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James Alexander Dryden
[edit] Current situation
[edit] Theatre
I am huge fan of the theatre and I have been since the age of 13. I discovered my passion for acting and the theatre (predominantly musical theatre) when a friend of mine introduced me to a small Hyndburn-based theatre company known as 'Buddies - Accrington Theatre Group Youth Section'. I have been in various musical productions and plays over the past four years and I feel that over this period of time I have improved enormously. As I mentioned earlier I started off my acting career by joining 'Buddies' in 2004, where my first ever production was Gilbert and Sullivan's 'H.M.S Pinafore'. I played the small non-speaking part of Tom Tucker, although a few lines were added for comic effect and I also took part in the sailors chorus were I was included in many of the shows most reknown musical numbers such 'We Sail The Ocean Blue' and 'My Gallant Crew Good Morning'. Immedately after 'H.M.S Pinafore' followed a fund raising concert called 'Showability' (again produced by 'Buddies') that included many songs and dance routines from many famous musicals such as 'Les Miserables', 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' and 'Annie'. After my first successful year at 'Buddies' I decided to continue my acting career by taking part in the next production of 'Robin Hood - Prince of Sherwood'. After plucking up the courage to audition for a part in the show, I successfully landed the part of the chubby monk, Friar Tuck. This was my first principle role in anything so it was a big step for me to take as a person and as an actor. After 'Robin Hood - Prince of Sherwood', 'Buddies' decided to produce another concert style evening called 'Showability 2 'I Believe'. This was produced after the success of the first 'Showability'. After my recent success in 'Robin Hood - Prince of Sherwood' I decided to audition for a solo were I was triumphant and landed the solo of 'Bring Him Home' from Boubil and Schonberg's 'Les Miserables'. In 2005 after 'Showability 2 'I Believe' I decided to try and move further afield and join another amateur theatre society. 'Accrington Theatre Group' was the next society that I was associated with (although I still remained an avid 'Buddies' member) were I took part in the musical production of 'Oliver!' were I played the small part of Noah Claypole. This wasn't to be my last musical production with them as I am still with them today. In 2006 I reached my third year as a devout member to 'Buddies' were I played the part of Major General Stanley in 'The Pirates of Penzance' were I had to sing the famous 'Major General Song'. This is what seemed at the time as the pinnacle of my acting career as it was my favourite and most successful part within my short three years of acting. After 'The Pirates of Penzance' 'Buddies' decided to produce 'Showability 3 'We've Got Rhythm'. Again I decided to audition for a solo and once again I landed one and I sang 'The Music of the Night' from Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of the Opera'. Towards the end of the year I took part in my second 'Accrington Theatre Group' production called 'The Full Monty'. This show was again a musical and I was yet to venture into any other performance that wasn't musically orientated. In this show I played the minor part of Gary Bonasorte and took part in the majority of the chorus numbers that were available. After this show I was now well into my first year of studying Drama and Theatre Studies at St. Mary's College, Blackburn and also partaking in the Total Theatre Group as an enhancement course. This is were I took part in my first play that wasn't musically orientated called 'The Real Inspector Hound'. I played the part of the crusty, old, wheelchair ridden deciever, Major Magnus Muldoon. This was the most challenging role that I had been faced with to date as I had to work my way around the stage using an old wheelchair. In 2007 I was faced with my first part within a pantomime. I played the part of Man Friday in The pantomime 'Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates' with Burnley Pantomime Society at the Burnley Mechanics Theatre. As all of the other productions that I had been in the past were shown at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre (except 'The Real Inspector Hound' which was shown at St.Mary's College), the Burnley Mechanics Theatre was the first proper theatre that I had been on stage at instead of Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre. In March of 2007 I landed my first ever leading role within a production in my fourth year at 'Buddies' were I landed the role of Ugly in 'HONK!'. This was the best part that I had ever had and even overshadowed my performance in 'The Pirates of Penzance' which I was also very proud of.
[edit] Production List
- - 2004 - H.M.S Pinafore - Tom Tucker
- - 2004 - Showability - Chorus and Soloist
- - 2005 - Robin Prince Of Sherwood - Friar Tuck
- - 2005 - Too Much Punch For Judy - Bob, Duncan
- - 2005 - Showability 2 - Chorus and Soloist
- - 2005 - Oliver - Noah Claypole and Chrous
- - 2006 - The Pirates Of Penzance - Major General Stanley
- - 2006 - Showability 3 - Chorus and Soloist
- - 2006 - The Full Monty - Gary Bonasorte and Chorus
- - 2006 - The Real Inspector Hound - Major Magnus Muldoon
- - 2007 - Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates (pantomime) - Man Friday
- - 2007 - Honk! - Ugly
- - 2007 - Showability 4 - Chrous and Soloist
- - 2007 - Life Of Rachel Corrie - Various Parts
- - 2007 - We Will Rock You - In Pre-Production Process
