Hedwig Creatives
Nigel Francis Productions: Producer
Nigel Francis Productions was formed in 2008 by Matthew Likierman and Nigel Francis. Nigel Francis is Artistic Director for the company and along with Matthew is very proud to say that Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the companies first production that they have produced together.
Simon James Collier: Executive Producer
Returning to London after working in Hollywood’s film industry, Simon wrote and published a series of celebrated children’s books, worked for the Walt Disney Company, became an Entertainment Correspondent for the BBC and co-founded and became CEO of the award-winning Okai Collier Company. He has produced over forty theatre productions both in London’s West End and throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. These include The Smilin’ State, Dracula, Viva O Carnaval, Preacherosity, A Mother Speaks, My Matisse, The Dorchester, Elegies and Passion, along with the European Premiere’s of Purlie (Nominated for four What’s On Stage 2005 Awards, including Off West End Production and Best Revival) and Ruthless! (Winner of five Musical Stages 2002 Awards, including Best Musical Production).
As an independent producer he co-created and co-produced Whole Lotta Shakin’ – The Explosive Story of Jerry Lee Lewis at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, which then transferred as Great Balls of Fire to the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End. In 2002 Simon was responsible for The Service of Remembrance, Thanksgiving and Hope for HIV and AIDS at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. He also conceived, developed and produced Rowland Lee’s Crusaid Requiem (2003) at St. Martin in the Fields, London. Simon has recently produced Dance With Me, his first feature film, due for theatrical distribution in 2009, and is currently developing three other films for production over the next two years. He has been the Executive Director of London’s Bridewell Theatre and Artistic Consultant to Jermyn Street West End Studio Theatre, and has been Chair, Trustee, Consultant or Director of numerous Charities.
Matthew Likierman: Executive Producer
Matthew runs a small hospitality group in the South of France.
He has long been a supporter of the London Theatre Company and is delighted to be a part in the creation of this production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Helge Bomber Steinmann: 'Graffiti Art'
Set design
At six years of age Bomber brushed his first illegal wall. He painted a manikin with a bulbous nose on the garage wall at home. The strong influence of the comic painter UDERZO (Asterix), who is his favourite painter to this day, was already clear. On that particular occasion his Grandmother hit the roof so he started to take more care not to get caught in his illegal activities! In 1988, during his first visit in to Paris, he saw a lot of tags (signatures on walls) by a graffiti artist named Boxer. Impressed by this, he chose a similar name for himself and tried to emulate him.
In colloquial French, a spraycan is called a ‘Bomb’. It seemed the obvious choice for a name. Later, he learned that in graffiti terms, ‘Bombing’ also means spraying as much of an area as possible.
In 1992, in cooperation with Cutmaster G.B. he organised the first big Hip Hop Jam – Spring Jam Frankfurt – which attracted more than 4,500 visitors. The gig by “Die Fantatischen Vier“, was a sensation, despite them being virtually unknown at this time in Germany. Also sensational were the legendary “Rocksteady Crew“ - a breakdance formation who made breakdancing popular worldwide in the early eighties. It was their first gig after a ten-year break. All the best European sprayers at the time, such as "Mode 2" from Paris, joined the Jam.
The second Spring Jam in 1994 was represented by some famous New York sprayers such as Futura 2000 (who worked closely with Keith Haring), A-One, Sharp, Koor and Quik. Furthermore, some famous “oldschool“ Hip Hop stars such as The Coldcrush Brothers, Grandmaster CAZ and Grandmixer DXT ("ROCK IT" with Herbie Hancock) supplied the music.
Currently Bomber’s work is mainly computer based, designing and creating flyers, posters, covers and catalogues. His work cleverly combines both classical and graffiti based styles. Another aspect of his work is taking typical graffiti symbols and transforming them into new scriptural structures and three-dimensional objects using computer technology. He strongly believes in the survival and evolution of Graffiti Art particularly in this digital age.
www.bomber-graffiti.com
Herbert Ehrhardt: Costume Design
Born near to Frankfurt, Herbert Ehrhardt studied music, dance, fashion and costume design. As well as numerous music videos he collaberated on the following productions: Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, My Fair Lady (with Richard Chamberlain as Higgins), Evita, Fame, Grease, Hair, California Dream Men, Cabaret, Rent, Blithe Spirit, City of Angels, Neville’s Island (English Theatre Ffm).
He works predominantly in the professional world of musical theatre and dance.
Piwi: Comic Artist
Comic Artist Piwi first came across Hedwig when friends from Peru showed him an illegal copy of this musical masterpiece. He is very happy now to be able to enjoy Hedwig in person and completely legally! At the same time he continues to work on comics and illustrations at www.piwimonium.de.
Irina Zikuschka: Visual Artist
Irina Zikuschka, born in 1976 in Bad Nauheim, Germany, is a visual artist and photographer. In 2004 she graduated from the Goethe University, Frankfurt where she studied Art Education. She has completed guest studies at Professor Frank Schumacher's photography class at the University for Visual Art, Offenbach, and Professor Bernhard Prinz' photography class at the Academy of fine Art, Kassel.
She lives and works in Frankfurt/Main, and since 2004 has been freelance. www.aniri.de
"The audience welcomed Hedwig like a Rock Star"
Frankfurter Neue Presse
