WRITERS

Ciarán Myers (Silk) is a recent graduate of MFA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He’s an alumnus of the Tron Theatre’s 100 Club in Glasgow at the Traverse Theatre?s Directing Program in Edinburgh. In the first year since finishing his master’s degree Ciarán has had two full-length premieres, one in London and one in Edinburgh, and won a modest

Philippa Mannion (Wrecking Ball) is a playwright, producer and performer based in London, originally from Edinburgh. In 2010, she won the BBC Scotland Radio Drama Finding New Dramatic Voices competition. Philippa has been mentored by the Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and completed an MA in Writing for Performance at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Philippa is developing her own solo show Binary for Hotbed: A Festival of Sex at Camden People’s Theatre.

Maryam Hamidi (Builders)is a theatre maker, writer and actor. In 2006 she was mentored through the Playwrights Studio Scotland developing ‘Poppies’ exploring the human cost of the Afgani opium trade. She co-wrote and performed the Amnesty Award nominated ‘The Chronicles of Irania’ (A Moment’s Peace). Most recently she has been developing an immersive simulated archaeological dig unearthing the otherness of the diasporic experience. She recently started BOOST, a grassroots initiative to promote diverse talent across Stage and Screen in Scotland.

Rosanna Hall (Tick) is an award-winning Scottish playwright and cellist who has a Masters in Writing for Theatre and Performance. She enjoys working in a variety of ways including devising, live music collaboration, performance poetry, solo structured playwriting projects and other mischief. She has had work performed across Scotland, and in London and Moscow. She particularly enjoys telling stories which come from lesser heard voices or seen places and believes in the political power of live performance – theatre is the first stage of a riot, right?

Rob Drummond (Sleeping Beauty (Syndrome)) His work MRWRITE (National Theatre of Scotland) and UNCANNYVALLEY (Borderline Theatre), WRESTLING (The Arches), the multi award winning BULLET CATCH (The Arches) and QUIZ SHOW (The Traverse), which won a CATSaward for best new play in 2013. Having completed a word tour of Bullet Catch which enjoyed sell out runs in London, New York, Sydney, Wellington and Vancouver, Rob is currently writing new commissions for four of the UK’s top theatres, The Traverse, The National Theatre of Scotland, The Royal Court and the National Theatre . He is also working on two screenplays.

Morna Young (Headland) is a playwright, theatre-maker, actress and musician from Moray. She received the New Playwright?s Award 2014 (Playwright’s Studio Scotland). Her full-length play, LOST AT SEA, is in pre-production with Eden Court following a sold out rehearsed reading (co-produced by Stellar Quines, Out of the Darkness and Moray Council). Other credits include: NETTING (a Play, a Pie and a Pint 2015 and national tour 2016), NEVER LAND (Eden Court national tour 2014) and B-ROADS(Play Pieces, 2013). She has performed extracts of her work at the Scottish Parliament, the European Authors’ Festival (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland) and National Poetry Month (France).

Julie Tsang (Troon) is an emerging playwright residing in Glasgow. Her play The Sorry Story of the Angel and the Bear was performed as part of Scene Unseen at the Tron theatre Glasgow.Her other plays include Like this…, Angel/Bear (Mayfesto) and Ragdolls (Reclaim the F word). Troon was shortlisted for the Short Play Award at Cumbernauld Theatre in 2015, and Escaping Time was in the final for the Progressive Playwright Award in 2016. Julie was mentored on the New Playwrights’ Programme with the Playwrights Studio Scotland in 2012.

Johnny McKnight (A Perfect Stroke) is a writer, director, actor and performer as well as the joint artistic director of Random Accomplice Theatre Company. He has been described as the new vanguard of pantomime in the national press having written 14 contemporary pantomimes. His critically acclaimed play WENDY HOOSE, produced by Birds of Paradise and Random Accomplice, was on at the Soho Theatre London in Spring 2016. Johnny is currently under commission to the Royal Court Theatre, the Tron Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, National Theatre of Scotland, and the Citizens Theatre.

Oliver Emanuel (Prom) is an internationally award-winning playwright based in Glasgow. Dragon won Best Show For Children and Young People at the UK Theatre Awards 2014. His English version of Jan Sobrie’s Titus won The People’s Choice Victor Award at IPAY2015. His other plays include: The 306: Dawn, The Lost Things, Spirit of Adventure, Magpie Park, and Man Across The Way. As well as theatre, Oliver writes extensively for radio. Currently he’s a lead writer on Emile Zola: Blood, Sex & Money starring Glenda Jackson for BBC Radio 4. Oliver is also a part-time Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews. For more info: www.oliveremanuel.com

 

DIRECTORS

Katherine Nesbitt (Prom; Headland; Silk) was awarded a JMK Regional director bursary in 2015. Directing credits include work at Imaginate, Tron Theatre, the Arches. Assisting credits include Swallow (Orla O’Loughlin, Traverse), A Walk at the Edge of the World (Magnetic North). She was recently a lead artist on Magnetic North’s Rough Mix programme at the Lemon Tree.

Stephanie Kempson (Troon) is a Bristol-based director who is currently touring her second show with Documental Theatre (Pulling Out), and previous directed Score (BAC, Southbank Centre). Stephanie received the JMK regional bursary to assisted Sally Cookson on her two-part Jane Eyre.

Katie-Ann McDonough (A Perfect Stroke) studied Drama and English at University College Dublin followed by Theatre Directing at The National University of Ireland (2012).She has directed at Park Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, The White Bear and Central School of Speech and Drama. She is currently part of the StoneCrabs Young Director?s Programme 2015-2016.

Floriana Dezou (Wrecking Ball) is a director/producer currently working in the Education and Community Department of The Old Vic Theatre having previously joined from English Touring Theatre. She is co-Artistic Director and founder of RE:WRITETheatre platform for emerging talent to respond to thematic briefs inspired by the society we live in. In July RE:WRITEproduced their first evening of short plays at Theatre503. As a director Floriana has trained at the Young Vic Theatre and most recently was the Assistant Director on Young Vic’s Taking Part Production at the British Museum.

Rob Jones (Builders; Tick) is a director, sound artist and video designer based in Glasgow and London. Directing credits include The Forbidden Experiment, Bonny Boys are Few, and #neednothing (Enormous Yes / The Arches) and The Great Train Race (Oran Mor). His assisting credits include Cumbernauld Theatre, National Theatre of Scoland and Traverse. Rob was awarded a Leverhulme Arts Scholarship by the JMK Theatre Trust and the Traverse, and won the 2014 Platform 18 Award at The Arches.

Finn den Hertog (Sleeping Beauty (Syndrome)) trained at RCSin Glasgow (formerly RSAMD) graduating in 2007. Recent directing includes: Men In Blue (Young Vic Taking Part/Latitude Festival); Light Boxes (Grid Iron – Fringe First 2015); Squash (Traverse); Ten New Messages (Young Vic); The Last Dictator (Oran Mor); Brief Encounters (Dundee Rep). Assisting includes: The forthcoming production of Amadeus (National Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic/St Ann?s Warehouse); Macbeth (Young Vic); You Once Said Yes (Look Left Look Right); The Arabian Nights (The Tricycle) In 2014 Finn was one of five emerging theatre makers on the National Theatre of Scotland?s Auteurs Project.

 

ACTORS

Holly Oxinou graduated from ALRA having trained extensively in Theatre, Film and TV. Her credits whilst training include, Arabian Nights, Daisy Pulls it Off, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Playhouse Creatures.

Lucy Goldie trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Her credits include: What’s Funny?(BBC); Eve(CBBC); Love 2.0 (Sleeping Warrior/ Beacon Arts Centre); Spectretown (Traverse Hothouse); The Hex Factor (BBC Radio);The Idiot at the Wall (Stoirm Òg) and The Pitchfork Disney (Heroes Theatre/ The Tron).

Molly Vevers trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Theatre credits – Ross & Rachel (MOTOR/Edinburgh Fringe – winner of the Stage Award for Acting Excellence 2015), A First World Problem (Theatre 503), The Sleeping Beauties (Sherman Cymru), Time and the Conways (Edinburgh Lyceum), Kora (Magnetic North), Snow Queen, She Town (Dundee Rep).

Rose Akroyd graduated from Alra in 2013 and is currently the voice of Vitality on their TV ads, has recently appeared at the Rose in a gender swapped Revenger’s Tragedy, and is appearing in the Camden Fringe in the British premiere of Cut Throat. She is also a storyteller and a potter when she has the chance!

Moir Leslie Theatre: extensive work in West End, repertory and British and international tours. Radio: over three hundred dramas including the long running comedy series Flying The Flag and The Archers (Sophie Barlow and The Rev. Janet Fisher).Television includes: The Bill, Pride and Prejudice, Unexplained Laughter, Grafters and Dalziel & Pascoe and recently recorded pilot episodes of two TV comedies; Wannabes and Assisted Devices.Films: Remote, The Secret, Jack & Jackie, Vigilante.

Amy Dier trained at ALRA on the BA Acting course graduating in 2015. She was in ‘Valhalla’ at Theatre 503 last year and is excited to be back again this summer. Other Theatre includes: Danielle in ‘Baby Girl’, Tess in ‘Blue Stockings’, Linda in ‘You Can Still Make a Killing’ and Fanny Dashwood in ‘Sense and Sensibility’. Represented by Marcus Ellard at Simon & How Associates.

Joshua Manning is originally from Edinburgh and trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Theatre includes The 306: Dawn (National Theatre of Scotland); King Lot in Merlin (Nuffield); The BFG in The BFG (Birmingham Rep). TV includes: Hector McBride in Doctors, Krrk Krrspltx in Intergalactic Kitchen (BBC); Film includes: The Muppets

Karl Wilson toured the UK and Sydney with KING CHARLES III, directed by Rupert Goold. He trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Credits include: Et Tu Elvie (Xanadu Productions); A Midsummer Night?s Dream (BurntOut Theatre); Trojan Women (Nameless Theatre); Film credits include: Hundreds, Tens And Units (Cold Red Films); Moon In Gemini (Yellow Productions), Dan The Man (Cold Red Films); and What We Leave Behind (Sarah McAllister Productions)

Rufus Graham comes from Edinburgh and trained at Central from 2001-3. Theatre includes The Yard, Riverside, Gate, Brighton Festival, Stonecrabs, King?s Head, TNT and Theatre Alba. He directed Purcell?s ?Dido & Aeneas?for Les Fauristes?at the Steiner Theatre, with a cast of 50, and has just performed a rehearsed reading of ‘Promised Land’ (2002) by Samir Yasbek at the Brazilian Embassy, playing the lead role of Moses.

Jenni MacKenzie-Jones has just graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Roles whilst training include Aaron in Coram Boy and Isabella Linton in Wuthering Heights. She is currently developing new theatre piece The Heathrow 13.

Gemma Stroyan is originally from Edinburgh and trained at Arts Ed and University of Glasgow. She appeared at the Royal Lyceum in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Gemma was nominated for an Off West End award for Othello at the Riverside Studios and last year toured the UK with hit crime thriller ‘Dead Simple’.

Carla Rose has recently graduated from ALRA, in her time there she took on various roles including ‘Leah’ in Dennis Kelly’s ‘DNA’, ‘Scarecrow’ in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Marina’ in Judy Upton’s ‘People on the river’. Outside of ALRA Carla has recently played various roles in the Forducks independent film ‘A sensation Novel’, ‘Ensemble’ in Paul Murphy’s ‘Valhalla’ at Theatre 503, ‘Kirsty’ in Michael Ross’s new play ‘Protect and Survive’ and most recently ‘Janet’ in the short film ‘Advent’

Matthew Romain trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Theatre includes: The Inn at Lydda (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse); The Delicate Art of Keeping in Touch (Lion & Unicorn Theatre); Hamlet (Globe to Globe world tour); Twelfth Night (Orange Tree); King Lear, Hamlet (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Recruiting Officer (Donmar Warehouse); Privates on Parade, See How They Run, My Fair Lady, Trelawney of the ‘Wells’ (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Onassis (West End & Derby Playhouse) and The Shape of Things (Arts Theatre) Television includes: Sherlock

Larner Taylor is a recent ALRA Graduate. Credits whilst training include, Midsummer Nights Dream, As You Like It, Jungle Book & The Cherry Orchard, By My Strength (So and So Arts Club), An Inspector Calls (National Tour), Gargantua (Oliver, NT Connections), Blue Murder (ITV)

Emma Ballantine grew up in Edinburgh and trained at The Oxford School of Drama. Theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (York Theatre Royal/Flanagan Collective); Enduring Song (Southwark Playhouse); Honest (Salisbury Playhouse); and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh).

John Scougall trained at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His previous theatre credits include The Imperial Express (Xinchan Theatre Company, Beijing), It Never Ends (Traverse/Cumbernauld), Chaplin (ACEProductions) and Rough Island (Mull/Oran Mor). His previous screen credits include Outlander (Left Bank Pictures).

Edward Way has previously appeared in What The Ladybird Heard (International Tour. Kenny Wax LTD. 2016), Hugless Douglas (UK Tour. Blunderbus Theatre Company. 2015), Pornography by Simon Stephens (ALRA. 2013), Granny of the Dead (Feature. 2012), The Christmas Party (Short. 2014), Think Tank (Short. 2013).

Isabel Sharman trained at ALRA. Theatre credits include – Your Toys (Norden Farm; Slot Machine); Eat Me (Tron Labs, Tron Theatre); The Little Match Girl (Moon on a Stick); Nightingales (New Wimbledon Studio; In Plain Sight). Isabel is the voice of Eve for the Podiobook of Young Adult fiction Afterlife, and is an associate artist of Giddy Aunt.

Tyrone Purling graduated from the BA Acting Course (Collaborative and Devised Theatre) at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Credits include Man/Young Man in “Christmas” and Boy’s Mate in “Broken”, both at The White Bear. He runs Parrot’s Beak Theatre.

Pamela Wernham trained at both Mountview and The MTA, Pamela is also a trained singer and flautist and has a keen interest in new writing. Favourite professional credits include Jeannie in “There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop, Swears he’s Elvis”(Ovation Productions) and Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing” (Chapterhouse).

Alexis Leighton trained at the RSAMD and has appeared at Citizens Theatre; Edinburgh International Festival; Traverse; Northampton Theatre Royal; Arches Theatre and Taggart for ITV. She toured her one- woman show Miss Margarida’s Way, by Brazillian playwright, Roberto Athayde to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

James Sutherland trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama. Theatre credits include ‘Wojtek the Bear’ (Edinburgh Festival , ‘Firefly Heartbeat’ (Etcetera & Hope Theatres), ‘Lockerbie: Lost Voices’ (Scottish Tour), Lear and his Daughters’ (Kings Head), ‘Great Expectations’ (Brockley Jack). TV credits include: ‘Saved’ (ITV), ‘The Widower’ (ITV), ‘The Tudors’ (BBC2), ‘Stockwell’ (ITV), ‘Plus One’ (Channel 4), and ‘Taggart’ (Scottish Television).

Michael Harkin grew up in rural Northern Ireland and recently graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He was awarded the Patricia Routledge Bursary during his time in Bristol, and recently appeared on the Theatre 503 stage as part of Rapid, Write, Response.