RICHARD GAUNTLETT .
Richard began his career in the musical ‘Barnum’ with Michael Crawford at the Opera House in Manchester followed by a long run at The Victoria Palace and the BBC Film Version. Eight years later Richard returned to ‘Barnum’ for the national tour and another West End run playing The Ringmaster and taking over PT Barnum himself.
Other Theatre work includes: Dickon in a musical version of ‘The Secret Garden’ at The King’s Head Theatre; Sam Crow in ‘Fat Pig – The Musical’ and the 25th anniversary production of ‘Oh, What A Lovely War’ both at the Leicester Haymarket; Tobias in David Toguri’s production of Sondheim’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ at The Bristol Old Vic; Puck in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and Tom in ‘Tom Thumb’ at The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch; Leopold in English National Opera’s ‘Der Rosencavalier’ at the Coliseum; the Parson in ‘The Parson’s Pirates’ for Opera Della Luna and the National Tour of ‘Cats’. In December 1999 Richard completed a long run in Disney’s ‘Beauty and The Beast’ playing Lefou – the knockabout fool at The Dominion Theatre in the West End after over 1000 performance, he then trained the performers for the circus sequences and played Foottit in the West End Musical ‘Lautrec’ which played a limited season at The Shaftsbury Theatre in London. Richard then spent a year in Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ playing Timon at The Lyceum Theatre.
Richard, a proud member of The Grand Order of Water Rats, tours extensively with his unique array of speciality acts, from Halifax to Hong Kong, from Leicester to Lapland and from Dundee to Dubai. Seasons include ‘Wot A Carry-On In Blackpool’, ‘The Russ Abbot Show’, ‘The Bobby Davro Show’,‘Have A Laugh With Bradley Walsh’, ‘Two Old Farts in the Night’ with Barry Cryer and Willie Rushton ,‘The Joe Pasquale Kak Raider Tour’ and ‘Bobby Davro – Not In Front Of The Children’ as well as several Aladdin’s, Cinderella and Babes in the Woods and countless tours with the celebrated ‘Hiss and Boo Music Hall Company’. Richard is also a regular at The Leeds City Varieties, Brick Lane Music Hall and The Players Theatre in London both as an act and Mr Chairman.
Television work includes Troyboy (a pig!) in ‘Pigsty’, ‘Lift-Off’, ‘It’s Wicked!’ and ‘Bodytalk’ for Children’s BBC, ‘Wednesday at 8’ and ‘The Sooty Show’ for Thames. Richard also realised one of his dreams by playing a baddie (Urak) in the Dr Who adventure ‘Time and the Rani’. Film work includes several fleeting glimpses as one of the Bob Hoskins stunt doubles in ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’
Summer Season - Richard’s association with Cromer began in 2000 headlining this unique show with a return visit in 2001 where the show broke box office records .In 2003 Richard was delighted to return as Director and writer taking over from the amazing Bob Marlowe whose work in establishing this unique event will always be part of Cromer’s history. After the shows are on Richard travelled straight to Clacton where he topped the bill at the Westcliff Theatre in the Summer Spectacular Show, returning again the following year.
Throughout Richard’s 25 year career he has always (when possible) returned to his favourite form of theatre – Pantomime. For the past 8 years he has written, directed and starred in Pantomime at The Theatre Royal in Norwich (from Widow Twankey to Peter Pan!). His Scripts are now performed all over the country .
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