Workshop cast for 2016

If you are interested in auditioning for Jun Fan the Bruce Lee Musical please email your CV to our office at barisons@aol.com

Training: Vocal Studies at Shorter College and Valdosta State University

West End: Thuy in Miss Saigon (Prince Edward); Luntha in The King & I (Royal Albert Hall/UK Tour/Palladium); Abner in South Pacific (National Theatre/original cast recording); Original cast of We Will Rock You (Dominion/original cast recording); Original cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie (Shaftbury); Elvis Chang in Jerry Springer-the Opera (Cambridge).

Fringe: Tein Mien Wong in Ballad of Little Jo (Bridewell/European premiere)

International: Miss Saigon (Broadway/2nd US National Tour/Germany); Pepper in Mamma Mia (US National Tour); Montparnasse in Les Miserables (Hollywood Bowl); Rent (Hollywood Bowl); Pippin in Pippin (East West Players); Benjamin in Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Sacramento Music Circus); Luke in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (La Mirada Playhouse); Scott in Mask (Pasadena Playhouse, World Premiere); Gypsy/Muleteer Jose in Man of La Mancha (Reprise): Jojo in the Life (Jaxx Theatricals, LA premiere); Madame Butterfly and Fidelio (LA Opera); Ching Ho in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Maine State Music Theatre); Tommy and 42nd Street (Seaside Music Theatre).

Film/Television: Peter in Waiting in the Wings; Naked Boys Singing – The Movie; Darren Chow in Little Britain USA (HBO); Elvis Chang in Jerry Springer – The Opera (BBC); Brian in Profile; Big Gay Love; Squared; The Best Man; Olivier Awards (2015); Royal Variety Performance (2003, 2014); Les Misérables tribute at the Oscars (2013); Queens Golden Jubilee (2002)

Winner of a Chinese singing contest televised to 70 million people.

Whilst studying Mandarin Chinese in China, Mary-Jess won a singing competition live on Chinese TV with a viewing audience of 70 million people that the UK press called ‘The Chinese X Factor’. Shortly after, she released her début album ‘Shine’ which won both ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Best Newcomer’ from classical-crossover.co.uk.

Mary-Jess has toured with Russell Watson, performed with Sir Tim Rice and Don Black, sang to royalty in Windsor Castle, appeared on numerous national TV programs both in the UK and in China, and was chosen to sing the Downton Abbey theme tune. She even performed at the FA Cup Final in Wembley Stadium singing ‘Abide With Me’ in front of a live audience of 90,000 people and a worldwide television audience of 300 million people.

Click here to watch Mary-Jess

The daughter of two Beijing Opera performers, Yennis Cheung-yan was raised in Hong Kong. As a teenager she won the Hong Kong inter-schools singing contest. At fifteen she won a place at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in classical opera. At around this time, Yennis joined the band Multiplex. At one Multiplex concert, Yennis came to the attention of an executive from Sony BMG (HK). She was signed as a recording artist, and released three solo albums: “YENNIS CHEUNG”, “SEALED ROOM”, “ECCENTRICITY”, and was warm up support for ANASTACIA when she performed in HK. An opportunity came to guest on a track by hip hop act, MP4. “WHAT IS LOVE?” proved popular throughout Asia, and Yennis toured with them to capacity audiences.

Yennis’ acting career began with musicals and stage plays. After completing an acting course organised by the Hong Kong Directors’ Guild, she made her screen debut in the independent film “Under the Rainbow”. Roles in more commercial Hong Kong films followed, including “Love and Let Love”, Take Five”, “PR Girls”, and “Hero of the City”.

Yennis enjoyed pursuing both her singing and acting careers in Asia, recording, performing in Malaysia and China, as well as acting in radio and television dramas. She also found time to perform in three plays for respected Chinese director Edward Lam.

After relocating to London, England, she was cast as Boa Mai in the Irish TV sitcom “THE ENGLISH CLASS”. In 2009, she worked as an actress in the film “SHANGHAI” and BBC TV series “SPIRIT WARRIORS”. In 2012, she can be seen in her role as floating dragon cashier on “SKYFALL” (Bond 23) alongside Daniel Craig.

Yennis has also appeared in advertisements for (among others) Blackberry, Amex, Phones 4 U, Nokia, Puma, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, DFS, Casio and HSBC. She has also worked as a presenter for Phoenix TV in Hong Kong, and for Casio Online and Sumo TV in the UK.

Angelo was born and raised in Manila. He was seen in numerous productions with Repertory Philippines and was in the original Dutch production of Miss Saigon and Fame. His UK credits include national tours of Miss Saigon, The Reporter (National Theatre), Peter Pan (Manchester Opera House), Doctor Atomic (English National Opera), Pearls of the East (Pinoy Theatre), The King & I (Royal Albert Hall), Aladdin (Theatre Royal Stratford East), the Honourable Schoolboy, The Secret Pilgrim, Writing The Century: Tiger Wings (BBC Radio 4 Drama), Paper Dolls (Tricycle Theatre), Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Gala (Prince Edward Theatre), The Autumn of Han (UK Tour), DiaoChan (UK Tour).

Julian trained in performing arts at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and in Meisner technique with the Impulse company.

His theatre credits include; the role of ‘Cal Anson’ in Kingdom Come at the Actors Centre, ‘Sportacus’ in Lazytown Live and Lazytown Live, a Pirate Adventure, the role of ‘Uncle Wes’ in the UK national tour of Footloose, the part of ‘Rocky’ in the 2006 & 2010 UK national tours of The Rocky Horror show, the role of ‘Joey’ and ‘Tony Manero’ in Saturday Night Fever at the Apollo Victoria Theatre; the part of ‘Gordon/Mr Grey’, as well as understudying and performing the role of ‘Mark’, in Rent at the Prince of Wales Theatre; ‘Buddy Keno Walsh’ in The Full Monty at The Prince of Wales Theatre; ‘Riff’ in West Side Story (UK national tour 2001); ensemble and understudy ‘Theo’ in La Cava at the Piccadilly Theatre; ‘Gideon’ in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the B.A.C; an acrobatic politician in Jumpers at Birmingham Rep; ‘Lewis’ in Pippin at the Bridewell; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 50th Birthday Tribute at the Royal Albert Hall; ensemble and acrobat in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Starlight Express at the Apollo Victoria, where he performed many roles from ‘Rocky II’ to ‘Rusty’.

Film Credits include the role of ‘Baron Dunmore’ in a film adaptation of the medieval fairytale ballad ‘Tam Lin’ and playing a singing and dancing Gulag prisoner in ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ for Disney

Television credits include the part of a rebel soldier in ‘Henry IV’ for the BBC, the part of ‘Trojan’ in EastEnders for the BBC, appearances on Top of the Pops 2 and Popworld, presenting work for Fox Kids TV, Grange Hill for the BBC, You Bet! for LWT, Agony for Live TV and a multitude of appearances with the pop group E-male, including BBC’s Live and Kicking and a feature in Cosmopolitan magazine.

Commercial credits include: the featured role in the MaxOne commercial, and editorial campaign, for Denmark (2007) the Toyota Trade Show in Barcelona (2005) and the Changing of the Guard commercial for Virgin/Target.

Other work Includes: La Boheme at the Albert Hall, Death in Venice for Glyndebourne Festival opera, Les Petits Rats at the International Edinburgh Festival and ‘Eaves’ in The Ragged Child at Sadlers Wells for the N.Y.M.T.

Julian has also performed the voiceovers for the leading roles in lchi the Killer and New Dragon Gate Inn, as well as work on other titles such as Ju on The Grudge and The Warrior for Medusa films for British release on DVD.

Julian was very fortunate to be part of the creative team and to also perform in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony directed by Danny Boyle.

Renée Montemayor is a British actress who is best known for her role as Briony Jones on the long running BBC Television series ‘Grange Hill’.

As well as being a successful actress Renée is also a trained mezzo soprano singer and has appeared in various West End musicals. As a child she played Princess Ying Yeowlak, performing the finale death/goodbye monologue at the age of four in ‘The King and I’ alongside film legend Yul Brynner and Virginia McKenna at the London Palladium.

At the age of 18 she returned to the West End stage in the hit musical ‘Miss Saigon’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where she played the role of Yvonne and understudied and played both Gigi and the lead role Kim.

She trained at Sylvia Young’s Theatre School, London before studying Shakespeare and Acting at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art as well as training in The Meisner Technique at The Impulse Company with Scott Williams.

Her theatre credits include playing a Royal Wife and Singer in Raymond Gubbay’s ‘The King and I’ at The Royal Albert Hall, directed by Jeremy Sams. Freda in ‘Dangerous Corner’ (Landor Theatre), Emma in ‘Betrayal’ (Tristan Bates Theatre), Ensign Carla Velasquez, and understudy Liat, in Trevor Nunn’s adaptation of ‘South Pacific'(Royal National Theatre), ‘Miss Saigon’ directed by Nicolas Hytner (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) where she played the part of Yvonne and understudied and played the role of Gigi as well as the lead role Kim, cast member of ‘Hey! Mr Producer’, Cameron Mackintosh’s Royal Gala for the Queen (Lyceum Theatre), Liat in ‘South Pacific’ with Apollo Leisure Ltd on a number 1 UK tour, a Royal wife and u/s Tuptim for ‘The King and I’ at the Covent Garden Festival, Maria Clara in ‘Noli mi Tangere’ (Touch Me Not) worldwide debut at the Covent Garden Theatre Museum, Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’ with Hammond Productions(Chatham Theatre) Alice Fitzwarren in ‘Dick Whittington’ (Greenwich Theatre for Stratford East) and Cinderella in ‘Cinderella,The Glass Slipper’ at the Brewhouse theatre.

Film work includes playing a sexy drug dealer called Morag in ‘Don’t Walk’ (Channel 4); a fiery red-haired burger assistant in Luc Besson’s ‘The Fifth Element’; and the sexually confident Naomi, in the short film ‘Naomi, Kate, Kylie and Me’ which she starred in opposite Hollywood heart throb Matthew Marsden.

Born in Taiwan and raised in California, Shin-Fei discovered her knack for acting while working for a nonprofit in China. A theatre director in Beijing encouraged her to become a professional actress; shortly after, she graduated with a master’s from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and made London her first playground. With roots in theatre, Shin-Fei’s stage credits include Off-West End’s Avenue Q, Welsh National Opera’s Anon, and dreamthinkspeak’s In The Beginning Was The End. As a devising artist, she has also worked with Sadler’s Wells Theatre and InterContinental Hotels Group. More recently, Shin-Fei has shifted her focus to the screen, with featured roles in Doctor Who and an upcoming Universal film (undisclosed). She can also be seen in national commercials, including HSBC and Robitussin. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English, Shin-Fei’s corporate and voiceover clients include the Discovery Channel, GSK, Barclays, Macmillan Publishers, and Cambridge University Press. ShinFei is the co-writer of Chinese Girls in London with fellow actress and writer Yennis Cheung. Shin-Fei travels between the UK, California, and East Asia. She is represented by GDA Management.