That's Theatre Darling

This week I'm thrilled to be sharing a brand new episode with the fantastic Oliver Mackwood. Oliver is a Theatre Producer with a huge passion for the arts and sharing stories. During the episode I finally learnt all about what being a Producer really is, we chatted about the importance of theatre and what it can do for people, and Oliver told me all about what and who inspires him. I really enjoyed finding out more about the life of a Producer, I hope you enjoy the episode too! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I'd really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

I'm really excited to share this brand new episode with a hugely talented Composer, Orlando Gough! Orlando's incredible skill and his craft is beautiful to behold, he really is a musical genius. I had a blast finding out more about him during this episode; his endless enthusiasm means that I could happily sit and chat to him for hours on end. We talked about his childhood trips to Chichester Festival Theatre; the beautiful crow language that he made up for a show that we worked on together; and his friend's wisdom of seeing past work as compost for future endeavours. This episode was a real treat to record, I hope that you enjoy it! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I'd really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week's guest is a brilliantly talented Playwright, Tristan Bernays! I have been an admirer of Tristan's work ever since seeing his incredible plays, including Teddy at the Southwark Playhouse and Boudica at the Globe. During the episode we chatted all about inspiration (and lack of, during the pandemic); his routine when it comes to writing; and he admits a faux pas that literally made me gasp. It was an absolute pleasure to meet and chat to him, and I hope you really enjoy the episode. Check out his website to see more about his work: www.tristanbernays.com If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I'd really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

To celebrate one whole year of That's Theatre Darling, the tables have turned...I, Amy Slater, have been placed firmly in the hot seat! The ever so brilliant Holly Henshaw and Rachel Middlemore, previous podcast guests, took my list of questions and seamlessly settled right into the role of co-hosts. It's a whistle-stop tour through my career in theatre so far, my rambly thoughts and some great memories. I hope you enjoy this special bonus episode!  If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I'd really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling  

My guest for today's episode was a real delight to chat to, so open and super enthusiastic about her work and the theatre world. She is an incredibly talented Prop Maker and Supervisor…it's none other than Rosheen McNamee! From a childhood dreaming of being a servant (!) to making a fully guttable, skinnable rabbit she has got many a story to tell. Rosheen shared a really powerful story about what theatre has done for her as a person, which I think is just so inspiring and really shows the power and importance of what we do. Check out Rosheen's brilliant illustrations on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/InkyRoseIllustration If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I'd really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week I am delighted to introduce you to a wonderful human being and Company Stage Manager extraordinaire, SJ Ledbury! Coming from a very theatrical childhood, she vowed that she absolutely did not want to work in theatre…but against all odds she couldn't stay away! The passion in which she speaks about her job is just an absolute joy to hear, and I could honestly listen to her speak about it for hours on end. She took me by surprise with a very unexpected (but brilliant) piece of advice for people who work in theatre, you'll have to have a listen to hear that gem… Disclaimer: please do not try and fix your baby with gaffer tape. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I'd really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week’s guest is an absolute treat and I’m so delighted to introduce her to you…it’s the marvellous Grace Smart! Grace is a Set and Costume Designer who spends her days designing spaces that are jam packed full of character and feeling, rather than ‘beautiful’. During the episode we spent a lot of time giggling, particularly when Grace read her Dear Theatre letter! We chatted about the important stuff too, but it was definitely the giddiest episode so far. We had so much fun and I really hope that you enjoy it too. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Introducing the ever so brilliant, Will Keen! Will is a wonderfully talented actor on the stage and screen, with a plethora of brilliant stories to share. We chatted about his (pretty idyllic sounding) family plays as a young boy; uncontrollable corpsing on stage and Will shared his stunning letter to theatre which is truly unmissable. It’s abundantly clear how much passion that Will has for theatre and all of the people that work within it, and it was a total pleasure to hear his stories and memories. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week is a treat and a half, because I get to introduce you to my brilliant friend Edwina Allen! She is an incredible Deputy Stage Manager with so many good stories, words of wisdom and top DSM tips. We chatted about email signatures (top tip klaxon!), audience members weeing in an immersive show (!), and she blew my mind talking about a lack of confidence during the pandemic. It’s a DSM fest of an episode, and we had such a blast recording it. I hope you love it too! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week I’m delighted to introduce the ever so brilliant and ever so talented, Zoe Spurr! Zoe is a Lighting Designer and all round lovely person, it was such a joy to record this episode with her. We chatted all about the ins and outs of lighting, the importance of breaks and time off, and we also had a giggle about googling glowing balls (don’t try this at home!). Zoe is so wonderfully passionate about what she does, I think I could sit and listen to her talk about theatre all day! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Oh gang, do I have a treat for you this week. I am thrilled to introduce, Evelyn Miller! Evvy is very wonderful and generous actor with a whole host of brilliant stories to tell. We chatted about the weirdness of auditions, the importance of snacks and our mutual adoration for Michaela Coel. Evvy is such a delight to be around and we had such a lot of fun recording this, I hope you love it too! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week I am very excited to introduce you to a brilliant Playwright and Actor, Kieran Knowles! Kieran and I hadn’t met before this conversation but it was as if I’d known him for years, he’s such an open and warm person. We chatted about the time that he accidentally threw cutlery all over the stage at the RSC in the middle of a performance; finding inspiration in everyday brilliance; and his advice for anyone who is thinking about starting a career in theatre. He shared with me his powerful Dear Theatre letter and the fascinating history that he has with that very thing… [Trigger warning: We spoke briefly about a play that Kieran wrote that is based around the subject of suicide and the male mental health crisis. Approx. 39mins 30secs – 43mins 30secs] If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Introducing the ever so talented, Katy Brooks! Katy is a Prop Maker, Buyer and Supervisor currently working at the Globe Theatre as Head of Props. We chatted about the absolute superheroes that are the Globe volunteers, unexpected prop sex chairs (!) and embracing a bit of mess and clutter in order to be creative. This episode was recorded a little while ago, so you’ll hear some references to Christmas gifts…though it’s never to early to get organised, eh? (Tip – support your local theatres!) I’d like to offer a small apology for the sound quality in this episode. The nature of recording remotely means that sometimes it doesn’t quite go as planned and for some reason we sound a little like we are in a swimming pool. But in my opinion Katy’s words of wisdom and brilliant stories fully make up for a little bit of echo! ------- If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Annnnddd we’re back! Welcome to Series 2 of the podcast!Kicking off this series with an absolute ray of sunshine. Some of you may refer to her fondly as Cling Film Lizzie (more on that in the episode)…it’s Assistant Stage Manager extraordinaire, Lizzie Rodipe! We had such a giggle recording this episode and I hope that it provides a bit of light relief to you in these dark February days. From dreams of marrying Tom Hanks, to wanting to eat June Watson I guarantee that you’ll come away from this episode with a smile on your face.If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it!https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

A letter to theatre, from podcast host Amy Slater.

This episode was an absolute joy to record, and I am so delighted to introduce to you the incredible, Finty Williams! Finty is a hugely talented actor and not only that, but she is also a wonderfully kind and generous human being too.During the episode we talked about getting a reputation for corpsing on stage, the pure importance of storytelling, and what Finty would put in her survival kit for tech week…It’s palpable, the sheer passion and love that Finty has for the theatre industry, and her tribe of people in it. Her letter was filled with emotion and love, and it will be a surprise to no-one that she made me cry while reading it! We had a right old giggle recording the episode and I really hope that you enjoy it too.

What a treat I’ve got for you this week, the absolutely wonderful…Rachel Middlemore! I’m sure it will become apparent pretty quickly when you’re listening, but Rachel is one of my all time favourite humans. She is a brilliantly talented Assistant Stage Manager, who also dabbles in a number of other roles too, whatever opportunities are presented to her really!During the episode we chatted about her childhood tennis skills; the importance of listening to your gut instincts; and having a job where buying lube is quite a regular occurrence…Rachel’s letter made me weep. This is possibly because she is one of my oldest friends, but I think it is mostly because of the heart and emotion that she poured into it. It was truly a special thing to hear, and I know it’s going to be relatable for a lot of people. I had such a great time recording this one, and I think you’re going to love it too.

This week I am delighted to introduce to you, the absolutely brilliant…Pooja Ghai. Pooja is a hugely talented Director, and in fact one of my all time favourite Directors that I have ever worked with. With her endlessly wise words and the calm, eloquent manner in which she puts her point across I am certain that you’ll see why.From childhood pop star ambitions, to her passion for new writing, we got into the nitty gritty of how Directors go about getting jobs; the need for more diversity in the stories we tell on our stages; and the pure joy of infinite possibility when it comes to making theatre.Pooja’s letter was so beautifully written and very much a call to action, highlighting some important things that we really need to address in the industry and in ourselves. I had such a lovely time recording this episode, I really hope that you enjoy it too.

This week I’m very excited to introduce you to a glorious human being by the name of Edith Furlong! Edith is Head of Front of House (affectionately nicknamed “HOFO”) at the magnificent Hampstead Theatre. She had a number of wonderfully varied aspirations as a child, but she finally found her tribe when working part time as an Usher at the ‘World Famous London Palladium’ while at university.We had a right old giggle during this episode, marvelling (or rather, feeling a little disgusted) at the full on weirdness of the general public. From discovering people in varying states of undress, to scrutinising CCTV footage trying to identify a phantom pooper, she really has seen it all…literally.Edith wrote a delightfully familiar letter to theatre, treating it like an old pal who’s just gone for a disco nap. I cannot wait for you to hear this episode, I’m certain that you won’t be able to help but smile your way through it.

It’s a joy and a pleasure to introduce this week’s guest to you, the magnificent…Kev McCurdy! Kev is a Fight Director, an Actor and a force to be reckoned with. With his boundless optimism, you cannot help but be swept along with his outlook on life, and his intense pride and passion in what he does.From a young age, Kev had a huge appetite for learning new things and that is something that has never gone away. During the episode, he tells us all about cultivating new skills at work and at home in his renovation work, and reaching sky high for something that he would love to learn to do in the future…We talk childhood aspirations, admiration of Stage Management, and the importance of putting your ego aside in a rehearsal room. It was so so lovely to finally get that time to find out more about the man, the mystery, Kev McCurdy…I’m sure you’re going to love hearing his stories as much as I did.

This week I’d like to introduce you to a delightful woman by the name of Sophie Acreman! Sophie is a Stage Manager who has worked her way up through the ranks, working both freelance and in full time employment. We had a right giggle chatting about some of her more obscure shows, including a very specialised skill that gave her a bit of a starring role…During the episode, we chatted about the infuriating rustling in theatre audiences, the heartbreak of redundancy and the importance of shaking off a mistake before you make more! Sophie very rightly highlighted that we need to be supporting our favourite theatres in any way that we can, big or small, they all need our help and support.What an absolute delight to get to natter away with this fabulous lady, I hope you enjoy the episode!  

Introducing the brilliant…James Turner! James is a hugely talented Set and Costume Designer with some great stories to tell. He’s a self-professed superfan of the podcast, and we had a lovely time chatting about his life in the wonderful world of theatre.When his trouble ‘walking properly’ halted his aspirations to be an actor, he realised his talents were much better suited to being behind the scenes, making model boxes and forming a close bond with his scalpel. During the episode we chatted about his favourite moment in the process of making a show (and his worst!), having a cheeky snooze during a show, and carrying a frozen sheep’s head on the tube…James shared his Dear Theatre letter with me, which was an absolute joy to hear, despite apparently being a less smutty version than his first draft! I really hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

What a treat to introduce you to this delightful lady, Sarah-Jayne Butler! Sarah-Jayne is an Actor and an Acting and Communication Coach, spending her time working between both theatre and film. She speaks with such enthusiasm about her work that it’s impossible not to feel inspired by her! I now want her to be MY coach and I’m not even an actor.From a young age, Sarah-Jayne found a passion for ‘trying on’ other personalities and personas which quickly blossomed into a love for acting. We had a good old giggle about some hilarious costume mishaps, one resulting in an unexpected trip…Sarah-Jayne’s letter is a piece of art in itself, so well thought out and beautifully written. I was spellbound when she read it to me, and it caused me to shed a tear (let’s be honest now…a few!). This episode was such a joy to record and I really hope that you enjoy it too.

This week I’m delighted to introduce to you, Mr Peter Carrington! Peter is an Assistant Stage Manager and a Candle Technician, or ‘professional helper-outer’ as he modestly describes it. His cool, calming presence has taken him from studying Archaeology and Egyptology, all the way to starting a show on the Globe stage with a special delivery.  Peter has so many interesting and fun stories to tell, and I loved hearing about his journey into theatre. During the episode we chatted about the first (and last!) time he wore a suit to a theatre interview; what he feels theatre has done for him as a person; and what it feels like to be a grown man, crouched on top of a fake lift, clawing at unsuspecting members of the audience… Peter wrote a delightfully honest and endearing thank you letter to theatre. Thanking theatre for many experiences and relationships that he’s had, while ensuring that it doesn’t get away with too much either! I had a lovely time chatting to him and I really hope you enjoy listening to it too.

It’s with the biggest grin on my face that I get to introduce to you, the absolutely fabulous…Annette Badland! Nettie really needs no introduction from me, as she has spent her years winning our hearts on the stage and screen. During the episode we whizzed through some of her theatre highlights, starting from when she was small and entertaining her classmates with her bus stop antics, all the way through to the joy of playing a fairy queen! We chatted about her expert veg chopping skills; getting her fix of her other love, Picasso, whilst in lockdown; and stopping theatre-goers in their tracks with her décolletage in a theatre foyer. Nettie shared with me her beautifully written love letter, which brought up some unexpected emotions for her. I think it’s going to be so relatable for many people who work in theatre, being separated from the place we call home. It was utterly glorious to spend time talking and laughing with her, I really hope you enjoy it too.

I’m very excited to introduce you to a ridiculously talented and wonderful human being…Ingi Bekk! Ingi is a Video and Lighting Designer who has taken the world by storm, literally, jetsetting between countries and shows at lighting speed. Over the past couple of years he’s made some active choices to slow down a little and take stock, spending more time with his family and in exploring his new love of golf! This isn’t stopping him from doing some brilliant things, putting ideas in place to inspire the younger generation, opening up the world of backstage theatre to people who have no idea that it’s there.Ingi is so passionate about mental health and finding ways to support us in this industry, particularly as freelancers. He talks about ways that he endeavours to keep his own mental health in check, including the simplicity of spending more time outdoors. And of course the “elixir of life”…ice cream!We chatted about the balance of tech and creativity; holding onto ‘the rope’; and what advice he would give his younger self, when he was just starting out in the industry. I hope you enjoy the episode!

Introducing the one, the only…Sule Rimi! Sule is an incredibly skilled and generous actor with so many brilliant stories to tell. Having pursued and started a career in Law, you wouldn’t believe Sule’s gutsy entrance into the theatre industry. He regales us with stories of unexpected requests to learn Swahili (which he nailed, by the way!); that feeling of imposter syndrome when you’re a freelancer; and the absolute horror of falling asleep on stage. And if that doesn’t tempt you in…we fully get into the nitty gritty of Zip Zap Boing. If you don’t know what that is, you don’t know what you’re missing…  I’m sorry to say that we had a bit of technical difficulty, so this is a backup recording. Still the same excellent content, just with a lot more chair squeaks, shuffles and car noises than I’d have liked. As Sule says in the episode, we are all still learning all the time and that is very pertinent for me and all of this podcast lark! We had a blast catching up, and I loved hearing all of his stories. I really hope you do too!

I’d like to introduce you to this lovely lady, Charlotte Smith. Charlotte is Deputy Head of Wardrobe on Dear Evan Hansen in the West End, where she has spent her time mastering some nifty side line medical skills which I was very impressed to hear about.  Charlotte gives us a whistlestop tour of how she got into theatre. Igniting her passion for it at a very young age, when she was dazzled by ‘Be Our Guest’ in Beauty and the Beast in the West End when she was only five years old. She tells us all about her teen years where she was let loose in London at the age of sixteen, and working her way up in the West End to where she is now.We chat all about the importance of a work life balance, funny show stops (or shows carrying on when bonkers things are happening offstage!) and the importance of having your very own cheerleaders in life. I loved having a good old natter with Charlotte and I think you’re going to enjoy hearing it too.

Chatting Sarah Barnes for this episode was an absolute treat. Barnes, as she is more commonly known in the industry, is a Freelance Deputy/Assistant Stage Manager. In her heart she prefers spending her time as a Deputy Stage Manager, but she also doesn’t mind picking up a props list and getting stuck into being an Assistant Stage Manager too. She explains to us what on earth all the acronyms mean when it comes to Stage Management, and what it is that each of those roles spend their time doing.During the episode we have a chat about how she went from wanting to be a Bank Manager, to ending up in this mad old world we call theatre; she impresses upon us the most important thing to have around during Technical Rehearsals, and we muse about where to get all the best gossip.It’s always a pleasure talking to Barnes, and this was no exception. I hope you enjoy the episode!

Holly is a Freelance Costume Supervisor who works on a number of West End shows including Wicked, Waitress, Lion King…to name but a few. She is an absolute wizard when it comes to all things fabric and she is the first person I go to for advice when it comes to anything sewing, fabric, even laundry related! She knows her stuff inside out, back to front and standing on her head.During the episode we got to talk about what she wanted to be when she grew up (I can honestly say, it’s not what you’d expect!). We zoom through her journey into theatre from home schooling, a very tearful car journey, to how on earth she’d go about describing what she does now. She tells us all about an unexpected visit from a well known celeb, chatting to Actors in their pants, and how she really feels about Production Meetings.  Visit my website for a full transcription of this episode: www.thatstheatredarling.com  

That's Theatre Darling is a brand new podcast celebrating theatre in all it's glory. I'll be joined by a whole host of inspiring guests, each with a story to tell about their life, career and an abundance of theatrical anecdotes. Coming soon, I cannot wait to share them with you. Music provided by the wonderful Patch and The Giant (Track: The Sleeping Boat).