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Alyson has worked as a singer, actor and producer all over the UK and beyond. She set up The Swingcats ten years ago and has enjoyed touring with the girls to theatres, jazz festivals and corporate events all over the world. She recorded "The Age Of Content" with the Kennedy Aitchison trio and the album has received airplay on many radio stations including BBC Radio 2. It features jazz standards as well as a few of her compositions. You can also listen to tracks from Alyson's album (The Age of Content) here. As an actor, Alyson played the role of Leanne in the BAFTA award winning film, "One Life Stand" and appeared alongside Dougray Scott in "One Last Chance". She was recently seen in the BBC Scotland soap "River City" playing the role of scheming Tricia, and has appeared in various TV shows and commercials. Her theatre credits include, "Rikki And Me" with Tony Roper and Gerard Kelly which is now out on DVD, "The Celtic Story" appearing with the legendary jazz singer Annie Ross, and various plays, musicals and pantomimes all over the country. Her production company "Alyson Orr Ltd" has produced pantomimes, tours for jazz artistes and plays, most recently "Only An Excuse" with Jonathan Watson and "The Celts In Seville" by Tony Roper. View her website her on www.alysonorr.com Aka Aly Cat, she is a deep voiced alto with a rich showy quality. Always the glamour puss, her loves are her dog Angus and her make up!
Artistic Director
and Business Manager for the group. |
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Born and bred in Edinburgh, Nicola trained as an actress at Queen Margaret College. After pursuing a career as a Shakespearean actress and playing a wide variety of TV nurses, she finally had a foray into children's theatre. Originally offered a six month contract with The Happy Gang, she was still kicking up her heels eight years later. She has now hung up her neon clothes and taken a break from kid's entertainment, but still presents the BBC educational programme called "What, Where, When, Why?" with The Happy Gang. Nicola has appeared in many pantomimes and musical theatre shows and now no longer plays the ‘goody’ parts. In recent years she is more often cast as the villain and has much more fun getting in touch with her wicked side! She also appeared in her first movie playing a juggling clown, and required a stunt double to do the juggling (despite lessons from one of her fellow Swingcats)! In her spare time she loves running, walking her dog Seb, drinking fizzy wine, and practising the flute. Aka Cheshire Cat, she has an alto voice with a rich, fruity lower register. Sweet natured with a huge mega-watt smile (hence her nick-name,) she is always ultra colour co-ordinated with a penchant for all things sparkly.
Fashion consultant for the girls and head choreographer. |
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Laura began working as a freelance singer and actor in the early 90’s.
She learned folk songs and harmonies as a young child from her father
before taking piano lessons and studying music as a teenager. She
performed regularly in the folk music circuit in her early twenties, and
has since worked as a vocalist with many different bands and in various
music projects over the years either as a session vocalist or a regular
member. Over the last ten years most of her singing work has been with
The Swingcats which she considers to be by far the best group she has
been involved in, not to mention the great and lasting friendships she
has made with the other girls.
Website manager and spiritual
adviser for The
Swingcats. |
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Karen has played piano and
keyboards for orchestras all over the UK and has worked as a musician
under Carl Davis, playing his famous film scores and also on the RSNO
recordings of John Williams 'Star Wars' trilogy. Her return to the
concert platform was in the guise of the jazz world and a happy
association with The Swingcats. Musical arranger for the group.
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