Director/Producer - Saima Duhare

Producer/director & Founder of Palladini Productions Saima is the driving force behind Black Comedy.
She originally trained as an actress at the London Academy of Performing Arts as well as attending the New York Film Academy before going on to star in two Bollywood films with well known actors Anupam Kher , Shakti Kapor and Dalip Tahil.
Saima set up Palladini Productions to create poweful stories – her forth coming projects include a sitcom due for completion in autumn, and 'I'm A Londoner' which is making a welcome return at the Courtyard Theatre from the 31st August until 5th Sept .

Assiastant to the Director - Katherine Elliott

Katherine Elliott gained all the knowledge she has in theatre from being a part of Top HATS theatre group in her home village, then trained in Dance at University College Chester.
Since graduating she spent 4 years working and travelling in Asia.
Katherine moved to London this year and has assisted Palladini Productions for '1867', 'I'm a Londoner' and now on the brilliant farce 'Black Comedy'. Working mostly backstage, she focuses on set design, production, photography and direction.

Donal Cox - Colonel Melkett

Donal trained at the Abbey (Ireland's National Theatre). Work with the Abbey includes 'Borstal Boy', 'The Poor Mouth', 'The Hostage' 'The Trial' 'The Caileen Bawn' 'Riders to the Sea' 'At Bantry'. For the Dublin Gate Theatre, 'Philadelphia Here I Come' and 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead'.

For RTE television, series regular in 'Southside' and the plays 'Antigone', 'Andorra' 'The Dress Dance' and presenter of the nightly Irish Language programme 'Buntus Cainte'.

Stage work in the UK includes 'A Pagan Place' and 'Famine' (both for the Royal Court). 'Juno and the Paycock' (Oxford Playhouse and Arts Council National Tour). 'Hatchet' (Half Moon), 'The Ragpickers (Almost Free), 'Oscar oh Oscar' and 'Take Love Easy' (May Fair Theatre), 'Ringabella Plurabelle' (Belfast Festival), 'I Never Apologise' (Playhouse), 'French Supreme' (Fortune and Lakes Enniskillen), 'Across the Irish Sea' (National Tour), 'To Be Found Out' (Vaudeville), 'The Importance of Being Irish (Shaw Theatre), 'Gertrude's Secret' (Arts Theatre and Tour), 'Night a Wall two Men (Jacaranda Theatre at Brighton Festival), 'Fairytale' and 'The Proposal (Pleasance), 'An Ideal Husband' (Grenwich Playhouse).

Television work in UK includes four episodes of 'Z Cars' (BBC), 'The Patriot Game' and 'Srecial Branch' (both ITV), 'A Thousand Pounds for Rosebud' and 'Once upon a Time: Silver' both for Granada, and 'Howard's Way' (BBC). In 'General Hospital' (ITV) he was a series regular as Dr. Morley, from 1972-75. Recently, 'Matrioshki 2', (Independent Films Belgium).

Films include 'Philadelphia Here I Come', 'Beyond Reason' 'The Crossing', 'An Exquisite Smile' 'Solitude' 'The Last Days of Jack Sheppard (Finalist, Jarman Award 2009) and 'Round Ireland with a Fridge'.

Amanda Merchant - Carol Melkett

Amanda was brought up in Bath and began acting from the age of three with the Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society, in musicals such as 'Chess', 'Guys and Dolls' and 'Oklahoma'. She went on to train with 'The Actors Company', where she found the training a rewarding experience.
Theatre credits include Sybil Merton, south west tour of 'Lord Arthur Saviles' Crime', 'The House of Bernarda Alba' where she played Amelia and Prudencia in repertory at The New Players Theatre, and Delia Sniff in Mother Goose with Hurricane Theatre Company.
With Palladini Productions Amanda has starred in '1867' as Mrs McGilroy and Amelia ,and most recently 'I'm A Londoner' as an Evening Standard Distributor Dina Oberman which was performed at The Scoop More London season where the production gained rave reviews. She is thrilled to be working with the company again as the silly and spoilt debutante Carol Melkett.

David Niman - Harold Gorringer

Trained at The Bridge Theatre Training Company, BADA (British American Drama Academy) and the Hilde Holger School of Expressionistic Dance.

At the tender age of 9, David escaped the cubs and joined the Hilde Holger School of Expressionistic Dance, where his younger sister was training. It was Hilde Holger who had inspired him to become an actor, in his first production with her at the Hampstead Theatre, where he was playing a windmill in a section of "Don Quioxote" and a sleepy penguin in a separate piece. From then on he knew he wanted to be an actor.

His various acting roles for the stage have been Eastragon in "Waiting for Godot", Yakov in "The Seagull", Tomazo in "The Changeling" at the Ralph Richardson Studios; Albert in "Albert's Bridge", the Hermit "The Next Time I'll Sing for you" & Claudio in "Measure for Measure" for the Hampstead Players; Fabian & Curio in "Twelfth Night for the Colour House Theatre Company; Utnapishtim in "The Epic of Gilgemesh" at the Man in the Moon Theatre; Killigrew in "Jack Drum's Entertainment" at the Union Theatre; Miles "Is it a Crime to be Happy?", Ben in "Thanatos", Henry in "Buskers" and Shylock, Cardinal Wolsey and Richard 111 in "Shakespeare showcase" at the King's Head Theatre; Doctor Hubner in "The Government Inspector" and Natty Seale and Doctor Arden in "Entertaining Strangers" at the Cockpit Theatre. And Beegera in "Jungle Book" at the Black Friar's Theatre.

David also occasionally wears a directing hat: He has directed "The Russian Tea Party", "Hero" and "Vapour Trails" at the King's Head Theatre; "Uncle, Uncle" and "Cock - a- Doodle Dandy" at the Baron's Court Theatre.

 He also adapting Shakespeare's play of "Macbeth" for the screen and working on a couple of pet projects of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya"and Pirendello's "The Man with a Flower in his Mouth" at the Pentemetres Theatre.

George Meyrick - Schuppanzigh

George Meyrick has recently graduated from Drama Studio London where he completed his two year postgraduate training.
This is his debue performance since training and he is very excited to be working with Palladini Productions. His roles in training include Mark Anthony (Anthony and Cleopatra), Silvius (As You Like It), Dorn (The Seagull),Sullen (The Country Wife), Harry/Martin (Cloud Nine), Constable (Accidental Death Of An Annarchrist), Michel (God Of Carnage), and Tony (Boy Gets Girl).
From January to August 2011 he will be touring the UK in "Roughshod" with Riding Lights Theatre Company. .

Anna Afanasyev - Clea

Anna finished her training at LAMDA and continues training with John Osborne Hughes: A student of the late, great Sam Kogan who taught The Science of Acting.

Anna made her debut London stage appearance last year in I'm A Londoner where she received great reviews. Since graduating she has performed in the fringe venues of London, including, The Scoop, Jackson's Lane and The Tristan Bates Theatre. Anna has appeared in the competition winning short film; Man Made and played in the highly acclaimed Cherry. She is currently filming in an independent film as a lead role. 

Joel Kirkpatrick - Brindsley Miller

Joel Kirkpatrick is a recent graduate of The Bridge Theatre Training Company, having previously obtained a BA (Hons) in Drama at the University of Hull.
During his training Joel has played many roles including Romeo in 'Romeo and Juliet', Sigmund Freud and Butch Honeywell in 'The Last Days of Judas Iscariot' and Jonathan in 'The Magic Toyshop'.
He is currently filming a docudrama about Jack the Ripper to be screened on Channel 5 in December and the History Channel from February, and is delighted to be working on a production such as 'Black Comedy' so early on in his career.

Ali Charmi - Graphic designer

I'm an graphic designer (specialized in movie posters), illustrator and a film director based in London.

www.alicharmi.com