Tag: Gavin Spokes

What to see? Our New Year’s tips

Posted on | by Eamonn

17th December 2014Kickstarting January is the second series of Broadchurch in which Joe Sims reprises his role as Nigel Carter in the gripping crime drama. Also on ITV this January Hermione Gulliford plays regular Elizabeth Addis in Foyles War which returns with three new 2 hour films. On BBC2 Wolf Hall premiers featuring Max Fowler in the Peter Kosminsky screen adaptation of Hillary Mantel’s books. Mr Selfridge returns for a third series introducing Rocky Marshall as new regular DI Purkiss whilst Pooky Quesnel gains a promotion in the tenth and final series of Waterloo Road, on screens from January.

On film, catch Ridley Scott’s epic Exodus ‘Gods and Kings’ featuring Ken Bones opening in cinemas on Boxing Day. Kenneth Branagh’s much talked about live action Cinderella is scheduled for release early 2015 with Tom Edden as the Lizard Footman whilst The Royal Exchanges’ recently filmed Hamlet, featuring Jodie McNee also gains a cinema release early next year. Expect The Pride with Lisa Palfrey and Mr Turner also with Tom Edden to feature brightly during awards season.

On stage, recent openings playing during the holidays include Daniel Coonan as the menacing Black Dog in Polly Findley’s Treasure Island for The National Theatre. Also for the National, Jodie McNee and Hermione Gulliford continue their run in Three Winters. Matt Rawle plays stowaway Billy Crocker in Anything Goes at The Sheffield Cruicible and Vincenzo Nicoli is the Mafioso Duke of Venice in Ruper Goold’s inspired staging of Merchant of Venice at The Almeida.

Completing their West End runs in January are Ferdy Roberts (Shakespeare in Love), Tafline Steen (King Charles III) and Scott Karim (Great Britain) whilst Tom Edden (Les Misérables) and Richard Dempsey (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) will continue into the new year.

Geraldine Alexander, meanwhile, opens at The Lowry, Manchester as Siobhan in The National’s Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night Time which is now touring whilst Gavin Spokes continues his hugely successful run as Francis Henshell in the One Man 2 Guvnors also touring with The National Theatre.

Autumn Theatre

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Stage

200914-Six-SquareJodie McNee and Hermione Gulliford join the cast of Tena Štivičić’s Three Winters at The National Theatre this Autumn. The play directed by Howard Davies for the Lyttleton is a portrait of an eclectic Croatian family, held together by the courage to survive. In the Olivier Theatre, Daniel Coonan will play Black Dog in Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of the classic tale Treasure Island directed by Polly Findlay. Also for The National Theatre Geraldine Alexander will play Siobhan in The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time as they take the highly acclaimed show on tour for the first time. Matt Rawle, meanwhile, will play besotted stowaway Billy Crocker in Cole Porter musical Anything Goes at Sheffield Crucible and UK Tour with Daniel Evans directing. Also at The Crucible, Colm Gormley joins Jonathan Mumby’s cast of Twelfth Night playing from the end of September. Vincenzo Nicoli joins the cast of Rupert Goold’s The Merchant of Venice a new revival of his highly acclaimed 2011 production for The Almeida. Dan Rabin plays Richardetto in Tis Pity She’s a Whore with Michael Longhurst directing for The Globe’s Sam Wannamaker Playhouse. Geoff Leesley will play Richard in Atiha Sen Gupta’s State Red directed by Douglas Rintoul for Hampstead Downstairs whilst Jay Simpson opens in The Witch of Edmonton, playing Dog, the devil, opposite Eilieen Atkins at the RSC, Stratford. Alex Blake and Thomas Coombes are both cast in Alan Bennett’s award winning double bill Single Spies, directed by Sarah Esdaile at The Rose Theatre Kingston. Jude Monk McGowan joins the cast of A Farewell to Arms by acclaimed theatre makers Imitating The Dog playing Fredrick Henry in an original adaptation of Hemingway’s First World War novel . Christopher Harper plays Sean in two hander Slipping at The Stephen Joseph Theatre, directed by Henry Bell.

Ferdy Roberts (Shakespeare in Love), Tafline Steen (King Charles III), Scott Karim (Great Britain), Tom Edden (Les Misérables) and Richard Dempsey (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) all continue their successful west end runs whilst Gavin Spokes continues to lead the National Theatre’s One Man 2 Guvnors on its UK tour.

Spring News Update

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We’re celebrating our two year anniversary this month with some exciting client announcements. Our latest news update proves the depth and versatility of our actors who are landing great roles in some of the best productions.

On Stage:

9th March BannersGavin Spokes will lead the cast in The National Theatre’s award winning comedy One Man 2 Guvnor’s. He will take on the brilliant leading role of Francis for the UK tour opening in Sheffield from May and continuing. Jodie Mc Nee will play Maggie in the classic Hobson’s Choice at Regents Park this summer with Nadia Fall directing. Also confirmed early summer, Ferdy Roberts will join the eagerly awaited stage premiere of the Oscar winning film Shakespeare in Love at The Noel Coward, Ferdy takes the role of Fennyman with Declan Donnellan directing. Richard Dempsey will also be returning to the West End as he joins the cast of Sam Mendes’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the role of Mr Bucket. Royal Scottish graduate Tafline Steen, meanwhile, makes her professional stage debut at The Almeida Theatre in King Charles III, Mike Bartlett’s controversial new play which Rupert Goold directs. Jay Simpson joins the RSC for the first time playing a trio of terrific roles as part of The Roaring Girls season whilst Joe Sims joins the cast of Three Sisters at Southwark Playhouse in a new version by Anya Reiss with Russell Bolam directing. Daniel Rabin goes to The Globe this season for Antony & Cleopatra and Holy Warriors, David Eldridge’s new play whilst Amy Cudden joins Blanche McIntyre for Tonight At 8.30, a fascinating collection of one act Coward plays that will be touring from May.

Openings include Jodie McNee as Viola in Liverpool Everyman’s Twelfth Night, Amy Marston in Ayckbourn’s A Small Family Business at The National and Jess Murphy in World Enough & Time at The Park Theatre. Jude Monk McGowan continues in Punch Drunk’s acclaimed The Drowned Man at Temple Studios whilst Alex Blake and Scott Karim join Secret Cinema this month who are recreating Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

On Screen:

9th March SquareHayley Carmichael joins a terrific cast for the new BBC drama series Our Zoo, the period drama based around the setting up of Chester Zoo in the 1920s. Joe Sims is confirmed as returning to Broadchurch Series II in his breakthrough role of Nigel Carter, Naomi Bentley joins the ensemble of the popular Sky comedy drama Mount Pleasant whilst Roger Sloman will be making a regular return to Eastenders as local undertaker Les Coker. Joseph May joins the ABC drama Mistresses shooting in LA whilst Episodes in which he plays series reg Andy Button is recomissioned for a 4th season. Also returning is the ever popular Waterloo Road which will see Pooky Quesnel joining the academy as Olga.

Launching 2014

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We are looking forward to the New Year with some exciting projects already lined up for our clients in 2014.

New Year Theatre 2014The award winning Red Velvet is revived at The Tricycle before a New York transfer to The Brooklyn Academy with Natasha Gordon reprising her role of Connie. Also transferring is Headlong’s 1984 which comes to the Almeida Theatre with Gavin Spokes returning to the company. Amy Marston comes to The National in a revival of Ayckbourne’s A Small Family Business directed by Adam Penford whilst Lisa Palfrey debuts a new play Carthage at The Finborough with Donmar Associate Rob Hastie directing. Meanwhile Geraldine Alexander joins Russel Bolam for the UK premiere of In Skegway over at The Arcola. Out of London, we’re looking forward to the reopening of The Liverpool Everyman which will see Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz directing Twelfth Night with Jodie McNee taking the role of Viola. Over at the Playhouse, Daniel Coonan returns to the stage in the Miller classic A View From the Bridge which Charlotte Gwinner directs. Molly Logan takes the well received Once A Catholic to Liverpool’s Royal Court for a short run whilst over at The Royal Exchange, Geoff Leesley joins Maria Aberg for her production of Much Ado About Nothing.

New Year Screen 2014Coming up on screen early in 2014 will be new ITV comedy Edge of Heaven, set in a Margate B&B with Nitin Kundra, the return of Mr Selfridge which sees Vincenzo Nicoli join the cast, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries which Joe Sims has just wrapped on and gothic drama Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell which Robert Hands is finishing filming. Starting shoots this month are Hermione Gulliford who will be appearing in the next three Foyle’s War films opposite Michael Kitchen as well as Vincenzo Nicoli who guests in the first. Pooky Quesnel and Derek Hutchinson, meanwhile, will be featuring in the next series of Endeavour films.

In cinemas we are eagerly anticipating the releases of Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner biopic with Tom Edden, Max Fowler‘s US debut TOKAREV opposite Nicholas Cage and later in the year the big screen Moses epic Exodus which Ken Bones has just wrapped on.

Happy New Year!

Autumn Theatre

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Autumn Theatre Update 250913Tom Edden will be starring as Fagin in Sheffield Theatres’ production of the musical Oliver! directed by Daniel Evans at The Crucible.

Molly Logan plays the lead Mary Mooney in The Tricycle’s Once A Catholic directed by Kathy Burke. The dark comedy written by Mary O’Malley opens in November followed by a short run at Liverpool’s Royal Court in January.

Meanwhile out of London, Gavin Spokes is on tour with Headlong’s critically acclaimed 1984. Joe Sims joins the cast of Doug Lucie’s Solid Air at Theatre Royal Plymouth, directed by Mike Bradwell. Christopher Harper will play Ratty in Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s story The Wind in The Willows at The Royal and Derngate this Christmas whilst Richard Teverson will be at The Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough in The Schoolmistress. And Farshid Rokey joins Richard Wilson’s production of Love Your Soldiers at Sheffield Crucible playing the roles of Babur/Hakim.

London Openings include Richard Dempsey in Michael Grandage’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Geraldine Alexander in The Empty Quarter at The Hampstead Downstairs and Rocky Marshall in Matthew Dunster’s The Love Girl & The Innocent at Southwark Playhouse.

Summer Theatre Blog:

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Tom Edden in A Little Hotel On The SideTom Edden returns to stage in his first role since playing Alfie in One Man 2 Guvnors (NT,West End, Broadway: Tony, Critics Circle Noms, Drama Desk Winner). He opens at Theatre Royal Bath in Feydeay farce A Little Hotel on the Side with Lindsay Posner directing. Richard Dempsey joins the Michael Grandage Company for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the next in a hugley popular season of plays currently resident at the Noel Coward Theatre. Plans have been announced for a revival and New York transfer of the Tricyle’s Red Velvet with Natasha Gordon reprising her role as Connie whilst Gavin Spokes joins Headlong Theatre’s exciting adaptaion of 1984 which Robert Icke directs. Stephen Wilson, meanwhile, continues at The National shifting focus to Joe Hill Gibbin’s revival of Marlowe’s Edward II.

Openings include Shawshank Redemption in Edinburgh with Vincenzo Nicoli, Too Clever By Half at The Royal Exchange with Nitin Kundra, as well as Molly Logan in Blue Stockings and Jess Murphy in The Lightning Child both at The Globe. Amy Cudden continues her successful run in The National’s One Man 2 Guvnors (Haymarket) as do Geraldine Alexander in Strange Interlude (Lyttleton) and Scott Karim in Othello (Olivier).

Theatre Round-up:

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Open Court at the Royal CourtThe Royal Court is taken over by writers in Vicki Featherstone’s opening season, as a weekly rep of new plays move into the theatre downstairs. Natasha Gordon, Ferdy Roberts and Angela Terence will all join the Open Court ensemble for its summer season of plays. Nitin Kundra starts rehearsals for The Royal Exchange/Told By an Idiot co production of Too Clever By Half directed by Paul Hunter for the main house this summer whilst Gavin Spokes plays Oliver Hardy in The Watermill’s Laurel & Hardy directed by Paul Foster.  Vincenzo Nicoli heads to the Edinburgh Festival where he plays Bogs Diamond in Lucy Pittman’s Wallace’ s revival of Shawshank Redemption alongside Omid Djalili.

Openings include Sara Powell in Disgraced at The Bush, Geraldine Alexander in Strange Interlude at The National, Molly Logan in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe and Jess Murphy in Macbeth also at The Globe. Amy Cudden continues her West End run in One Man 2 Guvnors as does Derek Hutchinson in Cocktail Sticks which completes its run.

January Viewing

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Stobart-and-Spokes-in-UtopiaUtopia has premiered on Channel 4 and has quickly been marked as ‘one to
watch’ in 2013. Continuing Tuesday’s at 9pm, several of our clients will be
appearing during the run (Mark Stobbart, Gavin Spokes pictured alongside
Hermione Gulliford and Jay Simpson). Spies of Warsaw is currently showing on
BBC 4, a beautifully shot war time spy drama with Richard Teverson playing
Roddy Fitzware. Meanwhile, Hat Trick’s Great Night Out is on ITV Friday’s at
9pm. The 30 something comedy-drama set in Stockport includes Naomi
Bentley in its regular cast.

One Man 2 Guvnors : West End

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After his award winning turn on Broadway, Tom Edden returns to the West End for 8 weeks only reprising his role as Alfie. This will be the last chance to see Tom’s amazing comedy performance which won him The Drama Desk Award along with Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominations in New York this summer. Gavin Spokes is also in the West End cast and takes over the lead role of Francis in January. Starting rehearsals to join the new company is Amy Cudden who will be playing the leading role of Rachel/Roscoe Crabbe also from January.

Autumn Theatre Preview:

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Roger Sloman returns to The National in Pinero’s The Magistrate directed by Timothy Sheader. Jess Murphy returns too, currently rehearsing for Alan Bennett’s new play People which Nick Hytner directs.  Gavin Spokes, meanwhile,  joins the National’s highly successful West End run of One Man 2 Guvnors at The Haymarket.

Also in London, Vincenzo Nicoli opens in a new production of Revenger’s Tragedy at Hoxton Hall with Suba Das directing and Will Mannering premieres in a new play You Can Still Make A Killing which Matthew Dunster directs at Southwark Playhouse. Hermione Gulliford appears in the UK premiere of Howard Barker’s Lot and His God directed by Robyn Winfied-Smith at The Print Room in Notting Hill.

“The Welsh Boy” ©Jane Hobson

Geraldine Alexander has just opened in The Welsh Boy at Bath, Ustinov Studio whilst Chris Ryman performs in Greyscale’s What The Animals Say, which arrives London in October. Also opening in October is Scenes From An Execution with Jay Simpson and Robert Hands at The National plus Natasha Gordon in The Tricycle’s Red Velvet.