CAST | Embracing Arts

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'Chrimblesense' Cast & Creatives

CAST

FINN KEBBE - Joy (South West)

Finn is an actor-musician and facilitator with a wealth of experience in the arts, particularly in music and inclusive theatre practice. He first got a taste of Sensory Theatre while training at Drama School, and was lucky enough to be cast in a UK tour of a sensory show soon after.

His passion for this work has continued to grow, for the tangible impact it has on young people and families who haven't always had access to the arts, and the magical moments it can create for everyone involved. Finn is absolutely buzzing to be joining the cast of 'Chrimblesense' this year to help share some Christmasy joy!

EWAN S PIRES - Frosty (South West)

Ewan (he/they) is a non-binary actor, musician (double bass, guitar, percussion, and voice), and creative. Passionate about transdisciplinary and devised work, they love exploring human connection using music and sound as pathways for communication.

Recent credits include Chrimblesense 2024 (Embracing Arts), The Whispering Jungle (Concrete Youth), Fairyland and Winter Wonderland (Whippersnappers), Backyard Sessions (Bamboozle), Run to the Nuns (Brighton Fringe), and a London tour of Macbeth with the Primary Shakespeare Company.

Inspired by the transformative power of the arts, he is dedicated to creating moments of joy, connection, and magic.

BETH McKINNON - Beth (South West)

Beth (She/They) is an actor, singer and director. Since training at Trinity Laban she has performed with a range of musical theatre pieces, immersive theatre and children's productions. Alongside acting.

Beth supports disabled performers as a freelance PA and is so excited to bring together the two sides of their working life. They firmly believe that theatre should be accessible for everyone and can't wait to bring the spirit of 'Chrimblesense' to new audiences.

PEARSE DONOGHUE - Frosty (Midlands)

Pearse is a theatre maker and musician from Ireland. Having trained in MTU Cork School of Music Pearse works with people of all ages fostering inclusive, creative spaces across London. As an actor Pearse has a passion for developing engaging, inclusive shows that include the audience in the action as much as any performer.

As a musician Pearse leads community singing groups for all ages with the aim of fostering a love of community and music. Pearse keeps community, fun and adventure central to their practice, and will find a way to bring those ideals to any project!

MEGAN AUCOTT - Joy (Midlands)

Megan is a singer, actress and dancer who trained at Bird College. With a degree in musical theatre, and having previously worked at a SEN primary school, she is always finding new ways to create connections with people through music and art! This is Meg’s first time working with Embracing Arts and she couldn’t be more excited!

CHLOE BRADBURY - Chloe (Midlands)

Chloe is a sensory theatre performer, producer & facilitator. Chloe’s work predominantly focuses on working with vulnerable communities, particularly those labelled with a variety of additional needs, adults in recovery and/or with experience of the prison system, and women with children at risk of homelessness.

Chloe is the CEO & Artistic Director of her own company, Little Wild Theatre, whose work focuses on supporting children’s wellbeing through theatrical experiences of the natural world. Chloe has curated sensory dens for the largest children’s festival in the UK, TOT FEST, produced work for UK leading sensory theatre company Concrete Youth, and toured across the UK with the likes of Chickenshed Theatre as well as working internationally in Australia with Monkey Baa Theatre.

Inclusivity, sensory-led storytelling, sustainability and play are central to Chloe’s ethos as a performer and producer. She is beyond excited to be joining the Embracing Arts team, to spread Christmas magic to children and families all across the midlands!

CREATIVE TEAM

CLAIRE SUNDIN - Director

Claire has worked as a professional actor, singer and drama facilitator for nearly 25 years. She is the Artistic Director of Embracing Arts.

Her journey began with C4K in 2009 and is a founding member of the team. Having performed in numerous hospice shows, she tried her hand at directing and producing them and hasn't looked back. She has so far directed three digital shows for C4K as well as numerous in-person shows.

She is very excited to be back directing a new show for C4K to be played in person, and hopes everyone watching will enjoy the silliness and have lots of fun!

SARAH WINN - Assistant Director

Sarah Winn trained at the Oxford School of Drama and The School of Physical Theatre. She has led and been involved in various community theatre projects, including Pinpoint Create, "South End remember us" and Runcorn Passion. During her time with Ten Ten Theatre, she created theatre with young offenders and vulnerable adults.

She has worked for Embracing Arts as workshop assistant for the last 3 years and is passionate about sensory, fun and interactive performance.

KATIE HECHT - Production Manager

Katie has been working with C4K since 2016. As a performer she has been lucky enough to tour with the company, as well as enjoying an extensive career in Theatre, Film, TV and Radio.

Since moving to taking a mainly ‘behind the scenes’ role with C4K, Katie has expanded her repertoire into Stage & Production Manager, helping get the productions up on their feet and out on Tour. This year, she is excited to continue to use her knowledge of the Digital medium to produce Christmas for Kids shows in both digital and in-person formats.

CLAIRE GREENWAY - Musical Director

Claire Greenway trained at The Royal Academy of Music and was recently elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARAM) for her significant contribution to the profession. This now makes her Claire Greenway, ARAM PGdipRAM LRAM BMus!

She is a professional actor with 20 years experience in a variety of performing arts. Most notably, she originated the role of Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act the Musical at the London Palladium.

She has been a singing teacher and performance coach for over 20 years. She has loved working with Embracing Arts’ incredibly talented and passionate team and is proud to be part of the family!

SUE APPLEBY - Musical Supervisor

Sue is an actor, singer, musical director and singing teacher with nearly 25 years experience in the performing and coaching industries. She has performed in over 25 countries, at the National Theatre, The Royal Albert Hall, London's West End and in UK tours.

She runs her own singing teaching practice and also teaches on the BA course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Sue founded Christmas for Kids in 2009 and is thrilled with the charity's expansion into Embracing Arts.

ROBYN OLIVIA - Access Co-Ordinator

Robyn is a theatre maker, puppeteer and community arts facilitator. Having trained in European Theatre Arts at Rose Bruford College, she specialises in devised ensemble-based children’s and sensory theatre. Inclusivity, playfulness and community engagement is central to all aspects of her work. She has recently completed an R & D of her own show 'Under the Sea: A sensory Under Water Adventure' with support from Graeae and mentoring from Joanna Grace and Oily Cart.

MATTHEW DAVIDSON - Makaton Consultant

Matthew has been part of the Christmas for Kids family since 2017, originally joining as the character Elf in Benson's Christmas Letter.

Christmas for Kids marked the start of his journey into accessible theatre. He is now a Makaton Regional Tutor and exploring the ways in which the communication programme, and speech and language therapy strategies more generally, can be used to increase meaningful access to theatre.

RYAN MULGREW - Rehearsal Deputy Stage Manager

Ryan is a freelance stage manager and graduate of the University of Exeter and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Previous Stage Management credits include:

‘Double Act’ (The Lion & Unicorn), ‘Battersea Bardot’ (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio), ‘The Grain Store’ (The Mack), ‘Mrs Beeton Says...’ (The Mack), ‘The Little Mermaid’ (The Mack), ‘Le nozze di Figaro’ (Susie Sainsbury Theatre) and ‘Boy’ (Backstage Theatre).

SIMON ROWE - Designer

Simon was born and raised in Worcester and trained at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). As an actor, Simon has worked on national and international tours, regional theatre, London's West End and in television. Art credits: Scenery and props for C4K, props, puppets and poster art for Ripley Theatre Productions; 'The Little Tempest' (Edinburgh festival), 'Rumpelstiltskin', 'Jack and the Beans...talk!' (Brighton festival), set and puppets for Zara Nunn's short film 'Don't Look Behind You' and, most recently, fabrication of Macbeth's head for 'Macbeth' Epstein theatre, Liverpool.

Check out Simon's work on his website here: www.siromakes.com

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