"What the Fringe is really about..." FEST 2007 Random Cactus Theatre Company
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Biogs


Mariele Runacre Temple   performer / co-producer

 Mariele began acting at the age of 8 as an elf in The LOST Theatre Company’s 1988 production of the pantomime Cinderella. She went on to perform in at least two productions a year with LOST whilst she was at school, including major roles in Bugsy Malone, Babes In The Wood, The Canterville Ghost and many others.

Mariele studied drama and theatre studies at Middlesex University and graduated with a 2:1 degree. She subsequently won a part-scholarship to study a post-graduate degree in acting for television, film and radio at East 15 Acting School. Whilst studying she represented the school in the 2003 BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Acting Competition, and it was this experience which prompted her to found The Wireless Theatre Company, an online audio theatre company producing plays, sketches, poems, short stories and more for download to listeners’ iPods or MP3 players.

The Wireless Theatre Company has grown immensely since its launch in 2007, and has now established itself with a reputation for producing high quality, original and exciting audio theatre and as a forum for new writing and acting talent. Most recently WTC has welcomed radio legend Nicholas Parsons as its patron, and recorded The Youth of Old Age, its latest comedy, with Prunella Scales in the title role.

As an actress Mariele has not only enjoyed roles in radio plays for The Wireless Theatre Company, but also on camera and the stage. Mariele played The Bride in the short film Who?, and The Other Woman in Short alongside Samantha Janus – both of these films won numerous awards. She played Tessie Driscoll in O'Flaherty VC at the Courtyard Theatre, winning Best Overall Play in the LOST theatre One Act Festival 2006, and often works as a promenade actor torturing tourists at The London Dungeon! Most recently Mariele played the ditzy Polly in The Critic at The Pentameters Theatre, a Police Officer for The Essex Police, and Ms. Tennant in Truth Detector at The Tabard Theatre, following on from her portrayal of Ms Beaulieu in Lie Detector, also at the Tabard and on Wireless Theatre. In 2007 she spent three months in India with a production of Twelfth Night.

Although she has visited many times, this is Mariele’s first performance at the Edinburgh Fringe and she is very excited about collaborating with Random Cactus.

 The Wireless Theatre Company

Jack Bowman   performer

 Hailing from South London, Jack began acting at 14 making his first appearance in his school’s drama club production of Captain Stirrick (Carshalton Boys, dir. Gordon Yuill). After that he was invited by Gordon Yuill to join the Clothcap Players and take Captain Stirrick on tour where it appeared in the Norbury and Thorton Heath Drama Awards Festival. It won Best Overall Under 18’s Production.

He continued to work with Gordon Yuill on several productions, including The Ragged School, Chicken, Gunslinger and A Christmas Carol (Clothcap Players, all dir. Gordon Yuill), until Jack won a place at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, studying drama with Richard Cheshire, Mike Pearson, the late Graham Laker, and Dr David Ian Rabey. Productions there included the first official production of Crave since the tragic death of its author, Sarah Kane (UWA, dir. Charmian Saville), Jim Cartwright’s Road (Black Treacle Productions), Macbeth (Dynonsis, dir. Marianne Hutchinson), Falling Silent (UWA, dir. Joan Mills), and Cymbeline (UWA, dir. Richard Cheshire).

 

On graduating in 2000, Jack began acting full-time, first appearing in Dick Whittington (Dream Team, dir. Nick Wright), with notable appearances including: drugs drama Know The Score (Yellow Belly, dir. Stephanie Tillotson), The Siege (Concussion Theatre, dir. Vince Adams), playing Bruce Delimitri in Ben Elton’s Popcorn at the Poole Lighthouse (Flandermouse, dir. Richard Batt), and alongside David Benson in David Benson’s Haunted Stage (Keay Theatre, dir. David Benson).

 

In 2006 Jack turned to writing (under the name of Gareth Parker) and his first script, FROZEN, was premiered at the Etcetera Theatre to great acclaim and ran for six months, eventually winning 2nd Best Overall Production at the LOST One Act Play Festival in 2007 (720 Productions/Wireless Theatre Company, dirs. Robert Valentine, Jenny Runacre).

 

Shortly after that, Jack made his Edinburgh debut in The Importance of Shoes (Weaver Hughes Ensemble, dir. Tim Hughes), which transferred to the Catford Broadway. While in Edinburgh he also made a surprise cameo in the if.comedy award winning show, Brendon Burns: So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now? (Off The Kerb Productions, Brendon Burns). Jack rejoined Weaver Hughes to appear at Theatre 503 in The Station Chief in early 2008 (Weaver Hughes, dir. Julia Stubbs).

 

Productions this year (2008) to date include Peter Yates’s Truth Detector, the acclaimed sequel to Lie Detector at the 2008 LOST One Act Theatre Festival (Wireless Theatre Company, dir. Jenny Runacre), The Presence and Attitude (Edge of London Theatre, both dir. Gary Cox).

 

Screen roles include Jack appearing as John in Crossroads (UK - ITV, dir. Stephen Edwards), a supporting role in The Alchemists (UK - Channel FIVE, dir. Peter Smith), Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (US - Pioneer Productions, dir. Alice Harper), UK Jack! (JAPAN - Fuji Television/Fuji International, dir. Noriko Deno), White Collar Crime (UK - Wet Fish Films/Leftside Productions, dir. Keir McKenzie), several documentaries (for Carlton/ITV), and the music video Got U Bouncing ( - MTV/Normal Pictures, dir. Toby Welfare).

 

Jack has also worked as a radio actor and presenter. He spent two years with the South London radio station Youth FM, presenting various shows. Audio and radio acting roles include Door Keeper in Guards, Guards! (Scary Chair Productions, dir. Steve Mellor), the audio adaptations of FROZEN, Importance of Shoes (both dir. Jenny Runacre), and playing a Dalek in A Funny Old Business (dir. Mariele Runacre Temple) for the Wireless Theatre Company.

 

Jack will also shortly begin work on a new writing project with Robert Valentine, an audio drama set in Georgian London based around the folklore of Springheel Jack, intended to be the first part of a horror trilogy, and is currently working on his second stage play. He is member of Equity, Spotlight and Casting Call Pro. Jack still lives in <placew:ston>South London.

More information on Jack Bowman can be found at: 

www.jackbowman.co.uk

www.frozentheplay.co.uk

 

Ceri Gifford   performer

 Ceri has been dancing, singing & generally showing off to anyone who would take notice for as long as anyone can remember. After appearing in every musical and panto her small town inSomerset could offer, she moved to London where she studied Performing Arts at Middlesex University and obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Acting from Drama Studio London.

She has had a varied career since, ranging from TIE in school halls & community venues to touring the South East in Sonheim’s Sweeney Todd. Ceri set up Tangible Theatre Company with some like-minded individuals, who have been working with fledgling writers to put on new writing. A full run of their show “Nets” by Aaron Lamont will be produced later on in the year.

Ceri’s film credits include Charlotte in Too Close (SAE), Wife in About Her Person (Purple Wand Productions) and Kelly in Badmouth (Shush Productions) which was nominated for Best Digital Short and the Tiscali Short Film Award at the Raindance Film Festival 2007. Theatre & Audio credits include Anne in Nets (Tangible Theatre Co), Emily in The Quarry ( Dreamcatcher Theatre Co),  Jasmine in Long Term (Fallout Productions) and Janine in No Cause For Alarm (Wireless Theatre Company).

Ceri is very happy to be working with Wireless Theatre Company again, and is looking forward to a new collaboration with Random Cactus.

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Reuben  Anderson  performer

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Reuben has been performing all his life. He joined The Sylvia Young Theatre school when he was 10 and through this was able to get some good experience in the professional world of acting; some bits parts in TV and feature films. Later on he joined the LOST Theatre Company where he performed in a variety of productions; from Pantomime, Alan Ayckbourne farce to Shakespeare. He was also lucky to go to a school which very much encouraged the performing arts, so he performed in a number of interesting and stretching productions for young actors such as plays by Tennessee Williams and Edward Bond. He went on to study a degree in Drama at Liverpool <placenamew:ston>John Moores University , after which he took a year’s professional training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Since graduating his theatre credits have included; Hippolito,Spurio and Junior Brother in The Revenger's Tragedy (BAC), Ensemble inIphigenie En Tauride (Royal Opera House); Paco in Elegies; For Angles, Punks and Raging Queens at Fortune Theatre (West End) and Brentwood Theatre, Thorpe in Lie Detector (Tabard Theatre/Lost One Act Festival 07);  Truth Detector (Lost One Act Festival 08), Ali in Homelands (Practicum Theatre), Movement ensemblein Pandora's Box (Unity Theatre, Liverpool/Pan Theatre co-production). His television credits include Ian Spiro in When the Lies Run Out (directed by Paul Greengrass), and his Feature Film credits include Leon the Pig Farmer (Electric Pictures).

Most recently Reuben has performed in the following audio plays for The Wireless Theatre Company; Ash in Dream me a Winter by Simon Farquhar (a play from the 24 hour Old Vic competition) , Tony in A Friend in Me, Marco in A Funny Old Business and Thorpe in Lie Detector.

This will be Reuben’s Edinburgh fringe debut and he is very much looking forward to working with both Random Cactus and The Wireless Theatre.

 Jenny Runacre   director

FILM, TELEVISION AND THEATRE

2007                        Film:  ‘The Edge of Love’ – director John Maybury starring Keira Knightley. 2007                        Film:  ‘Boogie Woogie’ with Joanna Lumley. Heather Graham. 1980 – 1990            Directed several Fringe Productions at various venues. 1970-1979              Worked extensively in film, television and theatre in principal roles with  prestigious directors, including Derek Jarman [Jubilee], Michelangelo Antonioni [The Passenger], Pier Pasolini [The Canterbury Tales] and John Cassavettees [Husbands].

DIRECTING

2007-08                  Directing various Radio Plays for  www.wirelesstheartecompany.co.uk 2007                        Came second in the One Act Festival London for best directed short play 2007                        Directed ‘Nets’  at the Studio Theatre at the  Tricyle Theatre, Kilburn High Road 2004                        “I, Mary Magdalene” – Canal Café theatre, Maida Vale

1999 2003            Caryl Churchill’s “Top Girls’ and various other productions at the Lost Theatre, Fulham Broadway.

 

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