Director/Performer- Billy and the Beast

Originally training as a dancer, Chipo graduated from the Urdang Academy and went on to choreograph music videos and tour with London based chamber rock band Chrome Hoof. She then went onto develop her skill set as an actor and has since gained credits include Liberian Girl- Royal Court, Fingertips – Clean Break, Ariel in The Tempest at the Waterloo East Theatre and ‘Jade’ in her one woman Edinburgh Fringe debut, So What if I Dance. Rapunzel was her first national tour and she was delighted to be working with tutti frutti on this piece.

Writer, Sweet Dreams audio play

Mike Kenny is one of England’s leading writers specialising in young people’s theatre. He was included in the Independent on Sunday’s list of Top Ten Living Playwrights and his plays are performed regularly throughout the UK and all over the world. His Olivier Award-winning adaptation of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN for York Theatre Royal, has had several successful revivals at Waterloo and Kings Cross stations, as well as at the National Railway Museum. In Canada it won the People’s Choice Award following its record-breaking run in Toronto. Mike won the 2015 Writers Guild Award for Best Play for Younger Audiences with THREE WISE MONKEYS and the DeutscherKindertheaterpreis in 2012 with ELECTRIC DARKNESS. In July 2013, Mike was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Nottingham for his work in theatre for young people.

Mike’s recent productions include Batley Variations, a community opera for Batley, and Random Selfies for Ovalhouse, London (Nominated for an Off West End Award) His play The Vulture Song was a co production between Blah Blah Blah in Leeds and Yellowcat, in Delhi. Last Year he wrote This is Not For You, working with Graeae and Forces Veterans on a large outdoor piece inspired by the disabled of the First World War. This was a 14-18-Now commission.

TC Howard has worked as a performer, choreographer, movement director and educationalist throughout her career. She has danced and taught with many companies including V-Tol, Ludus Dance Company, Northern Broadsides, Vincent Dance Theatre and Gary Clarke.

Her work with The David Glass Ensemble took her to countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and The Philippines to perform and work alongside street children and local artists. She continues to research work with children using a multiple intelligence approach to learning and also works with a wide range of mixed abilities and ages.

TC has choreographed for theatre productions in Bolton Octagon, Manchester Royal Exchange, The Dukes Playhouse and with Red Ladder, Opera Circus and Horse and Bamboo. She also creates dance for site specific and installations works in non traditional venues.

TC has previously worked with Tutti Frutti on Rapunzel and The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Artistic Director, Chair of PYA England

I have held the position of Artistic Director at tutti frutti since 2005 and have directed all but one production in partnership with York Theatre Royal, touring nationally and internationally and co-producing the Little Feet Festival of Children’s Theatre and the First Words writers’ development programme

Before working with tutti frutti I was Artistic Director of Red Ladder Theatre Company, and previous to this; Merseyside Young People’s Theatre Company in Liverpool. Over the years as a freelance director work has included; Everyman Theatre Liverpool, Crucible Theatre Sheffield, Hope Street Ltd, Oxford Stage Company, Unity Theatre Liverpool, European Stage Company, Theatre Royal Stratford East, and Contact Theatre Manchester. I currently live in Leeds with my partner Mark and two sons Louie and Eliot.

Director/Performer- Billy and the Beast

Originally training as a dancer, Chipo graduated from the Urdang Academy and went on to choreograph music videos and tour with London based chamber rock band Chrome Hoof. She then went onto develop her skill set as an actor and has since gained credits include Liberian Girl- Royal Court, Fingertips – Clean Break, Ariel in The Tempest at the Waterloo East Theatre and ‘Jade’ in her one woman Edinburgh Fringe debut, So What if I Dance. Rapunzel was her first national tour and she was delighted to be working with tutti frutti on this piece.

Danny graduated from ALRA:North in 2013 where he was nominated to represent the school in a ‘Laurence Olivier Award’ bursary. Starting life as an actor with a rural UK tour of ’12 Miles from Nowhere’ (Karen Simpson/Action Transport Theatre), Danny then moved onto roles as ‘Wishee Washee’ (Buxton Opera House) and ‘Grandson’ in Michael Morpurgo’s ‘FarmBoy’ (Colchester Mercury).

Danny has been a part of the ‘Tutti Frutti’ family before, enjoying a national and international tour of ‘Rapunzel’ back in 2015, 'Ugly Duckling' in 2017 and ‘Keepy Uppy’ in 2018.

Danny and his colleague Matt are establishing their names as filmmakers back in Manchester, specialising in promotional footage, actors portfolio material and short films. They have already enjoyed an official selection award for their short film ‘FEUD’ earlier this year despite only celebrating a 1 year birthday of their company SquadFour Productions recently. Follow their progress online at www.squadfourproductions.co.uk.