Abigail Walton is a Theatre Maker and Playwright, she graduated with a BA (hons) in Drama and Theatre Arts and an MPhil in Playwriting from The University of Birmingham. Abie has had a varied career in theatre, some highlights include: performing and touring T.I.E shows in Italy, directing shows in Switzerland, directing a youth show at The Royal Albert Hall, performing at The Edinburgh Festival, adapting plays for a UK wide schools tour and most importantly; connecting with people through drama.

As a community theatre artist and writer based in Oxfordshire, Abigail is an alumnus of The Oxford Playhouse's writers' attachment programme. Abie has written plays for various Fringe Festivals and often adapts classic texts for younger audiences. Credits include; Wasted Love (extract) - Burton Taylor Studio (2019), Jekyll and Hyde - Fred Theatre UK Schools Tour (2018), Winners - The Crescent Theatre (2016), Love is a Cat Skin Rug - Edinburgh Fringe (2014). Abie is drawn to working on projects with a strong sense of community and is the Participation Manager at The North Wall, Oxford.

Although extremely busy most of the time, Abi still find time to deliver our Power of Drama programme and a few years back wrote and devised our fantastic ‘Windrush’ project.

Adrian received a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts Management from Leicester Polytechnic and was the Founding Member and the Producer of StopWatch Theatre Company, a national touring Theatre-in-Education company which toured the entire country for almost 30 years and which among many others began the I LOVE YOU MUM, I PROMISE I WON’T DIE tour. He has written and performed in educational plays and workshops on a multitude of topics in schools across the UK. Having originally met Wizard’s Artistic Director in 1996 he agreed to come on board as a consultant to Wizard in the early 2000’s and has delivered and help develop numerous projects for the company, bringing a wealth of educational drama experience.

Oliver is Artistic Director of the international award-winning theatre company Illyria which is over 30 years old. He has directed and co-produced EVERY winter show for Wizard Theatre since they started in 2007. Trained at ALRA, he has appeared on TV and Stage including the West End. Credits include THE BFG, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, AS YOU LIKE IT, and even a ‘Dalek’ in DR WHO. A veteran Pantomime performer, Oliver is one half of the outrageous ugly sister act LAV AND LOU (winners of the Best Ugly Sisters award at the Great British Pantomime Awards 2017). He has appeared on our screens in a national television ad campaign for smoke alarms, which involved him filming underwater for long periods in the diving tank at Pinewood Studios!

Based now in a beautiful part of Cornwall, when not writing, directing or performing he can often be found walking a pooch on the cliffs.

Trained at Hull University, Emmy’s theatre credits include: ‘Mrs Bennett’ in PRIDE & PREJUDICE, ‘Titania’ in A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM and ‘Lady Macbeth’ in MACBETH. Television appearances include HOLBY CITY, EASTENDERS, THE BILL and for a brief period a couple of SURF commercials as Linda Robson’s hands!!! She was ASM on THE BLUE ROOM directed by Sam Mendes starring Nicole Kidman.

For Wizard she designed the first 5 sets for our winter shows and numerous props and costumes for the message-based workshops and productions. As associate producer she helps with the day-to-day duties of running the company – alongside her main role as principal of Stagecoach Harrow which she has run for almost 20 years and currently has around 250 pupils every Saturday!!!

Nicholas is a real life wizard and professional magician, and a member of the Magic Circle. He started his magical journey at the age of 3 when he received a magic kit for his birthday. He then joined the YMC (The Young Magician Club) at the Magic Circle. Through that he won J-Day (Junior Day) and also took home the comedy cup.

Nicholas studied at Fourth Monkey and went on to perform in Las Vegas, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, and was a finalist in the YOUNG MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR. Nick learnt most of his tricks of the trade performing his street shows in Covent Garden.

He has also performed in his own standalone shows including NICHOLAS LEE, IN THE LIBRARY, WITH A WAND; IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE and IT WASN'T A PHASE.

Nicholas' other stage credits include: PINCH OF PICKLE AND A WHISK OF WISE (Snail Tails), THE REVENGERS TRAGEDY, (Junior), TERRORISM, (Man/Man2) PARTY SKILLS FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, THE ADVENTURES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE, PETER PAN, and ROBIN HOOD, Illyria).

Nick has been a facilitator on the POWER OF DRAMA and ON THE RIGHT ROAD programmes for Wizard and toured I LOVE YOU MUM, I PROMISE I WON’T DIE playing Dan’s Dad ‘Tim’.

Samuel trained at East 15 on the Acting & Stage Combat course. Since graduating Samuel has worked on informational videos for THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY, been a combat instructor for young actors with the company WANDERING KNIGHTS, as well as performing in a series of short films produced by the Corby Cube Theatre named THINKING 360. His theatre credits include playing ‘Lycander’ in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for Fitzrovia, ‘Dromio of Ephesus’ in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS adapted by Jon Bond, ‘George’ In LORD OF THE FLIES at Clifftown theatre and a puppeteer in HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DINOSAUR by Rent A Dinosaur.

Sam is one of Wizard’s STAYING SAFE facilitators and has played  ‘Jack’ in I LOVE YOU MUM, I PROMISE I WON’T DIE in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tours.

Joanna trained at Drama Centre, London on the MA in Classical Acting course. Her theatre experience has included lots of Shakespeare (including Lady Macbeth at the Ashcroft Theatre and summer tours as Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and Katharina in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Other recent

theatre credits include Lily Byrne in the musical A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE at the Arts Theatre, Ruth in ABOUT 500 at The King's Head and Joy in Jez Butterworth's PARLOUR SONG, nominated for Best Revival in the 2025 London Pub Theatre Awards.

Joanna also loves to sing and play jazz. She is passionate about exploring classic texts with young people - and has worked as an Education Practitioner leading workshops for Shakespeare's Globe and directed school productions of ANTIGONE, THE BACCHAE and MEDEA.

Joanna joins Wizard playing Saint George, Mum and a host of other characters!

Christopher is originally from Yorkshire, where he was a founding member of York Theatre Royal’s Young Actors Company, before training professionally at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Following his graduation in 2011, Christopher made his debut in Shakespeare and Fletcher’s THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN at the Teatro delle Muse in Rome. Since then he has toured the UK and Europe extensively in a wide variety of productions... often with his future colleagues at Wizard Theatre!

Christopher played Phileas Fogg in Vienna’s English Theatre’s tour of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (with David Sayers), and the Emerald City Guard in THE WIZARD OF OZ at the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton (with Jeremy Randall), before joining the renowned open-air theatre company Illyria for their Shakespearean productions of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (with Rachel O’Hare) and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (with Richard Blackman), both directed by yet another well-known Wizard, Oliver Gray! In 2024 he toured the UK and the Netherlands in his third production with Illyria, ROMEO & JULIET, where he met Samuel Adams & Lydia Waller, who became his fellow Wizard cast mates for THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES.

Chris has played ‘Mordred’ in THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES and ‘Tim’, Dan’s Dad, in l LOVE YOU, MUM – I PROMISE I WON’T DIE in our 2025 tour.

Ben trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and at the London Clown School.

Since graduating Ben has been involved in numerous stage productions, ranging from Shakespeare and new writing, to pantomime and immersive shows.

Ben first worked for Wizard Theatre playing the role of Chris in Mark Wheeler's play 'Chicken!'. Since then, Ben has worked on both 'On the Right Road' and 'Choices'.

Lydia is an actor originally from Leeds, and a Masters graduate of ALRA North. She has worked alongside many Wizard faces for Illyria in ROMEO & JULIET (UK & Netherlands Tour) as Nurse/Tybalt and Pride & Prejudice.

She has appeared in many children's theatre tours and musicals, including NO HORIZON (The Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe), and ROBIN HOOD as Maid Marion for West Midlands Children's Theatre (UK & Ireland).

Lydia has worked with the BBC Philharmonic and Andrea Bocelli in choral work, and in motion capture as a lead in educational video game NONE IN THREE. She has also worked for Script Yorkshire and The Stephen Joseph Theatre on new local scripts.

Lydia began her Wizard Theatre adventure as Princess Ruby in The Emperors New Clothes!