CAST ANNOUNCED FOR CITIZENS THEATRE TOUR OF THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

The Citizens Theatre has today unveiled the cast for its touring production of Shakespeare’s riotous tale of mistaken identity, The Comedy of Errors.

Directed by Artistic Director Dominic Hill, who is renowned for his fresh take on classics, this re-mounted five-star production features a multi-talented ensemble who will deliver witty dialogue, physical comedy and live music in a production bursting with energy.

Returning to the cast is John Macaulay, who was described as ‘superb’ (The National) for his performance in 2021. He has recently toured with Fatal Attraction (Ambassador Theatre Group) and has played several roles in productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre as well as in TV shows including Waterloo Road, Burnistoun, Still Game and River City.

Also returning is Michael Guest. Lauded for his ‘tremendous energy and neat hat tricks’ (The National), he recently appeared as Puck in Scottish Opera’s tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and will be familiar to Citizens audiences who saw his ‘heartfelt’ (Reviewshub) performance as Bob Cratchit in the 2021 production of A Christmas Carol.

They are joined by Angus Miller who is well known for his screen role in hit TV show, Shetland, and for theatre productions including Let The Right One In (National Theatre of Scotland);The Duchess of Malfi (Citizens Theatre/Royal Lyceum Theatre) and as the devilish Sick Boy in Trainspotting (Citizens Theatre).

Bringing his musical prowess to the cast is actor, writer and musician John Kielty. Kielty has written many theatre scores including A to Z of Dundee (Dundee Rep), Dracula ReVamped (ÒranMór) and Time Oot (Toonspeak). He has also contributed to many award-winning musicals with his brothers, including Glasgow Girls for the National Theatre of Scotland.

Making their Citizens debuts are Esme Bayley (Edward the Second, Romeo and Juliet, Measure for Measure, Taming of the Shrew, Bard in the Botanics; The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Beacon; Gaslight, Perth Theatre) and Renee Williams (Hang, Tron Theatre; Horizonal Collaboration, Fire Exit; Up Close and Personal, Cumbernauld Theatre).

As part of the theatre’s commitment to nurturing new talent, the cast is completed by Cindy Awor and Francesca Hess, who are the Citizens Theatre’s 2022 Graduate Actors. For the past 11 years, the Citizens Theatre Graduate Actor Scheme, which is supported by the Ernst Maas Educational Trust and the Garrick Charitable Trust, has given many of Scotland’s best up-and-coming actors their first career opportunities.

The Comedy of Errors will preview at The Beacon in Greenock (Fri 19 – Sat 20 Aug) before returning to the site of the original 2021 production at Scottish Opera’s Production Studios at 40 Edington Street, Glasgow (Fri 26 Aug – Sat 3 Sep) as part of the outdoor festival, Live at No.40. The show will then travel to Perth Theatre (Wed 7 – Sat 17 Sep).

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Download an image from the 2021 production:

L-R Karen Fishwick Ewan Miller Michael Guest and John Macaulay in The Comedy of Errors 2021. Photo by Tim Morozzo..jpg

For more information, images and to arrange interviews and press tickets please contact:

Louise Dingwall, Press and Marketing Officer, louisedingwall@citz.co.uk OR

Alison Lewis, Marketing and Communications Manager alison.lewis@citz.co.uk

Press Performance: Saturday 27 August at 7pm, Scottish Opera Production Studios

A copy of the press release announcing the tour of The Comedy Errors can be found here:

https://www.citz.co.uk/press/release/citizens-theatres-five-star-production-the-comedy-of-errors-returns-for-sco

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CAST 

Cindy Awor - Luciana / Ensemble

Esme Bayley - Adriana / Ensemble

Michael Guest - Dromio Of Ephesus and Syracuse / Ensemble

Francesca Hess - Duke / Luce / 2nd Merchant

John Kielty - Actor Musician / Ensemble

John Macaulay - Egeon / Pinch / Ensemble

Angus Miller - Antipholus Of Ephesus and Syracuse / Ensemble

Renee Williams - Abbess / Courtesan / Ensemble

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Dominic Hill

Assistant Director: Eleanor Felton

Designer: Jessica Worrall

Lighting Designer: Lizzie Powell

Composer: Nikola Kodjabashia

Movement Directors: Lucien Lindsay-MacDougall & Benedicte Seierup

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NOTES TO EDITORS

CAST BIOGS

CINDY AWOR

Cindy Awor trained at Glasgow Clyde College (Langside) and at Edinburgh Napier University. She'll be graduating this year with a BA (Hons) in Stage and Screen Acting. She is one of this year’s Citizens Theatre Graduate Actors.

Recent credits include: VS09 (New Celts Productions); Candy (Blazing Griffin); The Big Data Show (Civic Digits Theatre Company); Fault Lines (Two Destination Language). Cindy was also part of the Scottish Drama Training Network Graduate Scheme in 2018.

ESME BAYLEY

Esme trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.Recent theatre credits include:Julius Caesar (Company of Wolves); How Not To Drown (Thick Skin & Traverse Theatre Company); Gaslight (Perth Theatre at Horsecross Arts); Edward the Second, Romeo & Juliet, Measure for Measure, Taming of the Shrew (Bard in the Botanics); Ricky McWhittington (Glasgow Life); Look Back in Anger (Cumbernauld Theatre); Secret Show 1 (Blood of the Young / Tron Theatre); Playhouse Creatures (Bloomsbury Theatre) and Two (Liverpool Everyman - Directors Festival).

MICHAEL GUEST

Michael trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Recent credits include:A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Scottish Opera); A Christmas Carol, The Comedy of Errors (Citizens Theatre); Joke (Citizens Theatre/A Play, A Pie and A Pint); Raven’s Hollow (Shudder/AMC).

FRANCESCA HESS

Francesca is making her professional stage debut after graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in July. She is one of this year’s Citizens Theatre Graduate Actors. Prior to RCS, Francesca trained at the Inspire Academy Workshop in Nottingham.

Theatre credits include:Gloria, Thebans, Much Ado About Nothing, August: Osage County and Vassa (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland); Death and Botany (55 Kings); The Astronaut Wives Club (NYT). Film/TV credits include: Four to the Floor (Channel4/Lemonade Money); Some Lines (Sirloin Films); Videohead (JT Media).

JOHN KIELTY

John Kielty is an actor, writer and composer based in Linlithgow. He has written many theatre scores and last year wrote A to Z of Dundee for Dundee Rep's 80th Anniversary Season, the Òran Mór Summer Pantomime Dracula ReVamped and also co-wrote, directed and musically directed the Toonspeak Summer Show Time Oot. He has written and contributed to many award-winning musicals with his Brothers, including Glasgow Girls for National Theatre of Scotland and, in 2014, they wrote the opening number for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Their award-winning musical Wasted Love was recently adapted as a TV Pilot for Amazon Prime and he is busy adapting another - The Edinburgh Seven - with screen writer Raymond Friel and Jordanna O'Neill.

JOHN MACAULAY

John Macaulay studied at Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Theatre work includes: Fatal Attraction (Ambassador Theatre Group); Richard III, Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare's Rose Theatre); Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry V (Royal Shakespeare Company); August: Osage County,Great Expectations,The Witches,Midsummer,The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black Black Oil, Equus, Macbeth (Dundee Rep); Alice in Wonderland, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); The Two Gentlemen of Verona (National Theatre); Betrayed (Tron Theatre); Peer Gynt (National Theatre of Scotland); A Streetcar Named Desire, Of Mice and Men, The Snow Queen (Perth Theatre);Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bard in the Botanics); Caledonia Dreaming (7.84 Theatre Company); 8000 Metres (Suspect Culture); The Voices (Forced Entertainment); The Glass Slipper (Southwark Playhouse); How to Steal a Diamond (Vox Motus); The Whistleblower (Birds Of Paradise Theatre Company); Horizontal Collaboration (Fire Exit). Television work includes:Waterloo Road (Headstrong Pictures); Burnistoun,Gary Tank Commander (The Comedy Unit/BBC Scotland); M.I. High (Kudos Film and TV); Single Father (BBC Scotland/Red Production Company); Still Game (Effingee); Jess the Border Collie, Rockface, English Express (BBC); River City, Suspect (BBC Scotland); Murder in Mind (Chrysalis); The Vice (Carlton Television); Missing (Scottish Television); Living with Technology (Grampian Television). Radio includes:On the Skids, A Second Life, All at Sea (BBC Scotland).

ANGUS MILLER

Television credits include: The Gold (BBC1/Paramount+); Shetland (Series 5-7) [BBC]; Guilt (BBC); Doctors (BBC); Teacup Travels (BBC). Theatre credits include: Mooning (Òran Mór); The Duchess of Malfi (Citizens Theatre/Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); The Belle's Stratagem (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); Trainspotting (Citizens Theatre); Let The Right One In (US Tour/National Theatre of Scotland); Bulldog (Etch); Pink Confetti (Etch & Babel Performing Arts Festival, Romania); Let The Right One In (St Anne's Warehouse, NYC); Let The Right One In (Apollo Theatre, West End); Let The Right One (Royal Court); Let The Right One In (National Theatre of Scotland); Macbeth (Perth Theatre / The Tron, Glasgow). Film credits include:Harm (Futuristfilm Ltd); Crowman(Flyboy Creative)

RENEE WILLIAMS

Renee Williams hails from California where she studied choreography with a concentration in performance art and contemporary ballet. She then moved to New York where she attended the Suny Purchase Conservatory of Theater Arts for her BFA. She attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for her Masters in Contemporary and Classical Theatre and now resides in Glasgow.

Theatre credits include:Hang, Andromache, Our Country’s Good, The Tempest (Tron Theatre); The Guitar Man (Surrogate Productions); Horizonal Collaboration (Fire Exit); Up Close and Personal (Cumbernauld Theatre). Film/TV credits include:She Will (Popcorn Group); Logan High (Chalkboard TV/CBBC); The Merits of Extinction (New Religion Film); Armchair Detectives (Tiger Aspects).

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CITIZENS THEATRE

The Citizens Theatre is Glasgow’s major producing theatre and one of the leading theatre companies in the UK. Over the last 75 years, it has built an international reputation for producing innovative shows on stage, alongside a highly regarded learning programme of participatory and education work. It is led by Artistic Director, Dominic Hill who is regarded as having “a talent for classical drama which is genuinely world class.” (Daily Telegraph) and Executive Director, Alex McGowan. The theatre presents bold new interpretations of classic texts that are accessible and relevant - and uniquely, where any member of the audience can attend a performance for as little as 50p.

The company’s beautiful Victorian home in the Gorbals is currently closed while it undergoes a major redevelopment. This will be the most comprehensive, integrated redevelopment of the building since it opened in 1878. The project will transform the experiences of audiences, participants and performers and secure the future of one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings and leading producing theatres.

BEACON ARTS CENTRE

Beacon Arts Centre is a contemporary theatre and arts centre in the heart of Inverclyde...and a whole lot more besides.

We offer a safe and inspiring place to escape into a different world for a while; a place to connect and share new experiences through shows and activities that inspire and delight, sometimes challenge, and always entertain. From staging national productions to showcasing local talent, and from hosting theatre-based workshops to dance classes and a whole host of activities and events, we aim to offer something for everyone.

We passionately believe that cultural experiences are crucial to the wellbeing of individuals and communities. That's why our mission is to make a lasting impact and 'light up lives' by giving as many people as possible the opportunity to engage with the arts in enjoyable and meaningful ways. We achieve this through our fantastically diverse programme, our youth theatre and our innovative outreach and engagement work, delivered here in the Beacon and out in the community.

PERTH THEATRE

One of Scotland's oldest theatres, Perth Theatre reopened in November 2017 following an extensive period of restoration and redevelopment. The transformed venue boasts a traditional Edwardian auditorium, new 200 capacity studio, dedicated community rooms, and spacious and welcoming public areas.

As well as creating and touring its own productions, Perth Theatre collaborates with theatre companies and visiting artists to bring the best of local, national and international work to its stages. The exciting mix of performances covers drama, musicals, children's shows, dance, comedy, music, community events and more. It is the perfect space for meetings, conferences and business functions.

Perth Theatre and sister venue Perth Concert Hall are managed by creative organisation and registered charity Horsecross Arts with support from Creative Scotland, Perth & Kinross Council and The Gannochy Trust. Find us at www.horsecross.co.uk, on Twitter @HorsecrossPerth, Instagram @horsecrossperth and on Facebook @horsecross.

SCOTTISH OPERA: LIVE AT NO.40

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland. The 2022/23 season marks its 60th Anniversary.

The Company’s performance repertoire ranges across five centuries, from the earliest operas to newly-commissioned world premieres. Scottish Opera collaborates with the world’s finest singers and creatives, together with The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and choruses for each opera. Recent accolades include a South Bank Sky Arts Award, a Scottish Award for New Music, Sunday Herald Culture Awards, a Herald Angel, and a 2020 RPS Award. In 2021 the Company returned to live audiences with Sir David McVicar’s new production of Verdi’s Falstaff performed in Glasgow and at the Edinburgh International Festival.

The Company tours extensively across Scotland to ensure performances are within reach of as many of the country’s very dispersed population as possible. Specially-adapted40-foot long trailers bring Pop-up Opera performances to thousands of people each year. In 2021 the Company performed nearly 200 performances of its Pop-up Opera Roadshow to socially distanced audiences of 11,014 people. This is one of the most extensive touring programmes of any European opera company and a much-valued contribution to Scotland’s cultural and artistic life, particularly in remote and island communities.

The Company’s Education & Outreach programme, which celebrated 50 years in 2021, includes an annual Primary Schools Tour, bringing children the opportunity to perform their own specially-commissioned piece alongside professional singers. Around 120 schools and 9,000 pupils take part each year. Scottish Opera aims to be inclusive and affordable through availability of free and cheap tickets, as well as performances offering audio description and specially-devised shorter access performances.

The Company’s Opera on Screen productions are available to watch at: www.scottishopera.org.uk/what-s-on/opera-on-screen. The collection includes Donizetti’s L’elisird’amore, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Opera Highlights, Menotti’s The Telephone, and Samuel Bordoli and Jenni Fagan’s The Narcissistic Fish. The Company’s 2021 production of The Gondoliers, filmed live at Festival Theatre Edinburgh, is available on BBC iPlayer.

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TICKETS

The Beacon

Custom House Quay, Greenock, PA15 1HJ

www.beaconartscentre.co.uk

Live at No.40

New Rotterdam Wharf, Scottish Opera Production Studios, 40 Edington Street, Glasgow, G4 9RD

www.citz.co.uk

Perth Theatre

Mill St, Perth, PH1 5HZ

www.horsecross.co.uk

Tickets are available from £15, with a range of concessions available.

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