Agnes Jaoui - Jean Pierre Bacri Original Playwrites
Jaoui is an actress, playwright, script writer and film director. She trained at the Amandiers with director Patrice Chereau. Bacri is an actor, playwright and script writer. He trained at Cours Simon and achieved public recognition in the feature film “Le Grand Pardon”. They both meet on stage in 1987. In 1991, they start writing together: “Cuisine et Dépendances” (Moliere 1993), an adapation of Ayckbourn's play “Intimate Exchange” which became the movie “Smoking \ No smoking” and “On connait la chanson”, both directed by Alain Resnais. Public acclaim comes after the award winning success of their play “Un air de famille” adapted by Cedric Klapisch for the screen in 1996 and winner of three Cesars in 1997. Jaoui's directorial credits: “Le Gout des autres” (4 Cesars awards), “Comme une image” (Cannes official selection), “Parlez-moi de la pluie” and “Au bout du conte”. They both also act in numerous and major French feature films. “Un air de famille” has been produced in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Japan and Paraguay.
Andy de la Tour Adaptation
Andy de la Tour acts as well as writing and translating acclaimed plays. His own plays include “Viva”, “Here We Go”, “Safe in Hands” and “Landslide”. He collaborated with Howard Brenton and Tariq Ali for the political plays “Collateral Damage” and “Snogging Ken”, both of which are published by Oberon Books. His adaptations include Dario Fo’s “The Pope and the Witch”. He has also written extensively for television.
Cleo Seaton Harris Set Designer
Having studied set design at Wimbledon College of Art, Cleo went onto freelance as a production designer in film, theatre and TV. Her first job was as a member of the art department on the CBBC show Sadie J. In 2011 Cleo worked as part of the team that designed and built the set for the short film «Mrs Bates», which won the Diamond award at the Bangkok international films festival. Cleo’s most recent work consists of set designs for a number of fringe shows and art directing and producing the concept artwork for feature films. Cleo also designs event spaces and retail window displays such as House of Fraser, Asprey and Miss Sixty. (www.cleoharrisseaton.com)
Christine Renard Director
Christine Renard is a French native actress and director. She has been living and developing her career in London and Paris over the last 10 years. She graduated from Cours Florent Drama School in Paris and the International Institute of Performing Art at RADA in London. Her film and TV credits include: "Wild Grass" by Alain Resnais, "The Perspective of the Objects" by Samuella Memmo, "Coma" and "Sperm" by Nicola Quilter, "La vie sera belle" by Edwin Baily, “Leads and Follows” by Victoria Howell. Some of her theatre credits are: "Scapin's Schemings" of Molière (Guichet Montparnasse Theatre), "Learn to say No" of Delphine Gustau (Avignon Festival & Blancs Manteaux Theatre), “Le Tartuffe” of Molière (Lost Theatre), and "Love X Fifteen" of Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Soho Theatre). Some of her Theatre credits as director includes: "Music Hall" of Jean-Luc Lagarce (Theatre du Marais) and “Yerma" of Federico Garcia Lorca, a Spanish production awarded with Five Stars review: 'The vitality and t e passion' (Barons Court Theatre). As part of the “Voila Festival” at the Cockpit Theatre, Christine performed in “Le Prunus” of Noelle Renaude, “Histoires d’hommes” of Xavier Durringer and directed “King Kong Theory – a Gun for Every Girl” of Virginie Despentes. More recently, Christine produced and played “Measurements of Love”, a devised work she created and co-wrote with Jeremy Stockwell and Roddy Maud-Roxby. After last year successful London premiere of "A Family Affair” (‘Expert timing and wonderful level of comic hilarity’), Christine is delighted to return to the Drayton Arms Theatre for a second season of Andy de la Tour English adaptation of the most acclaimed Agnes Jaoui & Jean-Pierre Bacri’s play.
Benedict Cooper Lighter Designer
Benedict trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Whilst training, he worked with Three's Company, performing roles which required an actor and theatre technician in their productions of «Play on Words» (2007) and «Auditorium» (2008). Benedict's first production with Exchange Theatre was «The Flies» (2009). He has since worked on over 30 productions with the company, as a performer and/or production manager. In 2012 he wrote and directed «Excusez-Me» which was performed at last year's Bastille Week.
