Saturday, December 28

Interviews

Red Ladder Local takes theatre to people where they live
5Apr By Paul ClarkeNo Comments
Interviews

Red Ladder Local takes theatre to people where they live

If there was one company you might expect to take theatre out of its safe traditional spaces playing to the usual suspects it would be radical mischief makers Red Ladder. Since 1968 this decidedly left leaning company has created work that challenges the way we think about the world, so it’s no surprise they created Red Ladder Local. Like all great ideas it is simple. Instead of just playing big theatres, Red Ladder and other companies take scaled down, but high-quality, productions to non-traditional venues like community centres, pubs and working men’s clubs. It all started when Red Ladder’s producer Chris Lloyd went along to the then Yorkshire Playhouse to see a new short play called Playing The Joker, and he had a lightbulb moment which led years later to the creation of Red L...
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A Spotlight on Keith Merrill, Artistic Director of The Salon
24Mar By Caroline WorswickNo Comments
Interviews

A Spotlight on Keith Merrill, Artistic Director of The Salon

Ahead of the script-in-hand staged reading of Ghosts at The Other Palace on the 31st March, Caroline Worswick, Deputy Editor of North West End UK, discusses the upcoming show and what the ethos is behind The Salon.  This collaborative support network for upcoming talent also brings the audience a new dimension in theatre entertainment which combines cabaret and theatre for your evening of entertainment. The Salon in its first few shows has attracted international actors to perform for the company with a range of interesting scripts with unique adaptations. To find out more about The Salon and to book tickets go to - https://www.thesalonuk.biz/ and The Other Palace’s website - https://theotherpalace.co.uk/ghosts/ You created The Salon in a basement in New York in 2012, with a plan ...
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Wrongsemble take the ugly sisters to the people
21Mar By Paul ClarkeNo Comments
Interviews

Wrongsemble take the ugly sisters to the people

Wrongsemble take the ugly sisters to the people Traditionally the ugly sisters have been the perennial villains in Cinderella but maybe it’s so quite so simple is the idea behind a new show from Wrongsemble The Leeds based company set themselves up to make work for families, and The Not So Ugly Sisters takes a look at the classic fairy tale from their perspective for the very first time. Written and directed by their founder Elvi Piper, sisters Dolly and Barb are in their northern hair salon as kid sister Cindy prepares to marry her prince charming, but they’ve not been invited to the wedding. This bittersweet musical retelling of a story familiar to every child (and adult) aims to make us think about the sisters in a very different way. The two hander with a new cast is headin...
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Musical director Harry Blake talks about Say Yes to Tess at Leeds Playhouse
11Mar By Paul ClarkeNo Comments
Interviews

Musical director Harry Blake talks about Say Yes to Tess at Leeds Playhouse

One of the first-time candidates in the 2017 general election was Tess Seddon who stood for the Yorkshire Party in Leeds North East. Not surprisingly given it is a safe Labour safe this political novice didn’t win with her 303 votes, but she has now turned her experiences as a candidate into a musical comedy, Say Yes to Tess. Unexpectedly thrust into the political maelstrom Tess takes her newly formed party’s passion for Yorkshire devolution to the streets, but with the election day looming her play follows the candidate as she starts to question whether she’s doing the right thing. Our Yorkshire Editor Paul Clarke caught up with the show’s musical director Harry Blake to find out more about a show that attempts to make politics fun, and maybe just a bit more accessible. Tell m...
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American Idiot set to play Northwich Plaza
10Feb By Paul DownhamNo Comments
Interviews

American Idiot set to play Northwich Plaza

An amateur musical theatre society in Cheshire are currently in rehearsals for the little performed musical American Idiot featuring the music of American rock band Green Day. We spoke to director Louise Colohan ahead of their final weeks in rehearsal. You are back with Mid Cheshire Musical Theatre Company for a third time to direct Green Day’s American Idiot. Did it take long for the committee to convince you that you were the director for this show? Not long at all. I said yes immediately. This is a rare opportunity to create something innovative and special which can redefine how people see musical theatre in the area. Following the success of Evita and Sunshine on Leith I felt this was an amazing challenge for both myself and the society. For those unaware, can you briefly ...
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Interview: Crystal Skillman, writer of Rain and Zoe Save The World
4Feb By Caroline WorswickNo Comments
Interviews

Interview: Crystal Skillman, writer of Rain and Zoe Save The World

Jermyn Street Theatre is one of London’s best loved West End theatres.  It may be small, but it is lion-hearted in its approach to programming interesting and challenging shows and Rain and Zoe Save The World is no exception.  Crystal Skillman discusses her new play and touches on why she chose a UK theatre as a place to premiere her work and what drove her to write such a contemporary play that echoes what is at the forefront of current news, which has also united the younger generation. The play runs from the 10th of February until the 12th of March.  To buy tickets and to find out further information, go to the Jermyn Street Theatre website by following this link - https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/rain-and-zoe-save-the-world/ Without giving away any spoilers, c...
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Pilot Theatre’s Esther Richardson talks their new production The Bone Sparrow
1Feb By Paul ClarkeNo Comments
Interviews

Pilot Theatre’s Esther Richardson talks their new production The Bone Sparrow

Pilot Theatre has adapted Zana Fraillon’s The Bone Sparrow for a timely national tour telling the tale of a Rohingya refugee boy Subhi who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre in Australia. Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson will direct an adaption by Shakthi Shakthidharan, who is an award-winning Australian writer, producer, composer and director for screen and stage of Sri Lankan heritage and Tamil ancestry. In a world dominated by Zoom calls this cross continental production has also been developed in association with Australian Theatre for Young People. Closer to home it has had support of Bradford’s SBC Theatre, a group of creative professionals and artists who are committed to making work with, about and for those seeking sanctuary in the UK a...
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Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker, joint founders of ‘A Bit Lit’
7Jan By Caroline WorswickNo Comments
Interviews

Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker, joint founders of ‘A Bit Lit’

After hearing Andy Kesson speak at a Shakespeare Festival a couple of years ago, I was eager to find out more about the newly formed collaboration ‘A Bit Lit’.  Founded by couple Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker, they are excited to share their passion for Shakespeare with others who wish to learn about the culture of the 1600’s.  Using performance, this will be a truly interactive, inclusive way of learning. A Bit Lit’s A Day Out in Shakespeare’s Theatre will take place on Saturday 15th January 4pm–6pm, and will be followed by a longer course, How to Make an Elizabethan Theatre starting 14th February. To find out more and book tickets visit - https://abitlit.co/ Further courses and events will be announced soon. Your first course A Day Out in Shakespeare’s Theatre, offe...
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Donald and Benoit will be enchanting Sound Stage audiences this Christmas
9Dec By Paul ClarkeNo Comments
Interviews

Donald and Benoit will be enchanting Sound Stage audiences this Christmas

This Christmas Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Prime Theatre present a Sound Stage festive premiere of audio play Donald and Benoit, based on a children’s book created by legendary Scottish writer John Patrick Byrne, and adapted by the award-winning lighting designer Jeanine Byrne. For the uninitiated Sound Stage is an innovative audio-digital venture offering audiences a unique and engrossing online theatre experience of new plays from the best in British theatre. They are works that in the future Pitlochry hope to convert for the stage. Jeanine Byrne is best known for her lighting design, but her second cancer diagnosis means she dedicates all her spare energy to making work, including this family friendly adaptation of Benoit and Donald, which is available on Sound Stage from 17-19...
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From Japan to Leeds Playhouse – Rupert Hands
2Dec By Paul DownhamNo Comments
Interviews

From Japan to Leeds Playhouse – Rupert Hands

The annual festive shows at Leeds Playhouse have become must see spectaculars for theatre lovers across West Yorkshire and this year they recruited a massive cast to rethink the legend of Peter Pan Wendy & Peter offers a new spin on the JM Barrie classic as writer Ella Hickson has decided to tell the story through Wendy Darling's eyes, but audiences can rest assured it’s still going to be a rollicking tale of a battle in Neverland with the dastardly Captain Hook full of flying, fighting and fun. This version of the beloved tale of the boy who won’t grow up started life at the Royal Shakespeare Company and has just returned from a critically acclaimed run in Tokyo. There the creative team added an epic score by Japanese composer Shuhei Kamimura and added some Anime video design. ...
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