Seconds Away! (Staged Reading)

Peter Tickell - Musical Director

From Hexham via Longbenton, Peter’s versatility and eclectic creativity have led to him collaborating extensively with some of music’s biggest names, including Sting, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, Everything Everything, Birdy & Afro Celt Sound System.

After taking up instrumental music lessons at Goathland Primary School in Longbenton at the age of 5, upon turning professional at 17 Tickell performed and recorded with both his sister Kathryn Tickell & award-winning Scottish electro-folk pioneers Peatbog Faeries from 2004-2011. Through his work with Peatbog Faeries, Peter met virtuoso saxophonist Nigel Hitchcock and the late trombonist Rick Taylor, both of whom had a big influence on Peter’s playing, steering him toward the music of Charlie Parker in order to enhance his ability to improvise.

Around the same time he could often be seen moonlighting in the bars and clubs of Newcastle with ramshackle psychobilly troubadours Maybe Myrtle Tyrtle, whose surreal performances at times spilled over into reality.

Following a televised performance in Durham Cathedral in 2009, and a series of recording sessions in 2011, Peter was subsequently invited to join Sting’s band. Peter went on to perform alongside Sting in many of the world’s most prestigious venues as featured soloist from 2011-2016, incorporating the use of electronic effects into visceral improvised solos.

After performing in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl with Sting & Peter Gabriel in 2016, Peter was personally invited to appear on ‘The Jimmy Kimmel Show’ as guest of the house band, The Cletones.
Peter’s playing has featured in numerous TV programmes and films, including Amber Films’ ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ for which he composed the soundtrack, & more recently ‘Greyhound of a Girl’,
Enzo D'Alò’s 2023 animated adaptation of a Roddy Doyle novel, with original soundtrack composed by David Rhodes.

Trained classically on both piano & violin, Peter is steeped in the traditional folk music of the North East, Scotland & his mother’s heartland Ireland.

“Stunning musicianship “ – The Guardian

“Charismatic fiddler” – The New York Times

Ray Laidlaw - Drums & percussion

As a young lad with a drum kit and dreams of rock & roll Ray set about hooking up with like-minded pals, setting him firmly on a course that would see him enjoy a varied professional life in the music business while along the way achieving international success and recognition in a band with a #1 album. That band was Lindisfarne. As a founder member, Ray’s back-beat has been a part of the region’s musical story over eight decades; before the mighty Lindisfarne Ray served time with The Aristokats, The Druids, Impact and Downtown Faction. After Lindisfarne there was Jack The Lad and more Lindisfarne. Ray moved into television and film, producing the Sunday for Sammy concerts and DVDs (while also making time to play drums at all the concerts!) since its very beginning. Theatre work includes ‘Clear White Light’ for Live Theatre. Ray currently tours 'The Lindisfarne Story’ alongside Billy Mitchell. It’s terrific - go see it.

Mary Macmaster - Acoustic/electro harps & vocals

Inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as part of the groundbreaking harp duo Sileas, Mary is best known for her pioneering work with the metalstrung clarsach and the fantastic Camac electro-harp. She is also a fine singer of Gaelic and English language songs.

During the last thirty years she has been at the forefront of the revival of the Scottish harp and has been an ambassador for Scottish music, touring throughout the world with Sileas, The Poozies, Shine, Macmaster/Hay and award winning project, Songs of Separation.

She has toured with Dogstar Theatre Company in a production of Hamish MacDonald’s 'Seven Ages of Man', with Licketyspit’s wonderful children’s adventure tale 'Molly Whuppie' and as part of Grid Iron’s 'The Devil’s Larder'.

Mary has collaborated live and in the studio with many wonderful musicians including Scottish hero Dick Gaughan, Northumbrian pipe virtuoso Kathryn Tickell, English folk legend Norma Waterson and the amazing Sting.

Michael McCrystal (Micky Crystal) - Acoustic guitars

UK guitarist Michael McCrystal (Micky Crystal) made a name for himself on the North East circuit and quickly started landing professional touring gigs which saw him recording and performing all over the world from the age of 19. Alongside touring he has a passion for teaching having taught at various Universities and Colleges. He is currently a Music lecturer at Newcastle College and provides bespoke product demonstrations and lesson packages for guitar companies such as Bare Knuckle Pickups, JTC Guitar, Elixir Strings and Laney Amps.

Catherine Dryden - Sam

RADA trained Catherine Dryden was born in County Durham. She began her acting career at the tender age of three as part of Chester-le-Street Theatre Group. Catherine is a passionate storyteller and singer and is a proud Geordie faithful to her roots.
She was supported by the Sunday For Sammy Trust to complete her BA in Acting. Since graduating from RADA in 2017, Catherine has worked across the board in theatre, TV & radio.
Theatre credits include: 'The Play That Goes Wrong' (West End and UK National Tour); 'Mary Stuart' (Almeida Theatre); 'The Pitmen Painters' (UK National Tour); 'Amazing Grace' (Wisecrack Productions);' The Watch House' (Paptango Theatre Company.) TV credits include: 'Vera' (ITV) and 'Traces' (Red Productions). Film includes: 'Some Rules', 'Love In The Time Of Coronavirus' and 'Make My Boyfriend Better'. Radio credits include: 'Home Front' (BBC Radio 4).

Trevor Dion Nicholas - Vinnie

Training: West Virginia University
Theatre credits include: Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine in 'Next to Normal' (Donmar Warehouse & West End), George Washington in 'Hamilton' (Victoria Palace Theatre), Dr. Parker in 'Bat Boy: The Musical' (London Palladium), Genie in Disney’s 'Aladdin' - What’s On Stage. Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (West End & Broadway), Preacher in 'Bonnie & Clyde The Musical' (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), 'Big River' (US Tour), 'The Wiz', 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee', 'Ragtime', 'The Little Mermaid', 'Into the Woods', 'Little Shop of Horrors'. Trevor is the voice of the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Netflix animated film 'Scrooge': 'A Christmas Carol'.
Television credits include: Panelist/Judge on 'All Star Musicals' (ITV), Lester in 'Moley'(Boomerang), Gustav in 'The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti' (Disney), 'The Show Must Go On' (Sky Arts), 'Strictly Come Dancing' (BBC), 'Christmas at the Snow Globe', 'The Americans', 'Sunday Night at the Palladium', 'Royal Variety Performance' and 'Disney’s Broadway Hits' at Royal Albert Hall (Emmy Award).
Trevor is the songwriter and primary vocalist for the original Alternative Indie Soul band Neighborhood Goliath, who independently released their debut E.P. 'Between Satellites & Settling' in 2015 and their first full length album, 'Monster Victim Witness', in 2017. They continued to release new music throughout 2020 including their E.P. 'Your Fears Will Not Be Soothed' as well as the singles 'Entire Life', 'Dark Stars' and 'Swallow'.

Mark Stobbart - Christopher

Television includes: 'House of the Dragon', 'The Long Shadow', 'The Hunt for Raoul Moat', 'Line of Duty', 'Clink', 'Vera', 'Moving On', 'No Offence', 'Utopia', 'The Silence', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Skins', 'Honest', 'The Inspector Lynley Mysteries', 'Little Britain', 'The Last Detective', '55 Degrees North', 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet'.
Film includes: 'The People Before', 'Muscle, Disobedience', 'The Chelsea Cowboy', 'Teen Spirit', 'Harrigan', 'The Devil Outside', 'Almost Married'.
Theatre includes: 'The Hired Man' (Leicester Curve), 'Tactical Questioning' (Kiln), 'Restoration' (Headlong Theatre), 'Up on the Roof' (Chichester), 'Napoleon' (Shaftesbury Theatre), 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' (RSC), 'Hello Again' (Bridewell), 'Man of La Mancha' (Peacock), 'People Who Don’t Do Dinner Parties' (Jermyn Street), 'Let Him Have Justice' (Cochrane).

Jimmy Nail - Frankie

Jimmy is best known for his role as Oz Osbourne in 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' (ITV/BBC), the titular role in 'Spender' (BBC), which he co-created and co-wrote with Ian La Frenais, and the lead role of Jed Shepperd, a factory worker who becomes a country songwriter in 'Crocodile Shoes' (BBC), which he wrote and created. Jimmy also created and starred as Phil Parker in the series 'Parents of the Band' (BBC). The ITV series of 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' garnered audience figures of 17 million and the final two BBC series attracted 13 million viewers.
Theatre includes 'The Last Ship' (Broadway and Chicago) and 'War of the Worlds' (Dominion Theatre London).
Feature films include: 'Evita', 'Still Crazy', 'Danny, Champion of the World', 'The 10th Kingdom', 'Just Ask for Diamond', 'Morons from Outer Space', 'Dream Demon', 'Crusoe' and 'Get Carter' (uncredited).
As a singer-songwriter, Jimmy has had hits with 'Ain't No Doubt', 'Crocodile Shoes', 'Cowboy Dreams', 'Big River' and 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore'. His album 'Growing Up in Public', features guitarists Gary Moore, David Gilmour, Elliot Randall and George Harrison. His album 'Crocodile Shoes' from the tv series of the same name, has sold more than 1.2 million copies in the UK. 'Big River' features guitarist Mark Knopfler. Jimmy sang on the soundtrack for the feature film 'Evita' for which he received a double-platinum disk in recognition of 600,000 plus sales of the album. Jimmy has collaborated with Gary Moore, David Gilmour, Elliot Randall, Brian Johnson, Madonna, George Harrison, Mark Knopfler and Sting.
Jimmy's work has contributed to five BAFTA nominations; three for 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'. one for 'Spender' and one for 'Crocodile Shoes', and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song In A Movie - 'The Flame Still Burns' in 'Still Crazy'.

Sally Ann Triplett

UK theatre credits include: Gran in 'The Witches' ( National Theatre); Aunt Eller in award winning 'Oklahoma' (Wyndham’s Theatre); Toine in 'Piaf' (Nottingham Playhouse/ Leeds Playhouse); Whats On Stage Award as Reno Sweeney in 'Anything Goes' (Royal National Theatre/Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Miss Adelaide in 'Guys and Dolls' (Piccadilly Theatre); Roxie Hart in 'Chicago' (Adelphi Theatre); Donna Sheridan in 'Mamma Mia' (Prince of Wales Theatre); Grizabella in 'Cats' (New London Theatre); Rizzo in 'Grease' (Dominion Theatre); Ruby Keeler in 'Jolson' (Victoria Palace & Toronto); Miss Berta in 'Acorn Antiques' (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Young Phyllis in 'Follies' (Shaftesbury Theatre); Original cast in 'Chess' (Prince Edward Theatre); UK Theatre Award Nomination as Judy/Liza in 'My Judy Garland Life' (Nottingham Playhouse); Diana in 'Next to Normal' (Drama Centre Theatre, Singapore); Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing' (Liverpool Playhouse Theatre); Marge in 'Absent Friends' (The Palace Theatre).
US theatre credits include: Kath Starr in 'Becoming Nancy' (Alliance Theatre, Atlanta); Original Sue Snell in 'Carrie'; Original Peggy White in 'The Last Ship' (Neil Simon Theatre NY/Bank of America Theatre Chicago); Madame De Maurier in 'Finding Neverland' (La Jolla Playhouse); Mrs Lovett in 'Sweeney Todd' (Barrow Street Theatre); Mrs Mister in 'The Cradle Will Rock' (Classic Stage Company); Catherine in 'Must' (Theatre at St. Clement's);
Television credits include: 'Eastenders'; 'Doctors'; 'The Bill'; 'Down to Earth'.