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DEAD POETS LIVE: THE DEATH OF ARTHUR

TENNYSON AND IN MEMORIAM A.H.H

Alfred Tennyson was twenty-four when his closest friend, Arthur Hallam died, suddenly, on 15 September 1833. It took seventeen years for him to shape the series of elegies that tracked the progress of his overwhelming grief into In Memoriam – which was an instant sensation, making Tennyson’s name, and earning him the position of Poet Laureate.Those seventeen years, from 1833 to 1850, were a period of profound change in British life: discoveries in geology, astronomy, mathematics and the early stirrings of evolutionary theory were continually undercutting theological and ontological certainties. For a scientifically-minded poet, as Tennyson was, struggling to continue to believe in the immortality of the soul, this was above all a period of agonizing doubt. Tonight’s show follows not jut Tennyson in the creation of his masterpiece, but a circle of friends growing into middle-age in a world which was rapidly and disconcertingly altering

CAST AND CREATIVES

Alfred Tennyson

Edward Fitzgerald

Emily Sellwood

Emilia ‘Nem’ Tennyson

Edmund Lushington

Arthur Hallam Freddie Fox

Charles Tennyson Joshua James

Dr. Matthew Allen Mark Tandy

Script & direction

Tom Mothersdale

Shubham Saraf

Marli Siu

Honor Swinton Byrne

Edward Bluemel

Oliver Rowse, James Lever

Production Clare Reihill

Music Jamie Jay

Tom Mothersdale

In theatre,Tom most recently starred in the critically acclaimed adaptation of Measure for Measure at the RSC, and featured in the PJ Harvey musical London Tide at the National Theatre Tom frequently collaborates with Simon Stephens, including The Cherry Orchard at The Young Vic directed by Katie Mitchell, for which he received an Ian Charleson award. Tom played Richard III for Headlong; other credits include Oil at the Almeida Theatre and Cleansed directed by Katie Mitchell at the National Theatre.Tom was listed as one of the Top 5 young actors to watch in 2019 in The Sunday Times. In television, he’s most recently been in Channel 4’s Brian & Maggie, and Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.Tom is soon to appear in his first feature film Black Noise, directed by Simon Blake.

Shubham Saraf

On screen, Shubham is set to star in Dibakar Banerjee’s English-language debut, A Terrible Country. He’s recently wrapped the Apple TV+ show Star City, opposite Rhys Ifans and Anna Maxwell Martin, as well as a lead role on the feature film Cliffhanger starring opposite Lily James and Pierce Brosnan. He will soon be seen in Gurinder Chadha’s new feature Christmas Karma opposite Hugh Bonneville and Eva Longoria, and a lead role on a Luc Besson feature Hell In Paradise. Shubham starred opposite Charlie Hunnam in Apple TV’s Shantaram, Other leading credits include the BBC series A Suitable Boy On stage, Shubham starred opposite Matt Smith in Thomas Ostermeier’s An Enemy Of The People in the West End last year In 2022 he played the lead role in The Father and the Assassin in the Olivier at the National Theatre for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards

Marli Siu

Theatre includes: The Cherry Orchard (Donmar/St Ann’s Warehouse); The Ocean at the End of the Lane (National Theatre); Misalliance (Orange Tree); Little Red and the Wolf (Dundee Rep and Noisemaker); Much Ado About Nothing and The Witness for the Prosecution (Dundee Rep).Television includes: Twenty Twenty Six; Everything I Know About Love; Alex Rider; The Irregulars; Grantchester and Still Game Film includes: Black Church Bay; Wicker; Apartment 7A; Our Ladies; Run and Anna and the Apocalypse.

Honor Swinton Byrne

Honor Swinton Byrne made her acclaimed debut as Julie in Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir and its sequel. She is currently filming War for Sky/HBO and stars as Princess Beatrice in Amazon’s A Very Royal Scandal. She recently wrapped David Mackenzie’s Fuze. Other credits include Drift opposite Cynthia Erivo and Netflix’s The Crown.

Edward Bluemel

Edward recently starred in Amazon Prime’s My Lady Jane, alongside Emily Bader, Dominic Cooper, and Rob Brydon, and played Levi in the BBC’s breakout comedy-drama We Might Regret This, S1&2, created by Kyla Harris and Lee Getty Upcoming, he appears in Netflix’s The Seven Dials Mystery, opposite Martin Freeman and Helena Bonham Carter. On film, he featured in Persuasion, based on the Jane Austen novel, with Dakota Johnson and Richard E Grant, and in Access All Areas opposite Ella Purnell and Georgie Henley. Stage credits include lead roles in Daniel Evans’ RSC production of Born With Teeth at the Wyndham’s Theatre starring opposite Ncuti Gatwa.

Éanna Hardwicke Autumn Journal

The Haunter

Sylvia Plath

Last year, over 4000 unaccompanied children arrived in the UK seeking sanctuary. Many have endured dangerous journeys, separation from family, and traumatic experiences. For many young people, the journey to the UK is only the beginning. After escaping war, conflict, or persecution, they must navigate life in a new country while facing language barriers, poverty, homelessness, trauma, and prolonged uncertainty about their future. Consequently, many become isolated and unable to access the education, care, and support they need to rebuild their lives.

Hope for the Young’s Mentoring Programme matches newly arrived young people aged 16-25 with trained local volunteer mentors who provide tailored one-to-one support. Mentors meet their mentees weekly for 2-3 hours in cafés and libraries across London for at least 6 months, and help them improve their English, build confidence, access services, explore interests, join community groups and, most commonly, return to education.

Many young asylum-seekers are unable to work and ineligible for student finance, leaving education still out of reach. Our Grants and Advocacy Programme provides small but life-changing grants for tuition fees, travel costs and essential study resources. Alongside this, we offer tailored advocacy, advice and emotional support, helping young people stay engaged in education and gain the qualifications they need.

In 2024-25, we supported 177 young people through mentoring and awarded 69 educational grants. We offer a clear progression route to integrating into the UK and support young refugees and asylum-seekers to reach their full potential, regardless of their starting point. Please visit our website www.hopefortheyoung.org.uk or scan the QR code to find out more!