Summer 2015 Archives – KDC Theatre - Central London based amateur theatre group

The Arsonists Cast Biographies

Biedermann – Adam Moulder
Adam has done a couple of KDC shows in the last few years starting with The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui back in 2009. Since then he’s acted, sung and danced for SEDOS, Centre Stage, Putney Arts and Tower Theatre. The challenge of becoming Gottlieb Biederman is one he is relishing and the dark, powerful play that is The Arsonists has been great fun to bring to the stage. When not acting Adam can be found producing programmes for BT Sport.

Babette – Alannah King
This is Alannah’s second play with KDC, after playing Amanda in George Bernard Shaw’s Apple Cart before Christmas. She is excited to be playing Babette and hopes you enjoy the show.

Eisenring – Martin Hojeberg
Born in Stockholm, moved to London cuz the popo was after me. Fifth full play, second in English, first with KDC. Appreciates a southern breeze, stroking pigeons and the fresh smell of petrol in the morning.

Schmitz – James McKendrick
This is James’s first appearance for KDC and follows two productions this year for Woodhouse in The Tempest and Interview, the latter winning the award for best play at the Waltham Forest Festival. Other acting credits include The Acid Test (Jim Bank), Glengarry Glen Ross (Shelley Levene), Largo Desolato (Leopold Nettles) and Separate Tables (John Malcolm). He has directed Two and Bed for Woodhouse and Road and Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off for Network Theatre. He has also performed at the Edinburgh, Brighton and Prague Fringe Festivals and in productions that transferred to the Orange Tree Theatre and Riverside Studios

Anna – Fanny Klefelt

Chorus

Aiofe Deane
This is Aoife’s second KDC production and first time being a toga wearing firefighter! Aoife loves how all the fun and frolics in rehearsals comes together to make for a very entertaining show. Enjoy!

Chris O’Dea
The Arsonists is Chris’ third outing with KDC after performances in Hamlet and The Butler Didn’t Do It. Fortunately, his pastimes don’t include setting fire to things, but he is a fan of a cup of tea and a good book, and he has done other amateur drama work you’ve probably – actually, the word should be thankfully – never heard of. Fun Fact: he has a degree in English Literature and Drama and Theatre Studies from Aberystwyth University.

Clodagh Eyres
Clodagh developed a love of drama at young age when she was sent to Speech and drama classes in the hope that she would learn to pronounce her “TH”s properly! This is her first performance with KDC. She has been absent from the stage for over 13 years, going out on a high playing Goldilocks in a school play! Clodagh is from Mullingar, in the heart of Ireland and has been living in London for 3 years working as an Occupational Therapist. She is thrilled to be part of the wonderfully talented cast that is The Arsonists!

Martina Messing
Martina has returned to the theatre after a break of some years. Born in Germany, her strategy to invade the UK by stealth began back in 1996. She last appeared in Ups and Downs, a devised piece of theatre for KDC, but can’t remember when it was as she played an amnesiac. Being a true method actor, we would advise you to make yourself aware of the fire exits.

Michelle-Louise Wright
This is Michelle-Louise’s second production with KDC after 2014’s Tiger at the Gates – where Troy burned down too! Other recent performances have been Fluellen in Henry V and Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing (SLT). Michelle-Louise trained as an actress through LAMDA. She works as a teacher of English and Drama, shamelessly indoctrinating her students into a love of Shakespeare. Her passions include very loud rock music, real ale and visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, where she dreams of one day acting with Jamie Parker.

Poppy Cockburn
Poppy is a newcomer to KDC. This year her new year’s resolution was to go to the theatre more often so she’s been very pleased to take that one big step further by being in some theatre. She hopes her performance will not be too woeful.

Director – Andy Marchant
This is Andy’s fifth time directing with KDC Theatre, but his first working with the emergency services. Previous shows directed with KDC and other companies include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (SEDOS 2008), Alfie (KDC 2010), The Trial (Tower 2010), A Number (KDC 2012) and Gormenghast (SEDOS 2013). The hunt for the NEXT darkly bonkers play begins now…

Co-Director/Producer – Katy Treble
Katy has been involved in three KDC Theatre productions to date performing on stage however this is her first time working behind the scenes. She is delighted to be working with such a hard working and amiable cast and wishes them the best of luck with their run of The Arsonists.
Incidentally she has been involved with Greeks and Firefighters… But that’s another story.

Amended on 7 October 2017 to remove image on request

Dinner Cast Biographies

Buy your tickets via the Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Howard Horner – Lars

This is Howard’s first involvement with KDC, and he is very excited to be involved. Howard acted throughout school and University, and since graduating has performed in various shows in and around London, including The Massacre at Paris (The Rose Playhouse) and The Troublesome Reign of King John with Shakespeare’s Globe (Inner Temple). This Summer he will performing in Dead Man’s Cell Phone at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Matthew Jordan – Mike

Originally from Skegness, Matthew is 22 years old and work as a chef, and graduated last year from Royal Holloway, University of London with a degree in politics where he also acted in several productions.

Ben Antoniades – The Waiter

Ben is currently at college studying for a Level 3 diploma in Drama where he has just finished his first year. He used to be in PQA (Pauline Quirke Academy) where he performed in the show Bugsy Malone playing Fat Sam. He is also currently performing in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, alongside his duties as the Waiter.

Frances McGonigle – Paige

This is Frances’ first KDC performance and she is excited to bring the role of the neurotic Paige to life. Frances is a member of South London Theatre, where she has performed in Henry V and Timon of Athens. While studying drama at university, she performed in another juicy role as Eve from Neil Labutes “The shape of Things”. Frances now works in education where she teaches drama workshops and interactive storytelling. She is very much looking forward to being back on stage this summer.

Jess Anderson – Wynne

Jess loves to talk about herself in the third person. She likes long walks on the beach, is partial to a profiterole and will happily take payment for autographs in the form of gin after the show. Oh go on, Jess dares you.

Charlie Bailey – Hal

Charlie has been training with ‘W1Workshops’ for the past two years and plans to apply for Drama School in the near future. Credits Include: Ajax in ‘Tiger & The Gates’, Reggie in ‘The Accrington Pals’ & ‘Mismatched’. He has immensely enjoyed working with the Cast & Creative Team of this production.

Anna Tsekouras – Siân

It’s only thanks to her day job as a magazine editor and journalist that Anna has been kept from performing for her favourite theatre company, KDC. Having studied Drama at the Victorian College of the Arts in Australia, while balancing a degree in Law and Psychology (then followed by a quarter life crisis and career change into journalism) – she has always been drawn back to the stage, preferring the job tittle of “starving artist” to “overpaid lawyer”. Trained in dance and movement, she has performed in a string of theatre productions (Macbeth; The Crucible) and has also featured in TV (Under the Cover) as well as presenting various lifestyle and entertainment TV segments back in Oz. She is now thrilled to be back and performing with KDC in this killer comedy.

Dinner Cast List

Dinner written by Moira Buffini, directed by Chris Davis is performing 23-27 June 2015, at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, Kentish Town. The cast is as follows:

Paige – Frances McGonigle
Lars – Howard Horner
Wynne – Jess Anderson
Hal – Charlie Bailey
Siân – Anna Tsekouras
Mike – Matthew Jordan
The Waiter – Ben Antoniades

Assistant Director – Hayley Cameron

The Arsonists Cast List

Tickets now on sale from the Lion & Unicorn

The Arsonists, written by Max Frisch, translated by Alastair Beaton, directed by Andy Marchant is performing 7-11 July 2015 at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, Kentish Town. The cast is as follows:

Biedermann – Adam Moulder
Babette – Alannah King
Eisenring – Martin Hojeberg
Schmitz – James McKendrick
Anna – Fanny Klefelt

Chorus
Aiofe Deane
Chris O’Dea
Clodagh Eyres
Martina Messing
Michelle-Louise Wright
Poppy Cockburn

Summer Season 2015 Audition Notices

Two dark and darkly funny plays of domestic terror and suburban morality!

First play up, from 23 to 27 June will be the amazing Moira Buffini’s deliciously twisted Dinner, the awkwardness of a tense and “civilised” dinner party pushed to about as far as it can go. Dinner will be directed by Chris Davis and assistant directed by Hayley Cameron. Read the full audition notice

The second play of the season, with a week’s gap between them, will run from 7 to 11 July, and will be the incendiary moral play without morals, The Arsonists, by Max Frisch, translated by Alistair Beaton, and directed by Andy Marchant. Read the full audition notice

Audition nights are Tuesday 5 and Thursday 7 May, with callbacks on the 9 at Cleanbreak Studios, Patshull Road, Kentish Town. Both initial audition nights are free to attend, with no registration required and no preparation needed. The callbacks are invitation only, and we will let you know if we want to see more of you by Friday evening.

Summer Season 2015 Auditions

There have been a few delays in being able to officially provide you with the titles of our Summer Season at the Lion and Unicorn. The delays are unfortunately still ongoing, due to both the tight turnaround from our Spring Season, certain unavailabilities, and a series of outstanding queries with various licensors.

I know this will be frustrating for you, as it is frustrating for us at KDC Theatre to not be able to confirm this information in a timely manner, but I can assure you of this:

Both myself, as one of the season’s directors, Chris (as the other) and his AD, Hayley, have been working to swiftly resolve the issue and have come up with several exciting titles which we have been actively pursuing. We have also worked hard to ensure that these titles have an equal and broad range of roles for both male and female players of all ages. The plan from both of us was always that there would be nothing you as auditionees needed to prepare.

We intend to make an announcement later in the week regarding the Summer Season, so please keep your eyes peeled!

Andy Marchant
KDC Theatre Artistic Director