Ben Carruthers’ Next Chapter at Potters
For many guests at Potters Resorts, Ben Carruthers is a familiar face. He’s a performer whose voice, energy and warmth have lit up stages and made countless evenings unforgettable. From his early days with the Potters Theatre Company to leading roles in major international productions, Ben’s journey has been shaped by passion, professionalism and an unmistakable love for live entertainment.
And from April, you can enjoy Ben’s talents within his exciting new chapter. One that brings him back to Potters in fresh and creative ways. As the driving force behind An Evening With at Hopton-on-Sea and a performer with Triptonic at Five Lakes, Ben is once again helping to shape the soundtrack of midweek breaks, this time from both behind the scenes and centre stage.
A Northern Soul
Ben’s story begins in Manchester, where he grew up surrounded by music and performance. His talent led him to Pendleton Performing Arts College, a renowned training ground for young performers.
“You’ll find that many successful performers from the north have all been to the same place,” he says. “It sets you up in such a good way at such a young age. It teaches you discipline and theatre etiquette before you even get to drama school.”
From there, Ben progressed to the Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 2014 and stepping straight into professional work.
“I was one of the lucky ones,” he reflects. “I went straight into work and never really stopped.”
In at the Deep End
That first role was nothing short of a baptism of fire — touring the UK in Wicked.
“It was a real eye-opener,” Ben says. “Drama school is amazing, but I learned so much more in those first six months.”
Eight shows a week, life on the road, adapting to different theatres and learning how to protect his voice and body became his real education.
“You learn how not to get tired, how to conduct yourself, how to work among professionals. And you get used to tour life. Every place we stopped at — some for a number of weeks — became a mini-home.”
Following Wicked, Ben appeared in panto at the famous Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury and soon became involved with Frankie’s Guys, produced by another former Potters favourite David Griego — a connection that would prove pivotal.
“I hadn’t even heard of Potters at that point,” Ben admits. “David just felt I’d be a great fit.”
A Potters Love Story
In January 2016, Ben stepped through the doors at Hopton-on-Sea for the first time and made a quick impression. Offered the chance to observe, he surprised everyone by getting straight on stage having learned his parts well in advance. He got mic’d up and was ready to perform in the role of Danny from Grease within the Potters Theatre Company production Theatreland. But little did he know that his first day at Potters would change his life forever.
“The date was January 14th, 2016” he recalls. “It was the day I met my now-wife Elly for the first time. She was playing Sandy. In a strange twist of fate, it’s also her birthday — but I probably wasn’t the present she was expecting!”
Their on-stage romance quickly became a real-life one, and Potters became woven into both their personal and professional lives. Although his initial stint was short due to panto commitments, Ben soon landed one of the biggest roles of his career — Greaseball in Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany.
“It was huge over there,” he says. “Like a fever dream.”
For three and a half years, he performed in the show’s spiritual home, working closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber and experiencing theatre on an extraordinary scale.
“It was intense, amazing, and exciting.”
An Unexpected Pause
Then, in March 2020, everything stopped. From Ben’s perspective: “We were called into a meeting and told the show was closing immediately.”
Ben returned to the UK and spent lockdown with his parents, while Elly was stranded on a cruise ship halfway across the world. “As with most people, we thought it would be two or three weeks, but four months later we were back together, clearing out my apartment in Germany. It was a very strange time.”
With theatres closed and work scarce, the future was uncertain. That was until spring 2021. “We’d both maintained a great relationship with Potters, and Elly still had close friends on the creative side.” And it was during a typical conversation amongst friends that Elly was told the Potters Theatre Company were ‘looking for someone just like Ben’.
“I remember Elly just replied, ‘What if you could have Ben?’ I was straight on the phone and within 5 minutes it was a done deal. I returned in March 2021 and went straight into rehearsals for Celebration.”
A New Balance
Almost five years on, and another important chapter with the Potters Theatre Company under his belt, Ben made the decision to step away from full-time life with the PTC in the autumn of 2025 to explore new opportunities.
Now a father to two young sons, aged four and two, priorities had shifted, as he explains: “I adore being a dad. It fills every part of me. These new opportunities give me time with them.”
But leaving the PTC didn’t mean walking away from Potters. Far from it, in fact. Because, while Ben has enjoyed more flexible roles on cruise ships and theatres of late, a close relationship with Potters Resorts Creative Producer, Roxy Yarnold, has led to a fresh opportunity behind the curtain.
Getting the Creative Juices Flowing
“Roxy and I have always spoken about producing a midweek show for adult only breaks at Hopton-on-Sea, with some of the resort’s most familiar faces. And around autumn last year, the time finally came.”
Ben is now producing a new Midweek Break show with an experienced cast at Hopton-on-SeaAfter months of planning, chops, changes, setlists and now rehearsals, Wednesday night audiences in The Atlas Theatre will be privy to a brand-new show from mid-April, produced exclusively by Ben. An Evening With brings together much-loved performers including Sion Hathway, Aaron Bolton, Rachel Baade, Brian Graves and James R Hearn.
“It breaks down barriers,” Ben explains. “It’s warm and approachable. They’re chatting to you, but also showing what their voices can do.”
Produced by Ben, who’ll also step in as cover, the show spans genres and generations. “There’s jazz and swing, a Drifters medley, showstoppers, musical theatre… it’s everything our audience enjoys and tells us they want. But there are also a few gambles. There are numbers I don’t think have ever been done here before.”
Importantly, the show is designed to be unique, and evolve.
“We don’t get previews, so it will naturally grow. The humour, the character, the connections — that’s all part of the fun.”
The result is an intimate, relaxed evening that feels personal, familiar and fresh. But for those of you who still love to see Ben on stage, that’s not all he’s been up to!
From Producer to Performer
While Ben the producer takes centre stage at Hopton-on-Sea, Ben the performer heads to Five Lakes on Tuesdays as part of Triptonic.
“Since stepping away from the PTC, I’ve been performing on cruise ships and doing gigs — one of which is Triptonic. And I can’t wait to get to Five Lakes for the first time and perform in The Glade Theatre.”
When it comes to live entertainment that blends musical precision with feel-good familiarity, Triptonic has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most engaging vocal trios. Known for their dynamic stage presence, tight harmonies and carefully curated repertoire, they deliver performances that are polished, uplifting and consistently crowd-pleasing.
Ben is no stranger to the stage at Hopton-on-Sea, but this spring will mark his first appearances at Five LakesAt the heart of the Triptonic experience is a fresh approach to songs audiences already know and love. Drawing on iconic pop hits and classic favourites, their shows are built around rich vocal arrangements and distinctive reinterpretations, allowing familiar melodies to feel revitalised while retaining their original charm. The result is a sound that balances nostalgia with contemporary energy — instantly recognisable, yet never routine.
“I started working with the guys last year. So when conversations were being had with Five Lakes about performing there in 2026, I couldn’t wait,” Ben says. “They’ve appeared on cruise ships across the world since 2018, including with P&O, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and MSC Cruises, so Triptonic has an international following.
“The shows always feel relaxed and effortlessly entertaining. We aim to make a real connection with the audience, whether you’re in the mood to sing along, sit back with a drink, or simply enjoy exceptional vocal performances. It offers something for everyone.”
Ben (centre) appearing in Simply the Best in 2025Still Part of the Family
Ben’s journey — from Manchester to Germany, from Grease to Greaseball, from leading man to creative lead — reflects the adaptability and dedication that has defined his career.
And now, these varied roles feel like the perfect balance. “I get to create, perform, and still be part of Potters — just in a different way.”
For guests, Ben’s shift means something special. Because from April onwards, midweek breaks at both resorts will carry Ben’s unmistakable influence — whether through the warmth of An Evening With… or the harmony-driven energy of Triptonic.
And as spring arrives, Ben’s story continues to unfold, bringing fresh ideas, new shows and renewed creativity.
“I know the Potters audience,” he says. “They’ve supported me for years. I want to give them something that feels honest, exciting, and full of heart.”
One thing is certain, ten years on from his first day as Danny when he met his very own Sandy: Ben Carruthers remains very much part of the Potters story, and we hope for many more years to come.
‘An Evening With’ launches on 4-Night Midweek Breaks from Wednesday 15th April at Hopton-on-Sea, while Ben performs with ‘Triptonic’ at Five Lakes on 4-Night Midweek Breaks from Tuesday 7th April.
