Creators
Elif Knight Director/Producer
Elif Knight is an award winning actress and director. Elif won the 2003 Evening Standard Theatre award in a joint award for emerging talent and was awarded it by Sir Richard Attenborough.
Her recent directing credits include Grounds For Concern at Croke Park Stadium as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival; an adaptation of HG Wells' The Crystal Egg at the Vaults in London; and Dreaming Of Chekhov at the Union Theatre.
Elif’s most recent TV credits as an actress include Gangs Of London (HBO /SkyAtlantic) and Aladdin, (Disney), Their War film and Jesus- His Life, TV show (History Channel). Elif continues to work on her craft with the prestigious Jack Waltzer from the Actor's studio who also made Elif his assistant to train actors in London and worldwide.
Andrew Crook Writer
Andrew Crook has written for and had his pieces performed at: The Canal Cafe Theatre; Union Theatre; Southwark Theatre and Chesil Theatre. He was one of the winners for the 10x10 2018 new writing festival for the Chesil Theatre and his play was staged at the Ink Festival in 2019. His pieces have also been shortlisted for Channel 4, BBC, Little Pieces of Gold, Blue Cat, Film London and Screen Writing Goldtime.
Rebekah Harvey Producer
Originally a stage and screen actress, Rebekah fully broke into her producing career after a successful tour of her original play Why Not Us?, funded by Arts Council England.
In 2018 she produced her West End debut, Lonely Planet at Trafalgar Studios as well as a multimedia adaptation of H.G Wells’ War of the Worlds, The Crystal Egg Live, at The Vaults Theatre. Over the last year Rebekah has been working with Iranian documentary and film makers at Manoto TV. Most recently, Aryamehr, a three part documentary series about the last Shah of Iran. She is currently in preproduction for two indie film projects to be filmed later this year.
Set Designer: Jason Kelvin
Jason has worked for over 25 years as an artist and designer in theatre, film and television, as
well as on large public installations. Most recent credits include ads for amazon and Cafepod
running on ITV, in addition to Public engagement projects with the Welcome and Princes
Trust. Alongside this, Jason is often asked to look at projects where productions have come
up against budget, practical and aesthetic stumbling blocks, and he thrives on the challenge of
enabling these to happen. Jason is currently working on a range of Independent Feature
Films, TV commercials, large art installations, and mobile public engagement projects.
Stage Manager: Tobias Millard
Tobias is delighted to join the Polite Conversation team at Lauderdale House. Recent
Theatre credits include: Holes (UK Tour); The Antipodes (National Theatre); and The Ocean
at the End of the Lane (National Theatre).Tobias also works as Associate Producer for
Waterperry Opera Festival, where he recently staged socially-distanced outdoor
performances of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, and Dove’s Ariel song cycle.
Training: Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Cast
Paul Westwood
Paul Westwood trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Recent theatre includes Blood Brothers (UK & Eire Tour 2020); Gaslight (UK Tour opposite Martin Shaw); Skin in the Game (Old Red Lion & UK Tour); David Bowie’s Lazarus (King's Cross Theatre); King Charles III (Almeida UK Tour/Sydney Theatre Co.); Dunsinane (RSC/National Theatre of Scotland World Tour); A Life Of Galileo (RSC/Theatre Royal Bath). Recent TV & Film includes McMafia (BBC); Us & Them (Netflix); Mortdecai (Lionsgate); & Da Vinci's Demons (BBC/Starz). Writing includes last year’s award-winning thriller, Skin in the Game (Old Red Lion & UK Tour); And The Winner Is...? & Citizen Recall: Mrs Helen Stridgen (Vault Festival 2017/2018). Future writing includes: The Living Dolls (Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh 2021) & 12, Hyde Park Square (Arcola, 2021). His agent is Helen Kelly at I.A.M.
Vincent Miller
Vincent trained at Arts Ed before meeting his long-time coach Jack Waltzer. Vincent Miller is the founder and former Artistic Director of the multi-award winning Red Stitch Actors Theatre based in Melbourne, Australia. He was awarded the prestigious Kenneth Myer medallion for contribution to the arts. As an actor, he has played a variety of roles from Howie Lee in Howie The Rookie, to Angel Cruz in Jesus Hopped the A Train. He also played Gino in the West End production of Oh, What a Night, Dir Kim Gavin.
Jessica Boyde
Jessica trained at Drama Studio. TV includes Emmerdale, Lucky Man (Sky), The Game (BBC), Holby City (BBC), and in France, Delphine in Le Bureau and Plus Belle La Vie, France’s hit soap. Film work includes Love in the Post and Arsène Lupin. Most recent theatre credits include the wife in The Fat Man’s Wife, by Tennessee Williams, (Pentameters, Hampstead) , Odette in Treating Odette about the WWII heroine Odette Hallowes, and multimedia collaborations The Crystal Egg Live at The Vaults, and The Twelfth Player (Seven Sisters Group) and Theatre Royal Northampton.
Danielle Scott
Danielle’s a regular at various London improv jams and honed her acting skills at The Actors Temple and MN Academy. Danielle Scott has appeared in theatre and film. Her credits include in the award nominated and critically acclaimed comedy A Slice of Eel Pie playing Detective Gold. Danielle has also featured in many short films, most recently Jupiter’s Plum due for release in late 2020.
