Adeel Akhtar
In his early career, Adeel Akhtar performed in a number of projects at Half Moon Theatre before moving onto a successful film and TV career.
He is best known for his roles in the films Four Lions, Pan, The Dictator, The Big Sick and Victoria & Abdul. Adeel’s TV work includes Utopia (playing Wilson Wilson, for which he was nominated for both a BAFTA and Royal Television Society Award), The River, Capital, Trollied, The Night Manager, Apple Tree Yard and Murdered by My Father, for which he won a Leading Actor BAFTA.
View Adeel’s Stages of Half Moon profile page.
Hammed Animashaun
A former member of Half Moon’s Youth Theatre, Hammed credits the company with playing a vital role in his journey as a performer and in building his confidence and self-esteem as a young person growing up in East London.
Hammed, known for his standout performances in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (winner of 2020 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play, winner of 2019 Ian Charleson Award, winner of 2019 Critics’ Circle Award for Best Shakespearean Performance), ‘Master Harold,’ … and the Boys, Black Ops, Pls Like, and The Wheel of Time, first became involved with Half Moon Theatre at the age of 11 after being encouraged by his drama teacher at Stepney All Saints School.
Reflecting on that time, he said: “Half Moon is where it all began for me. I was incredibly lucky to have a local schoolteacher who saw something in me and encouraged me to give it a try. Joining the Youth Theatre at Half Moon changed my life – it gave me a voice, a space to be myself and, most importantly, it gave me confidence.
“I started out acting at Half Moon and then ended up ushering and working in the box office – the whole experience was a gateway into the world of theatre. To now return as a Patron is a huge honour. I owe so much to Half Moon, and I will always be grateful for the belief they showed in me.”
Watch a video of Hammed talking about Half MoonMichael Irving
After training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in the late 1960s, Michael Irving co-founded the Half Moon Theatre in 1972, where he went on to perform in many productions, including In the Jungle of the Cities (1972), Will Wat, If Not, What Will? (1972), Sawdust Caesar (1972) and Female Transport (1973).
Michael went on to have a successful theatre career, including roles in The Duellists, Rough Music and Apart From George. Michael’s film work includes Personal Services and the father of Robert Pattinson’s character in How to Be.
View Michael’s Stages of Half Moon profile page.
Josie Lawrence
Comedian and actor Josie Lawrence has a significant theatre, musical, radio and TV career. Her first job after leaving drama school was The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist (1983) at the Half Moon Theatre on Mile End Road, where she later played in Moll Flanders (1986) and Poppy (1988).
Josie was also the wardrobe assistant in the Half Moon production of Dracula (1984), starring Daniel Day Lewis and Peter Capaldi.
Other stage work includes numerous roles at the Royal National Theatre, Mrs Anna in The King and I (London Palladium) and Katharine in The Taming of the Shrew (RSC), for which she received the Dame Peggy Ashcroft award for Best Actress. Josie’s TV work includes Humans, EastEnders, You Have Been Watching, At Home With The Kennedy’s, Jonathan Creek and nine series of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Since 1985 Josie has been a member of The Comedy Store Players based at London’s famous Comedy Store. In 2016 Josie created the female improv group The Glenda J Collective.
View Josie’s Stages of Half Moon profile page.
Linda Marlowe
Linda Marlowe has a significant film, TV and directing career dating back to the 1960s. Her film work includes Tinker Taylor Solider Spy, Big Zapper, Beckett, The Man Outside, Manifesto, The House of Mirth and Denial. She performed in several productions at the Half Moon Theatre on Alie Street including Grand Larceny (1977); Dick Whittington, or The City of Fear (1977) and Greek (1980), which was one of many Stephen Berkoff plays created for her including, among others Decadence, East, The Trial and Metamorphosis, for which she is internationally best known.
Linda has also created and performed in a number of one woman shows including the multi-award winning Berkoff’s Women. Until recently, she was a familiar face on EastEnders, where she played regular character Sylvie Carter in a moving storyline of an older woman with Alzheimer’s. Linda’s TV work includes Jekyll, Foyle’s War, Spooks, The Borgias and Houdini.
View Linda’s Stages of Half Moon profile page.
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