YOUR HOSTS:
Camille Burnett and Emmeline Hartley from Nexus
with
Tim Bryn-Smith from The Actors Workshop Nottingham
LINE-UP:
Nathan Obokoh
Performing a monologue from ‘The Two Towers’ by J R R Tolkien
Nathan is very excited to take part in Actor Jam. He has been involved with Curve Theatre Leicester’s Community Company and has taken part in the ‘Finding Home’ series of plays in 2022 playing Joshua – a soldier and spoken word artist. He has been cast in a number of open air city centre performances between 2012 and 2017 in Leicester. Nathan is also a filmmaker and has a series of short films such as ‘Speaking of Homelessness’ (2022) and the children’s YouTube series’- The Knights who say Ho (2016). He currently combines his dramatic skills with his own live light sculpture storytelling: “LightBreath” which has been performed in London, Leicester, St Helens, Derby and Zurich.
Emma Graveling
Performing ‘Cosseter’ by Emma Graveling
Emma hails from London where she previously worked in design for Film and TV before deciding to pursue her lifelong passion for acting in 2022. She will graduate from the masters in acting programme at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in January 2024. This year she has enjoyed roles such as Anne Brontë in ‘Brontë’ by Polly Teale and Hermione in Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’ as well as performing in her first self-written and directed solo show ‘Sandcastle’.
Marilyn Ann Bird
Performing ‘HR’d Day’s Night’ by Lloydie James Lloyd
Marilyn is a graduate of Birmingham School of Acting. She is currently appearing in an online ad for AGCO and is the voice of the Mouth Cancer Foundation. Recently she has been specialising in immersive and interactive performance. She is an award-nominated improviser, who co-runs MissImp, Nottingham’s premier improv company. She excels at character comedy and accent work. She also has a degree in French and German and wants to work with Aardman and the RSC.
Ken Ogborn
Performing a monologue from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare
Ken is a professional Actor for stage, screen, voice-over and live events working throughout the UK. At 43, he’s found the courage to follow his dreams as a performing artist – because for an artist, working for The Man is never good enough. On the stage tonight, he’s living that dream. So thanks for coming to support! Romeo and Juliet is a long-time favourite and the Friar – inhabiting the space between compassion and manipulation – is one of the most intriguing characters. Ken will be IN Romeo and Juliet in February 2024, touring Nottinghamshire with Nottingham Shakespeare Company – Please go and watch!
Benjamin Grace
Performing ‘Mean’ by Benjamin Grace
Benjamin Grace is a Midlands based actor, born and bred in Derby. He most recently played the role of Timmy Lawler in the upcoming feature film ‘Surrender To It’. He returned to acting in his late 20’s and fell deeply in love with the craft. He sees acting as an exploration of the human experience and loves nothing more than to delve into character and discover who they are, why they make the choices they do and how best to tell their story. After all, what is more human than telling stories? He feels very grateful to be a part of this competition.
Chris Campbell
Performing a monologue from “Beginnings” by Rawson Thurber
Chris Campbell, a Nottingham native, is very excited to make his acting debut in short film ‘1000 dates with 1000 girls’ and performing in the Nexus Monologue Jam! When he’s not acting, Chris enjoys going to the theatre and eating mince pies!
Rosie Frost
Performing ‘Verbal Diarrhoea’ by Rosie Frost
Rosie Frost is based in Nottingham and has been acting for the past couple of years. She used to perform when she was a child, but her passion for acting came back when she watched the ‘This Is England’ series that came out in 2010. She would love to work with Shane Meadows in the future.
Oliver Barnett
Performing a monologue from ‘Red’ by John Logan
Oliver is an actor from Oxford, he also teaches original practice Shakespeare. He is excited to begin his next job working Edinburgh for ‘The Polar Express’
Hannah Paybarah
Performing a monologue from ‘The Match Girl’ by Amber Hsu
Hannah is a British Iranian creative with a BMus(Hons) Degree, and over 15 years of professional industry experience. As an actor, Hannah’s career has ranged from immersive performances to contemporary short films, international tours, improvisational comedy, commercials, and forum theatre, to name but a few. She is an advocate for using the arts to empower young people, and has worked with several organisations to facilitate much-needed conversations with them, in which participants feel safe to share and explore their views. In her spare time, Hannah can be found writing poetry, watching stand-up comedy, eating a variety of cheese, and enjoying copious amounts of cuddles with her beautiful four-legged-boy, Cocker Spaniel, Casper.
Darren Paul Taylor
Performing a monologue from ‘You Wouldn’t Believe Ralphy’ by Joseph Arnone
Darren is a Nottingham based actor, who has been training at The Actors Workshop Nottingham since February 2022. It has been a busy year for Darren, as he has been cast in a number of short films and two feature films. He also appeared on stage at Derby Theatre in Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Confusions’ in June, and he will be starring in Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ as Leonard Vole, which is being performed in a real courtroom at the National Justice Museum in March 2024.
Emma Hodgkinson and Poppy Abbott
An extract from Untamed Productions’ ‘Blackout’ by Poppy Abbott
The show was developed by Poppy and Emma and performed at The Old Joint Stock & The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham and Theatre503 in London.
Tilly and JJ have different approaches to dealing with turning 30 and finding themselves single. The play explores how the girls cope with dating as Millenials, the realities and pressures of starting a family later in life, and their exquisite ability to both get completely blackout drunk.
Emma Buesnel
Performing a monologue from ‘Eight’ by Ella Hickson
Emma is from Nottingham and trains at The Television Workshop, where she’s met some amazing people. She is currently working as a waitress, trying to save money, but that is easier said than done!
Glenda Plum
Performing a monologue from Apple TV series ‘Physical’ by Annie Weisman
Glenda Plum, born in Sicily next to an active volcano, moved to Northern Italy in her 20s to pursue studies in performing arts and storytelling. Embracing the life of a penniless bohemian, she started working in small theatres and ambitious film projects. She relocated to the UK for love—the love of her sister. By day, she found herself working in a big corporate, while at night, she continued to cultivate her acting skills. Her journey led her to the stage of the Lace Market Theatre and, later, to the Acting Workshop—her home for the last two years and the place where acting became her healthiest habit to date.
Pedro Rovina
Performing ‘Shampoo’ by Pedro Rovina
Pedro Porto Rovina was born in the South-East of Brazil in 2000. Since his childhood, he has been fascinated by the art of storytelling and creating new worlds and characters. He moved to Nottingham in 2019. Since then, Pedro has joined The Actors Workshop, has done a Film and TV Production course at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies and has been part of the Young Producers group at City Arts.
James Tandy
Performing ‘Book-et List’ by James Tandy
James is a Birmingham based/trained actor. He recently wrapped on his first feature film, as well as just having a short film play at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. He is currently shooting another short in the North of England called “The Bridge”, and is in the midst of writing his own stage play!
Katie Davie
Performing ‘Moments in the Woods’, a musical number from ‘Into the Woods’ by Stephen Sondheim
Katie Davie is a recent Musical Theatre graduate of The Brighton Academy and is represented by Network Artist Management. She has recently starred in a horror/comedy short film called Itself, playing the role of Harriet.
DDHunter
Performing a monologue from ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ by Tony Gilroy
DDHunter is a completely raw talent, but is eager to learn and willing to listen and is ready to take on the British film and television industry. He has an eye focused one day working with the likes of Idris Elba or Daniel Kaluuya. He wants to work on Blumhouse/ A24 type projects, but is willing to work in all genres. He Would be prepared to embody characters regardless of orientation or background, and will not shy away from challenging roles.
Jamie Goodliffe
Performing a monologue from ‘How to Disappear Completely and Never be Found’ by Fin Kennedy
Jamie started acting when he came to Nottingham in 2016. He likes to play anything with over-the-top characterisation, with particular interests in comedy, physicality, and mental health. He frequently performs locally with The Lace Market Theatre.
Chloe Potter
Performing a monologue from ‘There are No Beginnings’ by Charley Miles
Chloe is a Birmingham based actor, originally from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Before moving to Birmingham in 2021, she attended David Johnson Drama. She is currently filming her first feature-length film ‘The Descent of Sanity’ and she has recently wrapped on a short film ‘Belonging’ which she shot back up North.
Natasha Brown
Performing a monologue from ‘Phone Calls’ by Joseph Arnone
Natasha has performed in theatre productions at the Curve theatre in and The Little Theatre in Leicester. Her passions include Rottweilers, sunshine and wine!
Actor Jam Judges
Tom O’Brien
Tom is an award winning Director, Dramaturg, Acting & Performance Coach and Teacher, with 20 years of experience working professionally in the entertainment industry.
Tom trained at Arts Ed London, National Theatre Studio and with Living Pictures.
Tom’s production of FABRIC by Abi Zakarian won the Scotsman Fringe First Award in 2016, and production of Foiled was Pick of The Fringe by the Stage.
Tom has worked as an Associate Director for Cameron Mackintosh in the West End and Internationally and at some of the UK’s most prestigious theatres.
His 2013 production of Philip Ridley’s THE FASTEST CLOCK IN THE UNIVERSE was recorded for the V & A Video Archive of Performance. Tom founded and was Artistic Director for TREMErs Theatre (2011 – 2016) and was acting Artistic Director for The Company Music Theatre (2013-14).
Tom received top praise reviews for directing the UK Premier of off-Broadway hit Afterglow at Southwark Playhouse in 2019.
His production of Our Friends The Enemy after a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe, UK Tour & European Tour transferred to Theatre Row in NYC in 2015
Tom has directed and is a Visiting Lecturer at some of the top performing arts institutions in the UK including Arts Ed, Mountview, Urdang, Italia Conti and the National Film and Television School.
Tom is also an Acting Coach and works with clients based in New York, LA and Sydney. They can be seen in shows on Netflix, Hulu, HBO max, Amazon Prime, ITV and the BBC.
Keana-Marie Senior
Keana-Marie Senior started working at talent agency Victoria Lepper Associates 7 years ago and works with an exclusive list of award-winning actors and creatives who work across film, television and theatre. Over the years of working as a Talent Agent, Keana-Marie and the team at VLA have built established contacts in the UK as well as internationally with casting directors, studios, commissioners, production companies, producers, directors, managers and publishing houses. Keana-Marie is also part of the PMA Racial Diversity Group.
Hannah Stone
Hannah (she/her) is an experienced theatre maker and director. Credits as director include: Pinocchio for Nottingham Playhouse and Mercury Theatre (2019/22), Aidy the Awesome for The Gramophones Theatre Company, National Tour, commissioned by Curve Leicester (2022), Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Anna Wheatley for Nottingham Playhouse (2022)
Hannah received praise for directing the UK premiere of SHEWOLVES by Sarah Middleton at Edinburgh Fringe (2022), a National tour and run at Southwark Playhouse (2023). The show has been nominated for two Off West End awards and made the list of The Stage’s best shows of the Edinburgh Fringe 2022. “Sparky and Delightful” (The Stage). Hannah and Sarah are currently adapting SHEWOLVES for screen.
Hannah is directing Darkslide by Sarah Middleton and The King Stone by Charlotte East which are currently in development. Hannah is an Associate Artist at Nottingham Playhouse.
Credits as assistant: Beauty and the Beast at Nottingham Playhouse (2021) 71 Coltman Street at Hull Truck (2022), Brassed Off at Derby Theatre (2023).
Co-working sessions run every other Monday morning on Zoom – 10am-1pm.
