ACTORS
Emily Jane Brooks (NELLY)
Born in Coventry, Emily read Theatre and Performance Studies & French at the University of Warwick. After winning a BBC Performing Arts Fund bursary she went on to study Music Theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama. An accomplished lead vocalist Emily is a member of The D-Day Darlings (Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Top 5 UK selling artist and Brit Breakthrough Award winners).
Conor Lynam (CHARLES II, earl of ROCHESTER and all male roles)
Having studied theatre since he was around 12 years old, Conor has been a consummate amateur. Until now – this is his first professional part. He has worked in various roles in the theatrical industry, from difficult and valued psychiatric work for the NHS to being a founding member of the Nottingham Shakespeare Company. In his spare time, Conor helps to run a local cider company (Sneinton Cider Co), is a part-time Viking, D&D enthusiast and generally very tired.
SONGWRITERS
Jo Freya
Jo has been part of some of the most ground-breaking acts on the British Folk Scene, including the Blowzabella, Narthen and Old Swan Band. She first worked with Nelly’s writer and director Graham Hopkins nearly 15 years ago, performing her song “Roses” at a Domestic Violence and the Arts event organised by Graham. Jo is now an accomplished songwriter – indeed her first song-writing commission was a show entitled ‘Perjuring Little Whore’. That could’ve fitted in with our production! Instead we got Jo to write two new songs for Nelly – “In Peril of Sobriety” and “Turning Cartwheels”
Robb Johnson
Robb is now widely recognised as one of the finest songwriters working in the UK today. “An English original” (Robin Denselow, the Guardian) … “one of our best singer-songwriters ever” (Mike Harding)… a “renowned folk-punk” (Time Out).. “one of this country’s most important songwriters (no argument!)” (fROOTS). His songs have been covered by many singers, from folk legends Roy Bailey & Maggie Holland to cabaret chanteuse Barb Jungr. Robb has written seven songs for Nelly – “The Play is About to Begin”, “The King Wears the Crown”, “The Plague Year”, “This is Showtime!”, “The Men of War”, “Beloved of Kings” and “A Round of Good Applause”.
Reg Meuross
Folking.com Soloist of the Year 2019, Reg Meuross is a true troubadour. Froots Magazine highlighted Reg’s “insight into the human spirit and empathy the the plight of ordinary people.” A “Master Storyteller”, Mike Harding hailed him: “one of the finest singer-songwriters this country has produced”. Mark Radcliffe introduced Reg Meuross onto the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show as a “brilliant singer-songwriter and true troubadour with a social conscience”. Reg has written two songs for Nelly – “Fire! Fire!” and “Close the Curtains, Nelly’s Dead”.
Lucy Ward
Named “Brit-Folks most vibrant and forthright new young talent” by Mojo, labelled “impressive and original” by The Guardian and “inspiring” by Billy Bragg, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Lucy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer songwriter and folk musician. In 2021, Lucy and her co-host Lisa Ward (no relation) launched Thank Folk for Feminism a bi-monthly podcast aiming to provide a platform for women’s voices and to further the conversations of both folk and feminism and to explore how the two intersect. Lucy has written three songs for Nelly – “Even an Orange Girl”, “Everything in Between” and “He was My Friend”.
Boff Whalley
Boff’s theatre show (with Dan Bye) These Hills Are Ours about running, land ownership, escape and wildness (with songs) is now touring. His most recent book is the critically acclaimed “Faster! Louder!” about Gary Devine, the 1980s punk fell running champion. It's full of punky belligerence and athletic excellence, somehow co-existing. The ex-Chumbawamba songwriter continues to work with the Commoners Choir and is working on a new opera The Shoemaker with Welsh National Opera. Boff has written two songs for Nelly: “Oranges” and “Watch Old Rowley Ride”.
Winter Wilson
Mike Harding called Kip (Winter) and Dave (Wilson) “one of the hardest working duos on the circuit”. The reviews of their long-awaited live album Live & Unconventional, recorded on tour and at Cropredy Festival with folk rock icons Fairport Convention have been exceptional. Kip (“a voice to die for” Maverick magazine) and Dave - “It’s the words that matter” - have been full-time musicians for nearly 10 years. Kip also takes on a couple of female roles in Nelly. Dave has written three songs for Nelly – “My First Appearance”, “Politics and Petticoats” and “All in Dust”.
WRITER/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
Graham Hopkins
Born in Coventry and living in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, Graham Hopkins is the author of “Nell Gwynne – A Passionate Life” (Robson Books, 2002) & “Constant Delights – Rakes, Rogues and Scandal in Restoration England” (Robson Books, 2003). Nelly – A Folk Musical is his first professional play.