Full Cast Announced for HERONS at Lyric Hammersmith

The Lyric Hammersmith today announces full casting for Herons. Sophia Decaro and Max Gill return to the Lyric stage to play Adele and Billy having both starred in Bugsy Malone as Tallulah and Fat Sam in 2015. Ed Gaughan will play the role of Charlie Russell and Sophie Stone will play Michelle Russell. They will be joined by Billy Matthews, Ella McLoughlin and Moses Adejimi.

Fifteen years after its first production Simon Stephens' unflinching and incendiary play Herons returns to the London stage in this timely, new production directed by the Lyric's Artistic Director Sean Holmes.

Shot through with humour and menace, Herons is a disturbing portrait of adolescent violence experiences by fourteen-year-old Billy, who is tormented by local bullies. Humiliated beyond endurance, he is finally pushed to an act of vengeance.

Herons is both a portrayal of brutalised no-hopers and a witty hymn for hope.

Moses Adejimi plays Darren.
Herons will be Moses' professional stage debut.
Film credits include: The 10am, PC Crane and Footpaths. Voice credits include: Rev.

Sophia Decaro plays Adele.
For the Lyric: Bugsy Malone.
Other theatre credits include: Wizard of Oz (London Palladium) and Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).
Film and television credits include: Music, War and Love and Dani's House.

Ed Gaughan plays Charlie Russell.
For the Lyric: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Island and Radioplay.
Other theatre credits include: The Birthday Party (Royal Exchange); Don't Shoot the Clowns (Fuel/UK Tour) and Masque of the Red Death (Punchdrunk/National Theatre).
Film and television credits include: Skeletons; Hummingbird; One Chance; Quacks; Danger Mouse; Black Mirror and Spy.
Ed Gaughan is an actor, writer, comedian, director and musician who works across stage, screen and radio. He also works as a director and consultant for top UK comics such as Josie Long, Milton Jones and physical comedy company Spymonkey. In 2011, his performance in Skeletons (directed by Nick Whitfield) earned him a nomination for the Peter Sellers Award for Comedy.

Max Gill plays Billy.
For the Lyric: Bugsy Malone.
Max trains at EDSA Performing Arts School, Hitchin.

Billy Matthews plays Scott.
Theatre credits include: Love And Information (Royal Court); The Comedy of Errors (RSC/The BRIT School); The Absence Of (Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Too Far (New Wimbledon Theatre).
Film and television credits include: The Hooligan Factory; Harry & Paul; Henry IV Parts 1&2; New Tricks and One Night.
Billy trained at The BRIT School in South London.

Ella McLoughlin plays Aaron.
Theatre credits include: Boys (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Alice in Wonderland (Orange Tree Theatre) and Slick (National Youth Theatre).

Sophie Stone plays Michelle Russell.
Theatre credits include: Woman of Flowers (UK Tour); Frozen (Birmingham Rep/UK Tour); Two (Southwark Playhouse); The Bloody Great Border Ballad Project (Northern Stage/Edinburgh); Famous Five (Red Earth Theatre); In Water I'm Weightless (National Theatre of Wales); Pandora (Arcola); Mother Courage (National Theatre); Mine (Shared Experience) and several productions at Watermill Theatre.
Film and television credits include: Dr Who; Mapp and Lucia; Holby City; Marchlands; FM; Casualty; Halo Boy and Coming Home.

Full cast includes Moses Adejimi, Sophia Decaro, Ed Gaughan, Max Gill, Billy Matthews, Ella McLoughlin and Sophie Stone