Who are they

Steve Hewlett

Biography

“Brilliant & Very Funny" HRH Prince William & Catherine Middleton December 2010!
"1st Class" Late & Legendary Actor JOHN HURT 2011
 
Steve Hewlett has performed 1000's of venues to millions of people whether it is in a Holiday Centre or on a Cruise ship, in a Theatre or on TV.
 
As well as touring the UK in the Ken Dodd Laughter Show for 3 years Steve had the Amazing opportunity of Touring his own 45 date UK Theatre Tour 'Thinking Inside the Box' in 2014 to thousands of British families after his successful appearances on TV's Britain's Got Talent Final with his Simon Cowell creation.
 
In 2016 Steve appeared as a Guest on BBC Strictly Come Dancing.
Steve Toured the UK with American Legendary Ventriloquist Ronn Lucas & in May with American Sax Sensation KENNY G ending the tour at London's Royal Albert Hall.
 
In 2017 Steve toured his 2nd UK Theatre Tour ’30 Years of Talking to myself’ which he also took to Blackpool’s pleasure beach in the Summer of 2018
 
2016 and 2017 also saw Steve Join the Legendary OSMONDS on the 'Andy Williams Christmas Extravaganza' in Branson, USA on Tour & the UK in December.
 
Steve returned to The Thursford Christmas Spectacular as the Host of the show in 2019 ending a fantastic year alongside supporting Craig David at London’s Roundhouse
In March 2020, Steve launched and closed his 3rd UK Tour in the same weekend. “A Life in The Day of Arthur Lager” was a brand-new show which was a more unique way of performing for Steve as he wrote a whole life story about his main character Arthur.
 
During 2020 and 2023 Steve found time to edit his upcoming Book “Ventriloquest” paying tribute to his peers in the Art of Ventriloquism.
 
And the creativity continues as Steve launched his Brand-New Podcast “Eyes & Teeth” talking to his favourite Comedy & Variety favourites from TV, Radio, Theatre, Comedy Clubs and Cruises, there are currently over 200 episodes available for free on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Podcasts.

Trish Dunn

Trish Dunn is an International Stand-Up Comedian Ventriloquist, Comedy Coach, and Published Author. She has been entertaining audiences in comedy clubs, resorts, theaters, river cruises, and churches for over 20 years.

Trish got her start after taking a stand up comedy course at the Comedy Zone in Charlotte NC. Upon completion of the course she was immediately put in place as a house MC at the Gastonia Comedy Zone in North Carolina.

From there her show and talent has grown and she continues to entertain audiences in both the US and the UK.

As a founding member of GTown Comics she trained many up and coming stand up comedians hone their craft and strengthen their confidence to take their acts on the stage.

After making Norwich, UK her home, she has worked with Hooma Comedy training “female” stand up comedians to help fill an obvious gender gap in stand up comedians assisting in many learning to write comedy and gain the confidence to take the stage.

With a passion for stand up comedy ventriloquism, Trish took her years of comedy study, stage experience, tips, and techniques to develop a “comedy writing” guide aimed specifically at ventriloquism. “Dialogue Comedy and Joke Writing for Dummies. No REAL DUMMIES!”

Trish’s latest book, “From Amateur to Pro” (title subject to change) is due to be released April 1st 2024, and focuses on the bookkeeping and administrative end of the entertaining ventriloquist going from hobbyist to pro.

Chris Frostie

Frostie is a magician, ventriloquist, singer and author.

He first began his career in entertainment at the age of 18, when he worked for RJP, as an entertainer in hotels.  It was here that he got the bug for Magic and Ventriloquism.

He travelled across Europe performing for 7 years before settling in Essex, where he now lives with his long-suffering wife, two children, and cats.

Frostie uses his experiences as a Father to shape his show 'Abraca-Dadbod'. It is a show filled with magic, parody songs, ventriloquism, and a strong message to parents not to strive for perfection, but just to get from one day to the next without life driving you too bonkers!

During his lecture at UK Vent ConVENTion, Frostie will share the secrets of how he creates strong memorable characters with puppets and routines with scripting and relatable storylines, which help him to create material, as well as looking deeply into what makes comedy work, and why, so you can write your own material.

David Tomkins

“David first started learning ventriloquism when he was eight years old and subsequently went full time professional at sixteen.
David currently specialises in family and adult shows featuring, amongst other original routines, his singing puppet character Superstars, Roy Orbison, Bjorn (Abba) and also Elvis.
David’s lecture will include ideas, advice and suggestions with technique and using magic props with your puppets. The lecture will also include some performance extracts from his regular act.
David is also a Member of the Inner Magic Circle-London (Gold Star Award)”

Donna Lloyd

Bio :
Hello, my name is Donna Lloyd, I’m 58 and like many I took up ventriloquism during lockdown. When I thought back about my reasons for becoming a ventriloquist, I remembered back to my childhood and my father, giving me one of his big sea boot socks that he was issued in work. He was a meteorologist and much of the equipment they wore
needed to be very warm, because of the cold nights where they’d be out setting off weather, balloons and taking measurements. One night he came home he showed me how to turn the sock into a puppet, making the mouth that out of the foot end, putting on a pair of eyes and that that in itself was a do it yourself puppet.
Spool ahead many years later I bought my first puppet Vinnie cost me over £100, being a creative person, an idea popped into my head whilst standing in front of a charity shop window of how would you upcycle an old unwanted soft toy into a venture puppet and was it possible? My first do it yourself puppet was a bear I paid £5 and took him home, and with some basic tools, and materials I had round the house, that was my first introduction to not just being a ventriloquist, but creating my own puppets. Since then I’ve created Ozzy the Orca from a soft toy I found in the motorway services and Seamus, the Dragon. I found in the window of a newsagents in Llangollen. To me this way of reusing up cycling unwanted. Soft toys were also a great way to be eco-friendly and take care of the planet, giving a soft toy, a new life, enabling it to enter and make people laugh and feel good.
UK then convention I’ll be running a little workshop and talking about my experiences of creating ventriloquist puppets from soft toys. Some of the materials. I’ve used some of the tools and some of the ideas. Thank you.

Tonya Traylor

BIO:
Tonya Traylor is a multitalented individual who is making waves with "The Tonya Traylor Collection" and the innovative "Ventriloquium," the world's only pop-up museum dedicated to ventriloquism. Together with her son Leonard James Moore II, she has created a unique space for preserving the history of ventriloquist figures, puppets, marionettes, and more. The collection, which continues to expand, currently boasts over 500 ventriloquial figures, along with numerous puppets, marionettes, posters, and other memorabilia, including automatons and animatronic displays. These figures have not only graced television commercials, movies, and books but have also had the honor of performing for royalty.
Tonya Traylor's passion for storytelling and commitment to upholding the traditions of these art forms shine through in her work. The Tonya Traylor Collection serves not only as a repository of objects but also as a portal to a realm of captivating narratives and historical significance. By preserving these unique figures and artifacts, Traylor and her team are not just honoring the past but also inviting others to partake in the magic of ventriloquism and puppetry, ensuring that these cherished art forms continue to thrive for generations to come. "Preserving History One Figure At a Time" encapsulates the essence of their mission and the dedication they bring to their craft.

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