Ralph Morse (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Ralph Morse


caption = Phoenix Rising
birthname =
birthdate = 1 June, 1955
birthplace = Colchester, Essex, England
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername = Johnny Cashbox, Outlaw
occupation = Actor, singer, writer, guitarist, theatre practitioner
yearsactive = 1977 - present
spouse =
partner =
children =
parents =
website = http://www.Ralphmorse.com
awards = Best actor award 1980 for "King Lear and Billy Liar" (Theatre Associates)

Dr Ralph Morse (born June 1 1955) is an English actor, singer, teacher, guitarist and writer of historically-based dramas. [ Official website - Dr Ralph Morse ]

Biography

Born in Colchester, Essex, England, [ Certified copy of entry of birth for sub-district of Colchester ] and raised in the village of Earls Colne, some eleven miles away. An only child, his interest in theatre emanated from the marionette shows he staged whilst at primary and secondary schools. After completing his A Levels at North East Essex Technical College and School of Art, where he was president of the students' union,Morse gained a place at the prestigious Rose Bruford College.

Early career

After graduating in 1977 [ Rose Bruford graduation degree diploma ] he worked as an actor, singer and teacher. He was the artistic director of "Causes Theatre Company" from 1979-1981 playing the title role in Shakespeare's King Lear at the age of twenty-five. It was the contrasting roles of Lear and Billy Fisher in Billy Liar, performed in repertoire, that earned Morse the Theatre Associates Best Actor award in 1980. Dr Ralph Morse Biography web-page] . Morse also appeared as Bogart in Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam; Brutus in Julius Caesar; Pozzo in Waiting For Godot; Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night Causes Theatre Company programmes and press releases to South East London/Kent media covering the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons.] During the same period he worked as an actor and writer on staff training films for the major high street banks, airlines and house builders. [ Shooting Script, production notes and VHS recordings of "Face to Face Communication Skills" and "Further Banking Skills" for the Lloyds Bank 1979/1980 ] Morse also played various roles in the hundred hour marathon reading of the works of William Shakespearetelevised on BBC's Nationwide as part of the launch of St.Lawrence's Theatre, Brentford, England. BBC Television News and arts programme "Nationwide" June 1979]

He has appeared on the West End stage as Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar [The Palace Theatre, London, official programme ] and on television in Shoestring, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and a number of dramas in the BBC Play for Today series. Film roles include Blazer in Sitting Ducks, The Bloomsbury Beau in Riding High, Writer in The Ghost Writer, the coroner in La Casa 3(Ghosthouse) and even an appearance as an imperial stormtrooper in . [ Ralph Morse at the Internet Movie Database (imdb)]

Educational practitioner

From 1989-2003 Morse worked exclusively as a practitioner in educational drama for local authorities, schools and theatre groups in the Essex and Suffolk area. He has adapted popular works for the stage, [ "The Waiting Game" based on "Waiting For Godot" by Samuel Beckett entered in the Lloyds Bank Theatre Challenge 1991 ] has written and directed local community based projects, [ Writer and Director of sequences for "The Brentwood Spectacular" (2000), street theatre for local road safety organisations, festivals and youth projects (1989-2003)] and most notably he is the author of several dramas targeted at the GCSE and AS/A2 theatre student including a group of plays collectively known as "The Four Seasons Of Wounded Knee" and first performed at Shenfield High School in Essex in November 1996. [ The fully annotated texts of "The Ghost Dance", "Malleus Maleficarum", "The Bridging Zone", "Links" and VHS Video Recording by All Media Works (1996)] Having undertaken his own training with and worked alongside the leading practitioners in voice and performance Morse also ran successful vocal workshops for teaching staff throughout the Essex and Suffolk Areas. [ Clear Speech by Malcolm Morrison (isbn 978071365793773361); Art of Acting by Jean Norman Benedetti (isbn 0413773361); The English Theatre (Rose Bruford) by Simon Trussell (isbn 0521794307)]

First National Youth Manager for the Pagan Federation

In 1999 while undertaking his doctorial studies, Morse became the first national youth manager for the Pagan Federation of the United Kingdom an appointment that was seen as highly controversial in certain quarters and attracted much media interest. [ The Times Educational Supplement Article entitled "The Coven Club" April 2000] Following an interview on the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme in March 2000, he was approached by the Independent on Sunday and an article appeared in that publication on 2nd April. He was summarily suspended from his post as Head of Drama, Theatre Arts and Media studies at Shenfield High School in Essex due to his association with the Pagan Federation. [Independent on Sunday articles dated 2nd and 9th April 2000 and The Foundation for Religious Freedom Article responding comment] This resulted in Morse becoming a cause celebre. [ Tales Out of School Article from Find Articles (web resource), Pagan Federation response published in the letters page of the Independent on Sunday dated 9th April 2000 ] . Following a full internal investigation by the school he was reinstated and a statement of support issued by the school and released to the media. [ CNS News Coverage (Foreign Bureaus)] Since gaining his PhD (dissertation et jure dignitatis) [ Dissertation papers "The Relationship Between Religion, Theatre and Ritual BCE and "The Homeric Tradition"] Morse has spoken at various seminars and to educational establishments and contributed to the radio, film and television media on the relationship between religion, ritual and theatre in the ancient world. [ Annual Conference of The Pagan Federation; Leaping Hare, Colchester; The Oxford Egyptian Society; Conway Halls, London; Essex Pagan groups; The Pagan Dawn; BBC Radio Essex; BBC Radio 4; BBC Radio Suffolk; Three Counties Radio; Channel 4; The Independent On Sunday; The Times Educational Supplement; Anglia Television; Metrolink Film Productions ] Although understandably reticent to discuss his own involvement in the pagan movement, Morse continues to generate interest in the wider academic community. [ Discussion on Morse appears in New Religious Movements in the 21st Century by Phillip Charles Lucas, Phillip Lucas and Thomas Robbins (2004) (ISBN : 0415965764)] The key issue raised in these discussions is how without any evidence against him Morse's association with the Pagan Federation alone was seen as sufficient grounds to deprive him of his livelihood and career. [ Further discussion on Morse raised in Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives, edited by Michael F. Strmiska (2005)(ISBN : 1851096086) ]

Musical incarnations

Although probably best known to older audiences in Southern England through his performances as country and western tribute artist Johnny Cashbox, Morse has played music publicly since the mid-seventies. [http://www.Ralphmorse.com/Johnny_Cashbox.html]

Throughout his career Morse has worked as a singer and musician. From 1977-1979 was vocalist with Cause For Alarm, a punk rock band that toured with The Vibrators. His time with the band helped to inform Morse's first full-length drama, Roger (A Busker) written in 1979 and part of the repertoire of the Causes Theatre Company during the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons.From 1982-1984 he was principal songwriter and singer with The Delegation, a south London Blues and Folk Rock trio, best known for the Oedipal "Journeyman" featuring lyrics written by Morse while undertaking his A Levels. Their other memorable song "Starfighters Hit Zero" written by Morse, is one of the first to address the dangers of computer gaming. [Volumes of Ralph G. Morse original songbooks covering material written for "Cause For Alarm", "Roger (A Busker)" and "The Delegation" (1972-1989)] Between 1984 and 2003 Morse performed variously as a solo artist, part of a duo or as band member. One of these incarnations, "The Coven Club" took it's name from an article on Morse that appeared in an educational journal. [English Times Educational Supplement - "The Coven Club" (2000)- Does not name Morse directly and describes him as a geography teacher but by designation he is the subject of the article.] From 2003, when he became actively involved with country music, Morse has performed both as "Outlaw" and "Johnny Cashbox", occasionally under both guises at the same venue. [ Volumes of original Ralph G. Morse songs (including material written for "Howling Mad Morse", "Chaos '64", "Apollo-Dionysus", "The Coven Club" and "Polarity" (1989-200)"Outlaw" and Johnny Cashbox (2003 to date)]

Who is Leonard Jones?

From 2003 Morse has been actively involved as a performer and writer within the retired community and following negotiations with various agencies and interest groups has written a one-man comedy, with incidental songs by Johnny Cashbox, entitled "Who is Leonard Jones?" Produced in association with Age Concern, Colchester the work uses the comic form to address a number of issues that impact on that generation. The drama is set in two periods of recent history. The first, set in 1997, when he is 75 years of age, explores loss and loneliness. The second, set in 2007, paints a positive image of an elderly man who proves he still make a difference by becoming a public rights champion. Morse explains,

"I want to create an accessible piece of theatre that will address some serious issues but in an entertaining and engaging manner. Leonard Jones has a number of obstacles to overcome but he does so with courage, determination and great humour" [Interview with journalist Robert Williams on 22nd June 2007 and quoted in press releases to local media in Essex, England ]

"Who Is Leonard Jones?" employs sparse staging in order that the production can transfer easily to clubs, day centres, schools and other venues with little or no technical equipment. [ Annotated script of "Who Is Leonard Jones" by Ralph G. Morse copyright 2007; Age Concern play press release; demos of original production songs recorded by Johnny Cashbox September 2007 ] The play premiered at the Headgate Theatre, Colchester on 16th November 2007. [ Headgate Theatre Website, Colchester Gazette and Essex Newspapers articles November 2007, Official programme and production notes published by Age Concern, Colchester 16th November 2007] [http://www.Ralphmorse.com/Who_Is_Leonard_Jones.html] [ Robert Williams' interview with Dr Ralph Morse held in the grounds of Colchester Castle 22nd June 2007] In January 2008 Morse started redrafting the play for recording as an audio CD/radio broadcast [Dr Ralph Morse's 4th and 5th Revision notes for "Who Is Leonard Jones?" January 2008] Morse's skills are now almost entirely dedicated to the charity, retired and voluntary sctors and he is currently researching a project on dementia [www.Ralphmorse.com/Echoes.html]

ources and references

External links

* [http://www.ralphmorse.com/ Dr Ralph Morse website]
*
* [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsM/morse-ralph.html/Dr Ralph Morse plays at Doollee.com]
* [http://www.paganfed.org/ Pagan Federation]
* [http://www.forf.org/index2.html/ The Foundation For Religious Freedom article entitled "Pagan teacher to be disciplined by school" (04.16.2000)]
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_2000601/ai_n14317754/ Further media commentary - Entitled "Tales Out Of School Independent"]
* [http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus%5Carchive%5CFor20000825b.html CNS Foreign News]
* [http://www.ageconcerncolchester.org.uk/ Age Concern Colchester website]