Grove Productions
The Production Team
Artistic Director
Paul Avery
Paul Avery is a film and theatre director. Paul founded Grove Productions in 2020 and we took the leap into theatre production last year. Paul has directed several short films, including Calon Lan (2021), which garnered international acclaim at film festivals. Paul also directed his first feature film at university in 2020 called Cornerstone. Paul’s theatre directing credits include Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol (2014), A Bunch of Amateurs by Nick Newman and Ian Hislop (2018), Supernormal by Joy-Amy Wigman (2023 & 2024) and Macbeth by William Shakespeare (2024). Paul has also Directed A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens which Grove will be performing later in the year.
Dramaturg/Operations
Laurie Avery
Laurie Avery is an Operations Director and Dramaturg for Grove Productions. Having spent 40 years in education latterly as a Head Teacher in Istanbul Turkey, Laurie with his son Paul decided to set up a schools’ production company. His first theatre production, as producer, was Grove Productions extremely successful ‘Macbeth’. Previously, Laurie was assistant producer on short films like Calon Lan. Laurie is passionate about encouraging students into the performing arts to enhance their education and foster an interest in the arts.
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Production Manager
Jess Lingard-Nut
Jess is a Stage Manager, Theatremaker, and founder of JLN Theatre Services. From theatre administration to set building, Jess strives to support local artists. After graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London she has been involved in multiple productions, most notably as fundraising coordinator for BlackHound Production’s original productions of ‘Seeds of Memories’ and ‘Alright?’ at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe, Stage Manger for ‘The Crown and The Cotswolds’ at the Irving Studio Theatre in Spring 2023 and Company Stage Manager for IKP’s 2023 Christmas Tour of ‘Peter Pan’. She joined Grove Productions in Spring 2024 as the DSM for Macbeth, and has progressed to become the Production Manager for the company.
Assistant Director
Moa Myerson
Moa Myerson is a Cheltenham based actor, singer and performance coach. She gained her Masters in Acting at Arts Ed in 2019 and has since been teaching and performing professionally on both stage and screen. Theatre credits include: Charlotta in “The Cherry Orchard”; Madame Arcati in “Blithe Spirit” and member of Roll The Damn Dice, a live Dungeons and Dragons comedy show and YouTube channel. As a founding member of Grove she is incredibly proud of being able to bring theatre alive to students studying the texts and delve in to roles she wouldn't normally get the opportunity to play. Such as Banquo, Hecate & Lord Siward in “Macbeth” and Gabriel Utterson in Jekyll and Hyde. A highlight would be performing as Ana, Lucy and Ariadne in “Super Normal and Other Short Plays”, one of Grove's first productions before breaking into school syllabus texts.
In House Writer/MD
Joy-Amy Wigman
Joy-Amy is an actor, writer, and singer who originally trained at the London School of Musical Theatre. She has performed at the London Old Vic, and the Cochrane Theatre London and as well as the Royal Albert Hall. Last year, the show 'Super/Normal and Other Short Plays', which Joy-Amy wrote and performed in, premiered at The Cheltenham Playhouse to five-star reviews. Earlier this year, she played Lady Macbeth in Grove's Production of Macbeth. Joy-Amy is a regular cast member with The Caamora Theatre Company and appears on two of their cast albums. Her theatre credits include - 'Avenue Q', 'Calamity Jane', 'One Man, Two Guvnors', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'King's Ransom', 'Noises Off' and many more. Joy-Amy can also be found playing Dungeons and Dragons in the Roll The Damn Dice podcast and live theatre shows.
Maketing
Alex Lake
Alex is an Actor, Writer, and Theatremaker, with extensive stage and screen experience. Alex graduated from the University of Worcester in 2019, and has gone on to be described as "a real success story from the alumni". Alex's has worked across the UK in various theatrical roles, as well as working on with the BBC, Channel 4, and Sky. In 2024 Alex made his big screen debut. Alex is one of the original members of the Grove Productions company and has performed in Macbeth (Macduff), Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Blake and Newcomen), and A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Present).
Lighting Designer
Jacob Gregory
Jacob is a Scenographer and Audio-Visual Technician. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was their first show with Grove Productions. After graduating from Royal Holloway University, Jacob played a key role in creating technical effects and designs for original productions; most notable of these being ‘Seeds of Memories’, which successfully debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022 to 5-star reviews. Today, Jacob is the Lead Technician of the ‘Sundial Theatre’ at Cirencester College. They routinely work with bands and artists on their national tours, as well as supporting local production companies and the college’s students and staff.
Lighting and Sound Operator
Brenna Martin
After moving to Gloucestershire in 2015, Brenna was immediately surrounded with theatre by volunteering backstage at The Cheltenham Playhouse and The Everyman Theatre with various local companies. She quickly fell in love with every aspect of the theatre, both on the stage and behind the scenes, but most of all she fell in love with lighting, so she was very excited when she got the opportunity to work with Grove Productions as their lights and sound operator! She very much enjoyed operating for Macbeth and Jekyll & Hyde, and she can't wait to see what's next!
The Cast
Cast
Alex Lake
Macbeth - Duncan and Macduff Jekyll and Hyde - Blake, Inspector Newcomen Multi-role Track 1 A Christmas Carol - Mr Fezziwig and Ghost of Christmas Present
Cast
Charlotte Swarbrick
Macbeth - Malcom and Servant Jekyll and Hyde - Richard Enfield, Danvers Carew, Little Girl
Cast
Corrina Mcdermott
A Christmas Carol - Scrooge
Cast
Daniel Bates
A Christmas Carol - Ghost of Christmas Past, Tiny Tim, Topper, Carol Singer, Mrs Dilber, Beggar
Cast
Joy-Amy Wigman
Macbeth - Lady Macbeth, Messenger Jekyll and Hyde - Dr Lanyon, Maid A Christmas Carol - Understudy Belle Track
Cast
Joseph Harredine
Macbeth - Macbeth Jekyll and Hyde - Poole A Christmas Carol - Bob Cratchet, Dick Wilkins, Undertaker, Belle's Husband
Cast
Lauren Holland
Macbeth - Witch 3, Messenger, Donaldbain, Gentle Woman, Lady McDuff, Fleance Jekyll and Hyde - Multi-Role Track 2 A Christmas Carol - Marley, Mrs Fezziwig, Mrs Cratchet, Rose, Charwoman, Boy scrooge, Maid
Cast
Lucy Wordsworth
Macbeth - Captain, Young MacDuff, Seyton, Lennox, Young Siward Jekyll and Hyde - Hyde
Cast
Moa Myerson
Macbeth - Banquo, Hecate, Siward, Messenger Jekyll and Hyde - Gabriel Utterson A Christmas Carol - Narrator, Martha, Lily and the Ghost of Christmas Future
Cast
Stephen Santouris
Macbeth - Ross, Mentieth Jekyll and Hyde - Jekyll A Christmas Carol - Fred, Young Scrooge, Peter, Boy
Cast
Edward Derbyshire
A Christmas Carol - Understudy Scrooge