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A Watermill Theatre Production

The Autobiography of a Cad

By Ian Hislop & Nick Newman
Adapted from the novel by A.G. Macdonell

Fri 07 Feb 2025 - Sat 22 Mar 2025

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman return to the Watermill with a hilarious new adaptation of A.G. Macdonell’s satirical masterpiece. 

Chronicling the rise of self-proclaimed political titan Edward Percival Fox-Ingleby from Eton to Oxford and then on to Parliament, the Cad’s story contains all the hallmarks of success: university escapades with friends taking the blame, courageously signing up to be on the administrative frontline of the First World War effort and doing the decent thing and joining the Tory party in the 1920s. 

Committed to ploughing his own way through life, righting the wrongs of his unforgivably liberal parents and armed with a universal disregard for the rules, the truth, and the women in his life, this is Edward Fox-Ingleby, a man who no-one loves as much as himself. This happily fictitious memoir about serving the nation bears absolutely no relation to any politicians past, present or future.

Performance schedule
Mon – Sat 7.30pm (11 Feb 7pm)
Thu & Sat 2.30pm (excl. 8 Feb)


Tickets from £20
Groups / Schools / Open Access and 16-30: Beginners concessions available
£5 off preview performances 7-11 Feb

Book early for the best prices across our performances, ticket prices may vary according to demand.

Performance information

Most suitable for ages 10+ due to some use of strong language.

Food and Drink
We have a range of food and drink options available, from light bites to a full pre-show meal. Click here for more information and our latest menus.

 

Director Paul Hart

Set & Costume Design Ceci Calf

Lighting Design Charly Dunford

Sound Design Steven Atkinson

Projection Design Rachel Sampley

Assistant Director Elsa Strachen

Assistant Set & Costume Design Jacob Wu

Assistant Lighting Design Nicola Crawford

James Mack

Cad

James trained at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Theatre credits include: Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (Watermill Theatre, 2024), Spike (UK Tour); Spike, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Rivals, Macbeth, Journey’s End (Watermill Theatre); Burke & Hare (New Wolsey Theatre); Cinderella, One Man, Two Guvnors (Torch Theatre); Robin Hood (The Old Market Theatre, Brighton); Ragtime (Charing Cross Theatre); The Provok'd Wife (Go People and Tour); Dr. Faustus (Matchstick Theatre Company); Mermaid (London Shuffle Festival); This Heaven (Finborough Theatre); Hay Fever (Duke of Yorks, West End); A Christmas Carol (Old Red Lion); Julius Caesar (Sam Wanamaker Festival, Shakespeare’s Globe); The Jailer's Tale (ArtsDepot); Confusions, The Insect Play (Theatre Royal Haymarket).


Film and television credits include: Bad Snappers (Comedy Central), Embryonic (Door 77 Films).

Instagram: jamesmackactor

Mitesh Soni

Mr Collins

Training: Guildford School of Acting

Theatre credits include: A Midsummer Nights Dream (RSC and Barbican); A Christmas Carol (RSC); The Play What I Wrote (Birmingham Rep and UK Tour); Oliver Twist (Leeds Playhouse); Jack &The Beanstalk and Cinderella (Oldham Coliseum); Twelfth Night, Henry V, The Borrowers, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing and Swallows & Amazons (Chester, Storyhouse); The Big Corner, East Is East and Hamlet (Octagon, Bolton); A Christmas Carol (Hull Truck); Faisal in Combustion (Arcola Theatre and Tara UK Tour); Home Truths (Bunker Theatre and Cardboard Citz); Rudolf (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Paradise of The Assassins (Tara Arts); Coming Up (Watford Palace); Macbeth (Tara Arts and UK Tour); Romeo & Juliet (National Theatre); The Good Person of Sichuan (Colchester); Arabian Nights (Manchester Library Theatre); This Place Means (Greenwich); The Firework Maker’s Daughter (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick); The Rise & Fall of Little Voice (Dukes, Lancaster); Peter Pan (New Vic Stoke); Rafta Rafta (Octagon Bolton and New Vic Stoke); The Jungle Book (Birmingham Stage Company UK Tour); Cloud Pictures (Polka Theatre); Mercury Fur (Goldsmiths); Lord of the Flies (Pilot Theatre UK tour); Meteorite (Hampstead Theatre); Cloud 9 (Queen Mother Theatre) and Blood Wedding (Edinburgh Festival)

Film credits include: A Christmas No1, Medusa Deluxe, Mughal Mowgli, Rise of The Footsolider 2, Syriana, Ghost of Life, Nine Lives London, Alpha Mayall and Lost Night.

Television credits include: Juice, Hollyoaks, Eastenders, Ted’s Top Ten, Silent Witness, The Pact, The Agency, Run, Threesome and The Canterbury Tales.

Awards: Asian Media Awards - Best Production (Combustion) and Manchester Theatre Award - Best Ensemble (Arabian Nights).

Rhiannon Neads

Miss Appleby

TV includes: Call the Midwife (BBC), The Canterville Ghost (BBC), Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley (BBC), One Day (Netflix)

Theatre includes: Supernova (Omnibus Theatre), All lies (UK Tour), The Wind of Heaven (Finborough Theatre)