Meet the cast for our Autumn 2026 production of My Boy Jack, in alphabetical order:
Director - Graham Poulteney
Graham is now mainly known for directing plays, but can be seen acting occasionally. Marlborough productions you may have seen, for which he was largely responsible, include Ten Times Table, Dancing at Lughnasa and Northanger Abbey.
He is thrilled to be back directing ‘My Boy Jack’ for the club.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Juliette Bird
Juliette did a bit of drama at school and university for fun, but then life took over and she left it for a few years until she found the Marlborough Dramatic Club in her hometown of Brentwood in the early 2010s. On joining she found a new group of friends and started treading the boards again with productions like Relatively Speaking, Uncle Vanya, Ten Times Table, Variation on a Theme and most recently Kind Hearts and Coronets. She enjoys playing what her friend calls ‘flibbertigibbets’ as well as strident women and is looking forward to working with old and new friends in this production of ‘My Boy Jack.’
Juliette plays ‘Carrie Kipling’
Justin Cartledge
LAMDA Trained Justin Cartledge is a multi-award-winning actor, writer, and director, and a co-founder of Early Doors Productions.
Theatre Credits include: The titular roles of 'Alfie' and 'Macbeth'. Renton in 'Trainspotting', Feste in 'Twelfth Night', Ariel in 'The Pillowman', Bruce Delamitri in 'Popcorn', O'Brien in '1984', Rev Hale in 'The Crucible', Deputy Leon's in 'White Lies', Hatter in 'We're All Made Here', Henslowe in 'Shakespeare In Love', Pete the Droog in 'A Clockwork Orange' and Morgan in 'Lighthouse'.
Play Writing Credits include: 'Wonderland', 'Looking Glass', 'Death, The Devil, & The Fablemaker', 'Frankenstein', 'Paperclip', 'Bachelorette Bash', 'The Good, The Bad & The Almighty' and 'Lighthouse'.
Musical Writing Credits include: 'Blue Morpho', 'RAFT', 'If They're Human' and 'Freakshow'.
Directing Credits include: 'The Weir' and 'Porcelain'.
Film Credits include: 'UK Ugly Man' and 'One Way'.
Justin plays ‘Guardsman Bowe’
Andrew Chesney
Nathan Davis
Nathan is a young and keen actor, ready to tackle the industry in full force. He studied acting at university and graduated with a degree in 2023. Nathan has been looking for professional work and has enjoyed working in the local dramatic scene. He's played Demetrius in Romford Shakespeare Theatre's “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Borachio in 1:4:9 Productions “Much Ado About Nothing” and Ron in the Marlborough’s 2025 production of “Variation on a Theme”. Nathan is a driven and confident young man eager to build a career doing the thing he loves. He cannot wait to perform for you again this October!
Nathan plays ‘John (Jack) Kipling’
Poppy Day
Richard Spong
Richard has been performing in theatres around East London, Essex and Oxford for 16 years. His debut in 2010 was at Brentwood Theatre playing Phil in DNA by Dennis Kelly with Havering-based Artisans Drama Society, and his last was in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with The Guildonian Players. Richard has also been a radio presenter for 15 years and is currently the presenter of Making Memories every Sunday for All Hit Radio.
His favourite roles include Peter in The Diary of Anne Frank (New Venture Players), Pike in Dad's Army (College Players), Father D'Artagnan and Duke of Birmingham in The Three Musketeers (1-11 Productions) and many roles in Ben Hur (College Players).
Richard is chuffed to be back for his third performance with the Marlborough after 2025’s The Ladykillers and 2026’s Kind Hearts and Coronets.
Richard plays ‘Guardsman Doyle’
Craig Whitney
Craig discovered his passion for acting as a teenager, appearing in a number of television productions, including the BBC drama 'If You Were Me' as Danny Saunders and 'The Bill' as local criminal Terry. His screen work also includes roles in 'London's Burning' and the independent film "The Beast of Rainham Marsh', where he played Lemuel. During this time, he also performed at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, notably as Louis Leonowens in 'The King and I'.
After several years living in Japan, Craig returned to the UK and reignited his love of performing. Since then, he has appeared in a range of local productions and was part of the award-winning 'Home Furnishings', which won the Short & Sweet Festival.
Craig is delighted to be working with The Marlborough group again, having previously appeared in 'Tom & Viv'. He is thrilled to be back on stage with such a talented company and to share this production with audiences.
Craig plays ‘Guardsman McHugh’