Author: Eamonn

Autumn Theatre

Posted on | by Eamonn

Stage

200914-Six-SquareJodie McNee and Hermione Gulliford join the cast of Tena Štivičić’s Three Winters at The National Theatre this Autumn. The play directed by Howard Davies for the Lyttleton is a portrait of an eclectic Croatian family, held together by the courage to survive. In the Olivier Theatre, Daniel Coonan will play Black Dog in Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of the classic tale Treasure Island directed by Polly Findlay. Also for The National Theatre Geraldine Alexander will play Siobhan in The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time as they take the highly acclaimed show on tour for the first time. Matt Rawle, meanwhile, will play besotted stowaway Billy Crocker in Cole Porter musical Anything Goes at Sheffield Crucible and UK Tour with Daniel Evans directing. Also at The Crucible, Colm Gormley joins Jonathan Mumby’s cast of Twelfth Night playing from the end of September. Vincenzo Nicoli joins the cast of Rupert Goold’s The Merchant of Venice a new revival of his highly acclaimed 2011 production for The Almeida. Dan Rabin plays Richardetto in Tis Pity She’s a Whore with Michael Longhurst directing for The Globe’s Sam Wannamaker Playhouse. Geoff Leesley will play Richard in Atiha Sen Gupta’s State Red directed by Douglas Rintoul for Hampstead Downstairs whilst Jay Simpson opens in The Witch of Edmonton, playing Dog, the devil, opposite Eilieen Atkins at the RSC, Stratford. Alex Blake and Thomas Coombes are both cast in Alan Bennett’s award winning double bill Single Spies, directed by Sarah Esdaile at The Rose Theatre Kingston. Jude Monk McGowan joins the cast of A Farewell to Arms by acclaimed theatre makers Imitating The Dog playing Fredrick Henry in an original adaptation of Hemingway’s First World War novel . Christopher Harper plays Sean in two hander Slipping at The Stephen Joseph Theatre, directed by Henry Bell.

Ferdy Roberts (Shakespeare in Love), Tafline Steen (King Charles III), Scott Karim (Great Britain), Tom Edden (Les Misérables) and Richard Dempsey (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) all continue their successful west end runs whilst Gavin Spokes continues to lead the National Theatre’s One Man 2 Guvnors on its UK tour.

Autumn Screen

Posted on | by Eamonn

Cinema

Lisa Palfrey plays Maureen in PRIDE Matthew Warchus’s cinematic directorial debut based on a true story of the lesbian and gay communities’ unlikely allegiance with the striking miners of the Welsh valleys in 1984. A brilliant ensemble cast makes this a must see film this Autumn. Released in UK cinemas on September 12th.

[jwplayer config=”Client-Showreel-Player” file=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFY0wHpR5o” image=”https://www.eamonnbedford.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PRIDE.jpg” html5_file=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFY0wHpR5o” width=”100%” height=”400px”]

200914-Four-SquareTom Edden plays painter CR Leslie in Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner biopic, already a big hit in Cannes, it’s released in the UK end of October. Catch Max Fowler in action crime thriller Rage opposite Nicolas Cage also released September. Jay Simpson plays ex-football hooligan Neil in The Guvnors, a violent thriller set amongst the clans and firms of South East London in UK cinemas now. Robert Hands features as the hospitals ‘Elegant Lady’ in Stonehearst Asylum. Based on an Edgar Allen Poe story the period horror film will be in UK cinemas from October 24.

 

Television

Our Zoo, the true story of the Mottershead family who established Chester Zoo in the 1930’s starts this week with Hayley Carmichael playing village shopkeeper Camilla Radler. The six part series is on BBC1, Wednesday’s at 9pm.
[jwplayer config=”Client-Showreel-Player” file=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GumbvZepgNU” image=”https://www.eamonnbedford.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Our-Zoo1.jpg” html5_file=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GumbvZepgNU” width=”100%” height=”400px”]

040914Kent Riley plays Cilla Black’s Brother-in-Law Kenny Willis in ITV’s much anticipated three part drama, Cilla screening late September. This month also sees Naomi Bentley playing regular Angie in Sky Living’s Mount Pleasant series 4. Thomas Coombes and Benjamin Davies will appear in Suspects as the popular unscripted drama returns for a second series catch it on demand and on Channel 5 Wednesday nights from 10pm. Coming up Molly Logan and Farshid Rokey feature in Our Girl a new 5 part drama set against the backdrop of the British Army’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. And Ken Bones reprises his role as Melas in Atlantis, the BBC’s hugely popular drama, returning Saturday evenings.

Current Screen

Posted on | by Eamonn

Max Fowler will head to the States in September to begin shooting POWERS; the much anticipated superhero, crime-noir series produced by Sony Picture’s TV. Max will play disaffected teen Krispin Stockley in the series based on the graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. The first two episodes will be directed by Breaking Bad’s David Slade. Read more

Joe May has just completed filming Comedy Central’s pilot ‘I Live with Models’ written by triple BAFTA and EMMY winning writers Jon Foster and James Lamont. Joe now goes on to film season 4 of the ever popular Episodes with Matt Le Blanc.

310714NewsupdateCloser to home, Kent Riley plays Cilla Black’s brother-in-law Kenny in the ITV three part drama, CILLA. Written by Oscar nominated writer Jeff Pope and starring Sheridan Smith, the drama follows her rocky rise to fame in 1960’s Liverpool. Derek Hutchinson has been cast in the BBC/HBO adaptation of JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy directed by Jonny Campbell whilst Cosima Shaw plays Nurse Jenny Kirk in Sky One’s ground-breaking real-time medical drama Critical, Jed Mercurio’s 13 part series which focuses on the most life-threatening hour of a patient’s treatment. Ken Bones, meanwhile, is currently reprising his role as Melas, high priest and protector of Juliet Stevenson’s Oracle in the second series of Atlantis which also sees Tom Coombes join the cast as Creatias.

News & Reviews

Posted on | by Eamonn

Openings:

The critics have loved Shakespeare in Love, the stage version of the film which has opened in the West End. Charles Spencer (Telegraph) praised Ferdy Roberts’ “cracking performance as the ruthless moneyman Fennyman” whilst Billington ( Guardian), Hitchins (Evening Standard), and Neil (Express) all single out Ferdy’s performance in the brilliant ensemble that director Declan Donnellan has brought together. Tom Eames (Digital Spy) admits that amongst an excellent cast “a personal favourite is Ferdy Roberts as the money-hungry Fennyman, who finds himself taken in by the theatre bug after witnessing Shakespeare’s masterpiece”. Shakespeare in Love is now booking at The Noel Coward theatre.

Jodie McNee in Hobson's ChoiceJodie McNee has opened in Hobson’s Choice at Regent’s Park to some stunning notices. Michael Billington writes in The Guardian “Jodie McNee is excellent as Maggie, combining grit and determination with a hint of vulnerability”. Henry Hitchins (Evening Standard) agrees “Jodie McNee is tremendous as Maggie, capturing her spiky assertiveness and also the delicate humanity she carefully masks”. For Charles Spencer (Telegraph) “McNee, her nose as sharp as a pencil and with a manner that’s brusque to the point of outright rudeness, marvellously captures the character’s unstoppable determination.” “The show belongs to McNee” according to The Independent whilst Ian Shuttleworth (Financial Times) praises the modern reworking of Brighouse’s classic. “Herein lies the principal stroke of genius: that Nadia Fall and actor Jodie McNee have unobtrusively turned this from the story of Hobson..into a tale where the viewpoint character is Maggie. To pull this off without short-changing the comedy is a work of mastery.”

Hobson’s Choice continues at Regent’s Park until July 12.

Hermione Gulliford in HotelPolly Steinham’s Hotel has opened in The National’s Shed with Hermione Gulliford in the role of Vivienne. “Astonishingly raw, powerful and terrifying” says Charles Spencer (Telegraph) with “exceptional performances, Hermione Gulliford captures the simmering fury of the betrayed wife”. Time Out is in agreement “Gulliford is particularly good as a woman suspended somewhere between fury, exasperation and sympathy for her husband.” The Arts Desk too praises Steinham’s “brilliant new play.. sharply directed by Aberg and boasting an excellent cast with Gulliford’s “icily sarcastic Vivienne” singled out.

Hotel plays in The NATIONAL Theatre’s temporary space until Aug 2.

Jay Simpsons in Arden-of-FavershamIn Stratford, meanwhile, Jay Simpson’s performance as Black Will in The Arden of Faversham has impressed the critics. For Charles Spencer (The Telegraph), Jay Simpson and his partner provide “the most engaging performances…as Black Will and Shakebag, two hired hit-men of truly spectacular incompetence.” Letts (The Mail) praises Simpson’s “ dumbo slapstick villain” and Billington (Guardian) too enjoys his turn as a “bungling assassin”. BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Review enjoyed the fact that Black Will looked as if he had “tumbled out of a Cohen Brother’s movie” in this his debut RSC production.

The Arden of Faversham plays as part of The RSC’s Roaring Girl’s Season until October 2.

Graduates:

The Almedia’s critically acclaimed King Charles III has confirmed its West End transfer with Tafline Steen (Royal Scottish Conservatoire) returning in the role of Jess. Performances start at the Wyndham’s Theatre from September 2nd. Scott Karim (RADA) is in Great Britain, Richard Bean’s new satire about the phone hacking scandal, playing at The National until August 23rd. Royal Welsh College graduate Chris Gordon will play Romeo in Rachel O’Riordan’s Romeo and Juliet, her inaugural show as artistic director of Sherman Cymru. Molly Logan (RADA) will play Puck in The Globe’s touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which after, performances in London will visit China, Singapore and Russia. Jake Mitchell (also RADA)and Joel Gillman (Drama Centre) are working on Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis with director Laura Bowler whilst Jude Monk McGowan (also Drama Centre) will be playing Freddie in The Royal Duchess Superstore, a new play written by Jon O’Neill and directed by Kareena Johnson.

TV, Film & Theatre Updates

Posted on | by Eamonn

Film News

Hayley Carmichael will be working with director Matteo Garrone in his English language debut The Tale Of Tales – The Old Woman Who Was Skinned, a film based on the gruesome Neapolitan fairy tale of two sisters and starring Vincent Cassel and Salma Hayek. Rocky Marshall and Benjamin Davies meanwhile are due to begin shooting Remainder based on the book by Tom McCarthy and directed by Omer Fast for Tigerlily Films. Pride, Matthew Warchus’s film debut with Lisa Palfrey will premier at the Cannes Film Festival as the closing night film in the directors’ fortnight section. Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner featuring Tom Edden has officially been selected in competition at Cannes as has Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall featuring Colm Gormley.

TV Latest

Max Fowler joins the regular cast of Wolf Hall, the BBC’s much anticipated adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s prize winning novel directed by Peter Kosminsky and starring Mark Rylance and Damien Lewis. Rocky Marshall will join the third series of ITV’s Mr Selfridge as new regular DI Purkiss whilst Farshid Rokey films The BBC’s army drama Our Girl shooting in South Africa. Hermione Gulliford and Ferdy Roberts continue to film the third Foyles War film whilst Thomas Coombes makes a guest appearance in Atlantis the popular BBC drama directed by Justin Molotnikov. Ken Bones will be joining the cast in series 4 of ITV’s Scott and Bailey directed by Simon Delaney.

Watch out for more from Roger Sloman as funeral director Les Coker in Eastenders whilst Amy Marston can be seen playing Martha Hawkins in Channel 4’s Devil’s Whore sequel New Worlds available on catchup. Sarah Winman’s Undeniable is also available on ITV Player.

Congratulations to Joe Sims (Broadchurch) and Thomas Coombes (Him and Her The Wedding) which have been nominated for best drama series and TV comedy respectively at this year’s BAFTAs.

Theatre Update

180414 TheatreHermione Gulliford will be playing Vivienne in Hotel at The National Theatre’s Shed. The tropical thriller, a new play by Polly Stenham will be directed by Maria Aberg. Emma Handy will play Kristin in Chichester’s Minerva Studio Miss Julie a new version written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, directed by Jamie Glover. Tom Edden will be appearing as Monsieur Thénardier in Les Misérables the world famous musical, playing in the West End from June. Openings include Tafline Steen as Jess in King Charles III at The Almeida which has recieved five star reviews whilst Jay Simpson starts his RSC run in Stratford-Upon-Avon at the end of the month playing Black Will in The Arden of Faversham. Also Richard Teverson will be opening in How Many Miles To Babylon at The Lyric Belfast.

Spring News Update

Posted on | by Eamonn

We’re celebrating our two year anniversary this month with some exciting client announcements. Our latest news update proves the depth and versatility of our actors who are landing great roles in some of the best productions.

On Stage:

9th March BannersGavin Spokes will lead the cast in The National Theatre’s award winning comedy One Man 2 Guvnor’s. He will take on the brilliant leading role of Francis for the UK tour opening in Sheffield from May and continuing. Jodie Mc Nee will play Maggie in the classic Hobson’s Choice at Regents Park this summer with Nadia Fall directing. Also confirmed early summer, Ferdy Roberts will join the eagerly awaited stage premiere of the Oscar winning film Shakespeare in Love at The Noel Coward, Ferdy takes the role of Fennyman with Declan Donnellan directing. Richard Dempsey will also be returning to the West End as he joins the cast of Sam Mendes’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the role of Mr Bucket. Royal Scottish graduate Tafline Steen, meanwhile, makes her professional stage debut at The Almeida Theatre in King Charles III, Mike Bartlett’s controversial new play which Rupert Goold directs. Jay Simpson joins the RSC for the first time playing a trio of terrific roles as part of The Roaring Girls season whilst Joe Sims joins the cast of Three Sisters at Southwark Playhouse in a new version by Anya Reiss with Russell Bolam directing. Daniel Rabin goes to The Globe this season for Antony & Cleopatra and Holy Warriors, David Eldridge’s new play whilst Amy Cudden joins Blanche McIntyre for Tonight At 8.30, a fascinating collection of one act Coward plays that will be touring from May.

Openings include Jodie McNee as Viola in Liverpool Everyman’s Twelfth Night, Amy Marston in Ayckbourn’s A Small Family Business at The National and Jess Murphy in World Enough & Time at The Park Theatre. Jude Monk McGowan continues in Punch Drunk’s acclaimed The Drowned Man at Temple Studios whilst Alex Blake and Scott Karim join Secret Cinema this month who are recreating Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

On Screen:

9th March SquareHayley Carmichael joins a terrific cast for the new BBC drama series Our Zoo, the period drama based around the setting up of Chester Zoo in the 1920s. Joe Sims is confirmed as returning to Broadchurch Series II in his breakthrough role of Nigel Carter, Naomi Bentley joins the ensemble of the popular Sky comedy drama Mount Pleasant whilst Roger Sloman will be making a regular return to Eastenders as local undertaker Les Coker. Joseph May joins the ABC drama Mistresses shooting in LA whilst Episodes in which he plays series reg Andy Button is recomissioned for a 4th season. Also returning is the ever popular Waterloo Road which will see Pooky Quesnel joining the academy as Olga.

Launching 2014

Posted on | by Eamonn

We are looking forward to the New Year with some exciting projects already lined up for our clients in 2014.

New Year Theatre 2014The award winning Red Velvet is revived at The Tricycle before a New York transfer to The Brooklyn Academy with Natasha Gordon reprising her role of Connie. Also transferring is Headlong’s 1984 which comes to the Almeida Theatre with Gavin Spokes returning to the company. Amy Marston comes to The National in a revival of Ayckbourne’s A Small Family Business directed by Adam Penford whilst Lisa Palfrey debuts a new play Carthage at The Finborough with Donmar Associate Rob Hastie directing. Meanwhile Geraldine Alexander joins Russel Bolam for the UK premiere of In Skegway over at The Arcola. Out of London, we’re looking forward to the reopening of The Liverpool Everyman which will see Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz directing Twelfth Night with Jodie McNee taking the role of Viola. Over at the Playhouse, Daniel Coonan returns to the stage in the Miller classic A View From the Bridge which Charlotte Gwinner directs. Molly Logan takes the well received Once A Catholic to Liverpool’s Royal Court for a short run whilst over at The Royal Exchange, Geoff Leesley joins Maria Aberg for her production of Much Ado About Nothing.

New Year Screen 2014Coming up on screen early in 2014 will be new ITV comedy Edge of Heaven, set in a Margate B&B with Nitin Kundra, the return of Mr Selfridge which sees Vincenzo Nicoli join the cast, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries which Joe Sims has just wrapped on and gothic drama Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell which Robert Hands is finishing filming. Starting shoots this month are Hermione Gulliford who will be appearing in the next three Foyle’s War films opposite Michael Kitchen as well as Vincenzo Nicoli who guests in the first. Pooky Quesnel and Derek Hutchinson, meanwhile, will be featuring in the next series of Endeavour films.

In cinemas we are eagerly anticipating the releases of Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner biopic with Tom Edden, Max Fowler‘s US debut TOKAREV opposite Nicholas Cage and later in the year the big screen Moses epic Exodus which Ken Bones has just wrapped on.

Happy New Year!

Openings:

Posted on | by Eamonn

Oliver - Edden 2Tom Edden has opened as Fagin in Daniel Evans’ Sheffield Crucible revival of Oliver. In the Daily Telegraph, Jane Shilling awards the production 5 stars commending Tom and the cast for their “intelligent” performances in a production that finds  “humanity..and is bracingly free of sentimentality.” Lyn Gardener agrees in The Guardian admiring the darkness that lurks beneath the cheer in this production whilst praising Tom’s “impeccable comic timing“. The Daily Mail’s Patrick Marmion raves:

Anyone who saw the original One Man Two Guvnors will recall Edden as the ancient serving man who toppled backwards downstairs. Now he takes to Dickens’s master pickpocket with lip-licking glee and proves he’s not just a one-trick waiter. It would normally have been enough that Bart’s 54-year-old musical has some of the most toe-tapping numbers ever written. But in Edden they have added comic charisma. Edden’s Fagin is an extraordinary vocal mix of Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman and England’s Roy Hodgson…Bill Sikes describes Fagin as ‘an avaricious skeleton’.But Edden is much more — a delightfully demented vulture with great hooded eyes.

Oliver continues at the Sheffield Crucible until 25 Jan 2014.

Cross 42Once A Catholic has opened at The Tricycle with Molly Logan receiving brilliant notices for her touching central performance. Charles Spencer “laughed like a drain” whilst observing that, “the comedy might seem heartless were it not for the wonderful performance of Molly Logan“. Paul Taylor (Independent) concurs that “Molly Logan is excellent as the grave, victimised Mary Mooney” whilst Michael Billington (Guardian) commends the “truthful observation” and “specific gravity” she brings to her role as the hapless heroine.

Gulliford at Print RoomOver at The Print Room, “West London’s uber cool theatre” (Time Out), Geraldine Alexander has premiered Amygdala, her writing and directorial debut, in which Hermione Gulliford takes the leading role of Catherine. Time Out’s critic writes: “Amygdala contains some forceful, bone-shaking writing. Alexander (who also directs) keeps her powder dry until the final moments, and when she finally unleashes hell, it packs quite a wallop. Gulliford excels in those tense scenes.” Lyn Gardener’s review in The Guardian praises the “quality” and “detail” of Gulliford’s performance and the “needle sharp clarity” of Alexander’s writing which kept her gripped. Armygdala plays at The Print Room until the 14th December.

November Screen:

Posted on | by Eamonn

Joe Sims joins the cast of The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries written by Peter Morgan and to be directed by Roger Michell. This 2 parter for ITV films on location in Bristol and recounts the tragic death of Joanna Yeates and the press harassment of the landlord wrongly assumed guilty of her murder. Robert Hands begins filming on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell an epic new 7 part historical drama for the BBC directed by Toby Haynes and shooting from November. Jay Simpson and Hermione Gulliford shoot The GameNovember Screen by Toby Whithouse, BBC Wales’ new espionage thriller directed by Daniel O’Hara and Alex Blake films a guest role on Season 3 of Borgia with Christoph Schrewe directing. Sarah Winman films Undeniable a 2 part drama written by Chris Lang and directed by John Strickland whilst Richard Teverson films Jamica Inn a new adaptation of the Daphne Du Maurier novel with Philippa Lowthorpe directing.

On screen, November sees the premiere of the much anticipated Doctor Who 50th featuring Ken Bones which will showing concurrently in 3D across UK cinemas Sat 23rd. Also coming to cinema screens soon is Leave To Remain, a moving portrait of asylum seekers which premiered at The London Film Festival last month and featuring Farshid Rokey as 5 Names. Natasha Gordon also plays an asylum seeker in her debut feature Dough. Shooting in London and Sofia, she takes the role of Safa, a refugee from Darfur opposite Jonathan Pryce.

Autumn Theatre

Posted on | by Eamonn

Autumn Theatre Update 250913Tom Edden will be starring as Fagin in Sheffield Theatres’ production of the musical Oliver! directed by Daniel Evans at The Crucible.

Molly Logan plays the lead Mary Mooney in The Tricycle’s Once A Catholic directed by Kathy Burke. The dark comedy written by Mary O’Malley opens in November followed by a short run at Liverpool’s Royal Court in January.

Meanwhile out of London, Gavin Spokes is on tour with Headlong’s critically acclaimed 1984. Joe Sims joins the cast of Doug Lucie’s Solid Air at Theatre Royal Plymouth, directed by Mike Bradwell. Christopher Harper will play Ratty in Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s story The Wind in The Willows at The Royal and Derngate this Christmas whilst Richard Teverson will be at The Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough in The Schoolmistress. And Farshid Rokey joins Richard Wilson’s production of Love Your Soldiers at Sheffield Crucible playing the roles of Babur/Hakim.

London Openings include Richard Dempsey in Michael Grandage’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Geraldine Alexander in The Empty Quarter at The Hampstead Downstairs and Rocky Marshall in Matthew Dunster’s The Love Girl & The Innocent at Southwark Playhouse.