Biographies
James Cundall
Chief Executive
English-born James Cundall has enjoyed a unique career spanning three decades, three continents and three rather different occupations.
Originally qualifying as a chartered surveyor and working for the family firm of estate agents and auctioneers, Cundalls, in North Yorkshire, James then moved to London to pursue a career in finance. He worked in the finance industry for 12 years as Director and Acting Managing Director of the Private Client Business of Global Asset Management (GAM) in London and Hong Kong, and later as Chief Executive of the Asian/Japanese business of Rothschild Asset Management, running offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
Concurrent with his career in finance, in 1992 James founded Lunchbox Theatrical Productions in Hong Kong, with a group of like-minded businessmen who met during their lunch hour. Over the next six years Lunchbox Theatrical Productions created a reputation for presenting quality international productions in Hong Kong, with shows such as Les Miserables, South Pacific, Barnum, The New Rocky Horror Show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, as well as the acclaimed Alegria from Cirque du Soleil.
From 1998 the company expanded its reach to Singapore, bringing David Helfgott in recital and the boutique show Stomp to a new audience.
In 1999, James temporarily put Lunchbox Theatrical Productions on the shelf and moved to Sydney to take up the role of Director of Arts and Entertainment for Australasia, with IMG. He was responsible for over 30 productions in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia during his four years with IMG, including major musicals Chicago, Singin’ In The Rain, Cabaret, Oliver, Miss Saigon, Fame and Cats; shows such as Riverdance, Slava’s Snowshow, Tap Dogs and Jamie Oliver the Naked Chef; and concerts by Andrea Bocelli, Shirley Bassey, The Hollies, Kiri te Kanawa, Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming, and the Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
In 2003 James joined International Concert Attractions (ICA), the only publicly listed live entertainment company in Australia, as Joint Managing Director. ICA productions included The Blue Room, Hi-5, The Hollow Crown starring Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Donald Sinden, Scaramouche Jones starring Pete Postlethwaite, Clive James, Pam Ayres, The Soweto Gospel Choir and Umoja. During James’ tenure, ICA expanded its portfolio to include ice shows, major exhibitions and musicals, such as The Nutcracker On Ice, The Sydney and Melbourne Affordable Art Shows, The Full Monty and Saturday Night Fever.
James Cundall returned to the UK in 2004 to re-establish Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which now has subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
He also established The Imperial Ice Stars with fellow producer Tony Mercer, widely regarded as the world’s leading creator of theatre on ice shows. This internationally renowned skating troupe has toured The Sleeping Beauty on Ice (2004-6) and Swan Lake on Ice (2006-8) to such countries as Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Finland, Monaco, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, South Africa, Canada and the UK.
Since 2004 Lunchbox Theatrical Productions has also produced The Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ennio Marchetto, Stomp, Jamie Oliver, Lesley Garrett, Anthony Warlow, Elaine Paige, Raise the Red Lantern by the Chinese National Ballet, Hale and Pace, Roy Chubby Brown, Clive James, The Woman in Black, Circus Oz, Grumpy Old Women, Stuff Happens by David Hare, and The Ice Factor – an open-air Christmas ice rink in York (UK).
Productions for 2008/09 include a return UK tour of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, including performances at some of England’s finest stately homes in the specially created Imperial Ice Stars Tented Palace, and a Christmas season at The Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park. The Imperial Ice Stars’ brand new production Cinderella on Ice will premier in New Zealand and Australia in 2008 before embarking on a two year world tour. Other productions for 2008 include We Will Rock You in Singapore and Hong Kong, Barney the Dinosaur in Singapore and Hong Kong, Abbamania in Singapore, and The Ice Factor.