Getting to know you (Part 2)

Yesterday we introduced you to some of the Cast and Crew of King Lear so you can get to know them a little bit better before you come and see them up in Edinburgh. Today we bring you Part 2 of the profiles -

  

Katrina Grier as Oswald

This is Katrina's first time performing at the edinburgh fringe, an opportunity which she is incredibly grateful for. It is her first year in Act One and during this year she has performed in multiple roles including Mistress Overdone in 'Measure for Measure' and an eccentric german count in a stage adaptation of 'The Great Race'. Theatre has always been a big part of Katrina's life and apart from straight theatre she has also appeared in many musical theatre roles including Polly in the 'Threepenny Opera' and Toad in 'The Wind Of The Willows'. As well as others working with theatre company MJUK. Katrina would like to say thank you to the Directors for allowing her to play such an unusual character, her favourite direction being "Give us more tongue".

  Flora Woodruff as France

This is Flora's first year in Act One. Having acted as the old woman and messenger in King Lear's January production, she has stepped up to play a female France at the Fringe. Flora has acted in a variety of different roles before joining Act One, varying from a sheep to Aladdin to Lady Macbeth.

Dom Gwyther as Gloucester

After roles in as Jack Off in 'Alice in Pantoland', Ralph in 'Our Country's Good' and Soldier number 2 in 'Salome' Dom returns to Shakespeare as Gloucester having first 'caught the bug' as the title role in a school production of 'Richard III'. This will be Dom's last performance with Act One and he is incredibly proud to be amongst such a talented group of actors and crew here in Edinburgh and to have the opportunity to take on such a challenging role at the world's biggest arts festival.

  

James Paine as Lear Jr/Gentleman Cambridge

James has ran around shouting on stages for many years. From King Louie in 'The Jungle Book' to Willy Wonka in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' he enjoyed being a big fish in a small pond before university. The past two years being part of Act One, James has made a name for himself by repeatedly appearing on stage wearing really not very much. After feeling used for his body by various directors he took the plunge into 'King Lear'. Lear represents his first foray into Shakespeare, as well as his first attempt at playing a character with measurable levels of testosterone.

 

Caitlin Forbes as Doctor/Messenger

This is Caitlin's first foray into the world of Shakespeare after her most recent Act One portrayals as the moving and critically acclaimed Pussyrator in 'King Arthur and the Lads of the Round Table' and Cloth Mother in 'Touch Comfort'. Caitlin devoted her teenage years to musicals and singing by dressing up in a green catsuit in 'Honk' with Cheryl Baker (of Bucks Fizz fame), playing Queequeg in 'Moby Dick the Musical', Jafar in 'Aladdin' and singing arias in St. Paul's cathedral (amongst others) on the sly. She truly believes these notable roles have set her up for the role she was born to play.

Emily Barnden as Kent 

This is Emily's first year in Act One, having played an abused child in 'Staging a Coup' and is going to be Production Manager for next year's production of 'Harrowdown Hill', a devised piece about David Kelly's involvement in the Iraq war.

Ellie Hepworth as The Fool

This year was Ellie's first year in Act One, appearing as an old woman in 'Sunrise', and of course, as The Fool in 'King Lear'.









Not forgetting our awsome crew -

 

Amy Davies (Tech)

Amy has been involved in a number of productions with Act One; from being a stage hand on 'The Importance of being Ernest', acting in 'The Crucible' to directing a main production. This is Amy's first time doing lighting so she has everything crossed for no disasters! Amy has previously been involved with 2 Edinburgh productions but none quite as big as 'Lear'!"

Sian Llewellyn (Tech)

Sian has been involved in technical theatre for nearly six years, starting out backstage with college productions and slowly progressing through stage management, lighting and sound. Sian assisted on productions of Hairspray, Rent, Les Miserable and We Will Rock You, amongst many others during her time at Neath Port Talbot College. This is Sian's second year in Act One,during which time she has done lighting, sound and some production management, for productions of The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Monstrous Regiment and now King Lear. Sian is currently studying Physics and Music and hopes to pursue a career in technical theatre.

                   

Katie Dowling (Publicity & Props)

 

Katie has been acting and singing since a young age, mainly in the Welsh National Eisteddfod. She also played various chorus roles during 6^th form, and played the role of Inès in No Exit (Huis Clos) by Jean-Paul Sartre as part of her Drama A-Levels. Katie played the role of Curan in the January production of King Lear, but is now fulfilling the role of Publicity Officer and helping out with props for the Edinburgh production of the play.

Pictures courtesy of Ségolène Scheuer