Cast

Helen Baker
Helen’s theatre credits include: Idle Jack in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (The Barbican, Directed by Giles Havergal CBE); Thyona in BIG LOVE (The Gate, directed by Melissa Kievman); Flora in THE NEW STATESMAN (UK Tour & Trafalgar Studios, directed by Jennie Darnell); Flämmchen in GRAND HOTEL (Donmar Warehouse Theatre, directed by Michael Grandage); Miss Dorothy Brown in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Shaftesbury Theatre, directed by Michael Mayer); Jessie Matthews in OVER MY SHOULDER (The Mill at Sonning and Greenwich Theatre, directed by Stewart Nicholls); Ensemble in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (London Palladium, directed by Adrian Noble); ‘Aladdin’ in ALADDIN (Players Theatre, directed by Geoffrey Brawn) and Bombalurina, Demeter, Jemima & Dance Captain in CATS (directed by Trevor Nunn).

Film credits include: Lorna Pearce in BREAKING AND ENTERING (directed by Anthony Minghella); Jeannie in WIPEOUT (directed by Adam Storke); DE-LOVELY (De-lovely Ltd, directed by Alvin Winkler) and JULIE AND THE (Parker Mead, directed by Brian Izzard).

Radio credits include various roles in MY BLUE WEDDING (Celador Productions).

Helen was Assistant Choreographer on TFI FRIDAY (Ginger Productions).

Commercial credits include: Lead in BRITISH GAS; Jack for THE ROYAL MAIL Jack & the Beanstalk stamp campaign (Christmas 2007) and lead role in DUNFERMLINE BUILDING SOCIETY commercial.



Esther Biddle
Esther trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Theatre includes: MACK AND MABEL (Criterion); BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (The New Wolsey, Ipswich); MARTIN GUERRE (The Watermill, Newbury); JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch); GASLIGHT (The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch); A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (New Wolsey, Ipswich); THE GRAVEYARD (Theatre 503); SUGAR (New Wolsey, Ipswich and Clwyd Theatr Cymru); A COURSE IN A RESTAURANT (Old Vic); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Queen’s Square, Bristol); CHARLEY’S AUNT (Queen’s Square, Bristol); ON THAT NOTE (Tobacco Factory, Bristol); LOVES LABOURS LOST (The Landor Theatre, Clapham); CHICKS (Alma Tavern Theatre, Bristol); THE PROBLEM (Alma Tavern Theatre, Bristol); THE MAIDS (Berlin); INTO THE WOODS (New Theatre, Oxford) and COMPANY (Old St. Paul’s, Edinburgh).

Film includes: LADIES IN WAITING (London Film School); CALIFORNIA (Milkshake Productions).



Paul Brightwell
Theatre includes: JOURNEY’S END (Playhouse, and Duke of York’s Theatre); CORIOLANUS (West Yorkshire Playhouse); LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS (RSC and Barbican) and SINGLE SPIES (National Theatre Littleton).

Television includes: THE ROMAN MYSTERIES (BBC); BLACKBEARD (Hallmark) and NEW ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (Warner Bros). Paul is about to begin filming his fifth series of THE COMMANDER.

Film includes: KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (directed by Ridley Scott); TITANIC (directed by James Cameron); SLIDING DOORS (directed by Peter Howitt) and STAGGERED (directed by Martin Clunes).



Edward Clayton
In the early 60s I played the Beadle in C.G. Bond’s SWEENEY TODD in Stoke-on-Trent.  Hal Prince chose this play to become the musicial which I have since done in London.  And recently it was very emotional to see the film of it with Johnny Depp.

Theatre includes season with the RSC; National Theatre; Liverpool Playhouse; Everyman; Nottingham; Stoke on Trent; Cheltenham; Mold; Mermaid; Birmingham Alex and Rep.



Anil Desai
Theatre includes: TINTIN (London Playhouse and tour); THE ONOMATOPOEIA SOCIETY (Gilded Balloon Edinburgh ’05); THE FORTUNE CLUB (Tricycle and Leicester Harmarket Theatres); THE NIGERIAN SPAM SCAM (The Pleasance); THE GIANT PINEAPPLE BOYS IN HOLLYWOODN’T (Gilded Balloon, Hen and Chickens); LET’S TALK BUSINESS (Soho Theatre); MY DAD’S CORNER SHOP (Birmingham Rep); WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE BODY (The Man in the Moon); ONE NIGHT: WHEN LOVE AND DESIRE BECAME A SIN (Theatre Royal Stratford East); THE SIMPLETON OF THE UNEXPECTED ISLES (The Orange Tree); THE CRUISE (The Waterman’s); MIRAD (National Studio); DEATHWATCH (Southwark Playhouse); THE PROMISED LAND (Young Vic); ROAD (Cockpit Theatre) and HANKY PANKY (Tricycle Theatre)

Television includes: COMEDY CUTS (ITV2); DOCTORS (BBC); KEEN EDDIE (Paramount); RE-IGNITED (Ideal World/Channel 4); MR CHARITY (BBC); ORRIBLE (BBC); THE BILL (Pearson TV); BARBARA (Carlton); THE BELIEF FILES (BBC Scotland) and GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME (BBC).

Film includes: DEAD EYES (Wysiwyg Films); SUPERSTAR DJ (CG Productions); BROWN LIKE ME (Inif Films); DECREED (HTV); BETTER LATE THAN NEVER (Chulo Films); LAAJOOL (Cumbersome Films); CRUCIAL TALES: PHOENIX (BBC/Crucial Films) and THE DRIVE (Anglia TV).

Radio includes: FROM BANGALORE WITH LOVE; MELA MANIA (BBC); BALTI KINGS (BBC); SURVIVAL KIT (BBC) and THE RED OLEANDER (BBC).

Anil is also the co-founder/writer of comedy sketch troupe THE GIANT PINEAPPLE BOYS, performing shows at Edinburgh Festival 2001-2004 and he currently performs as a stand-up impressionist and as Rajesh: The Bollywood Lounge Singer on the UK comedy circuit.



Neil Henry
Theatre includes: KING LEAR (Old Vic); THE PROVOK’D WIFE (Old Vic); GREAT BALLS OF FIRE (Cambridge Theatre); BLOWING WHISTLES (Croydon Warehouse and West End); LORD OF THE FLIES (West Yorkshire Playhouse and National Tour) and NEW BOY (Edinburgh Festival, UK tour, Broadway).

Television includes: HOLBY CITY (BBC); MY FAMILY (BBC); MURDER IN SUBURBIA (BBC); 2 POINT 4 CHILDREN (BBC); ACCORDING TO BEX (BBC); NO SWEAT (Initial) and NEXT OF KIN (BBC).

Film includes: FLOWERS AND COINS (First Name Films) and THE ONLY BOY FOR ME (Carlton).



Tom Hopper
Tom trained at Rose Bruford College, graduating with an honours Degree in Acting in 2006.

Theatre whilst at Rose Bruford included: The TEMPEST, WAY OF THE WORLD, COLLIERS FRIDAY NIGHT and FESTEN.

Tom was voted Expert Choice by the STAGE Newspaper at the Rose Bruford Acting Showcase June 2006.

Television includes: CASUALTY, 2007 (BBC) and KINGDOM, 2008 (ITV).

Film includes: SAXON (Sillwood Films) - nominated for THE MICHAEL POWELL AWARD for BEST NEW BRITISH FEATURE and INITIATION (Max Q Film) - winner of the Audience Choice Award, Leicester International Short Film Festival 2006

Tom is delighted to be performing at the Watford Palace Theatre in his first professional stage production.



Lisa Jackson
Lisa trained at LAMDA

Theatre includes: THE 39 STEPS (WYP); MAJOR BARBARA (Royal Exchange); METERORITE (Hampstead Theatre) and BLACK ‘ELL (Soho Theatre).

Television includes: WAKING THE DEAD (BBC); THE MARCHIONESS DISASTER (YTV) and DANIEL DERONDA (BBC).

Film includes: BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS directed by Stephen Fry




Simeon Moore

Simeon trained at RADA.

Theatre includes: WOYZECK; TIMON OF ATHENS; CORIOLANUS; OTHELLO; HOMEBOY/KABUL; JULIUS CAESAR; ANDORA; ANTIGONE; ROPE; KING LEAR; THE WHITE DEVIL; MAN OUTSIDE; AS YOU LIKE IT; GENERAL FROM AMERICA; VOLPONE and JANE EYRE.

 

Television and Film includes: THE BILL; FAST INC (MTV); PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY; THE ROUND TOWER; THE OUTING and ACT OF GOD.

 

Radio includes: INTO THE WOODS; FAT CHEEKS; LADY AUDLY’S SECRET and BELLRINGER AND THE BIVALVE.


Claire Prempeh
Claire trained at RADA.

Theatre includes: RHINOCEROS (Royal Court); THE ARSONISTS (Royal Court); DROOPING PALMS (Royal Court); GENERATIONS (Young Vic) and ORESTES (Shared Experience).

Theatre whilst at RADA includes: A DOLL’S HOUSE; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS; THE GREAT THEATRE OF THE WORLD; THE LAST CARNIVAL; A BROKEN HEART; THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL; ASSASSINS; THE GOOD SOLDIER; WIDOWS; THE LIFE OF TIMON OF ATHENS; BALM and GILEAD.



Nick Sampson
Nick recently appeared in HONEST for Greenlit/ITV1

Theatre includes: ROMANCE (Almeida); BLOODY SUNDAY (Tricycle Theatre); STUFF HAPPENS, CYRANO DE BERGERAC, HIS DARK MATERIALS, HENRY V, COAST OF UTOPIA, TARTUFFE, THE RELAPSE, THE WINTER’S TALE and THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE III (National Theatre); FRANKENSTEIN and THE WAVES (National Studio); DIDO (Rose Theatre); CANDLELIGHT and TARTUFFE (Watford Palace Theatre); FAIR GAME and JACK THE RIPPER (New End); THE LIAR (Old Vic); BIRTH OF MERLIN (Theatr Clwyd) and IN ONE BED (NORTHBANK PRODUCTIONS).

Film and television includes: EASTENDERS (BBC); HONEST (ITV); THE COMMANDER (La Plante Productions); WHISTLEBLOWERS (ITV); BRITZ (Channel 4); DIAMOND GEEZER II (Yorkshire TV); HUSTLE (BBC); THIS LIFE – 10 YEARS ON (BBC); PARTY ANIMALS (BBC); TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION (ITV); AFTERLIFE (ITV); INSPECTOR LYNLEY (BBC); BRADFORD RIOTS (Oxford Film and TV); SIAM SUNSET (20th Century Fox); THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE (Sam Goldwyn); JOURNEY OF NO RETURN (Channel 4); THE BRITTAS EMPIRE (BBC); TALES OF THE SOUTH (Channel 10 – Aus); THE 10%’ERS (Grant Naylor Prods); COLD LAZARUS (BBC) and MARLENE MARLOW (BBC).

Radio includes: KIND HEARTS (BBC Radio 4)



Kelly Williams
Kelly trained at the RADA

Theatre includes: both productions of CORAM BOY (RNT); JULIUS CEASAR; THE PRMISE; THE EUROPEANS and THE CRUCIBLE (all for Mercury Theatre Company); FUTURE ME (Theatre 503); ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND and THE BEASTS AND BEUTIES (Bristol Old Vic) and GOING DOWN IN HISTORY (Work-Horse Productions).
 
Television and film includes: CASUALTY (BBC); TAKES OF UPLIFT AND MORAL (Channel X); IMPROVEMENT; MY WIFE IS AN ACTRESS (Timothy Burrill Prods) and THE FALL (NFTS).
 

Paul Woodson
Paul trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was a Gold Medal award winner in 2006.

Theatre includes: ROMEO AND JULIET (Globe and tour); WE THAT ARE LEFT (Watford Palace Theatre) and A PLACE CALLED MILAN.

Theatre credits whilst training include: OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR; THE MISANTHROPE; LIVE LIKE PIGS; CINDERELLA; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; THE COUNTRY WIFE; HAY FEVER and CYMBELINE.