Podcasts about royal shakespeare theatre

Send us a textAt the age of 10, Eleanor Worthington-Cox made history as the youngest Olivier Award winner for her performance as the eponymous character in Matilda the Musical. A decade on, she has established herself as one of the most versatile young actresses on the West End, recently securing a second Olivier nomination for her role in Next to Normal. Now, she has reunited with her Next to Normal director Michael Longhurst to take on the role of Hero in his production of Much ado About Nothing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The show marks the first time Eleanor has worked at the RSC since her time with Matilda, and we spend some time discussing why this show means so much to her.In this brand new interview, Eleanor Worthington-Cox tells us about rehearsals for Much ado About Nothing and the experience of returning to the RSC as an adult following the tremendous success she had with Matilda. Earlier in the year, she finished a run of The Little Foxes at the Young Vic Theatre, starring opposite Anne-Marie Duff. It seems amazing that after such a gritty American drama that she's now turning to one of Shakespeare's most well known comedies, but she assures us that the production will still turn to more poignant subjects. Indeed, Michael Longhurst's production reimagines the show into the world of football, WAGs and social media, and so it seems likely we'll get to see another thundering performance from Eleanor Worthington-Cox. During our conversation, she tells us about her own relationship with social media and how she's become more weary of the various platforms available now and how apparent contemporary issues are in the show when relating it to Hero's slander. Much ado About Nothing runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until 24th May with tickets available now!Support the show

Gone Medieval begins a gripping 4 part series exploring scandal, power, and betrayal in the Plantagenet Court.This one of England's most dramatic royal sagas; from the ill-fated reign of Edward II to the rise of his son, Edward III, Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega uncover how love and the Crown do not make good bedfellows.Each episode brings to life the key players in this enthralling saga and today Matt and Eleanor explore the disastrous reign of Edward II.With exclusive behind the scenes access to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre's rehearsals of their stunning new production of Edward II, Matt and Eleanor dissect the intricate balance of power and personal desire, detailing the king's conflicts with his barons, his disastrous military campaigns, and the role of his infamous favourites.Gone Medieval is written and presented by Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega. Lines performed by Daniel Evans. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producers are Joseph Knight and Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Tickets are available for the RSC's new production of Edward II: https://www.rsc.org.uk/edward-ii/Sign 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

fWotD Episode 2811: Josette Simon Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia’s finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 14 January 2025 is Josette Simon.Josette Patricia Simon (born 1959 / 1960) is a British actor. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and played the part of Dayna Mellanby in the third and fourth series of the television sci-fi series Blake's 7 from 1980 to 1981. First performing as a 14-year-old, in the choir for the world premiere of the finalized Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, she has continued a career in stage productions, appearing in 50 Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) productions, from the single press night performance as a featured character in Salvation Now at the Warehouse theatre in 1982, through to playing Cleopatra in a six-month run of Antony and Cleopatra at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2017. The first black woman in an RSC play when she appeared in Salvation Now, Simon has been at the forefront of colour-blind casting, playing roles traditionally taken by white actors, including Maggie, a character who is thought to be based on Marilyn Monroe, in Arthur Miller's After the Fall at the Royal National Theatre in 1990.Simon's first leading role at the RSC, the first principal part filled by a black woman for the company, was as Rosaline, in Love's Labour's Lost, directed by Barry Kyle, in 1984. In 1987, she appeared for the RSC again, in the lead role of Isabelle in Measure for Measure. Later leading roles for the RSC saw her as Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999–2000) and Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra (2017–2018). She has played numerous other roles across stage, television, film, and radio. She starred alongside Brenda Fricker in the two-part television series Seekers (1993), written by Lynda La Plante. Simon has portrayed senior police officers in Silent Witness (1998), Minder (2009), and Broadchurch (2017); and portrayed a defence lawyer in Anatomy of a Scandal (2022).Simon won the Evening Standard's Best Actress award, a Critics' Circle Theatre Award, and Plays and Players Critic Awards for After the Fall and two film festival awards for her part in Milk and Honey (1988). She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2000, for services to drama.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:15 UTC on Tuesday, 14 January 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Josette Simon 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 generative Kajal.

Send us a textAfter recently winning an Olivier for his chilling performance as Putin in 'Patriots', Will Keen is returning to the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon for the first time since 'Prince of Homburg' in 2002. In Tim Carroll's exciting new production of 'Othello', Will Keen will star as Iago opposite John Douglas Thompson, Juliet Rylance and Anastasia Hille. Having worked with Tim on a various productions over the years, Will is also reuniting with Anastasia Hille following their acclaimed performances as the eponymous characters in 'Macbeth' at the Barbican. In recent years, Will has established himself as one of the most distinguished actors in the theatre industry, regularly performing on some of the most prestigious stages including the Almeida Theatre, National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.In our new interview, Will Keen sits down with us to share his excitement around getting to play one of Shakespeare's most demanding roles. We talk about the timelessness of Shakespeare's work and why we need to keep his work at the heart of the curriculum. As he continues preparing to play Iago, we hear him discuss his process of familiarising himself with a character and immersing himself into the world of the play. He shares his praise for his fellow actors as well as his hopes for what this new production will provide audiences. Later on in our conversation, we also talk about his experience working with his daughter, Dafne Keen and how it's been watching her flourish into one of the industry's fastest rising stars. It's a fascinating conversation overall and we look forward to seeing Will Keen's Iago in the RSC's new production of the show.'Othello' runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon from 11 October - 23rd November.Support the show

After a few years away from the Olivier stage, Jordan Metcalfe is back at the National Theatre preparing to play one of the biggest roles of his career to date. In Lyndsey Turner's new production of Coriolanus, Jordan will be playing Brutus opposite David Oyelowo's Caius Martius. A well-versed Shakespeare thespian himself, this will be his second Shakespearean role this year after playing the playful Boyet in Love's Labour's Lost at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Previous roles have also included Romeo in Romeo and Juliet as well as the Clown in The Winter's Tale.  In a brand new interview, Jordan Metcalfe discusses the pressures of playing a role like Brutus and tells us what it's like stepping out onto the Olivier stage. Having started out as a child actor, he also tells us about his journey as an actor, heading to drama school and then graduating to roles at the RSC and the National Theatre. He tells us about how he's watched the industry evolve over the years, becoming more inclusive to those from less advantageous backgrounds as well as to those from other ethnic backgrounds too. We hear him talk about his love for other actors and the joy of getting to play a diverse set of characters from Roy Faulkland in Jack Absolute Flies Again to Brutus in Coriolanus. It's a fascinating conversation and should encourage everyone to go and see his performance when the show opens. Coriolanus runs at the National Theatre from 11th September - 9 November and tickets on sale NOW.

Welcome to faustforward ep.3 Say Hello, No wave Goodbye...... Artwork: Detail from 'For all time' by Steven Follen 2016 - currently displayed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, UK   Playlist: Jim Reeves – Welcome to My World (excerpt) Malaria! – Kaltes Klares Wasser The Mummies – The Fly ThxSoMch – SPIT IN MY FACE! Beak>  - The Seal NEU! - Negativland Teenage Jesus & The Jerks – Instrumental; Live at CBGB's NYC Teenage Jesus & The Jerks – Freud in Flop; Live at CBGB's NYC James Chance & The Contortions – Hell on Earth Sun Ra - Lanquidity Pictish Trail – Natural Successor (Makeness Remix) 13th Floor Elevators – Step Inside This House (original single edit) The Fall – Pay Your Rates Throbbing Gristle – After the Fall Mad Professor – Afrocentric Dub BaBa Zula – Sipa Dub (The Foal Dub) Gagarin – Wonderdusk 1 Erland Cooper, Scottish Ensemble & Simon Armitage – Movement 2: Movement 2 Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Static

After an 18 year break from the RSC, Ian Hughes has returned to the role of Sir Hugh Evans in Blanche McIntyre's critically acclaimed production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. The production forms part of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey's opening season as joint Artistic Directors of the RSC, where there seems to be a renewed buzz about the company and the work that is being produced in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Ian's last outing at the RSC was as Sir Hugh Evans in Merry Wives: The Musical, but he has since continued to tread the boards and made various appearances on screen in an array household titles. The Merry Wives of Windsor gives audiences an opportunity to see Ian back somewhere he love though and it was fantastic getting to hear him talk about his history with this beloved institution.  In this exclusive interview, Ian Hughes looks back on his career, starting out his career without training at an elusive drama school and then becoming the first ever winner of the Ian Charleson Award. His first outing to the RSC came about in the early 1990s where he has since taken on roles in King Lear, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and more working alongside RSC greats such as Gregory Doran and Adrian Noble. It's an extraordinary career that has also taken him to commercial musicals like The Lion King, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Les Miserables. Never one to be pigeonholed, Ian has also had a career on screen taking part in shows such as Masters of the Sky, Doctor Who and Gavin and Stacy. In our interview, he shares how he's managed to carve out such a varied career working with so many luminaries in the industry but remains humble about the opportunities he's received too. The Merry Wives of Windsor is currently running at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon until 7th September with tickets available now!

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 the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week Vidar was in Stratford-upon-Avon for a fresh new production of Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. About The Merry Wives of Windsor: ‘Revenged I will be, as sure as his guts are made of puddings.'   Curtains are twitching and tongues are wagging in this fresh new production of Shakespeare's suburban comedy. When an out-of-pocket schemer arrives among the lawns and herbaceous borders of Windsor, he sets about seducing two well-to-do married women. It's the perfect hustle. Surely one of them will fall for his irresistible charms? But in this neighbourhood, wives talk. And they're about to play some tricks of their own...   Lies! Jealousy! Dirty laundry! The Merry Wives of Windsor is an uproarious tale of mischief and double-dealing where the women get the last laugh. What goes on at Number 22 is absolutely everybody's business.   Blanche McIntyre (The Two Noble Kinsmen, All's Well That Ends Well for the RSC, Arabian Nights at Bristol Old Vic) returns to direct The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon There will be another audio described performance of this summer belter of a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in Stratford-upon-Avon on Friday 30 August at 7.15pm and for more about access at the royal Shakespeare Company including details of described performances do visit - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

As a new play depicts the landmark global climate change agreement, the Kyoto protocol, Jordan Dunbar has a front row seat. He heads to the historic English town of Stratford-Upon-Avon to watch the opening night of the play, Kyoto, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. He hears why the writers, Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson decided to dramatize the seemingly slow and tedious action of a global climate change conference. And the duo explain their goal to highlight Kyoto as a ‘parable of agreement' in a world full of disagreement.The programme also hears from two veterans of many real world climate change negotiations, including the Kyoto Protocol, the first global agreement to set legally binding targets. Christiana Figueres was responsible for leading climate negotiations as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Farhana Yamin provided legal and strategy advice to the leaders of AOSIS, the Alliance of Small Island States at Kyoto and nearly every UN climate summit since.Got a question, comment or experience you'd like to share? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.comPresenter: Jordan Dunbar Producers: Phoebe Keane and Octavia Woodward Editor: Simon Watts Sound mix: Tom Brignell

Last year, Jack Wolfe won huge critical acclaim for his role as Gabe in the Donmar Warehouse's production of Next to Normal earning a WhatsOnStage Award, the Critic's Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer as well as an Olivier nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. He is about to reprise his award winning role in the West End transfer of the Pulitzer-Prize winning show at the Wyndham's Theatre, starring alongside the  same Donmar Warehouse cast who all return this Summer. Earlier this year, Jack also starred alongside the original London cast of Spring Awakening for a special 15th anniversary concert.  Here, he also tells us how much both shows meant to him  growing up and shares his excitement around getting to take part in these projects.In this brand new interview, Jack Wolfe looks back over the last few years and reflects on the success he's found with projects like Next to Normal as well as Shadow and Bone and The Magic Flute.  He also opens up about his roots, growing up in Yorkshire as well as Wales, providing a glimpse into his warm, down-to-earth personality. Our interview also looks at some of his earlier work - playing Tobias in Sweeney Todd at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and working on the premiere of The Magician's Nephew at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. Our interview also shows Jack's vulnerable side as he also takes time to talk about his mental health and struggles with anxiety. Still, he remains very grateful for the friends he's made during this journey and shares his hope for more opportunities to work on exciting projects going forward. His enthusiasm is quite infectious too telling us about his favourite musicals growing up and his love for his peers in the industry. It's a fascinating and heartwarming conversation which we hope you enjoy listening to.Next to Normal runs at Wyndham's Theatre from 18th June - 21st September.

A first for the Royal Shakespeare Company as their current production of ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream' will be completely accessible to blind and partially sighted audiences with live creative audio description for every performance from 14 February to 30 March 2024. Actor, theatre maker and Trainee Artistic Director at Extant Ben Wilson has been directing the creative audio description for ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream' and joins RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey to firstly explain how the idea first came about to have live creative audio description for ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream' to then what it has been like so far working with the Actors and the creative team on the live creative audio description.  Toby and Ben also chat about how the RSC and other theatres have been pushing the envelope of access within theatre for disabled performer's and creatives.  ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream' with live creative audio description will run in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 14 February to 30 March 2024 and if you would like to find out more about the live creative audio description and availability of touch tours do email access@rsc.org.uk Tickets can be booked via the RSC website, in person at the Box Office or by calling the Box Office on 01789 331111. Pricing Information – (more info on the RSC website)  There are tickets from as little as £16 for some performances, and 14-25s can get £10 tickets with our TikTok Tickets scheme.   Also, half-price tickets are available for up to four family members under the age of 18 attending with every full priced paying adult (up to a maximum of ten tickets) on Mon-Fri performances. https://www.rsc.org.uk (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

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 the first of his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews for 2024. For Vidar's first audio described theatre review of 2024 we looked back on three shows for younger audiences with firstly Dear Santa at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre with description by Professional Audio describer Jonathan Nash, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's Panto Snow White with description by Professional Audio describer Anne Hornsby and the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Box of Delights with description by Professional Audio Describers Carolyn Smith and Gethyn Edwards. About the Shows: Dear Santa at Birmingham Hippodrome with AD by Jonathan Nash Santa is determined to deliver the most fantastic Christmas present to Sarah, but he doesn't get it right straight away! With the help of his cheeky Elf, he finally settles on something ‘perfect', just in time for Christmas Eve. From the author of the well-loved children's book Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell, comes Dear Santa and it's live! This show is an ideal introduction to theatre for those aged two and over.  Snow White, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Mirror, mirror, on the wall, don't miss the fairest pantomime of them all…we promise it will be a truly wicked adventure! The ultimate festive family spectacular stars Kelle Bryan (Eternal, Hollyoaks, Loose Women) as the Good Fairy Elementa, with Gyasi Sheppy (CBeebies) as our dashing Prince and Niki Cowell Evans (X Factor, Blood Brothers, Kinky Boots) returns, but this time…she's wicked! They join Evie Pickerill (CBeebies) as Snow White, Tam Ryan as Muddles & Ian Adams as Nanny Nolly. Take a look in to the mirror, defeat the Evil Queen and follow Snow White & the prince on their journey to find true love's kiss in this ultimate fairy-tale family adventure. Take a bite of panto delight with spectacular scenery and costumes, magical special effects, wicked humour and plenty of audience participation! Snow White promises to be a festive spectacular for all ages. The Box of Delights, Royal Shakespeare Company A magically festive production for all the family in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this winter. Orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker is caught up in a battle between two powerful magicians. Can he save Christmas? 'There are tricks...and then there's magic!' After a seemingly chance encounter on a train, orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker finds himself the guardian of a small wooden box with powers beyond his wildest dreams. Caught up in a battle between two powerful magicians, Kay fights to save not just the people he loves but also the future of Christmas itself. This fantastically festive production is directed by Justin Audibert (The Taming of the Shrew 2019, The Jew of Malta 2015) and designed by RSC Associate Artist Tom Piper.  This production is based on the original stage production first produced by Wilton's Music Hall and Hero Productions at Wilton's Music Hall. Suitable for age 7+ (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

As You Like It is one of William Shakespeare's most popular comedies. Omar Elerian, who is directing his first show for the Royal Shakespeare Company, was keen to explore it from a “fresh and new perspective”, so he has cast a company of actors who are mostly over 70.   BTG's Midlands editor Steve Orme spoke to two of the actors, 73-year-old Malcolm Sinclair and Maureen Beattie who's 69. He asked them what it's like performing in a company of mature actors and whether there's still age discrimination in the industry.   As You Like It continues in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford until Saturday 5 August. (Photo of Malcolm Sinclair and Maureen Beattie by Steve Orme)

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Bookwaves In honor of Pride Month, we hear two interviews with author Alan Hollinghurst. The first was recorded October 18, 2005 for Bookwaves while he was on tour for the paperback edition of his Booker Prize winning novel, The Line of Beauty.  The second interview, recorded on November 5, 2011, was conducted while he was on tour for his novel The Stranger's Child. Earlier novels by Alan Hollinghurst include his breakthrough novel, The Swimming Pool Library, along with The Folding Star and The Spell. The Line of Beauty became an acclaimed television miniseries in 2006 (and was being filmed at the time of the interview) starring Dan Stevens, and is currently streaming only in England.His latest novel, The Sparshot Affair, was published in 2017. Alan Hollinghurst Wikipedia page.   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, event calendar and links to previous events. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.   Monthly Calendar. On-line events only. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre  The Wizard of Oz  adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, based on the classic motion picture, June 1 – June 25. Aurora Theatre  Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, June 16 – July 16. Streaming July 12 -16. Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming. Berkeley Rep Let The Right One In, a stage adaptation by Jack Thorne. Through June 25, 2023 at the Roda Theatre. Out of Character, written and performed by Arfel Stachel, June 23 – July 30, Peets Theatre. Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings. Brava Theatre Center: See website for events. BroadwaySF: Into the Woods, June 20-25, Curran. Les Miserables, July 6 – 23, Orpheum. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, August 1-27, 2023, Golden Gate. Broadway San Jose: Beetlejuice, August 1 – 6. California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar. Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27  – June 24. Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23. Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25. Contra Costa Civic Theatre 2023-2024 season: Sondheim on Sondheim; Tintypes. Curran Theater: Into The Woods, direct from Broadway, June 20-25, 2023. Custom Made Theatre. Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzara, postponed to a later date in 2023. Cutting Ball Theatre. See website for upcoming season. 42nd Street Moon. She Loves Me, June 8 – June 24, Gateway Theatre. Golden Thread  See website for ongoing special events. Landmark Musical Theater.  My Unauthorized Hallmark Movie Musical, June 17, 4 pm, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Magic Theatre. Josephine's Feast, August 2 – 20. See website for other events at the Magic. Marin Theatre Company Odyssey written and directed by Lisa Peterson, August 31 – September 24. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild starring the Kinsey Sicks, July 5 -16. Oakland Theater Project.  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 25. Pear Theater. Falsettos,  June 30 – July 23. PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023. Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions Ray of Light:  Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6  – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko. San Francisco Playhouse.  A Chorus Line starts June 22, 2023. SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: 40th Anniversary Celebration, June 26, 2023. Shotgun Players. Wolf Play by Hansol Jung, Performances start September 2, 2023. South Bay Musical Theatre: Rent, September 30 – October 21. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Rhino  Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, June 7 – July 2, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  See schedule for  one-night readings and streaming performances. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                   The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 22, 2023: Alan Hollinghurst appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Bookwaves David Sedaris, whose latest collection of essays is titled “Happy Go Lucky,” and is just out in trade paperback, is interviewed by Richard Wolinsky. Recorded June 9, 2022 at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, California. David Sedaris is author of thirteen books, including Me Talk Pretty One Day, A Carnival of Snackery, The Best of Me, Calypso, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls and others. He has been a commentator on NPR and CBS. In this wide-ranging interview he discusses life during the pandemic, his views on talking with Trump supporters, his relationship with his siblings, including his sister Amy Sedaris and her appearance on The Mandalorian, how he molds his essays, and other topics. Photos by Richard Wolinsky. Complete 65-minute Radio Wolinsky podcast.   Review of “The Wizard of Oz” at ACT's Toni Rembe (Geary) Theatre through June 25, 2023.   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, event calendar and links to previous events. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.   Monthly Calendar. On-line events only. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre  The Wizard of Oz  adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, based on the classic motion picture, June 1 – June 25. Aurora Theatre  Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, June 16 – July 16. Streaming July 12 -16. Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming. Berkeley Rep Let The Right One In, a stage adaptation by Jack Thorne. Through June 25, 2023 at the Roda Theatre. Out of Character, written and performed by Arfel Stachel, June 23 – July 30, Peets Theatre. Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings. Brava Theatre Center: See website for events. BroadwaySF: Into the Woods, June 20-25, Curran. Les Miserables, July 6 – 23, Orpheum. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, August 1-27, 2023, Golden Gate. Broadway San Jose: Beetlejuice, August 1 – 6. California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar. Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27  – June 24. Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23. Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25. Contra Costa Civic Theatre 2023-2024 season: Sondheim on Sondheim; Tintypes. Curran Theater: Into The Woods, direct from Broadway, June 20-25, 2023. Custom Made Theatre. Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzara, postponed to a later date in 2023. Cutting Ball Theatre. See website for upcoming season. 42nd Street Moon. She Loves Me, June 8 – June 24, Gateway Theatre. Golden Thread  See website for ongoing special events. Landmark Musical Theater.  My Unauthorized Hallmark Movie Musical, June 17, 4 pm, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Magic Theatre. Josephine's Feast, August 2 – 20. See website for other events at the Magic. Marin Theatre Company Odyssey written and directed by Lisa Peterson, August 31 – September 24. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild starring the Kinsey Sicks, July 5 -16. Oakland Theater Project.  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 18. Pear Theater. Falsettos,  June 30 – July 23. PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023. Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions Ray of Light:  Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6  – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko. San Francisco Playhouse.  A Chorus Line starts June 22, 2023. SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: 40th Anniversary Celebration, June 26, 2023. Shotgun Players. Yerma based on the play by Federico Garcia Lorca. Through June 18. South Bay Musical Theatre: Rent, September 30 – October 21. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Rhino  Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, June 7 – July 2, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  See schedule for  one-night readings and streaming performances. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                   The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 15, 2023: David Sedaris appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Bookwaves Robert Anton Wilson (1932-2007), interviewed by Richard Wolinsky in February 1983, recorded in a car in the Santa Cruz mountains during a rainstorm. Digitized, remastered and edited in May, 2023. Robert Anton Wilson had a remarkable career. Starting as a writer of comic science fiction based on historical stories of conspiracy, his work soon turned in the direction of physics, psychology, and futurism, and described himself as an agnostic mystic. In the religion or philosophy known as discordianism, he is considered both pope and saint. A journalist in his early career, he co-edited the Playboy Magazine forum, and covered the work of both Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, later known as Ram Dass. Most of his best known works were written in the 1970s and 1980s, though he continued to write non-fiction into the 21st century. These include The Illuminati Trilogy, co-written with Robert Shea, The Schrodinger's Cat and Cosmic Trigger trilogies, and Prometheus Rising. His early works were published by large commercial presses; his later by small presses. Most, of not all, of his books still remain in print. The three books mentioned toward the end of the interview were all published and are all available. Complete 32-minute interview.   Bookwaves Fay Weldon (1931-2023) who died on January 4th, 2023 at the age of 91, published 31 novels during her lifetime, including The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, one of four novels which later became films. She was also a playwright, short story writer, television writer and non-fiction author. Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky interviewed her twice in the KPFA studios. This second interview was recorded on January 21, 1992 while she was on tour for two novels, Darcy's Utopia and Life Force Fay Weldon's career continued for the next thirty years after the interview with several novels, including a sequel to She-Devil, more plays, more short stories and several works of non-fiction. This interview was digitized, remastered, and edited in June, 2023 by Richard Wolinsky. First time on the air in over thirty years. Complete 34-minute Interview. First Fay Weldon interview, recorded March 1990 while she was on tour for The Cloning of Joanna May.   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, event calendar and links to previous events. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.   Monthly Calendar. On-line events only. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre  The Wizard of Oz  adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, based on the classic motion picture, June 1 – June 25. Aurora Theatre  Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, June 16 – July 16. Streaming July 12 -16. Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming. Berkeley Rep Let The Right One In, a stage adaptation by Jack Thorne. Through June 25, 2023 at the Roda Theatre. Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings. Brava Theatre Center: See website for events. BroadwaySF: The Book of Mormon, May 23 – June 13, Orpheum. Into the Woods, June 20–15, Curran. Les Miserables, July 6 – 23, Orpheum. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, August 1-27, 2023, Golden Gate. Broadway San Jose: Beetlejuice, August 1 – 6. California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar. Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27  – June 24. Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23. Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25. Contra Costa Civic Theatre 2023-2024 season: Sondheim on Sondheim; Tintypes. Curran Theater: Into The Woods, direct from Broadway, June 20-25, 2023. Custom Made Theatre. Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzara, postponed to a later date in 2023. Cutting Ball Theatre. 2023/24 season announcement, June 11, 4 pm. 42nd Street Moon. She Loves Me, June 8 – June 24, Gateway Theatre. Golden Thread  See website for ongoing special events. Landmark Musical Theater.  My Unauthorized Hallmark Movie Musical, June 17, 4 pm, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Magic Theatre. Josephine's Feast, August 2 – 20. See website for other events at the Magic. Marin Theatre Company Odyssey written and directed by Lisa Peterson, August 31 – September 24. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  The Confession of Lily Dare by Charles Busch, May 12 – June 11. Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild starring the Kinsey Sicks, July 5 -16/ Oakland Theater Project.  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 18. Pear Theater. Falsettos,  June 30 – July 23. PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023. Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions Ray of Light: Spring Awakening, June 8-10, Victoria Theatre. Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6  – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko. San Francisco Playhouse.  Chinglish by David Henry Hwang, May 4 – June 10, 2023. A Chorus Line starts June 22, 2023. SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: 40th Anniversary Celebration, June 26, 2023. Shotgun Players. Yerma based on the play by Federico Garcia Lorca. Through June 18. South Bay Musical Theatre: Rent, September 30 – October 21. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Rhino  Gumiho, staged reading June 13. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, June 7 – July 2, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  See schedule for  one-night readings and streaming performances. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                   The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 8, 2023: Robert Anton Wilson – Fay Weldon appeared first on KPFA.

Hello! This week we're coming at you from Stratford-upon-Avon with the first part of our conversation from the Live at the RSC Festival. We're talking about the current state of climate education and why there's a long way to go until we're hitting top marks. Thankfully, our three guests are here to keep us cheerful and tell us about the campaigning and work they've been doing to make a new climate curriculum a reality. We hear from Scarlett Westbrook who wrote a parliamentary bill while she was still at school, from Elena Lengthorn who's on a quest to make sure teachers are equipped to educate the next generation about the climate crisis, and from Mary Colwell, who recently won a decade-long battle to get a new Natural History GCSE in schools.Plus: Hit subscribe to be the first to hear our 300th episode conversation with David Tennant, out next Monday!This conversation was recorded at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as part of the Live at the RSC Festival on June 3rd.GuestsScarlett Westbrook - Climate activist and writer of the Climate Education Bill (@ScarlettOWest)Elena Lengthorn - Senior Lecturer of Teacher Education, Worcester University (@ELengthorn)Mary Colwell - Writer, founder of Curlew Action and leader of the campaign for a Natural History GCSE (@curlewcalls)More informationLearn more about the work of the Royal Shakespeare CompanyLearn more about Teach the Future, the student-led organisation advocating for better climate educationRead about the Climate Education Bill and Scarlett's work on writing it, with MP Nadia WhittomeWatch Scarlett's TED TalkRead about Mary's journey to make the Natural History GCSE a realityThe correlation between nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Bookwaves Martin Amis in 2007. Martin Amis (1949-2023), in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky for the “Probabilities” program, recorded in the KPFA studios November 26, 1991 while on tour for the paperback edition of “London Fields.” First of five interviews conducted over a 23 year span. Martin Amis, who died of esophageal cancer on May 19th, 2023 at the age of 73, was a leading English novelist, essayist, memoirist and screenwriter. Known for such novels as London Fields, Money, Time's Arrow, The Information and The Zone of Interest, his memoir Experience won the Booker Prize, and his essay collection The War Against Cliché is now considered a classic. The son of novelist and essayist Kingsley Amis, Martin Amis was close friends with Christopher Hitchens, Saul Bellow and Philip Larkin, all of whom he wrote about in his final novel, which was actually a memoir, Inside Story, in 2020. This is the first of five interviews recorded with Martin Amis. and has not been heard in over a quarter century and was digitized, remastered and edited in May, 2023. Front photo by Richard Wolinsky in the KPFA studios in 2014. Page photo: Creative Commons.   Artwaves Susi Damilano and Bill English, co-founders of San Francisco Playhouse. Bill English, Artistic Director of San Francisco Playhouse, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded via Zencastr May 29, 2023. San Francisco Playhouse was founded in 2003 by Bill English and Susi Damilano and has grown into a major regional theatre, with several world premieres later moving on to future productions in New York and elsewhere. In this interview, Bill English discusses the current show at San Francisco Playhouse, Chinglish by David Henry Hwang, which runs through June 10, 2023, and the upcoming production of A Chorus Line, which starts previews on June 22, 2023. He also talks about the upcoming 2023-2024 season, as well as the state of the company three years after the pandemic shutdown.   Review of “Let The Right One In' at Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre through June 25, 2023.   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, event calendar and links to previous events. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.   Monthly Calendar. On-line events only. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre  The Wizard of Oz  adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, based on the classic motion picture, June 1 – June 25. Aurora Theatre  Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, June 16 – July 16. Streaming July 12 -16. Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming. Berkeley Rep Let The Right One In, a stage adaptation by Jack Thorne. Through June 25, 2023 at the Roda Theatre. Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings. Brava Theatre Center: See website for events. BroadwaySF: The Book of Mormon, May 23 – June 13, Orpheum. Into the Woods, June 20–15, Curran. Les Miserables, July 6 – 23, Orpheum. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, August 1-27, 2023, Golden Gate. Broadway San Jose: Beetlejuice, August 1 – 6. California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar. Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27  – June 24. Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23. Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25. Contra Costa Civic Theatre 2023-2024 season: Sondheim on Sondheim; Tintypes. Curran Theater: Into The Woods, direct from Broadway, June 20-25, 2023. Custom Made Theatre. Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzara, postponed to a later date in 2023. Cutting Ball Theatre. Towards Opulence, The Opera. June 3-4. 42nd Street Moon. She Loves Me, June 8 – June 24, Gateway Theatre. Golden Thread  See website for ongoing special events. Landmark Musical Theater.  Hair, May 6 – June 4, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Magic Theatre. Josephine's Feast, August 2 – 20. See website for other events at the Magic. Marin Theatre Company Odyssey written and directed by Lisa Peterson, August 31 – September 24. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  The Confession of Lily Dare by Charles Busch, May 12 – June 11. Oakland Theater Project.  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 18. Pear Theater. Falsettos,  June 30 – July 23. PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023. Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions Ray of Light: Spring Awakening In Concert, June 8-10, Victoria Theatre. Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6  – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko. San Francisco Playhouse.  Chinglish by David Henry Hwang, May 4 – June 10, 2023. A Chorus Line starts June 22, 2023. SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: 40th Anniversary Celebration, June 26, 2023. Shotgun Players. Yerma based on the play by Federico Garcia Lorca. Through June 18. South Bay Musical Theatre: Singin' In the Rain, May 13 – June 3. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Rhino  Gumiho, staged reading June 13. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, June 7 – July 2, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  See schedule for  one-night readings and streaming performances. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season, starting February. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                 The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 1, 2023: Martin Amis – Bill English appeared first on KPFA.

CW: Mention of sexual assault and torture. In this episode we analyse one of Shakespeare's least popular plays and review the the Royal Shakespeare Theatre's 2022 production directed by Blanche McIntyre.Featuring music from the Early Music - Classical Guitar Ensemble. You can listen to more of their music here: http://www.jsayles.com/familypages/EarlyMusic.htmYou can read more about the RSC production here: https://www.rsc.org.uk/alls-well-that-ends-well/Support the show

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 the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week Vidar was taken to an island full of strange sounds and wondrous sights with the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Tempest in Stratford upon Avon on Saturday 18 February at 1.15pm with audio description by professional Audio Describers Ellie Packer and Annette Stocken.  A mother and daughter struggle to survive on an island full of strange sounds and wondrous sights. Then one day, their long-lost enemies sail into view on the horizon. The world is out of kilter. Political unrest and an unsettled climate make for troubled times. People are out of kilter, too. Sibling rivalry and family rifts cause heartache and uneasy souls. The Tempest asks us to examine the delicate balance in our personal relationships as well as with the fragile ecosystems around us. What damage do we do to each other — and to the natural world? In the end, young love brings hope for a better life: perhaps healing ourselves and mending the planet are one and the same thing. Alex Kingston returns to the RSC to play Prospero in Shakespeare's elemental tale of survival and forgiveness. Elizabeth Freestone (former Artistic Director of Pentabus Theatre Company; The Rape of Lucrece, Swan Theatre; Crooked Dances, The Other Place) makes her Royal Shakespeare Theatre debut. For more about access at the Royal Shakespeare Company and details about audio described performances do visit the access pages of their website - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Season 5 – Gap Year: UK Episode 5 (Full episode) Are you a theater fanatic? Hilarie is! (Go figure...) But even if you're not, you'll still love the history and charm behind Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon. This small English city has protected and cultivated the history of Shakespeare, who is widely believed to be the greatest writer in the English-speaking world. Not only did he write plays for the stage, like "Romeo & Juliet," he also coined many of the terms we still use today – things like, “It's all Greek to me!” Walk with Jamin and Hilarie through the streets of Stratford-Upon-Avon, where this hopeless romantic was born, where he fell in love with his wife (Anne Hathaway), and where he was ultimately laid to rest. Theater productions like "War of the Roses" are performed regularly at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre here. While staying in the city, Jamin and Hilarie also took day trips to Warwick Castle and The Cotswolds. So much to see. So little time… You can subscribe to Travel FOMO in two different ways: (1) See their adventures on YouTube and (2) follow audibly from wherever you listen to podcasts. Why? Because they're traveling to 18 different countries in the coming year, and you won't want to miss it. This episode is available wherever you listen to podcasts. To see these Stratford-Upon-Avon places for yourself, watch their video from the trip: https://youtu.be/Wi5qZj38h2U. Travel FOMO is hosted by a husband and wife duo, Jamin and Hilarie Houghton. Learn more about them at www.travelfomopodcast.com. Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/travelfomopodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/travelfomopodcast TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@travelfomopodcast

The Guilty Feminist episode 311: Shakespeare for BeginnersPresented by Deborah Frances-White and Jessica Fostekew with special guests Sarah Ellis and Ann Ogbomo, plus Sophie Duker and Celya AB with music from Jess RobinsonRecorded 14 May at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. Released 20 June 2022The Guilty Feminist theme by Mark Hodge and produced by Nick Sheldon.More about Deborah Frances-Whitehttps://deborahfrances-white.comhttps://twitter.com/DeborahFWhttps://www.virago.co.uk/the-guilty-feminist-bookMore about Jessica Fostekewhttps://twitter.com/jessicafostekewhttp://jessicafostekew.com/my-doingsMore about Sophie Dukerhttps://twitter.com/sophiedukeboxhttps://sophieduker.comMore about Jess Robinsonhttps://twitter.com/jessierobinsonhttps://www.jessrobinson.co.ukMore about our guestshttps://twitter.com/scarahnellishttps://www.instagram.com/annogbomoFor more information about this and other episodes…visit https://www.guiltyfeminist.comtweet us https://www.twitter.com/guiltfempodlike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/guiltyfeministcheck out our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theguiltyfeministor join our mailing list http://www.eepurl.com/bRfSPTOur new podcasts are out nowMedia Storm https://podfollow.com/media-stormAbsolute Power https://podfollow.com/john-bercows-absolute-powerFOC it UP Comedy Club https://podfollow.com/foc-it-up-comedy-clubCome to a live recordingFOC it Up Comedy Club, from 19 June https://www.21-soho.com/foc-it-upSEVENTH BIRTHDAY SHOW in LONDON, 1 October https://www.eventim.co.uk/event/the-guilty-feminist-eventim-apollo-14545290/Australia/NZ tour https://guiltyfeminist.com/tour2022/Ulster Hall, 14 October: https://www.ulsterhall.co.uk/what-s-on/the-guilty-feminist/Thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters.To support the podcast yourself, go to https://www.patreon.com/guiltyfeminist See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This time Nick Hennegan is at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon, where, amongst the swans and the boats, he runs down modern films inspired by the Bard!

This time Nick Hennegan is at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon, where, amongst the Swans and the Boats, he runs down modern films inspired by the Bard! www.BohemianBritain.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bohemianbritain/message

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjarding MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews. This time Vidar was reviewing the RSC's new musical production for all the family, 'The Magician's Elephant' which was audio described at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on Tuesday 30 November at 7.15pm with live audio description by Julia Grundy and Caroline Smith. The Magician's Elephant is set in Baltese a town where nothing extraordinary ever happens. Recovering from a recent war, it's a lonely place, where young Peter lives a harsh life. Then one day, a magician conjures an elephant from the sky. The creature's appearance sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that it changes Baltese forever. Peter is catapulted into the quest of his life, overturning everything he ever thought he knew, and discovering that happiness can come from the most unexpected places. This new musical for all the family reminds us all that even the impossible can be possible when we open our eyes and hearts to those around us.   Adapted from Kate DiCamillo's prize-winning novel, directed by Sarah Tipple (Associate Director The Boy in the Dress) and designed by Colin Richmond (Wendy & Peter Pan). Vidar started by explaining to Toby why the AD performance of The Magician's Elephant would be one he may never forget and how good it was to be back at the RSC as the production had been scheduled for late 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic. Vidar stated how useful he found the introductory notes for the AD performance along with a limited touch tour due to Covid restrictions which included a very good talk by the describers Julia Grundy and Caroline Smith along with some of the stage crew on how the puppetry of the Elephant worked. Vidar said that the music and songs of The Magician's Elephant must have been good as it is always a good sign of a musical if you start humming the tunes as you leave the theatre.  At the moment there is no news on whether 'The Magician's Elephant' will be touring or coming back to the RSC later in the year however, if it does Vidar certainly recommends the show as a treat for all the family. (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Marc Antolin is preparing to play Leo Matienne in RSC's new musical The Magician's Elephant.Adapted from Kate DiCamillo's novel, The Magician's Elephant has book & lyrics by Nancy Harris and music & lyrics by Marc Teitler. The production is directed by Sarah Tipple.The Magician's Elephant marks Marc's return to the RSC, having originated the role of Rudolpho in Matilda The Musical.Just a few of Marc's credits include The Music Man, Singin' in the Rain & Amadeus (Chichester), Taken At Midnight  (Chichester & Theatre Royal Haymarket), Imagine This (New London Theatre), Hello Dolly & Into The Woods (Regent's Park), From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), The Trial (Young Vic), Peter Pan (National Theatre), Twelth Night (Shakespeare's Globe), Romantics Anonymous (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Bristol Old Vic & US tour) and Camelot (Watermill). Additionally, Marc was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.This episode was recorded in-person at the RSC's studios in London.The Magician's Elephant runs at the RSC's Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon from Monday 18th October until Saturday 1st January. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @Andrew_Tomlins Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 

Daniel Stewart trained at the esteemed California Institute of the Arts in LA, where he continued to live and work in film and television, then extensively in regional theatre (On and off Broadway) in NYC, along with a thriving career as a go to Brit for voice over work. He returned to the UK in recent years with shows in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The National Theatre and The West End. He has co-starred as a series regular alongside his father, Sir Patrick Stewart in the Starz series Blunt Talk and is the co-host of the esteemed podcast series The Foxhole Companion, a compelling history of World War 2 cinema. In this episode we talk to Daniel about growing up surrounded by acting royalty, the differences between US and British approaches to acting, the future of the arts and the role of the jobbing actor.

Rehearsals for Carrie the Musical continue in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. But as the show hurtles towards its opening night, the cast soon feel like they’re working on two very different shows, and the frustration of the writing team grows as they’re cut out of the creative process.  Meanwhile, trouble is brewing behind the scenes as musical legend Barbara Cook begins to doubt that Carrie is the ideal vehicle for her big Broadway comeback, making her point known with a very un-subtle gift for Director Terry Hands. But is an on-stage accident on opening night enough to call a halt to all this nonsense? And finally, as the British critics file their reviews - is Carrie really ready for its big Broadway transfer? (Spoiler: it is not). Join us on our social channels and share your feedback! Instagram Facebook Twitter Out for Blood is hosted by Holly Morgan and Chris Adams, edited by Tom Moores, with original music by Odinn Orn Hilmarson and artwork by Rebecca Pitt. Out for Blood is a proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Thanks this week to Dean Pitchford, Linzi Hateley, Sally Ann Triplett, Charlotte D’Amboise, Georgia Otterson, Michelle DuVernay, Shelley Hodgson, Suzanne Thomas, Joey McKneeley, Kenny Linden, Eric Gilliom, Michelle Nelson Manne, Audrey Lavine, Jeremy Sturt, Peter Mckintosh, Mark Shenton and Brice Stratford (yes, he really does have the same surname as this episode). THIS WEEK’S LINKS:  A video of Debbie Allen running a dance rehearsal for the song ‘Wotta Night’ at the RSC in Stratford. Terry Hands and Debbie Allen come together to rehearse the beginning of the prom sequence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjlPaachf7A. An on-stage tech rehearsal for ‘In’ at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.  The bootleg RSC archive video of the full Stratford edition of Carrie the Musical Please note that we don’t own any of the content above and we’re not responsible for the content of third-party links – enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's one of the greatest all-time directors of Shakespeare, and has directed every one of the Bard's plays. But he's also directed 34  shows on Broadway, including "Cats" and "Les Miserables", and more yet on London's West End.  Trevor Nunn has been the Artistic Director of both the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the National Theatre. And at 80, this British cultural icon of the theater is still going strong.  He talks here about his mysterious infatuation with theater at a very early age, in a working class family where there were no books. He pays tribute to a teacher who changed his life. And he waxes oh-so-passionately about Shakespeare and the power of theater. Oh, and he also talks about how it is he came to write the lyrics of "Memory", one of the most famous songs ever from a musical! 

Let’s take an imaginary trip to see the Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, farmland, Tudor schoolrooms, Dr. Hall’s house and medicinal garden, Tudor streets, Holy Trinity Church, a world-class theatre, and swans on the river. In other words, let’s go strolling through Stratford with Shakespeare!As you get off the train at the Stratford Station, you can wander through the city, seeing the Town Square, Henley Street, High Street, and more on your way towards the River Avon and the Visitor Information center. You get maps and buy tickets there, and the guides can help you plan your day. I’m going to take you through just some highlights of the wonders of Stratford by following the map—of course, you could easily plan different routes, as the town is easily walkable!Along the River you’ll also find the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC typically welcomes more than a million visitors each year. The RSC is the only theatre company with its own armory right on-site; they produce breastplates, gauntlets, and all kinds of weapons for use in productions and education activities. The RSC runs three theatres: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre, which share a building next to the River, and The Other Place, which is a short walk away.Continue your walk along the River, and you’ll come to Holy Trinity Church. The church holds many treasures for its visitors including the Thomas Becket chapel; the Crossing; the Altar, which features a medieval stone altar slab; a King James Bible published in 1611 that is chained in place to prevent it being stolen; and, of course, Shakespeare.This is the church where Shakespeare’s family worshipped. He was baptized here on 26 April 1564. It’s very likely he worshipped here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his life in London. Finally, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April 1616, after his death on 23 April. It’s very likely he worshipped here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his life in London. And, of course, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April 1616, after his death on 23 April. Getting to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage takes a mile walk, and it's definitely worth it. The cottage is a 12-room farmhouse where Anne lived with her family as a child. There are some items in the Cottage that will take you right back in time. The Hathaway Bed was made between 1580 and 1650. The Tester Bed is dated to the late 1500s, so it is likely associated with Anne’s family. In fact, it would certainly have been known to Anne while she lived there. The cottage is surrounded by nine acres of woodland, orchards, and gardens. You can take a woodland walk, visit the Shakespeare arboretum, and relax in a willow cabin while you listen to Shakespeare’s sonnets. Head to Henley Street and you'll find Shakespeare’s Birthplace. This is a true highlight of your day, as you’ll be able to get up close and personal with William Shakespeare and his family. John Shakespeare lived and worked in this house for 50 years. He married Mary Arden and they had eight children there. In 1568, John became Mayor of Stratford, a status that enabled his son to attend the King Edward VI school and also brought troops of traveling players to his home so he could approve their performances before they played in the Town Square. It’s easy to imagine young Will meeting actors and learning about play-making while living there. Stratford offers the opportunity to walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps, to get close to rare objects from his lifetime, and to explore the ways Shakespeare continues to shape our lives today.

ABOUT ANTHONY WILLIAMS Anthony Williams is a guitarist and band member of Rhythm Chant ABOUT SUE BROWN Sue’s contribution to A Very British History: The First Black Brummies has been universally well-received, bringing her a slew of awards for her involvement in the programme. They include Outstanding New Talent at the Royal Television Society Midlands Awards 2019 and the 2019 MvisA (Movies Video & Screen Awards) for Best Factual Production. In Autumn 2019 Sue presented and narrated BBC Birmingham’s Inside Out: Slavery and Stately Homes. Between 2010 and 2018 Sue worked as a Family Social Worker at Lillian de Lissa Children’s Centre in Birmingham. Her role was to support all parents and carers with children from 0–5 years focusing on the child’s earliest years by learning and developing life skills so they can grow up healthy, happy, and achieving their goals. During her time with families, she used a range of approaches and resources to improve emotional well-being, social skills and gave opportunities to children to enjoy and achieve. Over the years Sue has worked with various creative projects and across differing art forms, including collaborations with musicians, in theatres, and on radio, as well as educational work mainly within primary schools. For more than fifteen years she has freelanced with Writing West Midlands as a workshop facilitator and performance poet. Most recently she finished a three-year workshop entitled ‘Sparks Young Writing Group’ based at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon; this is just one of Writing West Midlands creative writing projects which aims to promote the long-term benefit of ‘writing’ by working with professional writers to inspire young wordsmiths with their creativity and writing. Since 2001 Sue has been a member of one of Birmingham’s largest writers' groups, Writers without Borders.

This week on Heavenly Shows and Unnecessary Letters: Richard II, directed by Gregory Doran for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2013, filmed live at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, and written in 1595 by William Shakespeare.What is a king? A miserable little pile of secrets. The tale of Richard the Second is that rarest of beasts; a piece of theatre in a very monarchist era that contains, and even to some extent glorifies, a coup dethroning the king. This is a play with two Kings of England; Henry the Fourth, who we’ll have two plays about in the near future, and Richard the Second; the least popular and least discussed of the royal Richards, he is a king mostly known for an excellent play detailing his demise written by the son of a glover from Warwickshire. This little scripted bit of the podcast has existed for a few reasons over the course of our podcast thus far: it’s been a place to make grand and sweeping statements about the place of Shakespeare in our modern lives, it’s been a place to make thinly veiled political jokes, but actually the initial intent for this paragraph was to explain why we chose the version of the play that we did. We’ve picked plays for lots of varied reasons, and some for no reason at all, but this one is very simple.Tammy’s a big Doctor Who fan, and putting David Tennant in a show is a surefire way to get her excited to watch it. So, there we are.Email Address: hsaulpodcast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hsaulpodcast/Instagram: @hsaulpodcastTwitter: @hsaulpodcastEditing by Tammy Sarah Linde and Luke O'HaganMusic by Luke O'HaganAudio excerpt from Henry V used under a Creative Commons License from Archive.org - license available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're back chaps! And we're getting stuck in with a ten bird roast of an episode on POSH by Laura Wade. Things get political as we discuss just power, class, Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging  - and just what is up with the ghost in the corner of the room...? With Special Guest, Theatre Director and JMK Runner Up 2019 Oscar Toeman.Co Hosted by Lexie Ward and Meg Robinson.Music By Connor Barton (Sethera Sound Design)Find SCRIPT IN HAND on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook  - Give us a like/follow to keep up to date with episode information and extra content.Oscar Toeman was  was runner up for the JMK Award 2019, and a finalist for the Peter Hall RTST Award 2018.Previous Productions include The Sugar Syndrome at the Orange Tree Theatre (nominated for 4 Off West End Awards and One Olivier, results currently pending) Actually at Trafalgar Studios, and After October at the Finborough (nominated for 3 Off West End Awards). As an assistant or associate director he has worked on such acclaimed productions as Oslo and Waste at the National Theatre, The Merchant of Venice at Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and Twelfth Night at The Globe. You can check out his full CV here.EPISODE BIBLIOGRAPHYWhat's on Stage Reviewhttps://www.whatsonstage.com/ballymena-theatre/reviews/laura-wade-posh-tyger-drew-honey-playhouse_49838.htmlBullingdon Club - an inside lookhttps://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/07/oxford-bullingdon-club-boris-johnson-sexism-violence-bullying-cultureThe Week- Bullingdon Club; behind the elite societyhttps://www.theweek.co.uk/65410/bullingdon-club-the-secrets-of-oxford-universitys-elite-societyTatler-Inside the clubhttps://www.tatler.com/article/inside-oxford-university-secret-drinking-clubsReal Life Bullingdon Club scandalhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4066329.stm

Sue’s contribution to A Very British History: The First Black Brummies has been universally well-received, bringing her a slew of awards for her involvement in the programme. They include Outstanding New Talent at the Royal Television Society Midlands Awards 2019 and the 2019 MvisA (Movies Video & Screen Awards) for Best Factual Production. In Autumn 2019 Sue presented and narrated BBC Birmingham’s Inside Out: Slavery and Stately Homes. Between 2010 and 2018 Sue worked as a Family Social Worker at Lillian de Lissa Children’s Centre in Birmingham. Her role was to support all parents and carers with children from 0–5 years focusing on the child’s earliest years by learning and developing life skills so they can grow up healthy, happy, and achieving their goals. During her time with families, she used a range of approaches and resources to improve emotional well-being, social skills and gave opportunities to children to enjoy and achieve. Over the years Sue has worked with various creative projects and across differing art forms, including collaborations with musicians, in theatres, and on radio, as well as educational work mainly within primary schools. For more than fifteen years she has freelanced with Writing West Midlands as a workshop facilitator and performance poet. Most recently she finished a three-year workshop entitled ‘Sparks Young Writing Group’ based at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon; this is just one of Writing West Midlands creative writing projects which aims to promote the long-term benefit of ‘writing’ by working with professional writers to inspire young wordsmiths with their creativity and writing. Since 2001 Sue has been a member of one of Birmingham’s largest writers' groups, Writers without Borders.

"The day I found out I was nominated for an Olivier I worked a double shift at a restaurant. I was cleaning tables and taking people's dirty plates away... but at the same time you think 'well, I have two Olivier nominations at the age of 23 - it swings in roundabouts!'"Charlotte Wakefield is currently playing Miss Windsor in the RCS's new musical The Boy in the Dress at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Boy In The Dress is based on David Walliams' book, with new music by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers.Charlotte has been nominated for two Olivier Awards; for her performances as Wendla Bergman in the original West End production of Spring Awakening and Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.Just a few of her other credits include playing Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Veronica in the workshop of Heathers and Polly in Crazy For You.Charlotte talks all things The Boy in the Dress and discusses the balancing act of being an actor.For more info about The Boy in the Dress please visit www.rsc.org.uk. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

MP Jess Phillips on life in the public eye. Plus Ned Kelly, Lady Macbeth, one once flesh and blood, the other imagined into being, yet both have done sterling work as ciphers to the human condition. Anne McElvoy talks to Rebecca Daniels, curator of an exhibition marking the centenary of Australia's great myth-maker, the artist Sidney Nolan and to David Taylor, curator of an exhibition at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre about the way memorable images work and legends are made—they are joined by Lorna Miller and Kevin 'Kal' Kallaugher, who draw on their experience as political cartoonists.Transferences: Sidney Nolan in Britain runs at the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester from 18th February 2017 – 4th June 2017 and part of centenary programming across 2017. You can find out more from http://www.sidneynolantrust.org/centenary-2017/centenary-programmeDraw New Mischief: 250 years of Shakespeare and Political Cartoons is in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre's PACCAR room: 25 February – 15 September 2017 Everywoman: One Woman's Truth About Speaking the Truth by Jess Phillips is out now. Producer: Karl Bos Editor: Robyn Read

Saturday April 23, 2016 marked 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare, and exactly 452 years since his birth. You have to appreciate the perfect symmetry of being born and being taken on the same day of the year, apparently due to some overzealous celebrating at his favourite pub. It also gives his global fanbase a reason to have two big celebrations each century. The latest of these, held at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, is now being screened at Cinema Nova up until Wednesday May 18, accompanied by a short film about the history of these celebrations, which announces an intention to be more than just a collection of the bard's best known couplets and soliloquies. This gala is also a showcase of his extraordinary influence across so many different artforms. For instance, it was no surprise to get a performance of the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet, with Mariah Gale as a particularly histrionic Juliet, but what I wasn't expecting was to see that same scene then danced by the Royal Ballet, with a powerful final tableau of both the dancers and the actors locked in a loving embrace. There's also a Shakespeare-inspired hip-hop performance, but not of the forced variety. As we are reminded by our delightful hosts, David Tennant and Catherine Tate, these works were the mainstream popular entertainment of their time, and were performed to much rowdier crowds than they tend to draw in today. The song ‘This gives life to thee’ by Akala, founder of the Hiphop Shakespeare company, is arguably just as lyrical and hard-hitting as the Elizabethan poetry that inspired it, and to have this sitting alongside performances from English National Opera made quite a statement about the equal value of all forms of art. The other musicals highlights were mostly jazz and blues renditions of some of the ballads from the comedies. All of them struck the right balance between true musicality whilst also supporting the poetry, rather than distracting from it. Whilst almost all of these were pre-recorded, Rufus Wainwright’s electric performance of Sonnet 29 proved to be the strong live vocal performance that the night needed. Fortunately, there was more than enough live acting, especially on the comedic front. A mixture of young, fresh faces and game old faces such as John Lithgow and Dame Judi Dench brought us some of the writer’s best scenes of farcical misunderstandings and absurd declarations of love. All of the numerous big names, which also include Roger Allam, Sir Ian McKellen, David Suchet and Helen Mirren, get brilliant chances to show off their comedic and their dramatic skills, except perhaps for Benedict Cumberbatch, who still felt rather underused. On the flip side though, the opening act, ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story performed by 19 of the UK’s top performing arts students, got off to a wobbly start as the cast and the orchestra were out of time, although it did eventually manage to pick itself up, especially as Maria’s part began. Henry Goodman and Rufus Hound didn’t fare so well either with the three-part, one-joke song ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ from Kiss Me Kate. There is only so long one can listen to Shakespeare puns and still be amused, and the fluffed line towards the end certainly didn’t help matters. It is curious that while both the music and theatre acts were so strong, the musical theatre pieces were this far off the mark. There is also a series of short biographical films scattered throughout the acts, presented quite fittingly by Joseph Fiennes, who of course played the man himself in Shakespeare in Love nearly 20 years ago. While some of them are a bit on-the-nose educational, they do serve well to remind us of the humble origins of the legendary wordsmith, and also to contextualize the shift from the comedies to the tragedies, which seemed to occur after the death of his son, Hamnet, who was only 11 years old. At this point, we transition from the cheerful ditties and the comic misdemeanors to the deep, dark tragedies. Most notably, Othello is performed in a magical mixture of jazz and ballet, and, just in case anyone thought proceedings were going to stray too far from all the laughs and smiles, a star-studded comedy sketch surrounding the most overthought and overused line that Shakespeare ever wrote, “To be or not to be, that is the question,” is easily the highlight of the night. Just as predictably, but very fittingly, the final two acts feature the bittersweet final verses of The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, two very poignant reminders of the immortality of a good story, despite the sad mortality of those who tell it, and where they tell it. Review written by Christian TsoutsouvasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saturday April 23, 2016 marked 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare, and exactly 452 years since his birth. You have to appreciate the perfect symmetry of being born and being taken on the same day of the year, apparently due to some overzealous celebrating at his favourite pub. It also gives his global fanbase a reason to have two big celebrations each century. The latest of these, held at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, is now being screened at Cinema Nova up until Wednesday May 18, accompanied by a short film about the history of these celebrations, which announces an intention to be more than just a collection of the bard's best known couplets and soliloquies. This gala is also a showcase of his extraordinary influence across so many different artforms. For instance, it was no surprise to get a performance of the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet, with Mariah Gale as a particularly histrionic Juliet, but what I wasn't expecting was to see that same scene then danced by the Royal Ballet, with a powerful final tableau of both the dancers and the actors locked in a loving embrace. There's also a Shakespeare-inspired hip-hop performance, but not of the forced variety. As we are reminded by our delightful hosts, David Tennant and Catherine Tate, these works were the mainstream popular entertainment of their time, and were performed to much rowdier crowds than they tend to draw in today. The song ‘This gives life to thee’ by Akala, founder of the Hiphop Shakespeare company, is arguably just as lyrical and hard-hitting as the Elizabethan poetry that inspired it, and to have this sitting alongside performances from English National Opera made quite a statement about the equal value of all forms of art. The other musicals highlights were mostly jazz and blues renditions of some of the ballads from the comedies. All of them struck the right balance between true musicality whilst also supporting the poetry, rather than distracting from it. Whilst almost all of these were pre-recorded, Rufus Wainwright’s electric performance of Sonnet 29 proved to be the strong live vocal performance that the night needed. Fortunately, there was more than enough live acting, especially on the comedic front. A mixture of young, fresh faces and game old faces such as John Lithgow and Dame Judi Dench brought us some of the writer’s best scenes of farcical misunderstandings and absurd declarations of love. All of the numerous big names, which also include Roger Allam, Sir Ian McKellen, David Suchet and Helen Mirren, get brilliant chances to show off their comedic and their dramatic skills, except perhaps for Benedict Cumberbatch, who still felt rather underused. On the flip side though, the opening act, ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story performed by 19 of the UK’s top performing arts students, got off to a wobbly start as the cast and the orchestra were out of time, although it did eventually manage to pick itself up, especially as Maria’s part began. Henry Goodman and Rufus Hound didn’t fare so well either with the three-part, one-joke song ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ from Kiss Me Kate. There is only so long one can listen to Shakespeare puns and still be amused, and the fluffed line towards the end certainly didn’t help matters. It is curious that while both the music and theatre acts were so strong, the musical theatre pieces were this far off the mark. There is also a series of short biographical films scattered throughout the acts, presented quite fittingly by Joseph Fiennes, who of course played the man himself in Shakespeare in Love nearly 20 years ago. While some of them are a bit on-the-nose educational, they do serve well to remind us of the humble origins of the legendary wordsmith, and also to contextualize the shift from the comedies to the tragedies, which seemed to occur after the death of his son, Hamnet, who was only 11 years old. At this point, we transition from the cheerful ditties and the comic misdemeanors to the deep, dark tragedies. Most notably, Othello is performed in a magical mixture of jazz and ballet, and, just in case anyone thought proceedings were going to stray too far from all the laughs and smiles, a star-studded comedy sketch surrounding the most overthought and overused line that Shakespeare ever wrote, “To be or not to be, that is the question,” is easily the highlight of the night. Just as predictably, but very fittingly, the final two acts feature the bittersweet final verses of The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, two very poignant reminders of the immortality of a good story, despite the sad mortality of those who tell it, and where they tell it. Review written by Christian Tsoutsouvas

For the seventh episode of Let’s Talk Shakespeare, I asked “Was Shakespeare Gay?”. This is a really big question that people have written a great deal about, so this episode acts as a sort of summary of some of the arguments for and against Shakespeare being gay. To answer this question we have to think about the nature of friendships and sexuality and self identification of those thing in Shakespeare time, as well as looking at evidence from this text, in particular the sonnets. This weeks guests are: * Professor Michael Dobson, Director of the Shakespeare Institute * Dr Elizabeth Dollimore, Outreach and Primary Learning Manager a the SBT * Professor Stanley Wells, Honorary President of the SBT * Greg Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre You can find the show notes for this episode over on our blog: https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/podcast/was-shakespeare-gay/

Libby Purves meets director Polly Findlay; writer Huan Hsu; comedian and performer Deborah Frances-White and Jane Dolby, founder of the Fishwives Choir. Huan Hsu is a journalist and academic. In his book, The Porcelain Thief, he tells the story of his great-great-grandfather Liu, a scholar in the late 19th century who lived in the village of Xingang in China. In 1938, as the Japanese army approached, he buried his collection of prized porcelain in a vault in the ground before fleeing with his family. Huan's family eventually settled in the US and the treasure remained buried. It wasn't until eighty years later that he decided to go to China to look for it. The Porcelain Thief is published by Fourth Estate. Polly Findlay is an award-winning director whose production of The Merchant of Venice stars Makram Khoury as Shylock. A former child actor, Polly started out as an assistant director at the National Theatre and her recent productions include Arden of Faversham and Treasure Island. The Merchant of Venice is at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Deborah Frances-White is a comedian and writer. Her four-part BBC Radio series, Deborah Frances-White Rolls The Dice, is the story of how she tracked down her biological mother. Adopted at ten days old and brought up in Australia, Deborah began the search for her family after moving to the UK to study. As a performer she has toured the country with solo stand-up shows and performed in London's West End and at the Edinburgh Festival. Deborah Frances-White Rolls The Dice is broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Jane Dolby was a single mother when she fell in love and married the fisherman who lived next door. They had two children together before Colin was lost at sea during a freak storm in 2008 while out fishing in the Thames Estuary. Without a proof of death Jane struggled financially and was supported by the Fishermen's Mission charity. To thank the charity Jane founded the Fishwives Choir which is currently touring the UK. Song of the Sea by Jane Dolby is published by Orion Books.

Arthur Miller's Pullitzer prize winning 1949 play, Death of a Salesman, set in Brooklyn in New York, is one of the greatest American tragedies ever written. In a production to celebrate the centenary of Miller's birth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford on Avon, Artistic Director Greg Doran directs Anthony Sher as Willy Loman, Harriet Walter as his wife Linda and Alex Hassel as their son Biff. How well does this production portray the darkness that lies at the heart of the American dream? Oscar nominated for The Squid and the Whale, "While We're Young" is Noah Baumbach's 8th feature film, and his second collaboration with star Ben Stiller. A comedy about the generational divide in a technologically driven age - what new insights does it provide on the perennial conflict between age and youth? Award winning novelist, biographer and poet Peter Ackroyd's turns his attention to Alfred Hitchcock in a new biography which details the director's stormy, controlling relationships with his leading ladies, as well the painstaking way in which he mastered his cinematic craft manifest in such cinema classics as Notorious, Rear Window, Psycho and The Birds. What new light can the "Master of Biography" shed upon the "Master of Suspense?" When you go to see an exhibition at the National Gallery in London you expect to see paintings. However in Frames in Focus: Sansovino Frames it is the frames themselves that are the stars of the show - one of the first times ever a UK gallery has created an exhibition (almost) purely from frames alone. What does this exhibition reveal about the art of the picture frame? And a new BBC 2 television series, Sex and The Church, explores the complex question of the church's attitude towards sex from the birth of Jesus to the present day, presented by Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Ceri Levy, Rita Tushingham, Gillian Lynne and Gisli Örn Gardarsson. Ceri Levy is a film-maker, birdwatcher and co-curator of a new exhibition, 'Ghosts of Gone Birds' which features eighty artists, including Sir Peter Blake, Ralph Steadman and Margaret Atwood, each of whom has depicted an extinct or endangered species of bird. Ghosts of Gone Birds is at the Rochelle School, London E2. Rita Tushingham's breakthrough movie 'Taste of Honey' is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a screening in Liverpool, her hometown, as part of this year's 'Homotopia Festival'. Rita won a Bafta and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Jo, a young girl with a difficult mother, leaving home, living with a gay flatmate and getting pregnant. Gillian Lynne is the former ballerina, theatre director and renowned choreographer, best known for her iconic choreography of shows including 'Cats' and 'Phantom of the Opera'. Her memoir, 'A Dancer in Wartime - one girl's journey from the Blitz to Sadler's Wells' is published by Chatto & Windus. Gisli Örn Gardarsson is an Icelandic actor and director, who originally trained as a gymnast. His theatre company Vesturport is best known for its gymnastic productions, circus skills and leftfield set designs which he is about to bring to the RSC at Stratford-upon-Avon in David Farr's new version on the much loved myth of Robin Hood. 'The Heart of Robin Hood' is at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford over Christmas. Producer: Chris Paling.

The scaffolding is coming down and the theatre technicians are busy inside the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon. A year since our last visit to the building site things are beginning to take shape. Jane Markham goes behind the scenes and finds out why it will be another year before the actors will arrive!

In November 2008 giant steel roof beams were winched into position over what will be the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre's auditorium. The thrust stage is already clearly visible and the viewing tower, which will give visitors a fantastic view of Stratford Upon Avon and the surrounding countryside, starts its upward progress as the lift shaft begins to take shape. In this podcast we are on site for a tour behind the scenes of the drama of the rebirth of what promises to be an iconic theatre of the future.

The famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre, designed in the 1930s, has now closed its doors to the public while it undergoes a major transformation - and in this is an episode of memories of the RST in its heyday we'll get the view from the stalls! From those whose passion drove them to keep a caravan in Stratford for their regular visits from Devon to those who came by bus from Birmingham to queue for standing room only in the 1960's ! Today the audience speaks

The RSC's famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon is being transformed over the next three years and while work is underway the company is performing up the road in a temporary theatre which is a working prototype for the new RST. Find out more from the RSC's artistic director, one of the the UK's top theatre designers and the architects.