Dirty Laughs Podcast

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When life DOESN’T give you lemons, make a musical! Join Sam, Harriet and Aylish as they attempt to create a musical from scratch while reflecting on dreams and disappointment along the way. Follow us on Instagram @dirtylaughspodcast or email podcast@dirt

Dirty Laughs Podcast


    • Jul 14, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 56 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Dirty Laughs Podcast

    Jo's Monologue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 44:03


    This week, Sam presents a monologue for our lead character. The girls also learn about the smash hit musical Rent, discuss rekindling your motivation and have strong feelings about Harriet's Headscratcher!

    Developing The Shadow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 58:18


    In a jam-packed episode, the team explore the character of The Shadow and discuss how they can be used in their musical. They also make Tony Awards predictions, learn about the new Broadway musical Shucked, have an honest conversation about how the industry can better support it's performers, and try to figure out a riddle.

    2nd Birthday Progress Update

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 29:07


    It's our second Birthday and the girls are celebrating with games, musical theatre discussions and a head scratcher that creates some extremely different reactions. Also in this Birthday special, the team check in on their progress following a full read through of the first draft for their musical.

    First Draft Read-Through (Section One)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 40:32


    The girls read through an initial draft of the first section of their musical, discuss the "But & Therefore Technique" and progress with their storyboard. Also this week, Aylish talks about the Olivier Award winning musical Standing At The Sky's Edge, Sam discusses a message from one of our listeners, and Harriet asks a turtle themed headscratcher.

    The art of letting go

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2023 58:39


    In a jam-packed first episode of 2023, the girls are back and flooded with messages and stories from YOU (the listeners). This week, they do a deep-dive discussion into overcoming the moments you want to give up (and whether there are times it is the right step to take), they also talk musical storyboards, social media and counting sheep.

    2022 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2022 42:31


    It's the last episode of 2022 and the team are reflecting on their own massive year, giving an update on their recent industry pitch, quizzing you (and each other) on this year in the theatre world; before revisiting their most popular headscratcher to finally get a definitive answer.

    Naming and defining secondary characters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 43:03


    In the penultimate episode of 2022, Harriet presents a new scene and the trio decide names and profiles for their main character's friends. They also learn the history behind the musical Waitress, share the roles they'd most like to see each other perform and debate the origins of a famous saying.

    defining naming waitress secondary characters
    Creating a rowdy pub song

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 45:04


    Aylish revisits an old scene and presents a song idea to bring it to life. The team also discuss imposter syndrome, characters they connect to emotionally, the one musical they would recommend above all others and answer a crab themed headscratcher.

    Pitching our musical for the first time

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 41:54


    The girls are back after a short break to share how they felt about pitching their musical Battle for the first time and some new ideas inspired by valuable feedback. Also this week: Aylish tells the creative story behind the musical Next To Normal, Sam shares a listener's question around working with friends and Harriet asks a pet themed headscratcher.

    Creating a character: "The Shadow"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2022 41:28


    Harriet talks through some choreography and creates an official character for their featured ensemble dancer called The Shadow, while the girls play a game and discuss how their self-expectations have changed.

    Revisiting one of our first scenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2022 47:43


    This week the girls discuss how to write a scene where their characters separate and revisit their first piece of music to develop how that could fit into multiple scenes. They also discuss jukebox musicals, theatre etiquette and the smash hit musical GREASE!

    The one with three new scenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2022 43:28


    In this bumper episode, each of the girls presents something they've been working on - including dialogue, choreography and music. We also talk about The Prom and Disney Pixar...

    Reconciling with your younger self

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 41:17


    The girls are back to discuss everything that's happened in the West End Musical Theatre industry recently, while discussing how their main character can reconcile with their younger self to heal from trauma and giving tips on getting bad reviews.

    "I Want" songs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 40:46


    The girls discuss "I Want" songs and clarify what their characters want at the start of their musical; while learning about In The Heights and sharing advice on self-motivation.

    Character Monologues and Progress Update

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 37:04


    This week Harriet performs monologues she's written to help understand our characters and the girls check in on what scenes are left to write; while learning about Songs For A New World and discussing movies that could become musicals.

    progress character monologues songs for a new world
    A new original song

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 38:51


    In this episode, the team listen to and unpack a brand new song for the musical, discuss Andrew Lloyd Webber and debate what Musicals could be given a refresh.

    Read through of opening scenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2022 37:04


    The girls are back with a jam packed episode where they read through the first two scenes, learn about the Pasek & Paul musical Edges and open up on their dreams for the musical.

    Happy 1st Birthday!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 35:11


    This week sees Birthday celebrations, a working title finally chosen for the musical, dream dinner parties discussed and a headscratcher that's currently sweeping the globe...

    Head vs Heart (Featuring Niall Dunne and Steve Dunne)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 46:13


    In a special episode, the team interview brothers Niall Dunne and Steve Dunne to delve deeper into the minds of those who lead with their heads and those who lead with their hearts.

    head niall steve dunne
    Discussing the lead character's gender identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 37:44


    The team restructure a previously written song and discuss the gender identity of their lead character (and how to approach keeping it open to change), while sharing their drama school audition stories and learning about the Stiles and Drewe musical Just So.

    Creating a pub scene

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 29:09


    In this episode, the team hear a scene that Harriet has been working on; while learning about Sweeney Todd and sharing theories on the Valentine's Day heart.

    Dissecting another scene

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 39:57


    This week, Sam brings a scene she's been looking at and the girls discuss demo recordings, concert versions of musicals and the brand new musical A Strange Loop.

    A song to introduce Jo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 33:54


    This week the girls go through their research into arguments between heart-led and head-led people, look at the beginnings of a song to introduce one of their characters and hear the story behind the musical Come From Away.

    New year, same show (but better...)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 31:11


    The girls welcome you into 2022 by setting their goals for the year, discussing how the arts helped them remember facts and learning about the musical The Grinning Man.

    Presenting the opening of the musical (and wrapping up 2021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 34:07


    In this special episode, the girls reflect on their first year as a writing team, present the opening of their musical and learn the story behind The Muppet Christmas Carol.

    Creating the opening number

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 30:15


    In our 30th episode, the team put together music for the very start of the musical and learn about the festive classic White Christmas.

    Hearing our first song

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 32:37


    In this episode, the girls pay tribute to composer Stephen Sondheim and dissect the word castability; while Aylish shares some music she's been writing for their musical for the first time.

    Performing potential monologues

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 29:59


    In this episode, the team present emotional speeches they've been writing for their lead character and discuss whether you should write for the masses or for a niche market.

    Creating signature character melodies

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 27:21


    This week Sam brings some music ideas to the table and the team discuss whether the mark of a successful show should require a Broadway/West End stage.

    Merging our writing together

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 28:27


    This week the girls look at the scenes each of them have written and try to piece them together, while discussing the power of being alone and learning about the musical Jersey Boys.

    Writing the first scene

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 29:28


    This week the girls each share their writing for the first time, comparing three different versions of the same scene; while discussing song writing and learning about the musical Venice.

    Preparing to write the first scenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 27:54


    This week the team set some ground rules as they prepare to write dialogue for the first time, while discussing advice from an existing composer.

    Unpacking Jo's past trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 31:10


    The girls are back after a short break to discuss what happened to their lead character years earlier and discuss whether emotions enhance or hinder creativity.

    Defining the emotional trigger

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 26:05


    This week the team explore what has triggered their lead character to search for more, while questioning whether education is important to a creative process.

    Completing the storyboard

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 28:21


    This week the girls finish their musical storyboard, while celebrating the return of theatre and discussing whether every act of creation must come from destruction.

    Building a storyboard (Part Two)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2021 26:21


    This week the girls continue building their storyboard, while discussing whether it's better to surround yourself with like-minded people or seek out those who are different to you.

    Building a storyboard

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 27:10


    This week, the trio start creating a storyboard of the scenes in their musical, while sharing their advice for other people considering creating their own opportunities in life.

    Ending the story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 29:45


    This week the team finish writing the main plot of their musical, while discussing their fears about chasing the things they want in life and whether that fear can be a good thing.

    Interviewing a real life Jo (with Josh Smith)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 28:11


    This week the girls are joined by special guest Josh Smith (entrepreneur and creater of travel business Snapacker), where they discuss going for the things you want in life, creating your own opportunities and starting businesses in tough times. They also delve into Josh's own personal experience of being in exactly the same situation as their musical's lead character Jo and the inner battle that led to him uprooting his entire life.

    Discussing "The Incident"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 28:59


    This week, the girls explore some questions from a writer and discuss what happened to their lead character to shape who they are, while asking themselves whether you can turn every obstacle into an opportunity.

    Discussing the lead character's motivations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 24:33


    This week the trio dive deeper into what drives their lead character, while discussing what makes a good writer.

    Developing the plot

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 26:49


    This week the team remove their subconscious writing limitations and continue putting together a story timeline; while discussing what makes a good teacher/coach.

    Creating the opening timeline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 28:37


    This week the team clarify part one of their story, while debating what exactly a “passion project” is.

    Researching award winning musicals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 28:20


    This week, the trio tell the story of three successful musicals and debate whether creative talent can be learned.

    Reigniting our inspiration

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 25:59


    This week the trio discuss what makes a strong opening song, while discussing whether it's ok to take ideas and inspiration from other people's work.

    Examining Act One

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2021 27:26


    The 10th episode celebrations have arrived! This week Sam, Harriet and Aylish begin shaping some of Act One, while discussing whether it's better to dream big or be realistic.

    Deciding deadlines & timelines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 29:17


    This week the trio set some deadlines and begin looking at a story timeline, whilst sharing pieces of advice that's never left them.

    Interviewing a writer (with Steve Dunne)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 29:43


    This week Sam, Harriet and Aylish are joined by Steve Dunne (writer, composer and host of the podcast Teenage Mixtape) to discuss his own experience writing a musical and how to work with or without inspiration.

    writer steve dunne
    Carving out character relationships

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 27:39


    Join Sam, Harriet and Aylish as they write and create a musical from scratch for the first time. This week, they develop their characters feel about each other and ask themselves whether honesty really is always the best policy.

    Turning a trio into a team

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 27:34


    This week Sam, Harriet and Aylish take some of their ideas back to the drawing board, while discussing how three close friends can smoothly transition into a successful writing partnership.

    Establishing the external story

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 28:52


    This week Sam, Harriet and Aylish discuss and clarify the overall context of their musical, while asking themselves whether jealousy holds any value beyond negativity.

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