Category: Summer 2013

Electra – Cast & Crew Biographies

Alison CowlingAlison Cowling (Servant)


Alison has been involved with many plays, musicals and Shakespeare productions in her hometown of Saffron Walden and credits include; Wendla (‘Spring Awakening’); Mrs Potts (‘Beauty and the Beast’) and Carol (‘Blitz’). She has worked with Frantic Assembly several times and on a devised production called ‘For You/About You’ performed at The Junction in Cambridge in 2012.
She is also a member of National Youth Theatre and in 2011 performed in a site specific performance ‘White City/Black Country’ at the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Birmingham. She loves to play music and plays a variety of string and woodwind instruments as well as writing and recording her own songs. This is her first production with KDC Theatre and she is looking forward to performing one of the great Greek tragedies!

Lisa FirechildLisa Firechild (Aegisthius)


The past year has been an emotional roller coaster for Lisa Firechild. From playing the Countess in ‘Snow White’ the panto (South London Theatre) to two Shakespeare tragedies at the same time: roles of Page/Servilius/Phrynia in ‘Timon of Athens’ (SLT) and role of Catesby in KDC’s ‘Richard III’. Followed immediately by happy, 20s style cuteness and Charleston-ing as Fay in SLT’s ‘The Boy Friend’, before performing in tragic ‘Electra’. She has also been choreographing and dancing her own classical ballet and Isis wings solo dances for rock bands and charity events. She looks forward to her next projects which include a film about trafficking and recording her own melancholy dream pop music.

Alexandra HedgesAlex Hedges (Orestes)


This is the second KDC show in which Alex has been cast as a man. She previously played King Ubu in ‘Ubu Rex’, as well as the (for once female!) pub landlord Urania in ‘She Ventures and He Wins’. Before joining KDC, she performed in a number of university productions, including ‘King Lear’, ‘Macbeth’ and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. Alex is excited to be treading the boards once more as Orestes, having taken a short break from acting to train as a teacher and to try her hand at directing.

Helen JacksonHelen Jackson (Chorus)


Helen first graced the stage as a tree in a nursery school performance of ‘There Was A Cabin In A Wood’, failing to sit down with the rest of the forest at the appropriate moment. Nothing much has changed since then, except for discovering a surprising love of anchovies and adding a few more theatrical notches to the belt. Previous highlights include performances as a biker named Sue Zuki, a rapping monkey, a husband tamer and another showstopping tree cameo.

Kat KilshawKatherine Kilshaw (Chrysothemis)


Kat studied drama at university and since graduating in 2009 has taken acting courses at Birkbeck College and City Academy. At university she acted in scenes from Arthur Miller’s ‘All My Sons’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Measure for Measure’. She currently works as a TA in a primary school. This is her first play with KDC and she’s greatly enjoyed the experience.

SONY DSCKate Moore (Chorus)

Kate has been performing with KDC for nine years now, but this is her first venture into Greek tragedy. She is particularly pleased that such an epically emotional play has been adapted into a very manageable 75 minutes, leaving plenty of time for gin-and-tonics in the bar afterwards. Her previous roles include Beatrice-Joanna in ‘The Changeling’, Bartley in ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ and – most recently – Florrie in KDC’s inaugural Halloween production of ‘Dracula’. Kate has invented an entire back story for her chorus character, “Maria”, and would be happy to recount all the soap-style ups and downs of her life over afore-mentioned gin beverages after the show.

Paula MountPaula Leigh Mount (Clytemnestra)


Paula is excited to be playing the part of kick-ass Queen, Clytemnestra. Not least because she gets to die on stage (oops, she hopes that hasn’t spoilt the ending?!). She’s found it a pleasure working with such a talented bunch and wishes everyone a fun and successful run.

Ami SawranAmi Sawran (Electra)


Taking a short break from fixing the farm animals of Hertfordshire, this is Ami’s second KDC production, after spending last season hanging out of a pair of Ninja Turtle boxers in ‘Stag Nation’. Being cast as Electra has done Ami a favour in many ways; she has stopped bothering to spend time and money on makeup because she only cries it off, plus she gets to shout at people without any fear of retribution. The downside of the role is that she gets no loo breaks, or at least opportunities to snaffle a mid-show Curly Wurly. This, we all know, is an utter travesty – here is an actress who truly knows suffering. Follow Amy’s Tweets @ayemiy

Sinead VaughanSinead Vaughan (Chorus)

A stranger to the world of theatre since her teenage years, this is Sinéad’s first performance with KDC.

 

 

Bethan Haycock (Director)

Bethan traditionally comes from an acting background so directing this play has been a thoroughly enjoyable departure for her. She spent her early years in Wales performing open-air Greek theatre and honing her skills in storytelling. This play has been a journey back to her very Welsh roots. Her feminist wiles have driven a female-dominant perspective on Electra’s bloodthirsty tale which she hopes you will enjoy.

Phil Hooks (Assistant Director)

Phil is a director, writer and actor. Recent credits include the following;
Directing: ‘The Babykillers’, Etcetera, Camden. ‘My Fair Lady’, Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds. ‘Sweeney Todd’, Royal Holloway, University of London
Writing: ‘Stop the Press!’, Etcetera, Camden. ‘The Babykillers’, Etcetera, Camden. Contributor to ‘News Revue’, Canal Cafe theatre,
Performance: ‘A Christmas Carol’ (Scrooge), Alexandra Palace theatre. ‘They Said it Would be Just Like Margate’, Victoria Park, Hackney.

Bones Cast Biographies

Billy HeadshotMoon: Billy Knowles

This is Billy’s second play with KDC after appearing in ‘Stags & Hens’ at The Landor Theatre. After a two year break, this will be his first production since ‘Shopping & F***ing’ at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011. Drawn to playing comedy characters, other plays include ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’, ‘Bacchus In Rehab’ (both at The Etcetera), ‘The Magnetic Lady’ (at The White Bear) and ‘Amore The Merrier?’ (at The Cockpit). Excited to return to the stage, Billy is delighted to be playing the character of Moon… and to try his hand at Geordie.

Dom WardBenny: Dom Ward

Dom Ward got into acting by accident, having been press-ganged into a production of The Entertainer in 2001. Having briefly cornered the market in romantic juveniles in shows such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Hot Mikado he’s since broadened his range, playing everything from the Devil (Brimstone and Treacle) to (the front half of) a pantomime horse. Dom is delighted that after 20 years of following Newcastle United around the country he can finally put all that Geordie swearing he’s learnt to good use.

Nick EdwardsRuben: Nick Edwards

Why aye KDC-goers! Nick is excited to be working with KDC again after a two year hiatus. Nick’s previous shows have included Blood Brothers, The Graduate, Taking Steps and most recently The Deep Blue Sea. He is particularly excited to be working with Duncan at the Baron’s Court again, after getting typecast as ‘Italian’ following his previous role as Anthony in ‘Disappeared’. Shout abuse at me on twitter @cwej1

Piers BurnellReg: Piers Burnell

After a 2 year hiatus Piers is back and playing a gangster. Promised he would be supplied with a yellow pair of tight speedos and performing at El Barons Courto in Costa Del Sol with Ray Winstone he is slightly disappointed to be presented with a mucky pair of white Y-fronts to be worn in rainy West Kensington, UK with 4 Geordies.

Ric RentonBeck: Ric Renton

I was awarded this role ‘cos I’m the only Geordie in London, and KDC accept cheap bribes.

Electra Cast List

Orestes: Alex Hedges
Servant: Alison Cowling
Electra: Ami Sawran
Chorus: Helen Jackson
Chorus: Kate Moore
Chrysothemis: Katherine Kilshaw
Aegisthius: Lisa Firechild
Clytemnestra: Paula Leigh Mount
Chorus: Sinead Vaughan

Director: Bethan Haycock

Electra Audition Notice

electra-thumbTuesday 23 – Saturday 27 July 2013

Frank McGuinness’ Electra is a modern adaption of Sophocles’ tale of revenge, power, sacrifice, murder and ultimately family. For any female actress Electra, as the title character, being the ultimate tour de force.

1. Auditions

First round auditions on the Monday 13, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 May will be at Theatre Delicatessen, Marylebone Gardens, 35 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QA. Auditionees need to arrive from 6.30pm ready to start at 7pm. You do not need to register for auditions or prepare anything in advance. Please come on whichever day suits you. Recalls will be on Saturday 18 May from 12 to 4pm, by invitation only. You will be told the venue if you are recalled. If you are recalled you will be called by Thursday 16 May.

2. Show Dates

We’ll be performing from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 July at The Barons Court Theatre in Barons Court. The shows will start at 7.30pm (plus 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 27 July) and you’ll need to be at the theatre at least an hour beforehand.

3. Synopsis

Electra is a story of one of the most famous families in Greek literature, and ultimately a story of revenge and family. The story begins with Orestes, Electra’s brother, who is going on a journey to avenge his father’s murder. Meanwhile, Electra is stuck lamenting the murder of her father, Agamemmon, while living in the royal palace of Mycenae with his murderers, her mother Clytemnestra the Queen and her treacherous lover, Aegisthus. Her only hope is her brother, Orestes. Electra smuggled her brother to safety when he was just a babe, and put him into the protection of a servant. His fate is to return to Mycenae and avenge his fathers’ death by killing his mother and her lover.

The story is told from Electra’s perspective, a prisoner in her own family and society. She is a woman who longs for justice, who longs to take action but is constrained by her sex and the hopelessness of her situation.

This production will be an all-female cast. I will not being changing the sexes of Orestes and Aegisthus, but will be expecting the actor to emphasis the universality and humanity of each character, regardless of their sex. I will be looking for a modern interpretation on femininity and masculinity, power, revenge and family. I am looking for dynamic actors who are keen to be part of a physical ensemble.

4. Cast

Electra (F)
She is the power house of the play. She is on stage the entire time lamenting her father’s death, inviting death by defying her mother. She is the one constant throughout the play as different types of perceptive come in and out; she never wavers in her convictions and stays strong. I need an actress that is energised, fierce, and able to play a range of emotions from anger, fury to sorrow, and vulnerability in just one speech. I also want to see a new and modern interpretation on Electra, thinking about how difficult is to be a woman, belonging to a powerful family that has been extremely patriarchal, to being motherless and alone.

Servant (F)
She is the character than protects Orestes, and ultimately delivers him to his fate. She has a speech at a pivotal moment in the play.

Pylades (F)
A non-speaking part: Pylades is Orestes childhood friend, She is always by Orestes’ side, never saying a word but taking the journey with him. (The actress playing Pylades will also play a part in the chorus)

Orestes (F)
Next to Electra, Orestes is the second most important part in the play. Orestes is Electra’s brother and appears at the beginning and end of the play. Orestes completes the circle, as the mother killed the father so must the son kill the mother. Orestes is Electra’s hope, and they have a very strong bond as she saved his life and is more like a mother to him than a sister. Even though I will not be changing the gender of Orestes, he will be played by an actress. This will be one of the most challenging aspects of the part, as a theme throughout the play is that Orestes must complete the circle because he is the son. I will be looking for an actress who can put a different spin on this and think about how to play the part genderless, but still portraying his masculine traits.

Chrysothemis (F)
Chrysothemis is Electra and Orestes’ sister, she does not lament and challenge as Electra does. Even though she mourns her father’s death, longs for her brother and knows her mother is the blame. She plays the diplomat and lives by Aegisthus and Clytemnestra’s rules. She is an important juxtaposition to Electra, often being the more reasoned and level headed argument.

Clytemnestra (F)
Clytemnestra is the queen, Electra’s mother and Agammemon’s murder. Even though she is seen as the villain of this story, she still has a heart and conscious. She murdered Agammemon because he sacrificed her first daughter, Iiphigenia to the gods. She believes killing Agammemon was not murder but justice, and struggles with how her children defy and hate her. However, she still treats Electra cruelly and longs to hear her son is dead for fear over being overthrown.

Aegisthus (F)
Aegisthus is Clytemnestra’s lover, and ultimately plotted and killed Agammemon with Clytemnestra so as to take his throne and wife. He appeals at the end of the play smug and vicious, and ultimately meets his end.

Chorus (3-4 Females)
Chorus is the constant on stage the entire time with Electra. The Chorus is a massively important role and mammoth task. They act as the story teller, the conscious, the friend and the enemy throughout the play, creating a dynamic challenge for any actress. This role is heavy on speeches and will involve elements of physical acting.

If you have any questions prior to the audition, get in touch with the team at electra@kdctheatre.com.

Bones Audition Notice

Bones-thumbTuesday 16 to Saturday 20 July

Bones is a darkly funny play set in a run-down porn cinema in 1960’s Gateshead.

1. Auditions

Auditions will take place from 6.30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. start on 13, 14 and 15 May 2013 at the Theatre Delicatessen, Marylebone Gardens, 35 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QA. You do not need to register for auditions or prepare anything in advance. Please come on whichever day suits you.

Recalls will be on Saturday 18 May from 12 to 4 p.m. and you will be told the venue if you are recalled. If we’d like to see you at the recalls, we’ll call you on Thursday 16 May to let you know.

2. Show Dates

We’ll be performing from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 July at The Barons Court Theatre in Barons Court. The shows will start at 7.30 p.m. (2.30 p.m. matinee on Saturday 20 July) and you’ll need to be at the theatre at least an hour beforehand.

3. Synopsis

Bones is a darkly funny play set in a run-down porn cinema in 1960s Gateshead. This failing cinema is run by two Jewish brothers, Benny and Ruben. The brothers cannot afford to pay their staff, projectionist Beck and cinema dogsbody/cum-cleaner-upper Moon, and also owe a lot of money to the local gangsters. Then all their problems seem to be over when one of them kidnaps Reggie Kray…

The dark, dank and close atmosphere of The Baron’s Court Theatre, with its old flip-up cinema seats, is the perfect venue for this intense and intensely funny play.

This play is pacy, twisted and very funny. Being set in a cinema, it nods its head to many films, including Get Carter and Reservoir Dogs. As well as being a play about gangland kidnapping, it also touches on themes like identity, the desire to be someone, family ties and brotherly love and hate … as well as gorilla fancy-dress costumes.

4. Cast

Benny
Accent: Geordie
Age: 30-35
Benny is the elder of the two brothers. Both he and Ruben own the cinema but Benny is clearly the manager, he has put himself firmly in charge. He provides a lot of the humanity in the play.

Although there aren’t really any straight roles, Benny is the closest to being the straight-man of the piece. He starts the play with a freshly broken nose and then his day just keeps getting worse.

Ruben
Accent: Geordie
Age: early/mid-twenties
The younger of the two brothers; in fact they are half-brothers. Ruben was one half of a pair of twins – but his twin died in a suspicious house fire when they were young. Ruben, as well as resenting Benny, desperately wants to impress him. He is convinced he isn’t Jewish, that his dad was an Italian American GI who was over in the UK during the war. He dreams of being somebody. He has virulent self-hatred, and has hatred of his faith and how it seems to have labelled him. He fluctuates between awe and terror as the play unfolds.

Reg
Accent: Cockney
Age: mid-thirties
Reg spends a lot of the play bound and often gagged, however this does not impact on to his authority and menace. He is a ‘puppet master’.

Beck
Accent: Geordie
Age: 20-30
Beck is a fan of James Cagney. When there are no punters in the cinema, Beck happily puts on his favourite 1930s and 40s Hollywood films.

He believes he is a player and has links with the local crime scene. He talks the talk and walks the walk but when push comes to shove, what kind of guy is he really?

Moon
Accent: Geordie
Age: 20s
Moon is a fan of Humphrey Bogart.

He is the cinema’s dogsbody, doing every job from doorman to cleaning up (everything) after the porn cinema’s punters have left. He wants a quiet life, he is an expectant father (well, he hasn’t had sex with his girlfriend but they’ve been looking at prams). He always seems to draw the short straw in life – and at times that short straw may lead to big challenges.

If you have any questions prior to audition, please contact the team on bones@kdctheatre.com.

Summer Newcomers 7pm on 9 May

Join us at the Mowbray pub, 14-18 Holborn, London EC1N 2LE from 7pm on Thursday 9 May. New and old faces are welcome to attend, to find out more about KDC, the summer season and how you can be part of the action.

http://meltonmowbrayholborn.co.uk/

Summer 2013 directors and pitches needed

Following our four amazing Spring shows, we will be making a return to an old friend in Summer, the Barons Court Theatre, on the weeks beginning 15 and 22 July.

We are looking for pitches for this season, but of a very specific nature. We are calling this Summer our XX/XY season. One week will be a play or production with a male cast, and the other a female cast. These can be exclusively, or predominantly male or female casts, but what we DO want is interesting and exciting pitches for shows with casts of around 8 actors (and upwards)

If you have a perfect play that would fit the bill in mind, then great. If you decide that NOW is the time to stage your all female Julius Caesar, then great. If you want to go Greek, then great.

We are looking for engaging and attractive shows from enthusiastic directors.

You have until 31 March to get us your pitches, and of course you can say “I’m interested” straight away. We aim to listen to the pitches in the first week of April. Please email artistic@kdctheatre.com in order to express interest.