Tag: Sophie Stone

Casting announcements

Posted on | by Eamonn

We’re excited to announce that Amelia May has been cast in Wild Cherry, a new six part series for the BBC and Firebird Pictures. Written and created by ‘Mood’ BAFTA winner Nicole Lecky, the show has been billed as “a provocative and deliciously honest look at mother/daughter relationships in a haze of social media, hidden apps and peer pressure”. Amelia takes the series leading role of Allegra, who becomes entangled in a shocking scandal at her private school with devastating consequences. Filming is currently underway.

Also for the BBC, Olwen May has joined the cast of new Sally Wainwright drama Riot Women. The six part series from the multi BAFTA award winning writer and director centres on a group of women who come together to create a makeshift punk rock band in order to enter a talent competition.  Filming takes place in West Yorkshire.  Sara Powell will next be seen in The Choice a new Netflix political thriller starring Suranne Jones as the recently elected British Prime Minister and Julie Delpy as the French president who meet at an international  summit and forced into a fierce rivalry.  Sara will play the regular role of Kathy McIntyre.   Michelle Bonnard has joined the revival of the classic detective series Maigret, Justin Avoth guests in Amazon Prime’s new biblical drama series House of David and Christopher Harper will be returning as Geoffrey in the BBC’s ever popular Call the Midwife.

In film news, Sophie Stone completed shooting this month on Ted Evans’ debut thriller feature film working title Reunion.  Co-produced by BBC Films, it features an all deaf principle cast with Sophie playing the lead role of Mia.  Agni Scott plays the supporting role of Myrto a war journalist in the feature film Maya and Samar which is shooting in Greece with Anita Doron directing. And Amy Cudden joins recent Oscar winner Cillian Murphy in Steve, an original Netflix film adapted by Max Porter from his own novel telling the story of a day in the life of an unconventional residential school in the West Country.  

We can’t wait to watch!

Screen 2024

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All ‘guaranteed bangers’ according to The Guardian. Its Must See TV List for 2024 begins with a show that could not have caused more of a stir. Despite being one of the biggest miscarriages of justices in history, the British Post Office scandal in which nearly a thousand sub-postmasters were privately prosecuted for theft or fraud in error, has only now gained the public traction it deserves. Watch Amy Cudden as solicitor Izzy Hogg in Mr Bates vs The Post Office streaming now on ITVX. We finally get to see Masters of the Air; the Spielberg/Hanks second world war extravaganza featuring EBA clients Jakob Diehl, Benjamin Dilloway and Robert Hands which will be streaming on Apple TV from January 26th. Jakob Diehl can also be seen as the mysteriously titled Professor in Apple’s The New Look, a drama about how Christian Dior and Coco Chanel created modern fashion from the embers of the second world war, streaming in February. Russel T Davies is back in charge of Doctor Who and whilst we are sworn to secrecy, we can promise some spectacular drama featuring EBA clients in guest roles. Michelle Bonnard will be returning to House of the Dragon on Sky Atlantic in the summer as Madame Sylvie and in what is described as his biggest show yet, Joe Barton’s (Girl/Haji and The Lazarus Project ) new political thriller, Black Doves for Netflix will feature Thomas Coombes.

Other must see shows include James Doherty in Sexy Beast, a prequel series to Jonathan Glazer’s 2000 crime film of the same name, which is set to arrive on Paramount+, late January; Jodie McNee in Breathtaking, Jed Mercurio’s real time drama about being on the on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic on ITVX; Alex Blake in Joan, a new crime drama about notorious jewell thief Joan Hannington also for ITV X; Derek Hutchinson in The Way about a civil uprising that begins in Wales, written by James Graham and directed by Michael Sheen. Sophie Stone who has filmed the comedy horror series Generation Z for Channel 4 and finally Jake Cecil makes his professional debut as Gustave in Season 2 of Interview With A Vampire later this year.

In film news, Josie Walker stars in Kneecap opposite Michael Fassbender, directed by Rich Peppiatt which will receive its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 18th January whilst Gavin Spokes will next be seen in upcoming thriller Cold Storage, directed by Jonny Campbell and expected to be on Studio Canal’s 2024 slate of releases. Happy New Year!

Autumn Screen

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We stand in support of the strike action. Those actors whose regular filming has been uninterrupted by the disputes include: Thomas Coombes who’s been shooting the new six-part drama Moonflower Murders directed by Rebecca Gatwood for Eleventh Hour Films/BBC and Masterpiece; Michelle Bonnard who’s filming Insomnia, an adaptation of Sarah Pinborough’s sleep deprivation novel for Left Bank Pictures with Börkur Sigthorsson directing; Jodie McNee joins The Gathering in Liverpool, a story of rivalry within the elite world of gymnastics from the creators of Line of Duty with Gareth Bryn directing; Olwen May films The Bay Season 5 as new regular DC McClaren;  Sophie Stone plays series regular Wendy in Generation Z for Forge and Channel 4, directed by Ben Wheatley and Alex Blake who has recently completed filming on Joan, a new six part series for ITV/ITVX based on the true story of notorious jewell thief Joan Hannington.

Sam Alexander in “Murder Retrial”

Guest roles include Amy Cudden in Mr Bates vs the Post Office a drama detailing the great miscarriage of justice around the postal workers; Jay Simpson in The Day of the Jackall, a TV remake of the classic film;  Daniel Crossley who is filming a six part TV series about Ayrton Senna for Netflix in Brazil; Gavin Spokes and Patrick Brennan who both appear in Out There, a new rural Welsh thriller for ITV led by Martin Clunes; Aidan Kelly who is completing shooting on forthcoming drama Say Nothing for FX focusing on the Troubles in NI. Sam Alexander also plays the lead role in a new drama commissioned by Channel 4, titled Murder Retrial, examining the British judicial system.

Premiering at the London Film Festival this October; Melanie Kilburn plays Mrs Forde in Starve Acre with Matt Smith starring and Daniel Kokotajilo directing and Josie Walker stars in writer-director Naqqash Khalid’s debut feature film In Camera.  Congratulations also to Lily Beau who played leading roles in  Y Swn and Y Goleudy which have both recently been nominated for a host of Welsh BAFTA Awards.

Other things to watch out for this Autumn include Jakob Diehl in Netflix blockbuster All the Light We Cannot See,  Gavin Spokes in the hugely popular Slow Horses, Sara Powell in Paramount Plus thriller The Killing Kind (streaming now), James Doherty in the highly anticipated TV remake of Sexy Beast and Jodie McNee in crime thriller Culprits for Disney Plus.

2023 Preview

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Steven Spielberg’s Masters of the Air marks the completion of a trilogy two decades in the making following Band of Brothers and The Pacific. This second war drama, about the air force this time, includes EBA clients Jakob Diehl, Robert Hands and Benjamin Dilloway and will premiere on Apple TV+ . All the Light We Cannot See is another World War II drama and follows the lives of two teenagers Marie-Laure, a blind girl and Werner Pfennig, a German boy whose paths cross in occupied France. Jakob Diehl this time plays Nazi Colonel Mueller in a 4 part adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel adapted by Steven Knight for Netflix. Rain Dogs is written by Cash Carraway, described as a “wild and punky tale of a mother’s love for her daughter, of deep-rooted and passionate friendships, and of brilliance thwarted by poverty and prejudice”. Starring Daisy May Cooper and featuring Thomas Coombes, it will be shown on the BBC. We can’t wait to see Thomas too in the highly anticipated Luther: The Fallen Sun, a feature film adaptation of the TV show which is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in March. Watch out too for Jodie McNee in Culprits, a new comedy heist drama for Disney Plus, John MacKay in Nolly, ITVX’s big launch show about Crossroads legend Noele Gordon and Gavin Spokes in Better, BBC’s new crime thriller from the creators of Spooks and Humans.

Returning dramas we can’t wait to catch up with in 2023 include Warrior Season 3 for HBO Max which will see Andrew Koji back as Ah Sahm in San Francisco’s 19th Century China Town. Also, Oliver Dench is returning as Lucian in Hotel Portofino , the lavish period drama set in a hotel on the magical Italian Riviera during the ‘Roaring 20s’ and set against the rise of Fascism in Mussolini’s Italy. The second season of Hotel Portofino is set to premiere in 2023 on ITVX in the UK and on PBS in the US whilst Season 1 will be shown on ITV. There are returns too for Sophie Stone as forensic pathologist Ashley Wilton in The Chelsea Detective and Nicholas Lumley will reprise his role of Larry in the 2nd season of Screw to be broadcast later this year

BBC Films have a busy release schedule this year including two features in which Josie Walker takes leading roles. Naqqash Khalid’s debut feature In Camera is set in Manchester and follows the life of an aspiring actor and Knockers explores the strange hinterland between childhood and adolescence in a Britain set in the early 90’s ; written and directed by Lucy Cohen. Also on BBC Films slate is Starve Acre; dark and sinister forces are at work in this upcoming feature where Melanie Kilburn plays the mystic Mrs Forde opposite Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark. Natalie Radmall Quirke plays Eileen Gray in a biopic of the architects life titled Life is Everything – directed by Christoph Schaub for Das Collective with an autumn release anticipated. Described as a dystopian fever dream action thriller, we can’t wait too to see Andrew Koji star opposite Bill Skarsgard in Boy Kills World due for release later this year with Moritz Mohr directing.

New Year Update

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Screen View

Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s acclaimed film which has garnered much awards talk opens across the UK on 21 January and features Josie Walker in the role of Auntie Violet.  Also on general release and opening to brilliant reviews is Boiling Point, a one shot film that takes place during service in a busy London restaurant and with Thomas Coombes playing opposite Stephen Graham as Mr Lovejoy.  Hotel Portofino with Oliver Dench as Lucien premieres on Brit Box at the end of January and Harlan Coban’s Stay Close is now streaming on Netflix starring Cush Jumbo and featuring Aidan Kelly as series reg Rudi.  

Roy Williams drama Screw is showing on Channel 4 with Nicholas Lumley playing prison regular Larry and Daniel Crossley plays Bernard McDonald in Rules of the Game – a four part thriller with Maxine Peake, currently on BBC  iPlayer.  Also on iPlayer and a timely reminder to protect our BBC is Olwyn May in A Very British Scandal, Roger Sloman in Mandy, Thomas Coombes in Eastenders, Joseph May in the fantastic revival of Toast of Tinseltown and for the kids, Emma Handy in The Beaker Girls and Jason Callender in Malory Towers.

Back On Stage

It’s exciting to see some of our ladies leading NT productions as we make our way back to theatre. Tamsin Carroll has opened in Hex (Olivier) Laura Rogers in The Ocean at the End of the Lane (The Duke of York’s West End ) and  Sophie Stone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime (NT Touring). Also, Jodie McNee will be playing Nora in Manchester Royal Exchanges new production of The Doll’s House to be directed by Bryony Shanahan. 

James Doherty returns to the West End in Come From Away and other theatre opening soon includes Tom Edden in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Cyrano (West End & BAM), Joe Sims in Bristol Old Vic’s The Red Lion, and Mariah Louca in Cherry Jezebel a new play which will premiere at Liverpool’s Everyman in February. 

Spring Production News

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Screen

Oliver Dench begins filming Hotel Portofino a new Brits family drama set in Mussolini’s Italy of the 1920s. Jodie McNee joins the cast of Hollington Drive a new 4 part thriller for ITV written by Sophie Petzall. Michelle Bonnard is a new regular in the second season of We Hunt Together filming from next month whilst Josie Walker is cast as a series reg opposite Ben Whishaw in the much anticipated BBC adaptation of Adam Kay’s book This Is Going to Hurt.

The Chelsea Detective is a new 4 part series airing later this year with Sophie Stone playing series reg Ashley Wilton whilst Jason Callender joins the staff as a new teacher in the BBC’s reboot of the classic Mallory Towers.  Sally Scott is currently filming Dalgliesh a new 6 parter based on the PD James novels whilst Amy Cudden has been cast in new Speilberg/ Tom Hanks produced World War II drama Whirlwind.  

Guest roles this spring include Hayley Carmichael and John Mackay in Landscapers a new 4 part drama starring Olivia Colman, Guy Rhys in Ipcress Files the TV remake,  Hywel Morgan is a guest lead over 2 eps of Gentleman Jack playing William Briggs and Jimmy Walker plays the role of Ray Nelson in HBO Max’s adaptation of the bestselling novel The Girl Before. Natalie Radmall Quirke has been cast in Hulu’s upcoming adaption of Sally Rooney’s novel Conversations with Friends and Olwen May plays the main supporting role of Dora in A Very British Scandal: Duchess of Argyll written by Sarah Phelps starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany.  Joseph May joins the reboot of All Creatures Great & Small and Jude Monk McGowan films perennial favourite Call the Midwife.  

In other production news,  Warrior starring Andrew Koji has been recommissioned for a third season in moving over  to HBO Max and Eugene O’Hare joins the cast of Starz drama Outlander which has been commissioned for a 6th season.  

Theatre

As theatres slowly begin to reopen we’re delighted to be able to announce some casting news.  Scott Karim will appear at The Kiln Theatre in The Invisible Hand which Indhu Rubasingham directs in its first major revival. Colm Gormley is back at The Globe for their reopening summer season of As You Like It, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Jordan Mifsúd and Dorothea Myer-Bennett return to The Orange Tree with Paul Miller’s ‘Shaw Shorts’ and Jack James Ryan makes his National Theatre debut in After Life written by Jack Thorne in a co-production with Headlong.  James Doherty is back in the West End in Come From Away Winner of 4 Olivier Awards including Best Musical which plays at the Phoenix Theatre from 22 July.  And following its West End success Home I’m Darling starts a UK Tour this summer with Sandy Foster playing the lead role of Judy. Daniel Crossley, meanwhile,  joins the cast of Talent written by Victoria Wood and playing at the Sheffield Crucible this summer.

Screen Update 2021

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Filming on Bullet Train with Andrew Koji continues in LA. Other cast announced alongside Brad Pitt and Andrew include Lady Gaga and Aaron Taylor Johnson. Tomi Ogbaro, meanwhile, begins filming on a new Disney picture with Sam Rockwell and Sorcha Ronan.

Jay Simpson will appear in Danny Boyle’s next project, a six part series for the BBC about punk icons The Sex Pistols. Aidan Kelly has been cast as a regular in Netflix drama Stay Close – an 8 Episode thriller by Harlan Coben. Sophie Stone plays regular Julie in the 2nd series of This Way Up Channel 4, written and starring Aisling Bea whilst Gavin Spokes joins The Ipcress File, a TV remake of the 1960s cold war film. James Doherty and Olwen May film the 2nd series of Trying for Apple TV/BBC, Jim O’Hanlan directs and Carol Macready will appear in the next series of Gentleman Jack in the role of Mrs Norcliffe.

Sara Powell shoots a guest appearance in Ghosts, the hugely popular BBC comedy. Patricia Allison, meanwhile, completes filming on Sex Education and goes onto record the BBC’s annual Christmas Day animation Superworm. Oliver Dench, Jordan Mifsud and Anton Saunders all play guest roles in new crime drama Whitstable coming soon. And on screen too, Jack James Ryan joins Coronation Street as Jacob Hay from February.

Oliviers 2020

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Josie Walker in “The Ocean At The End Of The Lane” at the National Theatre (Dorfman)
(Best actress in a supporting role)

Congratulations to all our actors who feature in this years Olivier Award Nominations 2020 and to Josie Walker who receives her third individual nomination for her performance as Old Mrs Hempstock in The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Dorfman)

Best new play

A Very Expensive Poison
(The Old Vic )

The Doctor (Almeida)

Leopoldstadt (Wyndham’s)

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane (Dorfman)

Best Revival

Cyrano de Bergerac (Playhouse) 

Best Entertainment

Emilia (Vaudeville)

Upstart Crow (Gielgud)

Stage News

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Gavin Spokes joins the cast of A Very Expensive Poison a new play by Lucy Prebbles premiering at The Old Vic and directed by John Crowley. Tafline Steen plays River in Appropriate by Brandon Jacobs -Jenkins at The Donmar which Ola Ince directs. Josie Walker returns to The National playing Old Mrs Hempstock in The Ocean At The End of The Lane , Neil Gamain’s fantasy novel adapted to the stage and directed by Katy Rudd. Ferdy Roberts plays Dr Walker in the first revival of Conor McPherson’s Girl From The North Country which returns to the West End at the Gielgud Theatre. Daniel Rabin joins Robert Icke’s final production of at The Almeida The Doctor, Natalie Radmall- Quirke joins the cast of Ned Bennet’s Equus which comes to the Trafalgar Studio’s and Sophie Duval and Sam Alexander reprise their roles in Laura Wade’s The Watsons which transfers from CFT to The Menier Chocolate Factory. At the Globe Sophie Stone is Jacques in As You Like It directed by Elle While, Anita Reynolds plays in The Merry Wives of Windsor, whilst Jenna Augen joins Bartholomew Fair with director Blanche Mcintyre.

Openings include Tamsin Carroll in Peter Gynt at The National directed by Jonathan Kent, Scott Karim in Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre director Jeremy Sam , Patrick Brennan in Greg Doran’s Measure for Measure at the RSC and Tomi Ogbaro in Dominic Hill’s A Midsummer Nights Dream at Regents Park. Rupert Goold’s The Hunt with Howard Ward has opened to rave reviews at The Almeida and Jodie McNee has earned high praise for her performance as Belvedere in Venice Preserved at RSC Stratford. Jordan Mifsúd and Dorothea Myer-Bennett continue in Rattigan’s While The Sun Shines at The Orange Tree whilst Hayley Carmichael has opened in Peter Brooks WHY? at Bouffes Du Nord Paris.

Stage News 2019

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RADA graduate Leah Gayer makes her professional debut in Always Alys a gripping new psychological thriller by Lucinda Coxon playing at The Bridge Theatre and directed by Nicholas Hytner.  Lyndsey Turner directs  RWCMD grad Ashna Rabheru as Kit and Charlotte Lucas as Win in a revival of Caryl Churchill’s landmark play Top Girls at The National Theatre. Stephen Kennedy joins Josie Rourke at The Donmar for her final show as Artistic Director.

West End transfers include Robert Hands in Come From Away opening at The Phoenix Theatre from The Abbey, Dublin;  Sophie  Stone as Margaret Clifford in The Globe’s Emilia at The Vaudeville, Hywel Morgan as Marcus in Laura Wade’s Home I’m Darling at The Duke of York’s and Daniel Crossley who joins The Almeida’s production of The Twilight Zone at The Ambassadors.

Jodie Mc Nee returns to The RSC in 2019 to play Belvidera in Venice Preserved with Prasanna Puwanarajah directing and Patrick Brennan also joins the company in As You Like It  directed by Kimberley Sykes and Measure for Measure with Greg Doran.  Colm Gormley joins Julie Hesmondhalgh in Mother Courage at The Royal Exchange with Amy Hodges directing whilst Trevor Nunn’s production of Agnes Colander with Sally Scott transfers from The Bath Ustinov to Jermyn Street.

Gavin Spokes continues as  Harry in the acclaimed Company playing at The Geilgud Theatre whilst Natasha Gordon performs as  Lorraine in Nine Night her award winning debut play now running  at Trafalgar Studios.