CAROLINE PARKER MBE - Actress and Sign Song Diva

What’s been happening and what’s going to happen.

Am on Wikipedia!  

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Parker

 

 

Playing Fagin in Ramps On The Moon's Oliver Twist a co-production with Leeds Playhouse.  Now streaming on National Theatre at Home until February 2023. 

https://www.ntathome.com/products/oliver-twist

 

in Spring 2022 was with The Imagineers Company at Coventry in their production of The Milesians. The Coming of the Gaels.  Previous to this was in Taunton at The Brewhouse playing Badger in Wind in the Willows. 

will soon post new photos taken by Steve Best On this page......

 

 

Photo provided by Julie McNamara
Maroulla in 'The Knitting Circle' Vital Xposre Productions
Photo supplied by Julie McNamara
Maroulla in 'The Knitting Circle' Vital Xposure Ptoductions
Photo by Chris de Wilde
The Missus in 'Edmund The Learned Pig' at Royal Exchange Manchester
Photo by Chris de Wilde
The Missus in 'Edmund The Learned Pig"
Photo by Jane Farley
Antonia in Bird of Paradise 'Miranda and Caliban, The Making of a Monster'

Some reviews of past work in various productions

Review of Our Country’s Good with Ramps On The Moon in Miro Magazine:

Some stand out performances include Caroline Parker, who plays the overlooked; and absolutely hilarious Meg Long, or ‘Shitty Meg’. Parker is used to expertly sign and speak for other characters on stage. In particular, her interpreting for Fifi Garfield’s Dabby Bryant is a delight, as Parker ensures that Garfield is still successfully interruptive to the growingly exasperated Lieutenant Clark’s auditions and rehearsals with great effect.

 

Ramps On The Moon production Our Country’s Good review by Amelia  for  Exaunt.

There are some beautiful moments in this production, due largely to the exceptional performances of the cast. In particular, Caroline Parker’s multi-roled presence as actor, BSL interpreter and voiceover for other characters is a constant delight. Her delivery is both funny and clear which provides a wonderful contrast to the heavier moments in the show. 

 

Edmund The Learned Pig got great reviews, Three Weeks  and  Fringe  Review2015 gave us 5*!  Here's a lovely mention from Fringe review....

......The Missus, is played by the divine Caroline Parker, she is a comic actor with a wonderful presence and timing and has a slightly frazzled “Mrs Lovett” look about her, plus she wants to make pies!

by Jo Tomalin Fringe Review 2015

 

 

Funny People at Edinburgh Fringe, great reviews 4* from WOW24/7, Broadway Babes and Three Weeks.  Here are some mentions....

 

......New girl to the party is Caro Sparks and she lives right up to her name. Highlights of her set include finding out British Sign L anguage for c***and an unforgettable, fabulous signing version of Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights. I have never liked that song. Till now.

By Kate Copstick WOW24/7

    

If I had a pound for every time I’ve seen a “comedian” try and get laughs from miming along to Kate Bushes’ Wuthering Heights I’d be in a much better financial situation. I believed that the idea had been exhausted but Caro Sparks decided to prove me wrong, and I am glad she did. Her time spent working the cabaret scene has gifted her with fantastic timing.

by James W Woe Broadway Baby

 

Won Best Actress Award for jean St Clair's film 'If I Dont Lose...' At Clin d'Oeil Festival 2015, here's the link to see the film

http://www.bslzone.co.uk/latest/tv-and-online-next-week-if-i-dont-lose-ill-lose/

 

Cinedeaff III in Rome have just informed me I have won the Award for Best Interpretation in short film 'If I Don't Lose, I will Lose'.  

'The award goes to Caroline Parker for her ease and immediacy in offering emotions to the audience and for the unusual ability to propose her own acting style, original and of great quality.'

 

http://www.ruthmontgomery.co.uk/?p=1423 Here's a little something I worked on with Ruth Montgomery.

 

 Enjoyed working with Red Earth playing Maud the Witch in 'Hansel and Gretel' on  a UK theatre tour Last year, tickets were sold out so we had to do extra shows.  Got 4 stars in The Stage paper

Tour of Signs of a Diva around Ireland went very well, here's a lovely review 

 

 

Had great reviews **** The Metro for Theatre Royal Stratford East playing the role of Fairy Bow Bell in Dick Whittington.  Was on front page of The Stage and Television Today paper with Michael Bertenshaw who played King Rat. Also was on cover of British Deaf News with intervieew inside.

 

Contacts:

Contact me via Facebook or Twitter -Sparkycaro

 

Represented by agent  Louise Davidson at Simon and How Associates

29 Charlotte Road, London, EC2A 3PF
020 3405 7424 - Direct 
079 3000 4812 - Mobile

  lou@simon-how.com

 

 

Birds of Paradise Theatre

Playing role The Glutton alongside Buchan Lennon playing role: Tolouse Letrec in 'Crazy Jane'

Toured around Scotland with Birds of Paradise in 'Crazy Jane'  

in Cabaret action
filmed by Teresa Garrratty

Caroline Parker MBE - mostly about me.....

The last 30 years have been spent acting, performing sign songs, devising, signing, dancing, miming and launching a stand up comedy act. 

 At such places as theatres, screens, streets, shopping centres, cabaret,  festivals, House of Parlaiment and sports and leisure centres around the Uk and Brussels.  Also the Paralympic Opening Ceremony 2012.  Wherever anyone will have me basically.

Also there have been consultings and directings.  Workshop facilitating and storytelling too.....

As an actress....
You may want to check out my Spotligh CV t.o peruse the range of roles I have played.


http://www.spotlight.com/9436-6757-9580
What the heck is sign song? Photo by Eoin Carey
My cabaret act Sign Songs consists of my performing well known recorded songs in my own style using dance, mime and sign language.
The Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony signing 'I AM What I Am' with Beverly Knight signing the song.
Ŷ
Past appeances include at places such as cabarets private and public, Burlesque shows - Duckies, Cafe Du Paris, festivals - Glastonbury, WOMAD, Liberty.

Represented by Anna Strickland at Missing Link Productions for corporate events and festivals. http://www.circusperformers.com/

Stand up comedy with AFP - Abnormally Funny People and other comedy clubs, under the name of Caro Sparks.
What's going on now?
In the coming year I shall be working with.........

Not allowed today yet but lookout for details of a lovely show I’m about to do this Christmas.

Currently working on future projects with agent Lou Davidson at Siimon and How Associates.....woo hoo!





A little history....

Born in the hilly hills of Cheshire, growing up deaf in a hearing familly - provided me with lots of material for my stand up comedy and comment on life.  Attending schools with PHU (Parially Hearing Unit), was part of an experimental programme at Manchester University receiving lots of speech therapy and hearing therapy. 

Joined the Manchester Youth Theatre and decided I wanted to work in theatre for a living.  Having attended dance class as a child I had some idea anyway.  Went to college in Salford studying Foundation Drama and Theatre.  Was advised by tutor Carol Anne to try mime as I had a 'mobile face'- the best advice ever.

1982 saw me moving to London to train at Adam Darius' Mime Centre followed by more training at Desmond Jones School of Mime, whilst there I got my first acting job with Interim Theatre quickly learning Sign language playing Clarice in 'The Servant of Two Masters' which opened at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, that is how it all started.