"Energetic and entertaining"
What's Peen Seen
"Expertly treading the line between cheese and charm"
Broadway Baby
"The music cannot be faulted"
Broadway Baby
Reviews from our last show, Arthur's Quest (Book & Lyrics by Lydia Shaw, Music by Edward Court)
Lydia Shaw
Book, Lyrics & Story
Edward Court
Music & Story
Lydia is a Writer, Actor, Singer, Dancer, Musician, and Teacher.
She graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London with a 1st BA (hons) in English and Drama, before going on to train at the London School of Musical Theatre.
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As a writer, Lydia loves writing for a wide variety of genres, including plays, TV, novels, poetry, articles and, of course, musicals. Her TV pilot, THE BACK ROW-ERS, was recently shortlisted for the UKTV/Female Pilot Club script callout. She also has several other writing projects in the works - a novel for young adults (SPY INC.), a two-hander play (CONKERS) and a TV series (WATERLOO). She also collaborated with Ed on new musical, ARTHUR'S QUEST, which received 5 stars and was nominated for 6 Musical Theatre Network awards for it's premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Lydia also frequently writes articles about positive psychology and fitness, which are shared through a variety of online publications.
As well as writing, Lydia also teaches singing, dancing, acting, musical theatre and LAMDA to students across the UK and internationally. She loves nurturing young talent and inspiring young people to find their voice and confidence through the arts.
Finding creative ways to share valuable messages and inspire positivity is one of Lydia's biggest passions. She also pursues her desire to spread happiness and wellbeing through her company, JIGGLE FITNESS. Since founding the company in 2019, she has helped hundreds of women to celebrate their bodies, find confidence & enjoyment in exercise and improve their mental & physical health. Running in-person and online workouts, wellbeing sessions and a weekly Mood Boost email, Jiggle provides a holistic approach to feeling good.
For the past 8 years Lydia has been working as a perfomer in various areas in the industry from actor musician work, to musical theatre, to family shows to cabarets. Lydia's most recent acting credits include: Marnie (MARNIE & THE KALEIDOSCOPE, Original Workshop Cast) Merry (CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR: RETURN OF THE FROST, Regent Centre), Alice (ALICE IN WONDERLAND, various), Fairy Flustered (CINDERELLA, Grantham Arts Centre), Gloria Day (ME AND THE GIRLS, UK tour), Joy Maw (FERGUSON'S GANG, Yvonne Arnaud), White Witch (NARNIA, Brentwood Theatre), Guinevere (ARTHUR'S QUEST, Edinburgh Fringe), Solo Cabaret (TELLING TALES, Ye Olde Rose & Crown).
Lydia has also worked on a number of shows with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra as a singer, including CANDIDE (Cadogan Hall), CAMELOT (London Palladium), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Lyceum) and MACK AND MABEL (Hackney Empire).
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Ed is a Composer, Musical Director, Pianist, Teacher, Actor and Singer.
He trained at Youth Music Theatre UK, Junior Guildhall and Performance Preparation Academy.
As a Composer, Ed has had commissions from Theatre 503 and Petersfield Shakespeare Festival, creating scores for SHADOW KINGDOMS and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS respectively. His musical adaptation of NOTRE DAME was chosen out of over 80 submissions as the ‘New Musical Project’ for Chichester University’s degree programme. Previous musicals include ARTHUR’S QUEST (Edinburgh Fringe - MTN Award Nominee) and WANTED - THE LEGEND OF ROBIN HOOD (written and produced aged 18 and receiving the Colchester Youth Award for Outstanding Achievement).
Prior to the closure of theatres last year, Ed was performing in the UK Tour of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. In Amazon’s Christmas commercial, he featured as a ‘singing box’, was a member of the ‘Popera’ group, ANDANTE on a cruise round Japan and featured on the Studio Cast Recording of ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY with London Musical Theatre Orchestra.
As Musical Director, Ed was most recently MD on the feature film IN PIECES by Joey Contreras which will be released later this year. He has worked on a number of digital theatre shows with Future Spotlight Productions through the pandemic. Other lockdown projects include Keys II on SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (London Palladium).
For the past five years, Ed has been MD for Joe Pasquale working at some of the largest UK venues for Qdos Pantomimes. Thriving on creative and actor-musician projects, Ed has also been MD for JERRY’S GIRLS (Other Palace), WINNIE & WILBUR (Workshop - Birmingham REP), BAR MITZVAH BOY (Gatehouse) and GATSBY (Live At Zedel).
Having worked at Guildford School Of Acting, LAMDA and Chichester University, and teaching singing privately, Ed has a passion for helping individuals realise their potential with their voice.
Working as a pianist in a variety of settings, Ed has performed at the MTN AWARDS, UDDERBELLY FESTIVAL and plays regularly at OVERTURES, Musical Theatre Piano Bar. He was also Childrens’ Audition Accompanist for JOSEPH (London Palladium) and Rehearsal Pianist for MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS (Toronto).
HATCHED! marks Ed’s second collaboration with Lydia, and the project has been a wonderful shining light through the various lockdowns. I hope it is as much fun to listen to as it has been for us to create!