BIOGRAPHIES

STEPHEN EVANS

Steve is a product of a) Dartington College of Arts and b) the dramaturge Ken Campbell; a double whammy of acting training that has led to a wide selection of acting credits, including most recognisably the part of "Vine" in BBC's sci-fi comedy HYPERDRIVE, for which he is currently filming a second series. His other TV credits range from NIGHTY NIGHT (BBC) to HOLBY CITY (BBC). Steve co-devised with Tim Plester (and appeared in) the short films ANT MUZAK and BLAKE'S JUNCTION 7, and his writing credits include VELVET SOUP and REVOLVER for the BBC. Before Dutch Elm, Steve formed the sketch group BENDERS with Renton and Jordan Long, both of whom he had met while performing in Ken Campbell's 24-hour play THE WARP.

>> Click here for Steve's CV at PFD

JIM FIELD SMITH

Before Dutch Elm, Jim was working in TV production, where he landed after completing an unlikely degree in Politics. He has his own production company, idiotlamp, and still works as a writer and director, but increasingly as an actor too. He writes and stars in the BBC R4 sitcom DEEP TROUBLE, with Ben Willbond, which has just been recommissioned for a second series. He also co-wrote and appeared in Ben's acclaimed 2005 Edinburgh show and you might see him in the forthcoming feature L'ENTENTE CORDIALE alongside Daniel Auteuil. Jim has appeared in various TV and radio comedies, numerous commercials and voiceovers. As if that doesn't make him enough of a whore, he has written or script edited several entertainment shows, and more failed pilots than is wise to mention. For more information visit www.jimfieldsmith.com

>> Click here for Jim's acting CV at PFD
>> Click here for Jim's writing/directing CV at PFD

RUFUS JONES

Rufus's background is in acting, with early appearances including the CAMBRIDGE FOOTLIGHTS, and more recently MAJOR BARBARA (Royal Exchange Manchester) and BEN HUR (BAC). His TV credits include EXTRAS (BBC), SECRET SMILE (ITV), BEDSITCOM (Channel 4), MESSIAH III (BBC), WHITE TEETH (Channel 4), MY FAMILY (BBC), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (BBC) and the forthcoming LOSING IT (ITV). Rufus played several roles in Jim's radio series DEEP TROUBLE, GILES WEMBLEY HOGG GOES OFF and read NATASHA AND OTHER STORIES (all for BBC Radio 4). More recently he has built up writing credits including the Radio 4 comedy show THE BEARDED LADIES (now in its third series), and he recently co-wrote and starred in THE EVERGLADES, a sketch show pilot for the BBC.

>> Click here for Rufus's CV at AHA

RENTON SKINNER

Renton met Steve and Jordan while working with Ken Campbell on THE WARP, and subsequently started writing and performing comedy. This summer he completed filming on the new E4 sketch show PARTY PIECE, and worked on the pilot SEVEN SECOND DELAY alongside Chris Langham. He has appeared in numerous TV comedies, most recently playing the lead role of "Tonka" alongside Ricky Tomlinson in ITV’s MIKE BASSETT: MANAGER, with other credits including THE OFFICE Christmas Specials, MY FAMILY and COUPLING for the BBC amongst others. He played several roles in Jim's Radio 4 series DEEP TROUBLE. Renton's writing credits include VELVET SOUP and REVOLVER for the BBC. Renton often performs in character on the comedy circuit - his alter-egos include Angelos Epithemou and Morris Chessman.

>> Click here for Renton's CV at PFD

ED CURTIS (director)

Ed started working with Dutch Elm in 2005 on their show CONSPIRACY, and continued to work with them on their subsequent show, PRISON. He recently directed his own production of MARLON BRANDO'S CORSET (Edinburgh and UK Tour). Last year Ed also directed BEN WILLBOND at the Fringe. Other directing credits include his production of CALAMITY JANE by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster (UK Tour and West End) which was nominated for "Best Musical" at the Manchester Evening News Awards 2003; THE BIG ODYSSEY (Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh and UK Tour); the world premiere of the double bill BACCHAE/BACKUP by Howard Brenton; ALADDIN (Assembly Halls, Tunbridge Wells); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (Derngate Theatre, Northampton); and SAFER by Duncan Macmillan and THE COLLECTOR by Guy Jones (Allardyce Nicoll Theatre, Birmingham). A long association with director Joe Harmston included Noel Coward’s HAY FEVER, Brian Friel’s DANCING AT LUGHNASA and (as an Associate Artist of Tour de Force Ltd) HENRY V (Arundel Festival) and MACBETH (Connecticut, USA). Ed is a graduate of The University of Birmingham with a First Class Honours Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Drama and Theatre Arts.