Oldham Theatre Workshop
The Oldham Theatre and Music Workshop is a youth theatre group based in the north west of England. Outline Founded by David Johnson in , the Oldham Theatre Workshop has a purpose-built studio located in its own building off Oldham's Union Street, in company with a gallery, a museum and a library. The workshop provides all-year-round drama training to young people, with classes ranging from the playful and fun 6–8-year-olds, to challenging, devising and practitioner study for those aged 16–25. Each year the workshop produces two large-scale productions — one in December, one in June — which are often staged at the historic Oldham Coliseum Theatre. The Oldham Theatre Workshop is now managed by the Education and Cultural Services Department of Oldham, in Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority, combined authority area in North West England, with a population of 2.8 million; comprising ten metropolitan boroughs: City of Manc ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, amid the Pennines and between the rivers Irk and Medlock, southeast of Rochdale and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, which had a population of 237,110 in 2019. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, and with little early history to speak of, Oldham rose to prominence in the 19th century as an international centre of textile manufacture. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and among the first ever industrialised towns, rapidly becoming "one of the most important centres of cotton and textile industries in England." At its zenith, it was the most productive cotton spinning mill town in the world,. producing more cotton than France and Germany combined. Oldham's textile industry fell into decline in the mid-20th century; the town's last mill closed in 1998. The demise of textile processing in Oldham depressed and heavily ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Michelle Holmes
Michelle Holmes (born Corinne Michelle Cunliffe; 1 January 1967, Rochdale, Lancashire), is an English actress who has appeared in several television serials. Career Holmes performed in a pop band called the Dunky Dobbers. She changed her professional name to gain entry to the actors' union Equity. Holmes' first acting role was in the ITV soap ''The Practice'' as Susan Turner the receptionist. Originally she was given a part as an extra, but after pestering the producers at Granada with multiple phone calls, she was given an audition for Susan which was successful. Holmes came to prominence as Sue, one of the babysitters in ''Rita, Sue and Bob Too'' who are seduced by an older man. A year later she appeared as Goth Jenny in ''Damon and Debbie'', and as Tina Fowler in ''Coronation Street''. Holmes played Yvonne Sparrow in the first three series of '' Goodnight Sweetheart'', and Maggie Coles in ''Firm Friends''. She appeared as Marie in two series of '' Common as Muck''. H ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Michael Le Vell
Michael Robert Turner (born 15 December 1964), known professionally as Michael Le Vell, is an English actor. He is best known for his role as mechanic Kevin Webster in the long-running ITV (TV channel), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', a role he has played since 1983. Early life Le Vell was born in Newton Heath, Manchester. When he was fifteen, his mother died from a brain tumour, and when he was 22, his father died of lung cancer. He has a brother, Phil and two sisters. Career Le Vell began his acting career in the Oldham Theatre Workshop after taking an interest in amateur dramatics while at school. He had a guest role as paperboy Neil Grimshaw in ''Coronation Street''. He then went on to appear in the BBC shows ''Fame is the Spur (TV series), Fame is the Spur'' and ''One by One (TV series), One by One''. Le Vell later attended an audition at Granada Studios for the series ''Scully (TV series), Scully'', where he met casting director Judy Hayfield. Hayfield presumed that ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Marsha Thomason
Marsha Lisa Thomason Sykes (born 19 January 1976) is a British television and film actress who is best known for playing Sara Evers in Disney's ''The Haunted Mansion'', Nessa Holt in the first two seasons of the NBC series ''Las Vegas'', Naomi Dorrit on the ABC series ''Lost'', FBI agent Diana Berrigan on the USA Network series '' White Collar'' and DS Jenn Townsend in ITV crime series '' The Bay''. Early life Thomason was born in Moston, Manchester, the daughter of English father Peter Thomason, who worked in politics, and Phyllis (''née'' McCrae), a Jamaican electronics company employee. She attended Holy Trinity Primary School in Harpurhey and North Manchester High School for Girls in Moston, before attending Oldham Sixth Form College to study for A levels in media studies, theatre studies, and performing arts. Thomason attended the Manchester Metropolitan University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. From the age of 13, Thomason attended Oldham Theatre Worksh ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nicola Stephenson
Nicola Stephenson (born 5 July 1971) is an English actress. She played the roles of Margaret Clemence in ''Brookside'', Julie Fitzjohn in '' Holby City'', Sarah Williams in '' The Chase'', Allie Westbrook in '' Waterloo Road'', and Tess Harris in ''Emmerdale''. Life and career She was born in Oldham, Lancashire and attended North Chadderton School for her secondary education. Career She is known mainly for her roles in television, which include Margaret Clemence in Channel 4's ''Brookside''; Stephenson's on-air kiss with Anna Friel (Beth Jordache) was the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to be broadcast on British television. In 2012 the kiss was broadcast to over 5 billion people when it was included as part of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle. The opening ceremony was broadcast uncensored in 76 countries where homosexuality is illegal and therefore became the first homosexual kiss to be broadcast in these countries. Other roles have i ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cat Simmons
Cat Simmons is an English actress, known for her role as DC Kezia Walker in the long-running ITV drama ''The Bill'', and for starring in ''Family Affairs'' as Scarlett Anderson. She also played Sista Twista in ''Life and Lyrics''. She also made appearances in ''No Angels'' and ''Casualty''. The daughter of a singer and nurse, her mother is English and her father is Guyanese. Simmons trained with the Oldham Theatre Workshop and National Youth Music Theatre and studied at Pleckgate High School, Mathematics and Computing College. Simmons has worked in numerous stage shows. Her work includes Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's production of ''Oliver!'', Mary Magdalene in Gale Edwards' ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', the Young Vic's sell-out production of Langston Hughes' ''Simply Heavenly'' as Joyce, and the Princess in ''Aladdin'' alongside Ian McKellen. In 2005, Simmons collaborated with music group Three Levels and released a track called "Rock U 2Nite". Simmons returned to the Young Vi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Danny Seward
Danny Seward is a British television actor and singer-songwriter who was born in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. He started his career at the age of 15 under the tuition of David Johnson at the Oldham Theatre Workshop. He landed his first TV role in the soap ''Emmerdale'' for 3 episodes playing Greg Cox. Soon after, he won a major television role playing the part of cocky P.C Dean Wishaw in BBC2's award-winning TV series '' The Cops''. The show won two consecutive BAFTA awards for Best Drama Series in 1999 and 2000, plus an RTS award. During 2001–2005 Danny Seward appeared on the ITV drama series '' Where The Heart Is'', playing Joe Beresford. His character was involved in a musical storyline, which led EMI to sign him to record an album. Danny's debut album ''Where My Heart Is'' features 2 self-penned tracks including "Heart of A Winner", inspired by British boxing champion Ricky Hatton). He subsequently developed the idea for a DVD titled ''Ricky Hatton - A Life Sto ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Matt Roper
Matt Roper is a British comedian, writer and musician. Career Roper made his comedy debut in London during the late-1990s and is noted for his early work in sketch comedy at the Jermyn Street Theatre and in the satirical sketch show ''Newsrevue'' at the Canal Caf é Theatre. He first gained prominence with his creation of Wilfredo, a grotesque satire of a Mediterranean romantic singer that has divided critics, leading them to proclaim him as "strangely endearing",Wilfredo: Erecto! Review – Edinburgh Festival Fringe Chortle.com, retrieved 30-08-12 "utterly charming and uplifting", [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lisa Riley
Lisa Jane Riley (born 13 July 1976) is an English actress and television presenter. Riley portrayed Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' between 1995 and 2001, and again from 2019. She also replaced Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of ''You've Been Framed!'' between 1998 and 2002. She was also a contestant on the tenth series of ''Strictly Come Dancing'', and a panellist on the ITV daytime series ''Loose Women''. Career Riley trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop from the age of nine, and was signed by an agent three years later. Riley's early roles included appearances as an extra in both ''Coronation Street'' and ''Brookside'' as well as a cast member in ''Butterfly Kiss'' which was directed by Michael Winterbottom. She then appeared in a guest role as Mandy Dingle in the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'' in 1995. After proving popular with the audience, Riley was invited to join the soap's regular cast the following year. In 1996, Riley won the National Television Aw ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kirsty-Leigh Porter
Kirsty-Leigh Porter (born 30 December 1988) is an English actress, known for her roles in British soap operas, including portraying Zoe Willson on ''Coronation Street'', Roz Fielding on ''Emmerdale'' and Leela Lomax on ''Hollyoaks''. Career Porter attended Oldham Theatre Workshop and trained extensively in dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern dance. She has played a number of small roles on British television, including ''Doctors'', ''The Royal Today'', '' Shameless'' and '' Ashes to Ashes''. Porter went on to have larger roles in the children's television programme ''My Spy Family'', as Marcy, and ''The Street'' as Ellie. It was announced in July 2009 that Porter had been cast in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' as the girlfriend of long established character David Platt ( Jack P. Shepherd). After her role in ''Coronation Street'', Porter was cast in another ITV soap, ''Emmerdale'', as the best friend of Holly Barton ( Sophie Powles). Her ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sarah Lancashire
Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire (born 10 October 1964) is an English actress from Oldham, England. She graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1986 and began her career in local theatre, whilst teaching drama classes at the Salford University. Lancashire was cast in television programmes including '' Coronation Street'' (1991–1996, 2000), '' Where the Heart Is'' (1997–1999), ''Clocking Off'' (2000) and ''Seeing Red'' (2000) and earned widespread recognition. In July 2000, Lancashire signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network which made her the UK's highest paid television actress. Subsequent television roles include the costume dramas ''Oliver Twist'' (2007), ''Lark Rise to Candleford'' (2008–2011) and '' The Paradise'' (2012), and the fact based dramas '' Cherished'' (2005) and ''Five Daughters'' (2010). Since the 2010s, Lancashire has earned success and critical acclaim for her roles in the drama series ''Last Tango in Halifax'' ( ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Andrew Knott
Andrew Knott (born 22 November 1979) is a British actor. He played Dirtbox in ''Gavin & Stacey'', and Dickon Sowerby in the 1993 film ''The Secret Garden''. Life and career Knott was born in Salford. His first acting was done in British television and radio programmes. He was trained in the Oldham Theatre Workshop. Knott's first major film was Warner Brothers' ''The Secret Garden'' in 1993, in which he played Dickon Sowerby. He went on to play Joe Green in ''Black Beauty''. In the late 1990s, he played Darren Featherstone and Liam Shepherd in '' Coronation Street''. In 2004, he returned to theatre to act in Alan Bennett's ''The History Boys''. The National Theatre production later toured the world, affording Knott his Broadway debut. He reprised his role on BBC radio, and in Bennett's film adaptation which was directed by the National's Nicholas Hytner. In 2011, he appeared in " The National Anthem", an episode of the anthology series ''Black Mirror''. Knott most recently ap ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |