The Creative Team
Director - Kate Stafford
Costume and Set Designer - Hazel Albarn
Lighting Designer - Charlie Morgan Jones
Sound, Video and Music - Frederick Rich
Musician - Ben Mankhamba
Choreographer - Shyne Phiri
Producer - Jemma Gross
CSM - Siva Zagel
The Company
Ariel - Joshua Bhima
A certified Choreographer/Dancer with the Dance Foundation Course (DFC) Zimbabwe, Joshua co-choreographed a piece that was performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in Zimbabwe. He is an experienced and certified Actor/Facilitator for Theatre For Development (TFD) with Chancellor College (University of Malawi), Theatre in a Box Africa and Arts Lab Zimbabwe. He has performed in many countries both across Africa and in Europe. Credits include ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF DEMOCRACY, THE FROGS and TARIRO (Nanzikambe Arts, Malawi) MERCY MADONNA OF MALAWI (Malawi National Tour and Edinburgh Festival Fringe). Joshua also teaches dance in experienced dance in high schools in Malawi.
Prospero - Christopher Brand
Chris trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Theatre includes: DRACULA (Siam Ganesha Bangkok), THE WHITE WHALE (Slung Low), KING LEAR (St. James Theatre, directed by Jonathan Miller), RETROSPECTIVE (Slung Low), OF MICE AND MEN (UK tour), TWELFTH NIGHT (Old Vic Tunnels), MACBETH (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); ON THE WATERFRONT (Hackney Empire, directed by Steven Berkoff), WAY OF THE WORLD (Northampton Royal), A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG (Manchester Library), CHITTYCHITTYBANGBANG (London Palladium), AFORE NIGHT CAME and SLEEPING BEAUTY (Young Vic, both directed by Rufus Norris), Tommy Cooper in FRANKIE & TOMMY (Watford Palace and Lyric Hammersmith), ROMEO & JULIET (Chichester Festival), THE WINTER’S TALE and THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE (RSC), THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Bloomsbury Theatre), CORIOLANUS (West Yorkshire Playhouse and World tour) and SALOME (World tour, both directed by Steven Berkoff) PEER GYNT (RSC World tour, directed by Yukio Ninagawa), BOUNCERS and OEDIPUS REX (Bristol New Vic).
Television includes: INSPECTOR GEORGE GENTLY, EMMERDALE, THE EVERMOOR CHRONICLES, THE MUSKETEERS, DOCTORS, M I HIGH, THE LAST DETECTIVE, THE MYSTI SHOW, THE REAL TOMMY COOPER, ACCORDING TO BEX, CASUALTY, MY FAMILY, THE BILL, THE VANISHING MAN, THE WIDOWING OF MRS. HOLROYD, MEN OF THE WORLD, TOMORROW PEOPLE, SCARLET & BLACK, SEEKERS.
Film includes: GUNSHY, LONDON TOWN, FAN FILM, DOORWAYS, THE HOLDING, BASIC INSTINCT II, DARK PRINCE, THE BIOGRAPHER, PASSIONATE PASTIMES PIC’N’MIX.
Radio includes: IN & OUT OF THE KITCHEN, JUPITER, TWELFTH NIGHT.
Christopher is also a writer, and his company And Remember...We Care have performed at the Latitude Festival for the last nine years in a row.
Miranda - Cassandra Hercules
Cassandra studied Law at the Glasgow University School of Law and worked as an immigration and human rights lawyer before undertaking the MA Acting Degree at Guildford School of Acting in 2015. Her professional theatre credits include Actor in #CASTE (Arcola Theatre), Samantha in UNDER MY THUMB (Greenwich Theatre & New Diorama) and Hannah in HANNAH AND HANNA (New Diorama Theatre, Assembly Edinburgh Fringe, Greenwich Theatre). Film and television credits include
Eliza in DARREN HAS A BREAKDOWN (web series), Amanda in AMANDA (short film) and Lourdes Treasurer in A MUG’S GAME (feature film).
Trinculo - Victoria Jeffrey
Victoria is an actress and writer. She trained at Drama Studio London and has had a varied career ranging from playing Gertrude in HAMLET (International Tour), to appearing at the Comedy Store as one half of the award winning female comedy double act THE TOTALLY NAFF TARTS. Last year Victoria’s one woman show DANCING WITH JACK premiered at the Edinburgh Festival to rave reviews. Other theatre includes BRITBITS8 (Off Broadway New York), LIVE IMPRO! (The Lincoln Center, New York), OLD KING COLE (Southwark Playhouse), ANIMAL BORDELLO (Soho Theatre), SILVER SWORD (York Theatre Royal), DO A DANCE FOR DADDY (New End Theatre), THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (National Tour), MEASURE FOR MEASURE (London Gatehouse), THIRTEEN WEEKS (Soho Theatre), and WOYZECK (Cambridge Theatre London).
Film credits include: STRANGER THINGS; THE DRUMMOND WILL; I AM A GREAT MAN; MAGGIE & RUTH; MOTHERS LOVE; THREE MINUTE MOMENTS; CUT AND RUN; BRIXTON SHORTS; SOFT SURGERY and THE NAKED CELL.
TV credits include: ANT AND DEC’S SATURDAY NIGHT TAKE AWAY, AUTOPSY, STORM CITY, GENIE IN THE HOUSE, LOVEJOY, SO CLOSE TO HEAVEN, SITCOM TRIALS, MOTHERS LOVE, and PROSPECTS.
Ariel - Robert Magasa
Robert is a freelancer, a certified actor in film and stage performance. He is a Dancer, Dance trainer and choreographer under the dance trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ). He is also certified in theatre for Development (TFD) and theater for change (TFT). Robert has performed with Nanzikambe Arts from Malawi as a guest actor in more than ten productions and toured Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi. He also performed in ANIMAL FARM for Theatre Konstanz (Germany) and in Scotland with The WORD Theater Company in 2009 in MERCY MADONNA OF MALAWI - in which he played Madonna. Currently Robert is featuring in CHOICES, a popular ongoing TV series in Southern Africa from Malawi. He is a founding member of UjeNi Theater and Dance Ensemble working with school children, street kids, traditional drummers, dancers, prisoners and actors.
Caliban - Stanley Mambo
Stanley trained at Amakhosi Theatre Centre in Bulawayo, Zimababwe and in physical theatre at Gorgon Theatre, Sweden and Theatre Talipot in Réunion. His international theatre and television credits include TRIALS OF BROTHER JERO (Theatre in the Park, Harare), STUDIO 263 (Soap opero for ZTV Zimbabwe), PASSAGE (Theatre Talipot), and the title role in OTHELO (Theater Konstanz German).
In Malawi Stanley is Artistic Director of Mwezi Arts and with his wife Hazel runs Malawi’s only purpose built theatre building, Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe. His quest for physical theatre grows as he explores and creates original productions in styles relevant for international artists and audiences.
Stephano - Benedict Martin
Ben trained at Guildford School of Acting. He has just finished the hugely successful tour of GANGSTA GRANNY ending at the Garrick Theatre in the West End, where he played Dad/Mr Parker. Ben began his career at Theatr Clwyd in REVENGERS TRAGEDY, and subsequently appeared in ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN, UP N’ UNDER, VINTAGE STUFF, INSIDE THE FIRM, ROUND THE HORNE, MARGARET CATCHPOLE, MIDSUMMER NIGHTS’ DREAM, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and ROMEO and JULIET. He played Iago in OTHELLO, and appeared in shows for the EUROPEAN PLAYERS in Rome and Paris and productions for LOOSE CHANGE at BAC including the British Premiere of DIVINE WORDS. Ben has been involved with the innovative plays and workshops for NOVEMBER CLUB in Northumberland. He has been in various pantos across the country, invariably playing the baddy. Ben has worked extensively for the Birmingham Stage Company, including the original production of BARMY BRITAIN at the Garrick Theatre and JUNGLE BOOK in which he played Shere Khan. TV includes LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR, DEVICES and DESIRES, WHITE GOODS, THE ALAN CLARK DIARIES, JEKYLL, BLEAK HOUSE, EASTENDERS, DOCTORS and various episodes of THE BILL. Film: SHADOWS IN THE SUN, LOVE IS THE DEVIL, THE DISAPPEARED.
Ferdinand – Reice Weathers
Reice Weathers trained at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama where he played Aaron the Moore in TITUS ANDRONICUS and Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT. Since graduating Reice has set up his very own Make Believe theatre school franchise teaching children how to sing, dance and act. Reice also played Ringo in the UK debut of the one-man show BOXMAN at The Albany, Depford directed by Edwina Strobl earlier this year.