gentle harry's farm CREATIVE TEAM

PETE TALBOT
WRITER & LYRICIST
Pete has written over 20 plays for The Rudes, directed 27 productions and written countless songs. He produced all 30 our productions up until 2024.
Pete stepped down as Artistic Director and Producer in 2024 but still holds a major role, probably the most important one, within the company as our writer. He has also remained on the board as a trustee. Pete is already developing two new plays for The Rudes including what we hope will be our first Christmas production in 2026.

ROWAN TALBOT
DIRECTOR, COMPOSER, LYRICIST, MUSCAL DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
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Rowan is the artistic director, resident composer and musical director for The Rudes. The Dressing Book will be his 10th musical score for the company and his second production as director. Rowan composes music for theatre, film, animation, contemporary dance and circus. In addition he has also composed for companies including National Theatre Wales, Mercury Theatre Wales, Cardiff University, The Wellcome Trust and NSPCC.
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Rowan became artistic director & producer for The Rudes in 2024 following Pete's retirement from those roles.

KELLY JAGO
WIG DESIGNER & MAKER
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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
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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
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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
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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!