Joanna Forest

Joanna Forest is a British Classical Crossover Soprano.

Joanna trained at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. After completing the Junior School course, where she won the junior school singing prize, she went on to attend the 3 year Performing Arts Course.

Singing

Considered one of the most talented upcoming sopranos performing today, Joanna has performed extensively in venues across the UK and London showcasing her unique voice.

In 2014, Joanna performed at “Busting to Sing” in the West End in aid of breast cancer awareness charity, CoppaFeel!. She appeared alongside Joe McElderry, Kingsland Road, Rhydian Roberts, Shayne Ward and duetted with Paul Potts singing "Point of No Return".

Joanna now regularly performs live in established venues across the UK, not only with her own solo shows but also at large sporting events, awards ceremonies and charity shows.

Following a performance of O Holy Night at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, her studio version of the song was released on a Christmas compilation album in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

Joanna's debut album, Stars Are Rising, which was recorded with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Arts Symphonic Orchestra is due for release on March 10th, 2017.

Theatre

Prior to launching her career as a Classical Crossover Soprano, Joanna spent many years performing both on stage and on television. Joanna made her West End debut at the age of 13, creating the role of Collette in “Bernadette The Musical”, which ran at the Dominion Theatre. She would perform again at the Dominion several more times appearing in the Royal Variety Performance which was televised for the BBC.

Joanna’s next West End appearance was at the Strand Theatre, (now renamed Novello Theatre), where she created the role of Charlotte in the play “The Weekend”, Written by Michael Palin and also starring Richard Wilson, it was produced by Robert Fox and David Pugh Associates, and directed by Robin Lefevre.

Joanna played a lead role in the Bill Kenwright production of Dr. Dolittle the musical in 2008/2009, performing alongside Tommy Steele. Playing the character, Tommy Stubbins. This production was directed by Bob Tomson and Karen Bruce.

She has also appeared in England’s oldest theatre, The Margate Theatre Royal in their summer rep seasons 2005/2006 playing Gloria, in Frederick Knot’s thriller “Wait until Dark”, Louise in “Private Lives” by Noël Coward, Kelly Butcher in “Game Plan” by Alan Ayckbourn and Edith in another Coward, “Blithe Spirit”.

Peter Pan

Joanna has played Wendy Darling in Peter Pan in venues such as The Mayflower, Southampton; The Grand Opera House, Belfast; The New Theatre, Cardiff; Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe; The Nottingham Theatre Royal; The Theatre Royal, Newcastle; The New Victoria Theatre, Woking; and The Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, performing alongside Shane Ritchie, Steve McFadden, Joe Pasquale, Paul Nicholas, Leslie Grantham amongst others.

Television and Film

Television work includes, “The Upper Hand” Central Television playing Katie for several episodes directed by Martin Dennis and starring Joe McGann, a series regular for “Think About Science” for BBC Schools playing Jenny, directed by Adrian Hedley, and Karen in ‘Agony’, Live TV’s Daily Soap.

Joanna can also be seen in commercials for the ‘Yorkie...it’s not for girls!’ campaign. Other advert work: Honeycomb Cereal, Kool Aid Drink, and “Rule Bet” arcade game.

In 2011 she played the role of Nettle in the feature film, "Crab Island".

Voiceover

Able to provide vocal ranges from 5 years old to adult, she has voiced Fisher Price Toys - the talking calculator, “The Calcubot”, and the reading aid “The Alphabet Buddie”. More Voice over work includes, Boots, Marmite and Quality Street, adverts, voicing Sonya, in the animated cartoon “Mad Sonya”, and the voice of Mother in the audio book, “William’s War”.

At the age of just 21, after training at Italia Conti, Joanna was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is considered one of the youngest ever sufferers of the disease and since making a full recovery has dedicated much of her time to the charity CoppaFeel! of which she is one of their “Boobette” ambassadors.

In April 2016, Joanna married James Selby at the Crazy Bear Hotel in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire.

• Stars Are Rising (2017)