The production team behind the Sheffield University Theatre Company (SUTCo) Week 10 show Margaret Beaufort: Kingmaker have unveiled their cast. Following last week’s audition period, the show have announced who will be taking to the stage in the final weeks of the semester, to bring this brand new show to life. Both of SUTCo’s other productions, Your Heart’s Too Open, Close It and The Importance of Being Earnest have also been cast, but these have not yet been announced.
In a post on the group’s social media account yesterday morning announcing the new cast, SUTCo congratulated the actors, as rehearsals are set to begin. Written by Andrew Hurrell (The Ancillary, Lights Over Tesco Car Park) and Co-Directed by Hurrell and Abbie Wright (Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It, Why We Stay), the show is a historical drama following mother of Henry VII, Margaret Beaufort, and her attempts to secure her son’s future as monarch in the waning days of the War of the Roses.
Tilly Harradine returns to the SUTCo stage following her run as Rosalind in Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It earlier this year, playing the titular Margaret Beaufort. It will also mark her return to the University of Sheffield Drama Studio stage, having last performed at the venue exactly one year prior to her new role, as the titular Medea in last year’s Week 10 show. She will be joined by Imogen Kerr (SUTCo debut) as Lord Thomas Stanley, Jamie Egan (SUTCo debut) as Richard III, James Platt (Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It, Why We Stay) as Buckingham and Ella Hulford (Swap the Press, Wuthering Heights) as Queen Elizabeth.
Other returning faces to the SUTCo stage include Max Preston (5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, SPIT) as Henry Tudor/Earl Rivers, Iris Read (Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It, Medea) as Princess Elizabeth, Becky Guess (Why We Stay, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche) as Edward V/Grey/Caerleon, and Kirsty Lucas (Your Heart’s Too Open, Close It, Why We Stay) as Shrewsbury/Shaa. As well as those previously mentioned, the cast is complete with an additional five cast members making their SUTCo debuts, including David Osamudiamen as Hastings/Jasper, Roberto Rowinski as Reginald Bray, Ava Hall as Anne Neville, Elliot Tyndale-Biscoe as Edward IV/Brackenbury, and Izzi Hanson-Abbott as Katherine/Bannaster.
With nine weeks to wait until the cast take to the stage, preparations are already underway for SUTCo’s newest original historic drama. With tech calls for the show likely to open in the coming weeks, there are many opportunities remaining to become involved with Margaret Beaufort: Kingmaker, or other SUTCo productions as the semester progresses, and join the team already announced for the last SUTCo show of 2024.
Margaret Beaufort: Kingmaker is playing at the University of Sheffield Drama Studio from December 4th until December 7th
