THE WRITERS & PERFORMERS

LUCY MONTGOMERY & BARUNKA O'SHAUGHNESSY
Barunka and Lucy met at university (Cambridge University) where they both wrote and performed but only really became proper friends afterwards. They also both pursued a career in TV production but soon realised it was too much like hard work.

Lucy wanted to perform so she went to Central School of Speech and Drama. She'd missed the deadline for the acting course and did Musical Theatre instead.

Barunka wanted to be a comedy writer like all the boys she knew and even got as far as writing for people like Matt Lucas, John Thomson, Sally Phillips and Jonathan Ross. But without a fat beardy comedy partner, like all the boys have, she ran out of steam. Which is where Lucy stepped in...

 

THE SHOW

GLADIATRIX
Bored of parts like 'singing tightrope walker whose father falls off the high wire and dies', Lucy decided to create her own vehicle. Barunka, still reeling from having just missed a first in her Classics degree (by one percent), suggested a show about the Romans. Lucy wanted to dress up as a gladiator so they set about writing something that became GLADIATRIX, SHE-WOLF OF THE ROMAN ARENA.

They wrote a part for a token male and offered it to James Bachman (see below) as Barunka had gone out with him for three and a half years and felt he owed her one. All they needed was a director.

Their ideal candidate was Cal McCrystal (also below) but Barunka was too scared to call him. Fortunately, Lucy wasn't. He read the script, liked it a lot and agreed to do the show. Also, Mel & Sue had cancelled their tour due to a pregnancy so he had nothing else to do.

The show was first performed at the Soho Theatre Studio in October 2001. As everyone enjoyed doing it so much, they decided to take GLADIATRIX to Edinburgh in 2002 and officially became yourfacehere.

The Edinburgh Fringe run was a huge success, with the show selling out and getting some great reviews, and Gladiatrix is now on tour around the country.

 

THE TOKEN MALE

JAMES BACHMAN
He also met Lucy and Barunka at university (Cambridge University). First with Matt Holness, and then with Mark Evans, James carved out a lucrative career as a comedy writer and performer. Despite his independent income James has failed to contribute a penny to the production costs. But he is clever with computers and kindly created this website, as well as his own: www.infinitemonkeys.co.uk

 

THE DIRECTOR

CAL MCCRYSTAL
If you've seen Autoboosh, Peepolykus and Spymonkey you will recognise the McCrystal touch. That's because he does the same thing in every show and charges £5,000 a week for the privilege.

 

THE DESIGNER

BARUNKA O'SHAUGHNESSY
All the costumes, props and set were designed and made by Barunka. And it shows.