Article provided by Rick Stoker

Shaun Cram is an imported Geordie with a fine, Operatic Tenor voice.  

As a teenager, he worked in a department store - it was all very Are You Being Served?

His colleagues were very much like Captain Peacock and Mrs Slocomb, and it was all very hierarchical. 

This was followed by employment in the hospitality industry wherein he trained in hotel management and as a Chef

"It was a natural progression,” Shaun affirmed.  

It was some time after that when his mother faced a cancer diagnosis, and so Shaun left his job and nursed her at home while studying English language, literature and drama, at night school.  

Despite his care and loving attention, his mother passed away.

Shaun had worked so hard to provide her with care that the District Nurse suggested he take up nursing as a profession.  

Shaun took this advice and studied nursing in local hospitals in South Shields and attended the School of Nursing in Gateshead.  

He qualified and worked at the hospitals in which he trained.  

“It was all a big happy family,” Shaun said.

For the next 16 years in the British public health system, he rose through the ranks to great heights.   

Heading into his 40th year, he considered his career options including training as a Midwife.  

He also considered training formally as an actor, having caught the bug at aged 10, when he made his stage debut at school, playing Joseph in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. 

Shaun auditioned at a London Drama School and won a place, so Midwifery lost out and he studied at the prestigious ALRA (Academy of Live and Recording Arts), and graduated in 2002.

He trained in acting for Radio, Television, Film and Theatre, also studying singing with a leading Conductor and Concert Pianist from the London Opera School and RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts).   

In 2004, he decided to emigrate, and so left the cold British weather behind in favour of Far North Queensland's sunshine and heat.

Given his extensive experience, Mr Cram was immediately employed at Mossman Hospital and in 2006 rose to the newly created position of Nurse Educator.

Since 2006, Shaun has appeared in many productions at The Clink Theatre.  

He has played multiple roles in productions such as: Jemmy Green in Australia, The Sins of Ellen Thompson, Too Good To Be True, Mano Nera, The Big Men Fly and ART. 

Shaun also produced Max & Diana of the Nautilus, for director Jack Heywood.

Shaun appeared as Detective Fisher in the feature film Throwback, which was filmed in Cairns.  His latest appearance on stage was in The Cairn’s Choral Society production of The Phantom of the Opera.

He will appear in the Clink’s up and coming musical Annie the Musical.  

Fear not, good people of Mossman and Port Douglas; although the talented Mr Cram has received nine stage offers elsewhere, he’s assured the writer that he won’t forsake his patients at the hospital or his fans at the Clink, and is planning to remain here for the foreseeable future.