Performance Coach

Ray Shell has been a permanent fixture on West End stages since creating the role of RUSTY in the original West End production of STARLIGHT EXPRESS .

Mr. Shell has starred in the West End productions of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD-WEBBER, and the original West End productions of LITTLE WILLIES Jr’s RESSURECTION, MS. SAIGON, KING, CHILDREN OF EDEN, 125^th STREET, DANCING IN THE STREET, GONE WITH THE WIND and created the role of ‘Nomax’, in the original National Theatre workshop production of FIVE GUYS NAMED MO.

Other theatre credits include the West End production of LION KING, MASS CARIB, BLUES FOR MR CHARLIE (Tricycle Theatre), SWEENEY TODD (Holland Park), HAPPY END (Nottingham Playhouse), TWO TRAINS RUNNING (Tricycle Theatre), BLUES FOR MR CHARLIE (The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and the Tricycle Theatre London), BLUES IN THE NIGHT  (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds )  GOLDEN BOY (Greenwich Theatre) and in America, THE DIRTIEST MUSICAL, THE ME NOBODY KNOWS, HAIR, DEMENTOS and THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER.

Ray appeared as LaSalle in Rufus Norris’ original production of VERNON GOD LITTLE at the Young Vic Theatre, appeared in Che Walker’s musical workshop of BEEN SO LONG  also at The Young Vic and starred as Sterling Johnson in Paulette Randall’s production of August Wilson’s RADIO GOLF at the Tricycle Theatre.

Ray has appeared in Issac Julien’s film Young Soul Rebels, appeared with Christian Bale in Velvet Goldmine and is soon to be seen as the fabulous Calamaria Jane, a  transvestite from Mississippi USA in the Belgium Television Series Monster Trilogy.

Ray’s novel ICED has been published and toured internationally. His musical WHITE FOLKS was produced in concert at The Cochrane Theatre and a full production at The Pleasance Theatre, London. Ray has also produced, wrote and directed FLATSHARE, FREDERICK AVERY VISITS and STREET ANGELS. Mr. Shell directed The Black Fashion Designers Show at the Royal Albert Hall, The Mango Lick Poetry Jam at The Royal Festival Hall. He has also published articles and short stories for the NEW YORK TIMES, THE GUARDIAN LONDON, Serpents Tail and Penguin publishing houses.

Mr. Shell is the Creative Director of GIANT OLIVE THEATRE COMPANY whose theatre home is the Lion & Unicorn Theatre in London’s Kentish Town; for them he has directed the critically acclaimed productions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, OLIVER TWIST, the gun and knife crime musical ZIP! and He the British premier of Mark Geisser’s play THE TULIP WARS.