Nat Riches is an experienced writer, composer and arranger. Currently composing for the Cambridge American Stage Tour of King Lear, Nat has also been involved in writing music for a one-night musical showcase for the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society and was highly commended in the Robinson College Music Society 2021 Composition Competition. Nat has also written and staged a university pantomime, arranged music for student bands across the university, and composed a full musical at age 18.
Natasha Atkinson, a talented musician, writer and composer, was Music President of Downing College. She has performed original musical theatre compositions in multiple university showcases. Natasha has also composed music for a wedding ceremony at Girton College and composed an evening-long original solo piano set for a London Alumni 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 arranged for and performed in instrumental ensembles, and wrote original music for student showcases, before deciding to collaborate to create 1816.
Gina Stock; Director
Gina is a Suffolk-based director and producer, recent graduate from the University of Cambridge and is currently General Manager for Southwold Arts Centre. Her directing credits include the ongoing project of Fathom by Imogen Usherwood (Cambridge Junction), 1816 (Lion and Unicorn, Theatro Technis, Lantern Theatre, Corpus Playroom), Sweet Charity (ADC Theatre) and Kiss Me, Kate (ADC Theatre). Her assistant directing credits include INK Festival (Halesworth), Hedda Gabler (East Anglian Tour), Macbeth (USA Tour), Romeo and Juliet (Cambridge Arts Theatre) and Robin Hood (Fisher Theatre, Bungay).
Rich Mandal; Music Director
Rich is a music student at King's College, Cambridge, and the recipient of the 2024 King’s International Studentship. He is an MD, conductor, singer, pianist, percussionist and an accomplished composer who has won 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. Rich is a seasoned MD with experience working for CUMTS, CUADC and community productions in and around Cambridge. He has composed widely acclaimed music for shows such as And Then There Were None, Dial M for Murder, and most notably, ‘MEDEA’, boasting a cinematic soundtrack performed by a live band. He has been involved with 1816 ever since its first Camden Fringe run, and has hugely enjoyed working on the show with the wonderful members in the creative team, cast and band. He is currently also producing the first 1816 Cast Album.
Beatrice Heslop; Lighting Designer
Beatrice Heslop aspires to bring literature to life with the use of theatrical effects, and has previously worked on shows including Private Lives (ADC Theatre, 2026, dir. Clementine Rice), Pride and Prejudice (ADC Theatre, 2025, dir. Abi Beton), Everybody's Talking About Jamie (ADC Theatre, 2025, dir. James Critchley), and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Yusuf Hamied Theatre, 2024, dir. Alexander Payton).
1816 Cast
Wilf Offord: John Polidori
Wilf is an actor based in Cambridge, where they have been involved in a range of student film, musical and non-musical theatre productions, including The Crucible (ADC Theatre, 2024), Merrily We Roll Along (Trinity Hall, 2024), Sweet Charity (ADC Theatre, 2025), Red (Corpus Playroom, 2025), Jack And The Beanstalk (Footlights pantomime 2025), Into The Woods (ADC Theatre, 2026), and One Too Many Slices (short film, 2026). Wilf is currently preparing the role of Rat in The Wind In The Willows at the ADC Theatre in Cambridge, and most recently has joined the National Youth Theatre. They can’t wait to bring to life the John Polidori beyond the pages of his diary in this retelling.
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, a final year MSt Writing for Performance student at Cambridge, is a performer and writer whose life has been slowly taken over by theatre - not that he’s complaining! This is his fourth run of 1816 after performing as Lord Byron at Theatro Technis, the Lion and Unicorn, and the Corpus Playroom. He is a current Trinity College Cambridge Musical Theatre Programme Student and is grateful to have been coached by the wonderful Cameron Richardson and Dan Bowling. He is currently preparing for the role of Mole in the ADC Theatre’s Production of The Wind in the Willows. He has performed across York and Cambridge and his previous credits include: Leaf Coneybear in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Friargate Theatre, dir. Emilia Stevens), Lucas Beineke in The Addams Family (Greg’s Place, dir. Darcey Chambers), and Ernst in Spring Awakening. (Theatre @ 41 Monkgate, dir. Abena Abban). His previous film and television credits include: Antlers (dir. Sam Howard), and Undergrad: Season Two (YSTV).
Kaitlin Pryce: Claire Clairmont
Kaitlin Pryce is an actor and writer, part of the original cast 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.
Danny Andrews: Percy Shelley
A cellist, composer, actor, and singer, Danny Andrews currently reads music at Cambridge University. Primarily a classical musician, he was principal cello of the Junior Guildhall Symphony Orchestra and String Ensemble. A passionate chamber music player, he plays in Leystone Piano Trio, performing in London, Cambridge, and Estonia. He is an eclectic performer embracing contemporary classical, his own music and pit-banding roles alongside the staples of the classical and romantic canon. He has combined improvisation with composition in projects with avant-garde visual and performance artists and enjoyed acting and stage roles in school theatre and musical productions. Since joining Cambridge University in 2026 Danny has been increasingly involved in theatre, debuting as an on-stage cellist for an innovative production of Ibsen’s ‘Ghosts’ in his first term. He is ecstatic to be making his fringe debut as a cast member of 1816!
Album Cast
Francesca Sakura: John Polidori
Francesca Sakura 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 graduated from University of Cambridge and started her professional training at LAMDA in Autumn 2025.
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. 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 actor and singer. He has previously been involved 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.
