanley: A Christmas Carol, The Rivals (Nick Stanley), and a touring production of Home written by David Storey. And so began Mark's introduction to CADS.
But Mark is no stranger to acting.
"My parents were both enthusiastic Amateur Dramatic actors, so I first trod the boards circa 1971 in The Firstborn. I played a dead child, which involved no lines and very little to do (on account of being dead). If only later parts were such as this! I played larger parts over the next twenty-odd years followed by a thirty year break. In last year's panto production by CADS, Once Upon a Time in Pantoland, directed by Jacqui Walker, I played the Dame. I enjoy the social aspect of CADS (it's always fund trying to make Jacqui laugh on stage). Like the rest of the team, I help out backstage with whatever is necessary."
