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 ; AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER and earlier this year Debbie toured alongside Damian Williams in the two-handed comedy TWO.

Musicals include ‘Miss Hannigan’ in ANNIE; ‘Miss Adelaide’ in GUYS & DOLLS; ‘Gladys’ in COPACABANA; LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS;; GODSPELL; THE BOYFRIEND and ‘Maggie Jones’ in 42ND STREET.

In 1994 Debra 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 BABES IN THE WOOD and MOTHER GOOSE for the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield; PUSS IN BOOTS for the Alexandra Theatre in Bognor Regis and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth. All of these pantomimes have been very well received, as Debra believes they should have a strong story line, lots of comedy and be fun to watch and perform. Recent musicals commissioned by the Playhouse Theatre, Weston-Super-Mare include TREASURE ISLAND; SLEEPING BEAUTY; JUNGLE BOOK and most recently THE WIZARD OF OZ, which have all been professionally produced.

Debra has also written 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 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.

Debbie can be found most days either front of house or backstage at the Thameside and loves the annual panto at Grays as living in Westcliff it means she can spend Christmas at home with her partner Tony and their beautiful six year old daughter Daisy, who already shows signs of following in her Mother’s footsteps on to the stage!