An Original Comedy Musical
Halifax Playhouse: 28th - 30th March 2024
Meet The Can't Go Back Team
James McCann - Book, Lyrics & Director
During a varied career, James has been a flute playing elf, circus ringmaster and a dodgy Elvis impersonator in a pair of bejewelled eight-inch platform boots (PICTURE NOT AVAILABLE.)
He’s also been a stand-up comedian, cruise ship compere, singer and novelist. Through it all, he’s been a writer. Whether it’s wedding speeches, comedy material for cabaret artists, pantomimes and shows for schools or professional theatre companies, or just funny one-liners that get as many as three retweets, James has been writing for a long time.
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He has written and directed dozens of theatre school shows, numerous pantomimes, touring and static performances in holiday parks, theme parks and hotels across the world.
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He's now bringing together all this experience to create one fantastic night of music and entertainment.
Mark Baker - Music & MD
An extremely talented musician and vocalist, Mark has performed in hotels, holiday parks and luxury cruise ships all around the world.
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He is a member of vocal harmony group The Base Tones and is always performing, orchestrating or writing music.
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Career highlights include playing The Beast in Beauty & The Beast, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls and Frederick in Pirates of Penzance.
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Mark will be in the pit alongside a fabulous nine-piece orchestra for Can't Go Back and can't wait to get started.
Lisa McCann A.I.S.T.D. - Choreographer
After training at Performers College, Lisa travelled the world as a dancer, singer and choreographer.
An accomplished actress, she has performed in venues such as Leeds City Varieties, The Buxton Opera House and Wembley Stadium.
She created Limelight Theatre School in Rastrick and choreographs and performs in shows at the Lawrence Batley Theatre or Halifax Victoria every six months.
At Limelight, she teaches dance of all styles including Street, Tap, Fitsteps and GloFit. She also teaches dance and drama in numerous schools across West Yorkshire.
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Lisa created pre-school dance class Boogie Babes and has a team of franchisees who run classes across the UK.
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Among many roles she has played Goldilocks, Mrs Potts and Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty.
She most recently performed as Mavis (a dance teacher) in Stepping Out and will be playing the role of Laura (a dance teacher!) in Can't Go Back.
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Lisa refuses to be typecast!
Charlie Rhodes - Deputy Musical Director & Keys
Charlie is a Calderdale based Singing Teacher, Choir Leader and Musical Director.
He studied music at the University of Manchester, then co-founded Leeds Vocal Movement and was their first Musical Director from 2011-2017.
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Charlie has worked as a Choral Leader and Singing Teacher throughout the North of England. Amongst others, he has directed Huddersfield Voices, Halcyon Youth Choir, Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir and Aire Valley Singers.
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Currently he works as a freelance Singing Teacher, Musical Director and Consultant. He works at Rastrick High as the Teacher of Singing and Director of Choirs within their prestigious music department. He's studying for a Master of Education at the Royal College of Music, and was recently the Musical Director for Halifax Amateur Operatic Society’s production of Elf the Musical.
