• 
  Alex Lawther

  Benjamin Britten
• 
  Joseph Horovitz

  Himself, interviewee, Royal College of Music
• 
  Simon Kinder

  Himself, interviewee, history teacher, Greshams School
• 
  John Hurt

  Narrated by (voice)
• 
  John Gillett

  Brian Simon
• 
  Jeremy Lloyd

  David Layton
• 
  Christopher Scoular

  Bishop of Norwich
• 
  Bradley Hall

  Peter Floud

• 
  Mykola Allen

  Oliver Berthoud
• 
  Christopher Theobald

  Donald Maclean
• 
  Alastair Boag

  Walter Greatorex
• 
  Jake Mann

  James Klugmann
• 
  Nick Stromberg

  Roger Simon
• 
  Paul Hands

  George Hawson
• 
  Madeleine Brally

  Matron

• 
  Callum Chapman

  Bernard Floud
• 
  William Strong

  Savory
• 
  Anita Lasker-Wallfisch

  Herself, interviewee
• 
  Iain Burnside

  Himself, interviewee, also performer - pianist
• 
  Raphael Wallisch

  Himself, interviewee, also performer - cellist
• 
  Sue Phipps

  Herself, interviewee, Benjamin Britten's agent