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Cast Biographies

Ida Persson

La Bête is Ida's second production with ElevenOne Theatre, having previously appeared as Louise (the maid) in Private Lives in April 2009. She now inherits this part from herself, appearing as Dorinne... the maid. In Oxford Ida has worked on and off stage in shows for BMH and the Oxford Theatre Guild, including Wit, A Christmas Carol, Henry V, and the OTG Revue.

Joseph Kenneway – Du Parc

Joseph first appeared on stage in Oxford in 1981, and missed an entrance for the first time three days later. He has kept prompts gainfully employed in the near thirty years between then and now in a wide range of parts – classical, modern, and now middle-aged.

Nathan Grassi – Bejart

Nathan trained in physical theatre at Total Theatre, performing in their acclaimed Canterbury Tales, Travels of Marco Polo, Lost Empires, and various cabarets. Performances in Oxford, Stratford and Udine include Merchant of Venice and Macbeth (BMH); Wit and Henry V (OTG), The Tempest and Gaslight (Tomahawk). These performances dedicated to Humpy.

Bill Moulford – Valere

This is Bill's first foray onto the stage since a Welsh Dogberry in Cakes and Ale's 2007 Much Ado About Nothing. In the interim he has been enjoying family life, vaguely working, writing music and musing on the great imponderables of life. That got kind of old, so he gratefully headed back into the fray for La Bête.

Cate Field – Catherine de Brie

Since moving out of her student niche as 'elderly woman expiring violently on stage', Cate has broadened her horizons to play Portia in The Merchant of Venice (BMH, 2008) and a variety of woodland folk in Wind In The Willows (BMH, 2008). She also stage-managed ElevenOne Theatre's Private Lives in 2009.

Phillip Cotterill – Elomire

Philip trained at LAMDA and greatly enjoyed (some of them in gainful employment) six years as a professional actor. Realising however that he had no money whatsoever, he decided to take a career break which coincided nicely with getting married and starting a family. He lives in Long Hanborough with his wife Joanna, a writer, and Jemima, daughter and noise-maker. Phillip is delighted to finally be in one of Helen's shows.

Tim Younger – de Brie

Tim's last year in theatre has been filled
With num'rous parts for Oxford Theatre Guild
He's toured with Cakes and Ale, but next will play
In The Producers to be seen in May.

Gaëlle Stark-Ordish – Madeleine

Gaëlle studied acting at ALRA in London and currently works as a drama teacher at a private secondary school. She has appeared in both professional and amateur shows. Recent performances include Anna in Closer at the Edinburgh Fringe, Miranda in The Tempest and Chorus in Henry V for the Oxford Theatre Guild.

Judith Fantozzi – Marquise-Therese du Parc

Judith has been acting since the year dot! She trained in various places, including New York and The Michael Chekhov Studio London. Recent roles include Betty Dullfeet in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui for Oxford Dance Theatre, multi roles in Testament to a Trade (OTG's touring production), Bertha in Hedda Gabler for Tomahawk and Mistress Quickly in Henry V for OTG. Film credits include Mrs. Knock in Beyond Narnia for BBC.

Colin Burnie – Prince Conti

Colin Burnie trained at the New College of Speech and Drama in Hampstead. His past performances at the OFS include Andrew Wyke in Sleuth, Gloucester in King Lear, Prospero in The Tempest, Neils Bohr in Copenhagen, Dr Prentice in What the Butler Saw, and “Sir” in The Dresser. In the last year he has played Gonzalo in The Tempest, Lear in King Lear, Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors, and Boyet in Love’s Labour’s Lost. In March he will be appearing as Justice Shallow in Henry IV again at the OFS.