The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Astrid’s love of Shakespeare began at the age of seven after her primary school teacher told the class the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She dashed for the dressing-up box, snatched the fairy costume and started bossing her classmates. This inspired a lifelong love of Shakespeare and acting and, as a teacher of English and Drama, passing on this passion to generations of her students. The highlight of her career was taking her production of Henry V to Stratford to perform on the RSC stage after winning The Shakespeare Schools’ Festival in 2008.

Helen made her debut aged five, starring as a Tree, in layers of flammable green crepe paper. Peaking early, she transitioned into writing and directing aged eight, staging a cosmic epic inspired by Gustav Holst’s The Planets. Helen’s school years spanned the grim trials of The Crucible, the glittery demands of Prince Charming and a witty detour through Much Ado About Nothing. At university she reached a comedic zenith as Mrs. Drudge in The Real Inspector Hound. A founding member of Bassinaud Players, Helen has appeared in every production, usually being dragged kicking and screaming into the role of ingenue.

  Irene began performing at the age of four and, much to the delight (and occasional concern) of those around her, has hardly stopped since! She joined Fairford Amateur Dramatic Society in 1995, appearing as Sally Smith in Me and My Girl, Muriel Wicksteed in Habeas Corpus, and Fay Hubbard in A Chorus of Disapproval. She is a seasoned pantomime Principal Boy, though she did once play the Village Idiot! Beyond the stage, Irene has also appeared on television in Midsommer Murders and Casualty. Since joining Bassinaud Players she has performed as the wonderfully eccentric Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Tony made his stage debut at the age of seven, playing the beast in Beauty and the Beast. After many school performances he studied drama at college before joining Knutsford Little Theatre, acting in various plays and pantomimes. After moving to Sheffield, Tony joined South Yorkshire Opera working both backstage and as a chorus member at The Crucible Theatre. After moving to France he spent several years with Théâtre Tricolor in Charente Maritime before helping to found Bassinaud Players in 2022. Tony directed our first Shakespeare production and has acted in all of them, as well as 2024’s Blithe Spirit.

Cate made her stage debut as a shrub aged five and has never looked back. She went on to study drama at school and with various theatre troupes in her native Cardiff and was also a member of the National Youth Theatre of Wales. Cate has acted in and directed plays, soap opera and pantomime. Cate has been settled in France for over 30 years, though is new to the Charente region and to Bassinaud Players.

Jonathan discovered acting around the age of 12, firstly at school as King Rat in Dick Whittington and with a local drama group, both in pantomime and his first Shakespeare, Twelfth Night. However university, and thirty years of a career with unpredictable hours, left no time amateur theatre.

Since joining Bassinaud Players in 2022 Jonathan has performed as the spirit Puck in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and Frank Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, as well as the unforgettable Norman in Ayckbourn’s Round and Round the Garden and Dr Bradman in Blithe Spirit.