Ralph G. Morse

Graduated from Rose Bruford College in 1977. Artistic Director of "Causes" Theatre Company from 1979-1981, playing the title role in King Lear when he was only twenty-five. For his performances as Lear and as Billy Fisher in Billy Liar he won the Theatre Associates' Best Actor award for 1980. He worked exclusively in educational drama from 1989-2003 and is the author of "The Ghost Dance", "Malleus Maleficarum" and the "Bridging Zone"; dramas written specifically to explore the performance styles of Artaud, Stanislavski and Craig. Ralph has a PhD and regularly speaks at seminars on the relationship between religion, theatre and ritual in the ancient world. Since 2003 has performed as country and western tribute artist Johnny Cashbox. In November 2007 Ralph's one man comedy-drama "Who Is Leonard Jones?" produced in association with Age Concern, premiered at the Headgate Theatre Colchester with narrative songs written and performed by his alter ego Johnny Cashbox. His role as stormtroopers in both "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" has influenced his songwriting, particularly "Starfighters Hit Zero" and "Am I All That Is Left Of An Empire". "I Shot A ... Jedi" is one of Morse's most recent explorations on the theme and forms the basis for his latest acting and writing project, a musical scheduled for completion by the end of 2016. In August 2010, under the name of Apollo-Dionysus, along with fellow ex-"Coven Club" member Les Mason, Ralph formed "TheDragonflyRising" which frames Morse's esoteric, Sci-Fi related and socio-political lyrics in a more traditional rock 'n' roll setting. In 2014 the band started performing occasional gigs of Lou Reed and Velvet Underground covers as "The Pelmet Overload." Following increasing interest from Sci-Fi fans, Morse formed a dedicated function band "Johnny Cashbox, Universal Superstar and The Renegades From Quark" specifically for conventions, fund-raisers and other related events.