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PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES

RICHARD EYRE (Director)

Richard Eyre’s feature films include The Ploughman’s Lunch, Iris and Notes on a Scandal. His films for the BBC include “,” “Country,” “Past Caring,” “The Insurance Man,” “,” “,” “King ” and “Henry IV Parts 1 and 2.” He was producer of “ for Today” from 1978 to 1980 and a Governor of the BBC from 1995 to 2003.

He was Director of the National from 1988 – 1997 where his productions included “,” “,” “The Beggar’s ,” “,” “Racing Demon” (also on Broadway), “Richard III” (also world tour), “Night of the Iguana,” “,” “” (also on Broadway), “Napoli Milionaria,” “,” “Amy’s View” (also on Broadway), “” and “The Invention of Love.”

Since then his work includes the musicals “” (also on Broadway), “Betty Blue Eyes,” “,” “” (also on Broadway), “The Crucible” (on Broadway), his own adaptations of “ and ” at the and later in the West End; and, at the National Theatre, “” (also on Broadway), “The Reporter,” “,” and “Liolà.”

He has directed “La Traviata” at Covent Garden, “Manon Lescaut” in Baden-Baden, and “,” “” and “Le Nozze di Figaro” at the in New York.

He has published four books, his most recent called “What Do I Know: People, Politics and the Arts.”

He has received many theatre, film and TV awards including six Olivier Awards, four Awards, three Critics Circle Awards, a Tony® Award and a BAFTA®. He was knighted in 1997 and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2011.

RONALD HARWOOD (Playwright)

Ronald Harwood’s many plays include “,” “Taking Sides,” “,” “Mahler’s Conversion,” “An English Tragedy” and “Collaboration.”

His films include The Dresser (Academy Award® Nomination for Best ), Taking Sides (XXIX Flaiano Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay), The Pianist (Palme d’Or, 2002 and 2003 BAFTA® for Best Film), , Oliver Twist and, most recently, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (winner of the 2008 BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, Academy Award Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and Humanitas Prize 2008, Writers’ Guild Award for Best Screenplay, Prix Jacques Prevert du Scenario 2008), and Love in the Time of Cholera. His latest film Quartet, released on January 1, 2013, is adapted from his play and is directed by .

Harwood’s awards for The Pianist include the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 2003, the National Society of Film Critics’ Award for Best Screenplay and the Founders’ Award from the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking. He was also nominated for a BAFTA (Best Adapted Screenplay) and a César (Best Screenplay).

He was made Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1974 and was Visitor in Theatre at Balliol College, in 1985. He was President of English PEN, 1989-1993, President of International PEN, 1993-97, and Chairman of the Royal Society of Literature. In 1996, he was appointed Chevalier de l’ordre National des Arts et des Lettres. In 1999, he was appointed a CBE. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by in 2002 and Aberdeen University in 2013. He is President of the Royal Literary Fund 2005-present. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Central School of Speech and Drama in 2006. He was knighted for Services to Drama in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday honours list. He received the National Jewish Theatre Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

COLIN CALLENDER (Executive Producer)

Colin Callender is a Tony® and Emmy® award-winning television, film and theater producer who founded the New York and -based production company Playground in 2012.

Callender began his career as stage manager at London’s working with and Sam Sheppard. He won his first Emmy® for the television adaptation of the RSC’s “Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.”

Under the Playground banner, Callender has executive produced over 50 hours of prime time television drama garnering 13 Emmy nominations and 11 Golden Globe® nominations and produced five Broadway plays, winning a Tony along the way.

Most recent productions include the critically acclaimed thriller “The Missing,” starring James Nesbitt and Francis O’Connor for the BBC and STARZ, and the miniseries “” for the BBC and Masterpiece starring , , and , which was nominated for three Golden Globes and eight Emmys including Outstanding Limited Series.

On the theater front, Callender’s first outing as a producer was the 2013 Tony® nominated Broadway production of ’s , directed by George C. Wolfe and starring making his New York stage debut. Other productions include ’s , directed by , Ken Branagh’s New York debut in by and , and ’s The River, starring . Currently running on Broadway is the Tony winning “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” for which Callender won a Tony for Best Musical Revival. Callender is also producing, alongside Productions and Theatrical Productions, “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child,” a new play by , based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and .

Prior to Playground, Callender was the long-running president of HBO Films, responsible for an array of award winning films and mini-series including Mike Nichol’s “Angels in America,” starring and , ’s “” and ’s Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or winner “Elephant.” Under Callender’s leadership, HBO Films garnered an unprecedented 104 Emmy® Awards, 29 Golden Globes, 9 Peabody Awards®, 12 Humanitas Awards, 3 Oscars®, and top awards at the four years in a row.

Callender is a Trustee of the New York Public Theater and the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He is the winner of the WGA 54th Evelyn F. Burkey Award for services to writers, the Humanitas Award and the Geffen Distinction in Theater Award.

In 2003, Callender was awarded the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty the Queen for services to the UK film and television industries in the US.

SONIA FREEMAN (Executive Producer)

Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) is a West End and Broadway production company responsible for some of the most successful theatre productions in London and New York over the past decade. Since 1990, SFP has developed, initiated and produced over 140 new productions and has won numerous Olivier® and Tony® Awards.

West End and Broadway productions include: “The Book of Mormon,” “Funny Girl” at the , “A Christmas Carol,” “Farinelli and the King,” “Hamlet,” “Sunny Afternoon,” “Bend It Like Beckham,” The Nether,” “The River,” “Electra,” “King Charles III,” “,” “1984,” “Ghosts,” “,” “,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “,” “” and “Richard III,” “A Chorus of Disapproval,” “The Sunshine Boys,” “Hay Fever,” “Absent Friends,” “Top Girls,” “,” “,” “,” “The Children’s Hour,” “A Flea in Her Ear,” “La Bête,” “,” “Private Lives,” “Jerusalem,” “,” “Legally Blonde,” “,” “,” “,” “,” “,” “,” “: Re-Arranged,” “La Cage aux Folles,” “No Man’s Land,” “,” “Under The Blue Sky,” “That Face,” “Dealer’s Choice,” “Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin,” “In ,” “Boeing-Boeing,” “,” “Rock ’n’ Roll,” “Love Song,” “,” “Bent,” “Eh Joe, Donkeys’ Years,” “Otherwise Engaged,” “Celebration,” “Shoot The Crow,” “,” “The Home Place,” “Whose Life Is It Anyway?,” “By the Bog of ,” “The Woman in White,” “Guantánamo,” “Endgame,” “,” “See You Next Tuesday,” “Hitchcock Blonde,” “Absolutely! {Perhaps},” “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” “,” “Macbeth,” “What the Night Is For,” “Afterplay,” “ For Grabs,” “A Day in the Death of Joe Egg,” “,” “On An Average Day,” “A Servant to Two Masters,” “Port Authority,” “Spoonface Steinberg” and “Speed-The-Plow.”

Forthcoming productions include “Funny Girl” at the Savoy Theatre, “” and, with her co-producing partner, Colin Callender, collaborating with J.K. Rowling on “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

Prior to forming SFP, Friedman spent three years as the producer for the . Before joining ATG, she was the producer and co-founder of Out of Joint, one of Britain’s leading theatre companies. From 1989 to 1993, Friedman was a producer at the National Theatre, specializing in touring productions and theatre for young people, where she produced many productions across all scales.

For a full list of SFP’s theatre credits, please visit soniafriedman.com.

SUZAN HARRISON (Producer)

Suzan Harrison is a multi-award-winning drama producer based in the UK, who also serves as the Company Director at Cross Fell Productions. Her career has spanned over two decades and included work on flagship

programming for a host of internationally renowned broadcasters. Her recent credits include “The Dresser,” ’s “Full English,” BBC’s “Inspector George Gently” and ITV’s “Mansfield Park.” Since first producing for the BBC on “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” in 1996, which won a Peabody Award on release, Harrison has picked up two Emmys®, three Golden Globes, as well as the PGA award - Television Producer of the Year Award in Long form for “Elizabeth I” (HBO/Channel 4).

SCOTT HUFF (Associate Producer)

Scott Huff currently serves as Playground’s Senior Vice President of Development and Production, overseeing its full slate of projects across television and theatre. As an associate producer for Playground, his television credits include multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated productions including “Wolf Hall,” “The White Queen,” “The Missing,” “Dracula” and “The Dresser.” On Broadway, he was associate producer of Tom Hanks’ debut in Nora Ephron’s “Lucky Guy.”

SCOTT LANDIS (Co-Producer)

Scott Landis is a Tony® and -winning theatre producer who has worked extensively on Broadway and in the West End over the last decade. Prior to becoming a producer, he was a talent agent for 15 years.

LESLEY WALKER (Editor)

Lesley Walker has worked in the industry for over 45 years in the UK and US. She began her career in the mid-1960s as an assistant film editor and quickly progressed into an editor in her own right.

Her earlier films include a wide range of internationally successful titles such as ’s Mona Lisa for which she won the Golden Scissors Award in 1987, ’s for which she won the Golden Scissors Award in 1988 and ’s for which she was nominated for the Golden Scissors Award in 1990. In 1991, Lesley edited the Golden Globe® nominated and here began her long standing collaboration with Oscar® nominated . Later she would go on to edit his cult hit Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Walker has worked closely with a number of other highly respected directors such as Richard Attenborough, Douglas McGrath and . In 2008, Lesley edited the internationally successful Mamma Mia! for which she was nominated for the American Cinema Editors Best Edited Feature Film Award.

STEPHEN WARBECK (Composer)

After eight years of working as a composer and performer for the theatre, Stephen began writing music for film and television and has since built up a considerable filmography. Film scores include Mon roi, Seve, Polisse, Proof, Mrs Brown, Two Brothers, Mystery Men, Quills, Billy Elliott, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Charlotte Gray, Birthday Girl and Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Academy Award®. He has written music for more

than 40 television projects, received five BAFTA nominations and, in 2013, a BAFTA® Award for his work on Richard Eyre’s “Henry IV Parts 1 & 2.” Recent television projects include “Indian Summers” and the first two series of “A Young Doctor’s Notebook.”

His notable stage productions include: the RSC’s “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up The Bodies”; the Royal Court’s “The River” and “Jerusalem” (both West End and Broadway transfers); “The Seagull”; The National Theatre’s “The Lion,” “The Silver Tassie,” “This House,” “The Veil,” “”; ’ “To The Green Fields Beyond”; Ian Rickson’s “Old Times” and “Betrayal” at the Theatre and many productions for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Almeida and West End theatres.

BEN SMITHARD (Director of Photography)

Ben Smithard is a BAFTA® and Emmy® Award winning Director of Photography, with credits spanning Features, Television Drama and Commercials.

Starting his career as a Director of Photography in mostly TV Drama, he found critical acclaim for his work with on “” (2007), and “Return to Cranford” (2009), which won the BAFTA® and Emmy® awards for Best Cinematography respectively.

Smithard’s recent projects include My Week with , starring ; Belle, directed by Amma Asante; The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the BBC’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, starring Dustin Hoffman and .

Smithard’s has been in India shooting Gurinder Chadha’s new picture Viceroy’s House.

DONAL WOODS (Production Designer)

Donal Woods was born in Dublin and brought up in Newark, Nottinghamshire. He was educated at The Magnus Grammar School, Newark, and then went on to receive a BA. Hons. degree in Interior Design at De Montford University in . After leaving university he joined the BBC Television Design Department as a Design Assistant, progressing to Director and, finally, Production Designer. He left the BBC in the mid 1990’s to go freelance. Woods has received six Primetime Emmy® nominations in the United States and five BAFTA® nominations, and he has won a BAFTA® for “Cranford” (Masterpiece/BBC). He has also designed the Oscar nominated film , the multi-award winning “” and “Henry IV” parts 1 & 2 from “The Hollow Crown” series.

FONTINI DIMOU (Costume Designer)

Fotini Dimou has created sets and costumes for theater, opera, television and film.

Theatre productions include “The Duchess of Malfi,” “The Castle,” “The Archbishops Ceiling,” “Ion,” “The School of Night,” “The Storm” and “Fashion Speculators” for the Royal Shakespeare Company, In the United States, “” (Victory Theatre – NY – USA) and “Lot and his God (The Print Room).”

Dimou’s film and television work includes Skin, The Browning Version, Ripley’s Game, “Man and Boy,” “The Writing Game,” “The Commander,” “Second Sight,” “Desert Dreams” and “The Singer.”

JENNY SHIRCORE (Makeup Artist) For her exceptional work on Elizabeth, Jenny Shircore was awarded an Oscar® and a BAFTA® Award for Best Make-up and Hair. Her career spans more than 20 years, where she has designed for directors such as , , , , , Neil Jordan and Mira Nair.

Her credits include My Week with Marilyn, W.E., Great Expectations, The Phantom of the Opera, Mrs Hendeson Presents, As You Like It, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, , Gangster No.1, Dirty Pretty Things, Ned Kelly and Vanity Fair.

She has worked with celebrities such as Madonna, Michelle Williams, , , , , , Reese Witherspoon and , and more.

Jenny went on to work with director Jean-Marc Vallée on The Young Victoria, for which she received an Oscar nomination and BAFTA Award for Best Make-up & Hair. Her most recent film projects include The Invisible Woman, Suite Française, Macbeth and Altamira. Her recent television projects include “Burton and Taylor.”

MIKE RAWLINGS (Props Master)

Over the last ten years or so, Mike Rawlings has worked on a variety of projects with designer Donal Woods, including “Canterbury Tales,” “Cranford” and “The Virgin Queen.” Other television credits include “’s Poirot,” “Agatha Christie’s Marple,” “Lucan,” and “Foyle’s War.” Film credits include Red 2 and The Program.

More recently he has worked with Set Decorator Caroline Smith on a number of occasions with a definite period bias including Great Expectations, Woman In Gold and .

BEN SMITHARD (Director of Photography) Ben Smithard is a BAFTA® and Emmy® Award winning Director of Photography, with credits spanning Features, Television Drama and Commercials. Starting his career as a Director of Photography in mostly TV Drama, he found critical acclaim for his work with Simon Curtis on “Cranford” (2007), and “Return to Cranford” (2009), which won the BAFTA® and Emmy® awards for Best Cinematography respectively.

Smithard’s recent projects include My Week With Marilyn, starring Eddie Redmayne; Belle, directed by Amma Asante; The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the BBC’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, starring Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench.

Smithard’s has been in India shooting Gurinder Chadha’s new picture Viceroy’s House.

LESLEY WALKER (Editor)

Lesley Walker has worked in the industry for over 45 years in the UK and US. She began her career in the mid-1960s as an assistant film editor and quickly progressed into an editor in her own right.

Her earlier films include a wide range of internationally successful titles such as Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa for which she won the Golden Scissors Award in 1987, Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom for which she won the Golden Scissors Award in 1988 and Lewis Gilbert’s Shirley Valentine for which she was nominated for the Golden Scissors Award in 1990. In 1991, Lesley edited the Golden Globe® nominated The Fisher King and here began her long standing collaboration with Oscar® nominated Terry Gilliam. Later she would go on to edit his cult hit Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Walker has worked closely with a number of other highly respected directors such as Richard Attenborough, Douglas McGrath and Mike Leigh. In 2008, Lesley edited the internationally successful Mamma Mia! for which she was nominated for the American Cinema Editors Best Edited Feature Film Award.

STEPHEN WARBECK (Composer)

After eight years of working as a composer and performer for the theatre, Stephen began writing music for film and television and has since built up a considerable filmography. Film scores include Mon roi, Seve, Polisse, Proof, Mrs Brown, Two Brothers, Mystery Men, Quills, Billy Elliott, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Charlotte Gray, Birthday Girl and Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Academy Award®. He has written music for more than 40 television projects, received five BAFTA nominations and, in 2013, a BAFTA® Award for his work on Richard Eyre’s “Henry IV Parts 1 & 2.” Recent television projects include “Indian Summers” and the first two series of “A Young Doctor’s Notebook.”

His notable stage productions include: the RSC’s “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up The Bodies”; the Royal Court’s “The River” and “Jerusalem” (both West End and Broadway transfers); “The Seagull”; The National Theatre’s “The Red Lion,” “The Silver Tassie,” “This House,” “The Veil,” “An Inspector Calls”; Sam Mendes’ “To The Green Fields Beyond”; Ian Rickson’s “Old Times” and “Betrayal” at the and many productions for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Almeida and West End theatres.

JENNY SHIRCORE (Makeup Artist)

For her exceptional work on Elizabeth, Jenny Shircore was awarded an Oscar® and a BAFTA® Award for Best Make-up and Hair. Her career spans more than 20 years, where she has designed for directors such as David Leland, Mike Figgis, Michael Apted, Stephen Frears, Shekhar Kapur, Neil Jordan and Mira Nair.

Her credits include My Week with Marilyn, W.E., Great Expectations, The Phantom of the Opera, Mrs Hendeson Presents, As You Like It, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Notting Hill, Gangster No.1, Dirty Pretty Things, Ned Kelly and Vanity Fair.

She has worked with celebrities such as Madonna, Michelle Williams, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Reese Witherspoon and Heath Ledger, and more.

Jenny went on to work with director Jean-Marc Vallée on The Young Victoria, for which she received an Oscar nomination and BAFTA Award for Best Make-up & Hair. Her most recent film projects include The Invisible Woman, Suite Française, Macbeth and Altamira. Her recent television projects include “Burton and Taylor.”