Introducing the Company of DURANG DURANG:
JANET PRINCE
Started her career in Anthony Mingella's first play at Hull Truck Theatre then worked her way south via various repertory companies. Work in London includes The Wow Show at the Gate Theatre, Art of Success by Nick Dear at the Arcola and Revenge by Howard Brenton at the Kings Head and Titania at Shakespeare's Globe. Artistic Director of the East Dulwich Tavern producing comedy and theatre including In Lambeth by Jack Shepherd which transfered to the Donmar and Tittle Tattle by Lesley Clare O'Neill, winning a Guiness/National Theatre Award.Produced and acted in Tennessee Williams Short Plays and Off Broadway a series of plays including Naomi in the Living Room by Christopher Durangat the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh. Most recent work has been in New York including Uncle Vanya at Classic Stage Company, Medea with Columbia Stages and The Safari Party by Tim Firth at the Algonquin Theatre. Other work in the US includes The Last Tudor by Clive Barnes in Santa Fe. Durang Durang at the Edinburgh Festival 2009 was a collaboration between American and British artists in association with Mind The Gap Theatre ... a mini bridge project!
STUART WILLIAMS
Stuart is very excited to be reunited with 'Durang, Durang' and overjoyed to be making his London debut. Originally from West Sussex, Stuart was uprooted to Texas at a tender age and, as a result, says things like 'Cheerio, Y'all' and 'Howdy, Mate'. He studied drama at Syracuse University in New York State and is now based in New York City where some of his favourite credits include Crazy Gary's Mobile Disco, the US premier of Tim Firth's Safari Party, and most recently Philip Gawthorne's Breaktime in association with Mind the Gap Theatre. Stuart would like to thank his always tremendously supportive family, near and far, and especially Janet, Steve, Alicia, Clint and Joplin.
DAN FROST
Dan trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Most recent theatre includes: Stalag Happy (Edinburgh Festival 2009; received the Mervyn Sutter 'Pick of the Fringe,' 'Spirit of the Fringe' and was a Stage 'Must See'). Additional theatre: The Line Between (Third Man Productions, Edinburgh Festival 2007), Cabin Fever (Jim Sweeney Players, Edinburgh Festival 2006), Othellophobia (Explosive Acts, National Tour), Stalag Happy (Third Man Productions, New End Theatre), and A Small Family Business (Platform Theatre Company, Hall for Cornwall). TV and Film includes: Don't be Needy, Be Succeedy (Tinopolis), and The Boyfriend (Static Films, Zanussi).
MELANIE MACHUGH
Melanie is a Northern Irish actress who trained at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Her theatre work includes seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, New Vic, 7:84 Scotland and Northern Stage in Britain, and The Abbey Theatre and Druid Theatre in Ireland, and many touring shows. She has just written and performed her first monologue.
ALICIA DHYANA HOUSE Director
Alicia is based in New York City. Recent productions include Euripides' Medea, Chekhov's The Seagull, Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice, The Past is Today but Further Off (site specific), and Durang Durang at the Edinburgh Festival 2009. Assistant directing work includes: Peter Shaffer's Equus, directed by Thea Sharrock for Broadway and Charles Mee's Under Construction, directed by Anne Bogart, at the 2009 Humana Festival. Upcoming: Caryl Churchill's Top Girls. M.F.A. in Directing, Columbia University.
CHRISTOPHER DURANG Writer
Christopher Durang is a prolific American writer whose plays have been produced on and off-Broadway and abroad. Among his plays: Beyond Therapy, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Baby with the Bathwater, Laughing Wild, A History of the American Film, and Betty's Summer Vacation. His latest play, Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them received critical acclaim following its recent performance at the Public Theatre in New York. Durang's plays have earned him a host of awards, including three Obie Awards and a Dramatists Guild Hull Warriner Award. As both a playwright and an actor, he has worked with some of America's most famous names, among them Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews and Sigourney Weaver and he currently shares a seat as co-chair of the Playwriting Program at the Juilliard School in Manhattan with Marsha Norman.
JI-YOUN CHANG Production Designer; set, lights, and costumes
Ji-youn is very happy to work again with this company. Based in New York City, recent credits include; Stairs to the Roof at A.R.T. Institute (Set & Lights), Durang Durang at the Edinburgh Festival 2009 (Set, Lights & Costumes), Kafka Project/The Rain Machine at Horace Mann Theatre (Set & Lights), Lifetime Fairytale at Riverside Theatre (Set & Lights), Medea at Riverside Theatre (Set), Bully To You at Soho Rep (Set & Lights), The Blue Room at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre (Set), Glass Menagerie at Columbia University (Set & Lights), Illyria by Prospect Theatre Company (Lights), and Ballerina meets Bboy at 37 Arts (Lights). M.F.A. in Design, Yale School of Drama. Jiyounchangdesign.com
SIMON THOMAS Sound Designer
Simon attended The Central School of Speech and Drama where he studied Theatre Sound. Since he started freelancing in June 08, highlights of his work have included operating for In The Red and Brown Water (Young Vic), designing for Dr Faustus (Play on Words Theatre Company) and a selection of design and technical work for touring, site specific and showcase pieces for The Circus Space.
MISHI BEKESI Production Manager
Mishi L. Bekesi (Sound Designer; Sound Engineer; Lighting Technician & Dj, a.k.a. Deeperred) works extensively on the International and London theatre, music, fashion and club scene. His work includes several projects with Steve Frost, Boothby Graffoe (comedy); Antonio Forcione (music); Linda Marlowe; Susanna York; Blue Man Group; Reduced Shakespeare Company; Told by an Idiot; Rannel Theatre Company; Makin Projects ED-FEST; Prince O'Neil Prod.; Fresco Theatre; Peter Richweisz (photography).
FLAVIA FRASER-CANNON General Manager
MIND THE GAP THEATRE www.mindthegaptheatre.com