The Production
After two years of writing, research and development work, the first production of "No Smoke" is showing at the Blue Orange Theatre as part of Birmingham Fest 2014. The production will feature the entire play performed by a professional cast, but with a simple, minimalist set, costume and other production costs. This will allow the brand new play to be really tested in its most raw state.
Details of the cast and team are given below:
Phil Jennings - David Franklyn
Philip graduated from Birmingham School of Acting in 2008. Much of his recent work has been with Midlands theatre companies including Tread The Boards (She Stoops To Conquer, The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde, Brimstone & Treacle, Present Laughter), Don’t Go Into The Cellar (Morbid Curiosities, The Singular Exploits Of Sherlock Holmes), FRED (That Shakespeare Show!), Shoebox Theatre (When?), Mad Angel (Captured, The Stranger) and Blue Orange Arts (Lady Windermere’s Fan, Twelfth Night). He appears in It’s A Love Thing (Best Family Film, Canada International Film Festival 2013) and as Professor Van Ark in Six To Start’s smartphone game, Zombies, Run!
Sarah Gain - DS Ellen Cross
As well as various festivals and new writing, Sarah's previous performances include the one woman show 'The 12 Dates of Christmas' (Old Joint Stock Theatre Co), Constance in 'Jekyll and Hyde' and Gertrude Chiltern in 'An Ideal Husband' (Blue Orange Theatre). Fanny Dashwood in 'Sense and Sensibility' (UK tour), Rebecca in 'Immaculate' (Fraction Theatre), Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (UK tour) and regular productions for Distraction Theatre in their new works across the year. Sarah is delighted to be back at Blue Orange in such a thought provoking piece of new writing.
Harry Yendell - Ashley Edwards
Harry was originally spotted by the writer/director when he was performing in First Act Workshop's "Off the Cuff" back in January 2014. Having recently trained at Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA), Harry has been involved in a wide range of theatre projects, and is currently enjoying working alongside a top, local professional company for the first production of "No Smoke".
Vincent Clarke - Michael Edwards
Vincent has been an actor and performer for the past 15 years appearing in some varied roles including Shakespeare’s Falstaff and Eisenring in Max Firsch’s The Arsonists. “The play ‘No Smoke’ is very relevant to today’s world, almost scarily so, and I feel it is something that should to be brought to our attention so we can read the signs”. Vincent is working towards developing as an actor and has recently won Triforce Promotions Monologue Slam at the Birmingham REP. “It has been a pleasure to work with Colin and the cast to achieve such a great piece of work.”
Kieron Attwood - Daniel Fletcher
A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire, Kieron's credits include 'Jekyll & Hyde', 'Dracula' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan' (Blue Orange Theatre), 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' (Italy National tour), 'The Tempest' (Old Joint Stock), 'The Winter's Tale' (Attic Theatre), 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' (Germany tour), 'The Servant Of Two Masters' (Artix Theatre), 'Taliswoman' (Guildhall, Leicester), 'The Wind In The Willows' (Sparkenhoe Ark Theatre), 'Romeo & Juliet' (New Zealand tour) and 'Macbeth' (Open Air UK Tour), the Sky sci-fi film 'The Kepler Deception', feature films 'A Dozen Summers' & 'Unearthing Evil' and voice over work for Islamic Relief's 2013 'War On Hunger' campaign.
Catriona McDonald - Ruth Bishop
At the ripe old age of fourteen I was cast in The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery alongside the late Frankie Howard. I was hooked on the acting bug from then on. I went on to train at Rose Bruford Drama School, graduating in 1987. Twenty years on, after marriages, kids, rabbits, hamsters, dogs, cats and goldfish, I made a crazy decision to return to acting! Most of my theatre is here in the Midlands: recently in ‘Present Laughter’ playing Lady Saltburn, directed by Keith Myers, with Tread the Boards, and rehearsed readings at the Birmingham Rep, and at MAC. RSC in A Midsummer Night's Dream, playing the Duke's Guest, and at The Blue Orange in Lady Windermere’s Fan playing the Duchess of Berwick, directed by Colin Ward. I have recently finished a TV comedy pilot called ‘Help Yourselves', set in a fictional charity shop. I played Janet, the grumpy shop manager, which has attracted the interest of the producers of Miranda and Radio Four. The writers are currently adapting it for Radio 4, and we plan to record the pilot in the summer.