Tower Theatre Company :After Life

After Life

by by Hirokazu Kore-eda, adapted by Jack Thorne

Directed by Alexander Kampmann

Wednesday 26 February - Saturday 8 March, 2025

At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington

Photography by Pau Ros

Cast List

One : Katie Smith
Two : Romain Mereau
Three : David Lindley-Pilley
Four : Jess Shiner
Five : James Stephen Finn

Beatrice : Vyvian Shaw
Hirokazu : James Taverner
Obafemi : Fiona Makia
Jill : Deborah Schneidermann
Henry : Peter Molloy
Katie : Orane Stepczynski

Production Team

Director : Alexander Kampmann
Set Design : Angelika Michitsch
Costume Design: Christine Bowmaker
Lighting Design : Alexander Kampmann & Isla Stewart
Sound Design : Laurence Tuerk

Stage Manager : Richard Davies
Assistant Director: Alice Han Thomas
ASM : Masoud Daoudieh
Costume Assistant : Nina Sprigge
Set Construction and Get-in : Dina Benderra, Rita Monteiro, Mark Mabey, Matthew Adams, Max Batty, Alex Burton, Raphaella Chumbley, Jude Chalk, Joss Gambrell, Piers Haines, Andy Hind, Jacqueline Knight, Phillip Ley, Wendy Parry, Megan Stretton, Keith Syrett, Fiona Tabastot, and members of the cast & crew.

Since joining the Tower Theatre in 2013 Katie Smith has performed in numerous productions, including Under The Blue Sky, An Enemy of the People, Clybourne Park, Sherlock Holmes, Sweat, Penny from Heaven, Passing the Spoon, Waiting for Grotto (for the Tower's Writers' Room), Lynndie’s Gotta Gun, The Gift, The Best Man (rehearsed reading) and Measure for Measure. Katie also directed Bertha and Hal for Spring Forward in 2024.

Romain Mereau is a New Zealand actor and graduate of Atlantic Acting School in New York. He moved to London at the end of 2024. His previous stage performances include Aurélia, In Pieces, Misery, Kimberly Akimbo, Arcadia, Persuasion, The Irish Murderer and The Girl on the Train. After Life is Romain’s first production with the Tower Theatre Company. He’s excited to be joining the cast in this powerful play about the memories we hold closest.

David Lindley-Pilley discovered London's thriving am-dram circuit back in 2022 and has since starred in KDC Theatre's productions of Henry IV, The Bus (including a bizarre tour to Bulgaria) and A Weekend Away at the Hotel Decevoir. He's also had a peek at the scene in South London, with roles in Putney Theatre Company's Scandaltown and The Debut Theatre Company's Doubt. This is David's first time performing with the Tower Theatre, which will probably see him finally getting home from rehearsal at a reasonable time as he lives just round the corner(!).

This is Jess Shiner’s debut production with the Tower Theatre and she is thrilled to have found a creative home in North London. She was previously a member of South London Theatre, appearing as Sage in The Last of the Pelican Daughters and as Arlecchino in The Venetian Twins. A big thank you to everyone for coming, and for supporting community theatre - hope you enjoy the show!

This is James Stephen Finn’s debut performance at the Tower Theatre having recently joined the company. James is an actor and musician, trained in Meisner Technique with Salon Collective, who has previously performed in theatrical plays, radio plays and art performances. His most recent theatrical performance was in 2024’s Hourglass at Soho Poly. As a musician he composes, records and performs live with Band Of Holy Joy; their latest album release Scorched Jerusalem is available in stores from January 2025.

Vyvian Shaw joined the Tower in 1993 and has appeared in several musicals including The Wind in the Willows and The Producers, both taken to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. Three years ago as the pandemic hit she was rehearsing 5 Women which has since been released as an audio play. Back in the theatre, she was in Escaped Alone, Coram Boy (in London and Cornwall), Ghost Stories, That Almost Unnameable Lust, Under Milk Wood and, most recently, The Worst Witch.

James Taverner is excited to be performing in his second production with the Tower Theatre, after appearing in Labour of Love. Other acting credits in the past year include The Blind Man Plays (South London Theatre), Sunday in the Park With George (SEDOS), and A Weekend Away at The Hotel Decevoir (KDC Theatre). He is a regular improv performer and keyboard player with the groups AdLibretto, Comediasians and Instant Noodling and has run improv workshops here at the Tower.

This is Fiona Makia’s debut performance at the Tower Theatre. However, she has always been a lover of the stage. While living and working in the UAE, Fiona was very active in the expat drama scene, winning a best actress award for her role in The Polygamist during the short and sweet theatre festival held in Abu Dhabi 2018. On her return to the UK she joined Pinner Players to play the bewitching Emily in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She also played the part of the first-aider in One Man, Two Guvnors and her most recent role was as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit.

Deborah Schneidermann joined the Tower Theatre in 2024 and is excited to participate in her first production, After Life. Berlin-born and currently London-based, Deborah comes from a background in Film and TV. From the age of 5 she has been passionate about acting and is now exploring her interest further through stage experience.

Peter Molloy joined the Tower Theatre at the end of 2024, and After Life will be his debut performance. With interest and experience in theatre productions and short films in school and university, Peter will be picking his interest in acting back up after quite a while away from performing and is excited to once again be part of a group of actors and crew to stage performances.

Orane Stepczynski joined the Tower Theatre in October 2024. She comes from Switzerland and is bilingual French/English. She attended Drama School in Geneva alongside her studies and grew up singing, playing the piano and dancing. Her previous acting work includes Much Ado About Nothing with the National Youth Theatre, Hamlet at the Questors Theatre and has featured in many short films this past year in English and German. This is her debut performance at the Tower.

At the Tower, Alexander Kampmann was lighting designer for Spring Forward and Richard III and then made his directing debut with A Report for an Academy. Previously, he directed several production in Germany, among them Don Karlos and Die Nacht in der der Chef geschlachtet wurde. For Alexander, the feelings invoked by a production, its perception by the audience and the experience of being in the room are an important part of theatre, so he constantly looks for situations where a gesture, a flash of light or a small step can say more than a thousand words.

	Since joining the Tower Theatre in 2013 Katie Smith has performed in numerous productions, including Under The Blue Sky, An Enemy of the People, Clybourne Park, Sherlock Holmes, Sweat, Penny from Heaven, Passing the Spoon, Waiting for Grotto (for the Tower's Writers' Room), Lynndie’s Gotta Gun, The Gift, The Best Man (rehearsed reading) and Measure for Measure. Katie also directed Bertha and Hal for Spring Forward in 2024.			Romain Mereau is a New Zealand actor and graduate of Atlantic Acting School in New York. He moved to London at the end of 2024. His previous stage performances include Aurélia, In Pieces, Misery, Kimberly Akimbo, Arcadia, Persuasion, The Irish Murderer and The Girl on the Train. After Life is Romain’s first production with the Tower Theatre Company. He’s excited to be joining the cast in this powerful play about the memories we hold closest.
	David Lindley-Pilley discovered London's thriving am-dram circuit back in 2022 and has since starred in KDC Theatre's productions of Henry IV, The Bus (including a bizarre tour to Bulgaria) and A Weekend Away at the Hotel Decevoir. He's also had a peek at the scene in South London, with roles in Putney Theatre Company's Scandaltown and The Debut Theatre Company's Doubt. This is David's first time performing with the Tower Theatre, which will probably see him finally getting home from rehearsal at a reasonable time as he lives just round the corner(!).			This is Jess Shiner’s debut production with the Tower Theatre and she is thrilled to have found a creative home in North London. She was previously a member of South London Theatre, appearing as Sage in The Last of the Pelican Daughters and as Arlecchino in The Venetian Twins. A big thank you to everyone for coming, and for supporting community theatre - hope you enjoy the show!
	This is James Stephen Finn’s debut performance at the Tower Theatre having recently joined the company. James is an actor and musician, trained in Meisner Technique with Salon Collective, who has previously performed in theatrical plays, radio plays and art performances. His most recent theatrical performance was in 2024’s Hourglass at Soho Poly. As a musician he composes, records and performs live with Band Of Holy Joy; their latest album release Scorched Jerusalem is available in stores from January 2025.			Vyvian Shaw joined the Tower in 1993 and has appeared in several musicals including The Wind in the Willows and The Producers, both taken to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. Three years ago as the pandemic hit she was rehearsing 5 Women which has since been released as an audio play. Back in the theatre, she was in Escaped Alone, Coram Boy (in London and Cornwall), Ghost Stories, That Almost Unnameable Lust, Under Milk Wood and, most recently, The Worst Witch.
	James Taverner is excited to be performing in his second production with the Tower Theatre, after appearing in Labour of Love. Other acting credits in the past year include The Blind Man Plays (South London Theatre), Sunday in the Park With George (SEDOS), and A Weekend Away at The Hotel Decevoir (KDC Theatre). He is a regular improv performer and keyboard player with the groups AdLibretto, Comediasians and Instant Noodling and has run improv workshops here at the Tower.			This is Fiona Makia’s debut performance at the Tower Theatre. However, she has always been a lover of the stage. While living and working in the UAE, Fiona was very active in the expat drama scene, winning a best actress award for her role in The Polygamist during the short and sweet theatre festival held in Abu Dhabi 2018. On her return to the UK she joined Pinner Players to play the bewitching Emily in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She also played the part of the first-aider in One Man, Two Guvnors and her most recent role was as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit.
	Deborah Schneidermann joined the Tower Theatre in 2024 and is excited to participate in her first production, After Life. Berlin-born and currently London-based, Deborah comes from a background in Film and TV. From the age of 5 she has been passionate about acting and is now exploring her interest further through stage experience.			Peter Molloy joined the Tower Theatre at the end of 2024, and After Life will be his debut performance. With interest and experience in theatre productions and short films in school and university, Peter will be picking his interest in acting back up after quite a while away from performing and is excited to once again be part of a group of actors and crew to stage performances.
	Orane Stepczynski joined the Tower Theatre in October 2024. She comes from Switzerland and is bilingual French/English. She attended Drama School in Geneva alongside her studies and grew up singing, playing the piano and dancing. Her previous acting work includes Much Ado About Nothing with the National Youth Theatre, Hamlet at the Questors Theatre and has featured in many short films this past year in English and German. This is her debut performance at the Tower.			At the Tower, Alexander Kampmann was lighting designer for Spring Forward and Richard III and then made his directing debut with A Report for an Academy. Previously, he directed several production in Germany, among them Don Karlos and Die Nacht in der der Chef geschlachtet wurde. For Alexander, the feelings invoked by a production, its perception by the audience and the experience of being in the room are an important part of theatre, so he constantly looks for situations where a gesture, a flash of light or a small step can say more than a thousand words.