Mountview Alumni News October 2023

From the West End to the small screen, October was bursting with exciting updates from our graduates. Read on to find out more.

Are you an alum with a story to share? Get in touch at alumni@mountview.org.uk and tell us all about it!

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On Stage and Screen

Natasha Cottriall performed in Housemates at Sherman Theatre.

It was announced that Louisa Harland will star in the London revival of Ulster American.

Chumisa Dornford-May was cast as Mistress and cover Eva Perón in Leicester Curve’s upcoming production of Evita, with fellow alum Fallon Mondlane also joining the company. They join Tyrone Huntley, who was announced as Che in August.

The Changeling at Southwark Playhouse Borough completed its run, with Mountview alum Hamish Somers.

Ryan Kopel was named in the West End cast of Billie the Kid, with fellow Mountview grads Sophie Matthew as Casting Associate and Tessa Alderton as Stage Manager on Book.

It was revealed that Mountview’s Emily Aboud will direct the world premiere of FLIP!, which will tour Newcastle, Edinbugh and London.

Ryan Mulgrew has been working as Stage Manager on Book for Battersea Bardot at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre.

Production Arts alum Alex Hannah is currently on tour with The Woman in Black.

Meanwhile, Jenny Fitzpatrick was cast as Nancy in Leeds Playouse’s upcoming production of Oliver!, with fellow alum Minal Patel named as Mr Bumble.

It was confirmed that Lilac Yosiphon will serve as Staff Director on The House of Bernada Alba at the National Theatre.

Fred Double was cast in Hackney Empire’s pantomime production of Aladdin.

Julie Atherton and James Hameed was confirmed in the cast of Live Aid musical, Just For One Day at the Old Vic.

Jonathan Simpson was revealed as Lighting Designer for a new immersive production of 1984 at Hackney Town Hall.

Billy Highfield has been serving in the role of Technical Assistant at The Yard Theatre.

Mountview grad Jonathan Scouse has been working on the English premiere of Rebecca at Charing Cross Theatre as Assistant Stage Manager.

Meanwhile, Elysia Beaumont has been working as Assistant Stage Manager on Nutcracker at Southbank Centre.

Alexander Zane was named in the company of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Birmingham Rep.

Anna Matthiesen and Lea Bethmann have been working in the stage management and showcalling team of the German production of Tina.

At the Royal Exchange Theatre, Conor Glean began performances of Romeo & Juliet.

Nyah Nish joined the company of The Book of Mormon on the West End, which also features fellow graduates Joseph Davenport and Paige Miller

Invisible Animal played at the Omnibus Theatre. The show was written and performed by Tom Manning, produced by Sarah Verghese and production managed by Emily Darley.

Mountview grads Conor Thornton and Hope Killen worked on the touring production of 42nd Street, in the roles of LX2 and Assistant Stage Manager respectively.

Gracie Adlington has been on tour with Frantic Assembly’s Metamorphosis, in the position of Assistant Stage Manager.

Jo Chichonska was named as the Musical Director for Cold War at the Almeida Theatre.

Louisa Kemp has been working on the West End production of Tina as Assistant Stage Manager Dep.

Meanwhile, Mel Oglesby has taken up the position of Stage Manager at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nathan Allen performed in Marble Cake.

It was announced that Mountview’s Sha Dessi will star in new musical AYLA at Sadler’s Wells.

The Buckingham Murders, with alum Kapil Redekar, made its premiere at the British Film Institute.

Tilly Reynolds has been working as Assistant Stage Manager on the touring production of Dirty Dancing.

Fellow Stage Management graduate Olivia Stone has been on tour with Of Mice and Men as Assistant Stage Manager and Book cover.

It was revealed that Kitty Scott-Claus will star in Sleeping Beauty at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Mountview alumni Alice Fearn, Beth Hinton-Lever and Nathaniel Morrison completed a workshop presentation of Tinkerbell: The Musical at The Other Palace.

Carly Burns and Oscar Conlon-Morrey were cast in Rehab the Musical at Neon 194, with Katy Richardson confirmed as Musical Supervisor.

Adam Owers and Aaron Douglas were cast in Trueman and the Arsonists at Roundhouse Theatre, in the roles of Truemnan and Chorus respectively.

Grads Jenny Perry, Lois Elizabeth Glenister and Abby Fell were all named in the cast of Corn Exchange Newbury’s Beauty and the Beast pantomime.

Oliver Sidney was cast as Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, with fellow alum Harry Style as Musical Director.

Daniel Walford performed as Jason in Ordinary Days at Phoenix Arts Club.

Ben Joyce recently made an appearance in an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians as a member of Back to the Future: The Musical.

Estelle Denison-French was cast in the German premiere of Something Rotten! at the English Theatre Frankfurt.

It was confirmed that Red Pill, produced by Becca Rowson, will be
returning to the Lion and Unicorn Theatre in November.

The new series of London Kills landed on BBC iPlayer, starring Sharon Small as DS Vivienne Cole.

Jack Ofrecio and George Dyer recently completed a set of showcase performances for new family musical, Love Birds.

Pacific Overtures at Menier Chocolate Factory confirmed Mountview’s Patrick Munday, Joy Tan and Iverson Yabut amongst its cast.

Daniel Walford was named in the company of Snow White at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this Christmas.

Amy Brooke has been on tour as Peppa in Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out.

Lauren Conroy (Jasmine) and Joe Beighton (Musical Director) have been in rehearsal for Babies at the Lyric Theatre.

It was confirmed that Actor Musicianship grads Josh Duffy and Ciarán McKenna will be performing as vocalists and instrumentalists in the UK, Ireland and European tour of Fairytale of New York.

Meanwhile, Daniel Walford has been in rehearsal for new musical GuyMart at Waterloo East Theatre.

Luke Bayer and Hana Stewart were confirmed in the cast of the Disney 100 European Concerts.

It was announced that Andrew Ewart, Kristian Morse, Jenna Dearness-Dark and David-Jon Ballinger will all be performing in the Thursford Christmas Spectacular.

 

‘The Cricket Test’ (part of The Break), with Mountview alum Ryan Rajan Mal, landed on BBC iPlayer,

Benita C. Lambrechts has been in rehearsal for Racing Tortoise Tempo Slow at Golden Goose Theatre.

Workshop casting was confirmed for 13 Going on 30, with Andrew Berlin in the role of Kyle.

It was announced that George Lester (as THAT GIRL) will be taking part in School of Confidence!: a pop-up performance workshop at the V&A.

 

Appointments and Announcements

Awards and Nominations

The nominees were announced for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2023, featuring Mountview grads Jack Wolfe (Emerging Talent, Next to Normal), Consuela Rolle and Rachael Louise Miller (Best Musical, Standing at the Sky’s Edge), Eddie Elliott and Jean-Luke Worrell (Best Musical, A Strange Loop), Georgia Louise (Best Musical, Tammy Faye), Charlotte Scott and Chloe Forestier-Walker (Best Musical, Guys & Dolls), Nick Barclay, Will Close and Tashinga Bepete (Best Play, Dear England) and Phoebe Horn (Best Play, The Motive and the Cue).

At the Black British Theatre Awards 2023, Sean Green picked up the award for Best Musical Director (Sylvia) and Claudia Kariuki for Best Non-Binary Performer in a Musical (SIX) (Claudia was also nominated for the LGBTQIA+ Champion Award). There were further nominations for fellow alumni Becca Chadder (Best Production – Play, The Importance of Being Earnest), Denzel Westley-Sanderson (Best Director, The Importance of Being Earnest) and Rhashan Stone (Best Production – Play, Tambo & Bones).

George Lester‘s drag alter ego THAT GIRL won Drag Artist of the Year at the Pink News Awards.

At the Dublin Fringe Festival Awards 2023, there were nominations for Colm McCready (Best Performer, First Fortnight Award, Spirit of Wit: Moira Brady Averill Award and Radical Spirit Award, Scaredy Fat) and Conor Murray (Best Performer, Bewley’s Cafe Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award, Just A Minute).