Willoughby's Regret
EPISODE 1 "REUNITED"
Friday 25 February 2022 7:30-9:15pm Refreshments Provided
Beckis Cooper as
Marianne Brandon
Beckis has recently played Macbeth in an all-female production for Chiswick Playhouse and Thorington Theatre, as well as Malvolio in Twelfth Night . Other credits include Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Grace in Grace Notes for The Edinburgh Fringe and Mary Shelley in Making Monsters. She is a graduate of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and The University of Oxford.
Keanan Cantrell as
John Willoughby
Keanan Cantrell has worked on the highest-grossing films (AVATAR, AVENGERS, etc) as a Visual Effects Artist and has recently started to venture in front of the camera. He has performed in plays in the US and in London, including playing Boraccio in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Cockpit and a 2-man comedy at The Museum of Comedy. Along the way, he has done some voice-over work for Disney and for BRAIN IN GEAR, winner of the 2020 Best Short.
MacKenzie Larsen as
Elianna Brandon
Mackenzie is currently studying acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). Recent credits include Mrs Van Buren in Intimate Apparel, Natasha in Three Sisters, and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also voiced Myrtle and Isla in The Midnight Snack and Other Mysteries Podcast.
Jonah Walsh as
Fursey Willoughby
Jonah is currently working at a law firm while pursuing acting. Most recently, he has been the voice of Harry, in the ‘Midnight Snack’ fictional true-crime podcast, which will be coming to stage, this Summer at the Camden Fringe Festival.
https://www.spotlight.com/1019-4505-3107
Rachel Fowler as
Elinor Ferrars
Rachel Fowler is an award winning American actor, director and coach. She’s performed in regional theatres across the US including Cincinnati Playhouse, St. Louis Rep, The Alliance, Playmakers Rep, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and The Old Globe. Since moving to London, she’s appeared onscreen in TV series and features, including Eddie & Sunny, Barbarian and There’s Someone At The Window.
She wrote and directed her first short film, STILLNESS, currently in post-production. She is writing her first feature.
Johnny Sheepskin as
Edward Ferrars
Johnny is recently back in the UK after 10 years living in China, Thailand, and Spain. He speaks Spanish and teaches geography in East London. He is also a model, actor, and voice-over artist. His interests include taking long walks on the beach and being the impromptu entertainment at weddings, funerals, and bah mitzvahs ;)
You can find Johnny on instagram @juanmochay.
Sarah Panton as
Narrator 1, Girl 2
Sandra has studied Performing Arts at the University of East London with an emphasis on acting. Her professional experience includes taking on roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford Upon Avon. She also performs with a church choir that tours around the British Isles. Her goal is to work in Film, TV and Theatre, both as a musical/comedy and dramatic actress.
Lily Chantry as
Narrator 2, Hazel, Girl 1, Sarah
Lily Chantry trained at East 15 Acting School and is a co-founder of Lost Key Theatre. She has recently provided voice-over work for Philosophy Tube and will be performing in a new musical “Infants” in Barnes this summer. Lily can often be found knitting or crocheting and greatly enjoys the opportunity to help develop new writing.
Jeff Tunke as
Benjamin Harris, Clerk 1, Dandy 1
Jeff is a Canadian currently based in London who has a love for the classics and epic stories.
He is a recent graduate from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) MA Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre - 2020/2021.
https://www.spotlight.com/0455-7830-1110
Mark Minshill as
Mr. Pope, Bank Director
Mark is a native Englishman but has also lived in Australia and Israel. He has appeared in a Philippine film Migrants, a R.A.D.A production, had a few TV appearances in Holby City and the film Mean Machine. In the last 3-4 years he has had theatre engagements including appearing at The Globe in Shakespeare plays. He loves singing, swimming and cycling.
Martin Juul Sörenson as
Clerk 2, Oliver, Journeyman
Martin Juul Sörensen
Martin works at the front desk at Royal Central managing front of house, box office and whips the staff and students, mostly for fun. On his spare time he studies acting and performs as a drag artist, also known as Jules Jones. He was a Lipsync1000 finalist in 2019; Europe’s largest drag lipsync competition, and entertains from large scale corporate gigs, clubs and to house parties. He holds a BA undergraduate degree in Theatre Studied from BYU, and a diploma in Acting from Drama Classes London.
Christopher Georgiou as
Arthur Brown, Dandy 2, Assistant
Chris works in advertising for a YouTube production company, whilst maintaining his interests in music and acting part-time. He has performed in a number of smaller productions, including the part of Bernardo in West Side Story and as Ekart in a contemporary staging of Brecht's 'Baal.'
Joe Walsh as
Paperboy, Cabbie, Shop Keeper
Joe Walsh is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and voice actor. Recent credits include playing Anton and Stanley in the Midnight Snack and Other Mysteries Podcast.
Filipe Esteves as
Mr. John Weston
Filipe is a Senior Associate in Asset Management at Morgan Stanley. He grew up in Lisbon, Portugal then moved to London to pursue a law degree. Filipe has a passion for music, theatre, and film. He plays the piano, participated in amateur musicals while at university, and was a member of the London Gay Men’s Chorus.
Susanna Bezooyen
Script Writer/Director/Producer
Susanna Bezooyen is currently an MFA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media student at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She runs a Writer’s Circle that has operated for over 2 years with participants from the UK, Canada, USA & Russia. She won the Mayhew Playwriting Award (10 min) 2018 and Working Playwright Award 2020. Ms. Bezooyen has training in Arts and Cultural Management, dramaturgy, acting, voice, directing and International Latin and Ballroom dance.
Fun Fact
Mourning Broaches
In our reading you may have noticed that Marianne wears a necklace. It is not unlike the mourning broaches that widows of the time would wear. They were usually oval and flat on the back with the front almost like a glass bubble with room to hold the picture or contents of the necklace. Pictures were often of the grieving widow in her mouring attire. Often the piece would be a lock of hair from her loved one, a way to keep her dearly departed close to her heart. Marianne loved Brandon deeply.
Fun Fact
Addresses
There are numerous specific addresses mentioned in this show. The first is #37 Great George Street, Margaret's home. This was a real address during that time. The description, espcially of the rounded half moon glass above the door is also historically correct. Margaret, though never present is still a character, for the space she created is an extention of her and is the environment these characters will reside in. I hypothesized that her adventurous nature as a girl would continue, thus leading to travel and a collection of items that the British empire would have access to. I decided to include items from the West Indies, specifially India, and also the Dominion of Canada, as it was called then.
Fun Fact
Modes of Travel
The Brandons and Willoughbys have arrived in London by boat. The Brandons travels would have started first by land for several weeks in hot, dry weather and then by sea. The total trip would take about 4 months. In London, they "hire" Hackney coaches usually pulled by a team of horses. Since the streets of London, particularly by the banks, would be full of them, often drivers would become disgruntled, though some visitors report how smart they could look in their apparel. Mr. Pope is very proud of his barouche, a very fine-looking vehicle, usually open, possessing enviable style, and boasting an advanced shock absorption system.
Fun Fact
A Lady's Nest Egg
For a woman to have significant money required her to outlive her wealthy husband and hope that she would be given the power to access funds on her own. No woman, unless widowed, would have access to a bank account. This entering the bank, then, would have been in and of itself, a very intimidating thing for Marianne. This would have been her first attempt to get her money. Her desperation is clear as she tries to provide for herself and her daughter.
Fun Fact
Flowers
Many varieties of flowers were sold on the streets of London in 1814. The lilac mentioned would have just been coming into its short season during the time of this story. Often it was very young girls, many orphaned, who sold them They used this as a means of providing for themselves. The paperboy was another familiar character on the streets.