1816: The Year Without A Summer

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.