Podcasts about Royal Shakespeare Company

Kyra Belle Johnson originated and is currently playing the role of Belle in Disney's North American Tour of "Beauty and the Beast." Previously, Kyra played the role of Sophie in the Broadway National Tour of "Mamma Mia" and has been seen in films and on television in "Damned If You Do," "Role Play," and "FBI."A Los Angeles native, Kyra graduated from Texas State University, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. She continued her studies abroad, training at The Globe, Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, and the Royal Shakespeare Company in the United Kingdom.Kyra is a beauty, inside and out, and we know you're going to love listening to this interview!Email: TheMouseAndMePodcast@gmail.comSupport: www.patreon.com/themouseandmeFB and Instagram: “The Mouse and Me”Music by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io

Sir Greg Doran is somewhat of a legend in the world of theatre and William Shakepeare. The first time the former Artistic Director Emeritus of the Royal Shakespeare Company came to New Zealand it was thanks to a copy of a First Folio of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet held at the Auckland Central City Library. Now the renowned theatre director is back in the country, but this time working with students, actors and the public discussing the love stories cultures share, and why they are such timeless tales. Sir Greg's visit was prompted by a creative project involving the Maori legend of Hinemoa and Tutanekai - two star crossed lovers that some call New Zealand's Romeo and Juliet, but with a happier ending.

The 16th episode of the fourth season of the BBC anthology series Play for Today, Penda's Fen – originally broadcast on 21 March 1974 – is widely celebrated as a visionary masterpiece of British folk horror and 1970s television drama. Written by David Rudkin and directed by Alan Clarke, Time Out London named it one of the 100 best British films. The Visionary Realism of Alan ClarkeDirector Alan Clarke is renowned for his stark social realism and controversial depictions of institutionalised communities. His 1977 borstal drama Scum was banned by the BBC, later returning as a 1979 feature film, while his television film Made in Britain introduced Tim Roth as a racist skinhead. He tackled corporate corruption in Beloved Enemy, military interrogation in Psy-Warriors, and directed David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's Baal. His final work, The Firm starring Gary Oldman, drew heavy press criticism for its depiction of violent football hooliganism in Thatcher's Britain.While Penda's Fen trades Clarke's urban realism for a mystical landscape of angels and demons, it retains his fierce preoccupation with identity, authority, and systemic oppression.Cult Television & Audio ConnectionsThe surreal atmosphere is driven by an electronic score from Paddy Kingsland of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Kingsland manipulated a Benjamin Britten recording for the play, and went on to score The Changes, the radio and TV versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and classic Doctor Who serials.The cast links directly to landmark British cult media:Spencer Banks (Stephen Franklin): The quintessential 1970s television adolescent, Banks also starred as Simon Randall in the children's sci-fi series Timeslip.Georgine Anderson (Mrs Franklin): A veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company who later played May in the 2007 Doctor Who episode ‘Gridlock' – representing the show's first married same-sex couple.Ian Hogg (Arne): Famous as the lead in Rockliffe's Babies and the villainous Josiah Samuel Smith in the Doctor Who story Ghost Light.Jennie Hesselwood (Mrs Arne): Mother of Toby Jones and wife of Freddie Jones (Dune, The Elephant Man).Graham Leaman (Sir Edward Elgar): Features a massive Doctor Who pedigree including The Macra Terror (tying directly back to the Macra in ‘Gridlock'), The Seeds of Death, and The Three Doctors.Ivor Roberts (Cooke): A familiar face from the ‘Croftiverse' comedies Oh, Doctor Beeching! and You Rang, M'Lord?, as well as Genesis of the Daleks.Ron Smerczak (Joel): Later transitioned to action cinema in American Ninja 4: The Annihilation and Cyborg Cop.Current Promotions & EventsThe General Witchfinders Book Club: Our debut spin-off episode is out now, run with independent bookshop Teaseland & Skylark in Dorchester. Host Ross welcomes author Ray Newman (The Grave Digger's Boy) to unpack Andrew Michael Hurley's folk horror novel, Starve Acre. Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/GW-BC-01Summer Spin-Off – Department X: Join James and Ross as they investigate the 1970s obsession with ESP, telekinesis, and psychic premonitions. Listen to 'Mysterious Powers & Strange Forces' here: https://tinyurl.com/MYSpowerLondon Halloween Live Show: We are taking over ActOne Cinema in Acton on Friday 30th October at 7:30pm for a screening of Hammer's Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde and a live podcast recording. Tickets are £14: https://tinyurl.com/DRJeky11'Hammer Presents' Blu-ray Giveaway: Win a bundle of restored rarities including The Snake Woman, Dr. Blood's Coffin, Cry of the Banshee, and Crucible of Horror. Enter before Friday 31st July: https://tinyurl.com/HamPrizeGeneral Witchfinders Issue 4: Grab our 76-page zine of unsettling folk horror fiction, original artwork, and deep-dive features: https://tinyurl.com/gwZINESupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In ep 180 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Paul Cartwright joins Sam and Mark to talk about trusting your senses as a VA to do the work in a script without actively trying to do the work. We explore a commercial script using Paul's theory of pulling back on the crafting and being less voiceovery and less polished to make a real connection with the audience.As an artist, your body is naturally going to add pitch and depth and resonance and highs and lows... so what Paul shows us is comparable to the difference between stage acting and film acting - and it can be a rough uncomfortable ride.We also look at how to create a story arc for a famous tale re-told, but telling it in an authentic way, and our wildcards include Jack's giant, an old lady and a nervous best man delivering a speech.Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to podcast@britishvoiceover.co.ukScript 1Senior Living THE COMM, is an international community for those aged 65 and over. Enjoy an active, independent lifestyle with comfort, peace of mind, and healthcare assistance whenever it's needed.Find out more today on 966 878 400.Senior Living THE COMM. For those who already know what life is all about.Script 2Long ago, in a sleepy village on the outskirts of a busy town, there lived a boy named Jack. Jack's father disappeared when he was a child, and all Jack could remember of him was the joy of his laughter and the tenderness of his voice:But for Jack and his widowed mother, things were what they were: they were poor, and their farm was failing.But Jack wasn't worried. He was an unusual boy, cheerful to a fault and rarely complained. That, and he had a secret...He could speak to animals.We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"About our guest: Paul Cartwright spent more than two decades as a full-time actor doing musicals and plays before moving to the U.K. to get his MFA in Acting: The British Tradition from the Royal Conservatoire. After working with the best voice coaches in the world, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Paul moved to Los Angeles to continue his on-camera and voiceover career. Some of the clients Paul worked with are: Disney Animation, Game of Thrones, Mercedes Benz, Pepsi, Google, Samsung, Epic Games, Genshin Impact, Nintendo, Bethesda and more. Paul has since moved to Salt Lake City, Utah with his family. He is a full-time voice actor and director.Paul's Website@PaulTCartwright on InstagramPaul's Facebook pageResources: Click here for the Wildcard Generator and don't forget to think of an action your character can be doing!Here are Paul's stories: AudioStories presents StoryLore on apple or Spotifyhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/audiostories/id1624488270About your hosts:With over 40 years representing major international clients such as Google, Emirates and HSBC; Mark Ryes has been trusted to be the voice for some of the world's biggest brands. If your business needs a fresh voice to represent you, then make it Mark's British voice. As a voiceover, TV presenter, podcaster or product demonstrator - Mark makes your brand truly sparkle!Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermarkElegantly British with an intelligent, warm and seductive voice, Samantha Boffin helps creatives and production companies create great audio that really connects with their audience. BBC-trained and with over 20 years of broadcast experience on both sides of the mic, she's created award-winning promos, narration and commercials for companies all around the globe, including the BBC, Sky, Games Workshop, John Lewis, Audible and Penguin Random House.Samantha's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

Back for more Shakespeare! This week it's Henry IV Part 2 (following up last month's Part 1)--but with the addition of the book Year of the Fat Knight by Shakespearean actor Antony Sher.Part One's pairings of characters give way to one central relationship in Part 2: fathers and sons. It's much more serious as Prince Hal moves closer to assuming the throne: how much will he follow his father's wishes for him? How can he create his kingly presence with Falstaff acting as his best friend and surrogate father? And who, if anyone, might fill that advisor/father role when Hal loses his own?On top of this play, I read the wonderful Year of the Fat Knight. Sher was Falstaff in the productions of Henry IV from Royal Shakespeare Company, the ones I watched, and he was marvelous. I spotted this book when we were in Stratford last summer and decided that this was the perfect month to read it.Sher's memoir is amazing, full of all kinds of anecdotes about not only this play but being a Shakespearean actor in general. I strongly feel that you can't experience a Shakespeare play without seeing it in some form, and Sher's memoir made me see why. It's a true vocation to act in a play like this--embodying the complicated language so that it seems natural, filling in the blanks of a personality that Shakespeare leaves, deciding exactly how to appear in front of an audience. I'm really happy I read this one.Next week--Happy Birthday, America!BOOKS IN THIS EPISODEThe complete list of Crack the Book Episodes (Amazon affiliate links): https://cheryldrury.substack.com/p/crack-the-book-start-here?r=u3t2rHenry IV Part 2 (RSC Production)Year of the Fat Knight (Antony Sher)CONNECTTo read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/Like what you heard? Buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/crackthebookLISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bdApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm

pWotD Episode 3345: Penelope Keith Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 335,463 views on Monday, 29 June 2026 our article of the day is Penelope Keith.Dame Penelope Anne Constance Keith (née Hatfield; 2 April 1940 – 29 June 2026) was an English actress. Active in film, radio, stage and television, where she was also a presenter, Keith is primarily known for her roles in the British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born. Keith succeeded Lord Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989 and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts and to charity.Keith joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, and went on to win the 1976 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the play Donkeys' Years. She became a household name in the UK playing Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom The Good Life (1975–1978), winning the 1977 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance.In 1978, Keith won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for The Norman Conquests. She then starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in the sitcom To the Manor Born (1979–1981), a show that received audiences of more than 20 million. Keith went on to star in another six sitcoms, including Executive Stress (1986–1988), No Job for a Lady (1990–1992) and Next of Kin (1995–1997). From 2000, she worked mainly in the theatre, with her roles including Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit (2004) and Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (2007).This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:49 UTC on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Penelope Keith on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Justin.

Hudson Valley Shakespeare debuts Scripps theater For the debut season of the Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center, named after a newspaper scion who lived in Rhinebeck and worked in the theater world as a lighting designer, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare is presenting a double dose from the Bard and a "special run" of Les Misérables. After previews, opening night for As You Like It was June 20, and King Lear got going on Monday (June 22). The productions run through mid-September, and the schedule begins mixing in Les Miz on Aug. 22. The company has come a long way from its first season at Manitoga when, according to lore, it rained, says artistic director Davis McCallum. They returned the next year at Boscobel under a tent, establishing a tradition that lasted 36 more summers but is now a thing of the past. "We're big on the 'Hudson Valley' part of our name," says McCallum. "Shakespeare's theater was outdoors, and we had to take advantage of the view." That vista inspired the 1809 painting "The Highlands-Hudson River," by James Renwick, one of the founders of the Cold Spring Foundry. The three plays represent "an interesting mix, including two greats from Shakespeare that start in court and unfold in the natural world," says McCallum. "In As You Like It, it's the Forest of Arden, and there's the Heath in King Lear. The river, the mountains and the greenery become part of the story." The Royal Shakespeare Company in London produced the original hit version of Les Misérables, which transferred to Broadway and is a staple of high school stages (Haldane presented it in March; the Beacon players did in 2023). Yet it's been at least a decade since the rightsholder granted a performance license to professional companies, due in part to the successful global tour of the concert version, says McCallum. "I wanted to do this since 2019, and director Jenn Thompson had a great approach," he says. "We petitioned them and, as the first in the cue, we got the go-ahead. It's such an epic canvas; our adaptation is Shakespearean in scale," and features 15 musicians. Despite a 28-year tenure with the troupe, Philipstown local Kurt Rhoads is tackling the intimidating role of King Lear for the first time as a pro at Hudson Valley Shakespeare. "He is the perfect actor on the perfect stage at the perfect time and has been training for a while," says McCallum. "These are banger scenes where actors must convey enormous power and emotional vulnerability," he says. "You have to be funny and terrifying as you're blasting out 40-line speeches at the top of your lungs. Many great classical actors shudder at the part." The work that benefits most from the stunning setting is As You Like It, which features five songs written for the show by Amanda Dehnert. "Some Shakespeare plays had lyrics, but no scores have survived," says McCallum. "We're creating a world inspired by the Gilded Age era and the Hudson River School of painting," he says. After bidding farewell to its seasonal tent, the company will still be exposed to the elements. "You can build an indoor theater anywhere," says McCallum. "Since the beginning, when it rained at Manitoga, being outside and using the setting has been an integral part of our heritage." Hudson Valley Shakespeare is located at 2015 Route 9 in Philipstown. For tickets, which range from $55 to $120, with discounts for seniors, students, children, teens and military, see hvshakespeare.org.

Emily Watson is an award-winning actor, widely regarded as one of the finest character actors of her generation.She began her career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before rising to prominence in 1996, when she was cast as Bess McNeill in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination. She received a second Oscar nomination for Hilary and Jackie, for which she learned to play the cello to portray Jacqueline du Pré.Watson has built a reputation for a level of commitment that is as intense as it is acclaimed. She describes her craft not merely as a profession but as a profound internal necessity, stating: "I love the sense of creating and inhabiting something. That feeling of making it feel magically real. That's the addiction".She grew up in London and was a passionate reader before leaving home to study English at Bristol University. Her parents were members of the School of Economic Science which proscribed that followers eschew TV and popular culture. Emily joined in with the university drama productions and followed her passion, with her parents' blessing, to pursue a career in acting. Emily Watson lives in London with her husband, and they have two children. Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other actors away over the years including Emily's fellow actor from Hamnet, Jessie Buckley. The writer, Maggie O'Farrell is in there too along with Emily's friend from university, the writer David Nicholls. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Kulturkollen laddar upp för sommarens alla kulturevent med en guide om sånt som stör, och sånt som förgyller, publikupplevelsen. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. I veckan blev det stor uppmärksamhet när klassiska "Stormen" stördes på Royal Shakespeare Company – av en bebis i publiken. Vad var det som hände?Hur ser kutymen ut: Bör man som publik få filma ett framträdande, eller prata med varandra på bio?Är det engelsmännen som är bisarrt stränga med publiknormer, eller är svenskar till och med värre? Kulturnytt har gett sig ut på gatorna för kolla hur attityden till störande ljud från publiken ser ut.Allt detta diskuteras av programledare Rasmus Grosin och inhoppande etikettexpert Ellen Cavallin i veckans kulturkoll.

This episode we're covering Death Valley, the Welsh cozy mystery on BritBox that's basically Midsomer Murders but with even more unpronounceable town names and a retired actor solving crimes for fun. This is also our first video episode! Come check us out on YouTube or patreon.com/cluedunnitpodcast!  In this episode: Retired TV detective actor John Chapel (Timothy Spall) teams up with eager-but-junior DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) to investigate a murder at a 15-year high school reunion. The guesses:

Last weekend Mickey-Jo headed to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon to watch two strikingly different pieces of theatre in one day.These were: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, starring Mark Gatiss, and The Tempest starring Kenneth Branagh.Check out this double bill review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of these two plays...• 00:00 | introduction01:46 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui 11:10 | The Tempest 23:59 | conclusion About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailAhead of her highly anticipated return to the Kiln Theatre following her debut at the RSC's The Other Place, the indomitable Ellen Thomas sat down with us to discuss her powerhouse role as Pearl in the world premiere of Martina Laird's Driftwood. Ellen delves into the psychological weight and socio-political gravity of portraying a fierce matriarch running a downtown gentlemen's club on the precipice of Trinidadian independence. We hear her reflect on the delicate art of unearthing fragments of vulnerability within Justin Audibert's atmospheric direction. Our conversation explores her process of physical and linguistic discovery in the rehearsal room, unpacking how the specific cadences of 1950s Trinidadian English serve as vital tools of resistance, identity, and raw survival in a shifting world.In this captivating new interview, Ellen Thomas offers an introspective look at a legendary career that masterfully bridges the worlds of television mechanics and rigorous stagecraft. We also revisit her recent, triumphant turn on the very same Kiln stage in Zadie Smith's The Wife of Willesden, which also gave her an opportunity to showcase her ability to play strong, powerful and complex women. What follows is a warm and personal exploration of a powerful actress reflecting on her deep structural history with the Kiln, the changing landscape of British co-productions, and the enduring magic of theatre that dares to challenge who holds power.Driftwood runs at Kiln Theatre from 4 June - 4 July.

Kirsty Lang on Michael Pennington, the Shakespearean actor who preferred a life on stage to the glamour of Hollywood. For Dame Judi Dench, he was her 'Mr Plum', she recalls his life.Cynthia Shange defied apartheid to become the first Black woman to represent South Africa at Miss World. Scott Hastings the rugby legend, who was once Scotland's most capped player. He went on to become a well-known commentator and campaigner for mental health charities, following the death of his wife after her long battle with depression. And Beverley Martyn, the singer songwriter, a star of the British folk scene, who was signed by Beatles producer George Martin aged 16, but her career was not a smooth ride. Please note this programme references suicide. Support and information is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Interviewee: Dame Judi Dench Interviewee: Nonhle Thema Interviewee: John Beattie Interviewee: Joe BoydProducer: Catherine Powell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: Miss World 1972. BBC TV, 01 Dec 1972; Bob Harris Sunday : Beverley Martyn plays live, BBC Radio 2, 27th April 2014; Five Nations, Rugby Union, Scotland v England, 17th March 1990; Scrum V, Live Pro12: 2016/2017, Edinburgh v Blues, 24th Feb 2017; BBC News Breakfast, 21st Dec 2020; Richard II, writer William Shakespeare, dir Gregory Doran, Royal Shakespeare Company, 2013; Gift of Gorgon, writer Peter Shaffer, dir Peter Hall, RSC, 1993; Henry V, dir Michael Bogdanov, The English Shakespeare Company in The War of the Roses, Produced by John Paul Chapple and Andy Ward, A Portman Classics production in association with Contracts International and Windmill Lane Productions, 1990

The latest new musical to arrive in the West End is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, based on the film of the same name and the memoir that inspired it.The musical, which premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, tells the story of William Kamkwamba, who created a windmill from scraps in order to provide for his famine-stricken community.Check out Mickey-Jo's thoughts about this show, its original score, and its performances...check out Mickey-Jo's brand new substack newsletter:www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com• 00:00 | introduction01:45 | synopsis / overview07:23 | the material12:40 | performances20:17 | creative choices25:20 | conclusionAbout Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailAfter nearly a decade since her West End debut in Les Miserables, Amara Okereke has solidified her standing as one of the most exciting performers of her generation. Now making her RSC debut, Amara sat down with us to talk about taking on the role of Ariel opposite Kenneth Branagh's Prospero in Sir Richard Eyre's new production of The Tempest.  Having already played some of the UK's most prestigious and largest stages including the London Coliseum, Sheffield Crucible and Chichester Festival Theatre, Amara tells us about adapting to playing larger houses as she prepares to tackle the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.In this new interview with Amara Okereke, we talk about her transition from musical theatre to straight plays and her ongoing evolution as a performer. After playing some of the most coveted roles like Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Laurey in Oklahoma!, Amara has since taken on roles like Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire and took on the lead role in Pulse at the King's Head Theatre. We hear her talk about her desire to keep exploring new characters that challenge her as she continues to evolve as a performer and as a person. She tells us about the mentor / muse relationship between Prospero and Ariel before also sharing her admiration for career role models she's worked with like Janie Dee and Elena Shaddow. Our conversations offers a candid look at the craft of an actress who refuses to be pigeonholed, offering a masterclass in staying authentic while stepping into the formidable weight of a theatrical legacy.The Tempest runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until 20 June.

Women are being forced to turn to loan sharks due to a "hidden" but devastating form of economic abuse, according to new research. Scottish Women's Aid has published a study on the problem of coerced debt – where an abusive current or ex-partner builds up debt in their victim's name, either without consent or knowledge or through force, threat or coercion. Anita Rani is joined by Dr Jenn Glinski, author of the report and the national policy lead for economic abuse at Scottish Women's Aid, to talk about the report findings.Canwen Xu was born in China and moved to the US when she was two years old. She grew up in predominately white areas – North and South Dakota and Idaho. When she was 18 she gave a TEDx talk, titled, I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype, which has been watched more than 3.7 million times. Canwen joins Anita to discuss her debut novel - Boring Asian Female – and its themes of identity, ambition, failure, and obsession.The Government is consulting on an outright ban of social media for under-16s, as well as other measures designed to stop teenagers accessing addictive and harmful material. In March in the US, a Los Angeles jury handed down an unprecedented win for a young woman who had sued Meta and Google over her childhood addiction to social media. So, what is social media addiction and how do you identify it in children? What's the tipping point between a ‘keen interest' and an addiction? Anita is joined by Dr Bernadka Dubicka, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Jenny Afia, a privacy and reputation lawyer for the law firm Schillings, who contributed to the UK Children's Commissioner's Digital Task Force.The Royal Shakespeare Company's musical production of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind has just transferred to London's West End. Based on the true story of 13-year-old William Kamkwamba who, in drought-stricken Malawi, and despite the lack of support from those around him, dreamt of saving his village. Anita is joined by the director Lynette Linton, and Madeleine Appiah, who plays William's mother.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

Stories of superstitious drinks and a cheese grudge. Paapa Essiedu is a highly acclaimed actor, known for his work across stage and screen. After attending Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Paapa joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, making his debut in The Merry Wives of Windsor at the age of 22. Other stage credits include Death of England: Delroy, The Effect and, most recently, All My Sons, a performance which saw him win an Olivier Award.   Paapa joins Nick and Angela to talk about two TV projects, including Falling, where he plays a priest who falls in love with a nun, portrayed by former Dish guest Keeley Hawes. The show is the first love story written by Jack Thorne, whose credits include Adolescence, His Dark Materials, Toxic Town and Skins. Falling is available to stream and watch live on Channel 4 from May 19. You'll also see Paapa in Babies, opposite Siobhán Cullen, as a couple struggling through the experience of pregnancy loss. The series, available on BBC iPlayer, has garnered praise for the poignant handling of its subject matter.  It's an episode with a chilli kick, with big-batch spicy margaritas to get things started and then spicy prawn tacos with rhubarb & scotch bonnet salsa to keep things going. The tacos are a recipe by Ixta Belfrage, which is paired by our wine experts with a glass of Tohu Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley. Paapa is a huge fan of big bold flavours, including Thai and Mexican cuisine, and there's also plenty of love for fresh tomatoes and, thanks to his recent theatre run, white chocolate matcha lattes. And, after recently taking up cooking classes, what skills can Paapa glean from watching Angela in the kitchen?  You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube and on Spotify.  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes The recipe for the spicy prawn tacos with rhubarb & scotch bonnet salsa was created for Waitrose by Ixta Belfrage For chocolate mousse inspiration, mentioned at the end of the episode, check out this recipe by Martha Collison. A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish If you want to get in touch with us about anything at all, contact dish@waitrose.co.uk  Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julie Peasgood is probably best known for having been a regular in no less than three soaps: Brookside, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. She has a multi-faceted career as an accomplished actress, TV presenter and producer, award-winning author, voice-over artist and events host. Honoured by the Royal Television Society with their celebrated Television Personality of the Year Award, Julie's acting career spans over fifty years of prestigious theatre and television, including five years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, TV serials such as Taggart, Casualty, The Survivors, September Song, Spender, Russell T Davies' Years and Years and Doctors (playing Michael Fenton Stevens wife!). Julie has also made her mark as a prolific travel and lifestyle writer: she was Contributing Editor for Cruise & Travel magazine for twelve years and has had long-running columns in Crafts Beautiful, Yours and Now magazines and Group Leisure and Travel, as well as being a regular contributor to Metro and the Mail on Sunday. A veteran of over 100 cruises - as a travel presenter, cruise reviewer and guest speaker – in 2018 Julie decided to combine her love of cruise travel with her passion for crafts, to form her highly successful company Supercraft Cruises..Julie Peasgood is our guest in episode 584 of 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 .Julie's Supercraft Cruises company - https://www.supercraftcruises.com .To donate blood, visit - www.blood.co.uk .Buddhism in Action for Peace - https://sgi-uk.org .Follow Julie Peasgood on Instagram: @juliepeasgood .Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter/X: @fentonstevens & 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 .To support this podcast and get all episodes ad-free, please sign up here - https://mytimecapsule.supercast.com. All money goes straight into the making of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KPFA Theatre Critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the Royal Shakespeare Company touring production of “Hamnet” at ACT Toni Rembe (Geary) Theatre through May 24, 2026.         Text of Review: In November 2025, a film adaptation of the 2020 Maggie O'Farrell novel Hamnet hit the screens of America. Four months later, Jessie Buckley won an Oscar for the role of Agnes Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, and mother of their three children. But back in April 2023, the same month that Chloe Zao was contracted to co-author and direct the screenplay of Hamnet, a stage adaptation of the novel made its premiere under the auspices of the Royal Shakespeare Company at their home, the Swan Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon in England. And it's a touring production by that same company that is now at ACT's Toni Rembe Theatre through May 24th. From a purely academic viewpoint, it's fascinating to examine the differences between the two adaptations. The same high points exist in both, sometimes the dialogue even matches. The characters are mostly the same, though the film's Will, played by Paul Mescal, is warmer and more family oriented than Rory Alexander's Will on stage. The line from late in the film, “you weren't here” for instance, now has a resonance because the on stage Will often is not there, spending more time in London than his family would like, and Agnes complains. Agnes's ugly relationship with her stepmother Joan is fleshed out in the play, as is the turbulent relationship between Will and his father, played on stage by the scene-stealing Nigel Barrett. Act One of the play takes twenty minutes on film. The film zooms into the family surrounding Shakespeare's  young son. The play tells a more broader story, how Shakespeare became Shakespeare. Jessie Buckley's Agnes is someone we deeply care about, almost a modern woman dropped five hundred years into the past. Kemi-Bo Jacobs' Agnes on stage is extremely difficult. There's a reason why it takes a while for the other characters to warm up to her. She's often loud and angry, with an annoying cadence in her voice. It's almost no wonder that Will wants to spend so much time in London. Which is likely the more authentic performance? One other thing: the film nails the ending. The play, not so much. But then again, here we have a top-notch British production, the kind you'd only see in Stratford-on-Avon or maybe the West End, in person, with a massive gorgeous set, and actors who have been studying Shakespeare since infancy. People travel to England for productions like this, whatever their flaws. And now it's right at your front door. The Royal Shakespeare Company and Neal Street productions Hamnet plays at ACT's Toni Rembe Theatre through May 24th. For more information go to act-sf.org. I'm Richard Wolinsky on Bay Area theatre for KPFA. The post Review: “Hamnet” at ACT Toni Rembe (Geary) Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for another audio described theatre review.  This time we have Shakespeare's retelling of the initial phase of the Lancastrian war, part of the hundred years war as RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey directs Alfred Enoch as Henry V at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon with description by Professional Audio Describers Carolyn Smith and Ellie Packer.About ‘Henry V'From a rebellious, carefree young man to the King of England. Overnight. And now this new king has an eye on the throne of France.   A reckless insult from the French Dauphin offers the perfect excuse for Henry V to declare war. But there's a human price to pay for his pursuit of power and thousands could die at Agincourt.   Henry must unite his country, defeat the French, and prove himself worthy of the crown of England. Does he have what it takes?  For more about access at the Royal Shakespeare Company including details of audio described performances of their productions do visit - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

Professor Alex Hill is the co-founder and Director of the Centre for High Performance. Author of Centennials: The 12 Habits of Great, Enduring Organisations, he's spent 13 years researching great organisations. In this episode we explore how organisations can use leadership to stay relevant and effective, as well as what leadership lessons we can draw from great organisations including NASA, the New Zealand All-Blacks, Eton College and The Royal Shakespeare Company. 

TODAY on The Great Women Artists podcast is the esteemed writer, Deborah Levy on avant-garde pioneer Gertrude Stein. The author of several novels, including August Blue, Hot Milk and Swimming Home, alongside the critically acclaimed Living Autobiography trilogy (some of my favourite books of all time): Things I Don't Want to Know, The Cost of Living and Real Estate, Deborah Levy is one of the most recognisable and influential writers working today. She has been shortlisted twice each for the Goldsmiths Prize and the Booker Prize, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company. But the reason why we are speaking with Levy today is because she has just published a new novel, My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein, which follows a narrator who has travelled to Paris to find out more about Stein, the enigmatic, trailblazing writer and patron; a woman who bolted through the 19th to the 20th century and paved the way for modernism as we know it today, with her daring, experimental writing, from Tender Buttons to The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, and her patronage of artists such as Picasso, Cezanne, and Matisse – and I can't wait to find out more. My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-year-in-paris-with-gertrude-stein/deborah-levy/2928377373535 THIS EPISODE IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE LEVETT COLLECTION: www.famm.com/en/ www.instagram.com/famm_mougins // www.merrellpublishers.com/9781858947037 Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Sound editing by Mikaela Carmichael Music by Ben Wetherfield

Olivier winner Eleanor Worthington-Cox is starring as Cilla Black and Cynthia Powell, John Lennon's first wife, in the world premiere of Tom Wright's play Please Please Me at the Kiln Theatre. Directed by Amit Sharma, the play tells the story of Brian Epstein, the influential manager often described as the “fifth Beatle”.Eleanor won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical when she was one of the original Matilda Wormwoods in the West End production of Matilda The Musical.As a child, her credits also include: Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Liverpool Empire), Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Blousey Brown in Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith) and Jess in Tomcat (Southwark Playhouse).More recently her theatre credits have included: Phaedra Cox in Jerusalem (Apollo Theatre), Lily in The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida Theatre), Alexandra Giddens in The Little Foxes (Young Vic), Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company) and Mary Page Marlowe in Mary Page Marlowe (The Old Vic).Eleanor starred as Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse and in the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre, receiving an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical. The production was filmed and has been released internationally to huge acclaim. She has worked across film and television too, with projects including Maleficent, Cucumber, The Enfield Haunting, Hetty Feather, Action Point, Britannia, Gwen, The Irregulars and About A Bell.Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Eleanor discusses all-things Please Please Me including how she's perfecting her portrayal of Cilla and why it's important for her to champion queer storytelling. She also reflects on the impact of Next To Normal, and her journey from Matilda to sustaining a career across stage and screen. Please Please Me runs at the Kiln Theatre until 29th May. Visit www.kilntheatre.com for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Bannister onYanar Mohammed who campaigned for women's rights in Iraq and set up a secret network of shelters for those fleeing abusive relationships. She was shot dead on 2nd March.Phil Woolas, a key figure in the New Labour project who became MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth.Professor Robin Weiss, the eminent virologist who carried out important work to understand HIV.Jane Lapotaire, the classical actor who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Edith Piaf.Interviewee: Nawal Al-Maghafi Interviewee: Nick Jones Interviewee: Jonathan Weber Interviewee: Zoë WanamakerProducer: Ribika Moktan Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyArchive used: Outlook, BBC World Service, 09/05/2005; News 1800, BBC Radio 4, 14/12/2003; BBC News, 1/04/1992; BBC News, 02/05/1997; Daily Politics: 2010 Election, Debates: The Immigration Debate, 4/05/2010; BBC News at Ten, BBC, 07/05/2009; BBC News at One, 09/12/2010; BBC News, 21/11/1986; Frontiers, BBC Radio 4, 24/02/1996; Piaf, playwright Pam Gems, director Howard Davies, production by Royal Shakespeare Company, broadcast on Arena: Theatre, BBC 12/02/1979; The 35th Annual Tony Awards, dir Clark Jones, Producer Alexander H. Cohen, produced and written by Hildy Parks, A Bentwood Television Production, CBS, 07/06/1981; Desert island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 22/08/1986; Richard II, dir Gregory Dean, The Royal Shakespeare Company, 2013; Woman's Hour, Radio 4, 24/04/2003

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my interview with star of stage and screen Jonathan Cake, who is currently starring in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his collaboration with Fiona Shaw on MEDEA, touring as a young actor with the National Youth Theater, how he first encountered DEATH OF A SALESMAN, bringing Tennessee Williams' BABY DOLL to the stage, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, how AND JUST LIKE THAT changed the way he dresses, working with an American company on CYMBELINE, why he turned down RICHARD III, a memorable incident while performing DOUBT, what he thinks about onstage intimacy, changing his look for THE PHILANTHROPIST, what he's learned from his podcast STAGE DOOR JONNY, working with Ethan Coen on ALMOST AN EVENING, performing in the Globe Theatre, starring in FUENTE OVEJUNA after the pandemic, balancing being a father with being an actor, the challenges of starring in CORIOLANUS in the Park, and so much more. Don't miss this thoughtful conversation with a master craftsman.

Actor Micah Balfour joins Johnny Seifert on Secure The Insecure podcast.Micah opens up about being a dad for the first time at forty six years old, how Micah wants to change what you are taught in drama schools and Micah shares his memories of working on The Bill and Eastenders. Finally, Micah talks about playing Exeter in Henry V at the Royal Shakespeare Company.For tickets to see Micah visit www.rsc.org.uk Secure The Insecure is the celebrity mental health podcast that airs on Mondays available to watch on Youtube or listen to on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Make sure you subscribe/rate/review where you are watching or listening to Secure The Insecure.Follow Johnny Seifert on Social Media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnnyseifertInstagram: www.instagram.com/securetheinsecurepodcastTikTok www.tiktok.com/johnnyseifert92 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is Jon Robyns who is starring as Miss Trunchbull in the West End production of Matilda.Having premiered in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010, the Royal Shakespeare Company's musical has been seen by 11 million people across 100 cities worldwide. Written by Dennis Kelly, Matilda has music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and direction by Matthew Warchus. Jon took over as Miss Trunchbull last year, immediately after his run as Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum.Jon's West End credits include The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (having previously played Enjolras and Marius), King George in Hamilton, alternate Huey in Memphis, Scrooge & others in Dickens Abridged, Galahad in Spamalot and Princeton & Rod in Avenue Q.Jon's other theatre credits include: Adam Nehemiah in Dessa Rose (Trafalgar Studios 2), Robbie in The Wedding Singer (UK & Ireland Tour), Emmet in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve), Eddie in Sister Act (UK & Ireland Tour), Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Greenwich Theatre), Hollis in Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mark in Rent (Frankfurt) and alternate Chris in Miss Saigon (UK & Ireland Tour). Jon performs in concerts all around the world and, alongside his performing work, is also a writer. Jon and his writing partner Christopher J Orton's musical Then, Now & Next premiered at the Southwark Playhouse in the summer of 2023, and they continue to collaborate on new writing projects.In this episode Jon discusses his time in The Great Gatsby, the process of taking over as Miss Trunchbull and his next writing project, plus lots more.Matilda runs at the Cambridge Theatre. Visit www.uk.matildathemusical.com for info and tickets.This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this episode of White Wine Question Tim is Joanna Page, an actor and presenter from Swansea, who was told whilst she was training at RADA that she was not a bad actress, the problem was that she was Welsh…Luckily for all of us she didn't let these comments hold her back, and ended up leaving RADA early to join the Royal National Theatre and then the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in the star-studded 1999 BBC adaptation of David Copperfield, and then what proved to be one of the nation's all-time favourite Christmas films, Love Actually.She seems to have a knack of winning roles in some of our most beloved shows, playing the titular Stacey Shipman in the BAFTA-winning series Gavin & Stacey alongside Ruth Jones, James Corden, and Matthew Horne - the final episode was one of the most-watched TV shows of the last two decades, with an audience of over 20 million.She has four children with her actor husband James Thornton, who she starred with in David Copperfield, but in a truly Dickensian plot-twist she didn't meet him at the time – it took a later introduction to throw them together from drama school friend Maxine PeakeSo sit back and enjoy this chat with Joanna Page as she discusses that Gavin & Stacey finale, Hollywood's very own Margot Robbie being a fan, and how she feels about nude scenes.If you're looking for more information about the National Lottery Open Week that Joanna mentioned - it runs from 7-15 March, and it's your chance to unlock some of the UK's hidden gems. You can show any National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win Game and get free or discounted entry, plus special offers, at hundreds of funded venues across the UK - from BFI Escapes to creative spaces and iconic hidden gems like Dover's wartime tunnels and the Eden Project's living clay sculpture. To find a participating venue near you, visit www.nationallotteryopenweek.comCheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadway prepares for blizzard, ‘Titanique’ welcomes ‘In the Heights’ star, ‘Game of Thrones’ at Royal Shakespeare Company this summer Every week, Matt Tamanini will bring you the biggest news from across the theatrical landscape and will prepare you for what’s ahead over the next seven days. Any and all feedback read more

It was announced yesterday that a stage play based on the stories by George RR Martin, a prequel to Game of Thrones, would receive its world premiere this Summer at the Royal Shakespeare Company.The play, titled Game of Thrones: The Mad King, will debut in Stratford Upon Avon, with full details to be confirmed, and will be written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke.Check out Mickey-Jo's thoughts on this announcement as well as how the play is likely to fare alongside other IP adaptations such as Stranger Things: The First Shadow, or The Hunger Games.•00:00 | introduction03:22 | details09:50 | creatives14:43 | expectations21:17 | conclusionAbout Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this episode is the globally-renowned, multi-award-winning playwright, poet, and performer, Inua Ellams MBE FRSL, whose work has been produced by the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC / Disney+'s Doctor Who, to name just three. Research Producer: Eileen Gbagbo

Last Wednesday, Mickey-Jo spent all day at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon to see the two part play ALL IS BUT FANTASY.The piece, which is written, composed, directed and performed by Whitney White, extrapolates Shakespeare's tragic heroines in order to study their arcs, empowerment and lasting social impact.Check out this full review for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on both plays separately and together, as well as the creative choices and supporting cast...•00:00 | introduction02:37 | synopsis / overview08:11 | development15:36 | creatives / performances22:02 | conclusion•About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whitney White is a theatrical powerhouse. A director, writer, actor, and musician, White's work has been seen on Broadway, Off Broadway, and at major institutions including The Public Theater, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and, most recently, the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her projects include Jaja's African Hair Braiding, The Last Five Years, Macbeth in Stride, and By The Queen, which was featured in the Folger's 2025 Reading Room Festival. In this episode, White discusses All Is But Fantasy, her four-play musical cycle created for the RSC, where it's now receiving its world premiere. The high-energy, gig-theater show investigates Shakespeare's women and ambition, focusing on Lady Macbeth, Emilia, Juliet, and Richard III. Each piece combines performance with original music, using sound and rhythm as a way into the text and as a tool for rethinking these characters whose inner lives are often cut short or overlooked. White reflects on why Shakespeare's women so often meet tragic ends, how those stories continue to feel familiar, and what it means to keep staging them now. She considers the ways that music, performance, and adaptation can help us better understand Shakespeare today. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published February 10, 2026. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica, with Garland Scott serving as executive producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. Technical support was provided by Melvin Rickarby in Stratford, England, and Voice Trax West in Studio City, California. Web production was handled by Paola García Acuña. Transcripts are edited by Leonor Fernandez. Final mixing services were provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc. Whitney White is an Obie and Lily Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated director, actor, and musician, celebrated for her bold, innovative storytelling across both Broadway and off-Broadway. She recently received the Drama League's 2025 Founders Award for Excellence in Directing and an Obie Award for Sustained Achievement in Directing. All Is But Fantasy, White's four-part musical exploration of Shakespeare's women and ambition, commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, marks her RSC debut as a writer, director, and actor. The two-part high-energy gig theater show is receiving its world premiere at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon in January and February 2026. White's other directing credits on Broadway include The Last Five Years and Jaja's African Hair Braiding, off-Broadway credits include Liberation, Walden, Jordan's, Soft, On Sugarland, What to Send Up When It Goes Down, Our Dear Drug Lord, and For All the Women Who Thought They Were Mad. She recently opened Saturday Church, a new musical featuring songs by Sia and Honey Dijon at New York Theatre Workshop. She also created Macbeth In Stride at Brooklyn Academy of Music, writing the book, music and lyrics. Additional directing work includes The Secret Life of Bees, By The Queen, The Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, A Human Being of a Sort, An Iliad, The Amen Corner, Othello, Canyon, and Jump. On screen, White has appeared in Ocean's Eight, Single Drunk Female, Louie, and The Playboy Club, and she contributed as a writer to Boots Riley's acclaimed series I'm A Virgo for Prime Video.

Theatre and opera director Katie Mitchell talks to John Wilson about her career and formative influences. She is renowned for her experimental storytelling on stage, her feminist perspective, and for contemporary reframing of classic plays, she has directed more than 100 productions over more than 30 years. She has worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre, where - as associate director - she staged bold new versions of work by a wide range of writers including Aeschylus, Virginia Woolf, Chekhov and Sarah Kane. For many theatre goers, she is one of Britain's most important and innovative living directors.Producer: Edwina Pitman

Adjoa Andoh MBE is an award-winning actress, passionate social activist, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Whether it be on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, on the screen as Bridgerton's formidable Lady Danbury, or behind closed doors as a judge for the Booker Prize - Adjoa has helped to tell and share some of our most beloved and cherished stories. So, in this episode of Re-Enchanting, Belle and Adjoa talk about just that – the stories that Adjoa breathes in and out, the ones she finds herself telling both on and off stage.If you found this conversation interesting, Seen & Unseen, the creators of Re-Enchanting, offers thousands of articles exploring how the Christian faith helps us understand the modern world. Discover more here: www.seenandunseen.com Generosity changes things — in us, in others and in the world.At Stewardship, we help Christians give well and see their generosity make a real difference.Find out how a Stewardship Giving Account can help you give, grow, and live generously every day.https://stwdshp.org/re-enchanting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louise Jameson is a classically trained actress whose first love is the stage—she spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the beginning of her career—but she also became known to millions of British television viewers through her roles in such hugely popular television series as Doctor Who, Tenko, Bergerac  and  EastEnders. Her recent theatre credits include Vincent River and directing the UK tour of Revenge. Her audio credits include Doctor Who (Big Finish), writing ATA Girl, about the women of the Air Transport Authority during World War II, and  multiple titles for BBC Audio and Audible. Louise talks with me about her unusually young start at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and how her training continued at the Royal Shakespeare Company, how her Doctor Who character, Leela of the Sevateem, reflected the feminism of the 1970s (and how she didn't), how she started writing, and what she thinks of the opportunities for—and representation of—women in film and TV over the years. If you want to watch this conversation, you can see it here on YouTube!   Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Louise describes childhood creativity, daydreaming, and reading early. 08:00 Drama school, age gap with classmates, and strict discipline. 12:00 Acting requires teamwork; Louise reflects on early career. 16:00 Louise's Shakespeare passion, favorite roles and performance experiences. 20:00 Louise talks about landing Leela role in Doctor Who. 24:00 Doctor Who impacts life daily; gratitude for lasting connections. 28:00 Leela's feminist traits and costume choices, fighting stereotypes. 32:00 Leela's intelligence and evolution, relationship with other companions. 36:00 Influence of audio plays; Gallifrey series has strong female fandom. 40:00 Louise discusses writing, self-doubt, and encouragement from collaborators. 44:00 Directing stage, teaching drama; regrets and living in the now. 48:00 Shakespeare's rhythmic influence on Louise's writing and teaching. 52:00 Conversation shifts to social media, attention economy, and technology. 56:00 Louise analyzes Shakespeare's poetic technique and its storytelling power. 01:00 Louise explains collective magic of live theater and storytelling. 01:04 Progress and ongoing challenges for women in TV and film.   Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing, theatre, and Doctor Who.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

At Anti Social Camp in November 2025, we recorded two special live conversations with music greats Jamie Cullum and Billy Bragg. It's a rare chance to hear a pair of brilliant and very different songwriters reflect on their craft in front of an audience of songwriters and musicians. Jamie talks about working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the creative discipline of working to a brief, and how collaboration can unlock ideas you would never find alone. Billy shares his belief in songwriting as a way of building connection and empathy, drawing on a career shaped by honesty, community, and lived experience. Together, these conversations offer a warm, generous look at how songs are made, why voice matters, and how music continues to bring people together.

British Chinese actress Naomi Yang is perhaps best known for her role as Maggy in Sky series Wolfe. Up next, she stars in Sky's crime thriller Under Salt Marsh, alongside Kelly Reilly, Rafe Spall, Jonathan Pryce and Harry Lawtey. She's just been announced as joining the cast of BBC's acclaimed drama Vigil in a major role for its upcoming third season Naomi can be seen in a range of acclaimed television dramas including BBC's Nightsleeper and Peaky Blinders. Most recently she starred in ITV's DI Ray opposite Parminder Nagra and Jamie Bell. Other television credits include Apple TV+'s Liaison with Eva Green and Vincent Cassel, ITV's Protection, ITV's Maternal, Peacock's Brave New World, ITV's Deep Water, Channel 4's Chimerica, and Disney+'s Mars. Naomi made her screen debut in the BAFTA-nominated film Lilting, followed by roles in several short films including BIFA-nominated Housewarming, and critically acclaimed animated short A Kind of Testament. On stage, she portrayed Tsukiko in the Royal Shakespeare Company's widely celebrated, Olivier-nominated production of My Neighbour Totoro. In 2020, Naomi was selected for the prestigious BAFTA Elevate programme, spotlighting rising talent in the UK screen industry.Naomi Yang is our guest in episode 552 of 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 .Follow Naomi Yang on Instagram: @imoanyang .Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter/X: @fentonstevens & 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 .To support this podcast, get all episodes ad-free and a bonus episode every Wednesday of "My Time Capsule The Debrief', please sign up here - https://mytimecapsule.supercast.com. All money goes straight into the making of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To untold millions of people she will always be bright-eyed Jane Banks in the original Mary Poppins (1964). The real-life Karen Dotrice is the mother of three who grew up in a show-business family. Her father Roy was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and her godfather was Charles Laughton! Luckily for us, Karen cherishes the memory of making Poppins and has especially fond recollections of Walt Disney, who lavished personal attention on her and her family while they were in Los Angeles. Jessie and Leonard were tickled pink to engage in conversation with a woman they've known and admired for years. (Karen even attended Jessie's bat mitzvah!) This interview first aired in 2022.

Noel catches up with Michael Ensign. The actor is a classic example of "Hey! It's that guy!" Michael is probably best known as the hotel manager in Ghostbusters and Benjamin Guggenheim in Titanic. He appeared in Midnight Express, Superman, Pink Floyd The Wall and Wargames. Michael's many television appearances include The Golden Girls, The X-Files, MacGyver, Dynasty, Star Trek, Friends and Alias. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

This time we watched the 1973 British horror film Psychomania, a cult biker horror oddity originally filmed as The Living Dead before the title changed. In the United States it appeared as The Death Wheelers. Not to be confused with the 1963 American film Psychomania, also known as Violent Midnight. The film was produced by Benmar Productions, better known for Spaghetti Westerns shot in Spain. They also made Horror Express later the same year with the same writers, which we covered back in episode 7. Psychomania was created in association with Scotia Bar Distributors who had director Don Sharp under long term contract.Don Sharp was born in Tasmania and began as an actor before becoming a director in the mid 1950s. He turned out low and medium budget films including the Tommy Steele musical It's All Happening, then Hammer Films hired him and he made several well received thrillers. He also worked as second unit director on Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. Quiz time for Jon. Sharp directed BigChrisLee six times. Name them. Beryl Reid plays psychic medium Mrs Latham. She left school at 16 and debuted in 1936 as a music hall performer at the Floral Hall in Bridlington. She became famous on BBC radio in Educating Archie as Monica and as the Brummie Marlene. She later worked for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She made the very first challenge on Just A Minute in the 1967 pilot. In the late 1970s and early 1980s she played Connie Sachs in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, earning two British Academy Television Award nominations and winning for Smiley's People. Doctor Who fans will know her as Captain Briggs in Earthshock. The same year as Psychomania she appeared in Dr Phibes Rises Again. Ross will always remember her as Grandma in the Adrian Mole TV adaptation. Nicky Henson plays lead biker Tom Latham. A familiar face across British television, he excelled at playing cultivated gents, snobs and playboys. His many guest roles included several appearances in The Bill, A Touch of Frost, Pie in the Sky, Fawlty Towers and Witchfinder General as Trooper Swallow. His first wife was Una Stubbs, with whom he later appeared in EastEnders. Despite living with cancer for twenty years he continued acting on screen until 2018. Robert Hardy plays Chief Inspector Hesseltine. We discussed him fully in episode 41a when we covered The Stalls of Barchester from the BBC Ghost Stories for Christmas series. Academy Award winner George Sanders plays Shadwell. Born in Russia to an English horticulturist mother and a rope maker father, he became a British subject when the family fled during the revolution. His smooth voice and upper class accent made him perfect for polished villains. His roles included Jack Favell in Rebecca, Scott Folliott in Foreign Correspondent, the Saran of Gaza in Samson and Delilah and Addison DeWitt in All About Eve which won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He voiced Shere Khan in Disney's The Jungle Book and played Simon Templar in several films in The Saint series. British horror fans may know him from the Doomwatch movie as The Admiral. There are brief appearances by June Brown as Mrs Pettibone, John Levene from Doctor Who and Bill Pertwee as a publican. Levene worked with Jon Pertwee who was Bill's second cousin. The soundtrack by John Cameron was released in 2003 by Trunk Records. Cameron said they needed something spooky and different with a rock feeling, all pre synthesizer. They recorded at Shepperton's studios which had not been updated since before the war. He described hooligan musicians scratching inside pianos while the engineer sat there in suit and tie, completely anachronistic.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘The Muppet Christmas Carol' underwhelmed at the box office when it was first released on 11th December, 1992 - but found its audience on video and DVD in the decades later, becoming a gold-plated Christmas classic, re-watched by families, year after year.  There was darkness behind the scenes - from the sudden death of Muppets creator Jim Henson, to the legal wrangling over Disney's acquisition deal for his company, and composer Paul Williams's return from a difficult decade of addiction. But, despite this, or, perhaps, because of it, 28 year-old first-time director Brian Henson delivered a faithful and enduring adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discover how Steve Whitmire shouldered the daunting job of playing Kermit for the first time; consider Michael Caine's masterstroke performance as Scrooge (‘as if playing opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company'); and reveal how Jerry Juhl's script shifted from comedy pastiche to heartfelt musical…  Further Reading: • ‘‘You'll never see Michael Caine blink': An oral history of The Muppet Christmas Carol at 30' (The Independent, 2022): https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-muppet-christmas-carol-brian-henson-b2243015.html • ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol movie review' (Roger Ebert, 1992): https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-muppet-christmas-carol-1992 • ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol Trailer #1' (Disney, 1992):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNo-Q0IDJi0 #90s #Film #Christmas #Heartwarming Thanks so much for supporting the show! We massively appreciate it. The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill. Edit producer:  Ollie Peart Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might know the star of Rivals for his revealing role in the hit Disney+ show, but did you know about his dramatic allium allergy?! I thought not. Alex Hassell might be best known for his portrayal of the dashing bounder, Rupert Campbell-Black in the Emmy-Award winning TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals but his career spans the Royal Shakespeare Company, a leading role opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in The Miniaturist, HBO's His Dark Materials and co-founding the pioneering Factory Theatre Company. In this conversation, Alex reflects on the role therapy and his marriage have played in weathering early-career rejection. We talk about his struggle with self-confidence, his unlikely 'failure' to get into trouble and the rebellious streak that defined his youth - including that time he took acid at Alton Towers. Plus: having to spray tan his own private parts. This episode was recorded live at the Barbican earlier this year. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 03:17 Season Two of Rivals 04:35 The Challenges of Acting 05:28 Therapy and Self-Reflection 11:17 Overcoming Self-Doubt 13:31 School Experiences and Bullying 20:13 The Factory Theater Company 23:31 Reflecting on Early Career Challenges 23:57 The Onion Allergy Struggle 28:16 Balancing Historical Accuracy and Sensitivity in 'Rivals' 29:30 The Pressure to Be Good 33:12 Family Influence and Personal Growth 40:57 The Actor's Vulnerability and Connection

After a three-year hiatus, I’m excited to be back with MikeyPod. This conversation with Kevin (as a robot) Laibson is exactly what I needed—it cracked open things I’ve been grappling with in my own work. I’ve been thinking about AI and human interaction as I work on my creative projects, and Kevin is exploring these same questions through performance. He’s a director and performer working at the intersection of live performance and emerging technology. His solo show The Harmnf—an adaptation of Chekhov using AI tools—is a meditation on failure, alienation, and our relationship with technology. We talk about directing AI actors, how the show evolved, and what he’s learned about human error and connection when technology mediates everything. This is the kind of peer thinking I need—someone building serious work at the edge of what performance can be. Get tickets for this weekend’s performance of The Harmnf right here. Based in New York City, Kevin Laibson is a director, performer, and educator working at the intersection of live performance and emerging technology. As a mixed-reality artist, he explores what happens when human creativity meets AI and code. His work has been featured at SXSW, SIGGRAPH, and venues including National Sawdust, The Flea, and Abrons Arts Center. He’s served as Artistic Director of Magic Futurebox and The Peoples Improv Theater, and currently leads XR performance research at Agile Lens in collaboration with institutions like the Royal Shakespeare Company and NYU. His solo performance The Harmnf—an adaptation of Chekhov using AI tools—is a meditation on failure, alienation, and our uneasy relationship with technology. This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week's bonus podcast will feature an extended conversation with today's guest, Kevin! Learn more right here!

With a career spanning theatre, film and television, Irish actor Fiona Shaw has been a household name in Ireland for decades. The Cork native is known for her award-winning stage work, as well as her iconic roles in the Harry Potter films, Killing Eve, and Bad Sisters.Shaw's latest project, Park Avenue, opened in Irish cinemas this week. Earlier this year, while in Dublin for the International Film Festival, she joined Kathy Sheridan in studio to talk about the film, in which she plays the glamorous and wealthy widow Kit.In this wide-ranging conversation, Shaw reflects on her early career and explains what led her to setting up a women's group while working with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. She also tells Sheridan about her friendship with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, why she turned down a move to Hollywood in the 1990s, and how she met her Sri Lankan wife, Sonali Deraniyagala. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats in the US Congress release three emails by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein mentioning Donald Trump. One of the emails says the president spent several hours with a woman described as a victim of Epstein's sex trafficking. The Democrats say the communications raise serious questions about what the president knew at the time about Epstein's behaviour. The White House says the emails represent a "false narrative" and their release is an attempt to smear the president. Also: another corruption scandal shakes the Ukrainian government, with the justice minister being suspended; and how the Royal Shakespeare Company is trying to sell Britain's most famous playwright to young people. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

In this episode, host Tracy Collins is once again joined by Lisa Benjamin from Go Cotswolds to dive deep into Stratford-upon-Avon - the world-renowned birthplace of William Shakespeare and a destination that deserves more than just a day trip.Together they share why Stratford is the perfect place to slow down and stay longer, from scenic riverside walks, rowing and cruises to hidden Royal Shakespeare Company gems like the free tower and museum. Discover how to make the most of your visit with insider tips on: • Starting with the Stratford Town Walk • Best areas to stay – from cosy B&Bs to central hotels • Cafes, bakeries, pubs and standout local restaurants • Getting around on foot, by bus or hop-on hop-off • Avoiding traffic and timing your visit for markets, Mop Fair and festivals • Quick wins for smart booking, passes and reservationsLisa also explains why Stratford makes an ideal base for exploring the Cotswolds, with easy access to award-winning Go Cotswolds tours and routes.

Before he was Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones or the commanding presence of The Jewel in the Crown, Charles Dance was a boy from Worcestershire whose father died when he was three and whose mother built a new life for the family, remarried to their lodger. A childhood marked by loss, a stammer and humble beginnings gave little hint of the commanding actor he would become.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien sits down with the Emmy-nominated actor to trace an extraordinary journey from working-class Devon to the stages of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Hollywood sets alongside Meryl Streep, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maggie Smith. Dance reveals how two eccentric mentors in rural Devon taught him to speak, act and think like an actor, and why, even now at 79, he still considers himself a “working actor” rather than a star.It's an intimate, reflective conversation about identity, perseverance, class, craft and the enduring magic of the stage- told with the wit and humility of a man who's seen it all and still can't quite believe his luck.

I've got more and more respect, these days, for the humble webquest. Slash hyperdoc. Slash game board. Slash immersive digital multimedia experience. Slash clickable infographic. Slash playlist. Slash choice board. When it comes to sharing information and contemporary texts with your students, there is SO MUCH available online right now. Students can see actors practicing behind the scenes at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Read John Green's thoughts on drafting. Hear Jason Reynolds' read his children's book, There was a Party for Langston, while the illustrations wash across the screen. Students can learn MLA with Purdue, watch Joy Harjo read her own poetry, listen to our country's top researchers and academics and start-up founders on podcasts and Ted stages. So cool, right? With so many immersive, multimodal resources waiting for our students, building their roadmaps to what's available becomes an important (and fun) job. We want to present them with great options, and help them feel positive and excited about the experience of exploring. We want to give them possibilities across modes and from many perspectives, so students can use their agency to learn in ways that feel good to them, and connect to at least some aspects of what they discover. We want to provide options in terms of how they synthesize the information they take in so they can use it later. As I see it, here are some of the benefits to building quality webquests for students: students have choice in what to explore, starting with what seems most interesting to them and continuing to make choices until they're out of time plugging in to the kinds of contemporary connections available online (like listening to author interviews, visiting settings, seeing adaptations, and viewing connected social media) can often make learning feel more relevant for students you can build in resources across genres and modes, letting students listen, watch, read, explore, view, and zoom in according to their preferences it's easier to provide more viewpoints, voices, and perspectives, helping you to diversify your curriculum sharing a webquest is less stressful than giving a lecture, and more likely to keep students engaged you'll save a tree, since photocopying a packet of information won't be necessary you can take advantage of the incredible wealth of informational resources available online Today on the pod, let's talk through some examples. Be sure to grab the free templates that complement the episode! These are meant to make this whole process quick and easy for you as you get started, and then you can go on to develop your own.  Get the Free Templates Here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/webquesttemplates Sources Considered and Cited: Beers, Kylene and Robert Probst. Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters. Scholastic, 2017. This book features a helpful look at why relevance is key to engagement. Read more in this blog post. Chavez, Felicia Rose. The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop. Haymarket Books, 2021. Felicia Rose Chavez talks about letting students have a voice in the texts that form the curriculum, and "completing the canon" (97) to go well beyond the white Eurocentric voices so often enshrined there. Clapp, Edward. "5+3 = 8: The Eight Barriers to Access and Equity in the Creative Classroom." Participatory Creativity: Introducing Access and Equity to the Creative Classroom. MSU Article Retrieval Service. Accessed October 2025. The chapter from Edward Clapp discusses sharing models of creativity that don't just reflect individual creatives working in isolation, but also collective and collaborative creativity. Rodriguez-Mojica, Claudia and Allison Briceño. Conscious Classrooms. PD Essentials, 2022. (+ Related Podcast Interview). Claudia and Rodriguez-Mojica and Allison Briceño showcase the increase in student performance when they can see themselves in the texts they read. Muhammad, Gholdy. Cultivating Genius. Scholastic Teaching Resources, 2020. Gholdy Muhammad's Cultivating Genius calls for us to layer contemporary multimodal texts into our curriculum, something that reinforced my own long-term interest in this possibility. Ivcevic, Zorana. The Creativity Choice. Public Affairs, 2025. "Research-Based Practices to Ignite Creativity, with Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle." The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Episode 393. September, 2025. Ivcevic suggests that teachers use models and mentors of creative thought that allow students to see themselves, both in terms of their identity and in terms of the level of creativity. Stockman, Angela. Creating Inclusive Writing Environments in the K-12 Classroom. Eye on Education, 2020. Angela's work on multimodal texts, makerspace freedom, and creating more inclusive curriculum is helpful in this conversation.  

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb engages in a captivating conversation with award-winning dramatist Liz Duffy Adams about the new Royal Shakespeare production of her play Born With Teeth, which imagines a thrilling collaboration between William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Suzannah and Liz delve into the fiery dynamics of the two men's relationship and the influence of politics on their works.Shakespeare and Marlowe existed under a time of oppressive royal censorship, when displeasing the crown would mean a trip to the Tower, or worse. How did they balance this struggle for truth and creativity amid the palpable danger?Extracts from Born With Teeth by Liz Duffy Adams, performed by Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel, courtesy of Royal Shakespeare CompanyMORE:Murder of Christopher MarloweShakespeare's Son Hamnet with Maggie O'FarrellPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.