Cast and Crew

Amy Jackson-Ives

Narrator

Meet Amy

Amy was brought up in Kent and has been playing the viola for 16 years. She studied at The Royal College of Music (Junior Department) between the years of 2007-2008 where she found a love of integrating live music into theatre. She later went on to graduate from Guildford School of Acting in 2019 on their BA Actor Musician programme and continues to relish working in music-led theatre.

Previous credits with Tall Stories include: The Snail and the Whale (UK Tour) 2021

Other theatre credits include: Fisherman’s Tail (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Jack and the Beanstalk (Kent Tour)

Film credits include: Petrichor (Pavilion Works)

Other credits include: Graffiti Classics (P&O Cruise), Graffiti Classics (Viking Cruises)

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

During my training at GSA, I played Emily Webb in Thornton Wilder’s ‘Our Town’. This opportunity was the first time I felt valued as an actor and still remains close to my heart.

What was your favourite story as a child?

The Hungry Caterpillar! I used to ask to my Mum to read this to me every night, but would usually take over after one page, and could recite the whole book, complete with inflections and all!

What possession would you really not want to lose?

My childhood teddy bear – a polar bear named Snuffy. He still sleeps with me every night.

Aaron Millard

Dad

Meet Aaron

Aaron grew up in Gillingham, Kent. He fell in love with acting after watching Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura 2 and John Cleese in Fawlty Towers. After his GCSE’s and A-Levels he completed a BTEC at Kings Theatre Chatham, travelling up to the Fringe for a number of shows. He attended the Italia Conti acting school in London for Three years.

Previous credits with Tall Stories include: The Gruffalo in ‘The Gruffalo’ (Various Tours)

Other theatre credits include: Around the World in Eighty Days (Vienna’s English Theatre/European Theatre Company), Goosebumps Alive (The Vaults), The Three Little Pigs and other Twisted Tails (Twisted Tails Theatre Company), The Great Christmas Feast (The Ugly Duck Theatre), Stranger Things: The Experience (Troubador studios)#

Other credits include: Dark Tourism (Rehearsed Reading)

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I loved working on ‘The Gruffalo’, I was able to travel around the world working with such lovely people, to wonderful children.

What was your favourite story as a child?

I loved reading and being read Roald Dahl. My favourite was always Fantastic Mr Fox. He was mischievous and outsmarted the Farmers.

What possession would you really not want to lose?

I would really not want to lose my writing book. I love writing, it has all of my ideas in it for rhyming stories.

Molly Rolfe

Daughter

Meet Molly

Molly studied Acting and Contemporary Theatre at East 15 Acting School and is a member of the Young Vic Creators Programme. As a theatre maker, she performs and develops new work with her emerging theatre companies and loves doing puppetry and animation. 

Previous credits with Tall Stories include: The Snail and the Whale (UK Tour) 

Other theatre credits include: Con-version (The Vaults Festival/Paper Mug Theatre), The Invisible Dog (London Tour/Haringey Shed), Enter Mr Citrus Man (Denmark Tour/Edinburgh Fringe), Whalesong (Attenborough Arts Centre). 

What have been your favourite projects to work on? 

I once performed in a cabaret about cowboys and businesswomen which was silly and lots of fun. I also really enjoy The Snail and the Whale (I’m not just saying that!) 

What was your favourite story as a child? 

The Hairy Maclary books – I still remember all the names of the dogs (my favourite’s Hercules Morse as big as a horse). 

What possession would you really not want to lose? 

My brother made me a little toy cat which I’d be very upset to lose! 

Heather Gorniak

Understudy

Meet Heather

Heather hails from Guildford in Surrey and gained a degree in Actor Musicianship from the Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 2020. 

Theatre credits include: The Tempest (Petrovden Shakespeare Company- Patalenitsa, Bulgaria), The Girl in the Mirror ( Briefcase Theatre) and The The Truth Stops Here (Esher Theatre, 29 Steps Productions). 

Other credits include: Colour & Light (dance film, The Tellers Company), A Walk Together (short film, Southside Productions). 

What have been your favourite projects to work on? 

I’m lucky to have been involved with several brand new projects which has given me the freedom to be creative with character choices. I love to experiment and play with ideas! 

What was your favourite story as a child? 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis 

What possession would you really not want to lose? 

My figure skates.

Gemma Scott

Company Stage Manager

Meet Gemma

Gemma started out stage managing children’s theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2011, leaving her ‘real’ job in 2015 to do this full time.

Previous credits with Tall Stories include: The Gruffalo (bilingual English and BSL version/UK tour).

Other theatre credits include: The Paradis Files (Graeae and BBC Concert Orchestra/UK tour), 10 Nights (Graeae and Tamasha/Bush Theatre), Last Easter (Orange Tree Theatre), All I See Is You (UK/Australia tour). 

What have been your favourite projects to work on? 

Working with Graeae has been amazing, especially on their new opera ‘The Paradis Files’, which had integrated captions, British Sign Language interpreters and audio description. 

What was your favourite story as a child? 

I loved ‘The Worst Witch’ series by Jill Murphy – that’s probably why I like having a job where I wear black so much!  

What possession would you really not want to lose? 

If I lost my diary I’d be absolutely useless, I don’t remember anything if it’s not written down!  

 

Creatives

Toby Mitchell

Director

Meet Toby

What have been your favourite projects to work on?
As a director, ‘The Smeds and The Smoos’, ‘The Snow Dragon’ and ‘The Snail and the Whale’; as a writer/performer, ‘Future Perfect’ (a show I performed with my then 10-year-old son).

What was your favourite story as a child?
‘Alice in Wonderland’ (for its nonsense and intelligence) and ‘Winnie the Pooh’ (for its silliness and philosophy)

Isla Shaw

Designer

Meet Isla
Say My Name: I-la sh-or sounds like roar
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I designed ‘Macbeth’ at Shakespeare’s Globe. It’s incredibly exciting to have 1600 people responding to work in that space! It’s raw and exciting!

What do you like best about your job?

I really enjoy how every day is different. From research and problem solving, to working creatively with the director, and being part of a team to create a show.

Richard Heacock

Composer

Meet Richard

What have been your favourite projects to work on?
My first theatre show was a version of ‘Winnie the Pooh’. Eeyore wore a pac-a-mac, which we sprinkled with water backstage so it looked like he got rained on wherever he went.

Why did you want to work in theatre?
The circus wouldn’t have me. I have no head for heights, and I’m allergic to straw. And elephants.

James Whiteside

Lighting Designer

Meet James
What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I’m very lucky to have worked on all sorts of projects, so it’s very hard to pick a favourite. But I did have a blast the first time I went to New York with Tall Stories!

What was your favourite story as a child?

My favourite story as a child was ‘The Wind in the Willows’, and it still is! One day I would like to light it on stage.

Alice Lessing

Costume Supervisor

Meet Alice

What has been your favourite projects to work on?
It has to be The Snail and the Whale! I love the way the story is told through the little girl; It’s so clever and imaginative.

What’s your favourite ocean creature?
A Sea Horse! They can change colour in minutes and it’s the male that carries the babies – brilliant!

Production

Director: Toby Mitchell
Set & Costumes Designer: Isla Shaw
Composer: Richard Heacock
Lighting Designer: James Whiteside
Costume Supervisor: Alice Lessing
BSL Interpreter: Laura Goulden

Production Manager: Nick May
Set Construction: Footprint Scenery & Harrogate Scenic Services
Concept Design: BoomLive.Agency
Prop Refurbishment: Bryony Rumble
Scenic Painter: Kerry Jarrett
Chair Upholstery: Karen Wood
Wooden Snails: Jack Chivers
Set Transportation: CEG Logistics
Tour Booking: Pro Tours 

Adapted by the company from the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

The Snail and the Whale © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2003 – Macmillan Children’s Books

Previous team members

Daughter/Snail

Rhiannon Wallace (original production), Susanna Jennings, Lucy Grace, Amy Tobias, Hannah Miller

Dad/Whale

Martin Dempsey (original production), Patrick Bridgman, Tim Hibberd

Narrator/Viola Player

Ellen Chivers (original production), Eva Tausig, Rosalind Steele, Catriona Stirling, Rachel Benson, Charlotte Mafham

Understudy Narrator

Cathryn Gleeson

Company Stage Manager

Kaley Freeman, Charlie Young, Emma Nairne-Thomas, Ben Luke, Verity Clayton