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Mosaic Theatre
The VisionWomen of Faith has been devised by Catherine Françoise after playing the role of Catherine Booth with the Jasperian Theatre Company in William and Catherine. The Booths' lives and work in founding the Salvation Army became the inspiration to create Women of Faith. Catherine Françoise is a professional singer and actress whose work includes roles in the West End, Repertory Theatre and Pantomime; Opera, Recital and Concert performances throughout the UK and Europe, and appearances on Television and Radio. She also enjoys a successful teaching practice in both her private studio and as a visiting lecturer at several prestigious teaching academies incuding Elmhurst Ballet School and Mountview Theatre Academy in London.Alongside her professional singing career, for much of the last 20 years she has also been a leading and prominent spokeswoman for the Pro-life movement, appearing regularly on Television and Radio, and lecturing around the world including the USA, Australia and much of Europe. She co-authored the book 'When Choice Becomes God' with Professor LaGard Smith, and has contributed to numerous media publications across the globe. She was a contributor to the book 'Love Your Unborn Neighbour' and executive producer of the video '...and still they weep' produced by Christian Television Association (CTA) for SPUC Evangelicals. Catherine Françoise became a Christian at the age of 15. Your PerformanceCatherine will do some research about your area before she comes to see if it is possible to incorporate a 'local' Woman of Faith - whether a woman of today or yesterday. If, when making a booking, you already know of a local woman whom you think may be suitable, please do not hesitate to let us know. If you have any details about your local Woman of Faith that would also be gratefully received.The PerformerCatherine Françoise first trained as a dancer studying at Guildford School of Dancing & Drama, and then studied singing and piano at Trinity College of Music, London, winning a number of awards and competitions. Operatic roles inlcude: The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Frasquita in Carmen, and all Gilbert & Sullivan soprano roles. She has also sung extensively in Recital, Oratorio and Concert throughout the UK.West End Credits include roles in The Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, H.M.S. Pinafore at The Old Vic, and Call Me Madam at The Victoria Palace Theatre. She received critical acclaim for her performance in The Great Musicals. This acclaimed production enjoyed sold-out audiences in Babbacombe, Eastbourne and Poole for two years. Other Theatre Credits include Maria in The Sound Of Music at the Beck Theatre in Hayes which resulted in an invitation to repeat the role for the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, Helen in The Girlfriend at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Millicent in Bless The Bride at The Northcott Theatre, Doreen in The Girl From Vancouver at Perth Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, The Sound Of Music and Perchance To Dream at The Connaught Theatre, Worthing, Dinah in Bernstein's Trouble In Tahiti at London's New Cross Theatre, and Sondheim's Women for Harrogate Theatre. Catherine has also played Principal Girl in Pantomime with Ken Dodd in The Amazing Adventures Of Sinbad The Sailor. Television, radio & recording engagements include Pebble Mill At One, Once In A Lifetime, and BBC Radio World Service, and original cast recordings of The Girl Friend and The Great Musicals. Theatre Credits include the title role of Catherine Booth in two National Tours of William and Catherine for Jasperian Theatre, and Clementine Wieck in Turbulent Awakenings (a play about the composer Robert Schumann) with Quercus Theatre at the Wilde Theatre in Bracknell and The Place in London. Catherine has also sung at numerous political events by invitation including in The House of Commons and also in the City of London. She has recently sung in a series of concerts aboard the prestigious QE2, and 2003 saw Catherine celebrating the 10th Anniversary of her own companies Wedding Songs and Occasion Music. Other PerformersWhilst Women of Faith is frequently done as a one-woman production, it can be performed with two or even three actresses if required and subject to availability.AccompanimentThis is carried out either with backing tracks and on a stage piano, or with Accompanist Jez Francis. Jez completed a Music Theatre Performance HND at Amersham & Wycombe College. At College, he was Musical Director for numerous productions including The Body Show which was performed at The Edinburgh Festival 1998, The After Dinner Joke, House Of Yes and Shopping for which productions he also composed and arranged the music. He was Assistant Musical Director, also playing keyboards and singing on Godspell.Before coming to College, Jez worked as Musical Director and on keyboards on productions in his home town of Hereford inlcuding Jack And The Beanstalk, Babes In The Wood, Grease, The Sleeping Beauty, The Russian Shoemaker and many others. He has also been lead keyboard player for the Boys' Brigade Band for several years and has played with them at The Royal Albert Hall and recently for Morning Worship which was televised for Anglia Television. Jez was also resident organist at Hereford Baptist Church for three years and has composed and arranged music for Nativity and Easter presentations and other events. He composed a children's musical and also won Hereford's Scripture Union Competition for a Rocky Children's Song Cycle Don't Build Your House On Sand. presents |