JAMES MURRAY

James started his career in the U.K, his home until deciding to move to New Zealand in 2004. James performed in a jazz band on the Liverpool music scene for many years, covering all kinds of jazz and big band sounds.

James also performed for a number of years for Off the Ground Theatre Company, appearing in many productions including Dracula, Julius Caesar and Lord of the Flies.

Since his move to New Zealand he has been seen onstage in productions of Beyond Moulin Rouge, Beauty and the Beast and the recent Dunedin Operatic production of Chicago.

He toured the South Island with Ignite’ July tour of ‘The Rat Pack Returns in The Tribute’ and will soon be seen on the Fortune Theatre stage in the title role of Aladdin!

DOUGLAS KAMO

An incredible career in music theatre, drama, film and television has seen Douglas lend his skills both nationally and internationally in over 50 productions.

Directing highlights include the sellout 2007 hit production of The Rocky Horror Show in Queenstown, Guys & Dolls, Caberet, I Love You – You’re Perfect – Now Change, Chess, RUSH! Westend to Broadway II, and Encore.

As a performer he has toured New Zealand & Asia in the international casts of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat & Chicago and has a string of other credits including Beauty & the Beast, Me & My Girl, 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, My Heart is Bathed in Blood & Ladies Night.

Television credits include Xena Warrior Princess, Street Legal, Shortland Street, The Pretender and soon to be released Passion in Paradise. He fronted the high profile weekly draw of Lotto for 2 ½ years as well as The Lounge, Destination Canterbury and the award winning reality game show, The Vodafone V24 Challenge.

Still to come in 2007 is his role as Director for the Fortune Theatre’s production of Aladdin, the inaugural Xmas Stadium Spectacular in Queenstown and another tour of the Rat Pack entitled ‘The Rat Pack Returns in a Xmas Special’.

KRISTOPHER BATE

Kristopher’s interest in music has been life long and passionate. In his late teens Kristopher travelled the South Island performing as a singer with a road show. Also at this time Kristopher was co-hosting a local radio programme sharing his love of music (particularly that of Queen) and comic banter with the public of Dunedin.

This combination of experience, passion, and enthusiasm led to Kristopher entering into a professional career in the music industry which included 10 years as a night club DJ, a regular slot on radio for Classic Hits 89FM, and hosting a music television programme for local T.V. It was during this time that Kristopher began pursuing opportunities in the theatre world working extensively with the Dunedin Reparatory Society on many shows including Out of Order (George Pigden), Black Comedy (Brinsley), and Music Hall. These shows provided Kristopher with valuable experience and proved an invaluable training ground in which to hone his stage craft, comic timing, and musical skill.

Kristopher went on to appear in the Dunedin Operatic production of 42nd Street and later to become a regular on the fortune theatre stage, appearing in many professional productions over a two year period including Taming of The Shrew (Biondello), Passionate Woman (Craze), Othello (Cassio), and the sixties musical romp A Slice of Saturday Night (Gary).

Kristopher has also completed a Bachelors Degree in Theology working as a preacher and teacher of the Gospel, and is also a regular in the local acoustic music scene as a singer/song writer.