Alex Wright is a Yorkshire-based theatre-maker who as a founder member of Belt Up Theatre reached national audiences with a series of immersive, free-form adaptations of well-known works. Since then he has set up The Flanagan Collective, with which he continues to adapt, write and direct a range of pieces. For the past nine months he’s been part of a group—including artists, producers and a pub landlord—which has been responsible for The Fleeting Arms, a ramshackle, open pop-up arts venue run fo...
Dec 19, 2015•20 min•Ep. 91
The first Christmas production at HOME Manchester will be the English language stage première of Cornelia Funke’s best-selling children’s fantasy novel Inkheart . In this episode, we speak to Irish actor Will Irvine, who returns to Manchester to play Capricorn, the ultimate "baddy", and to director Walter Meierjohann, who directed an earlier adaptation of this story in Germany in 2006. Inkheart , adapted for the stage by Stephen Sharkey and Walter Meierjohann for HOME Manchester, runs from Frida...
Dec 03, 2015•21 min•Ep. 90
In this episode, we look at two very different non-pantomime versions of the Snow White story that can be seen this Christmas. Natasha Holmes is artistic director of Yorkshire-based Tell Tale Hearts , a company that creates highly visual participatory theatre for children and families based on ideas from the children themselves. Just before rehearsals began, Natasha talked to us about a version of the popular fairy tale that features Yorkshire miners as well as aerial performance from outdoor th...
Nov 23, 2015•53 min•Ep. 89
Leeds-based children’s theatre company tutti frutti has teamed up with York Theatre Royal and playwright Emma Reeves, Olivier-nominated for her adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather, on a new adaptation of the children’s folk tale Snow Child , inspired by Arthur Ransome’s adaptation of this traditional tale entitled The Little Daughter of the Snow . Emma spoke to BTG editor David Chadderton early in the rehearsal period about the play, tutti frutti's collaborative production methods an...
Oct 01, 2015•24 min•Ep. 88
York-based Pilot Theatre is currently in rehearsals for Outsiders , a new re-imagining of Albert Camus’ novel L’Etranger . The play is written by Emteaz Hussain and staged by the Australian director Fraser Corfield. It works around the spare narrative of the original to focus on two marginalised female characters, Marie and Sumaya, exploring the experience of migration and the impact of trauma in the lives of these two women. In this episode, director Fraser Corfield and performers Lou Broadbent...
Sep 25, 2015•20 min•Ep. 87
BTG Midlands editor Steve Orme talks to actor Robert Powell, who has taken over the title role in Mike Bartlett's King Charles III from Tim Pigott-Smith for a UK tour which began in September 2015. Powell talks about taking on the most difficult role he has ever played as well as looking back on his 50-year acting career, including his iconic TV performance as Jesus of Nazareth in 1977, an uncharacteristic 6-year run in hospital soap Holby City , playing comedy with Jasper Carrott and the loneli...
Sep 20, 2015•34 min•Ep. 86
Michael Billington has been theatre critic of The Guardian since 1971 and of Country Life since 1986, but began reviewing for The Times in 1965. He is the author of biographies of Harold Pinter and Peggy Ashcroft, critical studies of Tom Stoppard and Alan Ayckbourn, a celebration of Ken Dodd and a collection of reviews, One Night Stands . At his home in West London, Michael talks to BTG's Philip Fisher about his new book, The 101 Greatest Plays from Antiquity to the Present , and about his 50-ye...
Sep 08, 2015•41 min•Ep. 85
Northern Broadsides resident director Conrad Nelson is directing the company's first production in its 23-year history of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale as well as appearing as jealous Sicilian King Leontes and composing the music. In this episode, Conrad speaks about the production and about the challenges of touring a cast of thirteen to venues with very different types of performance space, from proscenium to traverse and in-the-round. The production will open at co-producer Harrogate Theatr...
Sep 02, 2015•31 min•Ep. 84
BTG's Philip Fisher talks with theatre critics Mark Fisher and Neil Cooper about their picks of this year's Fringe and International Festivals. The productions discussed include 887 by Robert Lepage and The Encounter by Simon McBurney in EIF and, in the Edinburgh Fringe programme, the Jennifer Tremblay Trilogy at Assembly Roxy and Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour at the Traverse. Mark Fisher is an Edinburgh-based freelance journalist and critic specialising in theatre and the arts who writes for ...
Aug 28, 2015•28 min•Ep. 83
In a wide-ranging discussion, BTG's Philip Fisher talks with theatre producer Richard Jordan about this year's Edinburgh Fringe and International Festival highlights, star ratings, reviews web sites, Edinburgh venues old and new and more, including Richard's own Fringe productions.
Aug 24, 2015•28 min•Ep. 82
In the thick of the 2015 Edinburgh festivals, Fergus Linehan talks to BTG's Philip Fisher about his first year as director of the Edinburgh International Festival. For more information on the Festival, see www.eif.co.uk . (Photo credit: Eoin Carey)
Aug 20, 2015•20 min•Ep. 81
This podcast episode features two veterans of the Edinburgh Fringe: actor and writer Pip Utton and comedian and animator Howard Read. Pip Utton's one-man shows have been a popular feature on the Fringe for more than two decades. This year, he is reviving one of his most popular shows, Adolf , but he will also launch a brand new show in which he plays Margaret Thatcher. Adolf will be at The Assembly Rooms on George Street for just one performance on 22 August. Playing Maggie will run at the same ...
Aug 15, 2015•33 min•Ep. 80
In his new play Edith in the Dark , playwright Philip Meeks has combined the unusual life and some of the lesser-known adult ghost stories of Edith Nesbit, celebrated author of children's classics such as The Railway Children , Five Children and It and The Phoenix and the Carpet . It will be at Momentum Playhouse at St Stephens in Edinburgh from 7 to 30 August with previews on 5 and 6. Les Enfants Terribles co-founder James Seager tells us all about the successful company's latest production, Ma...
Aug 04, 2015•57 min•Ep. 79
Manchester's 24:7 Theatre Festival was founded in 2004 as a showcase for new plays, as well as for up-and-coming acting and directing talent. It has since become a key event on the Manchester arts calendar. A week before this year's 24:7, we spoke to co-founder David Slack together with the festival's general manager Annika Edge in Manchester about an eventful year for the organisation since the 2014 event. The 2015 24:7 Theatre Festival Big Festival Weekend will take place at the Martin Harris ...
Jul 18, 2015•24 min•Ep. 78
The Studio at The Lowry in Salford supports and presents new work and new companies and artists in various ways. At a showcase on 21 April 2015, 11 artists and companies gave presentations about themselves and their work to potential supporters, sponsors and venue partners, and British Theatre Guide was able to speak to a few of them. The Letter Room is a devising theatre company from Newcastle. Its third show, Five Feet In Front , will première at The Lowry in June 2015. Kill The Beast's second...
Apr 25, 2015•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 77
In April 2015, Manchester-based Box of Tricks Theatre Company will begin a tour of Plastic Figurines , a new play by Ella Carmen Greenhill, at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio. In this episode, Ella and director Adam Quayle, during rehearsals in Manchester, speak about the writing of the play and its roots in Ella's real-life relationship with her brother, who is on the autistic spectrum. You can also hear about Ella's other work and about the philosophy of Manchester-based new writing company Box...
Mar 31, 2015•26 min•Ep. 76
In November 2014, David Thacker announced that he would step down as artistic director of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton at the end of his current tenure in July 2015 after six years at the venue. Four months later, the theatre announced that its associate director and head of new writing, Elizabeth Newman, will take over from him. We spoke to Elizabeth at the Octagon about her new appointment, her ideas for the future of the venue, her campaigning on theatre issues—including speaking in Parliame...
Mar 22, 2015•35 min•Ep. 75
Sir Jonathan Miller has returned to Halifax-based Northern Broadsides Theatre Company to director company founder Barrie Rutter in the title role of Shakespeare’s King Lear . BTG editor David Chadderton speaks to Barrie Rutter about his new OBE, playing Lear, working with Jonathan Miller and touring large-cast productions and to Catherine Kinsella about playing Cordelia, winning a Manchester Theatre Award and making a career as an actor in the north of England. The production will open at the co...
Feb 22, 2015•37 min•Ep. 74
Douglas McGrath, who wrote the book, speaks to BTG London editor Philip Fisher about Beautiful – the Carole King Musical . They talk about the genesis of the project, the pleasure of interviewing the four leading characters and developing their lives into a musical and the work itself and its stars both on Broadway and in London. Beautiful - The Carole King Musical began previews at London's Aldwych Theatre on 10 February 2015. Press night will be on 24 February, and the show is currently bookin...
Feb 14, 2015•23 min•Ep. 73
Comedian and actor Jonny Donohoe talks about the Edinburgh Fringe and New York success of Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan, as well as his experiences of working interactively with audiences and playing opposite Sarah Jessica Parker. After a successful run on the Edinburgh Fringe in Paines Plough's portable Roundabout Theatre at Summerhall, the production transferred to Barrow Street Theatre in New York from 5 December 2014 until 29 March 2015. Following its run in New York, Every Brill...
Jan 15, 2015•22 min•Ep. 72
2014 sees Leon Craig celebrate his 13th pantomime Dame and first Beauty and the Beast at Oxtord Playhouse . He speaks to Simon Sladen about breaking into the industry, his favourite pantomime titles and reveals some of his experiences from daming up and down the country. Keith Jack and Olly Pike star as Prince Charming and his valet Dandini in the Capitol Theatre, Horsham 's pantomime Cinderella . One of panto's best-established double acts, the two roles are rarely thought of in such a way. Sim...
Dec 23, 2014•29 min•Ep. 71
Home Manchester will hold its ninth annual Re:Play Festival, which celebrates the best productions from the Manchester fringe scene from the previous year, in January 2015 at its temporary theatre space in an office block at Number One First Street. At the launch for Re:Play, we hear from Re:Play 2015 producer Rebecca Jenner and some of the contributors to the festival: co-writer of War Stories , Rob Johnston, writer and performer of An Evening of Filth and Despair , Jenny May Morgan, and writer...
Dec 18, 2014•26 min•Ep. 70
Simon Aylin has ticked off almost every role both front and backstage in panto. Now best known as a writer and director, he speaks to Simon Sladen about the season ahead and his first time as a pantomime producer. Simon's pantomimes this year include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Beck Theatre, Hayes featuring Linda Robson, Dick Whittington at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon with Nigel Havers, Aladdin at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings starring Louie Spence, as well as Peter Pan at the Chel...
Dec 02, 2014•17 min•Ep. 69
Philip Fisher talks to American actor/director David Cromer about the striking new production of an American classic Our Town at the Almeida Theatre in London in which he stars. They also talk about his career and aspirations. Our Town runs at the Almeida Theatre in London from 10 October to 29 November 2014. For more information, see www.almeida.co.uk . Image credit: Marc Brenner.
Nov 24, 2014•22 min•Ep. 68
Oily Cart Theatre Company was founded in 1981 to specialise in creating theatre for the under-5s, considered a challenging audience by most theatre groups. A few years later, it started to create theatre for children and young people with multiple and profound learning difficulties or on the autism spectrum, which is now a major strand of its work. Oily Cart co-founder Tim Webb talks about the company's philosophy and methods and also specifically about the company’s Christmas show, There Was An...
Nov 09, 2014•40 min•Ep. 67
Theatre director Michael Rudman talks to BTG London Editor Philip Fisher about a long career in theatre, running the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, Hampstead Theatre in London and the Lyttelton at the National Theatre on the South Bank. He also discusses his productions of Death of a Salesman in the West End and on Broadway and his long association with Felicity Kendal. Michael Rudman's memoirs are published by Capercaillie Books as I Joke Too Much: The Theatre Directors Tale , and were reviewed...
Oct 31, 2014•27 min•Ep. 66
Birmingham’s BE Festival of European arts will be touring the best of 2014’s event for the fourth year, taking three performances from Hungary, Austria and Belgium to venues throughout the UK and Madrid. In this episode, BTG's David Chadderton speaks to Mike Tweddle, who is one of the festival’s directors with Miguel Oyarzun and Isla Aguilar. The 2014 tour visits runs from 8 October to 8 November, visiting the Pit at the Barbican in London, The Door at Birmingham Rep , Bath Spa Live , Circomedia...
Oct 15, 2014•25 min•Ep. 65
Imitating the Dog, a company known for its integration of video and other technology into its theatre work, has managed to secure the rights for the first ever UK stage adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms for a short tour of the UK and Italy. The novel has been adapted for the stage and is directed jointly by Imitating the Dog founder members Pete Brooks and Andrew Quick. In this episode, David Chadderton speaks to Pete Brooks a week before the show’s opening about the...
Oct 06, 2014•32 min•Ep. 64
York-based Pilot Theatre’s latest project is an adaptation by British playwright Roy Williams of the Greek classic play Antigone by Sophocles. In this episode, Pilot artistic director Marcus Romer, who is directing this production, talks about how the project came about, how they have approached this ancient Greek play, working with Roy Williams and about the work and philosophy of Pilot Theatre Company. Antigone from Pilot Theatre opens at Derby Theatre on 19 September 2014, then goes to Northe...
Sep 18, 2014•27 min•Ep. 63
The hottest tickets for 2014’s autumn theatre season in Manchester are productions of Shakespeare from two of the region's leading theatre companies. The Royal Exchange Theatre production of Hamlet is directed by artistic director Sarah Frankcom starring popular stage and TV actress Maxine Peake in the title role. When we spoke to Sarah and Maxine with two and a half weeks to go before opening, this had already become one of the theatre’s most popular productions. Hamlet runs at the Royal Exchan...
Sep 10, 2014•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 62
