Simon Fraser’s first work as a performer and composer was with the Midlands-based Platypus Theatre Company, creating music for productions which included ‘The Interference’ by Tim Rose Price and Steve Dinsdale’s adaptation of ‘Mr. Corbett’s Ghost’ by Leon Garfield. Other compositions include ‘No Surrender’, the Hull City Play for Remould Theatre, ‘Aladdin’ (Byre Theatre, St. Andrews), ‘At Caerlaverock’, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Kenwood House, ‘Paradise Lost’ at the Three Choirs Festival, ‘No-one Writes To The Colonel’ (Marquez) and ‘Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance’ (Arden) for BBC Radio.  

He has worked with the Portuguese company Teatro do Montemuro on several occasions, most recently on ‘Comer Pela Calada’ (Peter Cann). He also wrote songs and produced an audio version of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’, narrated by Evelyn Duah and featuring the voices of (amongst others) Andy Serkis, Celia Imrie, Jonathan Pryce, Louise Jameson and the late Murray Melvin.

Simon has regularly delivered workshops, often focused on improvisation and clowning, to groups of all ages and for numerous colleges and schools.

His collaboration with Absolute Theatre’s Artistic Director Andrew Harries spanned over forty productions and projects, starting with a Lorca double-bill ‘The Shoemaker’s Wondrous Wife’ and ‘Don Perlimplin’ and culminating with ‘Light Shining in Buckinghamshire’ (Caryl Churchill) at the Young Actors Theatre.

Evelyn is an innovative performance practitioner committed to enabling the development and empowerment of young actors with over 35 years industry experience as a professional actor, teacher and facilitator.
She began her career as a child actor and was trained at the Anna Scher Theatre (AST). She studied at Middlesex University, gaining a BA in Performing Arts. Post-graduation she began teaching at the AST and assisted Anna Scher deliver international theatre workshops. Evelyn later held the position of senior teacher and then Outreach Director at the Young Actors Theatre Islington.

She has developed numerous community arts-based programmes as well as holding audition workshops for several highly acclaimed film and TV productions. She continues to perform in TV, Film Theatre and Voiceover. Professional TV credits include ‘You, Me and Them’, ‘It’s A Sin’, directed by Russell T. Davies, ‘Liar’ and ‘Trigger Point’. Theatre work includes ‘Bones’ for Calypso, directed by Bairbre Ni Chaoimh, Mrs Muller in ‘Doubt’ (Masquerade) and several roles with the RSC including Lady Mayoress in ‘Thomas More’.

Peter has worked as a writer, director and performer since 1980. His work has been produced by companies such as: Birmingham Rep, Shared Experience, Welsh National Opera, Talking Birds, BBC Radio 4, Channel 4 Television, The Resurrectionists, The Theatre Royal Northampton and Cape Town’s Isango Ensemble and Contigo on Madeira.

He was Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre from 1985 to 1989 which was where he first began working with Simon Fraser. As well as working together on projects for Absolute Theatre that include: ‘The Crowgate’, ‘Jericho  Stone’ – both directed by Andrew Harries – and ‘Portland Stories’, they created ‘Islington, The Opera’ for the Young Actors Theatre which was again directed by Andrew. 

They have collaborated with Portugal’s Teatro do Montemuro on a number of pieces including ‘O Canto da Cepa’ and ‘Anjo do Montemuro’. More recently their double act has continued with Cães do Mar on the Azorian island of Terceira. 

Arti Naithani is passionate about using creativity for emotional and physical wellbeing, combining her performance skills with therapeutic training to facilitate workshops that empower and build confidence.

She has over 30 years experience working with groups affected by multiple disadvantages and neurodiversity, including vulnerable girls and young carers.   

With a BSc in Psychology, credentials in Person Centered Counselling, Mindfulness and Youth Work, she has an Advanced Diploma in Speech and Drama and training in Improvisation and Dance. 

She has performed with theatre companies such as Tara Arts, Dirty Market and as a voice actor for animations. Focused on movement, she uses Indian dance and yoga from her cultural heritage and enjoys embracing diversity.  

Alongside her creative work, Arti advocates Nonviolent Communication and Trauma Informed Practice, working in an advisory capacity with London Rape Crisis Centres and NHS funded research, committed to improving services for trauma survivors.

Beatriz is an actor and drag performer.  After graduating from drama school, she starred in a production of Romeo and Juliet and travelled all over Brazil to train in the Michael Chekhov technique. 

In 2020 she moved to London and continued her acting studies under the wing of Andrew Harries at the Young Actors Theatre, soon leading to teaching drama there and in other schools, with the mission to release the creativity and confidence of her students. 

Beatriz is always excited to work with the Absolute Theatre and their collaboration has already involved a voice over for Cães do Mar’s ‘InBox 2.0’ and a live concert at the Festival de Curtas de Artes Performativas in The Azores. Currently, she is developing a comedy show as her drag character Bia Darling, with songs composed by Simon Fraser. 

Colin is an actor, writer and historian. As a writer, Colin has published many books on science and technology, including ‘The Disney Book of Communications’, ‘The Elements-Magnesium’ and ‘Inside a High-Speed Train’.

Colin co-wrote and performed in the award winning shows, ‘Televisor’ and ‘Horlicks and Armageddon’ and recently wrote and performed in ‘Coal, Dole and Dinner Ladies’ which told the story of Kent miners during the 1984 coal strike. Colin has researched, written and performed in projects for organisations that include The Science Museum, Tower Bridge, The London Transport Museum, The Design Museum and The Museum of London.

As a voiceover artist, Colin can often be heard on television and other media and is best known as the narrator on four seasons of ‘Scrap Kings’ for Quest TV.

Colin worked with Absolute Theatre on the ‘Because I’m a Londoner’ project, researching, writing and developing performances and making films with schools across London. He is also a consultant with Spectrum Drama.

Julie has worked with children and young adults for over twenty years, with considerable experience in storytelling, directing and running workshops. Throughout that time she has researched, devised, written and performed in many projects. Julie has enjoyed running drama courses for young adults and is an Arts awards advisor. 

She has previously worked with Spaniel in the Works theatre company, giving training workshops for professionals who work with sexual and domestic abuse cases. 

Julie has also performed as characters from history for over twenty years with Spectrum Drama. She is very committed to working on new projects that emphasise the importance of well being for children and young adults and she has witnessed over the years the positive impact that drama has brought to children’s lives. 

Julie is delighted to be working with Absolute Theatre and looks forward to many years of collaboration.