Mark Dougherty (1965 – 2020) – was the Musical Director of Riverdance – the World Tour and the creator of dozens of original pantos; he played with artists as diverse as Van Morrison and the Ulster Orchestra. We first knew him in East Kent as the Composer/ MD of Promised Land, the much acclaimed community opera staged at The Marlowe in 2006. So inspired were the local cast that an all-inclusive community opera company was created: The Really Promising Company.

Mark worked with the company on two further projects and the Company has endeavoured since to write and perform works with Kentish connections.