ROWAN TALBOT
DIRECTOR, COMPOSER, LYRICIST, MUSICAL DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Rowan became Artistic Director and Producer of The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company in 2024, having spent many years with The Rudes as an actor, resident composer, musical director and tour manager. He has been closely involved with the company since 1999, working across almost every Rudes production as either an actor or composer.
A professional actor, composer and musical director for over 30 years, Rowan has worked extensively across theatre, film and television. His theatre credits include work with National Theatre Wales, Theatre Clwyd, Queen’s Theatre, Chipping Norton Theatre, Taking Flight Theatre Company, Tall Stories and Mercury Theatre Wales, with performances at venues including the RSC and Bloomsbury Theatre. His screen work has included appearances for the BBC and Channel 4.
As a composer, Rowan has written original music for more than 50 theatre productions and films, as well as work for contemporary dance, animation and circus. Music has always been central to his work with The Rudes, and he continues to compose and serve as musical director for the company alongside his role as Artistic Director and Producer.
PETE TALBOT MBE
WRITER & LYRICIST
Pete founded The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company in 1997 and spent the following twenty-seven years as its Artistic Director and Producer, shaping The Rudes into the distinctive touring company it is today. During that time, he wrote more than twenty original plays, directed 27 productions, produced all 30 of the company’s productions and wrote countless songs for Rudes shows.
In 2024, Pete stepped down as Artistic Director and Producer. He remains at the heart of The Rudes as its principal writer and continues to develop new plays for the company, as well as serving as a trustee.
Before founding The Rudes, Pete had a career in teaching, and his belief that high-quality professional theatre should reach audiences beyond traditional theatre buildings has been fundamental to the company from the beginning. His writing, with its distinctive mixture of storytelling, comedy, music and physical theatre, has shaped The Rudes’ work for almost three decades.
In 2026, Pete was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to the arts, recognising his contribution to theatre and the remarkable body of work he has created through The Rudes.
KELLY JAGO
WIG DESIGNER & MAKER
Kelly Jago, also known as ‘Jago Maker’, has over 25 years of experience creating prop-costumes and headwear for the TV, film and theatre industries. Out of her Bristol studio, based in the historic harbourside, she’s designed, sculpted, glued, sewn and sequinned on a wide range of weird and wonderful projects. From animal heads and dancing food costumes for The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer (ITV) to Serafina’s scaled armour and arm spikes for His Dark Materials (BBC). More recent projects include the Bottom-inspired donkey head for Emerald Fennel’s acclaimed film, Saltburn and, the most ridiculous of them all, the giant testicle worn by Pete Wickes in The Real Full Monty (ITV). Kelly is excited to be working with The Rudes Mechanical Theatre for the third year running. You can follow her on Instagram @jagomaker or discover more of her creations at jagomaker.com
EVIE JAMES
CHOREOGRAPHER & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Evie graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has been key to the development of The Rudes choreography since her first tour with the company. Her theatre credits include Maybelline Erstwhile in The Dressing Book, Tina in Gods and Dogs and Mrs Hawrtrey-Churlish in Miss Popplewell's Garden (The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company), Ally in Reclaiming Harry (Edinburgh/Prague/Colchester Fringe 2022), Fairy Fee/Fancy Nancy/Contessa of Petiti in Dick Whittington (The Theatre, Chipping Norton), Young Woman in Contagion Cabaret (The Theatre Chipping Norton), Peppa Pig in Peppa Pig’s Big Splash/Peppa Pig’s Surprise (UK & Ireland/Australian Tours), Ellie in Santa’s Dizzy Day (Harlow Playhouse)and Sam in Teletubbies Live (Winter Wonderland).
Commercial credits include Freya in Favro, Woman Working From Home for Deep Heat and Wife for Armstead Paints.
She has also worked extensively in Immersive Theatre (The Crystal Maze Live, Polar Express) and enjoys writing stupid comedy songs on her ukulele.
HOLLY CASSIDY
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Holly trained as an actor musician at Rose Bruford College and later went on to study physical theatre at Jacques Lecoq in Paris for 2 years. Holly has been key to the continuation of The Rudes physical style and use of mime. She makes her own work and toured her debut show, The Campers with her company Fever Birds in 2022. This is Holly's third season for The Rudes - in 2023 she joined the team for Miss Popplewell's Garden and returned to the team last summer for The Dressing Book. Acting credits include: Love Bites (BOB Theatre) Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Dr. Livingstone, I presume, Frankenstein! (Miracle Theatre Princess Pavilion, Falmouth & South West tours) The Campers (Fever Birds) Movement director for The Secrets of the Stour (Wimborne Community Theatre) Une Journée Sur La Côte D’Azure, Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde (Dreampark Theatre (UK and European tour) Merlin’s Apprentice (Kickline Theatre Taunton Brewhouse) The Strong Man (Bashstreet Theatre Uk & European tour) Grime (Ramshacklicious UK tour) Having watched Rude’s shows before and loved their work, Holly is delighted to have joined the company for this summer tour.
Annette Keen
COSTUME MANAGER & MAKER
Annette is an extremely valuable member of the team who has been managing the costumes for the company for many years. The costumes for Gentle Harry's Farm will be another feather in her cap!