A Brief History
Diva Productions is a production company who have developed a reputation for exceptional, powerful and quality theatre in Yorkshire. We never compromise on artistic quality in anything we do. Our work is artistically ambitious, entertaining and engaging.
Andy Ashley and Andy Fretwell established Diva Productions in 2013. Diva Media launched first as a small scale film and photography company that worked alongside amateur theatre groups providing professional quality film work, scenic projections and a range of photographic work. In 2015 they established Diva Theatre Company as they wanted to develop a new theatre group that would take risks, be innovative and create professional quality theatre.
Since 2017 both elements of the brand are simply known as Diva Productions.
What drives us as a company in choosing our projects is the relevance of the production to today’s audience. We value good quality theatre and that is what we deliver to our audiences. Furthermore we are proud to work with a number of other local companies to develop their own projects and visions by providing scenic projections, video and photography work both here in the UK and worldwide.
We enjoy working with new people and value the relationships we have established over the years. We are now in our 6th year as a company and we are excited for the creative projects ahead for Diva, continuing producing shows that excite and entertain. Our work is produced with passion, love, dedication and with a mind for the innovative, to bring our own twist to modern and original theatre.
Andy Ashley and Andy Fretwell established Diva Productions in 2013. Diva Media launched first as a small scale film and photography company that worked alongside amateur theatre groups providing professional quality film work, scenic projections and a range of photographic work. In 2015 they established Diva Theatre Company as they wanted to develop a new theatre group that would take risks, be innovative and create professional quality theatre.
Since 2017 both elements of the brand are simply known as Diva Productions.
What drives us as a company in choosing our projects is the relevance of the production to today’s audience. We value good quality theatre and that is what we deliver to our audiences. Furthermore we are proud to work with a number of other local companies to develop their own projects and visions by providing scenic projections, video and photography work both here in the UK and worldwide.
We enjoy working with new people and value the relationships we have established over the years. We are now in our 6th year as a company and we are excited for the creative projects ahead for Diva, continuing producing shows that excite and entertain. Our work is produced with passion, love, dedication and with a mind for the innovative, to bring our own twist to modern and original theatre.
The Creative Team
Andy Ashley - Co Founder / Artistic Director
Andrew is co-founder and Artistic Director of Diva Productions, he trained at Bretton Hall graduating with a degree in Theatre Acting. Andrew’s directing credits include: Legally Blonde (Theatre Royal Wakefield); DNA (Ossett Town Hall); Chicago (Carriageworks Theatre), The Phantom of The Opera (Carriageworks Theatre); The Sound of Music (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Carriageworks Theatre); The Full Monty: The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Avenue Q (Carriageworks Theatre); Rita Sue and Bob Too (Carriageworks Theatre and Theatre Royal Wakefield); Bat Boy: The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Lucky Sods (The Academy Theatre, Barnsley and Theatre Royal Wakefield); Hi De Hi (Batley Town Hall); Steel Magnolias (Theatre Royal Wakefield). Recent theatre roles include: Dad, Rita Sue and Bob Too (Carriageworks Theatre, Theatre Royal Wakefield); David, Company (Carriageworks Theatre); Eddie, Sister Act (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Daddy Warbucks, Annie (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Dave, The Full Monty: The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Selwyn, Without Fear or Favour (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Jemmy, Molly Flanders The Musical (Old Court Theatre); Starbuck, The Rainmaker (Old Court Theatre); Launcelot Gobbo, The Merchant of Venice (Old Court Theatre). Andrew has worked as a video designer for Ghost The Musical and his work has been used extensively across the UK and worldwide. Other video design work includes: Legally Blonde (Theatre Royal Wakefield); The Phantom of The Opera (Carriageworks Theatre); The Sound Of Music, The Full Monty, Rita, Sue and Bob Too (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Singin’ In The Rain (Sheffield City Hall); The Wizard of Oz (Guiseley Theatre). Andrew won Best Supporting Actor for his performance of Dad in Rita Sue and Bob Too at the 2014 Wakefield Drama Festival. |
Andy Fretwell - Co Founder / Managing Director
Andy is co-founder and Managing Director of Diva Productions, he trained in Performing Arts at St Wilfrid's College. He is an innovative, professional and award - winning manager and has significant experience in extensive people leadership, operations, production and event management. Andy’s producing credits include: Legally Blonde (Theatre Royal Wakefield); DNA (Ossett Town Hall) Chicago (Carriageworks Theatre); The Phantom of The Opera (Carriageworks Theatre); The Sound of Music (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Carriageworks Theatre); The Full Monty: The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Avenue Q (Carriageworks Theatre); Rita Sue and Bob Too (Carriageworks Theatre and Theatre Royal Wakefield); Bat Boy The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Lucky Sods (The Academy Theatre, Barnsley and Theatre Royal Wakefield). Theatre acting credits include: Joey, Sister Act (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Subway Ghost, Ghost The Musical (Wakefield Theatre Royal, Sheffield City Hall); Bert Healey, Annie (Wakefield Theatre Royal); Reg/Ensemble, The Full Monty: The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Lawrence, Calendar Girls (Theatre Royal Wakefield). Stage managing credits include: Chicago (Carriageworks Theatre); The Phantom of The Opera (Carriageworks Theatre) and The Sound of Music (Theatre Royal Wakefield). Andy also choreographed Avenue Q (Carriageworks Theatre). |
Jonathan Mitra – Musical Director
Jonathan studied at the University of Huddersfield gaining an Undergraduate degree in Music Performance and stayed on to study a Masters focussing on Music Performance and Musical Direction. He now works as a freelance musician playing, conducting, and teaching around the West Yorkshire area. Musical Director credits include: Legally Blonde (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Aladdin (Trinity Arts Centre); Sweeney Todd (University of Huddersfield); Chicago (Carriageworks Theatre); The Phantom of the Opera (Carriageworks Theatre); The Sound of Music (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Godspell (John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth); Sweet Charity, Pippin, The Addams Family (South Downs College); Guys and Dolls (Hayling Island Community Centre). Assistant/Associate Musical Director credits include: Kinky Boots (Lawrence Batley Theatre); Calendar Girls (Lawrence Batley Theatre); All Together Now (The Engine Shed); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Manchester Cathedral). Other professional work outside of musical theatre include: Musical Director of Classical Crossover duo, Forever Tenors, including the musical supervision for their debut album Surrender and playing for the ‘Best Of’ 12 Tenors tour around Germany. Jonathan also spends time creating tracks and keyboard programming for shows, concerts and other performances. |
Nikki Schofield – Choreographer Nikki, originally from Yorkshire trained at Laine Theatre Arts, has worked professionally in London and Internationally for over 15 years and is now back in Yorkshire to perform in and choreograph shows and productions in the UK. Nikki’s performing credits include: We Will Rock You (Original cast Switzerland & Germany); Mack & Mabel (Southwark Playhouse, London); 42nd Street Gala (London Palladium); White Christmas (The Lowry, Salford and Edinburgh Festival Theatre); Showtime! The Musical (The Spa Theatre, Bridlington); What a Feeling (UK tour); Christmas on Broadway (Niagra Falls and USA tour); Broadway (US Tour); She performed onboard Colorline cruises, working onboard both MS Color Fantasy and MS Color Magic (Norway). Television credits include: Harry HIll - The Movie (Film); A featured dancer on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV), featured dancer with Louie Spence on the Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV); and a featured dancer on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV). Nikki has performed in many pantomimes at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax over the years, most recently as Fairy Flutterby in Jack and the Beanstalk Other pantomimes include: Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella (Halifax Victoria Theatre); Cinderella (The Shaw Theatre, London); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (New Victoria Theatre, Woking). Nikki was thrilled to choreograph Sleeping Beauty for Imagine Theatre at (Rotherham Civic Theatre.)
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Our Patrons |
We are delighted to have the support of the wonderfully talented Aimee Good as our first patron. Aimee appeared in our first musical production of Bat Boy: The Musical as Shelly Parker in 2016. She also appeared in our 2019 production of The Phantom Of The Opera and amazed audiences with her astonishing performance as Christine Daae. Aimee has recently graduated from the prestigious Urdang Academy and is now pursuing her professional stage career as part of the UK and International tour of Les Miserables.
TRAINING: Urdang Academy
THEATRE: Ensemble (2nd Cover Eponine), Les Miserables (UK and International Tour); Christine, The Phantom of The Opera (Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds); Julia, The Wedding Singer (Bernie Grant Arts Centre); Ensemble, Musical Theatre Revue (London Palladium); Amy, Company (Urdang); Gretyl, London: Nursery Crimes (London Workshop); Ensemble, Zombies (London Workshop); Oona / Ensemble, Chaplin The Musical (London Workshop); Shelly, Bat Boy: The Musical (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Sally Bowles, Cabaret (CAPA); Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz (Theatre Royal Wakefield); Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz (Rotherham Civic Theare); Maria, West Side Story (Rotherham Civic Theatre); Rusty, Footloose (Rotherham Ciivic Theatre) TV: Extra, Waterloo Road (BBC) OTHER: Zombies Original Cast Recording |
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