Matt Hartley grew up in the Peak District and studied drama at the University of Hull. His first play Sixty Five Miles won a Bruntwood Award in the inaugural Bruntwood Competition and was produced by Paines Plough/Hull Truck in 2012.

Other work for theatre includes: The Wife of Cyncoed (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, 2024); Idyll (Pentabus Theatre tour, 2021); Eyam (Shakespeare's Globe, 2018); Here I Belong (Pentabus tour, 2016); Deposit (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, 2015); Microcosm (Soho Theatre, 2014); Horizon (National Theatre Connections, 2014); The Bee (Edinburgh Festival, 2008); Punch (Hampstead/Heat and Light Company); and Epic, Trolls and Life for Beginners (all at Theatre503, London).

He has written for TV's Hollyoaks and his radio plays include The Pursuit and Final Call.

(Author photo by Becky Paris)

Paul Harvard is a musical director, composer, actor, director and lecturer.

His work includes The History Boys (Royal National Theatre), Gondoliers (Apollo Theatre), Piaf, Fiddler on the Roof, Love in a Maze, Dreams from a Summerhouse and The Firebird (all for the Watermill Theatre), Nicked (HighTide Festival), The Fantasticks (Harrogate Theatre), Rwanda (YMT:UK), Trashchrist (Soho Theatre) and Me, Myself and I (Orange Tree Theatre).

Currently Course Leader for BA Acting and MMus Musical Theatre at the London College of Music, he has lectured at many other leading drama schools – notably the Urdang Academy where he was Head of Musical Theatre for four years and where he wrote the degree. He has also taught at Arts Educational, the Drama Centre, City Lit, Guildford School of Acting, Trinity Laban, Italia Conti, Webber Douglas and The Centre (where he was Head of Musical Theatre).

His books Acting Through Song and Audition Songs for Men/Women are published by Nick Hern Books

Anne Hathaway is an American actress, singer, and producer.

Richard Hawley is a Sheffield-born singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s, was briefly a member of the band Pulp, and as a solo musician has released eight studio albums. He has been nominated for a Mercury prize twice and once for a Brit Award.

He wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Standing at the Sky's Edge, a collaboration with Chris Bush (Sheffield Theatres, 2019; revived 2022, and at the National Theatre in 2023; West End in 2024). It was based on his 2012 album of the same name.