Meet the Alumni!

Sophie is currently training at the London School of Musical Theatre.

Credits prior to training:

Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone; Jojo in Brenda Bly, Teen Detective; Amy in Little Women, and in many performances of the annual show Broadway Showtunes including appearing as Mary Poppins.

Diana was one of the OG BIGLITTLE kids way back in the day, and went on to train at Mountview in Musical Theatre. Throughout her career she has retained her maiden name ‘Diana Chrisman’ as her stage name, and she now lives in Canada working in TV film & voiceover.

She is currently appearing in a kids TV show on Netflix called Ponysitter’s Club (where she plays the comedy relief character Bianca), and more recently she has appeared in Warner Bros DC comics “Titans”.  Diana is also in a variety of Hallmark Christmas movies which occasionally play on Channel 5, and is the “Voice of” KIA Canada in their car commercials.

Hear her on the KIA commercial here

Recent credits include:

Ponysitters Club – TV Series (Netflix) & Feature films (Amazon Prime) playing Bianca (recurring)

Titans – TV series (Netflix) playing Young Sandra (Season 4 Episode 6).

The Parker Andersons – TV series (Apple TV) playing ‘English Host’ (Series 1, Episode 5).

Fear Thy Neighbor – TV series (Investigation Discovery) playing Patricia Hack (Series 5, Episode 9).

The Fox and the Pigeon: Narrative Neighbours – Short film playing Ms Story.

A Christmas in London – TV Movie (Channel 5) playing Sarah (and the Dialect coach).

My Paranormal Nightmare – TV Series playing Mom (Season 1, Episode 8).

Baby in a Manger – TV Film (Amazon Prime) playing Candice.

After the Storm – TV Movie (Channel 5) playing Paige.

A Christmas Village – TV Movie (Channel 5) playing Millie Milton.

James Doherty-Box

James studied at Big Little from 2002-2004 before heading off to Mountview Academy. After graduating, he worked in the theatre industry for a further 5 years on tours and overseas.

In 2011, James made the decision to leave the industry and returned to Bournemouth where he focused on his hospitality career. James worked as a corporate events manager for a number of years before taking over the family business with his sister at the Marsham Court Hotel.

Not wanting to completely give up theatre, James began performing in local shows including: Don in Summer Holiday, The Man in Whistle Down The Wind, Sir Robin in Spamalot, Che in Evita, Jamie in The Last Five Years, Sky in Guys & Dolls and Tony in Copacabana.

James is one of the Founding Directors of Bournemouth Musical Theatre Productions, which has produced many successful shows including: Little Shop of Horrors, Oliver and Spamalot. James has also directed and choreographed a number of shows including: Wizard of Oz (choreographer), Anything Goes (Director/Choreographer), Cats (Choreographer) and Guys & Dolls (Director/Choreographer).

James is a prime example of keeping his theatre dreams alive whilst not necessarily continuing with it professionally.

James got married to his husband, Mark, in 2021 and now lives in Bournemouth with their dog, Laika.

Katherine is currently training at the London School of Musical Theatre after completing her training at South Central Dance and securing a teaching qualification in contemporary dance.

Credits prior to training:

Ensemble in ‘The Best of the West End’ (Royal Albert Hall); Bridget/ Assistant Director in ‘Brenda Bly Teen Detective’ (Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth); Amy March in ‘Little Women’ (Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth); Winston in ‘1984’ (Forest Forge Theatre Company); Mercutio in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (Forest Forge Theatre Company).

Ruby is currently training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Credits prior to training:

Tallulah in Bugsy Malone (The Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth); Rumpleteazer in Cats (The Regent Centre, Christchurch); Tinkerbell in Peter Pan Jr (The Regent Centre, Christchurch); Gidget in Brenda Bly, Teen Detective (The Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth); Celebrity in British Youth Music Theatre: No Mans Land (The Square Chapel, Halifax); Julie in British Youth Music Theatre: Hot Wheels (The Barbican, Plymouth); Ensemble Dancer in Cinderella (The Lighthouse, Poole); Ensemble Dancer in Aladdin (The Lighthouse, Poole); Mrs Potiphar/ Handmaidan in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Regent Centre, Christchurch); Jan in DNA (The Lighthouse, Poole); Trix, The Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone (Performing Arts Centre, Bourenmouth); Broadway Showtunes 2021 & 2022 appearing as many characters such as: Bonnie (Bonnie & Clyde), Anne Boleyn (Six), Sister Mary Lazarus (Sister Act) and Shirley (Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert) with Big Little Theatre School.

Nick has recently finished shooting the lead role in upcoming film ‘The Space you need’ by Sam Peter Jackson & will play Julius this spring 2024 in the world premiere of ‘Remembrance Monday’ (Seven dials playhouse).

Theatre credits include : Ralph in ‘Groundhog Day’ (The Old Vic) , Adam/Felicia in ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ (U.K. Tour),  Ren in ‘Footloose’ (Playhouse, West end) ,Tony & Cover Bobby C in ‘Saturday Night fever’ (Apollo Victoria, West end & RCCL) , Pfortzeimer in ‘Legally Blonde’ (Savoy, West End) ,George in ‘ The wedding singer'(Original cast, UK tour) Angel in ‘Rent’ (Garrick , West end) , cover & played Sky in ‘Mamma Mia'(International tour) ,Nick in ‘Fame’ (UK tour) , Kenickie in ‘Grease’ (David ian prod) , The man in ‘Gobsmacked!’ (U.S. National Tour & China) ,Tulsa in ‘Gypsy’ (Cardiff festival) Mitchell in ‘The Little Dog Laughed’ (Irish premiere, Dublin) ,Neil in ‘Mysterious Skin’ (kings head London) ‘Anthony & Cleopatra'(The Louvre , Abu Dhabi) Angel in ‘Tess of the Durbervilles’ (ATG). ‘Elegies for angels punks & raging queens’ (soho revue)

Nick has self-penned, directed & performed his own shows, ‘A spotlight on: Nick Hayes’ (Landor, London) & ‘Nick Hayes: In progress’ (Live at Zedel, Piccadilly).

TV & Film includes: Series regular Orson in ‘Hollyoaks : in the city’ (Channel 4) , Tom Portman in ‘Doctors’ (BBC) & award winning short film ‘The definition of lonely’ (Peccadillo pictures / Best Actor Kino Shorts) Shannon in ‘Telegraph hill’ , Paul in ‘RAT’ (bittersweet pictures) Roy in ‘Boyfriend material’ (TV Pilot) .

Workshops include: originated the role of The Ballet dancer in ‘LIFT’ (Trafalgar Studios), ‘Beyond Desire’ (new Wimbledon),’Midnight’ (Other Palace),’Monkee Business’ (Dominion) & new play ‘Savage’ (RADA) ,

Nick has worked as resident director & Dance captain for ‘Grease’ (David Ian productions) & ‘Gobsmacked’ (USA Tour , China) and assisted in the casting process for ‘We will Rock you’ , ‘Mamma Mia’ , ‘Grease’ & ‘Hairspray’ for Royal Caribbean productions and regularly lectures in performing arts at The University of Winchester.

Follow Nick on Instagram  @Nickhayesuk

James is currently in the UK and International Tour of Madagascar the Musical playing Mason/Lars and understudying the roles of Melman and Alex.

Training: Arts Educational Schools London

Theatre credits include: Madagascar UK and International Tour, Mason/Lars & U/S Melman & Alex. The Other Songs Live (London Palladium). Doctor Zhivago- In Concert (London Palladium). Let’s Face the Music (Royal Albert Hall).

Credits whilst training: Anthony in Sweeney Todd & Ensemble in A Chorus Line (Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatre)

Other credits include: Olivier Awards 2023 (ITV/Royal Albert Hall)

James was apart of Big Little from 2013 starting in Limelight’s and through to Starlights. James was also apart of the PDP company from 2017-2019 where he performed in the PDP shows Into The Woods and Little Women. He then went on to do a foundation course at Mountview in Musical Theatre before starting at ArtsEd in the BA Hons degree in Musical Theatre.

Joe is currently training at The Guildford School of Acting on the 3 year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre course after being a part of Big Little for 2 years.

While at Big Little Theatre School, Joe played parts such as Gomez Addams, Buck Barrow and one of the Jersey Boys in the annual ‘Broadway Showtunes’, as well as Robert Martin in ‘The Drowsey Chaperone’ as part of the PDP musical in February 2022.

While at Ringwood School, Joe got to play parts such as The Purser in ‘Anything Goes’, Billy Flynn in ‘Chicago’ and Monsiuer Thénardier in ‘Les Misérables’.

Suzie studied at BIGLITTLE from 2008 – 2011, participating in both performing and as the Assistant Stage Manager for one of the Showtunes at Bournemouth Pavillion. Due to personal circumstances, Suzie chose to put aside her love for musical theatre to pursue a career in technology, going on to study at the University of Brighton.

The skills Suzie learnt at BIGLITTLE and through the performing arts helped her integrate at University with ease; getting involved in the dance and drama groups, and joining the ‘Musical Theatre Society’.

Suzie ultimately found a passion for Indian and Bollywood Dance and became the Team Manager in the University society for many of the competitions in London, including Battle of Bollywood 4 and Just Bollywood.

Post-degree Suzie has settled into a career in website development and is keen to support BLAST where she can. Having recently got married in 2022, she now lives with her husband, Saint Bernard and 2 Maine Coons.

After leaving BIGLITTLE in 2017, Andrew went on to pursue a career in comedy, working full-time as a stand-up since leaving school in 2018. His live work has seen him grace some of the biggest comedy stages and festivals in the country, working alongside stars like Jack Dee, James Acaster, Sarah Millican, Milton Jones and Joe Lycett.

Most notably, Andrew has built a return audience at the famous Edinburgh Fringe, having taken four solo hours to the festival over the last seven years.

Away from live work, Andrew has built up a strong online presence for his storytelling, sketches, and stand-up clips; gaining over 9million views and 1million likes on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. His skilful writing has also seen him contribute to TV and radio shows like Mock the Week, as well as many social media campaigns for renowned brands including Samsung, M&S, Bumble, Sky, and Adidas.

Alongside developing formats for radio & TV, 2024 sees Andrew working up his new show, Young, Gay and a Third Thing, for the Edinburgh Fringe and touring the country with his hit podcast Trusty Hogs.

“Very exciting and very funny… definitely one to watch” (Joe Lycett)

“Go see him, he’s sublime” (Maisie Adam)

“Absolutely brilliant…took the stage by storm” (Wiltshire Live)

​”Andrew White’s comedy act is not to be missed!” (Daily Record)

“The talent is very obviously there…rampantly engaging” ★★★★ (The List)