Don't Misunderstand Me at The English Theatre of Hamburg

Jan Hirst

Jan trained at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Theatre credits include Miriam in SNAKE IN THE GRASS, Judy in FUNNY BUSINESS, Berthe in BOEING BOEING, Edna Chapman in NO DINNER FOR SINNERS, Jane in ANYONE FOR BREAKFAST, Sheila in RELATIVELY SPEAKING, Margery in DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME, Mary in CAUGHT IN THE NET, Sister Aloysius in DOUBT (All for The English Theatre of Hamburg); Mother in THE UNLOST (The Arcola); Isabella in THE SPANISH TRAGEDY (Rose Theatre); Mrs. Adams in BE MY BABY (Union Theatre); Miss Clemson in LITTLE BOY (Cuc, Liverpool); Valentina in STARS IN THE MORNING SKY (Riverside Studios); The Minister in ONE NINETEEN (The Arcola); Susan in ABIGAIL’S PARTY, Ruth in ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN (Wolverhampton Grand) Ghost of Christmas Present in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Wimbledon Theatre/Gala Theatre, Durham); TV and Film work include Maria in INDULGENCE, Traveller in MURDER MAPS; Old Woman in THE FOG; WPC Jenny Liddell, THE SUN POLICE FEDERATION AWARDS; Marion in THE COST OF LOVE, Dorothy in TOTAL REACTION (Indie Award of Excellence); Eileen in ACCIDENTAL HEROES (BBC1); Sarah in MY DARLING WIFE (Straight Curve Production) BAFTA Nominated 2008; Janet in THREE MINUTE MOMENTS (All Enquiries Productions); Lady Cromwell in SECRETS OF THE DEAD (Channel 4). Various commercials include most recently featuring for BAYER, BRITISH TELECOM and O2. Jan is absolutely delighted to be returning once again to The English Theatre and Hamburg both of which hold a special place in her heart.

James Walmsley

James trained at East 15 Acting School in London. His association with The English Theatre of Hamburg goes back to 1995 and DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME will be his seventeenth production here. Previously he played PC Hawkins in CORPSE! Dick Taylor in MR FOTHERGILLS MUDER, Bob in BIRTHDAY SUITE, Greg in SYLVIA, George Butler in ALONE TOGETHER, John Smith in CAUGHT IN THE NET, Charles Fleminge in DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME (2010), Piers Boston in FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, Brian in TOUCH AND GO, Philip in RELATIVELY SPEAKING, Roger in ANYONE FOR BREAKFAST? Bill McGregor in NO DINNER FOR SINNERS, Walter in DON’T LOSE THE PLACE, Bernard in BOEING BOEING, and Jeremy Troy in HERE LIES JEREMY TROY. Recent theatre work includes playing Monsieur Pere in THE UNNATURAL TRAGEDY at The White Bear Theatre in London and Rubin in THE MENTOR in London’s West End. Recent feature film credits include SURGE (BBC Films) and SILVER HAZE (EMU Films). Recent television credits include EAST ENDERS (BBC) and THE NEVERS (HBO). James has been looking forward to seeing the beautiful city of Hamburg in full bloom during the spring/summer season.

Stephen Chance

Stephen trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. He has appeared in many theatre productions, most recently as as Adolf Hitler in BIG BROTHER BLITZKRIEG at the King’s Head Theatre, London, as Sherlock Holmes in SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE INVISIBLE THING at the Steiner Theatre, London, and as Inspector Goole in AN INSPECTOR CALLS in a tour of the UAE. Television appearances include THE BILL (ITV), GENIE IN THE HOUSE (Nickelodeon), CASTLES IN THE SKY (BBC), THE CROWN (Netflix), GENIUS: EINSTEIN (National Geographic) and as Abraham Lincoln in THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY (History Channel). Feature films include KILL KEITH (Metrodome), THE SHADOW WITHIN (Intandem Films), ALTAR - DAS PORTAL ZUR HÖLLE (Great Point Media), GALLIPOLI: END OF THE ROAD (Warner Bros.), COBRA SPY (Velocity Films) and ME BEFORE YOU (MGM). As a voice artist, Stephen plays Dr Horatio Sands in THE OTHERWORLD virtual reality system, and narrates the web series DECONSTRUCTING FUNNY.

Holly Smith

Holly trained at The Guilford School of Acting, where she was recipient of the Michael Redgrave citation award. Her theatre credits include: Paquita in BEAUTY OF THE FATHER (English Theatre of Hamburg), Cecily Pigeon in THE ODD COUPLE (Vienna’s English Theatre), Gabriella in BOEING BOEING (English Theatre of Hamburg), Laura in I’ll BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT (English Theatre of Hamburg), Miss Margarida (one woman show) in MISS MARGARIDA’S WAY (Leicester Square Theatre West End), Mum in NATIONAL MOURNING (Theatre503), Nurse/registrar & understudy Joy in SHADOWLANDS (No 1 Uk tour), Patricia and Maudie in FLARE PATH (No 1 UK tour), Candida in CANDIDA (The English Theatre of Hamburg), Daisy Cutts in THE HOTHOUSE (The Trafalgar Theatre/ ATG West End), Gail in TEECHERS (Harrogate Theatre, Haymarket Theatre and Globe Theatre Warsaw), Elvira in BLITHE SPIRIT (No 1 UK tour), Jane Worthington in OUT OF ORDER (No 1 UK tour), Madeline Neroni in THE BARCHESTER CHRONICLES (Chichester Festival Theatre), Elaine in PLAZA SUITE (Marlborough Theatre), Miss Hannigan in ANNIE (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford) and Julie in WELCOME BACK (UK Tour). Television credits include: KILLING EVE 2 (Sid Gentle Films ltd), ZAPPED (babycowproductions), WATSON & OLIVER (BBC), COMING OF AGE (BBC) and THE FRAME (ITV). Film credits include: GHOST STORIES (Ghost Stories Ltd) CLOSER (Columbia Pictures) and APPEARANCES (Cavendish Fante Pictures).

Ola Forman

Ola is a Polish/British actress and voice artist based in London. Ola is a graduate of Drama Studio London (Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Acting) and UCL (Bachelor of Arts & Sciences, BASc), and has also trained with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and the National Film and Television School. Theatre credits include BAREFACE (Southwark Playhouse), ATTAGIRLS! (Southwold Theatre on the Coast), DISMISSAL OF THE GRECIAN ENVOYS (The Globe), COLOUR IS TOO SWEET (King’s Head), PAIN(T) (New Wimbledon Theatre) and WAITING FOR WATER (XR Edinburgh Summerhall). Ola represented Drama Studio at the Sam Wanamaker Festival at The Globe in 2018 and won the Chaplins People's Choice Award for Best Pantomime Dame 2019-20 tours. Whilst the last two years have allowed Ola to explore more screen work, voice acting, writing and producing, she is thrilled to be back on stage with The English Theatre of Hamburg. @olaforman Represented by Redshaw Management and Sue Terry Voices.

Clifford Dean