Meet the cast of 'Ripen Our Darkness'

This July, New Stagers is bringing Sarah Daniels’ groundbreaking play, Ripen Our Darkness, to the Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre.

As we count down to opening night, let's meet the cast who will bring this funny, feminist, and powerful story to life on stage.


Ellie Bibby Mary	Tom Parker David	Lara Carroll Anna
This is Ellie's second year with New Stagers. She is excited to bring Sarah Daniels’ play to life and to get stuck into the world of the 1980s middle class. Previously with New Stagers: ‘Mole’ in ‘Wind in the Willows’, ‘Scene Unseen’ 2025, and ‘The Vagina Monologues’.	Stumbling out of the Wild Wood and into the 1980s, Tom is proud as punch to be joining Toad, Rat, and Mole to bring Ripen Our Darkness to the stage and explore his placid yet cantankerous side.	Lara is so pleased to be in her second play with new stagers. Having previously played Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, Lara is ready to take on the challenge of playing a human woman.


Christie O'Connor Julie	Rhonda Lidgold Daphne	Charlie Golding Roger
This is Christie's first production with New Stagers, and she couldn't be more pleased to get to debut as Julie. Having done a few musical shows previously, Christie is excited to stretch her comedic and dramatic chops with the brilliant Ripen Our Darkness	Rhonda is excited to take on the role of Daphne - A character navigating suburban expectations, passive aggression, and the dangerous consequences of saying what you actually think. Daphne’s bluntness unsettles everyone around her - mostly because she’s often right. Any resemblance between actor and character is, unfortunately, becoming harder to deny.	This is Charlie's debut for New Stagers. He has produced, acted and written for several amateur theatre companies across London and co-founded the fringe company So It Goes. He most recently appeared in Circle Mirror Transformation (Lifelike Theatre); other productions include Enron (Mary Wallace Theatre), Treasure Island (Putney Theatre), Baal (Bridewell Theatre), Nell Gwynn (South London Theatre), The Pillowman (Hampton Hill Theatre).


Alice Collins Rene	Lily Frost Susan	Sam Pilkington Alf/Old Man
Alice is normally found backstage, directing and producing, but is trying to detox from a chronic desire to boss everyone around with another go at acting. Alice is excited about the emotional challenge of playing Rene.	Ripen Our Darkness is Lily’s first production with New Stagers and her return to theatre after 10 years. Audiences may remember her critically ignored but spiritually important performance as “Head Whore” in Les Misérables.


Dan Bird Marshall Hutchinson / Priest	Matt Bingham Paul/Young Man	Courtney Bates The Deity
Ripen Our Darkness is Dan's first show with New Stagers. Dan has refined his skill of being uncomfortable and intolerable his whole life. He is delighted to have a chance to put this ability to use in the roles of priest and Marshall.	Famous for playing such riveting & well-rounded characters as "Wall" and "Dead Body", Matt has always had a love for playing the smaller parts, and he's excited to return to the stage in this production of Ripen Our Darkness as Paul & Young Man.	This is Courtney’s first show with New Stagers and in London. She’s thrilled to be playing the all-mighty Deity. She’s no stranger to theatre, having produced over 70 shows as a theatrical Executive Director in the US. She’s enjoyed a variety of roles during productions but some of her favourite on-stage appearances include Jolene in “Doublewide Texas Christmas,” Ensemble in Sweeney Todd,” and Lady MacDuff in “Macbeth.”


Lara McMahon Holy Hostess with the Mostest / Understudy Mary
Lara is delighted to be part of this incredible company in her second production with New Stagers. She is ready to bring some hostess with the mostest energy to Ripen Our Darkness and is very grateful to have understudied the role of Mary!