COME FROM AWAY

Carey first joined KATS 11 years ago when she played a lead role in Steel Magnolias. In 2019, she returned to direct and choreograph Guys and Dolls and in the summer play of the same year, she played Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for which KATS won a NODA award for ‘Best Drama’. In 2022, she directed ‘9 to 5’ for which KATS received another NODA Award for ‘Best Small Musical.’ A year later she put her own twist on My Fair Lady  that gained a nomination for best company crafted musical. Although technically only the choreographer for Wind in the Willows, she unexpectedly found herself on stage playing ‘Mrs Otter’ last minute when a cast member fell ill. 

Last year she choreographed Our House and enjoyed the ensemble nature of the show so much she decided to pick another show written as an ensemble piece for this year , Come From Away, and she’s hoping after the many months of hard work and sleepless nights the decision will prove to be the right one. But with a cast and production team as strong as this one, she has little doubt.

Kathy is a classically trained musician, having gained her BMUS Hons at Goldsmiths College and then Piano Accompaniment Post-grad Certificate at Trinity Music College, London. 

She was brought up in a musical family and joined them on stage from an early age in numerous ‘family’ concerts. She has performed widely across the UK with the Plymouth Military Wives Choir, with whom she appeared at New York’s famous Carnegie Hall in 2016. Kathy has a wide-ranging repertoire from classical to musical theatre and has played in many theatre shows in the Devon locality.  Last year she was the Musical Director for the KATS show ‘Our House’. Kathy has enjoyed working with this smaller talented cast to bring ‘Come from Away’ to the stage. Kathy and her husband Wayne live in South Devon and have three grown up daughters.

Karen is still relatively new to the world of drama having never ventured into it until 3 years ago. This is her fourth KATS production as lead set designer. She loves to spend her free time researching material and create mood boards at home. She enjoys running workshops for other members who help create pieces for the stage set. Lots of cutting cardboard, sanding wood, gluing, painting – a real team effort which includes Anne Wilson and Sarah Fox.  

Forever appreciative of her husband Paul, who helps tirelessly haul large scenery pieces and wood supplies around. He also forms an integral part of the woodwork team along with Chris Brock and Nate Fox . Karen is lucky to have the support of such a great team which is not complete without the advice and mentorship she gets from the very talented and experienced Jill Brock (performing in Come From Away tonight).

Jules has enjoyed many years treading the boards with KATS and says that playing the part of ‘real’ people is an honour. The townsfolk of Gander showed how a community, when required, can pull together and produce amazing results. Their kindness, resilience and compassion to those 7,000 stranded passengers was extraordinary and Jules is thrilled to be part of such an ‘uplifting’ production.

Jasmine is so excited to join KATS’ rendition of Come From Away. After Wind in the Willows in 2024, Play On! 2025 and a year of Shakespeare with the Inn Theatre Company in Richard III and Dreams, Charms & Phantoms 2025, Come From Away has been a show like no other! She hopes you enjoy the beautiful message behind this incredible show.

James is delighted to be involved in this year’s musical and to return to the local stage. A long-standing enthusiast of theatre, he has previously appeared in school productions, community pantomimes, and other KATS productions. When not performing, James enjoys good coffee and supporting live theatre. He would like to thank the cast, creative team, friends, and family for their continued support

Wayne is delighted to be a part of Come From Away, for him it is poignant storytelling and will evoke many emotions and memories from the audiences. An experienced amateur, Wayne has enjoyed performing with KATS before, notably as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and a show-stopping lead in Guys and Dolls.  

He enjoys singing and performing, often alongside his wife Kathy(the show’s very talented musical director) and his daughters who have also performed with KATS and TOPS in Torbay. More recently Wayne has embraced the Bard, acting in the hilarious Much Ado About Nothing and the more serious Richard III with the Inn Theatre Company in Dartmouth. 

Jill says that playing the real-life character of Hannah is a huge privilege – as is being on stage with her daughter Ellie. Jill is more often found behind the scenes – designing, producing or directing – most recently, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. She also performs, directs and designs for The Inn Theatre Company in the open air at Dartmouth Castle.

It’s not often Ellie gets to share the stage with her mother, as Jill is normally behind the scenes! This makes this show even more special to her. In the Summer, Ellie looks forward to reprising the role of choreographer for the Inn Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and composer of incidental music for KATS’ upcoming comedy The 39 Steps.

Come from Away is Caroline’s first KATS production and her first time in a musical. She has spent the last few decades in the amateur dramatics wilderness, playing taxi driver to her children for their stage commitments! KATS have been so welcoming and the rehearsals, sing and playtime for adults, have been a lot of fun.

Ben (AKA Jam) has only recently come back to KATS after a few years spent in Bristol. Before they left us, they spent a decade of their life dancing between the various am-dram groups around Kingsbridge and Malborough. After they were dragged into selling programmes when they came to watch ‘Play on!’ last September, they couldn’t help but
get back involved again!

Andy appears in his third KATS production and his first lead role in a musical, playing Dwight, Kevin J, and Ali in Come From Away. Portraying real people has been both challenging and rewarding, involving more research than he expected. When not rehearsing, Andy runs a local estate agency, which is slightly less stressful than quick costume changes and a variety of accents!

Sarah has enjoyed performing in various KATS productions, over the last 18 years – when she donned a beard to play a bottle-dancer in Fiddler on the Roof, resulting in an allergic reaction to the beard glue and a decision never to don a beard ever again! Come From Away is one of Sarah’s favourite shows and it has been such a huge joy to be part of it. 

The message of community, kindness and humanity seem more important today than ever, and she hopes it has as much impact on the audience as it continues to have on herself.

Sally has performed in a variety of roles with KATS, The Inn Theatre Company and various touring companies. Some of her highlights with KATS include Sally Smith in Me and My Girl where she was supposed to tap dance on a table until she found out she was pregnant with her first born.

She still performed the tap dance but not on the table!  Charity in Sweet Charity and Doralee Rhodes in 9-5.  With The Inn Theatre Company she will be playing Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream this summer. She has however never played a Pilot of an airplane before, so is thrilled to be playing Captain Beverly Bass in this incredible story of Come From Away.

Daimo is new to KATS and has been away from the stage for a long time. Having travelled the world for two decades making shoes, he’s now changed the pace of life and is writing his first novel. When he’s not writing, he can be found either in the sea or walking his silly dog in West Alvington woods.

Dina has loved dancing and being on stage since she was 6 years old. She trained in several styles of dance over 12 years including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern. Dina has been in 7 KATS shows in total and last year played her first lead as Billie in ‘Our House’.

Dina is also a part of MAD and this year enjoyed playing her first pantomime lead ‘So-Shy’ in their production of Aladdin. Dina has enjoyed being a part of this production and has found it a very powerful and moving performance. Dina hopes you enjoy the show.

This is Abi’s first show with KATS, and she has absolutely loved being part of the production. It’s been an incredible experience, and she’s so grateful to everyone involved for making her feel so welcome. Outside of KATS, Abi has previously been a part of MAD and is currently a drummer in a band. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Christine joined KATS in 2007 for their first play, Beside the Seaside and, since then, has been in countless plays and musicals. Christine is delighted to be part of the choir in Come From Away, supporting the principals in bringing you this inspiring, heartfelt and very human story. She hopes you enjoy the Show!

Zoe is delighted to be involved in ‘Come From Away’, having enjoyed watching many of KATS’ previous productions before deciding to join herself. This is her first performance with KATS, and she has thoroughly enjoyed being part of the lovely community. She looks forward to continuing to perform and being involved in future productions.

Sarah is relatively new to KATS and to the stage in general. Her first production was Wind in the Willows in 2024.  After loving the experience so much, she came back for more in Our House and is now on her third production. Sarah also sings in the local choir and volunteers as local lifeboat crew.

From a Welsh family background who all loved to sing and perform on stage, Helen joined KATS in 2007 and continued the tradition. After seeing this musical a few years ago, always wanted to be a part of this remarkable true story. Helen thanks KATS for this opportunity and for being such a supportive group. She has made some lifelong friendships.

Karina has been involved with KATS since 2021, both on stage and behind the scenes.

She is delighted to be part of Come From Away because it celebrates the best of humanity. Catch her while you can – her time on stage is so brief that if you sneeze at a wrong moment, you might just miss her West End-calibre performance!

Tayo, originally found his love for theatre growing up in London when he was a member of the Royal Court’s Activists youth group. He moved to Manchester to work for the Royal Exchange Theatre as a bass player and that led to an opportunity to compose for the stage. He has now worked as a composer for over 40 years, most notably for The National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare company, Royal Exchange and New York public Theatre.