Performance Anxiety

When HBO cast Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, the internet promptly fell into a state of operatic despair. But is there more going on than meets the eye (and X feed)?In this episode of Performance Anxiety, hosts Dr Maren Thom and Mr Alex Dale unpack the hidden class structures of JK Rowling's world, the myth of 'authenticity' in adaptation, and why appearance might matter far less than you'd think.Along the way: Alan Rickman's shadow, the curious English obsession with social climbing, and the great question — can a handsome, decent chap really pull off being Hogwarts' grumpiest potions master?

Everyone is wrong – the Oscars are still relevant. Maren and Alex are back and kicking off season 3 in style! In this episode they explain why the Oscars, as a celebration of a populist art form, are the only game in town. They also ask why, in spite of everything, the Academy keeps rewarding films no-one has seen.

Maren and Alex ask why everyone is raving about Emma Stone's performance as Bella Baxter in Yorgos Lanthimos's new film Poor Things and why its success is so hard to pin down. What does Emma Stone stand for as a performer? The team use Freud and Žižek to explain Stone's unique quality and appeal, and why her performance is bigger than the film itself.

In this episode, Maren and Alex analyse why vibes are gaining such prominence when it comes to understanding culture. Is story is getting lost as a casualty in a culture war over meaning? Maybe, but sensation and emotional affect still exist and still make for artistic experiences. The duo then look at the performances of up-and-coming vibe exemplar Jacob Elordi to see how vibes work on screen, and how an actor's persona are affected by – and help create – vibes.

In this episode, Maren and Alex ask why so many historians are upset with Ridley Scott's Napoleon, explore the different requirements of artistic and historical representations, and ask what the film Napoleon call tell us about Ridley Scott's film-making and preoccupations. Why did Scott chose to dramatise Napoleon's story, and why is Napoleon the archetypal Ridley Scott film? Why cast Joaquin Phoenix? Listen and find out!

A very special episode, live from the Battle of Ideas, discussing the meaning of performance and "cultural cosplay"! In this first ever live episode of Performance Anxiety, Maren and Alex are delighted to welcome their first ever guest host and interlocutor, writer and broadcaster Timandra Harkness. Timandra helps the team explain why they started the podcast and why they chose to analyse performance in particular. The team then use their particular set of skills to analyse the Bradley Cooper film Maestro, looking especially at whether or not Cooper's prosthetic nose is "cultural cosplay". This episode contains one reference to the sitcom Larry Sanders. A special prize awaits the listener who spots it!

In this episode, Maren and Alex analyse why so many people hated the Marks and Spencer Christmas advert by examining the meaning of each performer, look at why Christmas adverts are such a phenomenon in the first place, and use Kant to explain the clash of values in the culture war arguments around the ad. Warning: this episode contains two bad impressions. 

In this episode, which ranges from Stanislavsky to Futurama, Maren and Alex ask: how creative is the Creator? What do actors inherit as part of an acting dynasty? What do the central performances reveal about humanity and AI? And will this film encourage Hollywood to be more original? 

Maren and Alex ask if Oppenheimer is a biopic or something more complicated?  Why does Christopher Nolan want to tell this story, and how does he do it? Why was Cillian Murphy the best choice to play Oppenheimer? Does it matter if he is Jewish or not? And why did he eat only one almond a day to get into character? 

Is the Barbie movie about a culture war? Is it feminist? Or is Barbie actually about Ken? And what is Kenergy anyway? In this episode Maren and Alex discuss the Barbie movie and pay particular attention to Margot Robbie's and Ryan Gosling's performances as a way of understanding how the film does and doesn't work.

Alex and Maren ask why A24 are so popular with critics, taste makers and Hollywood, and discuss how Beau's nightmare in Ari Aster's Beau is Afraid is the nightmare our thought leaders are living though.

Maren and Alex describe the phenomenon of the MCU, use Immanuel Kant to show why Guardians of the Galaxy is the most popular gang, and explain why some MCU roles are impossible to play.

In this especially deep episode, Maren and Alex discuss a performance that transcends its political constraints, what art can and can't do, and ask if Cleopatra is a Kween.

We're back with our second season! Maren and Alex analyse the phenomenal popularity of Pedro Pascal, ask how he is and isn't a leading man, and nearly revive the term lumbersexual. 

In this special bumper edition, Alex and Maren discuss the Academy Awards; where they came from, what the 2023 ceremony represents today, and what kind of films the Academy may nurture in future. They also establish what Brendan Fraser's best film really is.

Now pay attention. Alex and Maren analyse the Bond films as a genre, speculate how Bond “will return” and ask What Would Barbara Broccoli Do?

Maren and Alex discuss what puts a film in the  anti-war genre, gorgeously confusing cinematography and why Timothée Chalamet couldn't have been in this film.

Alex and Maren discuss what makes a performance Oscar-worthy, what it means to be cancelled, and why Cate Blanchett is an alien queen.

In this special taster minisode Maren and Alex discuss Freud, the uncanny and comedians as actors - all within 6 minutes.

Maren and Alex talk about biopics, analyse the difference between screen presence and a performer's real life qualities, and show why only Whitney Houston should sing One Moment in Time.

Alex and Maren discuss James Cameron's love of hubris, the need for humanity in a performance and Kate Winslet's mouth. 

Maren and Alex discuss Emma Corrin's performance as a non-binary person in the new Netflix adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022), and wonder "why is the past so cold?".

Why did Billy Eichner's gay romcom Bros (2022) underperform at the box office? Should gay roles only be played by gay actors? And what's all this got to do with performance? Maren and Alex talk about the nitty gritty of acting, the relationship between performance and identity, and share their love of Luke Macfarlane.

Maren Thom and Alex Dale introduce themselves and the podcast before analysing Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson's performance in Black Adam.