Many people in Salisbury will have heard about, or indeed had the pleasure of listening to one of the five local community choirs run by Kate. But how many people know Kate’s amazing life story?
Brought up in a theatrical family, Kate knew she was destined to work in some aspect of music or theatre and has had a varied, and often glittering career, taking the opportunities that came her way.
Hear how her career started in rep theatre, travelling the UK, working in musicals as both musical director and participating musician. Featuring shows put on at the Edinburgh Festival and then West End in London…..but more stardom awaited her… as Musical Director of ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ which in 1989 beat ‘Miss Saigon’ to the Olivier Award for Best musical.
Return to the Forbidden Planet is a jukebox musical based on Shakespeare‘s play The Tempest and the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet. The show features a score of 1950s and ’60s rock and roll classics and dialogue largely adapted from well-known passages from Shakespeare.
Her career as a musical director gave her opportunities to travel the world; Australia, Norway and even Broadway! Hear her talk about the role of a Musical Director – arranging the music for a show, auditioning the cast, teaching everyone the music, coordinating music and often playing instruments too.
Anyone visiting a Salisbury Playhouse pantomime in the 1990’s would have enjoyed Kate’s work as composer, director and musical director. – what a legacy. She loved working in Salisbury so much that in In 2008 Kate moved to the Salisbury area and delights in its diversity of offerings.
Other opportunities have given Kate the chance to work nearer home, teaching, working on television shows and also recording audio books listened to by millions of people around the world. And, of course, start those community choirs! These proved particularly important during the last 2 years giving an opportunity for joy and friendship to many even if it was via Zoom.
What a rich career giving so much joy to so many people.
Interview & article J Hair
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