ABOUT US
We first ventured into the world of Theatre In Education in 1998 when we began working with the Irish company French Theatre for Schools. For over a decade, Xavier Hock performed as a native French speaker for this company while Christine Béziat organised their tours throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.
After seeing the phenomenal success of these plays in Irish schools the desire to take this kind of performance to France and Belgium was born. In 2007, Xavier and Christine created the Emerald Isle Theatre Company (EITC) and their first tour on the continent hit the road with performances in Brussels, Wallonia and the South of France.
Since 2010, the EITC has performed all over France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain and Italy. Now creating and performing under the new name of Pickles by EITC,
we still love sharing our passion for theatre and language with our main message: learning is fun.
PRODUCTION TEAM
XAVIER HOCK
Artistic director – Writer
XAVIER HOCK • Artistic director - Writer
Co-founder of Pickles by EITC with Christine Beziat.
Trained social worker (Cardijn, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium).
After having travelled all across Ireland from 1998 to 2008 as an actor in school tours for students learning French, Xavier decided to share his knowledge and experience on the continent. And so, as a writer and director, he now creates english speaking shows for students learning english as a foreign language.
“In my role as a director, it’s a joy to be able to follow our teams of actors daily, having pushed them so hard during the rehearsals :) and what a joy it is to see your reactions, our dear audience! What else? Oh yes, I love a good beer, perfectly chilled, after a long day of walking or snowboarding. I also love swimming in ice cold water (from the beaches of Donegal to the Saint Lawrence river) but, some things that I can’t stand are flat tyres, sweetbread (even if they are nothing alike, I still don’t like them) and not being able to control the situation.
Dreams, I’ve got plenty… but I never remember them when I wake up in the morning.”
CHRISTINE BÉZIAT
Tour coordinator – Writer
CHRISTINE BÉZIAT • Tour coordinator - Writer
Co-founder of Pickles by EITC with Xavier Hock.
Trained trilingual secretary assistant (Ozenne, Toulouse, France)
She’s the one who organises the tour’s planning for our actors, an impossible puzzle that only she knows the answer to. She’s in charge of the tour, our communication…
Originally from Toulouse, Christine lived in Dublin between 2002 and 2009. She’s worked in banks, as a riding teacher before finally dipping her toe into the world of Theatre in Education. Her first experience was with FTFS and then in 2008, she created Pickles by EITC with Xavier.
“My dream would be to travel the world and to be able to speak multiple rare languages. I love the sun, a Bach prelude, a galop in a field, Ludwig von 88, a good book, time with friends, blueberries… Injustice drives me mad, disrespect makes my hair stand on end and as for meat, I’ve been disgusted by it forever.”
ARNAUD CRAMOISAN
Director – Writer
ARNAUD CRAMOISAN • Director - Writer
I love it when a plan comes together. I love packing my back, it’s always the promise of new adventures, new encounters. I love Monty Python and a cold beer, even if these two have nothing to do with each other.
I hate the smell of body spray in a rehearsal room, “endives cuites” and I hate it when actors ask me “what’s that?” when talking about “endives cuites” it’s impossible to translate!! Try and see what happens, all you need is a native english speaker and a plate of “endives cuites”. Let it rest for 5 minutes and serve hot.
My dream: To travel the world on skates. Or without.
MOLLIE KEANE
Facilitator – Acting coach – Assistant director
MOLLIE KEANE • Facilitator - Acting coach - Assistant director
Starting my journey in the East of London in a place known as Walthamstow, passing by East 15 acting school, across Europe and ending up in Paris where I now live, I have always loved the way that theatre crosses borders. Whether that be through language, culture, class or generation. Theatre has a power like no other. And that is what I love about working with Pickles, they explore this power to its full extent!
Having worked with Pickles at 21 as an actress, I have now been working with and training the new actors since 2016. Here’s to more adventures!
LOÏC PETIT
Tour Manager – Music assistant
LOÏC PETIT • Tour Manager - Music assistant
An actor at heart, I loved the idea of hitting the road and showing our beautiful country to our Irish friends.
To go on an adventure together, for better or for worse. And so we happily shout at the cars in front of us that aren’t moving, we sing old classics that come on the radio and we let ourselves be swept away by the countryside that passes beside us. Well… we do all that when we’re not late, otherwise, we race down the motorway!
Along with all that, I love old french films and playing cards, but I don’t tell the actors that when we play poker and the winner gets to choose the time when they can use the bathroom!
I made a deal with the actors, they teach me the secrets of Shakespeare and I reveal the wonders of Molière to them. And who knows, maybe one day it’ll be me hitting Irish roads to share a bit of French culture with the Irish.
EDITH MICLO
Tour Manager – Facilitator – Acting coach – Assistant director
EDITH MICLO • Tour Manager - Facilitator - Acting coach - Assistant director
Queen of the Brittany crepe, I’ve travelled all around Ireland from pub to pub, creperie to creperie, from the east to the west, guided by a pint of Guinness and Irish music. Active in the voluntary sector, I had the chance to travel all around the world and to have multiple exciting encounters in my role as a youth camp director, facilitator or simply as an adventurer. All these moments and stories have led me to wanting to tell them in films, creating characters, to…
Hang on! It’s not over yet! The adventure continues with EITC! My essence? To travel into the heart of people. I’m on the right track.
MARIANNE SPINEWINE
Pedagogical production – English teacher
MARIANNE SPINEWINE • Pedagogical production - English teacher
In 2015, after 10 years of being an English teacher, in my 30s, I wanted to set myself new challenges. I rediscovered theatre and performing that I had left behind as a teenager and I fell in love with it all over again. It became obvious to me: what I dreamed was to combine all my passions: teaching, theatre and English. After EITC performed at my school, I asked Xavier if the company were hiring. That’s what you call being in the right place at the right time… and the adventure began.
Today, I’m in charge of the pedagogical documents (Classroom Pack). I have the chance to read the plays before they hit the road and I think up activities that allow the students and teachers to get the most out of the shows. What can you expect? Vocabulary, comprehension exercises, speaking and writing exercises, cultural exercises…
A quote to sum up this encounter?
“Let your dream devour your life, not your life devour your dream” Antoine de Saint Exupéry
MARTIN MAGUIRE
Casting Director
MARTIN MAGUIRE • Casting Director
Martin Maguire is a leading Irish playwright and actor. He has taught for the Gaiety School of Acting since 1995. As an actor he has worked in most of Ireland’s main theatres as well as on film and television productions broadcast nationally and internationally. He has written extensively for stage, television and radio as well as directing several theatre productions in Ireland and abroad.
KARINE BÉZIAT
Administration – Accountancy
KARINE BÉZIAT • Administration - Accountancy
In 2010, when my little sister (Christine) asked me if I was able to help out for a few hours here and there with the accounts or to send a few mails… I answered “of course! I’ve got time to do that”. Well, now I have a lot less time because I’m working full time in this great adventure and what a joy that is!!!
I may be a part of the less artistic side of the company, the one who keeps everyone grounded, but it takes all sorts to keep a team running!
But don’t worry, I leave my office from time to time in order to take part in my passion: handball. After travelling all across France as a player, I’m now involved as a referee.
Dreams? Surely! But just like Xavier, I don’t remember them in the morning. A philosophy? Never regret the past, don’t speculate about the future and live fully in the present!
TOUR MANAGERS
LOÏC PETIT
Tour Manager – Music assistant
LOÏC PETIT • Tour Manager - Music assistant
An actor at heart, I loved the idea of hitting the road and showing our beautiful country to our Irish friends.
To go on an adventure together, for better or for worse. And so we happily shout at the cars in front of us that aren’t moving, we sing old classics that come on the radio and we let ourselves be swept away by the countryside that passes beside us. Well… we do all that when we’re not late, otherwise, we race down the motorway!
Along with all that, I love old french films and playing cards, but I don’t tell the actors that when we play poker and the winner gets to choose the time when they can use the bathroom!
I made a deal with the actors, they teach me the secrets of Shakespeare and I reveal the wonders of Molière to them. And who knows, maybe one day it’ll be me hitting Irish roads to share a bit of French culture with the Irish.
EDITH MICLO
Tour Manager – Facilitator – Acting coach – Assistant director
EDITH MICLO • Tour Manager - Facilitator - Acting coach - Assistant director
Queen of the Brittany crepe, I’ve travelled all around Ireland from pub to pub, creperie to creperie, from the east to the west, guided by a pint of Guinness and Irish music. Active in the voluntary sector, I had the chance to travel all around the world and to have multiple exciting encounters in my role as a youth camp director, facilitator or simply as an adventurer. All these moments and stories have led me to wanting to tell them in films, creating characters, to…
Hang on! It’s not over yet! The adventure continues with EITC! My essence? To travel into the heart of people. I’m on the right track.
FRANÇOIS JAULIN
Tour manager
FRANÇOIS JAULIN • Tour manager
Actor, director… and now Tour manager… meeting Pickles is very important in my career…
Accompanying the actors, setting up the stage technically and resolving last minute problems is a stimulating and fulfilling job…
Now, I am no stranger to the Belgian and French roads… nor am I a stranger to all their different beers…
CLEMENT LEFRAIS
Tour manager
CLEMENT LEFRAIS • Tour manager
A versatile actor, I started my life with a desire to be an artist.
Naturally curious and heterogeneous, I work and explore different areas, such as theatre and music.
Actor? Yes, but above all an actor in life.
With an adventurous attitude, I never say no to a new experience! To travel on a tour van with little irish lambs, to travel around the world with them, who could want anything more :) ?
CHARLENRY TRICOIRE
Tour Manager
CHARLENRY TRICOIRE • Tour manager
French actor for the last 10 years, I’ve already traveled almost all the french roads, from north to south and east to west but always for shows in french.
From now on I would like to expand my career internationally. Thus, the idea of practicing the English language on a daily basis with the PICKLES Company immediately appealed to me.
I am always eager to live new experiences and I am looking forward to being on the road with these young English speaking native actors.
Eric Lafosse
Tour Manager
ERIC LAFOSSE • Tour Manager
Curious, adventurous and definitely in love with art, travel and human being, I started as a hip-hop/contemporary dancer and choreographer, and became actor and director a few years ago… and now I’m a Tour manager with Pickles !
Like a dream comes true, to take care and drive the actors all over Belgium and France to meet their audience, and be sure everything will be ok before, during and after the show. As a sugar daddy would do for his kids, and as people did for me all along my life… What else !
LEA HOSTACHY
Tour manager
LEA HOSTACHY • Tour manager
After performing in French in schools of Ireland and Italy, I love the idea of driving English native speakers for the tour with Pickles, for them to share their language in the same way I did with mine, because I know it’s an amazing experience for pupils.
I always want to make sure the actors have anything they need to give the best of themselves to the spectators, so that everyone is happy then!
ACTORS
Katie HALLS
Actress
Katie HALLS
Katie is an American actress from Northern California with 15 years of experience in plays, musicals, and a few recent film projects. She received her Bachelor of Arts in both Theatre and English at UC Davis in 2021 and is excited to further her career with the Pickles Company this touring season!
Some of her hobbies include improv comedy, swing dancing, nature photography, traveling, and geeking out over Star Trek. She can’t wait to get on tour and share her love of theatre with the students.
JAMIE FEIDNER
Actress
JAMIE FEIDNER
Hello! I’m Jamie Feidner, a New York City based actor and recent graduate from the University of Connecticut’s BFA Acting program. I’m looking forward to spreading my love for language and physical theatre, seeing new places, and contributing to the legacy of theatre in education! This is my first tour with Pickles, and I can’t wait to see what the next few months will bring.
NATHAN TROCHET
Actor
NATHAN TROCHET
JACEY SCHULT
Actress
JACEY SCHULT
I’m a 23 year old actor from US! My love for performing all started when I did my 4th grade talent show and sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and I was HOOKED! I’m a graduate of Rider University class of 2019 with a degree in Acting. It was there that I fell in love with Shakespeare and the magical world of Clown! I also love drawing and painting. This is my first tour with Pickles and I absolutely cannot wait to get started!
I’m itching to meet new people and see new places xxx
CHRISANTHI LIVADIOTIS
Actress
CHRISANTHI LIVADIOTIS
Chrisanthi is an actor, performance maker and facilitator who has completed her drama studies at Queen Mary University of London and Columbia University in New York. She loves to travel, explore new places and connect with people through conversation and the arts. She is passionate about the transformational and educational value of the theatre and is excited to be a part of Pickles Company.
ELIZA CARSON
Actress
ELIZA CARSON
Hi, I’m Eliza Carson! I come from the US and have always loved acting and playing! As a recent graduate from the University of Connecticut, I always loved Shakespeare and clowning, as well as developing a passion for teaching. Having been in theatre since I was 7 years old I know personally how useful of a tool it is for learning and education! I’m so excited to be touring!
DANTE CAMARDA
Actor
DANTE CAMARDA
Hello! It’s Dante. I’m an actor musician based between Toronto, Canada and London, England.
I have recently earned my BA Honours in drama and theatre studies at the University of Toronto and later a diploma in classical acting from LAMDA, UK. I cut my teeth as an actor musician performing the works of Shakespeare and Marlowe and that experience has made me a certified silly bonkers nerd. I love playing music and can currently play 8 instruments! (My favourite to play right now is the accordion). I’m very passionate about football, theatre, classics, world music, and working with students. I am so grateful to be on this journey with everyone. See you on the road!
HANNAH HARTWELL
Actress
HANNAH HARTWELL
I am an actor, singer and musician from South Wales in the UK. Since childhood, I have loved telling stories, and been in awe of the power storytelling can have over an audience. I trained at East 15 Acting School, graduating with a degree in Acting and Community Theatre, and I am passionate about theatre and performance that has an impact.
JOE BURKE
Actor
JOE BURKE
Hi! My name’s James and I’m a British actor, writer and theatremaker from Salisbury, Wiltshire, but currently living in Glasgow. I love theatre performance, but I also love travelling around, meeting new people, practicing languages and learning from/teaching others, so Pickles is the perfect place! If you catch me on my downtime, I’ll probably be enjoying the great outdoors.
LAUREN EASTON
Actress
LAUREN EASTON
Hello! My name is Lauren and I’m so excited to be heading out on my first tour with pickles! Before moving permanently to the states when I was 8, I grew up in Ireland and have been desperately trying to make my way back to Europe ever since. So this tour couldn’t be more perfect! I graduated in 2020 from Drake University with a BFA in musical theatre and currently live in New York City. I can’t wait to start this adventure and bring the magic of live theatre to students all around Europe!
JANE PAUL
Actress
JANE PAUL
Jane is a poet, teacher and actress coming from the far corners of the earth: Aotearoa, New Zealand! Jane has worked in theatre and education for the last eight years, and has dipped her toes in TiE. She is ready to plunge head first into the next chapter!
NEIL OKTAY
Actor
NEIL OKTAY
Our plays have been specially created for pupils learning English as a foreign language. The actors speak clearly and the plays are written to include a lot of repetition to make it easy for students to understand what is happening.
For each show we create a few small roles for students to perform. There are also other moments of interaction during the play that the whole audience can take part in. Language level isn’t a block for students to participate.
Each workshop is an exploration led by native English-speaking actors and fuelled by the dynamics of the group: exploration is encouraged, the language barrier is broken and everything becomes a reason to play and to improvise. Pure fun!