Ian McCracken

Artistic Director

Ian is a graduate of the Guildford School of Acting and his career has spanned many aspects of theatre including acting, directing, composing and production managing.  He is also a stage combat instructor and independent fight director working at leading drama schools, universities and theatres all around the UK.  

He first started working with Image Musical Theatre as an actor in their 2003 adaptation of 'The Railway Children'.  He returned to the company in 2005 to play the part of Geppetto in 'Pinocchio' and has subsequently continued to work closely with Image in a variety of roles within the company. 

Robert Hyman

Composer

Robert has spent over twenty-five years training aspiring professionals for a career in theatre and working with and encouraging some of the best professional actors in the industry. He is a Conductor, Composer and Arranger of note with over thirty scores to his credit. He has been exclusive composer to Image Musical Theatre since 1993.

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No stranger to the world of theatre for young people originally a teacher of singing at Italia Conti Stage School, he is currently Musical Director to Theatretrain (also since 1993) and was also commissioned by the BBC to contribute songs to the last series of ‘Boogie Beebies’. 

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Since 1998 Robert has worked extensively as a composer and MD at Theatre Royal Stratford East. He is currently writing the score and lyrics for ‘Dick Whittington’ to be performed there this Christmas which he also provided for the 2007/8 Christmas show ‘Cinderella’ which was nominated for an Olivier award for Best Production in Affiliate Theatre. 

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As a conductor he has worked at the Royal Albert Hall, the Sibelius Academy Finland, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the majority of West End Theatres. Other credits include: ‘The Big Life’ at the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue and ‘Come Dancing’, (written by and starring former Kinks front man Ray Davies). 

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In 2012 he was MD for the Graeae Theatre Company production of the Ian Dury musical ‘Reasons To Be Cheerful’ which toured the UK and with whom he was seen performing ‘Spasticus Autisticus’ to a worldwide TV audience at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony.

Katherine Penton

Costumier

In the early days Katherine designed many shows for Image and found that the only way of getting out of doing any more was to have three children. Now all the children are at school she can no longer think of any more excuses to get out of her work so thankfully her wonderful costuming talents have returned to Image. 

Kris Abrahams

Assistant Director / Administrator 

Kris is a professional actor with numerous credits to his name and a graduate of the Arts Educational School in London.  He joined the Image family back in 2009 as an actor in 'The Railway Children'.  His love of the work that Image produced saw him understudy numerous roles before being offered the chance to have more involvement in the day-to-day running of the business.  Recent credits include EastEnders.