General Email: agency@numberfiftyfour.co.uk
Representation Queries: representation@numberfiftyfour.co.uk
The Team
Number Fifty Four is run by Sharon Szynal with the support of Biancha Szynal, Michelle Payne and Michael Rideout
Sharon Szynal - She/Her
Owner & Head Agent
"When I grow up I want to travel the whole world!"
- Sharon, aged 5 -
Biancha Szynal - She/Her
Cruises & Resorts Agent
"When I grow up I want to be a fireman!"
- Biancha, aged 3 -
Biancha is a triple threat performer who has worked extensively in the industry since her graduation from The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 2012.
From a young age, after wanting to be a fireman passed, she attended as many classes as possible and made her West End debut aged 11 in the original London cast of Billy Elliot the Musical where she stayed until she was 15yrs because she was always small enough to pass as a ballet girl!
Aged 13 she joined Italia Conti theatre school as a full time pupil and then onto the college to train in Musical Theatre.
Over the years Biancha has built up a solid knowledge of the industry and many contacts too which make her the perfect addition to the N54 team for our new Cruise and Overseas Resorts division.
Theatre credits:
Penny-Lou Pingleton in Hairspray (Kilworth House), Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act (English Theatre Frankfurt); Ensemble in 101 Dalmatians (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Cover Brooke in Legally Blonde (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Kylar/1st Cover Campbell & Skylar in Bring It On The Musical (Southbank Centre, London); Swing/ Assistant Dance Captain in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), Ensemble/ 1st Cover Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz (Blackpool Winter Gardens); Acrobat/1st Cover Miss Honey/2nd cover Mrs Wormwood in Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre); Mrs Santiago/1st Cover Molly in Ghost the Musical (English Theatre, Frankfurt); Lead Vocalist for AIDA (Cruise); Ensemble in Boy Meets Boy (Jermyn Street Theatre); Dancer in Classical Spectacular (Royal Albert Hall); Miss Rabbit in Fantastic Mr Fox (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Margaret Gormley in Billy Elliot the Musical (Original London Cast)
Film credits:
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Amazon Prime Video)- Ensemble Singer; Matilda the Musical (Netflix)- Ensemble Dancer
*Biancha is represented by Collective Agents
Michelle Payne - She/Her
Agency Assistant
"When I grow up I want to be a vet (no lizards)!"
- Michelle, aged 4 -
Michelle is a director & published playwright from Essex.
Current work:
Director - The Collective (Young Vic)
Associate Director - Dear Evan Hansen (UK Tour)
After originally training as an actor represented by Sharon, she was cast multiple times with Les Enfants Terribles & auditioned for TV projects, before moving more into directing/writing and working as an agency assistant at N54 focusing on developing new graduates.
As Associate/Resident Director: Bugsy Malone (London & UK Tour) The House With Chicken Legs (UK Tour - Olivier Nominated: Best Family Show), Errol's Garden (UK Tour), Pig's Might Fly (UK Tour), Headcase (The Bush).
Select Directing Credits: Pippin (Mountview), Good Enough Mum's Club (UK Tour), The Liberators (PPA), Squad Goals (Dagenham & Redbridge stadium), American Idiot & Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Chichester Uni).
Awards:
Young Vic Genesis Future Director Award (shortlisted 2023),
RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award (shortlisted 2022, long-listed 2023),
Michelle was Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme placement recipient in 2019 at Mercury Theatre Colchester and worked on Donmar Warehouse Future Forms in 2021.
Michelle is currently under commission with ie Productions (Matt Cole & Morgan Large) on The Grind, a street dance play with Neo (choreographer - Flawless) and co-writing HYPER! An ADHD Musical following a mentorship with the Overture Scheme (The Other Palace).
Michelle has a wide range of experience and contacts across musical theatre, new writing, regional theatre, commercial, children's and immersive theatre with a passion for finding actors their first jobs! Michelle loves working alongside Sharon, Biancha & Michael to support Number Fifty-Four pool of talent.
As a director-writer Michelle is represented by Helen Mumby at the Soho Agency.
Michael Rideout - He/Him
Agency Assistant & Social Media
"When I grow up I want to be Mary Poppins!"
- Michael, aged 5 -
Michael is an actor/singer who trained at East 15 Acting School.
Having worked for Westminster City Council as a Manager at a
Centre for disabled children for nine years, he has recently relocated to Essex to develop his career in theatre.
As co-founder of TWIST Cabaret, he has produced sell-out cabaret's in London and the South East. TWIST Cabaret's next venture is to develop a new Theatre in Education project based on mental health in schools, with the view to tour the UK in the near future.
Michael has recently finished performing in Universal Studios Beijing, and has returned to the U.K. to continue his career and develop his Drag Alter-Ego, Tuppence A'Bag.
Michael’s passion for theatre has remained a constant over the years and Michael is so thrilled to be part of the team at Number Fifty Four, and is so excited to be working alongside Sharon, Biancha and Michelle.