Tag: Jay Simpson

Currently filming:

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Jodie McNee plays Vivian and John Mackay plays Johnnie Ray in Judy, directed by Rupert Goold and with Renee Zellweger in the title role. Hayley Carmichael films the role of Anna in Mr Casanova with Benoit Jacquot and Stefan Kalipha films The Good Liar opposite Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen with Bill Condon directing.

On TV, Andrew Koji continues filming Warrior for HBO, Jay Simpson plays regular Perevozchenko in HBO/Sky collaboration Chernobyl about the 1986 Soviet disaster with Alex Blake and Daniel Crossley also playing guest roles across the 10 part series and Johan Renck as lead director. Jodie McNee returns as Willa in the second series of Britannia, joined this season by Joe Sims who plays Euan with Luke Watson directing. Also for Sky, Oliver Dench and Tafline Steen play regulars Sam and Leigh in Nyela’s Dream a 25 part teen comedy drama exec produced by Foz Allan. Hayley Carmichael, Anton Saunders and Patricia Allison join the cast of the BBC’s Les Misérables, Tom Shankland directing whilst Stephen Kennedy and Sarah Malin film Dark Heart for ITV based on the Will Wagstaff novels and adapted by Chris Lang. Unforgotten, also written by Chris Lang, sees Sara Powell and Michelle Bonnard join the cast for Season 3 , both characters featuring across the series and Howard Ward shoots Manhunt also for ITV, which details the pursuit of serial killer Levi Bellfield. Joseph May plays regular TJ in Living the Dream for Big Talk/Sky, Kriss Dosanjh is Moeen in Ackley Bridge for Channel 4, whilst James Doherty can be seen in The Windsors Wedding Special next month celebrating Harry and Meghan’s nuptials. Guest roles include Howard Ward as Kastor Breakspear in Carnival Row for Amazon, Alex Blake in Mrs Wilson for Brontë Film & TV, Richard Laxton directing and Max Fowler as Colin in The Affair (Season 4) , Showtime, Director Rodrigo Garcia.

Autumn Screen

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Jodie McNee heads to Prague to shoot Jez Butterworth’s epic 10 part Sky/Amazon drama Britannia in which she plays Mackenzie Crook’s sidekick Willa. Hayley Carmichael plays Alice Mayhew the BBC 1/Mammoth Screen two-parter Witness for the Prosecution, an adaptation of Agatha Christie short story by the same name. She then goes on to shoot Kiss Me First a new tv show from Skins creator Bryan Elsley for E4 and Netflix. Also for Netflix, Chris Gordon will return for series two of The Crown in which he returns as Prince Phillips valet John Dean. Sophie Stone also joins the cast as Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Greece. Sophie has also been filming the pivotal role of Lucy Yolland in the new BBC adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ novel The Moonstone

In Comedy drama; Ken Bones plays Nathan Clore in The Jonathan Creek Christmas Special, Joe Sims plays butcher Thomas Rice in Carnival’s ever popular Lucky Man, Jay Simpson joins the cast of Retort’s Royal sitcom The Royal Blues, Tony Guilfoyle shoots new period satire Decline and Fall for Tiger aspect, Joe May shoots series 6 of the hit comedy Trollied and Howard Ward and Alex Felton film the fourth season of Drifters whilst Sophie Duval can be seen in the forthcoming series of Chewing Gum.

Gary Oliver meanwhile shoots series 2 of CBC drama X Company in Budapest, Alex Blake shoots new BBC brothel drama Harlots, Rhys Rusbatch films Sherlock for the BBC, Sarah Winman and Sandy Foster join the cast for Season 6 of Call The Midwife, Geraldine Alexander and Howard Ward shoot documentary drama experiment The Jury directed by Nick Holt and Natalie Radmall Quirke shoots a new 4 part drama for RTE titled Cheaters.

autumn-screen

Film news

Alex Blake and Howard Ward will join the cast of Richard Eyre’s new film The Children Act adapted from Ian McEwan’s award winning novel, shooting this Autumn. This season also see’s Jordan Mifsúd premier in Irish Netflix film The Siege of Jadotville, Oliver Dench star in Nickelodeon’s Ride and Daniel Coonan, Alex Felton and David Nellist’s debut in The Discovery Channel’s Harley and The Davidsons.

On screen now catch Terry Beesley playing Buxton in Victoria on ITV, Rose O’loughlin in RTE’s Small Town and Sophie Duval playing Clothilde in The Collection for Amazon Prime.

Summer Screen

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News Update 12/06/16On film, Jay Simpson shoots The 101 Year Old Man, the sequel to the award winning comic thriller – The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared based on the global bestseller by Jonas Jonasson. Jodie Mc Nee meanwhile joins the cast of Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, a period feature which will be directed by Paul McGuigan. Pooky Quesnel joins the regular cast of CLASS, the 8 part Doctor Who spin off for BBC written by Patrick Ness and produced by Stephen Moffat whilst Thomas Coombes begins filming the prequel to Linda LaPlante’s Prime Suspect; Tennison. Charlotte Lucas joins the Broadchurch cast for seres 3 ‘Returning Home’ and Olwen May films the second series of Ordinary Lies for the BBC. Sara Powell plays regular Cass in Jo Brand and Morwenna Banks’ new Channel 4 dark comedy about Children’s Services in the South East and Aidan Kelly plays the role of Calvin in Series 2 of No Offence. Joseph May meanwhile shoots the 5th and final series of Episodes as series regular Andy Button with Jenna Augen also joining the cast. And Cosima Shaw heads to Budapest to shoot MARS a futuristic mini-series set in 2032 and directed by visionary Mexican filmmaker Everardo Gout for the National Geographic Channel.

Autumn Screen

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20150921Ken Bones plays Ugo Bencini opposite Dustin Hoffman in the 8 part drama, Medici Kingdom of Gold shooting in Rome this Autumn. The series about the hugely influential Medici family is directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan for Big Light Productions & Lux Vide. Max Fowler meanwhile returns to Atlanta to shoot the second series of Powers for Sony Picture Entertainment reprising his role as teenager Krispin Stockley. Chris Gordon has been cast in the regular role of John Dean in Stephen Daldry’s eagerly anticipated Netflix series The Crown, shooting here in UK and South Africa which also sees Tony Guilfoyle playing The Bishop of Durham. For World Productions Ferdy Roberts shoots Dark Angel a two-part drama, based on the extraordinary true story of the Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton directed by Brian Percival. Joe Sims guests as Nathaniel in Houdini and Doyle, a co production between UK and Canada which pairs the famous escapologist and the celebrated crime novelist in a modern day crime drama. Jay Simpson plays Alf in the BBC Film’s Their Finest Hour and A Half the story of A British film crew who attempt to boost morale during World War II directed by Riot Club and An Education director Lone Scherfig. Meanwhile Spencer Jones plays reluctant Groom Kevin in Still Open All Hours, Alex Blake shoots the second series WWII spy thriller of X Company in Budapest, Stefan Kalipha joins the cast of The Bastard Executioner and Carla Harrison Hodge and Vincenzo Nicoli play parts in new BBC Comedy I Want My Wife Back.

Summer Screen

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20150711Terence Beesley joins the cast of Peter Moffat’s new six-part BBC drama Undercover a complex transatlantic drama which centres on the relationship of an undercover police officer in the years following the 1996 death of a black civil rights leader. Also for the BBC Pooky Quesnel joins the cast of its supernatural period drama The Living and The Dead directed by Alice Troughton. For FOX 21 Lisa Palfrey shoots the much anticipated Bastard Executioner a new drama from the creators of Sons of Anarchy set during the Welsh Rebellion. Rocky Marshall plays the regular role of Palace Security Agent James Hill in E!’s cult drama The Royals created by Mark Schwahn. Richard Teverson has just wrapped on The Untitled Donald Crowhurst Project directed by ‘The Theory of Everything’s’ BAFTA winning director James Marsh. Hayley Carmichael meanwhile plays Doreen, in Retort’s 6 part comedy drama Chewing Gum adapted from Michaela Coel’s award winning play Chewing Gum Dreams which premiered at the National Theatre last year. Carla Harrison Hodge plays Collette in Brighton based police drama CUFFS from Tiger Aspect whilst the ever popular Silent Witness returns with Thomas Coombes, Jude Monk McGowan and Jay Simpson all shooting guest roles.

On Screen, on Film, on Stage

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On Screen

OnScreen200315Max Fowler plays regular Krispin Stockley in POWERS. The series based on the award winning comic books is a combination of noir police story and real world superheros from the producers of ‘Breaking Bad’ and premiers this month for Sony. Also premiering this month, Richard Teverson features as Lib Dem politician David Laws in Channel 4’s new political drama Coalition which details the days after the 2010 general election and the formation of the current government. Joe Sims is in BBC 3’s second series of Uncle and Geraldine Alexander is in ITV’s period drama Arthur and George. Over on Sky catch Cosima Shaw real time medical drama Critical and Joseph May in new comedy I Live With Models for Comedy Central. Meanwhile Robert Hands can be seen playing Henry in the BBC’s 7-part fantasy drama Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Also for The BBC Thomas Coombes plays Stefan in the final series of Wallander opposite Kenneth Branagh whilst in the US Ken Bones plays regular Annas in the 12 part Biblical drama AD from Lightworkers Media, premiering Easter Sunday.  In UK cinemas Tom Edden plays The Lizard Footman in Branagh’s live action Cinderella released on the 27th of March and Jodie Mcnee plays Rosencrantz in The Manchester Royal Exchange’s Hamlet with Maxine Peake, in cinemas now.

On Film

Lisa Palfrey will join the regular cast of BBC2’s police corruption thriller Line of Duty which returns for a much anticipated third series. Also for BBC2 Jay Simpson plays Ernie in new 8 part comedy drama From The Cradle To The Grave written by Jeff Pope and based on the memoirs of Danny Baker. Natasha Gordon will play Pearl, Danny’s older sister in Danny and The Human Zoo a 90 minute semi autobiographical drama written by Lenny Henry for RED productions. Thomas Coombes will play Kieran Benson in CUFFS an 8-part police drama written and created by Julie Gearey for Tiger Aspect/BBC1. Meanwhile Richard Teverson reprises his role as Dr Ryder in series 6 of Downton Abbey and Joe Sims will feature in the third series of Endeavour directed by Sandra Goldbacher for ITV/Mammoth Screen.

On Stage

Richard Dempsey will play Reggie Byng in Damsel in Distress at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer. The musical with songs from George and Ira Gershwin is based on the novel by P.G Woodhouse and is well-known from the popular 1937 comedy film. Daniel Rabin joins the cast of the rarely staged King John directed by James Dacre for The Globes ‘Season of Plenty ‘and Scott Karim will play Morocco in The Merchant of Venice directed by Jonathan Munby also for The Globe. Ferdy Roberts plays Stefano in Anders Lustgarten‘s political two hander Lampedusa at The Soho Theatre directed by Steven Atkinson.

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.

Autumn Screen

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Cinema

Lisa Palfrey plays Maureen in PRIDE Matthew Warchus’s cinematic directorial debut based on a true story of the lesbian and gay communities’ unlikely allegiance with the striking miners of the Welsh valleys in 1984. A brilliant ensemble cast makes this a must see film this Autumn. Released in UK cinemas on September 12th.

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200914-Four-SquareTom Edden plays painter CR Leslie in Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner biopic, already a big hit in Cannes, it’s released in the UK end of October. Catch Max Fowler in action crime thriller Rage opposite Nicolas Cage also released September. Jay Simpson plays ex-football hooligan Neil in The Guvnors, a violent thriller set amongst the clans and firms of South East London in UK cinemas now. Robert Hands features as the hospitals ‘Elegant Lady’ in Stonehearst Asylum. Based on an Edgar Allen Poe story the period horror film will be in UK cinemas from October 24.

 

Television

Our Zoo, the true story of the Mottershead family who established Chester Zoo in the 1930’s starts this week with Hayley Carmichael playing village shopkeeper Camilla Radler. The six part series is on BBC1, Wednesday’s at 9pm.
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040914Kent Riley plays Cilla Black’s Brother-in-Law Kenny Willis in ITV’s much anticipated three part drama, Cilla screening late September. This month also sees Naomi Bentley playing regular Angie in Sky Living’s Mount Pleasant series 4. Thomas Coombes and Benjamin Davies will appear in Suspects as the popular unscripted drama returns for a second series catch it on demand and on Channel 5 Wednesday nights from 10pm. Coming up Molly Logan and Farshid Rokey feature in Our Girl a new 5 part drama set against the backdrop of the British Army’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. And Ken Bones reprises his role as Melas in Atlantis, the BBC’s hugely popular drama, returning Saturday evenings.

News & Reviews

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Openings:

The critics have loved Shakespeare in Love, the stage version of the film which has opened in the West End. Charles Spencer (Telegraph) praised Ferdy Roberts’ “cracking performance as the ruthless moneyman Fennyman” whilst Billington ( Guardian), Hitchins (Evening Standard), and Neil (Express) all single out Ferdy’s performance in the brilliant ensemble that director Declan Donnellan has brought together. Tom Eames (Digital Spy) admits that amongst an excellent cast “a personal favourite is Ferdy Roberts as the money-hungry Fennyman, who finds himself taken in by the theatre bug after witnessing Shakespeare’s masterpiece”. Shakespeare in Love is now booking at The Noel Coward theatre.

Jodie McNee in Hobson's ChoiceJodie McNee has opened in Hobson’s Choice at Regent’s Park to some stunning notices. Michael Billington writes in The Guardian “Jodie McNee is excellent as Maggie, combining grit and determination with a hint of vulnerability”. Henry Hitchins (Evening Standard) agrees “Jodie McNee is tremendous as Maggie, capturing her spiky assertiveness and also the delicate humanity she carefully masks”. For Charles Spencer (Telegraph) “McNee, her nose as sharp as a pencil and with a manner that’s brusque to the point of outright rudeness, marvellously captures the character’s unstoppable determination.” “The show belongs to McNee” according to The Independent whilst Ian Shuttleworth (Financial Times) praises the modern reworking of Brighouse’s classic. “Herein lies the principal stroke of genius: that Nadia Fall and actor Jodie McNee have unobtrusively turned this from the story of Hobson..into a tale where the viewpoint character is Maggie. To pull this off without short-changing the comedy is a work of mastery.”

Hobson’s Choice continues at Regent’s Park until July 12.

Hermione Gulliford in HotelPolly Steinham’s Hotel has opened in The National’s Shed with Hermione Gulliford in the role of Vivienne. “Astonishingly raw, powerful and terrifying” says Charles Spencer (Telegraph) with “exceptional performances, Hermione Gulliford captures the simmering fury of the betrayed wife”. Time Out is in agreement “Gulliford is particularly good as a woman suspended somewhere between fury, exasperation and sympathy for her husband.” The Arts Desk too praises Steinham’s “brilliant new play.. sharply directed by Aberg and boasting an excellent cast with Gulliford’s “icily sarcastic Vivienne” singled out.

Hotel plays in The NATIONAL Theatre’s temporary space until Aug 2.

Jay Simpsons in Arden-of-FavershamIn Stratford, meanwhile, Jay Simpson’s performance as Black Will in The Arden of Faversham has impressed the critics. For Charles Spencer (The Telegraph), Jay Simpson and his partner provide “the most engaging performances…as Black Will and Shakebag, two hired hit-men of truly spectacular incompetence.” Letts (The Mail) praises Simpson’s “ dumbo slapstick villain” and Billington (Guardian) too enjoys his turn as a “bungling assassin”. BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Review enjoyed the fact that Black Will looked as if he had “tumbled out of a Cohen Brother’s movie” in this his debut RSC production.

The Arden of Faversham plays as part of The RSC’s Roaring Girl’s Season until October 2.

Graduates:

The Almedia’s critically acclaimed King Charles III has confirmed its West End transfer with Tafline Steen (Royal Scottish Conservatoire) returning in the role of Jess. Performances start at the Wyndham’s Theatre from September 2nd. Scott Karim (RADA) is in Great Britain, Richard Bean’s new satire about the phone hacking scandal, playing at The National until August 23rd. Royal Welsh College graduate Chris Gordon will play Romeo in Rachel O’Riordan’s Romeo and Juliet, her inaugural show as artistic director of Sherman Cymru. Molly Logan (RADA) will play Puck in The Globe’s touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which after, performances in London will visit China, Singapore and Russia. Jake Mitchell (also RADA)and Joel Gillman (Drama Centre) are working on Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis with director Laura Bowler whilst Jude Monk McGowan (also Drama Centre) will be playing Freddie in The Royal Duchess Superstore, a new play written by Jon O’Neill and directed by Kareena Johnson.

TV, Film & Theatre Updates

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Film News

Hayley Carmichael will be working with director Matteo Garrone in his English language debut The Tale Of Tales – The Old Woman Who Was Skinned, a film based on the gruesome Neapolitan fairy tale of two sisters and starring Vincent Cassel and Salma Hayek. Rocky Marshall and Benjamin Davies meanwhile are due to begin shooting Remainder based on the book by Tom McCarthy and directed by Omer Fast for Tigerlily Films. Pride, Matthew Warchus’s film debut with Lisa Palfrey will premier at the Cannes Film Festival as the closing night film in the directors’ fortnight section. Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner featuring Tom Edden has officially been selected in competition at Cannes as has Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall featuring Colm Gormley.

TV Latest

Max Fowler joins the regular cast of Wolf Hall, the BBC’s much anticipated adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s prize winning novel directed by Peter Kosminsky and starring Mark Rylance and Damien Lewis. Rocky Marshall will join the third series of ITV’s Mr Selfridge as new regular DI Purkiss whilst Farshid Rokey films The BBC’s army drama Our Girl shooting in South Africa. Hermione Gulliford and Ferdy Roberts continue to film the third Foyles War film whilst Thomas Coombes makes a guest appearance in Atlantis the popular BBC drama directed by Justin Molotnikov. Ken Bones will be joining the cast in series 4 of ITV’s Scott and Bailey directed by Simon Delaney.

Watch out for more from Roger Sloman as funeral director Les Coker in Eastenders whilst Amy Marston can be seen playing Martha Hawkins in Channel 4’s Devil’s Whore sequel New Worlds available on catchup. Sarah Winman’s Undeniable is also available on ITV Player.

Congratulations to Joe Sims (Broadchurch) and Thomas Coombes (Him and Her The Wedding) which have been nominated for best drama series and TV comedy respectively at this year’s BAFTAs.

Theatre Update

180414 TheatreHermione Gulliford will be playing Vivienne in Hotel at The National Theatre’s Shed. The tropical thriller, a new play by Polly Stenham will be directed by Maria Aberg. Emma Handy will play Kristin in Chichester’s Minerva Studio Miss Julie a new version written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, directed by Jamie Glover. Tom Edden will be appearing as Monsieur Thénardier in Les Misérables the world famous musical, playing in the West End from June. Openings include Tafline Steen as Jess in King Charles III at The Almeida which has recieved five star reviews whilst Jay Simpson starts his RSC run in Stratford-Upon-Avon at the end of the month playing Black Will in The Arden of Faversham. Also Richard Teverson will be opening in How Many Miles To Babylon at The Lyric Belfast.