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The Band for 42nd Street
In the pit at Honk
David Tatnall - Director
David is a founder member of FYT and has been resident director for every show we have staged. He has also directed for other local groups including Southampton Operatic Society, RAODS Youth and Thornden Operatic and Musical Society. As well as directing, he is also seen performing with many local companies. By day, he works as a primary school teacher in Portchester. He continues to enjoy directing for such a comitted group of young people and looks forward to many more productions in the future!
David Tatnall
Martin Paterson - Musical Director
Martin has been resident musical director for FYT since 2002 and can be regularly seen musically directing with other companies in the local area. In addition to his regular job as a software engineer, he runs Pattersong Music, supplying reduced orchestrations of scores for the Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas. He can also be spotted playing keyboard for local soul band JaxStax.
Martin Paterson
THE TEAM....
Louise Hodson - Choreographer
Louise has been working with FYT since 2006. A dance teacher by profession, she is no stranger to teaching people of various ages, abilities and levels of enthusiasm! She is also a member of Winchester Operatic Society where she has choreographed and performed in numerous productions. She trained at Winchester University where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts in 2004. She is also an associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Sue Tatnall - Chairman and Wardrobe Mistress
Sue has just taken on the role of Chairman having previously been Vice-Chairman. She is also our resident wardrobe mistress and has earned numerous nominations and awards for her costumes over the years since the company's formation. She performs herself with EOMS and also serves as chief rehearsal matron. Sue works at an Infant school in Chandlers Ford.
Sue Tatnall
Adam Case
Adam Case - Stage Manager / Producer
Adam has been working with FYT since 2002 and has been resident stage manager for all our shows since Me & My Girl in 2004. He is very active in local theatre and has performed with numerous local groups but now prefers life backstage. He runs his own IT consultancy business, Stickman Technology.
Louise Hodson
Peter Bell - Former Chairman and number one fan!
Peter has recently handed over the reins of Chairman to Sue after 10 years service in the role. Fortunately for us, he will continue to be a familiar face as he supports the company in many other invaluable ways including Front of House.
Peter Bell
The Band for Anything Goes
A BRIEF HISTORY....
FYT has been performing musical theatre in a variety of venues since its formation in 2000. We have a membership of 75 and produce two full-scale productions annually alongside various cabaret evenings and revues, often involving a cast of over 50. We also have a large team of workers both in front of and behind the curtain and we are very proud of the numerous accolades we have been awarded over the last 10 years.
The company began life as eomsjs (Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society Junior Section), and was formed by then 18 year olds Simon Pontin and David Tatnall. The first production was Oliver!, staged at Colden Common Community Centre in June 2000.
A further 6 shows were staged at Colden Common including a NODA award winning production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2000. These shows were under the joint direction of David Tatnall and Simon Pontin, with musical direction from Rebecca Weatherall, Kate Roscoe and later Martin Paterson, who continues to work as resident MD for us today.
The most ambitious project at Colden Common was in July 2003, Singin' in the Rain, which included rain scenes involving actual water and proved to be an unforgettable final production at the venue.
In 2003, Simon moved to London to pursue a professional career on the stage. Around the same time, the company moved from Colden Common to larger venues. David Tatnall continued to direct the company and a full technical team was established with Adam Case taking the new role as company stage manager.
Guys and Dolls was staged in the new theatre built at Thornden School in February 2004. This was followed by Me and My Girl performed at The Plaza Theatre in Romsey in October 2004. The Plaza was to be our home for many more productions including Hot Mikado in 2005 for which we won the coveted Daily Echo Producton of the Year Award. In 2006 we staged The Boyfriend, where our now resident choreographer Louise Hodson made her debut. In 2008 came another exciting move to the Theatre Royal Winchester, where we staged a successful production of My Fair Lady, and this lead to a second production at the theatre in 2009 of Les Miserables School Edition. This show was a huge success and won us numerous accolades including a prestigious NODA award for Best Youth Production in the Southern Area. We look forward to returning to the Theatre Royal in January for an exciting production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.