Graham Warren

Graham is a founder member of the Out and About Theatre Company, but he was involved in drama many years before. His first live stage experience was when he went to see Frank Ifield in panto at the Empire Theatre Liverpool. Children were called up and Graham eagerly stepped forward, but he ended up making his first stage kiss with a 'horrible little girl' in order to win a paltry bag of marshmallows! He started 'serious' acting however whilst at Gorsedale Middle School in Wallasey where his first play was 'The Tinder Box. In 1975 he became a member of Crescent Road church where he became a leader of the youth club. It was here that he met Barrie Roberts, who was also active in youth work. After finishing his education at Henry Meoles School in 1979, Graham joined the 'Spotlight Youth Theatre' formed by Barrie holding their rehearsals at the Granada bowling alley in New Brighton. As the membership of the youth theatre grew older, it became the 'Claptrap Theatre Group' which toured various venues in Wallasey and Birkenhead. The thrill of touring was something which Graham enjoyed and which he was eventually to come back to. He moved away to live in Moreton just before he was married to Glenda in 1988. They have two children, Natalie born in 1991 and Chloë born in 1995.

Graham worked for Shell UK from 1981 to 1999 and through this connection he was able to get grants for the Out and About Theatre Company from the Shell Employee Action Fund, totalling £1000 over several years. This has enabled the company to buy essential portable lighting and sound equipment which is so necessary when touring around various venues. During his time with the theatre company Graham has played a variety of interesting and often challenging parts. He particularly enjoyed Ratchet, the illusionist, in 'A Cut in the Rates' and Roger de Courcy (otherwise known as Zoz, an alien invader) in 'The Space Between the Years' but his favourite rôle remains that of Henry Smith in 'Orca the Goldfish' for which he was given the Best Actor Award in the Wirral Festival of One-Act Plays at the Floral Pavilion in 1998.

After spending over 18 years with Shell, Graham decided on a change of career and in September of 1999 he began a Postgraduate Certificate of Education course at the University of Liverpool which gave him Qualified Teacher Status. During the final stages of the course he was successful in obtaining a teaching position at Rainford High School in St. Helens. We wish him every success for his future career and trust that all his efforts in lesson preparation will still leave him time to continue to entertain us in a variety of acting rôles.

	©Copyright 2000 The Out and About Theatre Co Comments to: mailbox@grahamwarren.com