Cast List & Biographies
Julian Wadham
The Minister
Julian has made over twenty films, receiving plaudits for his portrayal of Madox in Anthony Minghella's THE ENGLISH PATIENT and his performance as joyless Prime Minister Pitt in Nicholas Hytner's THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE. Last autumn saw the release of LEGACY with Idris Elba and he has just finished filming on Steven Spielberg's WAR HORSE which will come out later in 2011 and THE IRON LADY in which he plays Francis Pym opposite Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher, which will come out in 2012. He performs regularly at the National Theatre, most recently in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and has worked extensively at the Royal Court on many of their award winning new plays. Other recent theatre includes THE PRINCE OF HOMBURG at the Donmar and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with Judi Dench at the Rose. He appears regularly on television and won the Royal Television Society and Prix Europa Prize for GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD, and the Royal Television Society Award for BLIND JUSTICE.
He is currently filming on the second series of DOWNTON ABBEY which will come out later in the year. As well as reading and recording books, he particularly enjoys listening to, and appearing on, the radio.
Click here for Julian on Facebook
Jenny Agutter
Professor Cantha
Jenny trained at Elmhurst Ballet School. Her first film role aged 11 years was as a young dancer in Walt Disney's film Ballerina. She came to the public's attention in 1970 playing Roberta in the film of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN and The Girl in Nic Roeg's WALKABOUT. Jenny joined the National Theatre aged 21 to play Miranda in THE TEMPEST opposite Sir John Gielgud since when she has played with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in many theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway. Films include: LOGAN'S RUN, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, SWEET WILLIAM, GLORIOUS '39 and WEIGHED IN (to be released 2011) She won an Emmy for her role as Fritha in the BBC production of THE SNOW GOOSE and a BAFTA for her supporting role in the film of EQUUS. She has had numerous and varied roles on television from Hedvig in THE WILD DUCK to Jane Clark in THE ALAN CLARK DIARIES and Tessa in SPOOKS. For more information please look at: www.jennyagutter.net
Gethin Anthony
Sutu
Gethin trained at LAMDA and read English at Oxford University. His film and television credits include GAME OF THRONES (HBO),INTO THE STORM (HBO/BBC), 10 DAYS TO WAR (BBC), PINOCHET IN SUBURBIA (BBC), HOLBY CITY (BBC) and DOCTORS (BBC). He also works regularly on stage including DITCH (Hightide Festival/Old Vic Tunnels), CLING TO ME LIKE IVY (Birmingham Rep/Barry Jackson Tour) and WHAT FATIMA DID (Hampstead Theatre). Gethin and his co-producers at Magic Number Productions won the 2010 Smoke and Mirrors short film competition with their debut short PERFECTING FEE and he has also just recorded LEGSY GETS A BREAK, SEVERED THREADS and SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS for BBC Radio 4.
Lauren Crace
Kitty
Lauren graduated from RADA in 2008. During her final year she was cast as series regular Danielle Jones in EASTENDERS for which she was awarded the TV Quick & TV Choice Best Newcomer award and two Best Storyline awards. Her Theatre credits include Cecile de Volanges in Toby Frow's production of LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Salisbury Playhouse and Young Dee in AND I AND SILENCE at The Finborough. She appeared in the GREAT GAME, part of the BBC's recent and critically acclaimed SHERLOCK series as well as a guest lead in the BBC series HOLBY CITY and SILK. Later in 2011 she will be seen in the role of Joan in Aisling Walsh's ROOM AT THE TOP for BBC4.
Paul Darrow
Lord Rathen
Paul has appeared in approximately 300 TV programmes in the UK and USA, amongst them Avon in the cult TV series BLAKE'S SEVEN, Captain Hawkins in DR WHO, the title role in THE POISONING OF CHARLES BRAVO, Anthony Eden in the TV film HESS and co-starring with John Thaw in DRAKE'S VENTURE. He has also appeared in many of the UK's popular long running series, most recently in EMMERDALE and as a recurring judge in the new LAW AND ORDER UK series on ITV1. His Film work includes the 20th Bond movie DIE ANOTHER DAY and his theatre work has been extensive including the title roles in LUTHER and MACBETH, Elvis Presley in ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? and Captain Vimes in Terry Pratchett's GUARDS; GUARDS. He is currently the "voice" of JACK FM, an innovative, award winning radio station.
Stuart Fox
Porcher
Last seen at the Orange Tree Theatre in Pinero's THE THUNDERBOLT, he believes he holds the record for performing in more plays there than any previous actor. His bottomless pit of characterisations has been put to good use recently by Alan Ayckbourn in WOMAN IN MIND at the Vaudeville Theatre, DROWNING ON DRY LAND in Scarborough and on tour playing five characters in IMPROBABLE FICTION. Claims to fame include playing Hunter Thompson in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS at the Fortune Theatre - surviving a drug crazed meeting with the author - and falling over a coffee table at the Olivier house in the presence of the revered owner.
Peter Guinness
The Horseman
Peter is a familiar face on television, most recently seen as Tito Spadola in ZEN, DCI Powell in SILENT WITNESS, Charlie Webber in NEW TRICKS and Terry Stafford in ASHES TO ASHES, all for BBC TV. His film career includes ALIEN 3 and Tim Burton's SLEEPY HOLLOW. His extensive theatre career includes roles for The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester and Glasgow Citizens Theatre, and most recently as Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Manchester International Festival production of THE PIANIST with Mikhail Rudy. A well known voice from the series DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD, Peter can currently be heard on-line reading: DRACULA'S GUEST AND OTHER DARK TALES by Bram Stoker (Textbook Stuff).
Lloyd Hutchinson
Menin
Lloyd trained at RADA. He has worked extensively for the National Theatre, The RSC, The Royal Court and The Royal Exchange. He played Charlie Conlon in the Olivier Award winning STONES IN HIS POCKETS and his most recent theatre work includes the critically acclaimed MEASURE FOR MEASURE at the Almeida, Feydeau's A FLEA IN HIS EAR at the Old Vic and LIFE IS A DREAM at the Donmar Warehouse. His Film work includes MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, ANONYMOUS, GLADIATRESS, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU and for Television TITANIC, THE FADES, SILK, MIDSOMER MURDERS, MURPHY'S LAW, LLOYD AND HILL, INSPECTOR MORSE and REBEL HEART. Lloyd's work for Radio 3 and 4 drama include THE WEIGHING ROOM, THE CONFLICT IS OVER and THE LISTENING ROOM. He has recorded Shakespeare for the Open University and for Riverrun Productions.
Mark Lewis
The King
Mark has had a long association with the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre, appearing in a wide variety of classical British and European plays, with leading roles in Lermontov's MASKERADE, Goethe's FAUST, Balzac's VAUTRIN, and Dumas' ANTHONY, to name but a few. He has worked at the Manchester Royal Exchange, the Old Vic, the National Theatre and The Donmar and has been on national and international tours, including playing Jokanaan in Berkoff's SALOME. He is currently appearing in LAKEBOAT, part of the David Mamet double bi;; at the new Arcola Theatre and prior to that was seen with Howard Barker's Wrestling School in HURTS GIVEN... at Riverside Studios. He has made a variety of appearances in TV series and films including CASUALTY, THE BILL and HEARTBEAT.
Sylvester McCoy
The Witch Prime
Sylvester came to prominence as a member of the comedy act THE KEN CAMPBELL ROADSHOW. His best known act was as a stuntman character called "Sylveste McCoy" in an entertainment entitled AN EVENING WITH SYLVESTE McCOY THE HUMAN BOMB where his stunts included putting a nail up his nose, stuffing ferrets down his trousers, exploding a bomb on his chest, and if the audience behaved themselves, setting his head on fire. As a joke, the programme notes listed Sylveste McCoy as played by "Sylveste McCoy" and, after a reviewer missed the joke assuming Sylveste McCoy was a real person, Kent-Smith adopted this as his stage name, some years later adding an 'r'. Well known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the hugely popular TV series DOCTOR WHO, he then revived the role in the Doctor Who television movie with Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor. Notable television appearances before he gained the role of the Doctor included roles in VISION ON (where he played Pepe/Epep, a character who lived in the mirror), an O-Man in JIGSAW and TISWAS. His stage performances range from the title role in The National Theatre's production of THE PIED PIPER and The Fool in Trevor Nunn's KING LEAR alongside Ian McKellen for the Royal Shakespeare Company to Mushnik in the Menier Chocolate Factory's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and Puck in Welsh National Opera's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. He has just finished playing 'Grimes' in a highly acclaimed production of Evelyn Waugh's DECLINE & FALL and also portrayed, on the stage, two famous movie comedians: Stan Laurel and Buster Keaton. He recently guest starred in an episode of the BBC's series DOCTORS playing an actor who once played the time-travelling hero of a children's television series called The Amazing Lollipop Man, especially written for Sylvester.
He will shortly start filming in New Zealand in the role of 'Radagast The Brown' in Peter Jackson's movie versions of THE HOBBIT.
Paul McGann
Durian
Since his iconic roles as the eponymous "I" in Bruce Robinson's cult film comedy WITHNAIL AND I, and the infamous British deserter and criminal Percy Toplis in the BBC serial THE MONOCLED MUTINEER for which he was nominated for BAFTA, Paul's TV and Film career has remained extensive and varied. He is also the eighth incarnation of the Doctor in the TV film of DR WHO, a role he has continued to play on audio drama for Big Finish and on BBC7. His Film career has ranged from Ken Russell's adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's THE RAINBOW and Spielberg's EMPIRE OF THE SUN, to Bharat Nalluri's DOWNTIME and Charles Sturridge's FAIRY TALE: A TRUE STORY as well as QUEEN OF THE DAMNED from Anne Rice's 'Vampire Chronicles' and LESBIAN VAMPIRE KILLERS. Other TV series include the BBC's LUTHER (the second series of which will go out later this year); the innovative ITV series COLLISION unfolding its story over five consecutive nights; several series of HORNBLOWER for the BBC, the BBC costume drama OUR MUTUAL FRIEND and THE HANGING GALE in which he and his three brothers played brothers. He is also known for his voice work, including audio book narration, reading several Pat Barker and Bernard Cornwell novels as well as the abridged audio book of Jeff Noon's cyberpunk classic VURT.
Jay Taylor
Ilias
Jay trained at RADA. Since leaving, his film credits have included DONKEY PUNCH, BLOODED, RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER and George Lucas' forthcoming feature RED TAILS. His theatre work includes A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (Glasgow Citizens), TROILUS AND CRESSIDA (Globe), S**TMIX (Trafalgar Studios), TITUS ANDRONICUS (Globe), THE POLICE (White Bear) and POSH - ROUGH CUTS (Royal Court). Tv work includes forthcoming Channel 4 Comedy Drama NAKED APES, CASUALTY, CONSUMING PASSION, DAPHNE and THE BILL.
Also featuring
Luke Carroll - Private Merat
Isobel Collingwood - Princess Didi
Richard Garaghty - Match Werming
Gareth Jones - Corporal Sona
Andrew Martyn - Lewis - Private Devian
Petra Massey - Gurk
Kane Sharpe - Rosta
Rachel Spicer - Mother
Jamie Wallwork - Captain Varian
Alex Warren - Captain Janthorn
Julian Wadham
The Minister
Julian has made over twenty films, receiving plaudits for his portrayal of Madox in Anthony Minghella's THE ENGLISH PATIENT and his performance as joyless Prime Minister Pitt in Nicholas Hytner's THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE. Last autumn saw the release of LEGACY with Idris Elba and he has just finished filming on Steven Spielberg's WAR HORSE which will come out later in 2011 and THE IRON LADY in which he plays Francis Pym opposite Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher, which will come out in 2012. He performs regularly at the National Theatre, most recently in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and has worked extensively at the Royal Court on many of their award winning new plays. Other recent theatre includes THE PRINCE OF HOMBURG at the Donmar and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with Judi Dench at the Rose. He appears regularly on television and won the Royal Television Society and Prix Europa Prize for GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD, and the Royal Television Society Award for BLIND JUSTICE. He is currently filming on the second series of DOWNTON ABBEY which will come out later in the year. As well as reading and recording books, he particularly enjoys listening to, and appearing on, the radio. Click here for Julian on Facebook
Jenny Agutter
Professor Cantha
Jenny trained at Elmhurst Ballet School. Her first film role aged 11 years was as a young dancer in Walt Disney's film Ballerina. She came to the public's attention in 1970 playing Roberta in the film of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN and The Girl in Nic Roeg's WALKABOUT. Jenny joined the National Theatre aged 21 to play Miranda in THE TEMPEST opposite Sir John Gielgud since when she has played with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in many theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway. Films include: LOGAN'S RUN, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, SWEET WILLIAM, GLORIOUS '39 and WEIGHED IN (to be released 2011) She won an Emmy for her role as Fritha in the BBC production of THE SNOW GOOSE and a BAFTA for her supporting role in the film of EQUUS. She has had numerous and varied roles on television from Hedvig in THE WILD DUCK to Jane Clark in THE ALAN CLARK DIARIES and Tessa in SPOOKS. For more information please look at: www.jennyagutter.net
Gethin Anthony
Sutu
Gethin trained at LAMDA and read English at Oxford University. His film and television credits include GAME OF THRONES (HBO),INTO THE STORM (HBO/BBC), 10 DAYS TO WAR (BBC), PINOCHET IN SUBURBIA (BBC), HOLBY CITY (BBC) and DOCTORS (BBC). He also works regularly on stage including DITCH (Hightide Festival/Old Vic Tunnels), CLING TO ME LIKE IVY (Birmingham Rep/Barry Jackson Tour) and WHAT FATIMA DID (Hampstead Theatre). Gethin and his co-producers at Magic Number Productions won the 2010 Smoke and Mirrors short film competition with their debut short PERFECTING FEE and he has also just recorded LEGSY GETS A BREAK, SEVERED THREADS and SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS for BBC Radio 4.
Lauren Crace
Kitty
Lauren graduated from RADA in 2008. During her final year she was cast as series regular Danielle Jones in EASTENDERS for which she was awarded the TV Quick & TV Choice Best Newcomer award and two Best Storyline awards. Her Theatre credits include Cecile de Volanges in Toby Frow's production of LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Salisbury Playhouse and Young Dee in AND I AND SILENCE at The Finborough. She appeared in the GREAT GAME, part of the BBC's recent and critically acclaimed SHERLOCK series as well as a guest lead in the BBC series HOLBY CITY and SILK. Later in 2011 she will be seen in the role of Joan in Aisling Walsh's ROOM AT THE TOP for BBC4.
Paul Darrow
Lord Rathen
Paul has appeared in approximately 300 TV programmes in the UK and USA, amongst them Avon in the cult TV series BLAKE'S SEVEN, Captain Hawkins in DR WHO, the title role in THE POISONING OF CHARLES BRAVO, Anthony Eden in the TV film HESS and co-starring with John Thaw in DRAKE'S VENTURE. He has also appeared in many of the UK's popular long running series, most recently in EMMERDALE and as a recurring judge in the new LAW AND ORDER UK series on ITV1. His Film work includes the 20th Bond movie DIE ANOTHER DAY and his theatre work has been extensive including the title roles in LUTHER and MACBETH, Elvis Presley in ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? and Captain Vimes in Terry Pratchett's GUARDS; GUARDS. He is currently the "voice" of JACK FM, an innovative, award winning radio station.
Stuart Fox
Porcher
Last seen at the Orange Tree Theatre in Pinero's THE THUNDERBOLT, he believes he holds the record for performing in more plays there than any previous actor. His bottomless pit of characterisations has been put to good use recently by Alan Ayckbourn in WOMAN IN MIND at the Vaudeville Theatre, DROWNING ON DRY LAND in Scarborough and on tour playing five characters in IMPROBABLE FICTION. Claims to fame include playing Hunter Thompson in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS at the Fortune Theatre - surviving a drug crazed meeting with the author - and falling over a coffee table at the Olivier house in the presence of the revered owner.
Peter Guinness
The Horseman
Peter is a familiar face on television, most recently seen as Tito Spadola in ZEN, DCI Powell in SILENT WITNESS, Charlie Webber in NEW TRICKS and Terry Stafford in ASHES TO ASHES, all for BBC TV. His film career includes ALIEN 3 and Tim Burton's SLEEPY HOLLOW. His extensive theatre career includes roles for The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester and Glasgow Citizens Theatre, and most recently as Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Manchester International Festival production of THE PIANIST with Mikhail Rudy. A well known voice from the series DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD, Peter can currently be heard on-line reading: DRACULA'S GUEST AND OTHER DARK TALES by Bram Stoker (Textbook Stuff).
Lloyd Hutchinson
Menin
Lloyd trained at RADA. He has worked extensively for the National Theatre, The RSC, The Royal Court and The Royal Exchange. He played Charlie Conlon in the Olivier Award winning STONES IN HIS POCKETS and his most recent theatre work includes the critically acclaimed MEASURE FOR MEASURE at the Almeida, Feydeau's A FLEA IN HIS EAR at the Old Vic and LIFE IS A DREAM at the Donmar Warehouse. His Film work includes MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, ANONYMOUS, GLADIATRESS, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU and for Television TITANIC, THE FADES, SILK, MIDSOMER MURDERS, MURPHY'S LAW, LLOYD AND HILL, INSPECTOR MORSE and REBEL HEART. Lloyd's work for Radio 3 and 4 drama include THE WEIGHING ROOM, THE CONFLICT IS OVER and THE LISTENING ROOM. He has recorded Shakespeare for the Open University and for Riverrun Productions.
Mark Lewis
The King
Mark has had a long association with the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre, appearing in a wide variety of classical British and European plays, with leading roles in Lermontov's MASKERADE, Goethe's FAUST, Balzac's VAUTRIN, and Dumas' ANTHONY, to name but a few. He has worked at the Manchester Royal Exchange, the Old Vic, the National Theatre and The Donmar and has been on national and international tours, including playing Jokanaan in Berkoff's SALOME. He is currently appearing in LAKEBOAT, part of the David Mamet double bi;; at the new Arcola Theatre and prior to that was seen with Howard Barker's Wrestling School in HURTS GIVEN... at Riverside Studios. He has made a variety of appearances in TV series and films including CASUALTY, THE BILL and HEARTBEAT.
Sylvester McCoy
The Witch Prime
Sylvester came to prominence as a member of the comedy act THE KEN CAMPBELL ROADSHOW. His best known act was as a stuntman character called "Sylveste McCoy" in an entertainment entitled AN EVENING WITH SYLVESTE McCOY THE HUMAN BOMB where his stunts included putting a nail up his nose, stuffing ferrets down his trousers, exploding a bomb on his chest, and if the audience behaved themselves, setting his head on fire. As a joke, the programme notes listed Sylveste McCoy as played by "Sylveste McCoy" and, after a reviewer missed the joke assuming Sylveste McCoy was a real person, Kent-Smith adopted this as his stage name, some years later adding an 'r'. Well known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the hugely popular TV series DOCTOR WHO, he then revived the role in the Doctor Who television movie with Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor. Notable television appearances before he gained the role of the Doctor included roles in VISION ON (where he played Pepe/Epep, a character who lived in the mirror), an O-Man in JIGSAW and TISWAS. His stage performances range from the title role in The National Theatre's production of THE PIED PIPER and The Fool in Trevor Nunn's KING LEAR alongside Ian McKellen for the Royal Shakespeare Company to Mushnik in the Menier Chocolate Factory's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and Puck in Welsh National Opera's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. He has just finished playing 'Grimes' in a highly acclaimed production of Evelyn Waugh's DECLINE & FALL and also portrayed, on the stage, two famous movie comedians: Stan Laurel and Buster Keaton. He recently guest starred in an episode of the BBC's series DOCTORS playing an actor who once played the time-travelling hero of a children's television series called The Amazing Lollipop Man, especially written for Sylvester. He will shortly start filming in New Zealand in the role of 'Radagast The Brown' in Peter Jackson's movie versions of THE HOBBIT.
Paul McGann
Durian
Since his iconic roles as the eponymous "I" in Bruce Robinson's cult film comedy WITHNAIL AND I, and the infamous British deserter and criminal Percy Toplis in the BBC serial THE MONOCLED MUTINEER for which he was nominated for BAFTA, Paul's TV and Film career has remained extensive and varied. He is also the eighth incarnation of the Doctor in the TV film of DR WHO, a role he has continued to play on audio drama for Big Finish and on BBC7. His Film career has ranged from Ken Russell's adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's THE RAINBOW and Spielberg's EMPIRE OF THE SUN, to Bharat Nalluri's DOWNTIME and Charles Sturridge's FAIRY TALE: A TRUE STORY as well as QUEEN OF THE DAMNED from Anne Rice's 'Vampire Chronicles' and LESBIAN VAMPIRE KILLERS. Other TV series include the BBC's LUTHER (the second series of which will go out later this year); the innovative ITV series COLLISION unfolding its story over five consecutive nights; several series of HORNBLOWER for the BBC, the BBC costume drama OUR MUTUAL FRIEND and THE HANGING GALE in which he and his three brothers played brothers. He is also known for his voice work, including audio book narration, reading several Pat Barker and Bernard Cornwell novels as well as the abridged audio book of Jeff Noon's cyberpunk classic VURT.
Jay Taylor
Ilias
Jay trained at RADA. Since leaving, his film credits have included DONKEY PUNCH, BLOODED, RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER and George Lucas' forthcoming feature RED TAILS. His theatre work includes A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (Glasgow Citizens), TROILUS AND CRESSIDA (Globe), S**TMIX (Trafalgar Studios), TITUS ANDRONICUS (Globe), THE POLICE (White Bear) and POSH - ROUGH CUTS (Royal Court). Tv work includes forthcoming Channel 4 Comedy Drama NAKED APES, CASUALTY, CONSUMING PASSION, DAPHNE and THE BILL.
Also featuring
Luke Carroll - Private Merat
Isobel Collingwood - Princess Didi
Richard Garaghty - Match Werming
Gareth Jones - Corporal Sona
Andrew Martyn - Lewis - Private Devian
Petra Massey - Gurk
Kane Sharpe - Rosta
Rachel Spicer - Mother
Jamie Wallwork - Captain Varian
Alex Warren - Captain Janthorn
Prologue: Listen for Free
