Who’s who on our committees…
To contact any member of our committee you can use our website contact form or you can email individuals on their listed contacts below.
Executive Officers
Katie Cutmore – Chair
Since 2004 COS has been my second family. I have gone from performing to helping on the social committee, Executive committee & Marketing committee to directing concerts and most recently becoming Chair of the Society. In fact, I am honoured to be the first female Chair of the Society. I have learnt so many skills being part of COS and its committees and I love being able to contribute to this diverse community of people united through their passion for musical theatre.
Business manager (to be appointed)
Neil Somerville – Treasurer & Vice Chair
I have been on the Exec since 2015, when I joined as Music Liaison – being responsible for booking the musicians for COS & CO2 shows, and working as part of orchestration discussions with the MD (when it’s not me) and the Sound Designer. I then took over the role of Treasurer in 2018, adding the responsibility of preparing budgets, paying bills, and anything else finance-related for the Society.
Amanda Powell – Secretary
I joined back in 2015 for Sister Act, after moving here from London. My Dad had been a member of COS in his late twenties, so it was lovely to join a group with such fond memories. After performing or choreographing for a few years I thought it would be nice to join the Exec Team to help the society I had grown so fond of.
Executive Committee
Ann Taylor – CO2 chair and Vice Chair
I’ve been a member of the Society since 1998 with my first show Me and My Girl. Since then I’ve been involved with the Society performing on stage plus helping backstage My first involvement with CO2 was in 2000 working on props for FAME. In 2000, I was co-opted onto the Executive committee for 3 years which gave me the chance to see the workings of the Society. In 2007 I was asked to join the CO2 committee as Vice-Chairperson and in 2010 I took on the role of Chairperson. I feel it’s one of the best jobs within the Society, working with young actors and watching them develop from auditions to the last performance. I’m also very fortunate to have a great team working with me. All working together to ensure our CO2 members get the best experience from their time with the Society.
Emily Lane- Assistant secretary
I first joined Colchester Operatic Society as part of CO2, the youth group, and gained so many valuable life and performing skills. I then joined COS. It’s an amazing feeling to do what I love with the people I love. Theatre brings people together; I love that and I’m proud to be a part of the Society which delivers live theatre to its local community.
Paul Kusel-Baum -Membership secretary
My introduction to CO2 & COS was as part of the sound team fitting mics, almost 8 years ago. After a couple of seasons, Ann Taylor (Chair of CO2), asked if I would like to get more involved and I subsequently joined the CO2 committee. I took on the responsibility of registering the Society’s chaperones under the guidance of Trevor Walton (CO2’s Youth Liaison Office at the time) and became more involved with CO2 membership tasks. For the last few years, I have taken on the role of membership secretary for both CO2 and COS and I am now a member of the Society’s Executive Committee.
Sally Cutchie – Marketing & Events Chair
Joining the society initially felt quite daunting but after braving a pre audition rehearsal I was immediately put at ease – everyone is so friendly. I helped the Marketing team with a bit of promotional work and was asked to head up the Marketing and Events committee the following year. Not bad for a newbie!
Claudia Haswell – Inclusion, Equality & Diversity Lead
My name is Claudia and I am the Inclusion, Equality and Diversity Lead for COS, and I am also a member of the marketing committee. I have been a member of the Society since 2017 and I have done numerous fun-filled shows with the society since then. My favourite probably being ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, which was my first ever show! I love and treasure being a part of this big theatre family where I have met some of my closest friends too.
Laura Hicks – Committee Member
I joined the society and took part in my first CO2 show in 2011. Since then I have been involved with CO2/COS performing onstage and assisting different directors in many different productions. Outside of this I am a subject leader of drama & dance at a local secondary school. Leading, teaching, directing, choreographing on a daily basis. I am currently working with our treasurer in preparing applications for various opportunities for the society and embarking on supporting with writing risk assessments as the need arises. I love being on the executive committee, it is so rewarding to be part of the team that decides on the exciting options for amateur musical theatre for our members and the wider community.
Andrew Hodgson – Committee Member
I have been active on the local theatre scene for over 40 years as a director, performer and adjudicator. I have been a supporter of COS since childhood and a member since 2016. Since then I has played Lord Glossop in Jekyll and Hyde, Drake in Annie and Mr. Brownlow in Oliver.
I am pleased to be a new member of the COS executive committee to help support and promote the society’s productions moving forward.
I am pleased to be a new member of the COS executive committee to help support and promote the society’s productions moving forward.
Sarah White – Committee Member
I joined COS in 2012 and became Business Manager in 2019 after previously serving on the Executive and Marketing Committees. I love performing with my COS family, and am proud to assist in producing such wonderful shows.
Max Woodward- Committee Member
After several years working in stage management for school productions, I joined COS in 2021 to be involved backstage. I took on the role of Properties Manager in the production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame for my first show with the society, and have been amazed at how welcoming everyone has been. I’m honoured to be on the committee to help with the production of such amazing shows.
CO2 Committee
Ann Taylor – Chair
I’ve been a member of the Society since 1998 with my first show Me and My Girl. Since then I’ve been involved with the Society performing on stage plus helping backstage My first involvement with CO2 was in 2000 working on props for FAME. In 2000, I was co-opted onto the Executive committee for 3 years which gave me the chance to see the workings of the Society. In 2007 I was asked to join the CO2 committee as Vice-Chairperson and in 2010 I took on the role of Chairperson. I feel it’s one of the best jobs within the Society, working with young actors and watching them develop from auditions to the last performance. I’m also very fortunate to have a great team working with me. All working together to ensure our CO2 members get the best experience from their time with the Society.
Diane Emberton – Secretary
I joined CO2 in 1995 as member of the company for ‘West Side Story’ and have been involved with the Society ever since then. After CO2, I moved up into the adult Society, COS, where I have performed in numerous concerts and shows. In 2006 I was approached by Maggie Walton, the then chairperson for CO2, about joining the CO2 committee as secretary and I gladly accepted and I also became a chaperone for the Society. Fast Forward a few years and I joined the Executive Committee and I took on the role of being Props manager, which was a very enjoyable but challenging role that I did for 6 full scale productions.
Neil Somerville – Treasurer
I have been on the Exec since 2015, when I joined as Music Liaison – being responsible for booking the musicians for COS & CO2 shows, and working as part of orchestration discussions with the MD (when it’s not me) and the Sound Designer. I then took over the role of Treasurer in 2018, adding the responsibility of preparing budgets, paying bills, and anything else finance-related for the Society.
Business manager (to be appointed)
Charlotte Butcher – Vice Chair/Safeguarding lead
I joined COS in 2009, when I moved to Colchester, as a way of meeting people who had similar interests. I performed in several shows with COS but got involved with CO2 in 2010 as they needed someone to help with costumes. I joined the CO2 committee and am now Vice Chair with responsibility for the safeguarding of our young members. I am also a member of the Marketing & Events Committee as the link member for CO2. During more recent performances for both COS and CO2 I took on many backstage roles, from Wardrobe Mistress, to sound and lighting but most recently I can be found as the Deputy Stage Manager.
Paul Kusel-Baum – Membership secretary/Safeguarding deputy
My introduction to CO2 & COS was as part of the sound team fitting mics, almost 8 years ago. After a couple of seasons, Ann Taylor (Chair of CO2), asked if I would like to get more involved and I subsequently joined the CO2 committee. I took on the responsibility of registering the Society’s chaperones under the guidance of Trevor Walton (CO2’s Youth Liaison Office at the time) and became more involved with CO2 membership tasks. For the last few years, I have taken on the role of membership secretary for both CO2 and COS and I am now a member of the Society’s Executive Committee.
Hazel Knights – Wardrobe Manager
My introduction to CO2 & COS was as part of the wardrobe team and chaperoning backstage, almost 5 years ago. After altering my daughter’s costumes in Little Shop of Horrors, Ann Taylor (Chair of CO2), asked if I would like to get involved more and join the team for future productions. I took on the role of joining the wardrobe team under the guidance of Maggie Walton (CO2) where she introduced me to the ways of Musical Theatre costuming. I enjoyed every minute of it, and it has really opened my eyes, as I can understand now how much time and effort is needed to costume a big cast of 40 like the West End.
Lorna Perrin – Members representative
I have been cast in 6 CO2 shows starting with Guys & Dolls in 2011, and have watched a whole lot more from the audience to support both CO2 and COS. I won the CO2 Award in 2018 when I played Glinda the Good Witch of the North in Wizard of Oz and I have played in various other roles including a Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors, a Delta Nu in Legally Blonde and other chorus parts too. I do believe I sang before I could talk and danced before I could walk – thank you Abba for that line, hence I love performing on stage and have done since I was little. It is because of this that I also love being a part of the committee, as it is an opportunity to all come together with like-minded people to put on the best show we can. So much goes on behind the scenes and I’m honoured to be a part of it.
Kirsty Bryant – Props Manager
I first joined the Society in 2014, where I was a part of the props department for CO2 production of Grease. This was a brand new experience for me, but I was looked after with plenty of help and guidance offered throughout the process. Working backstage was so educational and enjoyable that, for this group, I’ve moved from wanting to be on stage to a dedicated member of the backstage crew. Since then I’ve helped out with shows both for CO2 and COS over the years, even attending a few rehearsals whilst available from Uni. I’m relatively new to the committee with our chairperson, Ann Taylor, approaching me to help represent the props department on the committee. This has also allowed me to register as a Chaperone. I’m very honoured to be a part of the committee as I continue to learn about life behind the scenes of a production, which I know will help me in both my future on and off stage.
Marketing and Events Committee
Sally Cutchie – Chair, Treasurer & Merchandise
Joining the society initially felt quite daunting but after braving a pre audition rehearsal I was immediately put at ease – everyone is so friendly. I helped the Marketing team with a bit of promotional work and was asked to head up the Marketing and Events committee the following year. Not bad for a newbie!
Sarah White – External Events co-ordinator
I joined COS in 2012 and became Business Manager in 2019 after previously serving on the Executive and Marketing Committees. I love performing with my COS family, and am proud to assist in producing such wonderful shows.
Katie Cutmore – Website & Social Media (Facebook)
Since 2004 COS has been my second family. I have gone from performing to helping on the social committee, Executive committee & Marketing committee to directing concerts and most recently becoming Chair of the Society. In fact, I am honoured to be the first female Chair of the Society. I have learnt so many skills being part of COS and its committees and I love being able to contribute to this diverse community of people united through their passion for musical theatre.
Charlotte Butcher- CO2 committee liaison, Internal Events & CO2 programme
I joined COS in 2009, when I moved to Colchester, as a way of meeting people who had similar interests. I performed in several shows with COS but got involved with CO2 in 2010 as they needed someone to help with costumes. I joined the CO2 committee and am now Vice Chair with responsibility for the safeguarding of our young members. I am also a member of the Marketing & Events Committee as the link member for CO2. During more recent performances for both COS and CO2 I took on many backstage roles, from Wardrobe Mistress, to sound and lighting but most recently I can be found as the Deputy Stage Manager.
Claudia Haswell – Social Media
My name is Claudia and I am the Inclusion, Equality and Diversity Lead for COS, and I am also a member of the marketing committee. I have been a member of the Society since 2017 and I have done numerous fun-filled shows with the society since then. My favourite probably being ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, which was my first ever show! I love and treasure being a part of this big theatre family where I have met some of my closest friends too.
Lorna Perrin – CO2 committee liaison & social media
I have been cast in 6 CO2 shows starting with Guys & Dolls in 2011, and have watched a whole lot more from the audience to support both CO2 and COS. I won the CO2 Award in 2018 when I played Glinda the Good Witch of the North in Wizard of Oz and I have played in various other roles including a Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors, a Delta Nu in Legally Blonde and other chorus parts too. I do believe I sang before I could talk and danced before I could walk – thank you Abba for that line, hence I love performing on stage and have done since I was little. It is because of this that I also love being a part of the committee, as it is an opportunity to all come together with like-minded people to put on the best show we can. So much goes on behind the scenes and I’m honoured to be a part of it.
Joseph Alexander Rawlings – Strategy
My journey with the Colchester Operatic Society started when I was about 16 years old with the CO2 production of Godspell. Unfortunately, a below-par audition meant that I didn’t make it as one of the performers for the show and instead I was encouraged to still get involved by supporting the production backstage. We Will Rock You was my first successful attempt at getting into a CO2 show and I was lucky enough to play the part of Pop. Since then, I have appeared in The Wiz, Summer Holiday and Jesus Christ Superstar to name a few amazing opportunities. After some time away at Goldsmiths University, I was warmly welcomed back into the society in 2020 and I am proud to have since joined the marketing committee with a hope to audition for at least one of the incredible upcoming performance opportunities.
Sarah Miles – Social Media (Twitter)
Michael Cutmore – Website
I had previously dabbled in amateur theatre and my first show with COS was Annie in 2019; where I was backstage dog handler for “Sandy”. I also played a small part in the show as “Henry Morganthau”. As a lifetime drummer I also played drums in the band for “Dare to Be Different” at the Headgate Theatre in 2020. Later in 2020 I volunteered to look after the website for COS and in 2021 joined the Marketing Committee.
