Interval Drinks

Actor Minnie Gale meets fellow actor Pippa Nixon and they talk about how the theatre industry is beginning to change so that women and men can continue working when they've become parents. Pippa talks about her experiences of performing in The Importance of Being Earnest and breastfeeding a newborn, and Minnie reflects of  her journey playing Margaret in all three parts of Henry VI, beginning when she was five months' pregnant for part one, and ending with a nine-month-old baby. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Actor Thom Petty talks to actor, writer and director Prasanna Puwanarajah. Both Thom and Prasanna came to acting after a career in the NHS (National Health Service) as doctors. They talk about playing doctors onstage and portraying the reality of life in the medical world, about going from medical school to drama school and beyond, and about using lasers on stage.

Theatre director Tinuke Craig meets RSC director Aaron Parsons to explain what is similar about directing a Sarah Kane play about trauma and a pantomime. Tinuke talks about what drives her as a director, how she decides which are the stories she wants to tell and some of the barriers she faced on her way to becoming a director. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Sound designer Claire Windsor chats to to MOBO Award nominated musician and composer Femi Temowo about his musical journey, from first picking up a guitar at age 19. Femi composed the music for the RSC's 2022 production of Much Ado About Nothing which you can watch on BBC iPlayer. He explains why theatre is like Power Rangers and shares his guilty pleasure in music. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Mark Quartley, who is currently playing Henry VI in the RSC's productions of Henry VI: Rebellion and Wars of the Roses, speaks to stage and screen star David Tennant about auditioning for drama school as a 16-year-old from Paisley, how it feels when you forget the lines on stage and imposter syndrome. They cover why David likes playing characters by Steven Moffat and Russell T Davies and Shakespeare. And there's a quiz.  Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Listen to Renu Arora, who plays Madame LeVaughn in The Magician's Elephant, in conversation with Deaf writer and performer Sophie Woolley. Both Renu and Sophie are artists who have needed to adapt their practices following acquiring disabilities. They touch on Sophie's past work, their experiences of the theatre industry, how their work has changed over time and what advice they would give to other disabled artists wanting to advance their career in the arts.  Each episode brings together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

“I just like pretending at dressing up.” RSC Associate Artist David Threlfall speaks to Zoe Lambert, who can also currently be seen in The Comedy of Errors at the Barbican. They talk about David's theatre career, from starting out at the RSC, to playing Tommy Cooper and Frank Gallagher in Shameless. Zoe asks David where the character of Frank came from, and David explains why he loves working and how he approaches the characters he plays. He also tells us who he would most like to share an interval drink with, in what would be the busiest interval we've had so far in the series. Each episode brings together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

“I always feel like a book is never done until it is in the hands of a reader that I do not know. And then and then we make a community of two.” Children's author Kate DiCamillo talks to playwright Nancy Harris about her inspiration – the “divine spark” that grew into The Magician's Elephant and how gifting a notebook to a friend led her to create the unique cast of characters. The two writers talk about their writing processes, and Kate shares exactly how many rejection letters she received. Each episode brings together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

“We are artists, we are mischief makers, we are magic makers.” Actor Alfred Clay, currently performing in The Comedy of Errors at the Barbican, talks to stage and screen actor Lucian Msamati. Lucian describes how it felt to see live theatre for the first time, growing up in Zimbabwe and founding the first professional multi-racial theatre company in the country. He talks about playing Iago at the RSC, and the hardships of forging an acting career. And he explains his irrational fear of camels. Each episode brings together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

In the last episode of the series, Avita Jay talks to fellow actor Adjoa Andoh. They talk about Shakespeare, casting, fairness and why theatre and creativity matter. Adjoa is currently best known for her role as Lady Danbury in Netflix's original series Bridgerton, but has appeared in multiple TV series, including Silent Witness, Death in Paradise, Line of Duty, New Tricks, River, Doctor Who, Casualty and Broadchurch. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Actor Kemi-Bo Jacobs meets Juliet Gilkes Romero, who won the prestigious Alfred Fagon Best Play Award for The Whip in 2020. Over a glass of her favourite red wine, Juliet talks about slavery, storytelling and knowing her characters. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Hal Chambers (Assistant Director for the RSC's The Comedy of Errors) interviews Unicorn Theatre Artistic Director Justin Audibert. They talk about theatre for young people, how they would change UK theatre for the better and which of Shakespeare's characters Justin would like to meet for an interval drink. Justin has directed plays for the RSC and the National Theatre, including The Taming of the Shrew which played at the RSC and the Barbican in 2019 and 2020. His previous RSC shows include Snow in Midsummer and The Jew of Malta and he co-wrote and co-presented the BBC Live Lessons on Shakespeare for the RSC. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Actor Bea Webster interviews actor Charlotte Arrowsmith in the RSC's first vodcast. Charlotte became the first Deaf actor to understudy for a principal hearing actor in 2019, stepping in as ‘Vincentia' in The Taming of the Shrew. She is also an RSC Associate Artist. In the RSC's first vodcast, Bea interviews Charlotte in British Sign Language, with voiceover by interpreters and captions. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them.  Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Actor Greg Haiste meets Olivier-nominated British Iranian actor Paul Chahidi. On screen, Paul has a recurring role as a vicar in BBC comedy series This Country. He also played defence minister Nikolai Bulganin in Armando Ianucci's historical comedy The Death of Stalin. Paul has played numerous roles at the RSC and is a Royal Shakespeare Company Associate Artist. Paul and Greg talk about starting out as an actor, the play that best suits our times, and whether Shakespeare is funny.  Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them.  Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Actor Mogali Masuku meets actor, playwright, and political activist Dr John Kani, who wrote and performed in Kunene and the King in 2019, and co-wrote Tony Award-winning plays Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island. John talks about growing up in South Africa, translating Shakespeare into Xhosa language and the moment he knew that acting is what he was born to do.  Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Actor and comedian Miles Jupp talks to composer/lyricist, musician, comedian, actor, writer, producer and director Tim Minchin, who wrote the music and lyrics for Matilda The Musical. They share an interval drink and talk about music, ideas, writing Matilda, performing comedy all over the world and keeping your emotions close to the surface. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).

Join us for a G&T or your interval tipple of choice as our first in-house podcast series brings together our current actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. Interval Drinks is sponsored by Darwin Escapes. The music is ‘Oberon's Theme – King of Shadows', originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016).