Karen Buchanan
Producer / Director
Tess Townsend
Director / Production Manager / PR
Tess has been a professional showcaller/producer in the world of corporate events for 40 years, but her great passion is all things thespian, particularly community theatre.
Starting a new theatre club during lockdown was never going to be easy, but Tess was excited by the inclusive nature of Upstage and its aim of celebrating local talent.
She was thrilled when Esher Theatre invited Upstage to create material to be performed there on a regular basis.
Tess holds a BEd in Drama and a Diploma in Theatre Production but when not producing theatre, she loves spending time with her 3 gorgeous grandchildren, Phoenix, Blake and Kenzo.
Ian Stewart
Web Design and Editing
Ian Stewart's main contributions to Upstage Theatre Company are the design of the website that you are looking at, and the editing of some radio plays.
But when asked if he wanted a part in Air BnB, he jumped at the chance to dust off his native Scottish accent and use it for something other than reciting poetry on Burns Night. And that led to a part in Prerogative at the Barn Theatre, Molesey and the radio play Life's Too Short. Having been interested in magic tricks since childhood, he was delighted to play The Amazing Zee in Risky Business.
Though relatively new to acting, Ian is no stranger to the stage having played bass in a semi-pro rock band for many years.
Neil Armstrong
Photography and Sound
By the age of just six Neil was playing Sax with Count Basie and his band!
Clearly a promising career of fabrication and wild invention lay ahead of him. Neil chose Television and Film Production.
Starting as a Film Assistant at the BBC in 1985, he evolved into a Director and Series Producer, making countless hours of TV for all the major Broadcasters. In recent years Neil has made films and commercials for some of the largest Multinational companies.
Regarding AM DRAM, Neil has played in numerous productions, from Oberon in Midsummer Nights Dream to The White Knight in Alice in Wonderland, plus Norfolk in A Man For All Seasons, to name but a few. He has also directed plays which include Dads Army, Fawlty Towers and Four Weddings and an Elvi”.
Neil does not play the sax.
Emma Bradley
Backstage
Abby discovered a passion for theatre post-pandemic and has appeared onstage in various roles including a pantomime parrot. She is more at home backstage, where she puts her engineering qualifications to use in stage management and the cunning manufacture of props and costumes. In the run-up to a production, her house can resemble the Blue Peter set.
She has TV experience as part of the Cambridge undergraduate team that achieved the worst score on record on University Challenge!
David Buchanan
Props and Graphics
Dave has dabbled in acting, both on screen and in live theatre.
He was cast as John Carstairs in the Marple production of Why didn't they ask Evans? and proudly says that he did the stunt himself, (being pushed off a cliff).
His other claim to fame used to be that he'd given the gun to Phil Mitchell in Eastenders, but this was surpassed by his experience in Graham Norton's red chair.
Colin Hansford
Sound Editor
Colin has been designing and providing sound effects and music for various amateur groups, mainly Ember Players and Claygate Dramatic Society, since the 1970’s, and after more than 200 productions he feels he is now beginning to get the hang of it.
He’s never had the urge to be on stage, but prefers to be backstage. Having won the 6th Form drama contest at school, he felt it best to stop at the peak of his acting career.
Nicola Barranger
Photographer
Nicky draws on her interviewing and production skills to work in Voice Over and photography. It’s just another way of telling a story.
Morayo Lasebikan
Morayo is studying textiles at college and hopes to become a costume designer for theatre and film. She has her sights on studying at Bournemouth University so is gaining work experience with Upstage to help with her personal statement.
Morayo is very creative enjoying sewing, crocheting and art in her free time.
Jonathan Palmer
Jonathan Palmer has been a DoP and Camera Operator for over 20 years across TV, commercial and corporate productions. He is never happier than when he is behind a camera (or a guitar, music being his first passion).
Starting out in TV as a runner he quickly progressed to become freelance where he has enjoyed regular work at The Casting Suite in Soho and The Actor’s Studio, Pinewood where he worked with directors, acting and dialogue coaches to produce showreels for up coming talent from across the globe.
He is looking forward to being involved in Upstage Surrey capturing behind the scenes and live recordings of upcoming productions and is always looking for interesting short film projects or showreels
.
Jonathan is a great asset to Upstage, and has already started capturing
School Spirit and
Sauce Wars in rehearsal.