Dramatis
| Company type | Group or band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | early 1980s |
| Founder | Chris Payne, Russell Bell, Cedric Sharpley, Denis Haines |
| Defunct | 1982 (initial split) |
| Fate | Split in 1982; reunion planned in 2012 cancelled; active again in 2019 |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Chris Payne, Russell Bell, Cedric Sharpley, Denis Haines |
| Products | Albums, singles |
Dramatis is an English synth-pop group established in the early 1980s, consisting of Chris Payne (vocals, keyboards), Russell Bell (guitars, keyboards), Cedric Sharpley (drums), and Denis Haines (keyboards). All members previously played in Gary Numan's backing ensemble. The formation of Dramatis occurred after Numan temporarily ceased touring in April 1981.
Before their split in 1982, the band issued one album and seven singles. Among these, two singles entered the UK Singles Chart: the 1981 collaboration with Numan titled "Love Needs No Disguise" reaching No. 33, and the 1982 release "I Can See Her Now," which peaked at No. 57.
A reunion planned for 2012 was called off due to Cedric Sharpley's unexpected death from a heart attack on 13 March 2012.
In 2019, Chris Payne and Russell Bell revealed plans for a second Dramatis album alongside the release of a new single named "The Torment of Angels."
Studio albums
| Year | Album title |
|---|---|
| 1981 | For Future Reference
(also referred to as The Dramatis Project)
|
Singles
| Year | Title | UK chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Ex Luna Scientia" | — | For Future Reference |
| "Oh! Twenty Twenty Five" | — | ||
| "No-One Lives Forever" | — | ||
| "Love Needs No Disguise" (featuring Gary Numan) |
33 | ||
| 1982 | "Face on the Wall" | — | Non-album singles |
| "The Shame" | — | ||
| "I Can See Her Now" | 57 | ||
| 2020 | "A Torment of Angels" | — |
Album appearances
| Year | Artist | Album | UK chart position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Gary Numan | New Man Numan - The Best of Gary Numan | 45 | Includes "Love Needs No Disguise" compilation appearances |
| 1987 | Exhibition | 43 | ||
| 1990 | Asylum 2 (Japan exclusive) | — | ||
| 1993 | Best of Gary Numan 1978-83 | 70 | ||
| 1996 | The Premier Hits | 21 | ||
| 2002 | Exposure | 44 | ||
| 2012 | Machine Music Live | — | "Love Needs No Disguise" was performed live by the original Dramatis lineup minus Cedric Sharpley, who had died earlier that year; the performance was dedicated to his memory. |