Who's behind the musical?
Carl Leighton-Pope
Carl was given his first taste of the music business when he started work at London's famous Marquee Club in the early Sixties. He went on to open a recording studio in South Wales in 1972 and also managed a band called Sassafras, who were signed to Chrysalis Records and toured the UK, Europe and the US in the mid-Seventies. After the band broke up in 1977, Carl joined NEMS agency, signing a number of acts including Dire Straits, Simple Minds, Patti Smith, The Motors, UFO and Camel. He formed his own agency, Performing Artists Network, in 1979 and extended his representation to acts including Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Loverboy, SAGA and The Fixx as well as becoming the manager of UFO.
In 1984, Carl signed Bryan Adams to his agency and Matt Bianco for management, taking both acts with him a year later, along with SAGA, when he set up Bonaire Records, publishing and management company with offices in London, Los Angeles and Munich.
In 1991, Carl started the Leighton-Pope Organisation, enjoying substantial success by touring The Chippendales, Bonnie Tyler and Van Morrison around Europe. Carl is still working with most of his artistes and his most recent client, Michael Bublé, is now selling out arenas throughout the world.
Since January 1 2004, he has taken on the role of a consultant to WWE for all of their live performances outside North America. This is an enormous undertaking, encompassing all of the territories in the world and developing the brand through live events in arenas. Keith Urban joined Leighton-Pope Organisation in 2006 and more recent signings have included Billy Ocean, Crusty Demons (a fully choreographed freestyle motocross show) and the Harlem Globetrotters.
James Hall
James Hall was a ten-pound pom. He emigrated to Australia in 1963, returning to the UK in 1975 after starting his Australian rock career as a lead guitarist and touring at the age of twelve! In his early teens, James continued to perform with a series of Melbourne-based groups, working alongside many of Australia’s finest musical outfits, including the Skyhooks and AC/DC.
In the UK, James became a sought after freelance session guitarist working and touring with many well-known artistes, including: Mott the Hoople (Remake), Lee Fardon and the Legionnaires, Dire Straits, Annie Lennox and the Pretenders amongst many others. It was during this period that James met Carl Leighton-Pope.
In the 1980s, James built a successful London-based recording studio. In 1983, he started work on his debut 'crossover musical', Bernard Tropp's Unfinished Musical, which was produced at The Kenton Theatre (Henley) 1987 and The Wilde Theatre (Bracknell) in 1990. Carnaby Street was conceived at this time and showcased at The Arts Theatre (London) in August 1997.
James continues to write musicals and his latest creation, Make Believe, was debuted at The Kenton Theatre in Henley in 2009, raising funds for The Prince's Trust.