ABOUT

Founded by producers Dan Looney and Adam Paulden, DLAP Entertainment is an Olivier Award-winning production company, which produces, manages and finances multiple musicals, plays and concerts across the globe.

DLAP have produced a host of productions across the UK and globally including the multi Olivier award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End; the West End and touring production of the Kander and Ebb musical ‘whodunnit’ Curtains, starring Jason Manford; the smash-hit 80’s rock musical, Rock of Ages on tour in the UK, Ireland and international productions; the 30^th Anniversary Tour of Fame! across the UK, Ireland, internationally and in the West End and The Wedding Singer, the musical based on the Adam Sandler movie: UK Tour, Wembley Park Theatre and South Korea (winner of the ‘Best Musical’ award at the Deagu International Musical Festival 2019). The company also produced the first ever play adaptation of The Last King of Scotland, based on the award-winning novel by Giles Foden (and subsequent Oscar-winning film starring Forest Whittaker and James McAvoy), which played at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre.

Jason Haigh-Ellery (Company Director) founded Big Finish Productions in 1998 and the company has grown to be the largest independent producer of Audio Drama in the world, working regularly with media corporations such as the BBC, MGM and ABC on Doctor Who, Torchwood, Stargate, Dark Shadows and on original series such as Graceless and The Confessions of Dorian Grey. Big Finish won the BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Drama for Doctor Who in both 2014 and 2017. Jason also founded the animation house Planet 55 Studios in Australia working on two animated versions of Doctor Who and producing the original 26-part drama Prisoner Zero for ABC and Netflix. Jason has also produced and been involved with a host of reality shows including Nadia Goes to Hollywood, Nadia: Chasing the Dream, Strictly Dance Fever and Fame – The Musical. In 2017, Jason was Executive Producer on the movie The Time of their Lives which subsequently reached #1 comedy on Amazon. Jason’s previous producing credits include Henry V, Spring Awakening, By Jeeves, Love Shack, High Society, The Steamie, The Wedding Singer, Fame – The Musical, Yes Prime Minister, The Ladykillers, Flashdance, Never Forget, Rock of Ages, Wasted, Footloose, Wolfboy, A Christmas Carol and The Whatsonstage Theatregoer Awards.

Richard Klin (Company Director) is an experienced entrepreneur and has founded & sold several companies in the real estate & technology sphere.

Today he sits on the board of several companies of which he founded or was an early stage investor.  These include the property group Habitus, the medical ecommerce company anatomystuff.co.uk and the fast growing London coffee chain, Urban Baristas.

He has been involved in theatre production since 2015 and is excited to be a part of the DLAP team to support their continuing growth.

Natalie Bush (Development Producer) joined DLAP in 2018 as a Production Assistant, working across Rock of Ages (UK/Ireland Tour 2018/19); Chita Rivera in Concert (Cadogan Hall); Curtains (UK/Ireland Tour 2019/20); The Last King of Scotland (Sheffield Crucible) and Bonnie & Clyde (In Development).

Prior to this, Natalie trained as an actor from a young age and studied at both the BRIT School and Arts Educational School London. Acting credits include Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Stephanie Mangero in Saturday Night Fever, Susan in Sweet Smell of Success and the Edinburgh Fringe Production of Fresher the Musical. Natalie has also toured Europe & Australia as a lead vocalist in The World Of Musicals.

Samuel Quested (General Manager) completed his degree in Contemporary Performance in 2012. Since then Samuel has since built up an impressive background of professional experience in directing, producing and general management.

In his previous role as general manager, Samuel worked for Club 11 London, producing one-off concerts for world-class musical theatre performers. Previous concerts include; Carrie Hope Fletcher, Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Shoshana Bean, Chita Rivera, Laura Michelle Kelly and Tori Amos’s musical, The Light Princess.

As director Samuel’s credits include; Blues In The Night – 30th Anniversary (London Hippodrome), Into The Woods (Salisbury Playhouse). As assistant director; Old Fools (Southwark Playhouse) and as associate producer; Party of One and Divallusion, both at the Edinburgh Fringe starring singer impressionist Christina Bianco.

Alongside theatre, Samuel has also worked extensively in the field of magic for almost 7 years. In 2016 Samuel joined the company of the smash hit magic show Impossible, working with some of the greatest magicians in the world. With over 150 performances including a UK tour, London (Noël Coward), Beirut, Dubai, Singapore and  Araneta Arena in Manila.

Charlotte Barlow (Production Assistant) joined DLAP in April 2019. Charlotte’s most recent position was working for Grazia magazine at Bauer Media as their Media Planner. Prior to this Charlotte trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts. Then went on to complete a BA English degree at the University of Southampton graduating with First Class Honours. While at university Charlotte competed nationally in contemporary, street, ballet, jazz and tap squads and took the role of Social Secretary on the Ballet Society. She also contributed to the university’s media magazine ‘The Edge’, writing theatre reviews. For the past four years she worked for Pixie Lott’s Italia Conti Associate School in her home City of Chelmsford, firstly as a Teaching Assistant and then as Musical Theatre teacher. Additionally for the past three years she has worked as an entertainer/performer for ‘The Only Way is Entertainment’ agency across Essex and London.