Podcasts about manchester royal exchange

Send us a textOver a long career in musical theatre, Matthew Seadon-Young has performed in some of the most acclaimed productions in recent history including Marianne Elliott's gender-swapped 'Company' and Jamie Lloyd's hit production of 'Urinetown'. His latest venture sees him playing con-man Gordy in the UK premiere of 'Shucked' at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. In our interview, Matthew shares with us his excitement at making his Regent's Park debut and at the start of Drew McOnie's tenure as Artistic Director. 'Shucked' was a huge success on Broadway and audiences are eagerly anticipating the transfer of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally's joyful musical.  Jack O'Brien also makes his directorial debut at Regent's Park, and we hear Matthew talk about how the show has been adapted for the great outdoors.In this new interview with Matthew Seadon-Young, he shares his insight into the craft of carving out a career in musical theatre. Indeed since leaving Mountview, he's been seen in 'Les Miserables' and 'Billy Elliot' on the West End, 'Rockets and Blue Light' at the National Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange as well as more recently 'The Baker's Wife' at the Menier Chocolate Factory. As an ever-evolving creative, it's been great seeing how he's continued to prove how versatile a performer he is. It will be interesting to see what productions he finds himself attached to in the future, but it seems certain that he will continue expanding his CV with new shows and revivals. As 'Shucked' prepares to open, Matthew sounds like he is in a good place and excited to keep finding new challenges.Shucked runs at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre from 10th May - 14 June.Support the show

Welcome Back to TBOTA!Born in Scotland. Eric MacLennan has been making avant-garde performance work for over forty years. During this time he has worked as an actor and director with many world class companies including DV8 Physical Theatre; David Glass Ensemble; V-TOL; Citizens Theatre Glasgow; Red Shift; Manchester Royal Exchange; Bristol Old Vic; Theatre of Comedy Company; Royal National Theatre Studio; Boilerhouse; Volcano; Lumiere & Son; Shunt; Station House Opera; National Theatre of Scotland; Young Vic and the Almeida.Over the last ten years he has been creating his own distinctive work whose practice occupies a unique space somewhere between theatre, movement and the visual arts. Inspired by philosophy and comedy in equal measure his work questions our unconscious habits, challenges conventions and isn't afraid to say the unsayable!Discussed: Being in Star wars, sources of inspiration, creating your own work, a voyage around my bedroom, performing at Glastonbury, working with Jane Nash, Embarrassing auditions and failed projects, pre show routines, how actors develop superstitions, Spelling 'zhjugdge', regretting your name being Crispin, Lecoque, your favourite spice girl, AND SO MUCH MORESupport this show:Become a patron and help me make this show. Bonus episodes every week: >> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Robert Neumark Jones | creating podcasts and extra content | Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee ☕⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/robertneumark⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or support me through other ways:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bliss of the Abyss⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give us a rating & review:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Write a review for Bliss of the Abyss ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Like and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Webpage:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Robert Neumark Jones | Actor | Voice Artist (robertnj.com)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠© Robert Neumark Jones

[TW//Divorce, anxiety, depression] Today I welcome acting royalty - the incredible BAFTA award-winning Cathy Tyson! Following the breakdown of her marriage in her 20s, Cathy suffered from anxiety and her self-esteem plummeted. She branded herself a 'failure' which resulted in bouts of extreme misery, loneliness, isolation, the breakdown of relationships and feelings of shame which lasted years. Cathy strongly felt (back then) that admitting her struggles would be more evidence that she was a 'failure'. She kept throwing herself into acting roles to distract herself from her declining mental health which only got worse with time. Over 20 years ago, she reached out for help, community and therapy and so found great happiness, joy and peace of mind. A huge thank you for sharing in great detail what you learned in your dark years to bring anyone struggling back into the light! Cathy also shares the struggles of coming up in the 1980s and beyond as a black actress - many years before diversity and inclusion was taken seriously by the industry. And what a career she is having!... Cathy has worked on a broad range of projects for screen and stage. Her performance as Polly in Help (Channel 4) was recognised last year when she won the BAFTA for ‘Supporting Actress'. Other television work includes Maternal (ITV), The Canterville Ghost (BBC) and Band of Gold (ITV). Upcoming television projects include Kaos (Netflix), Criminal Record (AppleTV+), Death in Paradise (BBC) and Boiling Point (BBC). Cathy's break-out performance as Simone in Mona Lisa earned her multiple nominations (Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress; Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress and BAFTA nomination for Best Actress). She can be seen playing Maureen in the recent Netflix feature Bank of Dave, and will be playing Sam in Luna Carmoon's upcoming debut feature Hoard. For stage, Cathy has performed across the UK in a variety of productions. Recent credits include Rockets & Blue Lights (National Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange); My Beautiful Laundrette (Leicester Curve) and Talking Heads (Octagon Theatre Bolton). Topics - 0:00 Intro 3:10 Cathy's first rock bottom 8:25 Seeking help, acceptance & making amends 13:45 Isolation, rumination & loneliness 18:00 The pain of divorce 21:15 Using work as a distraction and for self-esteem 26:30 Protecting your body and mind in the performing arts industry 32:45 Trying to be true to yourself 34:40 Worrying about what other people think 39:40 Do you have to suffer for your art? 41:22 How does Cathy remain happy? 46:41 Diversity & Inclusion 55:25 Self honesty & worry This Podcast is not for profit but my goal is to break even. To help me make more please donate here. Thank you! https://bit.ly/3kSucAs Follow Cathy Instagram - https://instagram.com/cathytyson1 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cathy.tyson.10 Twitter - https://twitter.com/CathyElizaTyson Brown Girl Films - https://www.cathytyson.com Follow Oliver Instagram - https://bit.ly/3IemHLY Twitter - http://bit.ly/3GQYj2l Facebook - http://bit.ly/3w8S1Gx LinkedIn - http://bit.ly/3kp4ymC TikTok - https://bit.ly/3YGLsYm Listen or watch on: Spotify - https://bit.ly/3L9S2ll YouTube - https://bit.ly/3Z43V1S Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ or search 'School of Rock Bottom' where you listen to your podcasts.

Olivier nominee Mei Mac is starring as Kim in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play by Kimber Lee. The show recently completed its run at the Manchester Royal Exchange ahead of transferring to the Young Vic in September. Kimber wrote untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play in response to seeing the musical Miss Saigon; the piece addresses the East and South-East Asian stereotypes we see represented on stage and beyond.  Earlier this year, Mei became the first East Asian actor to be nominated for Best Actress at the Olivier Awards for her performance in the RSC's production of My Neighbour Totoro. Some of Mei's other theatre credits include: Dear Elizabeth (Gate), The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (Bridge), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Regent's Park) and lots more. Mei also works on screen, with her recent credits including East Mode (Comedy Central) and the Call The Midwife Christmas Day Special (BBC). ***Please note this episode contains some adult language which hasn't been bleeped out.***You can see Mei in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play at the Young Vic 18th September - 4th November 2023. Visit www.youngvic.org for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Sally Hodgkiss is an award-winning actor, writer and comedian. Sally performs regularly on the comedy circuit, most recently as a guest with the legendary Comedy Store Players. She's performed with Whose Line is it Anyway - Live and The Stephen Frost Impro Allstars. Her acting career has taken her to many theatres around the UK including the Manchester Royal Exchange, Sheffield Crucible, Octagon Theatre Bolton, HOME, and Theatre Royal Plymouth among others. She has extensive screen experience including several short films and features, such as It Could Happen To You which was selected for the New York Short Film Festival 2021. She was recently in the BBC's Casualty improv episode which has been nominated for an RTS Royal Television Society award .Sally Hodgkiss is guest number 271 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things she'd like to put in a time capsule; four she'd like to preserve and one she'd like to bury and never have to think about again .For lives show and all things Sally visit: sallyhodgkiss.comFollow Sally Hodgkiss on Twitter @sallyhodgkiss .Follow My Time Capsule on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter: @fentonstevens and Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people. Get this podcast ad-free by becoming a team member with Acast+! Your support will help us to keep making My Time Capsule. Join our team now! https://plus.acast.com/s/mytimecapsule. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ladies n' Genminminmin' (er, min...) absolutely thrilled & delighted to be welcoming Josette Bushell Mingo, Principal of The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama to the 'Clearing'. In the 1st of a series of shows whereby I'll be using the vehicle of the podcast to help amplify the reputation of The Central School,  whilst also getting to meet and record some of its illustrious Alumni, with Josette agreeing to go first. I too trained there as a Drama Teacher circa 1982-86.Here also to break new ground together, as our conversation is being simultaneously "signed" for the Film version of the programme, by the wonderful deaf-theatre signer Sherrie-Eugene Hart, praised by Director Sally Cookson as being "the best in the business".Previously the Head of Acting at Stockholm University of the Arts, Sweden, Josette Bushell-Mingo is an award-winning actor and director whose career has included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Manchester Royal Exchange.  She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Rafiki in the West End production of The Lion King and she starred in the internationally acclaimed production Nina: A Story about Me and Nina Simone.As a director, Josette Bushell-Mingo was Founder and Artistic Director of PUSH, a Black-led theatre festival with the Young Vic Theatre.  For 13 years, she was also the Artistic Director for The National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre ensemble Tyst Teater, where her work focused on fostering the understanding, respect and potential of sign language arts and the artistic, linguistic and cultural rights of the deaf.As a director and teacher, Josette travels internationally giving lectures and workshops in the creation of sign language theatre, cultural diversity challenges and inclusion.More about Josette Bushell Mingo: An articulate Aquarian of African descent, Josette Bushell-Mingo is a genuine East Ender. Born in February years ago and brought up in Plaistow, Josette first made her mark as an elite athlete, training for the 100 metre sprint, moving on to the relay and then going from track to field, for shot put and discus. Josette learned discipline early in life, together with the power of purpose and the talent for dealing with disappointment. Later Josette applied the same disciplines in landing an Olivier award for her role as the shaman Rafiki in the West End production of the now global hit musical, "The Lion King:.In time, Josette left London for Stockholm where she was Director of the National Deaf Theatre of Sweden for over 10 years. Sources of inspiration for Josette include Maya Angelou and Nina Simone and inclusion remains a central issue in Josette's approach to her personal and professional life. She is only the second woman ever to become Principal of the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and the fTune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

In today’s episode Elaine and Misha chat with the wonderful Holly Shakara Carter. Actress, writer, artists and creator of the powerful piece Tryptic. We discuss everything from ovulation to who do we make our art for. Another fab episode with a fab human. SHAKARA CARTER Shakara Carter Shakara is an actress in training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, due to graduate in September 2021. Her first solo work - Triptych - recently launched on RCS@Home is a darkly comedic nod to the often-unfathomable forces at play within and around us, and the irreconcilable truth of what makes us flawed and lovable in equal measure. As an actress Shakara has worked with The Arcola, Manchester Royal Exchange, Freedom Studios, SlungLowShorts and Camden People's Theatre and the award-winning Knaive theatre. As a puppeteer she has worked with Nickelodeon, The Little Angel Theatre, Folded Feather and DNA Puppetry. Her international collaboration The Panda Project is currently underway thanks to Arts Council funding and she is due to play Antigone in a modern retelling of the Greek Classic in October 2021. Website: https://www.shakararosecarter.com/ Instagram: @cartershakara MA CrowdFund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ShakMA PAYPALhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/persistentandnasty for those who can donate. A million thanks and love. Resources https://www.gofundme.com/f/black-women-in-film https://www.gofundme.com/f/bme-business-fund https://www.scottishtrans.org/support/support-groups-in-scotland/ https://www.thetrevorproject.org https://bornthisway.foundation/ https://itgetsbetter.org https://www.alerojasmine.com/ https://bespokebinny.com/ https://pelicansandparrots.com/ https://www.matuggarum.com/ https://sheniandteni.com/ https://lihabeauty.com https://ibereapparel.com/ https://blacklivesmatter.carrd.co/ https://blacklivesmatter.com/ https://m4bl.org/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/mobilebasic https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd https://justiceforbreonna.org/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/12570/black-british-owned-businesses-to-buy-from-now-fashion-beauty-design-lifestyle https://theeverymom.com/black-history-month-books-for-kids/ https://themadmommy.com/black-owned-etsy-shops/ Join our Zoom Coffee Morning every Friday at 11am GMT, email persistentandnasty@gmail.com WeAudition offer: For 25% off your monthly subscription quote: NASTY25 Backstage Offers: Get a free 12 months Actor Subscription: join.backstage.com/persistentnasty-uk-12m-free/ Or if you've got a project to cast, you can Post Castings for free: Apply promo code PERSISTENTANDNASTY at the checkout

Welcome to Chippy Lane’s Podcast, series two the PICTURES / LLUNIAU PROJECT. This series celebrates Welsh and Wales-based writers and their stories. This is our Xmas 2020 special, an extract from CARDBOARD DAD by Alan Harris. Donna waits for David, alone in they're flat. Alone, that is, until she gets a special cardboard delivery that turns her world inside out. Alan Harris's bitter-sweet comedy, tells the tale of a woman who realises that second best is never enough.Writer: Alan Harris Plays written for theatres throughout the UK and internationally, including Paines Plough, Manchester Royal Exchange, the Sherman Theatre and National Theatre Wales. He won a Judge's Award at the Bruntswood Prize for How My Light Is Spent. Musicals and opera include the book for The Scythe of Time at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The Left Behind (BBC Studios/BBC3) won the BAFTA for Best Single Drama (and BAFTA Cymru for Best Television Drama). He has also written plays for BBC Radio 4, Radio 3 and Amazon Audible. Director: Hannah Noone Alumni of the Sherman Theatre’s JMK Directors Group (supported by The Carne Trust), Co-Artistic Director of Opera'r Ddraig and an Associate Director for Chippy Lane. Directing credits include: Lung Water - Network Reading (Chippy Lane / NTW / Sherman), TEN/DEG (Sherman Theatre), Elixir of Love (Opera’r Ddraig / Kings Head), Arcadia (RWCMD), Worlds Apart in War (Theatr Clwyd / National Trust), Between Eternity & Time (RWCMD / Sherman Theatre), BoHo (Hijinx / Theatr Clwyd). She has also worked as Assistant Director and Staff Director at the Royal Opera House and The National.Performer: Cecilia Appiah Cecilia is a recent graduate of BA Acting at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama class of 2020. Since graduating she has been working with BBC Radio Drama as part of the radio drama company where she has been working on various plays including The Son, Life is a Radio in the dark and Wasteland all aired on Radio 4 and 3. She has recently filmed an episode for BBC Casualty and participated in the play reading of Gull with the Far Away Plays. Performer: Luke Nunn A 2020 graduate from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Since graduating Luke has been part of the Radio Drama Company at the BBC working on a number of projects including: Keeping the Wolf Out, Life is a Radio in the Dark and Clash. Luke has most recently finished shooting a feature film (The Road Dance) on the Isle of Lewis. Sound Designer: Charlie ForanCharlie is a graduate of the BA (Hons) Stage Management and Technical Theatre Course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. During that time, specialising in live sound engineering, theatrical sound design and recording. Charlie has worked on productions such as An Octoroon at The National and Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall. Alongside these productions, Charlie has worked on podcasts with Unheard Poetry on their Pride and Protest series and on Chippy Lane Productions (Samu(El)egy) and THE STARS IN THE DARKROOM.  Written by Alan Harris Directed by Hannah Noone Performed by Cecilia Appiah featuring Luke NunnSound Design By Charlie ForanProduced & Edited by Chippy Lane Productions Ltd. Music by Grand Tradition  This podcast has been kindly supported by The Carne Trust.

In this episode of The Acting for Stage and Screen Podcast, James talks to the Olivier Award Nominated actor Andrew Langtree. They begin by talking about Andrew's experience in an exciting sounding production of Bruce Norris' play Clybourne Park which was unfortunately closed due to the Covid 19 crisis. They move on to discuss happier memories by chatting about what it was like for Andrew as a young actor, freshly out of drama school, when he created the role of Sky in the original West End cast of Mama Mia. They chat about how he approached playing Eddie in Blood Brothers and go into depth about Andrew's appearances in a trilogy of Tennessee Williams plays; The Rose Tattoo (at the National Theatre), The Glass Menagerie (at The Manchester Royal Exchange) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (at Theatr Clwyd). Andrew also played Justin Gallagher in Emmerdale and he tells James about the differences he finds between stage and screen acting and they discuss that Olivier nominated role of Ned in Groundhog Day. With all this, there's no time to ask Andrew about playing Carl Bruner in Ghost or about his regular work with the RSC (the company he dreamed of joining as a boy).

Episode 014: Rockets and Blue Lights by Winsome Pinnock Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Winsome Pinnock Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play, which we talk about it in more depth than you will find in the reviews of any one production. We'll discuss the play's origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the play is the thing. Winsome Pinnock's powerful new play Rockets and Blue Lights explores the continuing legacy of the slave trade by allowing the lost voices of the past to merge into our current re-examination of history and black identity. The play won the 2019 Alfred Fagon Award and was in preview at the Manchester Royal Exchange earlier in 2020 when the Covid pandemic cruelly closed our theatres. I'm especially honoured during Black History Month to talk with Winsome Pinnock about her wonderful play.

Bio: Actor, Director of Movement, Theatre Director, Movement Consultant. Toby Sedgwick worked with Danny Boyle on the London 2012 Olympics as Director of Movement and Choreographer for the Green and Pleasant Land and the Industrial Revolution. He won the 2008 Olivier Award as Director of Movement and Horse Choreographer for War Horse and played Ted Narracottin the original production. He trained at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris, where he founded The Moving Picture Mime Show, which established itself as one of the innovators of physical theatre throughout the world. Toby’s work as Director of Movement has been seen worldwide: A Dog’s Heart for De Nederlandse Opera, La Scala, Lyon Opera and English National Opera, Tintin (Barbican Theatre), The 39 Steps (West End, Broadway, Japan, Russia, Korea, Australia and Europe), War Horse productions in New York, Toronto, Berlin, a UK and a North American Tour. He created the movement for Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein at the National Theatre in 2012. Toby has worked with many other major companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Young Vic, Chichester Festival Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and the Manchester Royal Exchange where he worked with Pete Postlethwaite on The Tempest. He was director of movement for A Christmas Carol starring Jim Broadbent in the West End and Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Glyndebourne in 2016 - also an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film Fanny & Alexander, at The Old Vic Theatre London in 2018. As an actor he has frequently co-devised work with Theatre de Complicite, (most recently appearing in The Master and Margarita), played Harpo Marx in Animal Crackers, appeared in The Play What I Wrote for a UK tour, Vacuums a film by Stomp, and Laissez Passer for Bertrand Tavernier. As a Director he worked with Ockham’s Razor on The Mill at the Royal Opera House and The Three Musketeers for Mime Theatre Project. He co-directed Macbed at the National Theatre with Ken Campbell and The Hudsucker Proxy with Simon Dormandy at the Nuffield Southampton and Liverpool Playhouse in 2015. Alongside his specialist teaching of both clown and mask work, Toby’s enormous experience is much valued by actors interpreting character through movement. Recently Tom Burke in Comoran Strike, Daniel Radcliffe and Guillaume Delauney in Victor Frankenstein and a clown workshop with Michelle Williams. Movement direction on other films include: 28 Days Later and Sunshine for Danny Boyle, Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang for Susannah White and Victor Frankenstein for Paul McGuigan. Toby was director of movement and choreography on Stan and Ollie, a feature film starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly - directed by Jon S. Baird. He also played the role of 'Theatre Manager'. The world premiere was on the closing night gala of the BFI London Film Festival and it was released in the U.K. and Ireland on January 11th 2019. As Director of Movement and Horse Choreography for War Horse in October 2019 Toby choreographed a new fight sequence for the horse puppets, Joey and Topthorn, for the French television production Le Grand Echiquierin Paris. At the end of 2019 Toby appeared in The Last Planet directed by Terrence Malick and in January 2020 taught physical theatre and co-directed Peter and the Starcatcher for three months at The University of California (Davis). Toby is currently compiling details for his forthcoming one man show Bernard Knowes and is creating short films on Instagram directed by Clare Park to order to test run his character and offer some humour in these difficult times. https://www.tobysedgwick.net ——————————————————————————— Host: Jamie Neale @jamienealejn Discussing with Toby his rituals of reflection and understanding his own habitual patterns both in personal and work life. We ask questions about how to come more aware of ones self and also the world around him. How do we become 360 with yourself? —- you can also find us on @360_yourself

Can our theatrical landscape survive financially, and how might it need to creatively adapt to survive post pandemic? As part of the Lockdown Theatre Festival, Anne McElvoy's panel features: Bertie Carvel - actor and executive producer of Lockdown Theatre Festival, whose roles include Rupert Murdoch in Ink, Miss Trunchbull in Matilda The Musical, and Simon in BBC One drama Doctor Foster. Amit Lahav – founder of Gecko, the internationally-touring physical theatre company based in Ipswich. Eleanor Lloyd – theatre producer, whose West End hits include Emilia, Nell Gwynn, and 1984. Roy Alexander Weise – Joint Artistic Director of Manchester Royal Exchange, awarded an MBE for services to drama. The discussion also include playful, thoughtful contributions from theatre makers including Inua Ellams, Tamara Harvey, Emma Rice, Dominic Cavendish, Bertrand Lesca, Tim Etchells, David Lockwood and Selina Thompson and an interview with Caroline Dinenage MP Production: Jack Howson and Robyn Read Lockdown Theatre will feature four plays that had their runs cut short: The Mikvah Project by Josh Azouz and originally showing at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, Love Love Love by Mike Bartlett recently revived for Lyric, Hammersmith Theatre, Rockets And Blue Lights by Winsome Pinnock - sadly suspended before its world premiere planned at Manchester’s Royal Exchange, and Shoe Lady by E.V. Crowe - cut short into its run at the Royal Court Theatre - Produced by Jeremy Mortimer, a Reduced Listening production for Radio 3 and Radio 4 and available on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08fw06m In the Free Thinking archives you can find discussions including Dramatising Democracy with James Graham, Paula Milne Michael Dobbs and Trudi-Ann Tierney https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04yb7k6 Meera Syal and Tanika Gupta on dramatising Anita and Me https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06gt257 Is British Culture Getting Weirder? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000346m

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, Scenes From The Luddite Rebellion has just opened at Manchester Royal Exchange. Combining verbatim recreations and imagined encounters, it looks at Manchester and England at the beginning of industrialisation Animals is a new film based on the novel by Emma Jane Unsworth. Two friends messily drift along and apart and back together in Dublin Colson Whitehead's new novel The Nickel Boys fictionalises the true story of a reform institution in Florida where cruelty, abuse and violence were the norm Olafur Eliasson: In Real Life is at Tate Modern in London - showing 27 years of the output of the Norwegian Icelandic artist This Way Up is a new sitcom on Channel 4 starring Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan Tom Sutcliffe's guests are Henry Hitchings, Patrice Lawrence and Jen Harvie. The producer is Oliver Jones PodcastExtra recommendations: Jen: Burgerz by Travis Alabanza Shit Theatre's Drink Rum with Expats, and Fair Fringe /Cost Of The Fringe/ Fringe of Colour Henry: Jonathan Gibbs - The Large Door Patrice: Anthony Joseph - Kitch and Sam Selvon- The Lonely Londoners

This week sees the 200th anniversary of the birth of Herman Melville, writer of one of America's greatest novels, Moby Dick. Sarah Churchwell and Richard King discuss the extraordinary tale of Captain Ahab's pursuit of the white sperm whale that had bitten off his leg. The story of Ahab's revenge is famously narrated by Ishmael, who is on his first whaling expedition, with one of literature's most celebrated opening lines : Call me Ishmael. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins is reunited with Chris Pine in new TV drama I Am the Night. Set in 1950s America it follows the true story of Fauna Hodel, a young woman in search of her biological family after discovering she’s adopted and not mixed race as she’d been told, but white. Both Fauna, and a down-and-out reporter played by Pine, end up on the trail of famous gynaecologist, Dr. George Hodel who's somehow connected to the gruesome Black Dahlia murder. Is there something to be said for Luddism? The machine-wrecking rebels of the Industrial Revolution are the subject of a new play There is a Light that Never Goes Out: Scenes from the Luddite Rebellion at the Manchester Royal Exchange. Rather than casting The Luddites as history's losers, fighting a doomed battle against the march of progress, it asks whether they were in fact pioneers who paved the way for workers' rights and the welfare state. The creative team James Yeatman and and Lauren Mooney take us through the historic parallels which suggests we too might consider resisting the rise of the machines. Plus, music journalist Neil McCormick reports on the US court ruling that Katy Perry copied Dark Horse from Christian rapper Flame. Presenter : Stig Abell Producer : Dymphna Flynn

Two female icons of the music industry release new works today. Beyonce’s new film Homecoming is released alongside a surprise new live album. The film focuses on her historic 2018 Coachella performance in which she celebrated America's historically black colleges and universities, black culture and black female empowerment. Also today, Madonna releases a new single ahead of her upcoming album and has revealed a new alter-ego - Madame X. Academic Emma Dabiri and broadcaster Katie Puckrik discuss Beyonce’s cultural significance and Madonna’s latest reinvention. Choreographer Aletta Collins talks about her work for the Manchester Royal Exchange’s new production of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s classic, West Side Story. She reveals why they chose to change Jerome Robbins's famous choreography, the first time a professional production has done so. Ahead of a Front Row bank holiday special on children’s literature, two award-winning writers of children’s fiction, Katherine Rundell and Bali Rai, discuss the significance of reading between the ages of 7 and 12. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Ben Mitchell

n Episode 2, actor David Morrissey and his son Gene discuss Dylan’s take on heartbreak and darkness, as well as the art of listening to albums all the way through; especially Blood On The Tracks. David Morrissey started acting at the Everyman Youth Theatre in Liverpool, where he was born and raised. Following graduation from RADA, he worked with Cheek By Jowl, the Manchester Royal Exchange and the Royal National Theatre. The British Film Institute described David as "one of the most versatile English actors of his generation". His many television and film credits include the Brian Jones biopic Stoned; as well as Britannia, The Driver, State of Play, Gordon Brown in The Deal (RTS Award, Best Actor) and The Governor in The Walking Dead (two time Saturn Award nominee). Trailer Twitter: @davemorrissey64 Spotify playlist Recorded 5th September 2018

Jennifer Lawrence stars in new film Red Sparrow as a prima ballerina turned Russian spy trained to seduce her targets. The film is based on a successful novel by former CIA operative Jason Matthews and helmed by Frances Lawrence who also directed Lawrence in the Hunger Games film series. Film critic Anna Smith reviews.David Edgar's adaptation of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, starring Phil Daniels, is currently touring the country. April de Angelis has adapted Frankenstein for the Manchester Royal Exchange. Both playwrights talk about how they have brought these science fiction classics to the stage and consider why so many new theatre shows are adaptions from famous books. Paintings deep in caves in Spain reveal that Neanderthals were artists, according to new research published in the journal Science. Professor Paul Pettitt from Durham University tells us how fundamental the making of art is to us and our ancestors.The Diaspora Pavilion at last year's Venice Biennale showcased the work of 19 British artists responding to the idea of the diaspora of their various cultures. Michael Forbes, one of the artists, gives John a tour of a selection of the works now on display in the UK at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Sarah Johnson.

Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein are joined by the commentator and former England Rugby hooker, Brian Moore, who talks about his career, recent health scare and passion for opera and wine. 18 year old Liv Cooke is the current Football Freestyle World Champion. She describes how sitting at home with an injury led her to the sport. The actress, Julie Hesmondhalgh, recalls her childhood in Accrington, playing the first transgender role in a soap, and her love of campervans. JP meets Saturday Live listener, Pat Ellison Reed, to find out why her mum taught her Jujitsu. GP and TV doctor, Rangan Chatterjee, gives common-sense tips for a healthier lifestyle; describes how he almost missed his own child's illness and the joy he finds by playing in a band. Feargal Sharkey shares his Inheritance Tracks - Brown Eyed Handsome Man performed by Buddy Holly and Aceperience by Hardfloor. Brian Moore will be commentating on the Six Nations Championship, which runs from 3 February - 17 March. Julie Hesmondhalgh is appearing in the play The Almighty Sometimes at the Manchester Royal Exchange from 9-24 February. The 4 Pillar Plan, How to Relax, Eat, Move and Sleep by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, is out now. Liv Cooke is taking part in The World Freestyle Football Championships on 22 February in Tokyo.

The Famous Lauren Barri Holstein also known as ‘The Famous,’ is a New York-raised, London-based feminist performance maker who holds a PhD on 'The Agency of the Displayed Female Body: The Political Potential of Negative Affects in Contemporary Feminism and Performance'   Lauren's #FeministFaves are Sara Ahmed's book 'The Promise of Happiness, Lauren Berlant, Nao Bustamante, Ann Liv Young, Julia Bardsley, Kira O'Reilly, Lois Weaver and Split Britches.   Michelle Barwood is an actor, writer, shit feminist, bad vegan, witch. Michelle watched Queens of Sheba, produced by Nouveau Riche at Camden People's Theatre, and In Event of Moone Disaster at Theatre503.   Michelle's #FeministFave is Eve Ensler's One Billion Rising project.   More recommendations...   Jubilee   Manchester Royal Exchange until Nov 18. & Lyric Hammersmith in Feb.  Damsel Develops  The Bunker Nov 13 - 19.   The Butch Monologues  Soho Theatre Nov 21 - 24th    We Are The Lions, Mr Manager!  TARA Theatre Nov 21 - 25 and touring until May.   Pecs  Soho Theatre 4 - 9 December   Bad Roads  Royal Court Wed 15 Nov - Sat 23 Dec

I’ve known Testament since I was quite young from him working with my older brother on their early musical endeavours; though until now had never really had the chance to properly get to know him. Over the years he has built up his emcee and beatbox abilities into albums such as No Freedom Without Sacrifice (under Homecut) and taken to the stage in productions Blake Remixed and the currently touring WOKE. Having seen the show during its first run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse I was very envious, in relation to my own work, of what he was able to achieve and wanted to talk more about it, and how he sought to approach making a one man show about feminism the right way. In the process I learn about how certain friendships and personal relationships with others have informed both his work and beliefs, which continue to push him to try be an ever more conscientious person - something, sometimes, we all need reminding to do.Testament will be performing WOKE at the Manchester Royal Exchange this week (16-18th November) and other venues throughout 2018. Next year will also see the release of his similarity titled album WOKE, and the tour of his newly written play Black Men Walking.

The long- awaited Wonder Woman blockbuster movie has arrived amongst us mere mortals - prepare to be overwhelmed, puny mortals. A stage adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion has opened at The Manchester Royal Exchange. It's taken an unconventional approach and includes silver swimwear and a foam party - is this a step too far for a classic text or a bold new interpretation? The work of designers Lucienne Day and Barbara Brown can be seen at The Whitworth Gallery in Manchester. Their fabrics seems fresh, familiar and distinctive six decades after they were created Adam Thorpe's latest novel Missing Fay deals with a familiar trope in novels; the missing child. How does he mine something new from a seam which has been worked so often before? Channel 4 has a new drama based around a fictional school in Yorkshire. Ackley Bridge is being promoted and scheduled to get a lot of attention, but how well does it deal with modern education? Tom Sutcliffe's guests are Paul Farley, Bidisha and Susan Jeffreys. The producer is Oliver Jones.

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Literary Associate, Rosie Kellagher, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse. In this episode, Rosie Speaks to Matthew Zajac. Matthew is from Inverness. He studied Drama at Bristol University and has worked as an actor for 33 years. Theatre includes work at the Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Manchester Royal Exchange, Bristol Old Vic, Liverpool Everyman, Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, the Lyric Hammersmith, Bush Theatre and the Young Vic. Most recently, he played Bishop Gornik in the feature film The Crucifixion, directed by Xavier Gens and due for release in 2016. He directed Seven Ages (2001), The Seer (2006), ‘e Polish Quine (2007), Jacobite Country (2010), Sweetness (2011) and The Baroness (2013) for Dogstar and wrote and performed The Tailor of Inverness for the company, winning the 2009 Best Actor Award at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland, a Scotsman Fringe First, the Holden Street Theatres Award and the Stage Award for Best Solo Performer at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe. The Tailor of Inverness went on to run for a month at the 2009 Adelaide Fringe Festival, winning nominations for Best Production and Best Performance. Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk Conceived, produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain.

Love and Money is a little known play from 2006, an early work by Dennis Kelly, the London Irish television writer who would go on to create controversial British television series Pulling & Utopia. The play debuted at the Manchester Royal Exchange, before moving to the Young Vic. It was recently staged in Dublin by … Continue reading Love & Money – Reading Plays – Episode 16 →

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse. In this episode, Hamish Speaks to David Ireland. David trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. He has worked as an actor with many theatre companies across the UK including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Manchester Royal Exchange, Glasgow Citizens Theatre and the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. David's first play WHAT THE ANIMALS SAY was produced at Oran Mor in Glasgow in May 2009 and transferred to the Belfast Festival. This was followed by ARGUMENTS FOR TERRORISM (Oran Mor), EVERYTHING BETWEEN US (Tinderbox Theatre Company/Solas Nua), THE END OF HOPE THE END OF DESIRE (Oran Mor), HALF A GLASS OF WATER (Abbey Theatre) and YES, SO I SAID YES (Ransom Productions). He has also taken part in Paines Plough's COME TO WHERE I'M FROM. David is currently working on new plays for Tinderbox Theatre Company, the Abbey Theatre and Lyric Theatre, Belfast and is adapting his play WHAT THE ANIMALS SAY into a television series for the BBC. Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain