Technical, Arts and Scripts

JAN WARREN

Graphic designer

Jan is a talented freelance graphic designer and illustrator who joined the Spontaneous team in 2022. With a passion for creating unique and original designs, Jan loves the challenge of taking an initial idea and transforming it into something memorable and iconic.

As a graphic designer and illustrator, Jan is skilled in developing visual concepts that capture the essence of a production, whether it’s a classic fairy tale or a contemporary play. Her creativity and attention to detail make her an essential member of the team, and her designs are sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Jan’s work with Spontaneous includes creating original designs for upcoming productions, as well as designing marketing materials and merchandise.

MICHELLE BUCKLEY

Choreographer / assistant director

Michelle is a highly trained ballet dancer and choreographer with extensive experience performing internationally across a range of genres, from ballet and contemporary to musical theatre and opera. Since 2007, she has danced with Gleich Dances in both New York City and London, showcasing her exceptional talent to audiences around the world. Michelle was also an original cast member of the critically acclaimed show Voices of the Amazon, touring to Moscow, Singapore, and Sadler’s Wells.

Recently, Michelle originated the role of Louella in the new musical A Face in a Million, directed by the legendary Dame Arlene Phillips. Michelle first worked with Spontaneous Productions as a choreographer and assistant director for Eye of Day: The Mata Hari Story in 2019, and has since gone on to choreograph and assistant direct on several other productions, including Puss in Boots, The Gingerbread Man, Animal Farm, Around the World in 80 Days, and Beauty and the Beast.

Last August, Michelle began a UK tour of Strictly Ballroom: the Musical, further demonstrating her incredible skill and versatility as a performer. We are thrilled to have worked with Michelle and hope to collaborate with her again in 2023 to create more unforgettable dance routines.

To learn more about Michelle and her work, visit her website at www.michellebuckley.dance.

PAUL TORNBOHM

Composer / occasional co-writer

Paul, a seasoned musician and songwriter, is currently a music lecturer in sixth-form. He has extensively toured Europe and South America with his rock and indie bands.

In 2017, he joined forces with Spontaneous Productions and has since then contributed his talent in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Little Mermaid and Other ‘Tails, Professor Qwertybleep’s Tales from Planet Earth, The Three Little Pigs Go West, Cinderella, Anansi the Spider: Jamaican Superhero!, Pinocchio, The Snow Queen, Puss in Boots, The Gingerbread Man, Animal Farm, Around the World in 80 Days, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood: The Truth!, END OF!, Rapunzel, The Blues Brothers Grimm and Aladdin.

Paul’s excellent script contributions can be seen in shows like Goldilocks, The Little Mermaid and END OF! and his songs can be heard on his website: www.paultornbohm.com.

DEBORAH GARVEY

Musical director / composer / performer / vocal coach

Deborah is a talented actor-singer and composer, with a wealth of experience in theatre. At Spontaneous Productions, she has demonstrated her versatility, excelling in both performance and composition roles. Among her notable compositions for the company are Home Fires, Eleanor Marx: The Jewess of Jews Walk, The Snowman and the Christmas Fairy, Eye of Day: The Mata Hari Story, The Tales of Beatrix Potter – and a memorable performance as the Queen of Hearts in our outdoor production of Alice in Wonderland.

In addition to her work with Spontaneous Productions, Deborah is an established voice, singing, and dialect coach. She is part of the voice team at RADA, having previously worked at Central School of Speech and Drama. Deborah coaches for theatre and film and leads workshops in the UK and abroad, sharing her expertise with aspiring performers around the world.

OLAYINKA SOBITAN-SOLOMON

Choreographer

Olayinka is a multi-talented performer with a wealth of experience in screen acting, writing, singing and choreography. In 2022, she joined the Spontaneous team, where she choreographed Rapunzel and The Blues Brothers Grimm to critical acclaim.

With a degree in performing arts, musical theatre and education, Olayinka has worked with ‘DreamWork3’ as a dancer on the St Pancras Renaissance project and opening dancer at O2 Greenwich. She has also showcased her talents as a spoken word artist at the ‘Flo Vortex’ Chelsea Theatre.

In addition to her work with Spontaneous Productions, Olayinka has collaborated with other theatre companies, including Hoo Ha House Theatre Company, where she played Omotele in the R&D for their new musical ‘Brave Face and Friends’ in 2023, and Maktub Theatre Company, where she played Tracy in ‘Ubuntu’. Her screen credits include Torchwood 2000 series, where she played the main role of Sabrina Miller.

With her exceptional range of talents and experience, Olayinka is a rising star in the performing arts industry, and we look forward to seeing her continued success in the future.

YUMI MASHIKI

Composer

Yumi Mashiki is a London-based, classically-trained composer and arranger. Her unique style blends contemporary classical music with modern electronics, making her a sought-after choice for commissioned work. Yumi has composed for films, art exhibitions, commercials, and production music. She last worked with Spontaneous Productions in 2019, creating stunning operatic music for the production of ‘Pinocchio’.

JOE KAUFMAN

Technical advisor / Video content maker / animator / set constructor

Joe, co-founder of Red Kite Films, holds a BA (Hons) in video editing from Ravensbourne College. He is an experienced cinematographer, regularly producing video content for corporate clients and having worked on award-winning feature film SEAT 25 and Remembering the Future. Joe has been with Spontaneous Productions since its inception in 2008, handling lighting and sound for all productions in the Dolphin Public House, Sydenham. Since 2017, he has been creating original video content, animation, and scenery items for the company, including productions such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Professor Qwertybleep’s Tales from Planet Earth, Three Little Pigs Go West, Cream of Ocelot, Anansi the Spider: Jamaican Superhero!, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Snow Queen, Sinbad the Sailor, Little Red Riding Hood: The Truth!, Rapunzel, and Aladdin.

LUCY KAUFMAN

Playwright in residence / script consultant / assistant director

Lucy is an award-winning playwright and a graduate of the University of Warwick with a degree in Film & Literature. She has written thirty-seven plays performed professionally around the world. As a writer in residence for Spontaneous Productions, Lucy co-directed the company’s four-part musical about WW1, Till the Boys Come Home (2014), and directed several ‘scratch nights’, including 600 Seconds (2017), 600 Seconds: Conflict! (2018) and Love Bites Again (2019).

Lucy’s play, Eleanor Marx: The Jewess of Jews Walk, which was funded by Arts Council England, had a sold-out run at Sydenham Centre in 2018. Her other plays for Spontaneous Productions include Cinderella, The Snow Queen and The Tales of Beatrix Potter (both co-written with Jonathan Kaufman), as well as numerous short plays as part of the company’s scratch night programme.

Lucy is a regular collaborator with White Room Theatre in Brighton, and her plays for them have been staged in various venues across the UK and Australia. She also teaches Playwriting and Screenwriting for Pen to Print and Canterbury Christ Church University.

JANE WALKER

Scriptwriter

Jane is a prolific playwright and long-time member of Jonathan Kaufman’s ScriptHub writing workshop. Her plays have been featured in numerous Spontaneous Productions shows, including Singular Voices, Love Bites, Frighteners, Postcards, and Battle of the Bards. She has also co-written several original SP shows since 2020, including Puss in Boots, Around the World in 80 Days, The Beauty and The Beast, Little Red Riding Hood: The Truth!, Frighteners 2022: Museum of Monsters, The Blues Brothers Grimm, and Aladdin.

Her short plays have been performed by Open Ealing, NLA, and CaAPA, and her One Act radio plays Let’s Dance and Deep Encounter were performed by Radio Theatre Project LIVE in Florida, USA. Her writing has even earned her a credit on BBC Scotland’s topical news programme ‘Breaking the News’.

Jane’s contributions to Spontaneous Productions have been invaluable, and her talent for storytelling is evident in the many successful productions on which she has collaborated. You can also find her at her website enajwrites.