Cyphers Theatre Podcast

Laura studied philosophy at King's College London and is now an award-winning producer with experience spanning both the commercial and subsidised sectors. She currently runs her own company, Laura Elmes Productions, alongside working as Head of Programming for Troubadour Theatres. She was previously Production Coordinator for Runaway Entertainment from 2015-18, working on numerous West End productions including Girl From The North Country (Old Vic and Noel Coward), Tom Fletcher’s Christmasaurus Live (Hammersmith Apollo), Guys and Dolls starring Rebel Wilson (Phoenix, Savoy, UK tour and Tel Aviv), Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre) and The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre). She began her career working with Jamie Hendry Productions as Production Assistant on Impossible (Noel Coward) and Production Intern on Let It Be (Garrick).

Hannah studied English at King's College London before deciding not to finish her degree and to pursue a career as a theatre producer. She now produces, manages and develops theatre across the subsidized and commercial sector through her company Hannah Elsy Productions.

Cat studied Drama & Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths before training as a theatre director at Birkbeck, where she now teaches and sits on the interview panel. She is currently Deputy Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre and Associate Director of Ransack Theatre and Metamorph Theatre. Her work has been seen at venues including Live Theatre Newcastle, The King' Head, Vault Festival, Pleasance, Assembly, The Arts Theatre & The Park.

Katherine studied English at Cambridge before training as a playwright at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her first play, WISH LIST, won the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting,  The Stage Debut Award for Best New Play, and caused Katherine to be nominated as Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Awards. It was performed at the Manchester Royal Exchange & Royal Court, directed by Matthew Xia. Her latest play is THE SMALL HOURS, written for National Theatre Connections.

We talk to Akshay Sharan about the challenges that students wanting to pursue a career as an actor face and his own journey from university student to award winning actor.

Akshay studied English at King's College London before training with the National Youth Theatre and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was the recipient of the 2018 Stage Debut Award for 'Best Actor in a Play' for THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST at the Yard Theatre. His other credits include JACK ABSOLUTE FLIES AGAIN (National Theatre), THREE SISTERS (Almeida Theatre), GRANCHESTER (ITV).

We talk to James Phillips about the challenges that students wanting to pursue a career in professional theatre face, how he's trying to help through his work with the National Student Drama Festival and his own journey from university student to award winning playwright and theatre director.

James Phillips is a playwright, director and photographer.
After studying at St Catherine's College Oxford. His first play, The Rubenstein Kiss (which he also directed) won both the TMA Award for Best Play of the Year and the John Whiting Award. His play City Stories had a Residency at St James Theatre, London from 2014-17 and also transferred to 59East59 Theater in New York. His play McQueen: or Lee and Beauty, about Alexander McQueen, broke box office records at St James Theatre in London and then transferred to the West End. His recent play Camelot: The Shining City - which was produced with a cast of 150 - was named as one of the top 5 UK Theatre Shows of 2015 by The Guardian Newspaper.
He is currently Director of NSDF, Associate Artist of the Oxford Playhouse and an Associate of Wilton’s Music Hall.