Born in Lichfield, Richard trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music, graduating from Birmingham University in Mathematics and Music.

Richard loves the Viennese Operetta repertoire and is ecstatic to be back with Theatre Productions for their latest Viennese Strauss Gala tour.  His love of operetta also includes the great works of Gilbert & Sullivan and has recently become a successful recording artist with Sony BMG performing with The Gala Ensemble on their first album The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan.  Recently seen on BBC Breakfast and the Alan Titchmarch Show, the group are soon to perform for ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ before embarking on an International tour.

Richard’s first love has always been the stage having recently finished performing one of the leading roles with The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket.  Prior to the Phantom, he was in the award winning West End production of Kiss Me, Kate (Victoria Palace Theatre) winning the London Evening Standard Theatre Award, and 2001 Critics‘ Circle Theatre Award for “Best Musical”.  Covering the roles of the two male leads: Fred/Petruchio and General Harrison Howell whilst singing with the ensemble as The Haberdasher and front half of the donkey!

His other theatre credits include Jean Michel in La Cage aux Folles (Wimbledon Theatre), Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, The Poet in Kismet, Lieutenant Joseph Cable in South Pacific, Curly in Oklahoma, Nanki Poo in Hot Mikado, Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, Pong in Puccini’s Turandot, Count de Rosillon in The Merry Widow, Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls, The Russian in Chess and Jesus in a post apocalyptic version of Godspell.  Richard has just completed his first season in pantomime as the “dashing Prince Rupert, flashing his legs in thigh skimming tunics” for Snow White in Chesterfield.

Before his West End debut, Richard was no stranger to opera and enjoys performing oratorio and other classical and church music.  He has appeared with Bel Canto Opera, Surrey Opera and regularly sings for Choral and Operatic Societies nationwide.  His concert appearances are numerous including tenor soloist for Handel’s Messiah, Hadyn’s Creation, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, St Matthew and St John Passions, Mozart’s Requiem and C Minor Mass, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and Mass in C, Verdi’s Requiem, Elgar’s Spirit of England, Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Petit Messe Solennelle.  He performs regularly in Concert Halls and Theatres across Europe as principal soloist for a number of touring shows including West End Showtime, Masters of the House and of course A Viennese Strauss Gala whilst entertaining thousands of guests around the world with stunning Corporate Entertainment performances of popular Opera, Swing and Musical Theatre favourites.

In addition to The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan, Richard can also be heard as tenor soloist on several classical CD collections and is currently recording a solo album due for release in 2009 to include his classical repertoire as well as a West End to Broadway collection.  For more details, including forthcoming concerts please refer to www.sidawayuk.com.