Summer Stage 24

We are thrilled to highlight the remarkable projects our talented actors are involved in this summer.

Thomas Coombes stars as Michael in “Death of England” a powerful one-person play by Roy Williams. Part of Williams’ acclaimed trilogy, this revival by The National Theatre and Bill Kenwright is directed by Clint Dyer and takes place at Soho Place.

Greg Hicks returns to The National Theatre, taking on the role of Pa Joad in “Grapes of Wrath.” This adaptation of Steinbeck’s classic is brought to life under the direction of Carrie Cracknell.

Tom Edden will play Lucky in Beckett’s masterpiece “Waiting For Godot“, opening at The Theatre Royal Haymarket and directed by James Macdonald.

Jodie McNee returns to the Royal Shakespeare Company in David Edgar’s new play “The New Real,” directed by Holly Race Raughan. At the same time, Jenna Augen stars in the RSC’s production of “Kyoto,” a new work by The Jungle creators Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin.

Dorothea Myer Bennett teams up again with Patrick Marber in a new piece of writing “What We Talk About When We Talk About Ann Frank” which will premiere at the Marylebone Theatre. 

Molly Logan joins The Gate Theatre, Dublin, as Maggie in the revival of “Dancing at Lughnasa,” directed by Caroline Byrne. Anita Reynolds is part of the cast of “The Comedy of Errors” at Shakespeare’s Globe, while Colm Gorley performs in “Much Ado About Nothing,” both directed by Sean Holmes.

George Caple continues to impress in the Liverpool Royal Court’s West End transfer of “Boys From the Blackstuff.” We are also looking forward to seeing Chris Harper join the UK tour of the revival of Yasmina Reza’s “ART.”

We are immensely proud of our actors’ incredible work and dedication to their craft. Stay tuned for more updates on their upcoming projects.

Spring Stage

Laura Rogers has been cast in the new Jack Thorne play When Winston Went To The War On The Wireless. Katy Rudd directs and the play premiers at the Donmar next month. Tom Edden will reprise his role as Bella Zangler as Chichester Theatre’s hit revival of Crazy For You transfers to the Gillian Lynne theatre West End from June 2023. Meanwhile, Tamsin Carrol and Fred Haig journey to Chichester for this year’s summer staging of Rock Follies in the Minerva directed by Dominic Cooke. Sandy Foster returns to the RSC in Falkland Sound, a new play that opens 40 years after the Falklands Islands were invaded, directed by Aaron Parsons and the world premiere of Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake with David Nellist in the title role tours the UK from this spring. Dorothea Myer Bennett opens in Possession, a powerful new play by Sasha Hails depicting motherhood and colonialism at The Arcola and Molly Logan returns to The Globe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Ellie White directing.

Greg Hicks continues in the award winning Oklahoma at The Wyndhams, John Mackay, Dan Rabin and Mariah Louca all reprise their roles in The Doctor when Robert Icke’s production plays in New York at the Park Avenue Armory and Jenna Augen continues to play on Broadway in the transfer of Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt directed by Patrick Marber.

Casting announcements
Some exciting TV & Film casting announcements …
September Screen
On screen this September …
Summer Stage 24
We are thrilled to highlight the remarkable projects our talented actors are involved in this …
Spring Stage News
A busy season of theatre is coming up to start the year …
Screen 2024
Must sees for 2024 …

Screen News

TV

Andrew Koji will play the lead role of Ah Sahm in new 10 episode HBO drama Warrior Written by Jonathan Tropper, based on the writings of Bruce Lee. Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown after the Civil War the drama focuses on Ah Sahm who arrives in America from China and finds himself caught up in the bloody Chinatown Tong wars. Aidan Kelly also guests in the role of Rooney in the first episode of Warrior with filming starting in Cape Town this month. Meanwhile Kate Maravan films Netflix’s Safe an eight-part drama series from bestselling writer Harlan Coben, Thomas Coombes shoots Stan Lee’s Lucky Man for Sky, Kate Fahy joins the cast of Witless for its third series, Molly Logan, shoots Irish comedy Dave Allen At Peace, Patrick Brennan guests in Shakespeare and Hathaway for the BBC, Aleks Mikic films In The Clouds for Little Island Productions, Jordan Mifsúd shoots HULU’s 40 North in Morocco, Sevan Stephan guests in Abi Morgan drama The Split for Sister Pictures and Joe Sims plays regular Dean in Zodiak Media’s Joe All Alone.

FILM

Paddington 2 hits our screens next month with Nicholas Lumley playing Old Timer Jack opposite our favourite Peruvian bear. Meanwhile, Gary Oliver will film Mary Queen of Scotts directed byJosie Rourke for Working Title.

CURRENTLY AIRING

Catch Pooky Quesnel playing regular Fiona Craig in W1A and Louise in The A Word series 2; Geraldine Alexander in BBC 1’s The Child In Time, Melanie Kilburn as Eastenders’ resident Vicar Irene Mills, David Seadon Young performing Oklahoma as part of this year’s BBC Proms, Emma Handy in ITV’s Doc Martin series 8, Joseph May playing Canadian President Justin Trudeau in The Windsors on Channel 4, Chris Harper’s character Nathan Curtis facing trial in ITV’s Coronation Street and Hywel Morgan appearing in Channel 4’s ‘The End Of The F***ing World’ airing on October 24th.

To view some of these clips click here

In Rehearsals:

20160301Josie Walker will play Mrs Gogan and Stephen Kennedy Fluther Good in a revival of Sean O’Casey’s Plough and The Stars, directed by Howard Davies for The National Theatre and marking the centenary of the Easter Rising. Also for The National, Pooky Quesnel joins the cast of The Suicide in a fresh adaptation of Erdman’s original script relocated to contemporary London directed by Nadia Fall. Tom Edden will play The Good Angel in The Jamie Lloyd Company’s West End Production of Dr Faustus with Kit Harrington in the title role whilst at the Royal Exchange, Jodie McNee takes on the role of Kay in Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch directed by Rebecca Gatward. Sam Alexander returns to Hampstead Theatre in Howard Brenton’s new play Lawrence After Arabia with John Dove directing, Hywel Morgan joins the cast of the RSC’s The Alchemist directed by Polly Findlay, Natasha Gordon joins Mel Giedroyc in Simon Dormandy’s production of Luce at the Southwark Playhouse and Michelle Bonnard plays Jess in The Quiet House by Bruntwood Prize winning writer Gareth Farr at The Park Theatre. For the West Yorkshire Playhouse and London’s South Bank Centre, Carla Harrison Hodge plays Avocado and Pomegranate in two hander The Fruit Trilogy, 3 short plays from the Tony Award winning playwright of the Vagina Monologues Eve Ensler whilst over at The Birmingham Rep Sophie Stone plays the Postmaster in Artistic Director Roxanna Silbert’s innovative new production of Gogol’s The Government Inspector. Also out of London Tony Guilfoyle plays Prospero in William Galinsky’s production of The Tempest at Hippodrome/Great Yarmouth and Kate Maravan joins the cast of Phelim McDermott’s new show Opening Skinner’s Box for Improbable.

Opening Soon:

Openings:

Husbands-And-Sons-posterLook out for Molly Logan who has opened as Viola in Twelfth Night for the Globe, Peter McGovern currently appearing in Nell Gwynne at The Apollo Theatre, Ferdy Roberts returning to The Lyric Hammersmith in Filter’s revival of A Midsummer Nights Dream, Howard Ward at The Orange Tree in German Skerries and Nicholas Lumley in Doctor Faustus/ Don Quixote at the RSC. Gavin Spokes continues to play Nicely Nicely in the current run of Guys and Dolls which transfers to the Phoenix Theatre whilst Husband and Sons with Josie Walker has transferred to The Royal Exchange after its London run.

New Year Stage News:

On Stage

Robert Hands20160114 Theatre plays the Lord Chamberlain in Mrs Henderson Presents, directed by Terry Johnson and transferring to the Noel Coward Theatre, West End from February. Sophie Stone plays Michelle in a revival of the Simon Stephens’ play Herons at the Lyric Theatre directed by Sean Holmes. Charlotte Lucas revives her role as Ellen Tree in the critically acclaimed Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti as part of The Kenneth Branagh Season at The Garrick. Josie Walker continues her run at The National as Mrs Purdy in Husbands and Sons. Peter McGovern will play Ned in The Globe’s transfer of Nell Gwynn to the Apollo Theatre, West End whilst Dan Rabin continues at The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opening in The Winters Tale. Molly Logan, meanwhile, plays Viola in Twelfth Night director Bill Buckhurst also for The Globe. Graham Turner returns to the RSC playing the Fool to Tony Sher’s Lear in Greg Doran’s new production as well as Belarius in Melly Still’s Cymbeline. Nicholas Lumley is also returning to Stratford in Maria Aberg’s Dr Faustus and Angus Jackson’s Don Quixote.

Laura Rogers and Richard Teverson take a new production of Private Lives on a tour for Ambassadors, directed by Tom Attenborough, Penny Beaumont plays Camilla in Make Bartlett’s King Charles III touring the UK and then Australia whilst Geoff Leesley returns to PW’s An Inspector Calls. Natalie Radmall-Quirke and Chris Gordon both appear in Winter’s Tale for Cheek By Jowl touring Paris, Madrid and Italy and Scott Karim will play Edmund in the Philip Frank’s directed King Lear starring Michael Pennington. In a year for Lear’s Thomas Coombes will be playing Oswald in Michael Buffong’s version for The Royal Exchange whilst Sévan Stephan begins rehearsals for Breakfast At Tiffanys which will tour prior to opening at The Haymarket Theatre, West End.

Autumn Screen

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.

News & Reviews

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.

Launching 2014

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:

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.