Nat Riches is an experienced writer, composer and arranger. Currently composing for the Cambridge American Stage Tour of King Lear, Nat has also been written a cabaret, co-wrote and staged a university pantomime, and was highly commended in the RCMS 2021 New Directions Composition Competition. Nat arranges music for multiple Cambridge bands and composed their first full musical aged 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).
