Mountview Alumni News August and September 2024
August and September have been full of remarkable accomplishments for our alumni! Read on to find out more about their latest projects and achievements.
Are you an alum with news to share? We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at alumni@mountview.org.uk.
On Stage and Screen
Freya McMahon will be making her professional debut in Hairspray The Musical UK Tour as Penny.
Ryan Speakman performed in Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End.
Chris Draper is currently playing the role of Beetlejuice in Beetlejuice The Musical aboard the main stage of Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand-new ship, Norwegian Viva.
In March 2023, James Chase joined ITV’s Emmerdale as “Tom King” and has appeared in approximately 180 episodes since. His portrayal of the chilling Tom King in the show’s domestic abuse storyline has garnered significant acclaim and public attention. James and Eden Taylor-Draper have been collaborating with several Domestic Abuse charities, such as Refuge, to ensure an honest and realistic portrayal of the story.
Aidan Dobson and Joshua Kwan were part of the cast for Red Hare’s Wish, a production that took place at The Space Theatre in Canary Wharf. The musical direction was handled by Marcus Carson.
Lucy Buncombe performed in NewsRevue at The Canal Cafe Theatre – the world’s longest running live comedy show.
Tracy Rahi joined Brainiac Live in the Middle East tour, and recently got offered the role of Raz in their West End version of Brainiac Live at the Marylebone Theatre.
Princess Essex at Shakespeare’s Globe
New play Princess Essex at Shakespeare’s Globe is written by Anne Odeke, who also stars as Princess Dinubolu.
Fallon Mondlane performed as a vocalist in Come Alive!, the circus-themed musical that draws inspiration from The Greatest Showman and showcases the movie’s songs.
Matt Rawle will play PT Barnum in Barnum revival at the Watermill Theatre, along with Kaine Hatukai as the onstage swing and George Dyer as the musical supervisor.
Dean Makowski-Clayton featured as ensemble/cover Pierre in Marie Curie at Charing Cross Theatre.
Mic Pool is the sound designer for The 39 Steps tour.
Daphne Kouma performed as Soraya in The Kite Runner 2024 UK and Ireland tour.
Claudia Kariuki performed in the West End production of Sister Act.
Sam Ebenezer moved from swing to a permanent role as The Poet in The Choir Of Man in London’s West End.
Lilac Yosiphon directed bilingual Rent production at Curve in Leicester.
Manuel Pacific played Paul San Marco in UK tour of Curve Leicester’s production of A Chorus Line.
Rachel Breeze will be Musical Director for Heathers in Caloundra, Australia.
Tashinga Bepete played Crowther in The History Boys 20th anniversary tour.
Renée Alexandra performed as Hortensia and cover Mrs Phelps in Matilda The Musical International Tour, alongside Carly Thoms portraying Miss Honey and Lola Adaja as Ensemble.
Chyna-Rose Frederick performed as Lychorida/Diana/Antiochus’ Daughter in RSC’s Pericles starring Alfred Enoch.
Moya Matthews produced a short play Optimise The Interim at Barons Court Theatre. The cast includes Richard Dobson, Francesca Hayman, Eliza Ammann, Niamh Callan, Richard Lund and Taraash Mehrotra.
In the Off-Broadway debut of LIFELINE The Musical, Scott McClure took on the roles of Aaron and Clowes.
Day Job Theatre presented The Strangelmans by Andrew Atha, directed by Mountview MA Directing student Fiona Winning, teched by Mountview graduate Beckett Gray and starring Mountview Acting MA graduates Andrew Atha, Alexandra Scott, and Michael Stafford Wells. The play premiered at Wanstead Fringe on September 7-10 and then played at The Bread and Roses Theatre as part of Lambeth Fringe on September 22.
Rosie Skuse played in Anything is Possible If You Think About It Hard Enough at Waterloo East Theatre.
In Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular World Tour, Rebecca Bolton, Jo Stephenson, and Jonathan David Dudley are part of the ensemble. Dan Koek plays Warnings, Jonathon Bentley portrays Combeferre, Jill Nalder takes on the role of Old Woman, and Adam Robert Lewis portrays the Factory Foreman.
James Stirling is cast in the stage adaptation of The Baddies.
Giles Terera will perform as General Buck Turgidson in Dr Strangelove at London’s Noel Coward Theatre, alongside Mabli Gwynne in a swing role and Rebecca Medlock as an Assistant Stage Manager.
Virginia Sirolli performs as the MC/lead singer in La Revue Genevoise 2024, an annual musical revue in Geneva.
Annie Kingsnorth booked professional debut and will portray Sally Kane in a new play The Lightest Element by Stella Feehily at the Hampstead Theatre.
Amanda Doherty performed in Bird about Town at The Lir as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival.
Magic at the Musicals at the Royal Albert Hall
Ryan Kopel, Laura Pyatt, Aoife Haakenson, Lauren Conroy and Freya McMahon performed at the Magic at the Musicals at the Royal Albert Hall stage. This annual celebration of West End magic, complete with a grand orchestra, once again played to a full house.
Shaquille Jack will portray Ellington in upcoming UK tour of Coming to England alongside Alexander Bellinfantie as Roy / Uncle, Taya Ming as Cynthia / Auntie and Joe Pieri as onstage swing. The production is directed by Denzel Westley Sanderson, with Tara Noonan as assistant director.
Eleanor Sutton performed in A Doll’s House in Sheffield Theatres.
Claire Llewellyn is a fight director in the new UK tour of Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of).
Neetika Knight portrays Julia in 1984 at Hackney Town Hall.
Tom Chippendale is a musical director in [title of show] musical at Southwark Playhouse.
Gracie McGonigal performs as Trish in Unbound at Hoxton Hall.
Caitlin Morgan will handle the musical direction for Little Shop of Horrors at the Crucible Theatre.
Ally Kennard will play Norman in The Creakers, a new musical based on Tom Fletcher’s bestselling book alongside Timo Tatzber as Daniel/Max/Sniff.
Alexis Sakellaris performed in a solo show titled A STAN IS BORN! at Camden People’s Theatre.
Awards and Nominations
Grace Hodgett Young was awarded Best Performer in a Musical and nominated for Best West End Debut Performer at The Stage 2024 Debut Awards for her role in Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre in London.
Jack Wolfe was awarded Best West End Debut Performer at The Stage 2024 Debut Awards for performing in Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre, London.
Will Close was nominated Best West End Debut Performer at The Stage 2024 Debut Awards for Dear England at the National Theatre in London