Category: Summer 2014

Twelfth Night Cast Biographies

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Greg RobinsGreg Robins – Orsino
Greg is new to Shakespeare and KDC, having arrived from the land of Lord of the Rings, Flight of the Conchords and jandals (flip flops) in 2012.  He acted in an amateur production of Harold Pinter’s Mountain Language in 2013 and acted in, wrote for and directed the Wellington Law Revue in 2008-2010.  He is an Associate of the New Zealand Speech Board which, regrettably, has embedded his incomprehensible vowels deep into his psyche.  Off stage, Greg is a public and human rights lawyer, aspiring globetrotter and banana-cake-maker extraordinaire.

Hassan GoviaHassan Govia – Antonio
Although this is Hassan’s first production with KDC, he has been acting for quite some time, having performed with the National Youth Theatre and the University of Nottingham’s New Theatre Society, to name but a few experiences.  He is currently training at Questors Theatre and if any of them will have him, he would like to go to drama school at some point in the near future (*coughs* next year)…

Cindy MaCindy Ma – Festa
Cindy is a student at the LSE, completing her Masters in Media and Communications. She began acting in the 6th grade, debuting as “a clown” in the widely-acclaimed musical Clowns. Since then she has gone on to participate in shows such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spring Awakening, and Cabaret with her university theatre company. Twelfth Night is her first play since moving to London from Canada, and she is excited to be back in the theatre with such a great cast. The role of Festa will bring her full circle–back to being a clown. In her spare time, Cindy can be found perusing Food Gawker, procrastinating from writing papers, and anxiously trying to find a job so she doesn’t get deported upon graduation.

Jasmin HindsJasmin Hinds – Olivia
Jasmin graduated from the Acting and Performance foundation course at The Questors Theatre in July 2013. Her first involvement with KDC Theatre was in March 2014, in the rehearsed reading of Wellington by Cat O’Shea. Other recent roles include Helen of Troy in Trojan Barbie by Christine Evans, Miss Blumenblatt in On The Razzle by Tom Stoppard, Jenna in Sheltered by Greg A. Smith, and Queenie in Be My Baby by Amanda Whittington. This production of Twelfth Night is the first full-blown Shakespeare production Jasmin has been involved in.

Ayryn JonesAyryn Jones – Maria
Twelfth Night marks Ayryn’s first production with KDC, and in fact her first performance on a public stage. Ayryn’s passion for acting and performance started at a young age, leading to a heavy involvement in all sides of theatre in high school, and working in Children’s Theatre back home in Australia. Since moving to London a year ago, the lure of the rich theatrical culture here has proved a great motivator to rekindle that passion! She is incredibly excited to hit the stage with such a fun and talented group of people.

Bernard OSullivanBernard O’Sullivan – Sir Toby Belch
Bernard was educated at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and the Open University. He was called to the Bar in 1971 and has been in private practice since then. He took a year out to train as an actor with the Actors Company in 2005-2006. Since then he has appeared in a number of short films and in plays, most recently in March this year at the Tabard Theatre as the Gaoler in Heresy by Tilo Ulbricht.

Amy WackettAmy Wackett – Viola
Whilst slightly disappointed to discover that she had not been cast as Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love 2, Amy has thoroughly enjoyed playing Viola in this production. She last appeared in KDC’s Halloween special, What the Dickens?, last year and has previously had roles in numerous shows with Studio Theatre Club in Oxford and Lancaster University Theatre Group. Highlights include: Agatha Christie’s The Hollow (Henrietta), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), Much Ado About Nothing (Margaret), The Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolen), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Emilie) and My Fair Lady (Mrs Higgins).

James SaundersJames Saunders – Sebastian
Born and bread on a derelict milk float in Liverpool, James’ acting career started at an early age when he was cast as the kid in the ‘Accrington Stanley – who are they?’ milk ad. This is James’ first performance for KDC. Most recently he’s performed in Chekhov’s Three Sisters and Sink the Belgrano for Sedos.

Doug BakerDoug Baker – Malvolio
Douglas’ theatrics began in utero where he performed off broadway sketches to the organs. Unfortunately his material was often divisive and his one man show closed after only 9 months. He trusts you will receive his performance in Twelfth Night with greater appreciation.

Casual Encounters Cast Biographies

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Terry-sq

Terry Scotchmer – James
Terry started acting two years ago and in May of this year finished a 1 year acting programme at The Brian Timoney Actors Studio. Previous stage work includes John from After Miss Julie, Lyle Britton from A Blues For Mister Charlie and Brick Pollitt from Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. At the Transcend Festival in St Giles this summer he played Half Hanged Smith in a play called A Kind Bowl. Terry is a lazy actor and couldn’t be bothered to write a fresh bio. He’s super excited about doing his Method research into swinging, and already has several profiles up in the dodgier corners of the internet. Nudge nudge wink wink ladies. Or gentlemen. Whatever.

Kat-sqKat Wootton – Jennifer
Kat Wootton, most recently a director with KDC (Hamlet, Stag Nation, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You), is returning to her acting roots in Casual Encounters. She works in television production, writes and directs films, occasionally writes freelance, and practices Hapkido. And no, she has never read or answered a ‘casual encounters’ ad.
Not deliberately, anyway.

Kim-sqKim Morrison – Annette
After a few years hanging around the dark edges of KDC, persuading innocent people to drink, attend social gatherings with puns in the title and take part in devised theatre, Kim thought it was high time she actually auditioned for a KDC show. Much to her delight she found the process simply thrilling and now understands why everybody does it.
Kim really likes the theatre, she has been in quite a few plays and has directed some too. She has even managed the stage and on occasion switched lights on and off.
By day she is a desk monkey and project manager for an education charity, she would love to pursue her dreams but she isn’t too sure what they are just yet, she will happily accept your suggestions on the back of a postcard.

Graeme-sqGraeme Thompson – Peter
Graeme first found theatre whilst a juvenile, as a means of channeling latent aggression. Upon release from borstal, it has continued to prove a useful tool to maintain the straight and narrow. Taking on the role of Peter in Casual Encounters therefore has added significance for Graeme and his preference for the method school of acting. He us now wanted in three counties, and if seen, should be considered dangerous and not approached.

Nick-sqNick Edwards – DC Cook
This is Nick’s 13th play in the last 6 years, with favourite roles including Mickey in Blood Brothers, Benjamin in The Graduate, Ruben in Bones and Tristram in Taking Steps. By day he is a maths teacher and tries to inject as much of his acting life into his lessons as possible every day! Nick couldn’t resist the opportunity to get involved with a play of such… ahem… interesting subject matter and is looking forward to getting back on stage following trying his hand at assistant directing, at KDC’s sell-out run of Blood Wedding this spring.

Manger A Trois Cast Biographies

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Cameron K McEwan Cameron K McEwan
Cameron was fortunate to be part of a rehearsed reading performance of this play back in April and is delighted to be back in the same role for KDC. He started acting last year with his debut taking place at the RSC Dell in Stratford-upon-Avon as Feste in Twelfth Night and then going on to perform in a two-hander, Who Are You Supposed To Be?, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (which then transferred to London later in 2013).

Gemma-May BowlesGemma-May Bowles
This is Gemma’s first production with KDC theatre.  She trained at the Bridge Theatre Training Company and has professional experience in screen acting, voiceover, corporate role play and TIE.  Her previous theatre credits include: Maggie Hobson Hobson’s Choice, Claire Zachanassian The Visit, Helena A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lucy (and other comedy roles) Dracula – Fangs of Destiny and Oliver Simply Dickens.

William Baltyn

William Baltyn
William is a regular KDC actor, having most recently appeared in What the Dickens? for Halloween. Prior to this, he played Prince Charles in The War of the Waleses in London , Stratford and at the Edinburgh Fringe.  Other roles have included Konstantin Levin in Anna Karenina and a surprising number of nameless parts such as Father, Interviewer, Priest, Narrator and Zookeeper.  He is relieved to be doing so again.

New Writing Double Bill – Cast

17 – 21 June – Rosemary Branch Theatre, Shoreditch

Casual Encounters by Andy Moseley – directed by Carl Fletcher

‘Casual Encounters’ is a comedy about a middle-aged couple and their ill-fated attempt to spice up their ailing marriage by having an evening of casual sex with new partners.

James and Jennifer have been seeing a marriage counsellor, when she tells them they should try something new, James decides this can only mean one thing – wife-swapping. Not that he’d want the neighbours to know, and to keep his new hobby a secret he’s been trawling the internet to find a suitable couple for their first casual encounter.

What he and Jennifer haven’t realised is that not everyone tells the truth online. When Peter and Annette arrive, they find this out as it becomes clear that wife swapping is simply a front to get into the house. Their actual intentions are something altogether different and darker, and they know that James and Jennifer’s embarrassment at what the neighbours might think means they are powerless to stop them.

With James and Jennifer cornered in a perfect trap, one thing is certain, their marriage will never be the same again…

James – Terry Scotchmer
Jennifer – Kat Wootton
Peter – Graeme Thompson
Annette – Kim Morrison
DC Cook – Nick Edwards

Manger A Trois (The Dinner Party) by Doc Watson – directed by Caitlin Homes

This dark comedy opens as a prominent couple in the food and restaurant world, Him and Her, await the arrival of her ex-partner (He) to dinner. It will be the first time that Her and He have seen each other since their separation ten years ago.

It is also the night before the opening of He’s latest restaurant.

While Her and He are initially curious to see what has become of each other underneath the public success of their careers, Him is unhappy to have to put up with their reunion and acts to sabotage the gathering.

Their tangle of professional and personal rivalries are played out through the evening, with each course being accompanied by cutting conversation and biting revelations.

As they tussle for the continuously changing balance of power, they find out more than they bargained for: regret, jealousy and revenge are only some of the dishes served up on a platter.

HIM – Cameron K McEwan
HER – Gemma-May Bowles
HE – William Baltyn

Twelfth Night – Cast

24 – 28 June – Rosemary Branch Theatre, Shoreditch
Directed by Alex Hedges
with original rock-and-roll songs composed by Yaron Hollander

Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies. This version will be set at the English seaside, in the 1950s. To a backdrop of rock-and-roll music, the production will explore the atmosphere of a country emerging from the dark shadow of two world wars, with a focus on the change and continuity in the position of women in this period.

At the start of the play, a young man named Orsino sits on the beach listening to Elvis and fantasising about the beautiful Olivia, who has turned from all men ever since losing both her father and brother in the war. Meanwhile, Festa (Olivia’s cousin) returns to the town after many years, bringing with her her friend Viola who, like Olivia, is mourning the loss of her twin brother, Sebastian, who went missing in the war. When Festa tells Viola that an attractive, single young man (Orsino) lives in the town, Viola decides to go and meet him. She decides to go disguised as a man, hoping that this will be an easier way to get to know him.

Viola, dressed as the boy Cesario, becomes a favourite with Orsino and finds herself falling in love with him. Orsino makes Cesario his wing-man, sending her/him to speak to Olivia on his behalf. Olivia instantly falls in love with Cesario. A love-triangle ensues: Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario!

Viola – Amy Wackett
Festa – Cindy Ma
Maria – Ayryn Jones
Olivia – Jasmin Hinds
Malvolio – Doug Baker
Toby Belch – Bernard O’Sullivan
Andrew Aguecheek – Olli Marshall
Orsino – Greg Robins
Sebastian – James Saunders
Antonio – Hassan Govia

Summer Season 2014 Auditions

Date: 22 – 24 April
Time: 6.30pm

Venue: Clean Break Studios, 2 Patshull Road, Kentish Town, NW5 2LB. The nearest tube is Kentish Town

Our auditions are free to attend. You can audition for all three shows on the same night, or indeed any combination you wish. There’ll be committee members on hand to help every night so we promise you’ll be well looked after!

Please come along on whichever day suits you but do bear in mind that the last night is usually very busy so we’d advise you come on an earlier night if you can.

This season’s shows are…

17 – 21 June – New Writing Double Bill

The Dinner Party by Doc Watson, directed by Caitlin Homes
Dinner with the husband and the ex – lingering emotions escalate with each course.

Casual Encounters by Andy Moseley, directed by Carl Fletcher
A couple try to spice up their life with a little experiment in swinging, but it’s far from what they’d expected.

24 – 28 June

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, directed by Alex Hedges
A fifties twist on the gender bending comedy.

Summer Season 2014 Newcomers

Date: Wednesday 9th April
Time: Join us from 7pm for a drink. The meeting will start at 7.30pm
Venue: The White Swan, 20 Farringdon Street, EC4A 4AB. The nearest tube is Blackfriars

Each season we hold a Newcomers Meeting where the directors will tell you more about their plays and the audition process. It’s a great way to find out more about the season and of course you can quiz the directors and committee too.

Summer Season Shows

Next season we’re at The Rosemary Branch Theatre in Shoreditch from 17th to 28th June with a New Writing Double Bill and a Shakespearean classic with a twist. Click on the play title to read the audition notices.

17 – 21 June 2014

New Writing Double Bill
Casual Encounters by Andy Moseley – directed by Carl Fletcher
Manger A Trois (The Dinner Party) by Doc Watson – directed by Caitlin Homes

24 – 28 June 2014
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare – directed by Alex Hedges

Director Pitches – Summer 2014

Closing date: 23rd February 2014

Attention! Attention! This is your Artistic Director speaking (typing)

In Summer 2014 we’ll be performing at the Rosemary Branch in Islington from 17-28 June. We intend to embrace the season with some sunshine and light-heartedness, by giving some new writing the opportunity to get staged, AS WELL as a slot in which we would like to revisit a classic.

For our new writing week, our New Writing Coordinator, Matthew Partridge has been taking care of all our inbound scripts in our new writing bank. The plays come from friends and members of KDC Theatre. They have been read at our Round Table Readings (such as the ones we will have this season), and this slot gives directors the opportunity to get these new scripts on their feet, potentially even working with the writers. The New Writing arm of KDC Theatre is something that has been up and running for close to 10 years now, and is something that we really love to put our support behind.

A synopsis of the plays will be available on request to anyone interested in learning more, and following that, we will be able to email you any scripts you have an interest in.

For our second week, we would like to put on a classic. Something over 100 years old. Something familiar that you as a director, and KDC Theatre as a company, can put your own personal stamp on. In the past year alone, we have had a female Hamlet and Richard III, an all female production of Electra, and relocated a Wilde play to contemporary Russia. We would love to hear your pitches for the classic plays that you love, as well as what you want to do with them (whether it’s something very different or a classic interpretation).

Don’t feel that you have to stop at Shakespeare, Wilde or the Greeks through! There are so many more writers to choose from. Just remember that we are aiming to keep our season light-hearted! (Titus Andronicus will have to wait for another day)

If you would like to pitch, or write to us to tell us you have an intention to pitch, please email me at artistic@kdctheatre.com

Our pitching process will close on 23 February 2014, so please contact us by, or before, that date.