Cast

Reno Sweeney – Kathy PeacockKathy Peacock is a third year Theology student at Worcester College, Oxford. She has been performing from a young age in a musical theatre capacity as well as in ballet and opera. Oxford credits include: Graziella in West Side Story (Playhouse, HT15), Kristine in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (O’Reilly, TT15), Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Queen’s, TT15), Kathy in Singin’ in the Rain (Playhouse, MT15), Meg Giry in Phantom of the Opera (O’Reilly, HT16) and Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (Queen’s, TT16). She has also been involved in various concerts and continues her interest in classical singing, most recently performing in Carmen in a Pub (TT16).

Billy Crocker – Toby ChapmanToby is a third year student reading History at Mansfield College. Anything Goes is his second performance in Oxford, having appeared as an ensemble member in a Playhouse production of RENT (HT16). Toby has been a member of the National Youth Theatre since 2012, and has performed musical and physical theatre showcases at the National Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. Prior to university, Toby performed in numerous youth theatre festival productions in collaboration with the National Theatre, including title roles in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Henry V. His first appearance on stage was as the Angel Gabriel in a school nativity play at the age of 4. Critics said he was cute but a bit of an attention seeker. Today he is only one of these things

Hope Harcourt – Indyana Schneider

Indyana is a third year studying Music at Magdalen college. She discovered the Oxford drama scene in her second year (would recommend) and made up for lost time, performing in RENT (Playhouse, HT16), as Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera (O’Reilly, HT16), The Plaint in the Fairy Queen (Playhouse, TT15), pioneering Hat Tricks Improvised Musical Theatre for the Homeless (JdP, TT15), composing/acting as Feste in Twelfth Night (Worcester Gardens, TT15), and playing Carmen in Carmen in a Pub (TT16). Before coming to Oxford, Indyana lived in sunny Sydney, Australia, and performed in lots of places no one here has heard of, and a few places more well-known, like the State Theatre (Dead Man Walking) and Sydney Opera House (La Boheme, Werther, Encore).

Moonface – Nils BehlingNils is in his third year studying Materials Science at The Queen’s College; whilst at Oxford he has performed in productions including Singin’ in the Rain and RENT (at the Oxford Playhouse), Into The Woods and Sweeney Todd (in Queen’s College), Dirty Linen (Burton Taylor Studio), Julius Caesar (Michael Piltch Studio) and Cabaret (Pembroke Pichette Auditorium). He was part the OUDS/Thema Holt International Tour production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which toured over summer 2016 in many different venues across the UK, as well as taking the production on tour to Japan. As well as acting, Nils is very keen on dancing and has trained and performed in various styles for many years with both the Creative Dance Company and Oxford Broad Street Dancers, performing on stages such as Sadlers Wells and the Royal Albert Hall.

Erma – Rebecca HamiltonRebecca is a third year History student at Jesus College. In her first year at Oxford she appeared in West Side Story (Oxford Playhouse, February 2015), Living Together (Oxford Playhouse, May 2015), and took The Norman Conquests to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2015. In her second year she choreographed Spring Awakening (Keble O’Reilly, October 2015), and appeared in Proximity (BT Studio, December 2015), Island People (BT Studio, February 2015), Colin & Katya (North Wall Theatre, June 2016), and the ETC’s 2016 Summer Tour of Circleville, Circlevalley, touring in many different venues across the UK.

Lord Evelyn Oakleigh – Laurence BelcherLaurence is a second year CAAH student at Lincoln College. Whilst at Oxford credits include Ambassador in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (HT 2016 O’Reilly), Ferdinand in The Tempest (TT 2016 Wadham Gardens) and Oberon in The Fairy Queen (TT 2016 Oxford Playhouse). Prior to his arrival at Oxford, Laurence has built up a strong repertoire of professional work in film, television and on stage. Most recent credits include Arthur/Henry in King John (Shakespeare’s Globe), A Song for Jenny (BBC One), The Turn of the Screw (Almeida Theatre) X-MEN: First Class/Days of Future Past, Doctor Who, The Late Middle Classes (Donmar Warehouse), The Habit of Art (National Theatre) and Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre).

Mrs Evangeline Harcourt – Fiona AsieduFiona Asiedu is a third year Experimental Psychology student at New College. This is her first production in Oxford but she has been involved in several performances throughout school including Veronique in Beauty and the Beast, Prospero in The Tempest and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her interests include attending theatre productions and music.

Elisha J. Whitney – Matthew CarterMatthew Carter is a third year English student at St Edmund Hall. His first Oxford performance was as Roscoe Dexter in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (Oxford Playhouse, MT15), followed by ‘RENT’ (Oxford Playhouse, HT16), the Keble Musical Showcase (O’Reilly, HT16), Hat Tricks (TT16) and playing Roderick Spode in ‘Jeeves and Wooster: Perfect Nonsense’ (St. Benet’s, TT16). He also co-write and co-directed a new musical ‘Bemused’ for the Teddy Hall John Oldham Drama society (Teddy Hall, TT16). He will be appearing  in ‘Guys and Dolls’ (O’Reilly, MT16). He enjoys reading, playing the trumpet, and making awful puns.

Captain – Josh BlunsdenJoshua Blunsden is a third year Chemistry student at Corpus Christi College. Anything Goes is his third Playhouse show, following RENT (HT16) and Singin’ in the Rain (MT15). Other performance credits in Oxford include playing Monsieur André in The Phantom of the Opera (O’Reilly, HT16) as well as roles in Sweeney Todd (Queen’s College Gardens, TT16), Cabaret (Pichette Auditorium, TT16), Spring Awakening (O’Reilly, MT15), Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical (Pichette Auditorium, TT15), and Iolanthe (SJE Arts, HT15). His stage experience outside Oxford includes musicals such as Grease and South Pacific as well as plays including Alan Bennett’s The History Boys and George Farquhar’s The Recruiting Officer. Josh also sings with his college’s chapel choir, and this year holds the position of College Liaison on the OUDS Committee.

Purser – Laurence JeffcoateLaurence is a third year Psychology and Philosophy student at Queen’s. Since coming to Oxford, as well as regular commitments as a choral scholar in The Queen’s College Chapel Choir, Laurence has acted in Dirty Linen (Burton Taylor, MT14), played Jack in Into the Woods (The Queen’s College, TT15), and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (O’Reilly, HT16). He was also musical director of the recent sell-out production of Sweeney Todd (The Queen’s College, TT16), and has conducted the EMS Chorus.

From the age of nine, Laurence began singing regularly with the Manchester Boys’ Choir, with performances including Britten’s War Requiem for BBC Radio 3. At the same time, he joined the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, with whom he sang three concerts in the Royal Albert Hall including a BBC Prom. With various choirs he has toured the UK, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.

In 2008, Laurence was selected as one of 12 finalists for the BBC1 TV show I’d Do Anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh. He went on to win the show, and played the title role in Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 08-09), alongside Rowan Atkinson, Jodie Prenger, and Burn Gorman. He was also chosen to appear on the 2009 cast recording.

John- Christopher WhiteChristopher is a third year studying Classics and English at Magdalen College. As an actor he has appeared as Chino in West Side Story (Playhouse HT 2015), in A Sense of Falling, a part of the New Writing Festival 2015 (BT Studio HT 2015), as R.F. Simpson in Singin in the Rain (Playhouse MT 2015) and as Ivan Bezdomny in The Master and Margarita (St John’s Gardens MT 2015). After directing his college Cuppers play We Were Dancing (BT Studio MT 2014), his first full-scale role as director was for Strindberg’s Creditors (BT Studio TT 2015). He was then assistant director for Around the World in 80 Days as part of the 2015 OUDS National Tour. In Trinity term 2016 he directed Shakespeare’s Richard II at the Keble O’Reilly Theatre. Christopher was the President of the Magdalen Players 2015-16 and the President of OUDS 2016-17.

Reno’s Angels

Olivia CharleyOlivia is a second year History student at Brasenose College. She achieved Advanced 1 Qualifications in Ballet, Modern and Tap, as well as training in Jazz, Commercial and Contemporary from a young age. She is now President of The Broad Street Dancers, Oxford’s competitive theatrical dance troupe. During her first year at Oxford Olivia danced in: ‘Ten Duets on a Theme of Proximity’ (BT Studio MT15), the Broad Street Dancer’s ‘Paradise’ (OFS HT16) and Cabaret (Pichette Auditorium TT16.) Before coming to Oxford, Olivia was a three times national champion in the All England Finals, competing in both solo and group events and also performed in the Royal Children’s Variety Show at the Savoy Theatre in front of H.R.H Princess Beatrice and at the Royal Albert Hall in the first National Dance Proms 2011. Olivia was the Dance Captain in her school production of Chicago, and helped to choreograph many of the numbers. She is very excited to be taking part in this production of Anything Goes.

Bing MockYuan Bing Mock is a third year Law student at Oriel College. She was last seen in The Phantom of the Opera (O’Reilly, HT16) and in the ensemble cast of Singin’ In the Rain (Playhouse, MT15). She also served as the assistant producer for Dear Elizabeth (BT, TT15). Besides ten years of classical ballet lessons, she has also had training in jazz and contemporary dance. While at school, she sang solo at various events and concerts including Xin Yao and The Audition and has had six years of choral experience, including with the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir. She was also involved in drama productions, including an abridged version of Twelfth Night, an entry in the Singapore Youth Festival, and designed the set for 4Play.

India PhillipsIndia Phillips is a second year French & Spanish student at St Catherine’s College. This is her first production at Oxford, but India has been heavily involved in performance and musical theatre from a young age. India trained for 10 years at Guildford School of Acting Saturday School in acting, singing, tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary and musical theatre. India has performed in numerous productions across the UK with the National Youth Music Theatre, Youth Music Theatre UK and The Company UK, with a personal highlight being taking on the principal role of Holly in ‘The Wedding Singer’ at The Lowry Theatre, Manchester last summer. She is very excited to be performing in this production of ‘Anything Goes’.

Lydia BenazaizeLydia Benazaize is a third year medical student at Hertford College, Oxford. During her time at Oxford Lydia has performed in Singin’ in the Rain (Playhouse MT16) and the dance productions Paradise (The Old Fire Station HT16) and Dynamica (The Old Fire Station HT15) as a member of The Broadstreet Dancers. As part of this dance troupe Lydia has both choreographed and performed in a range of dance styles including tap, jazz, contemporary and ballet. Outside of Oxford Lydia has performed in numerous dance shows and a number of musicals including The Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables, Seussical, Annie and Peter Pan.

Sailors

James BruceJames Bruce is a third year student studying Physics at Corpus Christi College, though he is perhaps best known as the current Corpus Christi Tortoise Keeper. Testudinal duties aside, James has a penchant for performance and is fascinated by the world of the stage, a love he developed at the Italia Conti Theatre School during his secondary school years. His performances have spanned from Lucius in Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus (MT15) to the Flashheart-esque pantomime rogue, Captain Anthony Strapping (“Intrepid!” HT15). Other roles include a very slimy Prince John in “Robin Hood” (TT15), and a film-noir wannabe detective, Flick Ranger, in “Let’s Steal the Crown Jewels” (HT16). James served loyally as the secretary of The Oxford University Light Entertainment Society (a jolly brigade of silly-play-writing actors – OULES for short) last year, and is now peeking his head into the magical world of musical theatre.

Hugo FlemmingHugo Fleming is a third-year Experimental Psychology student at Corpus Christi. Although this is his first production at Oxford, Hugo has been heavily involved in theatre since a young age, attending the Stagecoach performing arts school part-time for over 10 years. He has performed in productions of My Fair Lady, The Pirates of Penzance, Annie, and Oliver!, as well as dancing in showcases at Her Majesty’s Theatre and singing at the Earl’s Court Exhibition and the Birmingham Symphony Hall. At school (St Paul’s), Hugo was John Merrick in The Elephant Man and Alonso in The Tempest. Alongside theatre he maintains active interests in music and sport, and is President of the Athletic Club and a Modern Pentathlon blue.

James TibblesJames is a second year English and Russian student at St Edmund Hall and is thrilled to be performing for the first time at the Oxford Playhouse! In his first year James was a choral scholar in his college choir and performed in String (BT Studio, MT15 & Edinburgh Fringe, 16), The Phantom of the Opera (O’Reilly, HT16), Ensemble (a short film in Easter Vac) and Bemused (St Edmund Hall, TT16). Later this term he will be performing in Jealous of Herself (Keble O’Reilly) and producing The Double (BT Studio). Other off-stage roles include directing a monologue for the New Writing Festival opening showcase, marketing for Sweeney Todd (Queen’s College, TT16) and flexing his formatting skills as OUDS secretary 2016/17.

Oscar HansenOscar is a second year Music student at University College. Relatively new to acting, his credits in Oxford productions so far include lead roles such as Grosvenor in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience (HT 2016) and Martin in Saliva Milkshake (MT 2015), for which he also composed and recorded the soundtrack. He has been a keen singer since before university, concentrating on both jazz and classical genres and singing with various choirs at home before joining the Univ chapel choir and The Oxford Commas in his first term. Oscar continues to pursue acting and singing whilst also exploring his interest in composition.

FBI/reporter/passenger

Evelyn Earl

Evelyn Earl is a second year History of Art student at St John’s College, Oxford. This is Evelyn’s first musical production whilst at Oxford and is very excited to be involved. With her dance school in the North East of England, Evelyn has performed ballet, tap and contemporary in countless dance shows and galas (as solos or as part of a group) and was also a regular dance teacher. Further experience includes playing the good fairy in the Sleeping Beauty pantomime in Sunderland’s Royalty Theatre, and performing in The Jungle Book at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle.

Isabel TolIzzie Tol is a third year Medical student at Worcester College, Oxford. This will be Izzie’s first musical production in Oxford however she has performed as one of the Broad Street Dancer’s at a number of events including their most recent show: Paradise (The Old Fire Station HT15). As a Broad Street Dancer she has performed in a number of styles including jazz, tap, contemporary and lyrical and was the choreographer of the sole tap number, Happy, in this years show. Her previous musical production experience includes Wicked, Catch Me If You Can, Copacabana and Cinderella.

Emilie Finch Emilie Finch is a third year undergraduate studying Biology at St John’s College. Whilst at Oxford she has performed in several productions including Posh in Cuppers (BT Studio, MT’14) The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs (BT Studio HT’15), Passion (Keble O’Reilly TT’15) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Queen’s College Gardens, HT’16). Later this term she will appear in Guys and Dolls at the Keble O’Reilly playing Miss Adelaide.

Amelia GabrielAmelia is a second year studying English at Lincoln. In her first year at Oxford, Amelia performed in a variety of productions: two operas – The Marriage of Kim K (O’Reilly, HT’16) and Purcell’s The Fairy Queen (Playhouse, TT’16) – Leoe & Hyde’s immersive musical ‘Queueue’ (Modern Art Oxford, TT ’16), and Tom Stoppard’s ‘Arcadia’ (O’Reilly, TT’16). Amelia also sings with the fabulous Oxford Belles, Oxford’s original all-female acapella group, with whom she enjoyed performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Gemma  LowcockGemma Lowcock is a third year undergraduate studying Biomedical Sciences at Keble College. She attended The Oxford School of Drama for the Foundation Musical Theatre Course. Anything Goes is her third Oxford Show, following Spring Awakening (Keble O’Reilly MT’15) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Queen’s College Gardens TT’16). Later this term she will appear in Guys and Dolls at the Keble O’Reilly playing Sarah Brown. Gemma also spent her first two years singing with The Oxford Gargoyles, Oxford’s internationally renowned jazz a cappella group, with whom she toured Asia, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, and will compete with later this month at the Category Finals of BBC’s Choir of the Year.

Rosa Garland

Rosa Garland is an English Language & Literature student starting her second year at Jesus College. While at Oxford, she has played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (Magdalen TT16), Lonnie in short film The Arbor (screened May 2016 at Phoenix Picture House), ensemble roles in A Streetcar Named Desire (Keble O’Reilly TT16), Nijo, Louise and Nell in a rehearsed reading of Top Girls (HT2016), and will play Ivan Bezdomny and Matthew the Levite in The Master and Margarita (Edinburgh Fringe 2016). While this is her first musical at Oxford, she has previously played Eponine in Day 8 Productions’ Les Miserables (July 2014), and chorus roles in Oliver, Miss Saigon, and We Will Rock You at school. Other pre-university credits include the Maniac in Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Feste in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Lady Montague in Romeo and Juliet, and multi-role playing in Jim Cartwright’s Road.

Dancer/acrobat

Daisy PorterDaisy is a second year student at Balliol studying Philosophy and Linguistics. She has been dancing for ten years and has experience in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, tap and acrobatic dance. While at school she performed in a variety of shows and competitions, including productions of Oliver! and Into The Woods. Since coming to Oxford she has had dance roles in The Fairy Queen (Playhouse, 2016) and Doctor Faustus (O’Reilly, 2016). This term she is also choreographer for The Last Five Years at the Pilch. A devoted musical theatre fan, Daisy is very excited to perform in Anything Goes, her first musical in Oxford.

Serena ChangSerena is a fourth year at the Queen’s College studying Oriental Studies (Chinese). During her degree she has performed as a gymnast in the summer garden musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Queen’s, TT 2014) and also was a member of the orchestra in the Peking University production of Songs For a New World during her year abroad (Star Theatre Beijing, June 2015). Serena has been a gymnast since the age of six, and has competed in a number of competitions since then, including two Varsity matches in which she place first individually both times. She holds two Gymnastics Blues, has captained the Oxford Women’s team and is currently President of the Gymnastics Club. She is excited to be able to put her acrobatic skills to use in a performance at the Playhouse this Michaelmas.