Nell! The Musical is brought to you by Pudding Lane Productions; a Somerset based community theatre group run by theatre lovers, for theatre lovers.
The group aims to offer amateur theatre at a professional level while providing opportunities for people to connect, build confidence, develop new skills and experience working with others.
the creative team
Dominic is the visionary behind Nell! The Musical, a project he has nurtured on and off
since the 1980s. After decades of development, he is thrilled to finally bring Nell! to the stage.
A passionate musician, performer, and songwriter, Dominic's musical journey began early; he
professionally released a single in Belgium at just 17. More recently, he has embraced his love of the
1980s through his musical alter ego, DadDoes80s, creating original songs and music videos complete with
mullet and retro sunglasses. He holds a BA in Creative Music Technology and is an adept pianist, singer and guitarist.
Growing up in a family of actors, theatre and performance have always been a part of Dominic’s life. He is active in local amateur dramatics and favours comedic roles, from pantomime dames to bumbling policemen. His flair for directing began with outdoor Shakespeare productions and he continues to direct local pantomimes and community theatre.
Dominic’s experience extends behind the scenes as well; he has worked as a professional sound engineer in studios across Europe and as a sound and lighting technician at Strode Theatre.
Dominic brings a wealth of experience, a deep love of storytelling, and a warm sense of humour to every production he leads.
CREATOR/PRODUCER
naomi rose-mock
DIRECTOR
Naomi Rose-Mock is a seasoned director of over 100 musicals and plays. She is thrilled to have
the opportunity to work with Dominic Sandford to bring his vision of Nell to the stage for the
first time.
Rose-Mock has recently returned home to the UK from the US, where she was recognised for her
work with numerous awards, receiving the Florida Theatre Conference’s highest honour for her contributions
to theatre. In addition to directing, Naomi is sought after as a workshop leader, adjudicator and teacher, as well as a classically trained musician.
She has run her own acting studio for many years where she specialises in preparing students for admission auditions to top university courses, and the professional world. Since the pandemic, she has become a full time narrator; recording close to 500 audiobooks for Audible.
Naomi has loved being back in the UK and is so thankful for the warm welcome home she has received. She most recently directed Come From Away for YAOS in Yeovil, and Carmen for Bath Opera. Other career highlights include: Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, Cabaret, Parade, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Light in the Piazza, She Loves Me and Sweeney Todd.
Naomi is looking forward to tackling Dear Evan Hansen with Beatnik Theatre Company this Autumn.
dominic sandford
laurie esse
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Laurie is a versatile and accomplished musician, composer, and performer with a dynamic
background in music, theatre, and the arts. Raised in a creative household, she began classical
violin training at the age of five and gradually expanded her musical repertoire to include voice,
piano, guitar, and ukulele.
She formally trained in Musical Theatre, undertaking Estill Voice Training as part of her diploma, before shifting her focus to original composition. Laurie went on to earn a First-Class Honours degree in Songwriting and Creative Artistry from The Academy of Contemporary Music, where she began writing and releasing her own material.
As a Musical Director, Laurie has worked on numerous productions, including H.M.S. Pinafore at Strode Theatre, for which she arranged the score for a small ensemble. She also leads a local community choir, regularly producing variety shows that highlight her flair for both musical and theatrical storytelling.
Laurie's love of theatre extends beyond music: she has performed in local pantomimes and Shakespeare productions, and reached the English final of the All England Theatre Festival with her performance as ‘Em’ in Tamsin Oglesby’s My Best Friend.
Currently, Laurie is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Orchestration for Film, Games, and Television. She has arranged the full score for Nell! The Musical while also contributing to its scriptwriting.
