Latest News

2015 brings….Screen

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Thomas Coombe in JEKYLL_AND_HYDEThomas Coombes plays Edward Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde a new 10-parter adapted by Charlie Higson also for ITV. For Working Title/NBC/ Sky 1 Sara Powell and Natasha Gordon film Apocalypse Slough a new 10 part series that follows an eclectic mix of ordinary Berkshire residents who gather underground to watch the end of the world on TV.

Joseph May continues to play model agent Luke in the first series of Comedy Central’s I Live With Models whilst Kriss Dosanjh returns to This is England reprising his role as Mr Sandu. Meanwhile Terence Beesley joins an impressive line up in the BBC’s new adaptation of War and Peace, Tom Edden features in 18th century marital drama The Woman in Red for BBC2 and Derek Hutchinson shoots Versailles an English-language historical drama about King Louis XIV and his building of the great palace for Canal + .

2015 brings….Theatre

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270114Scott Karim returns to the National in Shahid Nadeem’s ‘Dara’ directed by Nadia Fall. Jodie McNee starts rehearsals for Mike Bartlett’s provocative new play GAME directed by Sacha Wares in an imaginative restaging by designer Miriam Buether at The Almeida. Ferdy Roberts will headline the Vaults festival in Filter Theatre’s interpretation of Macbeth in which he plays the title role.

Thomas Coombes will play Nojd in Strindberg’s The Father directed by Abby Wright at The Trafalgar Studios whilst Colm Gormley joins the West End production of The National Theatre’s War Horse playing Ted Narracott. Angela Terence meanwhile is at The Gate in The Chronicles of Kalki directed by JMK winner Alex Brown.

Out of London Geraldine Alexander continues touring with The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time and Gavin Spokes plays Francis Henshall in One Man Two Guvnors both for the National Theatre. At The West Yorkshire Playhouse Graham Turner plays Telegin Waffles in Mark Rosenblatt’s Uncle Vanya.

What to see? Our New Year’s tips

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17th December 2014Kickstarting January is the second series of Broadchurch in which Joe Sims reprises his role as Nigel Carter in the gripping crime drama. Also on ITV this January Hermione Gulliford plays regular Elizabeth Addis in Foyles War which returns with three new 2 hour films. On BBC2 Wolf Hall premiers featuring Max Fowler in the Peter Kosminsky screen adaptation of Hillary Mantel’s books. Mr Selfridge returns for a third series introducing Rocky Marshall as new regular DI Purkiss whilst Pooky Quesnel gains a promotion in the tenth and final series of Waterloo Road, on screens from January.

On film, catch Ridley Scott’s epic Exodus ‘Gods and Kings’ featuring Ken Bones opening in cinemas on Boxing Day. Kenneth Branagh’s much talked about live action Cinderella is scheduled for release early 2015 with Tom Edden as the Lizard Footman whilst The Royal Exchanges’ recently filmed Hamlet, featuring Jodie McNee also gains a cinema release early next year. Expect The Pride with Lisa Palfrey and Mr Turner also with Tom Edden to feature brightly during awards season.

On stage, recent openings playing during the holidays include Daniel Coonan as the menacing Black Dog in Polly Findley’s Treasure Island for The National Theatre. Also for the National, Jodie McNee and Hermione Gulliford continue their run in Three Winters. Matt Rawle plays stowaway Billy Crocker in Anything Goes at The Sheffield Cruicible and Vincenzo Nicoli is the Mafioso Duke of Venice in Ruper Goold’s inspired staging of Merchant of Venice at The Almeida.

Completing their West End runs in January are Ferdy Roberts (Shakespeare in Love), Tafline Steen (King Charles III) and Scott Karim (Great Britain) whilst Tom Edden (Les Misérables) and Richard Dempsey (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) will continue into the new year.

Geraldine Alexander, meanwhile, opens at The Lowry, Manchester as Siobhan in The National’s Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night Time which is now touring whilst Gavin Spokes continues his hugely successful run as Francis Henshell in the One Man 2 Guvnors also touring with The National Theatre.

Autumn Shoots

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Autumn-ShootsRobert Hands joins the cast of Partners in Crime playing Mr Minton. The BBC drama starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine as Tommy and Tuppence is directed by Ed Hall and forms part of the celebrations for Agatha Christie’s 125th anniversary year. For Channel 4, Richard Teverson plays Liberal Democrat David Laws in the one off political drama Coalition. Written by James Graham and directed by Alex Holmes the story charts the meteoric rise to government and power of Nick Clegg. Stefan Kalipha will begin shooting new six part drama River. The crime series starring Stellan Skarsgård as Detective Inspector John River is written by Abi Morgan and is being produced by Kudos for BBC1. For Lightworkers Media Ken Bones is playing the biblical character Annas in AD a 12 part series charting the birth of Christianity currently filming in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. Kriss Dosanjh reprises his role as shop keeper Mr Sandu in Warp’s BAFTA award winning drama This is England 90 following its characters a decade on. Meanwhile Thomas Coombes plays opposite Kenneth Branagh in the BBC crime series Wallander, Joe Sims joins the cast of Uncle the hit BBC3 show as it returns for a second series and Geraldine Alexander films ITV’s 3 part drama Arthur and George. In film, Pooky Quesnel shoots the screen adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling parody novel Pride Prejudice and Zombies. Lisa Palfrey has just wrapped on the Welsh language film adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood directed by Kevin Allen and Stefan Kalipha plays Frances De La Tour’s elusive boyfriend The Maharajah in Disney’s Through the Looking Glass a sequel to Tim Burton’s 2010 film Alice in Wonderland.

Autumn Theatre

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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

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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.

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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.
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.