Profiles - Debra James

Debra made her first professional appearance at the age of seven, appearing each week on the children’s television programme JUNIOR SHOWTIME. On leaving school Debbie went directly to the City Varieties Music Hall in her hometown of Leeds, cast at the age of sixteen as one of the youngest Principal Girls in the country.

Since that time Debra has become a very experienced repertory actress under her stage name of Debra Karen. She has appeared in a wide variety of plays including Lead roles in SHIRLEY VALENTINE; EDUCATING RITA; APRIL IN PARIS; LUCKY SODS; RUN FOR YOUR WIFE; COMMUNICATING DOORS; BEDSIDE MANNERS; DANCING AT LUGHNASA; DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER; TABLE MANNERS, TWO and AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER.

Musicals include ‘Miss Hannigan’ in ANNIE; LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS; SALAD DAYS; GODSPELL; LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS, THE BOYFRIEND and ‘Maggie Jones’ in 42ND STREET.

Since 1994 Debra has turned her hand to script writing with huge success. She has already written versions of the pantomimes ALADDIN; JACK AND THE BEANSTALK; SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS; DICK WHITTINGTON, MOTHER GOOSE, BABES IN THE WOOD and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK all of which have been seen at the Thameside Theatre in Grays. She has also written PUSS IN BOOTS for the Alexandra Theatre in Bognor Regis and a version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth. All of these pantomimes have been very well received, as Debra believes that all of her pantomimes should have a strong story line, lots of comedy and be fun to watch and perform.

Debra has also written commissioned Children’s Musicals, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, HICKORY DICKORY ROCK, LUNAR TUNES, IT’S ABOUT TIME, THERE’S A GHOST IN MY HOUSE, RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE, WAY OUT WEST, ON YOUR MARKS and earlier this year MACB THE MUSICAL. These have all been successfully produced for the annual Summer School at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil. They have proved to be extremely popular, not only with the theatre but also with their young performers.
She now has a beautiful six-year old daughter called Daisy with her partner Tony, who already shows signs of following in her Mother’s footsteps on to the stage.