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July 2019
The Fallout Zone
Beginning life as a stand-up comedy set at The Backyard Comedy Club in March 2018, the piece grew into a 20-minute monologue called I'm Not Prejudiced...But, performed at The White Bear Theatre in July 2018. From there, as part of the Ovalhouse Adult Company, it began to develop as a full-length solo show, with a new name It's Never Too Late To Be An Astronaut and a sharing at the Ovalhouse Theatre in December 2018.
A full-length solo show now written, we benefited from an afternoon's R&D at the Young Vic in March 2019, courtesy of their Director's Network.
Still not happy with the finished product, and after some robust feedback to self, as well as from a few Artistic Directors, along with some resounding and meaningful silences, the real story I wanted to tell finally emerged.
So after several lives and a few name changes, The Fallout Zone is a play for two actors, telling the deeply personal story of a budding teenage left-wing, feminist and pacifist growing up in the 1980s with a dad who helped build a nuclear bomb and a family who are suffering the consequences.
Throughout the drafts, and redrafts and redrafts of the redrafts and all its various lines, the through-line of The Fallout Zone in all its incarnations is how dark topics are treated with humour and warmth. We're applying to festivals and have some exciting plans in the pipeline, and now we have a trailer and a website, too :)
A full-length solo show now written, we benefited from an afternoon's R&D at the Young Vic in March 2019, courtesy of their Director's Network.
Still not happy with the finished product, and after some robust feedback to self, as well as from a few Artistic Directors, along with some resounding and meaningful silences, the real story I wanted to tell finally emerged.
So after several lives and a few name changes, The Fallout Zone is a play for two actors, telling the deeply personal story of a budding teenage left-wing, feminist and pacifist growing up in the 1980s with a dad who helped build a nuclear bomb and a family who are suffering the consequences.
Throughout the drafts, and redrafts and redrafts of the redrafts and all its various lines, the through-line of The Fallout Zone in all its incarnations is how dark topics are treated with humour and warmth. We're applying to festivals and have some exciting plans in the pipeline, and now we have a trailer and a website, too :)
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It's the 1980s. Elin is a budding pacifist. Her dad made a nuclear bomb. And now there are consequences. It's the biggest government cover-up no one has ever heard of.
Elin is drunk at her dad's funeral when her mum hands her the teenage diaries she threw away years ago. She is catapulted back to the 1980s, an era of Glasnost, protest and people power, and to a young girl finding her feminist, liberal, pacifist feet at a time when her dad is engaged in the battle of his life over his part in the Cold War. www.thefalloutzone.com |
November 2018
Dad's Hands
- short film with Rahim Moledina, poem written & narrated by me
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Rahim is a dear friend and prolific filmmaker. We were chatting one day about how it would be lovely to do something together. Rahim's work is quite abstract - so not much use for actual actors per se. So he said, if you ever write anything, record it and send it to me, and let's see if it grabs me. Then I remembered a monologue I'd written after one of my regular trips on the way home one night between Earl's Court tube and Parson's Green. So I recorded it and sent it to him. The result is Dad's Hands:
that's a picture of me and my pop <3
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September 2018
New headshots, updated showreel and got me some learnin'
My favourite bit of news is the behind the scenes stuff. I've joined Hoopla's Performance Improvisation Course - just to keep playing, stay in the moment, listening, creative and spontaneous.
And best bit of all, I've joined the Ovalhouse Theatre's Adult Company - a 12 week program specifically to help performers develop a solo show. 2 weeks in and I am finding it so useful, my brain is bursting with ideas and I'm loving it. My creativity comes in bounces off others.
And I'm incredibly grateful to the Ovalhouse for putting on a heavily subsidised course with the sole intent of supporting unknown artists.
And best bit of all, I've joined the Ovalhouse Theatre's Adult Company - a 12 week program specifically to help performers develop a solo show. 2 weeks in and I am finding it so useful, my brain is bursting with ideas and I'm loving it. My creativity comes in bounces off others.
And I'm incredibly grateful to the Ovalhouse for putting on a heavily subsidised course with the sole intent of supporting unknown artists.
Dramatically paired down my showreel, which can only please any casting folk. And split into 2 separate; English & French, with some new wee bits and still useful old bits.
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Been patiently growing my hair. When it's curly it takes a loooooong time. Thankfully I know a good headshot photographer :)
May to July 2018
I'm Not Prejudiced...But
So July. This marked the beginning of my solo show. I've been bouncing around ideas for a long time and decided to use the supportive environment of a slot in Cuckoo Bang's July 16th BITS @ The White Bear to trial a short work in progress.
To be completely honest, 3 weeks before the scratch and I still hadn't committed anything to paper - which thankfully wasn't really an issue because I'd been thinking about it so much, and working it in my head that it all came flooding out.
And I couldn't have done it without the incredibly lucky pairing with director Catriona Bolt (@catreeona_ on twitter) who helped me piece it all together. Did I say I couldn't have done it without Cat Bolt? Well I couldn't have.
We started out with two very different pieces of text, blending the two deliberately opposing styles and then cutting, cutting, cutting. We ended up with a 20 minute WIP; part comedy, part confessional, part heart-break, part mental health awareness, part political polemic.
We were blown away with the response. I think we both thought it would go down okay but neither of us expected the audience response we received.
So onwards we go - I have more to write and develop, with a view to finishing with a full length solo show. I'm not sure it knows what genre it wants to be yet. Maybe it's a new genre ;)
But does this really matter with a solo show? If the audience are with you then they'll join you as you travel across genres...won't they?
To be completely honest, 3 weeks before the scratch and I still hadn't committed anything to paper - which thankfully wasn't really an issue because I'd been thinking about it so much, and working it in my head that it all came flooding out.
And I couldn't have done it without the incredibly lucky pairing with director Catriona Bolt (@catreeona_ on twitter) who helped me piece it all together. Did I say I couldn't have done it without Cat Bolt? Well I couldn't have.
We started out with two very different pieces of text, blending the two deliberately opposing styles and then cutting, cutting, cutting. We ended up with a 20 minute WIP; part comedy, part confessional, part heart-break, part mental health awareness, part political polemic.
We were blown away with the response. I think we both thought it would go down okay but neither of us expected the audience response we received.
So onwards we go - I have more to write and develop, with a view to finishing with a full length solo show. I'm not sure it knows what genre it wants to be yet. Maybe it's a new genre ;)
But does this really matter with a solo show? If the audience are with you then they'll join you as you travel across genres...won't they?
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In May I appeared in another BITS @ The White Bear Theatre. This time in a two-hander with Chris may, as Alice in Holly Mallett's dystopian comedy, "Fuck!"
Also in May, we filmed "Farewell" a 5 minute comedy with 12aYear Productions. The finish result came out a month later - here's the link to it on youtube: |
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February & March 2018
Back for BITS, a tryout for an Edinburgh bursary, the Vagina Monologues, a short film and...my first EVER performance as a stand-up comic...
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DATE
Monday 26th February
Rehearsed Reading of THE EDINBURGH TEST, with Missmanaged Theatre in the Theatre Reserve Tryouts 2018 |
WHAT / WHERE
The Pleasance Theatre, Islington
Join us for a sneak peak at a wide range of innovative and ambitious new shows as companies vie for the chance to receive the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund for Theatre 2018 |
CLICK ON IMAGES FOR BOOKING AND INFORMATION
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Monday 5th March
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Theatre Delicatessen in association with Rose Bruford College |
The Nursery Theatre, Theatre Delicatessen
Brought to you by a group of Rose Bruford MA Students in assosiation with Theatre Delicatessen and The Nursery Theatre, Eve Ensler’s THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. In Aid of Womans Trust and V-day |
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Sunday 18th March
Camden Comedy Club Stand Up comedy showcase |
Back Yard Comedy Club, Bethnal Green
Graduates of the Camden Comedy School 6-week intensive stand-up comedy course strut their stuff in public for the first time ever... Booking details to follow |
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Monday 19th March
BITS A night of new writing in 15 minute scenes |
The White Bear Theatre, Kennington
CUCKOO BANG present a fun, relaxed, informal and supportive night of new writing showcasing the best emerging & established writers, directors and actors in the country. |
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February 2018
Very happy to be returning to The White Bear, for BITS
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BITS - A night of new writing at The White Bear Theatre, Kennington, London.
12TH FEBRUARY 2018 @ 7.30PM 
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Tickets £8 (£10 on the door).
BOOK HERE Line up's: 12TH FEBRUARY 100 Ways The Fire Starts by Max Wilkinson Directed by Christopher Yarnell Benches by Roger Goldsmith Directed by Eleanor King Drifting by Chris Mayo Directed by Eloise Poulton When We Came Here by Matthew Gardner Directed by Mg LaFauci Bed of Roses by Sophie Olivia Directed by Lata Nobes Mercury by Isla Van Tricht Directed by Dadiow Lin |
January 2018
new headshots
December 2017
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I am NEVER going to be one of those actors who goes all cool and pretends not to be excited at seeing themselves in an advert on the tube. It's work. I'm always happy to get work - it's what I love doing so why pretend to be nonchalant about it?
Evidence item #1. Selfie with my Christmas ad on the District Line. Sorry Not Sorry. Christmas Ad for Capital One "Check it Don't Chance it" And they were very lovely people to work with, who looked after us very well. Grandma & Grandad in the advert were 75 & 80 years old respectively - that's the way to go - #actinggoals. Still & advert below. (Blink and you'll miss me.) |
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August 2017
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Photos from The Weir
@ The White Bear Theatre, Kennington July 2017 More photos can be seen here:
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New Agent!!
Very, very happy to announce that I've joined the lovely, ball of energy that is Neal Wright at Jewell Wright Ltd after first meeting him four years ago at a friend's show.
Can't wait to see what the future will bring us :) 
Jewell Wright Ltd
22 Upper Ground London SE1 9PD neal@jwl-london.com www.jwl-london.com Tel: 020 3865 0932 |
July 2017
Appearing in The Weir by Conor McPherson, playing the central role of Valerie, a bereaved mother from Dublin. A harrowing part but a gift for an actor. I am completely in love with this play, it's so truthful to how people find their way through life, with glimmers of hope that come from random encounters with strangers. It's a humanist play.
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June 2016
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IN MY HEAD with Cuckoo Bang Theatre at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, June 2016
A very successful run at the Brockley Jack, with a full theatre every night and post-show Q&A on Wednesday 1st June.
"Funny, sad, heart-wrenching, it hits you deeply"
"The show was excellent. Incredibly raw. I had goosebumps" "A bold and convincing portrayal of the many faces of mental illness" "It's good. Sometimes too good: Saw an old self a couple of times on the stage" "Brilliant ensemble work and such an important theme. It was v. good" |
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"You should all go and see this. It was a very beautiful, wonderful piece of theatre, both harrowing and uplifting in equal turns, but most of all thought-provoking"
"Great representation of current issues in #mentalhealth. Well done @cuckoobang. Great job!"
"Great representation of current issues in #mentalhealth. Well done @cuckoobang. Great job!"
March 2016
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UPDATE: Pieces selected. FEBRUARY'S TIGZ THEATRE LGBT HISTORY MONTH - SCRATCH IT!
Tigz Theatre have announced that the pieces selected for further development are "An Unequal Freedom" by Edwin Preece and "Loving Her" by Stephen M Hornby.
‘An Unequal Freedom’ will be developed for performance in February 2017 as part of LGBT history Month and ‘Loving Her’ will be performed August 2017 as part of the Camden Fringe. More details will be released as we have them www.tigztheatre.co.uk |
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'IN MY HEAD' - MORE DATES ANNOUNCED
Tuesday 31st May - Saturday 4th June @ Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
“It’s seen as a flaw, a weakness, people don’t understand it, people are scared of what they can’t see.”
A bold, funny, angry, touching and honest portrayal of mental health in the modern world, In My Head is a part verbatim, part fictional exploration of those who struggle, those who help, and those who fail to notice.
Hurtling through twenty-two scenes, six actors play over forty characters in Chris Mayo’s striking new play.
Follow the link for further information: www.brockleyjack.co.uk
Tuesday 31st May - Saturday 4th June @ Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
“It’s seen as a flaw, a weakness, people don’t understand it, people are scared of what they can’t see.”
A bold, funny, angry, touching and honest portrayal of mental health in the modern world, In My Head is a part verbatim, part fictional exploration of those who struggle, those who help, and those who fail to notice.
Hurtling through twenty-two scenes, six actors play over forty characters in Chris Mayo’s striking new play.
Follow the link for further information: www.brockleyjack.co.uk
LIFE: SENTENCE
Dealing with the questions of immigration, identity and the community, Life, Sentence plays with the musicality of languages.
Centred around Clapham, this project adds faces to the voices from the local streets. It superimposes interviews with 'real' people on a narrative unfolding on stage. It reflects on how communities evolve and integrate waves of immigrants revealing social and political issues. It targets preconceptions by looking at individual journeys.
Because what we think we know about immigration is not what is actually happening.
Performances on 21st March, 2nd May, 23rd May @ Bread & Roses Theatre, Clapham, and 1st & 2nd August @ Camden People's Theatre
Directed by Laurence Dollander
Dealing with the questions of immigration, identity and the community, Life, Sentence plays with the musicality of languages.
Centred around Clapham, this project adds faces to the voices from the local streets. It superimposes interviews with 'real' people on a narrative unfolding on stage. It reflects on how communities evolve and integrate waves of immigrants revealing social and political issues. It targets preconceptions by looking at individual journeys.
Because what we think we know about immigration is not what is actually happening.
Performances on 21st March, 2nd May, 23rd May @ Bread & Roses Theatre, Clapham, and 1st & 2nd August @ Camden People's Theatre
Directed by Laurence Dollander
February 2016
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LGBT HISTORY MONTH - SCRATCH IT! @ LONDON WELSH CENTRE
Scratch It! is Tigz Theatre’s new writing event staged twice a year. The aim of the event is to discover new pieces that are then considered for further development. In February “Scratch It!” will give voice to Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) writers and themes as we explore what it means to be LGBT during LGBT history month.
The event contains 5, 20 minute pieces that deal with a range of LGBT themes. Performances will take place Friday 19th Feb - Tuesday 23rd Feb at The London Welsh Centre, Grey's Inn Road Follow the link for further information: www.tigztheatre.co.uk |
WW2 HISTORICAL SHORT
Really had fun playing "Pat", a WW2 Londoner sheltering in an Underground Station during the blitz. A larger than life, Horrible Histories-style educational historical short for children. Will have footage soon.
Really had fun playing "Pat", a WW2 Londoner sheltering in an Underground Station during the blitz. A larger than life, Horrible Histories-style educational historical short for children. Will have footage soon.
December 2015
EVE AND DOM TAKE A SHOWER
Now in post-production, a great little comedy short called 'Eve & Dom Take A Shower,' which centres around Eve and Dom, a young couple living in a crowded London flat-share. Elin plays 'Cocaine Tina', the hot-mess Aussie house-mate. watch this space for updates. we hope to have a finished cut soon to kick off 2016.
Directed by Marc Hardman (Lucky Coin Films)
Produced by Susanne Freyberg
Directed by Marc Hardman (Lucky Coin Films)
Produced by Susanne Freyberg
watch the short here on vimeo
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November 2015
IN MY HEAD
*2016 dates announced soon*
"it's seen as a flaw, a weakness, people don't understand it, people are scared of what they can't see"
Hurtling through twenty-two scenes, six actors play over forty characters in Chris Mayo's striking new play. a bold, loud, funny, angry, touching and honest portrayal of mental health in the modern world.
IN MY HEAD is a part verbatim, part fictional exploration of those who struggle, those who help and those who fail to notice.
Directed by chris mayo
Produced by cuckoo bang www.cuckoobang.co.uk
*2016 dates announced soon*
"it's seen as a flaw, a weakness, people don't understand it, people are scared of what they can't see"
Hurtling through twenty-two scenes, six actors play over forty characters in Chris Mayo's striking new play. a bold, loud, funny, angry, touching and honest portrayal of mental health in the modern world.
IN MY HEAD is a part verbatim, part fictional exploration of those who struggle, those who help and those who fail to notice.
Directed by chris mayo
Produced by cuckoo bang www.cuckoobang.co.uk
October 2015
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THE 39 STEPS
Directing two autumn/winter shows; "Bienvenue à Paris" for a 3 week UK schools tour and "39 steps" for a 6 week European tour. Touring France, Luxembourg & Germany until end Dec 2015 |
July 2015
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LES FOURBERIES DE SCAPIN
Playing scapin and other characters in and original language version of Molière's LES FOURBERIES DE SCAPIN at the Barons Court Theatre, Directed by Adam Morley |
