Lol Coxhill

Between 1947 and 1949 the teenage Lol Coxhill organised club sessions comprising live contemporary jazz plus recordings of modern jazz musicians such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lennie Tristano, Miles Davis and Stan Kenton. From 1950 to 1951 he was 'temporarily inconvenienced by national service in the Royal Air Force' but for the rest of that decade he was a member of: Denzil Bailey's Afro-Cubists (Dizzy Gillespie, Machito compositions/ arrangements); the Graham Fleming Combo touring US air bases in England (Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker compositions); and Sonny G and the G Men (R&B, standards). He also guested with established British contemporary jazz players, including Joe Harriott, Tubby Hayes, Oxford University Jazz Band as well as playing solo jazz and improvisations on the saxophone.

Much of the early to mid 1960s was taken up with touring and accompanying/supporting visiting US artists such as Rufus Thomas (with the television and video release of Walking the dog), Martha & the Vandellas, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Mose Allison, and to some extent this continued into the 70s with tours by Otis Spann, Champion Jack Dupree, Lowell Fulson and Alexis Korner. However, between 1968 and 1972 Coxhill formed 'Delivery' with Steve Miller, Jack Monck, Pip Pyle and Phil Miller, was a member of the 'Whole World' with Kevin Ayers, David Bedford, Mike Oldfield and numerous drummers, as well as performing in the Coxhill/Bedford duo and the Coxhill/Steve Miller duo.

The twelve years from 1973 saw Lol Coxhill become more well known as an improvising musician and solo player, with appearances thoughout Great Britain, Europe, the US, Japan and Canada. At the same time he undertook numerous collaborations with improvisors (as a member of Company), jazz musicians (as a member of the Brotherhood of Breath), rock and blues musicians (The Damned), as well as appearing with experimental theatre groups such as Welfare State. Other collaborations included Trevor Watts 'Moire Music', The Spontaneous Music Ensemble, and AMM. The Recedents (with Roger Turner and Mike Cooper) was formed in this period to perform electro-acoustic improvisations and has been a long-standing interest along with the Melody Four (with Steve Beresford and Tony Coe) - performing original and standard songs, film music, theatre music, jazz and improvisations - a duo with Pat Thomas, a duo with Adam Bohman (both electo-acoustic improvisations though of a rather different hue) and membership of the Dedication Orchestra.

Lol Coxhill has also worked occasionally in television and films with a part in Sally Potter's London story, Ken Campbell and Nigel Evans' The madness museum and Derek Jarman's Caravaggio.

Sarah Duff

Sarah is a dancer who graduated from Derby University in 2003. She has been involved a lot with Derby Dance Centre both as a student and a teacher working with young aspiring dancers. Sarah has been active with several D.D.C. community shows, D.D.C. open day performances and the Ignite festival, with Wardrobe Dance.

During her year out while studying for her B-A.Hons. in creative/expressive therapies she assisted with Tin Productions in Newcastle-on-Tyne. Sarah carries out many workshops in schools, and is currently working with Deaf / Blind organizations in Derby. Sarah contributed many skills and ideas to the Polarities project and was one of the lead dancers. She is also appearing in 2 performances of Walt Shaw's Timepoints performances in 2004.

Simone Gilliatt

Simone is a graduate professional dancer with seven years' experience. Recently she performed with the Canadian group Parahuman. Simone is widely travelled and has been involved in many arts projects and performances, some at Derby Dance Centre.

She was a lead dancer in Polarities and a current member of BET4motion.

Oliver Matthews

Oliver is a talented young professional musician and composer, specialising on saxophone and other reed instruments, who has worked with a very wide range of music, theatre and dance groups over the past 5 years. He has appeared all around the UK and in Denmark, including performances with the Circus Arena Orchestra for the Princess of Denmark.

More recently he has been playing on the recent Foot in Hand tour and has just completed his first concert with the Borderline Guerillas in Birmingham. Oliver studied music at degree level and his detailed CV shows a history of collaborations with dancers, theatre groups and performers from all disciplines.

Simon Piasecki

Simon is a highly experienced professional performance artist and senior lecturer in performing arts at Chester University, also about to begin a PhD in performance at Trent University. Simon was one of the founder members of the BET4 group and has built an extensive CV of performances around the UK and into central and Eastern Europe.

Some highlights of Simon's recent works were appearing with Pina Bausch at the Sadlers Wells Theatre in 1999, at the 3rd International Festival of Experimental Art in St Petersburg in 2000, in the trenches at Ypres performing his critically acclaimed Best Bent Wire work in 2001 and numerous other contemporary dance and film collaborations since. Simon returns to the group after 4 years away, bringing with him considerable experience of conceiving and staging experimental and traditional theatre events in a wide range of venues and genres. He has also been involved as a guest performer in Walt Shaw's recent Timepoints events in 2004.

Hannah Whitehall

Hannah is a recent graduate in Visual Art and as a sculptor and Flautist comes to the group in her first serious theatre based production. Her energy and creative input and willingness to learn and progress within the group makes her a valuable new addition to the team.

Nicki Perry

Corey Mwamba