Talking People

Adeola is a London-born actor and performer, whose most recent credits include Elektra starring Brie Larson at Duke York’s Theatre, and A Complicated Women by Self Esteem, with whom she is currently touring the UK and Europe. As a theatremaker and writer with a diverse background spanning the arts and religious sectors, she is excited by multidisciplinary storytelling and is currently developing her theological thriller play Good News with support from Croydonites Festival. Adeola is an associate artist with the National Youth Theatre and Initiative.dkf and alumnus of Southbank New Poets Collective.

David Ajao’s theatre work features Orlando in As You Like It (RSC), Pompey in Measure for Measure (RSC), and the Australian and New Zealand tour of Barbershop Chronicles (National Theatre). On screen, he has appeared in Holby City (BBC), Sunny D (BBC), Not Going Out (BBC), Mammoth (BBC), Close To Me (Channel 4), and Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color (Disney+). He will next be seen in the horror film The Haunting in Wicker Park, due for release later this year.

Nkechi Simms, born and raised in Camden Town, is a working-class actress whose journey into the industry—without formal training—has been shaped by authenticity, resilience, and purpose. She has carved out a unique space in the arts, using her voice to champion representation and inspire change. Nkechi is best known for her roles as Keziah in the second season of Netflix’s TopBoy, the lead role of Sienna in hit BBC comedy series PRU, a guest appearance in BBC’s Doctors, Emily in the US feature film Tell No Lies, and most recently, as Ines Mercedes in the latest season of BBC’s Death in Paradise.

Holli is an Actress born and raised in East London. Her career started on stage at the Theatre Royal Stratford East youth theatre. Since then she has gained many TV credits including Derek, Harlots, The Aliens, Black Mirror & Afterlife – to name a few. She also starred in the reboot of the Dad’s Army film with Catherine Zeta Jones, Bill Nighy and Sir Michael Gambon. Holli has also starred in many Radio dramas such as Ivanov and played the Lead character in Broken Colours for Radio 4. She is delighted to be back on stage after starring in The Bush’s sold out shows The Knowledge and Little Platoons which got rave reviews. Most recently, you can catch her playing DC Alice Hackett in The Marlow Murder Club on U&W.

Tegen trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2018. She recently appeared in The Wilding and The Madame Blanc Mysteries for Channel 4. Other television credits include Pandora (CW), Delicious (Sky), and Tell Me Everything (ITVX).

Tegen’s short film Regulars, which she wrote, produced, and starred in alongside Tom Glynn-Carney, was nominated at the British Short Film Awards (BAFTA) and screened at festivals worldwide. She is currently developing a TV series with Hat Trick Productions and writing a feature film starring Richard Brake for an American–Dutch production company.

Maggie is an Actor from South East London. She was part of the 2nd cohort of Open Door, a project supporting working-class actors into drama school training, which supported her in getting a place on the BA Acting course at RADA. Her work after graduating includes playing Bianca in Ola Ince’s production of Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe, and most recently appearing as Winnie Welch in BBC’s Call the Midwife. Alongside acting, Maggie is carving out her voice as a writer, driven by a love of telling bold, human stories that reflect where she comes from.