Our Committee

Russell Langdown

Chair of Committee & Production Director

Judith Sharp

Secretary & Director of Chorus Music

Sarah Dawkins

Treasurer

Sarah Wrixon

Co Vice Chair & Stage Manager

Rob Curnock

Co Vice Chair

Becci Benson

Melissa Beattie

Russell’s first SALOS show was as a child cast member of ‘Hello Dolly’ in 1988 and he has been involved in every production since; he joined the society as an adult member in 1997 and has played a number of exciting roles, his favourites being Jesus and The Beast.

Russell took on the role of Production Director in 2007 and has directed all of the main productions since, his favourites being ‘Legally Blonde’ in 2017 & Godspell in 2023.

Russell has been a member of the SALOS Committee since 2003 and has been the Chair since 2022; his main role on the committee is to advise and lead on the creative and artistic aspects of the annual musical production.

Outside of SALOS, Russell is a Deputy Headteacher in a secondary school. He is also an experienced drama teacher and former pupils have appeared in West End productions, and can be found performing across the world.

Judith has been a committee member since 1992 and SALOS Secretary since 2014. In this role, she is the first point of contact with the society via email or telephone. She handles enquiries from prospective playing members, organising new member auditions; liaises with show licensors and orders rehearsal material; maintains society membership and subscription records; takes and circulates committee meeting minutes and maintains communication between members and the committee via email.

Judith is also Director of Chorus Music, a position which she has held since 1999. This involves teaching the chorus members the music and harmony for shows and concerts and conducting the chorus and band during concert performances.

Now a Life Member of SALOS, Judith joined as a playing member in 1983 and has played eight leading roles and five principal parts for the society. She has also played many leading roles in productions staged at the Arts Centre, Swindon with her singing partner, Ray Dance, raising many thousands of pounds for local charities. A mother of two, and grandmother of four, she is now enjoying being a ‘dance grandma’ encouraging the next generation of her family on to the stage!!

Sarah joined SALOS in 2019 and the committee in 2021 as assistant treasurer. Following a short break in 2023, she is delighted to be back, this time as the proper treasurer. She is very grateful to the committee for trusting her with the cash!

Sarah has taken part in every show SALOS has put on since she joined and has loved the opportunity to be an ogre, fairy and elf along with an assortment of humans. Her favourite show to date has been Godspell, maybe because she was allowed to play the ukulele. Sarah can usually be found loudly singing in the chorus, often as a male vocal line, but dream roles she would love to play include The Witch (Into the Woods), Kathie (The Last Five Years) and Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard). She is a self-confessed musical nerd, who will happily chat for hours about obscure musicals nobody has heard of.

Outside of SALOS, Sarah is a paediatric doctor at the Great Western Hospital. She is Mummy to two noisy boys and wife to Chris, who is luckily a fellow musical nerd. Sarah also enjoys geeky games nights (board or video), reading fantasy books for teenagers, walking up mountains, Disney, cake and a nice glass of gin or prosecco.

Sarah has been on the committee now for the last three years, although she had previously attended many meetings as Stage Manager. In her role on the committee Sarah advises on all technical aspects and updates on any policies or industry changes. Another role that Sarah undertakes is liaising with the Wyvern Theatre so that we make sure all Wyvern teams know everything about our main production. As with all committee members Sarah helps update policies, market productions and keeps the society going.

Sarah has grown up within SALOS with both of her parents working backstage so there was no choice but to also join. Her first show on stage was at the age of 5 and then after 13, she realised that her love of the theatre was to organise it not to actually be in it! 

Sarah works for Swindon’s only professional Theatre Company, Prime Theatre, and is Production Manager for all of their tours along with running a technical youth theatre.

Rob is reasonably new to SALOS and became a playing member in 2018 just before ‘Oklahoma’. Rob had his first principal role in 2019’s ‘The Sound of Music’ as Rolf. 2019 was Rob’s first year on the committee.

Rob’s been helping to develop the new SALOS website and is always looking to be a more proactive member within the society. Rob’s day job is Head of Web Development for a product distribution/online e-commerce company based in Tetbury.

Becci joined SALOS in 2009 and her first show was ‘My Fair Lady’; she has performed in every show over the past 11 years, and played Belle in ‘Beauty & the Beast’. 

Becci has been a member of the SALOS Committee since 2012; her main role on the committee is being part of the team leading the winter season and annual spring Concerts. 

Outside SALOS, Becci works part time in a local secondary school, particularly supporting young people transferring between primary and secondary school. When not at work she can be found transporting her six year old twins to their numerous hobbies or friends’ parties! 

Melissa joined SALOS in 2017 having previously been a member of Kentwood Choir, Janice Thompson Performance Trust and Ten in a Bar respectively. After taking part in her first Show ‘Oklahoma!’ in 2018 she has been a committed playing member performing in ‘Sound of Music’ in 2019, ‘Shrek the Musical’ in 2022 and ‘Godspell’ and ‘Elf the Musical’ in 2023.

Melissa is delighted to be joining the SALOS committee this year and looks forward to working alongside the existing committee members.

Outside SALOS, Melissa works in Financial Services alongside her father and is working towards CeMAp Mortgage Adviser qualification which she hopes to achieve in 2024. She has a 5 year old cockapoo, Stanley who also keeps her busy.