Chrys Salt is an award winning writer and theatre director. She is Artistic Director of The Bakehouse, a flourishing arts venue in SW Scotland, (www.thebakehouse.info ) and Artistic Director of Bare Boards… and a passion Theatre Company. She began her career as a performer but now directs extensively in theatre and sound. She has worked with many of the UK’s leading actors.
Her popular book for actors, Make Acting Work (pub: Methuen Drama) is now in its third edition. Most recently she edited and wrote director’s commentaries for six audition books (pub Methuen Drama).
She writes theatre and radio plays, adaptations, documentaries and features and has published several poetry collections. She is a regular tutor at The London Actors Centre, and runs workshops for actors and writers country-wide.
Awards:
National Media Ward (CRS)
New Writing Bursary (English Arts Council)
Work Development Grant (Scottish Arts Council)
Writer/Director in Residence (RHBNC London University)
Fringe First (Edinburgh Festival)
Artist’s Residency (Poitou Charente/France)
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Scotland: The Bakehouse, 44 High Street, DG7 2HP Tel: 01557 814175/196 Mobile: 07891 803027 |
London: 149 Chamberlayne Road, London NW10 3NT Tel: 0208 969 9221 |
Trained as an Actor on the Hampshire County Specialist Speech and Drama Course, where he was awarded a special commendation as best actor. He then trained for a further three years at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London, and then for another two years as a Stage Director in Association with The Moscow Institute of Theatre Arts.
After graduation he worked as an actor and stage director. Productions included ‘Ecstasy’ by Mike Leigh, about which What’s On said “Quite simply the best ensemble acting seen on the West End stage in years“. He then developed his own company MIRACLE TREE PRODUCTIONS for which he wrote, directed and performed in the highly acclaimed, “Beyond Ecstasy”, which enjoyed sell out runs in both London and Edinburgh, was Time Out’s critic’s choice and won the creative freedom award for best theatrical production.
He has taught extensively in both London and New York and is widely reputed as being the worlds leading light on the application of contemporary psychology and spiritual studies within the creative arts. After spending a number of years developing ‘Beyond Ecstasy’ from stage play to screen play, this year John makes his screen directing debut.
John has been a student of Practical Philosophy at S.E.S. since 1994 and has been practicing mantra based meditation twice daily since 1995. He also works internationally as a club DJ.
The innovator of the now widely used method for revealing potential at auditions. Her classes are always over subscribed, for they aim to help actors enjoy the audition process, with increased castings as a result.
Nina has worked as acting coach on films, musicals, and as mentor to many of our most established players.
“Nina Finburgh is as close as we get to a genius in actor training. With absolute directness and honesty, she delivers her techniques for sight reading in clear, practical terms. One session with her opens up the audition process. Work with her more, and your career will change for the better.” Scott Williams the Impulse Company
Suzy gained a BA (Hons) in Dramatic Arts from Bretton Hall and then later trained as a director at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Suzy currently works as a theatre director, lecturer and casting director for television, theatre and film. Current film and television casting credits include the feature film A BUNCH OF AMATEURS with Burt Reynolds; the number one UK tour of SINGLE SPIES with Nigel Havers and Diana Quick. Film credits include: STORMBREAKER , SWIMMING POOL, THE GATHERING as an associate, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, THE ENGLISH PATIENT and WILDE as an Assistant.
Television credits include LIFELINE and EMPATHY , two series of SILENT WITNESS , three seasons of CASUALTY for the BBC, two series of the award-winning children’s series SIR GADABOUT . One-off dramas include THE SECRET and THE BEST MAN . Teaching and lecturing work includes: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Mountview Arts Educational, Birmingham School of Acting, Ohio University School of Film, Northern Film School, University of Ripon and York St. John.
Sarah Hughes was Alan Ayckbourn’s casting director for seventeen years until his retirement in April 2009, casting world premieres of his plays at the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, in the West End, at the National Theatre and on Broadway, as well as all other productions at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. For the last eight years, she has also cast for the Entertainment Department of the BBC, where series include JONATHAN CREEK, STRANGE, THE CROUCHES, GRASS, LOVE SOUP, PULLING, PARENTS OF THE BAND, John Sullivan’s ROCK & CHIPS and the forthcoming second series of THE OLD GUYS for BBC1.
Other freelance work includes several plays for the West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Theatre Royal Northampton and the Mill at Sonning, and three productions for Frantic Assembly including last year’s OTHELLO; she has also cast commercials, children’s TV and drama documentaries. In 2009/2010 she has been running the BBC Talent Alert, focusing on increasing opportunities for actors with disabilities to work in all areas of the BBC.
Hannah Birkett has been casting for 11 years and started working in casting whilst at University. After she graduated with a BA Hons in Media Arts with radio Broadcasting, she was employed full time. In 2003, aged just 23, Hannah won the British Television Advertising Craft Award for ‘Best Casting’, the only award for casting of its kind in the UK.
In 2004 she set up Hannah Birkett Casting and since then has been working as a Casting Director in her own right. Hannah casts mainly commercials, and again won ‘Best Casting’ at the British Television Advertising Craft Awards in 2009, for a recent Cadbury’s commercial she cast (the kids with the eyebrows)
Andrea started her casting career in 1991, having completed a degree in television production. as assistant to leading casting directors, NOEL DAVIS and JEREMY ZIMMERMANN, she worked with prestigious directors, such as JOHN SCHLESINGER, SIR PETER HALL and BLAKE EDWARDS. with this invaluable grounding in negotiation, contracts and talent selection she was soon casting projects on behalf of DAVIS & ZIMMERMANN, including the ongoing series TROPICAL HEAT.
Keen to explore all genres of casting, in 1994 Andrea joined the casting team on MTV’s ground breaking reality programme THE REAL WORLD. the ‘street casting’ skills she acquired at MTV later proved particularly valuable when casting testimonial campaigns for DOVE, LILT, GUINNESS and MASTERCARD.
Returning to theatrical casting, Andrea worked on FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI’s JANE EYRE, LYNDA LA PLANTE’s first series of TRAIL & RETRIBUTION, and numerous mini series for American network television.
Working predominately on commercials, pop videos and short films, Andrea further developed the range of her casting expertise when she joined CANDID CASTING in 1997.
The following year she became associate casting director at JEREMY ZIMMERMANN CASTING collaborating on projects such as BLADE 2, HELLBOY and HIDALGO. Whilst receiving joint credit on films including DOG SOLDIERS, KEEPING MUM and GREYFRIARS BOBBY she was able to expand her own client base casting commercials, independent films, corporate videos and factual dramas. In September 2006 set up her own casting company.
Sue began casting sixteen years ago, with Steven Berkoff’s production of “Acapulco” the The King’s Head Theatre. She now works in all media – Film, TV, Commercials, Promos and Video Games.
Film credits: include Gary Oldman’s critically acclaimed “Nil By Mouth”, “Human Traffic” “Ronin” and UK casting on Robert de Niro’s “The Good Shepherd”. Most recently the Irish comedy “Holy Water”, horror film “The Task” and the recently released US thriller “The Fourth Kind”. UK & US TV Drama: includes “The Rise of Evil” for CBS and “The Tenth Kingdom” for Hallmark.
European work: in France projects include Cédric Klapish’s “Les Poupees Russes” and Maurice Barthélémy’s “Casablanca Driver”. Other work includes Roland Suso Richter’s award winning “Dresden” for German TV and feature films “Dust” (Dir: Max Jacoby) and “Klimt” (Dir: Raul Ruiz).
Theatre: much of Steven Berkoff’s work since “Acapulco”, which began a two year period as resident Casting Director at The King’s Head. Subsequent theatre work ranges from fringe productions at The New End to musical and theatre productions in West End.
Commercials: Directors worked with include Jonathan Glazer, Mehdi Norowzian, Traktor, Shane Meadows and Stephen Daldry, at most of the top production companies in the UK.
Extensive work in North America, Japan and throughout Europe. Video games include Sony’s award winning “Heavenly Sword” , directed by Andy Serkis for the Playstation 3
platform.
A Casting Director for over 12 years, Carolyn has cast a variety of productions for film, television and theatre. A selection of her feature credits include the new British thriller WMD (Dir: David Holroyd), STARSHIP TROOPERS 3: MARAUDER (Dir: Ed Neumeier), the sequel to the classic sci-fi movie, and work on Sofia Coppola’s MARIE ANTOINETTE.
Carolyn has also worked on projects for Disney including 32 episodes of POWER RANGERS and CHEETAH GIRLS. As part of the team involved with the original casting for the first two HARRY POTTER features Carolyn undertook exhaustive searches for Warner Bros.
She has also cast tv productions for the BBC, Paramount and most recently premiere first movies for the SyFy Channel, including “WITCHVILLE”, which shot on location in China and “GRYPHON”. Carolyn also spent three years casting the RTS award winning tv series THE BILL for ITV.
Carolyn consults extensively with producers and directors on low-budget independent films and is currently in development on several UK and US projects. In addition she also runs masterclasses in audition technique and is an Associate Producer for LA based production company PageFour Films.
Richard Evans CDG has cast a wide variety of productions in all media since 1989 and, prior to this, worked as an actor for ten years. He has devised and presented audition and career development workshops at the Actors’ Centres in London and Manchester, and at many top drama and theatre schools.
His book, Auditions: A Practical Guide, is published by Routledge and he is a member of The Casting Directors’ Guild of Great Britain and Ireland.
www.auditionsapracticalguide.com
At twelve I went to Shawlands Academy and pursued much the same life I’d had a primary school – football team, chess team, a mixture of the outdoor and the indoor. I was also in the Boys Brigade which instructed me in first aid and a host of other things, but it was the wayfaring I enjoyed most (see picture opposite).
I passed my Duke of Edinburgh award grades and managed tograduate from high school at the end of my fifth year. In my gap year I worked in a bank, then travelled in Europe for four months before taking up my place at Newcastle University to study Engineering Geology. I soon realised it wasn’t for me and after one year I dropped out to become a writer and go travelling. For some years I wandered – Asia, Africa, South America, North America – and wrote five novels and lots of poems.
In 1983 I went back to Newcastle University and took a degree in English Language and Literature, and this time, wiser and more sure of what I wanted. After graduating, I set up in business as a writer / arts producer and haven’t really looked back since. There have been some less successful years than others since then, but I have found that sometimes, by taking one step back, it can prepare you better for that next leap.
Palm Tree Entertainment
630 Props Building
Pinewood Studios
Iver Heath SL0 0NH
Phil Willmott is a multi award winning director, artistic director, playwright, composer, librettist, teacher, dramaturg, arts journalist and occasional actor. He is the most commissioned musical theatre writer/composer in the UK and Britain’s foremost director of Greek drama, especially the plays of Euripides.
He has worked in theatres across the world on everything from the classics, musicals and family shows to cabaret, and cutting edge new writing. He is founding Artistic Director of his own multi award winning theatre company “Steam Industry” incorporating the Finborough Theatre (under the artistic directorship of Neil Mc Pherson) and the London’s annual; Free Theatre festival at the open air ”Scoop” Amphitheatre on the South Bank.
He is currently resident associate director of “The King’s Head Theatre” London’s senior off west end venue and was an associate artist of London’s acclaimed B.A.C. Battersea Arts Centre) for ten years. He is a former Associate Director of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford. He heads graduate writer/director training at London’s Arts Educational School where he has also been co-director of the U.K.’s leading degree course in Musical Theatre and its Head of Arts.
Natasha Stevenson began her career with the Ravenscourt School Theatre Agency and went on to work with the renowned Norma Skemp of Frazer Skemp Management Ltd. “I started Natasha Stevenson Management when Norma retired and we have continued to grow ever since, developing our own brand and personality. We are a small team that have worked closely together since the start. This continuity is very important, especially for our actors who really appreciate the fact that they will always get the opportunity to speak to one of us.
NSM is built on our passion for the industry. I love watching the careers of my clients develop. There is nothing better than accompanying my actors to a premier, watching the opening night or the first airing of a commercial.”
Please view www.felixdewolfe.com
Wendy Scozzaro and Clare Henderson
I have been actively involved with Theatre, Television, and Cinema for nearly 40 years. The first part of my career as an actor and director and the last 18 years as an agent. I trained at E 15 in its earliest days and then did a post diploma at Manchester University.
The time spent as an actor/performer has given me a unique insight into the business which is of course hugely relevant to my work as an agent. During my time as an actor I ran the spectrum of work from playing to two men and a dog in a church hall, through to number one tours and playing in The West End. I have appeared in feature films television soaps, and commercials and have been represented by small agents above Chinese takeaways in Soho but also by a Multinational Corporation who would fly me to LA to meet my Hollywood Agent!
My current agency is the distillation of my experience and knowledge and represents the style of management and quality of clients to which I have always aspired. The Markham Agency is the ultimate boutique agency in the heart of Theatre Land. It embodies the positive qualities of large and small agencies alike, and has a streamlined client list of established actors with a string of awards to their names, and a group of talented newcomers who are set to be the faces of the future.
The agency has an impressive heritage and is committed to providing clients with the close personal relationships they deserve, and casting professionals with the best possible range of talent.
Please view www.themarkhamagency.com
Our team is headed by Julie Fox who has over 20 years experience in many areas of the industry. She trained as a director and is still a member of the Guild of Directors. She has also been a resident stage manager/company stage manager/student director/tutor and mentor. She has been working as an agent for the past 6 years alongside agents such as Tim Kent and has recently taken over Tim Kent Associates. Julie is known as being very much an agent who understands and enjoys working with actors.
Working alongside Julie are Corinne Dunnicliffe-Murray, who has over 10 years experience in the Industry as an actor and agent and assistant Ann Parker. We work closely as a team to offer a personal, proactive, hands-on approach to the actors and their careers and have forged excellent relationships with industry professionals.
We aim to provide Casting Directors with very selective and careful suggestions of actors who will meet the requirements of the casting breakdown. We choose to only represent those actors who both understand and are able to fully embrace the levels of professionalism required to achieve and maintain a high reputation of excellence within the industry, talented artistes with various special skills and diverse ranges of experience.
Nigel Douglas began his career directing fringe theatre in London with some notable successes including "A Voyage Round My Father" at the World's End Theatre, Chelsea. Developing an increasing interest in film and television, he quickly moved into drama writing and directing the BBC Children’s series FLIP. From here he moved to the iconic series Grange Hill where he directed the BAFTA winning episodes set in Poland.
After a short period directing Eastenders, he directed THIS LIFE which became the seminal contemporary drama of the mid nineties winning another BAFTA for best drama. In great demand after this Nigel directed several major episodes of Casualty including the Christmas Special that was again recognised by BAFTA.
Developing an interest and skill for action films, Nigel then directed "London's Burning" before being sought after to direct a major two part drama series for ITV entitled THE BLIND DATE produced by Alison Davis. More action followed with a TV film THE KNOCK filmed in Ghana before Nigel teamed up with Alison Davis again to direct the award winning NORTH SQUARE for Channel 4.
After this ground breaking series, Nigel went on to direct another ground breaking series CLOCKING OFF which brought him another BAFTA for best drama. Nigel then stayed in Manchester to direct all six parts of the major GRANADA series STAN THE MAN starring John Thompson before being asked to set up and direct the first two episodes of a major new BBC series called HOLBY CITY.
During this time, Nigel set up a production company called SPEARHEAD PRODUCTIONS where he wrote, directed and produced many corporate and commercial projects including a series of award winning films for British Coal. His continuing success led him to direct THE INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES for the BBC, quickly followed by a major new series for ITV about the Royal Navy called MAKING WAVES.
Throughout this period, Nigel wrote and developed various screenplays for film and television. He took time away from the small screen to write and direct a short film called HUNTER that has won awards globally including the NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL, the PARIS FILM FESTIVAL and the LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL.
Nigel has just completed directing WILD AT HEART shot on location in South Africa for ITV. He is now in pre production with a major American Feature film that he has written and will be directing in 2009.
Throughout his professional career, Nigel has enjoyed teaching others. This began by teaching trainee directors at the BBC and now developed into a full programme of courses including directing, acting for the screen, and screen writing with many clients including Ravensbourne college of film and television and Middlesex University. In 2005, he set up his own company running courses in directing drama for new directors, writers and screen actors.
Victor Jenkins started work in casting with Lucinda Syson on feature films such as TROY and ALEXANDER, and with Sam Chandley on independent feature IT'S ALL GONE PETE TONG. He then moved into television and spent three years working in-house with Jane Hewland at Hewland International casting DREAM TEAM, MILE HIGH, and other spin offs. He has since gone on to cast shows such as BENIDORM, MOVING WALLPAPER, ECHO BEACH, ROBIN HOOD, THE BILL and worked with the late Carrie Hilton on DOC MARTIN and BBC Films LEARNERS, as well as features ADULTHOOD and ANGUS THONGS & PERFECT SNOGGING.
As Associate with Gary Davy he has cast MISTRESSES, GARROW’S LAW, STRIKE BACK and films 44 INCH CHEST and STREETDANCE 3D. This year he started VHJ Casting with fellow Casting Director Kelly Valentine Hendry, and they are currently working on independent feature ELFIE HOPKINS & THE GAMMONS as well as sony's GRABBERS and cult music video director Alexandre Courtes first full length feature INCIDENT AS SANS ASYLUM
Denise spent the first twenty years of her career as an actress and singer, working in the West End, TV, Film, radio and as a session singer. She founded Cahoots Theatre Company in 1993 while on tour with the DOyly Carte Opera Company, producing Stephen Sondheim’s, MARRY ME A LITTLE on the back of the DOyly Carte tour, in studio venues up and down the country. This she did again the following year with NOEL AND GERTIE.
In 1999 Cahoots produced the West End revival of STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW starring Robert Meadmore, at the Jermyn Street Theatre. After being appointed Artistic Associate of that theatre Denise produced the musical, SNAP and the Roy Smiles play SICK DICTATORS, directed by James Bolam. Followed by a co-production with Ballantrae of HIGH SPIRITS at the Bridewell Theatre.
In 2004 she was recipient of the Stage One New Producers Bursary which enabled her to take the off the wall comedy THE TRANSLUCENT FROGS OF QUUUP by Chris Larner and Mark Stephens, to the Edinburgh Festival, then transferring it to the Ambassadors Theatre for a short run followed by a sell out season at the Kings Head. During the same year, while working as Production Co-ordinator for Edward Snape at Fiery Angel, Denise took FASCINATING AIDA to New York, thus forming an alliance with 59E59 Theaters, enabling her to take actress and artist, Kara Wilson to New York for the Brits of Broadway season.
From that visit she then entered into a co-production with the NY based Godlight Company bringing their highly successful A CLOCKWORK ORANGE to Edinburgh for a sell out season. During the same year she also produced Rain Pryor in her one woman show at the Festival and a sell out season at the Pizza Express in Soho.
On the cabaret circuit, she, along with Ian Mowat, ran the high profile season at the Riverwalk Restaurant at the Oxo Tower with such artists as Sian Phillips, Kit and the Widow, John Barr, Alison Jiear, Simon Green, Sally Mayes, Ian Shaw and Liza Sadovy. Later producing Kit and the Widow, Michael Dore and Fascinating Aida at the Copthorne Hotel in Kensington, and working on the press and marketing for John Barrowmans season at Pizza on the Park.
Cahoots have produced CDs including: MALTBY AND SHIRE LIVE AT JERMYN STREET, AND SO IT GOES, Sian Phillips solo album with Kevin Amos, RAIN PRYOR LIVE IN LONDON and ISNT IT ROMANTIC, the solo album of Margaret Preece. In 2009 DS Personal Management was formed which looks after a very small, select list of performers and creatives.
Currently Cahoots General Manage the Showbiz Pops Orchestra. In 2009 the orchestra played to packed houses nationally with THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and they are about to embark on the 2010 season, starting in Yeovil in May, Denise also Production Controller for the West End production of THE MOUSETRAP and has recently returned from taking the production to Shanghai for a three week sell out season.
Denise worked as an assistant agent with Jane Lehrer and then Evans and Reiss. She worked as an agent consultant for Storm Artists, a subsidiary of Storm Models, for two years, until the acting division folded. Splitting the clients with her colleagues, she formed her own company in 2005. The agency sits very comfortably alongside the production company.