Ralph Morse (actor)

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

Biography

Born in Colchester, Essex, England, 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

Ralph Morse as King Lear for "Causes Theatre Company" (Theatre Associates Best Actor 1980)

After graduating in 1977 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. 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.

He has appeared on the West End stage as Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar 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 The Empire Strikes Back.

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, has written and directed local community based projects, 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. 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.

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 atttracted much media interest. 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. This resulted in Morse becoming a cause celebre.. 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. Since gaining his PhD (dissertation jurie dignitatis) 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.

MusicAL Incarnations

Although probably best known to audiences in Southern England through his performances as country and western tribute artist Johnny Cashbox Morse has played music publicly since the mid-seventies.1

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. 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. 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.

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 postive 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"

"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. The play premiered at the Headgate Theatre, Colchester on 16th November 2007.2