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Son of television, stage and radio's George Martin, the Casual Comedian, Ray's earliest days were spent backstage in theatres - The Windmill; the Palladium and touring with the 'Mister Pastry Show' and the 'Billy Cotton Band Show' and appeared as a small Buttons in the finale of 'Cinderella'. Ray was lead singer/musician in a group 'No Money Down' whilst in his teens. He briefly attended Mountview Theatre School and co-wrote the 'Basil Brush' series for the Daily Sketch with his father. At the instigation of uncle Bill Martin (Past Scribe Rat) he started at Butlins holiday camps as a redcoat, then as Entertainments Admin. Manager and Asst. Entertainments Manager and later as compere at Skegness. He worked in entertainments for P.& O. Cruises, appearing once at the Red Garter on Broadway, San Francisco, and in cabaret and production in Tunisia.
Later there were regular bills with the Players Theatre Company in London's West End and Ray also appeared in farce at the Duchess Theatre in the West End. He was a member of the actors company at the Museum Of The Moving Image. He fronted his own touring productions of 'The Canterbury Tales' several times and performed in and wrote much of the small intimate revue 'Body Language'. There was a lead role in 'Power Of The Cross' at The Swan, High Wycombe.
There have been TV parts in 'Lettie'; 'All The World's A Stage'; 'Whatever Next'; 'Crimewatch'; 'Treasure Houses'; 'The Bretts'; 'The Bill'; Big Brother in 'The Spin'; 'Crime Stoppers'; Jacobs in 'The Perfectionist'; and Alec Guinness in 'Ghostbusters Of East Finchley'.
Ray appeared on the last series of 'Opportunity Knocks' - with Les Dawson as host - as bizarre singer/comedian Maximillian Jorge Starr (and came third); and on 'Sky Star Search' (scored 98 out of 100 and still only came 2nd). He wrote regularly for television comedy and credits include The Two Ronnies; Spitting Image; Rory Bremner; Little & Large; Three Of A Kind; Fast Forward; Jimmy Cricket; The Satellite Show; the Lenny Henry Show and comedy for German television. His musical 'Big Black Book Of Nightmares' was performed by an Arts Centre company. He has acted for roleplay training courses and training films for many years.
Ray currently works regularly in music and leads his own theme bands, playing at Rochester Dickens Festivals; Chatham Navy Days; the Edinburgh Festival Of The Sea; the 'Will Adams' & Whitstable Oyster Festivals; Tolpuddle Festivals; various ferry lines; and he has provided 'Pickle Night' Trafalgar celebrations for RN Fleet HQ for a number of years. He works solo as a singer musician performing nostalgia material. He is also well known at clubs and festivals as a singer/songwriter with a strong comedy base.
Ray Martin
Past Test Rat
Son of television, stage and radio's George Martin, the Casual Comedian, Ray's earliest days were spent backstage in theatres - The Windmill; the Palladium and touring with the 'Mister Pastry Show' and the 'Billy Cotton Band Show' and appeared as a small Buttons in the finale of 'Cinderella'. Ray was lead singer/musician in a group 'No Money Down' whilst in his teens. He briefly attended Mountview Theatre School and co-wrote the 'Basil Brush' series for the Daily Sketch with his father. At the instigation of uncle Bill Martin (Past Scribe Rat) he started at Butlins holiday camps as a redcoat, then as Entertainments Admin. Manager and Asst. Entertainments Manager and later as compere at Skegness. He worked in entertainments for P.& O. Cruises, appearing once at the Red Garter on Broadway, San Francisco, and in cabaret and production in Tunisia.
Later there were regular bills with the Players Theatre Company in London's West End and Ray also appeared in farce at the Duchess Theatre in the West End. He was a member of the actors company at the Museum Of The Moving Image. He fronted his own touring productions of 'The Canterbury Tales' several times and performed in and wrote much of the small intimate revue 'Body Language'. There was a lead role in 'Power Of The Cross' at The Swan, High Wycombe.
There have been TV parts in 'Lettie'; 'All The World's A Stage'; 'Whatever Next'; 'Crimewatch'; 'Treasure Houses'; 'The Bretts'; 'The Bill'; Big Brother in 'The Spin'; 'Crime Stoppers'; Jacobs in 'The Perfectionist'; and Alec Guinness in 'Ghostbusters Of East Finchley'.
Ray appeared on the last series of 'Opportunity Knocks' - with Les Dawson as host - as bizarre singer/comedian Maximillian Jorge Starr (and came third); and on 'Sky Star Search' (scored 98 out of 100 and still only came 2nd). He wrote regularly for television comedy and credits include The Two Ronnies; Spitting Image; Rory Bremner; Little & Large; Three Of A Kind; Fast Forward; Jimmy Cricket; The Satellite Show; the Lenny Henry Show and comedy for German television. His musical 'Big Black Book Of Nightmares' was performed by an Arts Centre company. He has acted for roleplay training courses and training films for many years.
Ray currently works regularly in music and leads his own theme bands, playing at Rochester Dickens Festivals; Chatham Navy Days; the Edinburgh Festival Of The Sea; the 'Will Adams' & Whitstable Oyster Festivals; Tolpuddle Festivals; various ferry lines; and he has provided 'Pickle Night' Trafalgar celebrations for RN Fleet HQ for a number of years. He works solo as a singer musician performing nostalgia material. He is also well known at clubs and festivals as a singer/songwriter with a strong comedy base.