Cast announced for Ruby in the Dust's A Midsummer Night's Dream in New Orleans
Casting news
THE cast has been announced for a musically infused version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which plays at The Arts Theatre Upstairs from August 4 to August 30, 2015.
Set in the ‘Birthplace of Jazz’, the tale unfolds from the crumbling New Orleans jazz clubs and out into the Louisiana Bayous – bringing to life Shakespeare’s text amidst the dark imagination of the American Deep South.
The production features the music of Dr. John, Louis Armstrong, Randy Newman and Professor Longhair, among others.
The cast comprises Silvana Maimone (as Titania), David Monteith (Oberon), Jonathan Ajayli (Lysander), Lowri Amies (Snout), Ruari Cannon (Demetrius), Samantha Louise Clark (Hermia), Matt Jopling (Flute), E J Martin (Helena), Lawrence O’Connor (Quince and Theseus), Tristan Pegg (Moth), Sid Phoenix (Puck), Sarah Rotheram (Starevlling) and Matthew Woodyatt (Bottom).
Jonathan Ajayi is a recent graduate of Arts Ed School and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in New Orleans will mark his professional debut.
An accomplished violinist, Lowri Amies has recently toured with The Devil’s Chord, wowing audiences with her portrayal of Alma Rose – a virtuoso Jewish violinist, who used her musical prowess to survive the Holocaust.
Ruari Cannon won the Charles Jellingham Award for Best Actor from the America Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York City, 2011. He is currently appearing as Mr Cassanova in The Legend of Barney Thomson. For Ruby in the Dust, he played Lord Darlington in Lady Windermere’s Fan.
Samantha Louise Clark is known for her rendition of Anita Berber in cult show Halbwelt Kultur and her acclaimed Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde. Her first appearance with Ruby in the Dust was in Hutch at Riverside Studios.
After graduating in 2013, Matt Jopling toured for a year with Kenny Wax Ltd before working at the New Wolsey Theatre on their most recent Rock Pantomime.
Silvana Maimone began her singing career performing jazz and blues. She has also appeared in Ruby in the Dust’s Dorian Gray and Miracle at Leicester Square Theatre.
EJ Martin appeared in Steven Poliakoff’s TV drama Dancing on the Edge and played Blanche Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde.
David Monteith has most recently appeared in Play Mas at The Orange Tree Theatre and is particularly well versed in Shakespeare having played characters as diverse as Snout and Prospero.
Lawrence O’Connor has been immersed in theatre since childhood, making his first professional debut with the Lindsey Kemp mime troupe (famously endorsed by David Bowie). Since then, he has carved out a significant career as an actor and a musician – despite a serious motorbike accident, after which the doctors told him there was no chance of regaining the use of his hand. He defied the prognosis, and over time built up his guitar technique – even surpassing his previous ability.
Tristan Pegg has performed at The Orange Tree Theatre in The Years Between and at The Old Vic in The Merry Wives of Windsor. He also appeared in Ruby in the Dust’s Starchild at the Kings Head Theatre.
Sid Phoenix (pictured) has just completed filming work with Stephen Frears, playing Corporal Jones alongside Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins. It is the second time he has worked with Stephen Frears, having played Tony in The Programe – The Lance Armstrong Biopic, due out later this year. He has also played Nick Carroway in The Great Gatsby and Cole Porter in Hutch for Ruby in the Dust at Riverside Studios.
Sarah Rotherham is a skilled jazz clarinetist who has performed world wide. Her most recent role was in a tour of A Christmas Carol, but she is also a veteran of Shakespeare, playing roles as diverse as Lady Macbeth and Puck.
Matthew Woodyatt’s theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing and War Horse at the National Theatre and One Man, Two Guvnors and Mack and Mabel in the West End.
Read more about A Midsummer Night’s Dream in New Orleans.