Alyson Orr

Alyson is co-founder of Take Two Productions which she set up with writer Stuart Thomas in 1991, appearing in many of their shows. She has worked with various Scottish Theatre companies and also appeared in “The Celtic Story” at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow where she had the privilege of working with the legendary jazz singer Annie Ross. This also provided a chance to use her skills as a musician, playing flute and saxophone in the show. Her first solo CD “The Age Of Content” was released in 2003 receiving great reviews in the national press and features two of her own compositions as well as jazz standards.

She has appeared in films, television and commercials, starring in the BAFTA award winning film “One Life Stand,” and with Dougray Scott in “One Last Chance." Alyson played the role of Kate Fulton in the highly successful "Rikki And Me" alongside Tony Roper and Gerard Kelly. The show is out now on DVD.

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 wearing  lots of make up. Admired for her ability to remain calm in a tense situation, she carries the honour of forming the group and leads them as Artistic Director and Business Manager.
 

Nicola Auld

Born and bred in Edinburgh, she 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 just finished playing the villainous, fluffy animal killer Donatella Dangleberry in Cinderella at The Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline.  Her biggest ambition at the moment is to get a part in a movie (all parts considered!)
In her spare time she loves running, walking her dog Seb, drinking fizzy wine and practising the flute.

Aka Cheshire Cat, she is a high alto with a low register which is rich, fruity and round. Sweet natured with a huge, mega-watt smile (hence her nick-name,) she is always colour co-ordinated with a penchant for all things sparkly.

Fashion consultant for the girls.
 

Laura Ellis

Laura has been working as a freelance performer since the early 90’s. She learned folk songs and harmonies as a young child from her father before studying piano as a teenager and learning to read music.

Her acting work includes musical and educational theatre, commercials, films and corporate work.

She has worked as a vocalist with many bands over the years and been involved in various projects either as a session vocalist or a regular member. She also sings to people in care homes in West Lothian through the “Generation Arts” programme and finds this work extremely rewarding.

 Aka “Top Cat”, she delivers the high harmony lines and jazzy doo-waahs for the group. A bit of a clumsy person, when Laura is about it’s best to put away the expensive glassware and leave cloths somewhere handy. The Queen of vegetarian cooking, she is an eco-friendly greeny and animal rights defender. She has practised Yoga for over twenty years and is currently training to become a Yoga teacher.”

Website manager and spiritual adviser for The Swingcats.
 

Karen MacIver

Despite graduating in classical piano at Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Karen found her strengths in jazz and fusion music. Her career has careered all over the place from regular work playing piano with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, to playing keyboards with The Three Degrees UK tour. She studied composition for film gaining many commissions for theatre, music and also orchestration contracts. She has a niche for the old silent movies and has played for all the old films from "Metropolis' to 'The General'.

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.
Aka Paws, her many endearing traits include making you eat cake when you come to visit and spinning a hilarious yarn with an earnest expression.

Musical arranger for the group.