Elyot
Hugh Bonneville’s film credits include Notting Hill, Iris, The Monuments Men and I Came By, as well as the three Downton Abbey and Paddington movies.
His television work includes ITV’s global hit, Downton Abbey, for which he received nominations for a Golden Globe and two Emmys, the cast winning three SAG Awards for Outstanding Ensemble. Recent appearances include Douglas Is Cancelled, The Agency, The Gold and The Gentlemen. He recently reprised his role as Ian Fletcher in Twenty Twenty Six (BBC), successor to the BAFTA-winning Twenty Twelve and W1A.
Hugh’s stage career spans four decades and includes seasons with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2025, he played the title role in Uncle Vanya for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Berkeley, California, and in Washington DC. He has just completed a run in Shadowlands at the Aldwych Theatre in London.
His memoir, Playing Under the Piano (Abacus) and his first children’s book, Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room (Bloomsbury), are available in paperback. Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea will be published in October.
Hugh has supported numerous humanitarian initiatives such as the World Food Programme, Action Against Hunger, and DEC appeals to provide emergency relief in areas of crisis, such as Ukraine. He is an Executive Producer on the award-winning documentary Everyone to Kenmure Street, which is currently on release. Hugh is a patron of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, The National Youth Arts Trust, Scene & Heard, The Primary Shakespeare Company and the South Downs National Park Trust.
Amanda
Lisa McCune trained at WAAPA and has built one of the most distinguished careers in Australian performing arts — a body of work spanning decades, disciplines, and some of the country’s most celebrated productions.
On screen, Lisa has appeared in Blue Heelers – for which she won ten Logie Awards – How to Stay Married, Sea Patrol, Rake, MDA, Hell Has Harbour Views and Bryce Courtney’s The Potato Factory, among others. Lisa also competed in the comedy game show Taskmaster, narrated Channel 9’s groundbreaking docuseries Big Miracles, and in 2024 won Dancing with the Stars Australia.
On stage Lisa has worked with Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare, and many of Australia’s leading producers. Her credits include Girl from the North Country (Sydney Theatre Award nomination), South Pacific (Sydney Theatre Award; Green Room Award nomination), The King and I (Helpmann Award nomination), Urinetown (Helpmann Award nomination; Green Room Award nomination), Cabaret (Green Room Award), Into The Woods, A Little Night Music, She Loves Me, Guys and Dolls, and Hamlet, among many others.
Victor Prynne
Leon Ford is an actor, screenwriter, author and director whose extensive career spans film, television, and theatre.
Leon was recently seen in the ABC comedy series DOG PARK, which he created and wrote, and also played the leading role in. For the series, he received a Silver Logie nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy and a nomination for Best Scripted Comedy Series. Other recent credits include the Binge series adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s best-selling novel THE LAST ANNIVERSARY produced by Made Up Stories and Blossom Films, the BBC/Stan series TEN POUND POMS, and the Netflix comedy series GOD’S FAVOURITE IDIOT created by and starring Melissa McCarthy.
Previous film and television productions include Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS, RAMS alongside Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson, Derek Cianfrance’s DreamWorks film LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS, the Australian mini-series GALLIPOLI, the ABC series ANZAC GIRLS, Foxtel’s DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, Network Ten’s critically acclaimed PUBERTY BLUES, and the popular dramedy series THE LET DOWN. Earlier credits include the films RUBEN GUTHRIE and BENEATH HILL 60, the Emmy award winning HBO mini-series THE PACIFIC, ABC tele-movies MABO and STEPFATHER OF THE BRIDE, and the BBC mini-series TSUNAMI: THE AFTERMATH.
Leon’s theatre credits include numerous main stage and independent productions; Bell Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR (2026), the Hayes Theatre Company’s production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (2023), Belvoir St Theatre productions of Henrik Ibsen’s ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (2018) and THE ROVER(2017), the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of A FLEA IN HER EAR (2016), Melbourne Theatre Company productions of DOUBLE INDEMNITY (2016), PRIVATE LIVES (2014) and CONSTELLATIONS (2013), Bell Shakespeare Company’s TARTUFFE (2014) and Company B’s OLD MAN (2012). Earlier credits include the title role in HAMLET (2003), directed by John Bell for the Bell Shakespeare Company for which he received a prestigious Green Room Awards nomination.
In addition to acting, Leon is a screenwriter, author and director. His feature film directorial debut GRIFF THE INVISIBLE premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2010 and at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2011. He has written for various television productions including the Binge series LOVE ME, the Foxtel comedy drama series UPRIGHT which he co-created with Tim Minchin, the Network Ten hit series OFFSPRING, and the Stan comedy series NO ACTIVITY. Leon also wrote the film adaptation of Tom Holt’s comedy fantasy novel THE PORTABLE DOOR, produced by the Jim Henson Co. His own novel WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU was published in 2009.
Sybil Chase
Since graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2005 Claire van der Boom has worked extensively in Australia and the US. She made her feature film debut in director Nash Edgerton’s THE SQUARE and also played a young version of Diane Keaton’s character in director Richard Loncraine’s film 5 FLIGHTS UP. Claire was cast as Liam Neeson’s daughter in the US thriller BLACKLIGHT, and her other US film credits include the independent feature DEAR ELEANOR directed by Kevin Connolly, A YEAR AND CHANGE opposite Bryan Greenberg, Michel Franco’s CHRONIC opposite Tim Roth, BATTLECREEK directed by Alison Eastwood, and the thriller AMERICAN EXIT.
Claire’s Australian film credits include RED HILL directed by Patrick Hughes, LOVE IS NOW, BROKE, PALM BEACH directed by Rachel Griffiths and the Paramount+ telemovie, THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE.
Her Australian television credits include LOVE MY WAY, EAST WEST 101, CITY HOMICIDE, the ABC TV series PULSE, the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks mini-series THE PACIFIC and the ABC telemovie SISTERS OF WAR – for which she was awarded the “Most Outstanding Actress 2010” Silver Logie Award for her performance. Claire was also cast in the Canadian/Australian co-production KIDNAPPED, the web series HOMESPUN, Cherie Nowlan’s Screentime telemovie THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY, and the Network Ten television drama RUSH for which she was nominated for the Silver Logie for “Most Outstanding Actress”. Recently Claire can be seen in NCIS: SYDNEY S3 and she has recently completed filming the ABC drama SHAKEDOWN and is about to wrap a lead role opposite Dominic Cooper in the CBS/Paramount series WHITE COLLAR filming on the Gold Coast and directed by Jeffrey Walker.
Claire’s US television credits include the Epix Pilot TOUGH TRADE starring Sam Shepard, a recurring role in the CBS series HAWAII FIVE-O opposite Alex O’Loughlin, MASTERS OF SEX for Showtime, the guest role of ‘Anne Marie Flynn’ in CONSTANTINE for NBC and GAME OF SILENCE created by David Hudgins.
Claire made her Off-Broadway debut in the David Rabe play AN EARLY HISTORY OF FIRE in New York. She also stepped in to take over a leading role in Sam Shepard’s play HEARTLESS for the Signature Theatre as well as starring as ‘Viola De Lesseps’ in Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.
Louise
Julie Forsyth is an acclaimed Australian actor whose career spans more than four decades.
She has an extensive list of theatre credits, most recently appearing in Much Ado About Nothing at MTC (2025) and The President for the Gate Theatre, Dublin, and the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). Her other STC performances include Accidental Death of An Anarchist, Romeo and Juliet, The Metamorphosis, and The Miser. Additional stage highlights include Escaped Alone (Red Stitch); The House of Bernarda Alba and Endgame (MTC); Night on Bald Mountain, Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman, The Ham Funeral, Happy Days, and Moving Target (Malthouse Theatre); The Popular Mechanicals (STCSA); Phèdre and The Dream (Bell Shakespeare); as well as The Book of Everything, Exit the King, The Small Poppies, Cloudstreet, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Company B Belvoir St).
Julie was a core member of the Australian Nouveau Theatre (Anthill, Melbourne), performing in more than thirty productions.
Her screen credits include Joe vs. Carole (UCP), Holding the Man (Screen Australia), Stan and George’s New Life (Lea Films), and Kath and Kim (Riley Turner Productions). She is also widely recognised for her voice work in Harvie Krumpet and Mary and Max (Melodrama Pictures), and Babe (Universal Pictures).
Julie’s performances have been celebrated with numerous awards, including Helpmann Awards for Best Female Actor in a Play (Happy Days) and Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Exit the King). She has also received Green Room Awards for Best Actress (Kids’ Stuff) and for Best Ensemble Performance in Cloudstreet, Moving Target, Exit the King, and The Book of Everything.
In 2009, she was honoured with the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award’s Individual Award, recognising her outstanding contribution to Australian theatre.
Playwright
Noël Coward was born in 1899 and made his professional stage debut as Prince Mussel in The Goldfish at the age of 12, leading to many child actor appearances over the next few years.His breakthrough in playwriting was the controversial THE VORTEX (1924) whichfeatured themes of drugs and adultery and made his name as both actor and playwright in the West End and on Broadway. During the frenzied 1920s and the more sedate 1930s, Coward wrote a string of successful plays, musicals and intimate revues including FALLEN ANGELS (1925), HAY FEVER (1925), EASY VIRTUE (1926), THIS YEAR OF GRACE (1928),and BITTER SWEET (1929). His professional partnership with childhood friend Gertrude Lawrence, started with PRIVATE LIVES (1931), and continued with TONIGHT AT 8.30 (1936).
During World War II, he remained a successful playwright, screenwriter and director, as well as entertaining the troops and even acting as an unofficial spy for the Foreign Office. His plays during these years included BLITHE SPIRIT, which ran for 1997 performances, outlasting the War (a West End record until The Mousetrap overtook it), THIS HAPPY BREED and PRESENT LAUGHTER (both 1943). His two wartime screenplays, IN WHICH WE SERVE, which he co-directed with the young David Lean, and BRIEF ENCOUNTER quickly became classics of British cinema.
However, the post-war years were more difficult. Austerity Britain – the London critics determined – was out of tune with the brittle Coward wit. In response, Coward re-invented himself as a cabaret and TV star, particularly in America, and in 1955 he played a sell-out season in Las Vegas featuring many of his most famous songs, including Mad About the Boy, I’ll See You Again and Mad Dogs and Englishmen. In the mid-1950s he settled in Jamaica and Switzerland, and enjoyed a renaissance in the early 1960s becoming the first
living playwright to be performed by the National Theatre, when he directed HAY FEVER there. Late in his career he was lauded for his roles in a number of films including OUR MAN IN HAVANA (1959) and his role as the iconic Mr. Bridger alongside Michael Caine in THE ITALIAN JOB (1968).
Writer, actor, director, film producer, painter, songwriter, cabaret artist as well as an author of a novel, verse, essays and autobiographies, he was called by close friends ‘The Master’. His final West End appearance was SONG AT TWILIGHT in 1966, which he wrote and starred in. He was knighted in 1970 and died peacefully in 1973 in his beloved Jamaica.
For further information on Noël Coward’s life and work, visit www.noelcoward.com.
Director
Christopher Luscombe read English at Cambridge University. He began his career as an actor, spending seven years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He went on to appear at the National Theatre, the Old Vic and in the West End. While at Stratford-upon-Avon, he devised and directed The Shakespeare Revue with Malcolm McKee, and this transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre in London. His subsequent productions at Stratford include Twelfth Night, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing, the last two transferring to Chichester Festival Theatre and then to the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He is an Associate Artist of the RSC.
His other directing credits in London include Star Quality and The Madness of George III (Apollo); Home and Beauty (Lyric); Fascinating Aïda (Harold Pinter – Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment); The Comedy of Errors and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare’s Globe); Nell Gwynn (Shakespeare’s Globe and Apollo – Olivier Award for Best New Comedy); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park); Enjoy (Gielgud); Alphabetical Order (Hampstead); When We Are Married (Garrick – Olivier Award nomination for Best Revival); Travels With My Aunt (Menier Chocolate Factory); Spamalot (Playhouse) and Private Lives (Ambassadors).
Regional and international credits include Masterpieces (Birmingham); Little Shop of Horrors and The History Boys (Leeds); Hobson’s Choice (Sheffield); Hay Fever (Minneapolis); Henry V and Nell Gwynn (Chicago); While The Sun Shines and The Argument (Bath); The Winter’s Tale (Cincinnati); Gigi (West Green); Gypsy (Tokyo) and tours of The Importance of Being Earnest, Tell Me on a Sunday, The Lady in the Van, Candida, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, Single Spies, Admission: One Shilling, Dandy Dick, Blue/Orange and The Nightingales.
His production of The Rocky Horror Show has been running for the last twenty years. It has completed numerous seasons in the West End and continues to play all over the world.
His operatic work includes Candide, Falstaff (Broadway World nomination for Best New Opera Production), The Yeomen of the Guard and Tosca (Grange Festival); Sweeney Todd (Bergen National Opera); Pagliacci (Opera Ensemble); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RAM); Il barbiere di Siviglia and L’elisir d’amore (Garsington Opera) and The Magic Fountain (Wexford Festival).
Earlier this year he directed Fallen Angels at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London and revived his production of Gypsy in Tokyo. He is currently directing The Magic Flute for Santa Fe Opera.
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Voice Coach
Sound Designer
Fight Choreographer
Resident Director
Choreographer
Composer
PRODUCER
Executive Producer and General Manager
Marketing Director
Manage Consent
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