about Death of England: The Plays

Paapa Essiedu

Delroy

Paapa Essiedu is an acclaimed British actor with a career spanning television, film, and theatre. The London born actor has garnered many award nominations including Emmy and BAFTA TV nominations for his breakout performance in Michaela Coel’s era defining show, I May Destroy You and The Lazarus Project.

Recent projects include the National Theatre production of The Effect, written by Lucy Prebble and directed by Jamie Lloyd, which transferred to The Shed, New York. Paapa also starred in season 6 of the cult anthology series, Black Mirror, Demon 79, Season 1 & 2 of Sky thriller, The Lazarus Project, and Working Title/Universal Christmas movie The Genie, directed by Sam Boyd and written by Richard Curtis.

Next up Paapa will star opposite Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun, directed by Nora Fingscheidt and based on Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir. The film has screened at this year’s Sundance and Berlinale and will open the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Paapa is currently filming The Scurry, a comedy horror directed Craig Roberts and written by Tim Telling.

Further screen credits include: The Capture (BBC1), Alex Garland’s Men (A24), Gangs Of London (HBO/Sky Atlantic), Anne Boleyn (Channel 5), Unsaid Stories (ITV), Press (Masterpiece/BBC One), Black Earth Rising (BBC Two), Kiri (Channel 4), The Miniaturist (BBC), short film Femme, which was nominated in the Best British Short category in the 2022 BAFTAs and won the BIFA Award for Best Short Film.

Further theatre credits include: A Number (Old Vic Theatre, directed by Lynsey Posner), Simon Godwin’s lauded production Hamlet at the RSC, The Merry Wives Of Windsor (RSC, directed by Philip Breen), King Lear (National Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes), Pass Over (Kiln Theatre, directed by Indhu Rubasingham).

Thomas Coombes

Michael

Theatre includes:  A Kind of People (Royal Court), Blue Orange (Birmingham Rep), King Lear (Royal Exchange), Misfits (Queens Theatre), The Merchant Of Venice (The Globe), Barbarians for which Thomas won the Best Male Performance at the 2013 Offies – Off West End Theatre Awards (Tooting Arts Club), The Father (Trafalgar Studios), Single Spies (The Rose Theatre Kingston), Plastic (Old Red Lion), Finding Alice (Lyric Hammersmith/Tricycle), Shooting Clouds (Union Theatre), The Winslow Boy (Palace Theatre Westcliff).

Television includes: Baby Reindeer, The Acolyte (Star Wars), Miss Austen, Moonflower Murders, Slow Horses, Rain Dogs, Save Me, Save Me Too, Small Axe, Grace, Eastenders, Whitehouse Farm, London Kills, Endeavour, Hatton Garden, Knightfall, Prime Suspect 1973, Silent Witness, Cuffs, Jekyll and Hyde, The Scandalous Lady W, Wallander, Count Arthur Strong, Man Down, Atlantis, Suspects, The Honourable Woman, Him & Her: The Wedding, Life Of Crime, The Genius Of Turner.

Film includes: Luther: The Fallen Sun, Boiling Point, Living, Cottontail, Summerland.

Erin Doherty

Carly

Erin Doherty is one of the most talented and respected actors of her generation, playing leading roles across film, television and theatre.

Doherty most recently played the lead in upcoming Disney Plus series A Thousand Blows. In 2022 Erin appeared at the National Theatre leading the cast of The Crucible as Abigail Williams. Erin played the lead in BBC One/Amazon Prime thriller series Chloe, which garnered five star reviews and critical acclaim for Erin. Erin will next be seen in new feature film Firebrand, opposite Jude Law, and in feature film Reawakening opposite Juliet Stevenson, both of which will have a theatrical release this year.

Erin attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, playing a range of leading roles during her three years of training. During this time, Doherty was selected to take part in the professional production of Pink Mist at the Bristol Old Vic, and was the winner of The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2015.

Her debut performance upon graduation in 2015 was as Laura in Ellen McDougall’s The Glass Menagerie, after which Doherty was cast as Tamsin in Katherine Soper’s debut play Wish List (2016) at Manchester’s Royal Exchange and London’s Royal Court Theatre. Her performance was recognised by the Manchester Theatre Awards, naming Doherty as Best Actress in a Studio Production 2017.

In 2017 appeared as Fiz in BAFTA Award-winning writer Jack Thorne’s Junkyard, which earned her rave reviews: “Doherty is the star here, and by rights will soon be a star full-stop” WhatsOnStage. Later that same year, she took on the leading role in Aykbourn’s The Divide at the Edinburgh International Festival, remounting it early in 2018 at London’s Old Vic Theatre. The Telegraph noted her “luminous central performance”.

Also in 2017, Doherty received high critical acclaim in The Young Vic’s production of the one woman show My Name Is Rachel Corrie. The Guardian applauded her stunning performance, marking her out as “one of the year’s great discoveries”.

Doherty closed 2017 with a run at London’s Old Vic Theatre, playing the leading role of Belle opposite Rhy Ifans’ Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’ production of A Christmas Carol. In 2019 Doherty was once again on stage in Wolfie at Theatre 503.Doherty’s inaugural television role was as a guest star in the BBC’s Call The Midwife in 2016, followed by the BBC adaptation of Les Miserables in 2018 before landing the role of Princess Anne in Net­flix’s world-wide hit series The Crown.

Erin is best known for her break out performance as Princess Anne in Netflix’s The Crown. Erin was a 2018 Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a 2018 Evening Standard Rising Star. In 2020, Erin was honoured at the Newport Beach Film Festival as a ‘Breakout Honouree’ following her role of Princess Anne.

Sharon Duncan-Brewster

Denise

Sharon Duncan-Brewster’s outstanding skills as an actress are reflected in the diverse range of theater, television and film credits she has acquired over the years. Most recently, she was seen in the blockbuster film Dune for Warner Bros, playing the role of Dr Liet Kynes, Enola Holmes on Netflix and as Tula Quik in Sky’s drama Intergalactic.

Theatre includes: Victory Condition (Royal Court Theatre), Meet Me At Dawn (Traverse Theatre), The Almighty Sometimes (Manchester Royal Exchange), Swallow (Traverse Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Liverpool Everyman) and The Not Black and White Season (Tricycle Theatre).

Television includes: Sex Education (Netflix), Years & Years (BBC), The Long Song (BBC), Top Boy (Channel 4), The Bible (History Channel), Cucumber (Channel 4), The Mimic (Channel 4), Bad Girls (ITV), Doctor Who (BBC) and Eastenders (BBC).

Film includes: The Intent 2: The Come Up, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney/Lucas films) and Three and Out (Rovinge).

Ashley D. Gayle

Understudy Delroy

Ashley trained at Guildford School of Acting.

Theatre Credits include: Bear in Bear Snores On (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Conor in Exhibitionists (Elphin Productions & James Seabright); Marley’s Ghost/ Fezziwig/ Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol (Theatre Royal Windsor); Caliban/Antonio in The Tempest (Regents Park Open Air Theatre; The Unicorn Theatre); Actor 3 in On The Ropes (Park Theatre); Smith The Weaver in Henry VI: Rebellion (RSC); Edward IV in Henry VI: Wars Of The Roses (RSC); Edward IV in Richard III (RSC); Laertes in Hamlet (Theatre Royal Windsor); The Cherry Orchard (Theatre Royal Windsor); Rufus/Leo/Lout/Young Man in The Lady in the Van (Theatre Royal Windsor); Sam in Holes (UK Tour); George in Stop Kiss (Above the Stag Theatre); Mandras in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (UK Tour and West End); Shakespeare in Love (UK Tour); The Duchess of Malfi (RSC); The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich (RSC); Othello (The Globe Theatre); Jay Johnson in The Realness (Hackney Downs Studio); Mike in Ring of Fire (Courtyard Theatre)

Television & Film credits include: Marcellus in Hamlet (Feature Film, BKL Productions); Cedric Dunn in Turning Point (Short, Sweet Patootee); Jacob Hunter in I Love You (short, Watch Out Entertainment); Masked Leader in Nobody Can (Lady Lykez Music Video); Chris in Noose (short, Central Film School); School Boy in The Whistle Blowers (Television, Carnival Films);

Ashley has also featured in TV commercials for Trust Two, Reed.com, McDonald’s and Mercedes-Benz.

Cary Crankson

Understudy Michael

Cary Crankson, a London-born actor, has built an extensive career across film, television, and theatre. He earned the ‘Best Lead Performance in a Play’ award at the 2020 OFFIES (Off West End Awards) for his portrayal of Jamie in Simon Stephen’s Country Music at the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham. Cary also previously understudied the role of Michael in Death of England at the National Theatre.

In addition, his notable stage credits include Chris Keller in All My Sons at Nottingham Playhouse Theatre, Tony in Abigail’s Party at Leicester Curve, Mugsy in Dealers Choice at Royal and Derngate, Kenny in The Saints at Nuffield Theatre, Ted in Wasted at The Roundhouse, Iago in Othello at The Rose, Alex in Seawall at Salisbury Playhouse, Jonathan in Flight Path at The Bush, and Dario in Silverland at Arcola Theatre/ 59E59 New York.

Cary’s screen work includes roles such as Mr. Barrowclough in Scrapper (BBC Films), Alan in Silent Night (Break ‘Em Films), Adult Angus in The Peripheral (Amazon Prime), Gary Lewis in Doctors (BBC), Richard Vincent and James Maguire in The Bill (Talkback Thames), and Trevor Jackman in Doctors (BBC1).

Kate Donnachie

Understudy Carly

Kate is an actor, singer and beatboxer from South London. She graduated from Italia Conti as a Carlton Hobbs Bursary Award runner up and Alan Bates Award finalist.

In 2023 she originated the role of Robyn in Pied Piper: A Hip Hop Family Musical (Battersea Arts Centre // BAC Beatbox Academy // rODIUM) and Desree in the UK tour of Michael Rosen’s Unexpected Twist, directed by James Dacre (Royal & Derngate Northampton). She then joined the ensemble for The Globe’s Christmas production of Hansel & Gretel.

This year Kate co-wrote and played Juliet in Polka Theatre and Beats & Elements’ co-production of Romeo & Juliet, for which she has been nominated for TYA Best Performance in the Off West-End Awards among further nominations for the show.  She went on to tour with Pied Piper: A Hip Hop Family Musical including a run at London’s Southbank Centre. Further credits include Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster (BAC Beatbox Academy & Battersea Arts Centre, UK Tour), Crongton Knights (Pilot Theatre), Arthur/Merlin (Iris Theatre), 3 Years, 1 Week and a Lemon Drizzle (Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly) and Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith) for which she won Best Supporting Artist at The UK Pantomime Awards 2022.

Kate has been part of the BAC Beatbox Academy since 2014 training, facilitating at the Academy to some of London’s top Drama Schools and performing across the country.

Paulette P. Williams

Understudy Denise

Paulette trained at The Arts Educational Schools and has built an extensive career across film, theatre and television both in the UK and the USA.

Theatrical credits include: Lilian Bader in Unsung Collective (tour); Rachel: Blend.Share.Mix.’(Theatre 503); Fanny Chew You Like Ice (Ohio Theatre NY) Pauline In-between the Sheets (Theatre 54, NY) Carrie A Left at Happily Ever After (MTC, NY).

Notable film and TV credits include: Jacquie Richards in Where the Heart Is (Yorkshire/United TV); Amanda Kennet in The Cops (BBC); Mary Magdalene in The Testament (Roarlight); Ms Morningstar in Supah Ninjas (Nickelodeon); Detective Belushi in Franklin & Bash (TNT); Talulah in The Leading Man (ALM Films); Susan Alogosa in The Testing Point (Academy Films); Jo Weber in Holby City (BBC); Charlie in Ella and The Mother’s (BBC).

Paulette has also appeared in numerous short films including the role of Cassie King in C.A.T.s (Stay Tuned Tv); Gemma in Waiting for Nana (MPP); Josephine (mum) in Violin Boy (Delphine Films); Juliette in The Three of Us (MMG Films); Eve Hamilton in Mother’s Cure (SW Productions).

Featured roles in television commercials and voice over productions for Apple Music; EE; Avanti Trains; Buick, American Airlines and GT ‘Alive’, among others.