Tower Theatre Company : Henry V

Henry V

by William Shakespeare

Directed by John McSpadyen

Wednesday 26th - Saturday 29th September and Tuesday 2nd - Saturday 6th October, 2018

At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington

The first production at the new Tower Theatre in Stoke Newington

Photography by David Sprecher

* The production is reviewed here *

Cast List

King Henry V : Dan Draper
Chorus, Governor of Harfleur, French Soldier : Penny Tuerk
Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Orleans, Captain MacMorris : Katherine Kennet
Duke of Exeter, John Bates : Sara Nower
Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Thomas Erpingham, Duke of Burgundy : John Morton
Duke of Westmoreland, Captain Fluellen, Alice : Simon Vaughan
Bishop of Ely, Duke of Cambridge, King of France : Rosanna Preston
Dauphin, Lord Scroop, Alexander Court, Queen Isabel : Luke Owen
Montjoy, Sir Thomas Grey, Captain Jamy : Andrew Plaistowe
Pistol, Duke of Bourbon : Ian Hoare
Bardolph, Lord Rambures, Michael Williams : Sangita Modgil
Nym , Constable of France : Ed Malcomson
Boy, Princess Katherine, Duke of York : Ailsa Dann
Hostess Quickly, Captain Gower : Anna Dimdore

Production Team

Director : John McSpadyen
Set Consultant : Jude Chalk
Costume Design : Kathleen Morrison
Lighting Design : Andrew Peregrine
Sound Design : Robert Irvine

Stage Manager: Richard Davies
ASMs : Deborah Ley, Stephen Brasher, Vivian Shaw, Nina Bressler
Lighting Operator : Laurence Tuerk
Sound Operator : Peter Novis or John McSpadyen
French Language Assistance : Jonathan Brandt

This is Daniel Draper's second production with the Tower having appeared in the title part of Frankenstein earlier this year. Recent roles with other troupes include Banquo in Macbeth, Richard II in Richard II, Sir Robert Morton in The Winslow Boy, and Teddy Deakin in The Ghost Train.

Penny Tuerk joined the Tower in 1970 and has taken part in nearly eighty productions as an actor or director. Most recently she directed Di and Viv and Rose at Theatro Technis, and appeared as Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes and Time in The Winter's Tale.

Since joining the Tower in 2002, Ian Hoare has been involved in more than thirty productions, mainly as an actor. His roles have included Hamm in Endgame, the Reverend Parris in The Crucible and Otto in The Diary of Anne Frank. Since 2016, he has directed three Tower shows - Hindle Wakes, An Enemy of the People and Antigone. He is delighted to have been cast in Henry V, a play that he has has loved since he was a boy.

This is Sara Nower's debut with the Tower. She has been involved with community theatre for over 20 years, performing with groups in North Essex, London and St Petersburg in Florida. Past roles include Sara Turing in Breaking the Code, Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Sister George in The Killing of Sister George, Miss Amory in Black Coffee, Diane in The Birds, Annette in God of Carnage, Melissa in Love Letters, Sheila in Relatively Speaking, Emma in Betrayal, Hester in The Deep Blue Sea, Stephanie in Duet for One, Diana in Abducting Diana, Belinda in Season's Greetings, Sybil in Separate Tables and Maggie in Outside Edge.

John Morton has played in ten Shakepeares with the Tower since 2001, when he played Leontes in The Winter's Tale, up to Escalus in Romeo and Juliet in 2016, via Polonius in Hamlet and Gloucester in King Lear. He has directed or co-directed five of the Tower's Shakespeare production, including Much Ado About Nothing last year. John McSpadyen has had the pleasure of directing him a couple of times, including as Pastor Manders in Ghosts and John is sure that Henry V is going to be a spectacular way of opening the Tower's new theatre. He supports Burnley F.C. through ups and downs. Ups at the moment.

Henry V is Simon Vaughan's second production with the Tower Company after the all singing, all dancing Nell Gwynn in 2017. He performed in a number of short films and theatre productions at university, before being beaten into the life of a political journalist. Recent training at Central has prompted him to escape. When not acting, he can be found performing folk songs or touring the pubs of London with his sword dance team, Thrales Rapper.

Rosanna Preston is returning to theatre after a 25 year break and as a Stoke Newington resident she is delighted to be in the first production at the Tower's new home (where she used to take her son swimming). In her previous amateur life her favourite part was as Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God, a role that led to a complete change of career. Rosanna is a Trustee of local arts charity Dissenters Arts N16 and is keen to see how the Tower can work with other local arts groups. When she is not at home she is counting dormice in Devon.

Luke Owen is making his Tower Theatre debut in Henry V, having previously lived in Norwich and been a regular member of the Sewell Barn and Maddermarket Theatre companies. Previous productions in Norwich include King Lear (Duke of Albany), Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew), Flare Path (Teddy), The Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Ephesus), A Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), The Producers (Carmen Ghia) and Fiddler on the Roof (Motel). Luke is also a playwright; his 2013 play Unscorched won the Papatango New Writing Prize and premiered at the Finborough Theatre. He currently has a new play and a sitcom in development.

Andy Plaistowe is an English teacher who has been involved in many school plays over the past 15 years, including taking three shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. This is his first time acting on stage since university and he's excited to be performing again, especially in a Shakespeare production. In his spare time, Andrew does yoga, drawing and wild swimming.

Katherine Kennet is delighted to be joining the cast of Henry V. This is her first production with the Tower Theatre after a 5-year break from the stage to focus on her day job as an NHS doctor. Previous acting roles for university musical theatre and drama groups include Martha in Arsenic and Old Lace, Abu in Aladdin, Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach, Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma, and Cynthia Muldoon in The Real Inspector Hound. Creative team credits include directing Some Like it Hot, choreographer for Oliver and producer for several sketch-based stage shows. Joining the Tower Theatre is the rekindling of a lifelong love of the theatre and Katherine couldn't be more excited to be part of this production.

This is Sangita Modgil's first production with the Tower Theatre and she is very excited to join as a new member. Whilst on sabbatical from her day job as a barrister, she has rekindled her love of acting and has attended a series of RADA evening courses. Last year, having successfully auditioned for the RADA Shakespeare Summer School she had a number of roles in the School's production of Pericles.

Ed Malcomson trained at Oxford School of Drama, but has spent most of his working life as a teacher of drama and English literature. His first appearance with Tower was as Jasperino in The Changeling. Since then his roles have included Cain in The Mysteries, Henry in The Real Thing, Charles Stanton in Dangerous Corner, Brutus in Julius Caesar, Hal in Dinner and Guy Fawkes, Southwell, the Dodo in 5/11 and, most recently, Professor Marcus in The Ladykillers.

Henry V is Ailsa Dann's first production with the Tower Theatre Company. Ailsa has trained with City Academy and undertaken classes and workshops with RADA and the Almeida Theatre. She has a degree in English Literature and, when not acting, she works as an editor in academic publishing. As a member of City Academy's Actors Company, she recently appeared in Buckets at the Courtyard Theatre. She is thrilled to be part of the first production at the Tower's new home.

Anna Dimdore's previous appearances for the Tower were as Karen in Jake's Women, Jane in Speaking in Tongues and Loretta and Edith in Chalet Lines. She also directed Foxfinder and was Assistant Director on Telstar. For other groups she has directed Twelfth Night and Dinner and co-directed The Memory of Water. Off stage she also makes occasional forays into costume and set design and publicity.

John McSpadyen is now in his 28th year as a Tower member, having been an ASM, SM, technical operator, set designer, actor and director. He has been onstage in (amongst others) Blue Remembered Hills, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Factory Girls, Translations, Dealer's Choice, Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, Farragut North, Hindle Wakes and Pravda. His productions as director include Copenhagen, Faith Healer, The Constant Wife, Bash, Speaking in Tongues and Farewell to the Theatre. In between shows, he can generally be found wielding a power tool at a Sunday get-in. Away from the Tower, John bakes shortbread and watches TV quiz shows.

	This is Daniel Draper's second production with the Tower having appeared in the title part of Frankenstein earlier this year. Recent roles with other troupes include Banquo in Macbeth, Richard II in Richard II, Sir Robert Morton in The Winslow Boy, and Teddy Deakin in The Ghost Train.			Penny Tuerk joined the Tower in 1970 and has taken part in nearly eighty productions as an actor or director. Most recently she directed Di and Viv and Rose at Theatro Technis, and appeared as Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes and Time in The Winter's Tale.
	Since joining the Tower in 2002, Ian Hoare has been involved in more than thirty productions, mainly as an actor. His roles have included Hamm in Endgame, the Reverend Parris in The Crucible and Otto in The Diary of Anne Frank. Since 2016, he has directed three Tower shows - Hindle Wakes, An Enemy of the People and Antigone. He is delighted to have been cast in Henry V, a play that he has has loved since he was a boy.			This is Sara Nower's debut with the Tower. She has been involved with community theatre for over 20 years, performing with groups in North Essex, London and St Petersburg in Florida. Past roles include Sara Turing in Breaking the Code, Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Sister George in The Killing of Sister George, Miss Amory in Black Coffee, Diane in The Birds, Annette in God of Carnage, Melissa in Love Letters, Sheila in Relatively Speaking, Emma in Betrayal, Hester in The Deep Blue Sea, Stephanie in Duet for One, Diana in Abducting Diana, Belinda in Season's Greetings, Sybil in Separate Tables and Maggie in Outside Edge.
	John Morton has played in ten Shakepeares with the Tower since 2001, when he played Leontes in The Winter's Tale, up to Escalus in Romeo and Juliet in 2016, via Polonius in Hamlet and Gloucester in King Lear. He has directed or co-directed five of the Tower's Shakespeare production, including Much Ado About Nothing last year. John McSpadyen has had the pleasure of directing him a couple of times, including as Pastor Manders in Ghosts and John is sure that Henry V is going to be a spectacular way of opening the Tower's new theatre. He supports Burnley F.C. through ups and downs. Ups at the moment.			Henry V is Simon Vaughan's second production with the Tower Company after the all singing, all dancing Nell Gwynn in 2017. He performed in a number of short films and theatre productions at university, before being beaten into the life of a political journalist. Recent training at Central has prompted him to escape. When not acting, he can be found performing folk songs or touring the pubs of London with his sword dance team, Thrales Rapper.
	Rosanna Preston is returning to theatre after a 25 year break and as a Stoke Newington resident she is delighted to be in the first production at the Tower's new home (where she used to take her son swimming). In her previous amateur life her favourite part was as Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God, a role that led to a complete change of career. Rosanna is a Trustee of local arts charity Dissenters Arts N16 and is keen to see how the Tower can work with other local arts groups. When she is not at home she is counting dormice in Devon.			Luke Owen is making his Tower Theatre debut in Henry V, having previously lived in Norwich and been a regular member of the Sewell Barn and Maddermarket Theatre companies. Previous productions in Norwich include King Lear (Duke of Albany), Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew), Flare Path (Teddy), The Comedy of Errors (Antipholus of Ephesus), A Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), The Producers (Carmen Ghia) and Fiddler on the Roof (Motel). Luke is also a playwright; his 2013 play Unscorched won the Papatango New Writing Prize and premiered at the Finborough Theatre. He currently has a new play and a sitcom in development.
	Andy Plaistowe is an English teacher who has been involved in many school plays over the past 15 years, including taking three shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. This is his first time acting on stage since university and he's excited to be performing again, especially in a Shakespeare production. In his spare time, Andrew does yoga, drawing and wild swimming.			Katherine Kennet is delighted to be joining the cast of Henry V. This is her first production with the Tower Theatre after a 5-year break from the stage to focus on her day job as an NHS doctor. Previous acting roles for university musical theatre and drama groups include Martha in Arsenic and Old Lace, Abu in Aladdin, Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach, Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma, and Cynthia Muldoon in The Real Inspector Hound. Creative team credits include directing Some Like it Hot, choreographer for Oliver and producer for several sketch-based stage shows. Joining the Tower Theatre is the rekindling of a lifelong love of the theatre and Katherine couldn't be more excited to be part of this production.
	This is Sangita Modgil's first production with the Tower Theatre and she is very excited to join as a new member. Whilst on sabbatical from her day job as a barrister, she has rekindled her love of acting and has attended a series of RADA evening courses. Last year, having successfully auditioned for the RADA Shakespeare Summer School she had a number of roles in the School's production of Pericles.			Ed Malcomson trained at Oxford School of Drama, but has spent most of his working life as a teacher of drama and English literature. His first appearance with Tower was as Jasperino in The Changeling. Since then his roles have included Cain in The Mysteries, Henry in The Real Thing, Charles Stanton in Dangerous Corner, Brutus in Julius Caesar, Hal in Dinner and Guy Fawkes, Southwell, the Dodo in 5/11 and, most recently, Professor Marcus in The Ladykillers.
	Henry V is Ailsa Dann's first production with the Tower Theatre Company. Ailsa has trained with City Academy and undertaken classes and workshops with RADA and the Almeida Theatre. She has a degree in English Literature and, when not acting, she works as an editor in academic publishing. As a member of City Academy's Actors Company, she recently appeared in Buckets at the Courtyard Theatre. She is thrilled to be part of the first production at the Tower's new home.			Anna Dimdore's previous appearances for the Tower were as Karen in Jake's Women, Jane in Speaking in Tongues and Loretta and Edith in Chalet Lines. She also directed Foxfinder and was Assistant Director on Telstar. For other groups she has directed Twelfth Night and Dinner and co-directed The Memory of Water. Off stage she also makes occasional forays into costume and set design and publicity.
	John McSpadyen is now in his 28th year as a Tower member, having been an ASM, SM, technical operator, set designer, actor and director. He has been onstage in (amongst others) Blue Remembered Hills, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Factory Girls, Translations, Dealer's Choice, Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, Farragut North, Hindle Wakes and Pravda. His productions as director include Copenhagen, Faith Healer, The Constant Wife, Bash, Speaking in Tongues and Farewell to the Theatre. In between shows, he can generally be found wielding a power tool at a Sunday get-in. Away from the Tower, John bakes shortbread and watches TV quiz shows.

		Henry V by William Shakespeare Directed by John McSpadyen
		Wednesday 26th - Saturday 29th September and Tuesday 2nd - Saturday 6th October, 2018	At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington The first production at the new Tower Theatre in Stoke Newington