Adventures of Straker

Musical theatre hits sung by the legendary Peter Straker. 

With additional vocals: 

Anthony Flaum and Jasmine Beel.

Musical Director: Vita Starkin

And Special Guest 

Jessie Wallace. 

Expect classic numbers reimagined and revitalised, powered with style and skill, accompanied by his four-piece band.

This show is a part of the Camden Fringe

ABOUT

Hailed as one of the great voices on the British stage today, Peter Straker has entertained audiences on stage and screen for over the last four decades. Peter first shot to fame in 1968 when he starred and stripped as ‘Hud’ in the London Production of the seminal musical ‘Hair.” He went on to appear in The Who’s ‘Tommy’, the legendary ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, ‘The Wiz’, ‘Blues In the Night, and began a long association as The Phantom, with Ken Hill’s ‘The Original Phantom of the Opera’

His outstanding vocal abilities are well known, documented, and admired. From his collaborations on the Alan Parson’s Project ‘I Robot’, to his solo albums and recordings with Freddie Mercury, actively promoted on tour with his own band, and his critically acclaimed one man shows and concert appearances.

Early in 2020 Straker performed in Simon Callow’s new translation of La Cage aux Folles [The Play] in London at the Park Theatre. Back in 2019 Straker performed with Gabriele Baldocci at The Stables in Milton Keynes, showcasing the SHEER PIANO ATTACK: QUEEN PIANO TRIBUTE Album launch, and with the Dutch Queen Tribute Band Miracle, as well as with long time friend and collaborator, Mike Moran at the Czech Queen Fan Club Convention.

Jessie Wallace

Wallace is best known for her long-running role as Kat Slater in EastEnders, which she portrayed from 2000 to 2010, and then briefly returned to in 2014. Her character became one of the show's most iconic and beloved figures, known for her vibrant personality and memorable storylines.

During her break from EastEnders, Wallace made television guest appearances, including once as Kat Slater, in the 2005 French & Saunders Christmas special. In February 2006, Wallace was the guest host of an edition of the Channel 4 programme The Friday Night Project. In 2007, she appeared in the one-off BBC One television dramas A Class Apart opposite Nathaniel Parker, and The Dinner Party with Lee Evans and Alison Steadman. After visiting Hat Trick Productions with her agent, and singing an impromptu version of Marie Lloyd's song "The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery", she was offered the lead role in Miss Marie Lloyd – Queen of The Music Hall for BBC Four.

Wallace made her West End theatre debut, replacing Denise van Outen in the role of Maureen in Rent remixed at the Duke of York's Theatre from 27 December 2007 until 2 February 2008. Wallace played Amy Kriel in the third series of ITV's Wild at Heart and starred in a run of the play Haunted at the Arts Theatre from 24 May.

Wallace competed with partner Darren Bennett in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing which began on 20 September 2008. 

Wallace toured the UK in the 25th Anniversary production of Stepping Out by Richard Harris, playing the role of Sylvia. Wallace appeared as Pat Phoenix in The Road to Coronation Street, a one-off drama exploring the origins and conception of Coronation Street, to mark the show's 50th anniversary in December 2010.

In 2014, Wallace reprised her role as Marie Lloyd in the music video for Tim Arnold's single "The Piccadilly Trot". She later appeared on Arnold's album The Soho Hobo on a duet that he wrote called "Soho Sunset".

In May 2015, Wallace performed a duet at Soho Theatre with singer-songwriter Tim Arnold to mark the release of his album The Soho Hobo. The song marks her first recording on a pop album and was written especially for her by Arnold. Wallace was also cast as the Fairy Godmother in the White Rock Theatre production of Cinderella. In July 2015 it was announced that Wallace would appear alongside Richie in a stage adaptation of The Perfect Murder by Peter James at the Theatre Royal in February 2016.

Vita Starkin

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Hong Kong's undisputed leading cabaret director & musical PERFORMER. baroque 'n' roll cacophany, jazzed up maniac and seasoned cabaret producer, director & writer.

Vita Starkin is more than just a virtuoso pianist and singer-songwriter; they are a born entertainer. Hailing from London's acclaimed cabaret scene, Starkin has been a force since the age of 16. With achievements like ATCL piano at 14 and fellow of the Royal College of Organists in London by 15, specializing in baroque music and improvisation, Starkin's musical prowess is undeniable.

As a founder, director, and lead writer of The Mercury Cabaret (est. 2012) , Starkin spearheaded Hong Kong's first neo-vaudeville Kabarett. Their vocal talents have graced renowned venues like Kowloon Freespace Jazz Festival and West Kowloon Cultural Centre, along with jazz hotspots from Peel Fresco to Foxglove. Notably, Starkin fronted "The Young Asian Boys" alongside jazz luminaries like Tjoe Man Cheung and Nate Wong.

Under the mentorship of legendary pianist Ted Lo, Starkin's comedic cabaret compositions and vocal gifts have garnered acclaim. As the first-ever resident Cabaret Performer at The Cafe Carlye Hong Kong, Starkin carries on the avant-garde legacy of London's experimental cabaret scene, rooted in a lineage that includes Virgin X and Arthur Foxaque.VITA STARKIN

Hong kong's undisputed leading cabaret director & musical PERFORMER. baroque 'n' roll cacophany, jazzed up maniac and seasoned cabaret producer, director & writer.

Vita Starkin is more than just a virtuoso pianist and singer-songwriter; they are a born entertainer. Hailing from London's acclaimed cabaret scene, Starkin has been a force since the age of 16. With achievements like ATCL piano at 14 and fellow of the Royal College of Organists in London by 15, specializing in baroque music and improvisation, Starkin's musical prowess is undeniable.

As a founder, director, and lead writer of The Mercury Cabaret (est. 2012) , Starkin spearheaded Hong Kong's first neo-vaudeville Kabarett. Their vocal talents have graced renowned venues like Kowloon Freespace Jazz Festival and West Kowloon Cultural Centre, along with jazz hotspots from Peel Fresco to Foxglove. Notably, Starkin fronted "The Young Asian Boys" alongside jazz luminaries like Tjoe Man Cheung and Nate Wong.  Under the mentorship of legendary pianist Ted Lo, Starkin's comedic cabaret compositions and vocal gifts have garnered acclaim. As the first-ever resident Cabaret Performer at The Cafe Carlye Hong Kong, Starkin carries on the avant-garde legacy of London's experimental cabaret scene, rooted in a lineage that includes Virgin X and Arthur Foxaque.

Anothony Flaum

Anthony is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music & the National Opera Studio. He has sung principal roles with many of the UK’s major opera companies - English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Grange Park Opera, Buxton Opera Festival, Northern Ireland Opera, Iford Arts, Nevill Holt Opera and Opera Della Luna amongst others. He began his career in the original Olivier award-winning production of La bohème as Rodolfo for OperaUpClose in 2009. He made his acting debut to much critical acclaim in King Lear alongside Sir John Tomlinson & Sir Thomas Allen at The Grange Festival in 2021 and The Soldier’s Tale at Edinburgh International Festival with Sir Thomas Allen. Musical theatre credits include: Come Dancing (Stratford Theatre Royal East). Recent operatic credits include; Conrad in the UK première of The Silver Bell by Saint Saëns (New Sussex Opera), Theseus in Jonathan Dove’s Monster in the Maze (Music in the Round, The Crucible, Sheffield), Cavaradossi in Becoming Tosca (Prologue Opera) and Hillaire Belloc in Cautionary Tales – a new musical play (dir. Keith Warner). He will reprise his role as Cavaradossi in Becoming Tosca at the Grimeborn Festival this Autumn. He enjoys performing in all sorts of environs – from the stage, to private functions, to educational outreach to celebrated orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic. Being opera-preneurial is important to him. He founded his own opera theatre company Prologue Opera in his hometown of Hastings, is Associate Producer for Barefoot Opera and looks to build the opera ecology on the South Coast of England by working with other leading arts organisations. For further information, log on to www.anthonyflaum.co.uk or www.proglogueopera.com

He enjoys cooking, travel, photography, archaeology, paragliding and sea-glass hunting with his family. He began his professional life in banking!

Jasmin Beel

Jasmine is a UK-based musical theatre performer and graduate of the London School of Musical Theatre, where she earned a Vocational Diploma in Musical Theatre with Distinction in 2018.

She will appear as Nicole in the UK premiere of Muriel’s Wedding the Musical at Curve Leicester from 10 April to 10 May 2025, produced by Made at Curve & Global Creatures and directed by Simon Phillips. Her previous theatre work includes playing Emma Parker, Stella, and a member of the ensemble in the 2024 UK and Ireland tour of Bonnie & Clyde, directed by Nick Winston; Rocky in Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue (2023), directed by Matthew Jay Ryan; and Heather McNamara in Heathers the Musical at The Other Palace in 2022, directed by Andy Fickman. 

She was first cover for Christmas Eve and second cover for Kate Monster in the 2019 UK and Ireland tour of Avenue Q, directed by Cressida Carré. Earlier work includes performing as first cover Anna and Elsa in Disney’s Frozen Live! in Hong Kong (2016), and concert appearances as lead soloist at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts Celebrity Charity Ball (2017) and as a backup singer/dancer in Marsha Yuan Live at the Fringe Club.

Jasmine is trained in musical theatre, puppetry (rod), physical theatre, and voice acting. 

She speaks English natively and Cantonese to a high standard, and is proficient in a range of accents including RP, Standard American, and Australian.