Nat Riches is an experienced writer and composer; having composed a full musical by the age of 18, Nat has also written and staged a university pantomime, and was highly commended in the 2021 Robinson College Music Society Composition Competition.
Natasha Atkinson, a talented musician, writer and composer, was Music President of Downing College. She has performed original musical theatre compositions in university showcases and composed music to be played at a wedding at Girton College and a Downing College fundraising event.
Nat and Natasha have been composing musical theatre songs as a team since studying music in high school together, where they both received full marks for their A-level compositions, arranged for and performed in instrumental ensembles, and wrote original music for a student showcase. At the University of Cambridge, they decided to combine their talents to create their biggest project yet: 1816.
Gina Stock; Director
Gina Stock is an emerging director and choreographer with a passion for combining literature and musical theatre through unconventional and abstract narratives. She has directed in Cambridge, Edinburgh and London for student and professional theatre, and is otherwise based in East Anglia where she works on accessibility of the arts and community projects. Her work has previously been described as “exhilarating, sexy and very creative” (The Cambridge Critique), a “sugary spectacle” (Varsity) and “unparalleled artistry and skill” (The Tab).
Olivia Newbery; Producer
Liv Newbery is an experienced producer based in Cambridge. From teaching at a youth production company at home, she brings a passion for community engagement to her roles. She has produced shows in collaboration with the Fletcher and Pembroke Players, including Evam Indrajit (2025, dir. Aryan Misra) and It's News To Him, a new work of student theatre. Liv also sits on the committee for Brickhouse Theatre Company as Producers’ Rep.
Rich Mandal; Music Director
Rich is a singer and a pianist, and an accomplished composer of contemporary classical music. He has won multiple prestigious national awards, with his music being performed in Gloucester Cathedral, and was a finalist for the ORA Singers National ‘Young Composer of the Year’ in 2023. Since taking on the role of musical director for the 2024 Cambridge Fresher’s Musical, he has developed a particular knack for directing new theatrical music, having also directed and conducted a student-written short opera and orchestrated music for the 2025 CUMTS Gala. He is also co-MD for the upcoming production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable at the ADC Theatre.
Yvonne Gao; Costume Designer
Yvonne Gao makes her debut as a costume designer with 1816, effortlessly combining historical Regency styles with a Vivienne Westwood twist to bring the legendary Romantics to life onstage. She is also involved in costuming a Cambridge production of "Dial M for Murder", and she is excited to see her passion for fashion and design come to fruition on the stage.
Beatrice Heslop; Lighting Designer
Beatrice Heslop began her journey into theatre during her first year at the University of Cambridge. She aspires to bring literature to life with the use of theatrical effects, and has previously worked on shows including Pride and Prejudice (ADC Theatre, 2025, dir. Abi Beton), Everybody's Talking About Jamie (ADC Theatre, 2025, dir. James Critchley), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Yusuf Hamied Theatre, 2024, dir. Alexander Payton), and The Joker the Thief and the Knight (Christ New Court Theatre, 2025, dir. Akshit).
Cast
Francesca Horgan: John Polidori
Francesca Horgan is a London-based performer, who made her Camden Fringe debut with 1816. Her recent credits include Sweet Charity (ADC Theatre, 2025), Sister Act (ADC Theatre, 2024), Anything Goes (Gala Theatre, 2024) and Un-Decided (Edinburgh Fringe, 2024). In addition to performing, Francesca has enjoyed roles as a choreographer and movement director, most recently including a production of Grease (Caedmon Hall, 2024). Francesca recently graduated from University of Cambridge and will be starting her professional training at LAMDA in the autumn.
Kate Woodman: Mary Shelley
Kate Woodman is an actor/director and has trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama before attending Cambridge University. She has been involved in productions both on stage and screen including the Annie UK tour (2015/2016), Fifteen Love (Amazon Prime) and The Count of Monte Cristo directed by Bille August (Palomar). She directed and acted as Cecily Cardew in “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the Edinburgh Fringe (2024) and some of her favourite musical roles to date have been ‘Wednesday’ in “The Addams Family”, ‘Velma’ in “Chicago” and ‘Penny’ in “Hairspray”.
Oliver Kingston: Lord Byron
Oliver Kingston is an actor and writer interested in using the gothic tradition to tell queer stories. He has performed across York and Cambridge in student and amateur stage and screen productions. He is currently pursuing an MSt in Writing for Performance at Cambridge, and is otherwise based in South Wales where he is developing a portfolio of gothic stage and screen scripts. His stage credits include Spring Awakening as Ernst (Theatre@41, 2022, dir. Abena Abban), The Addams Family as Lucas Beinecke (Theatre@41, 2023, dir. Darcey Chambers), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Leaf Coneybear (Friargate Theatre, 2023, dir. Emilia Stevens). His screen credits include Antlers (2024, dir. Sam Howard) and Undergrad: Season Two (2023-2024, YSTV).
Kaitlin Pryce: Claire Clairmont
Kaitlin Pryce is an actor and writer, making her London debut as part of 1816. She has previously performed in Lucy Cavendish College's “Much Ado About Nothing” as Beatrice, in Bloody Poetry at the ADC Theatre, and in Ill-Divining Souls, a student-written piece at the Corpus Playroom. Kaitlin is also the New Writing Rep for the Fletcher Players, and she is passionate about bringing this group of Romantics to life.
Joe Davies: Percy Shelley
Joe Davies is an emerging actor, having made his Fringe debut with 1816 following performances in CUMTS' Gala (2025, dir. Theo Chen) and Parfumerie (2024, dir. Ivan Ampiah). He is a member of the Downing College choir and has begun to explore writing through a role in the 2025 CUMTS 24-hour musical. Joe loves a Gothic novel and aims to explore the tales behind the tales.
