Unknowns take the stage

4:52pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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Two unknown actors took to the stage last week after Kingston’s Rose Theatre made two parts available in its latest production.

Stars of the stage and screen, including Peter Bowles and John Altman, who played Nick Cotton in Eastenders, were out on Thursday for a gala performance of The Portrait of a Lady, which marked the start of the new autumn season at the Rose.

Kathryn Ritchie, 26, from Purley and Chris Wynn, 22, from Loughton were chosen from scores of applicants to tread the boards and can be seen during the party scene in act one.

Miss Ritchie, an actress, said: “It is such a great opportunity to meet the Sir Peter Hall Company, see how they work and perform with them.

“Everyone has been great and given us lots of advice.”

Mr Wynn, who is currently in his second year of a stage combat course in Essex, saw the advert on the theatre’s website and said everyone in the company had accepted the newest additions to the cast.

He said: “Everyone is so down to earth and this is such a valuable experience to listen in on how a professional company works. It’s been great.”

The Portrait of a Lady stars Catherine McCormack and tells the story of Isabel Archer, an American heiress who travels to Europe on a voyage of self-discovery after turning down the advances of an English Lord and an American suitor.

The play is at the Rose Theatre until September 6.