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Nick visits Scarborough and talks to Sir Alan Ayckbourn as he rehearses an old play - Things We Do For Love - and looks forward to the staging of his 90th play - Show and Tell.Turner prize winning Artist Jeremy Deller, whose public artworks include We're Here Because We're Here to commemorate the Battle of the Somme, reveals his plans for a new creation in Scarborough. The Scarborough Spa Orchestra is the UK's only remaining professional seaside orchestra, and Nick meets its two of its members, music director Paul Laidlaw and flautist Kathy Seabrook. Poets Charlotte Oliver and Wendy Pratt discuss finding inspiration in Scarborough.Presenter: Nick Ahad Producer: Ekene Akalawu
As the mourning begins, Charles and Graham discuss who was allowed to do what and when as the Queen's death was announced. Graham gives an insight into what it is like to visit Sir Clough Williams-Ellis's eccentric and beautiful village of Portmeirion. The duo reflect on the rise of having gigs signed for the deaf ad hard of hearing and Charles enthuses about Sir Alan Ayckbourn's latest play, Family Album, as it is premiered in Scarborough.
Graham and Charles discuss the financial viability of artists who rely on streaming, reflecting on the news that Nadine Shah, one of the UK's most celebrated indie artists has had to move back in with her parents. Charles wonders whether the arts can learn anything from the recent Euro 2020 final and reminds Graham it is not too late to see Sir Alan Ayckbourn's eighty fifth play in Scarborough and Graham wonders whether British fiction has any truly celebrated experimentalists. Charles looks at the fate of artists who rely on support from local councils in order to exhibit their work as York welcomes Pop Up Piccadilly.
Charles and Graham open with a look-back at the best albums of the year so far and what's coming next. Graham goes further with his report on Stuart Cosgrove's book, Harlem 69: The Future Of Soul, and then compares Lindsay Anderson's classic 1968 film, If, with The Rolling Stones' track Jig-saw Puzzle from that year's album, Beggars Banquet. Charles reflects on the monarchy, the Beeb and the media after the passing of HRH Prince Philip and then looks forward to Sir Alan Ayckbourn's 85th play premiere and CH's 60th birthday.
Graham and Charles remember Darth Vader and the Green Cross Code actor, Dave Prowse, take a look at the almost universal love for Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona as his death is announced and look at the implications for Harrogate and York's cultural events as they enter Tier Two restrictions. Graham reports on new releases from Harrogate musical artists and Charles reflects on the future of Sir Alan Ayckbourn after his latest interview with the playwright.
Gloria Calderon Kellett is a producer and writer, known for One Day at a Time (2017), How I Met Your Mother (2005) and Drunk History (2013). She has been married to Dave Kellett since February 24, 2001. Gloria Calderón Kellett is currently a writer and Supervising producer on the CW series “iZombie.” Before that she was on ABC’s “Mixology”, the Lifetime series “Devious Maids, the CBS series “Rules of Engagement” (2008-2011) and “How I Met Your Mother” (2005-2008) during which she won an Alma Award for Outstanding Script. She is a graduate of the Writer’s Guild Showrunner Training Program and has sold pilots to Fox, ABC Studios, CBS and TVLAND. Her first short film, “Wounded,” was an official selection in the Geneva Film Festival, the Palm Springs Shorts Fest, the Sedona Film Fest, the Gig Harbor Film Festival and the Big Island Film Festival. Her second short, “Very Dirty Things” was an official selection in the LA Comedy Film Festival. And her third short film “BLIND” was an official selection in the NBC/Universal Short Cuts Film Fest, the Napa Valley Film Festival, The San Luis Obispo Film Festival and the Big Island Film Festival. She has written several plays to critical success, including “In Her Shoes” (Hudson Avenue Theatre); “Baggage” (Hudson Avenue Theatre / workshopped at The Mark Taper Forum), “Left Overs” (Odyssey Theatre), “Disconnect” (Elephant Theater), “Skirts & Flirts” (Hudson Mainstage Theatre / Kraine Theatre, NYC), “Bedtime Stories” (National Comedy Theater), “Snapshots” (Pico Playhouse), “Identity Theft” (Elephant Theatre), “Drinking Games” (Pico Playhouse); “Just Friends” (Chalk Rep); “Blind” (Stella Adler Theatre); “Dinner & A Movie” (24 Hour Plays @ Wilshire Ebell) and “The Friend Zone” (Stella Adler Theatre) among many others. Gloria graduated from Loyola Marymount University and was awarded a Kennedy Center/ACTF Award for her first play, “Plane Strangers” – which also went on to win the Del Rey Players Playwriting Award, and the LMU Playwright of the Year Award. Gloria went on to earn a Masters degree in Theatre from the University of London. Her play, “When Words Are Many,” was a finalist for the London Writers Award. Additionally, her play, “Dance Like No One’s Looking,” won the International Student Playscript Competition, judged and awarded by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. While in London, she worked at the Royal Court Theater and the London International Festival of Theatre. Since her return to Los Angeles, Gloria has been a founding member of the sketch comedy group And Donkey Makes Five, and has written and performed stand-up comedy at The Improv and The Comedy Store. Her book, Accessories, has been translated into Italian and is published by Small Fish Studios in the U.S. and Cassini Press in Italy. In her free time she teaches and lectures about writing (Loyola Marymount University, University of Miami, Imagen Foundation panelist, CBS Diversity program special guest) and on occasion she acts. Check out Gloria’s website: www.everythinggloria.com
In conversation with Kirsty Lang, Sir Alan Ayckbourn discusses his long and prolific career that has seen him, at the age of 75, premiere his 78th play - Roundelay. Sir Alan is one of this country's most celebrated playwrights. His ability to write and stage his tales of British middle-class domestic disharmony in ever more inventive ways has endeared him to a national audience. However, with his plays performed worldwide, he has a devoted international audience as well. He talks to Kirsty Lang about Scarborough, his adopted home, his love of event theatre, and his belief in theatre's power to connect people - whether they want to be connected or not.
Sir Alan Ayckbourn is about to turn 75 years old and one of his best-known plays is currently running at the National Theatre in London. Known for his acerbic social observation and exploration of human relationships, his works are as thought provoking as they are funny. But who is the man behind them? Notoriously reticent, he often prefers his written words to speak for him. In this edition of Profile, Becky Milligan speaks to Sir Alan's close friends and family to find out what drives him, and why.
Alan Ayckbourn is often described as the most performed playwright alive in the world. A revival of his play Absent Friends has opened in London's West End. And a new play - his 76th - premieres this summer. After more than 50 years of writing and directing, what is it about Alan Ayckbourn and his portrayal of relationships in the English suburbs that can still fill theatres around the world?
From his home base in Scarborough, England, playwright and director Sir Alan Ayckbourn makes a return visit to "Downstage Center" during the run of his 74th play, "Life of Riley". He discusses why he chooses to mention his parents' unhappy marriage in his program biography; why so many of his plays involve infidelity; his feeling about happy endings; the challenge and opportunity of creating characters who never appear on stage, but are often spoken about, as is the title character in "Riley"; whether as a director of his own plays he enjoys the benefit of knowing what every character is thinking; the advice he gives to other directors who are tackling his plays and seek him out; his feeling about star casting and how it influenced his early hit "How The Other Half Loves"; why he imposed a moratorium on his plays being done in the West End for several and why it remains in place for his new plays; the experience of bringing work to New York to critical acclaim ("Private Fears in Public Places", "Intimate Exchanges" and "My Wonderful Day") and why he's content to have it seen for a limited run in a small venue; why he called off plans for "Private Fears" to be remounted with an American cast; whether he can still create "event theatre" along the lines of "The Revenger's Comedies", "The Norman Conquests" and "House and Garden"; and whether he misses being the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, his primary occupation for the better part of four decades. Original air date - January 5, 2011.
From his home base in Scarborough, England, playwright and director Sir Alan Ayckbourn makes a return visit to "Downstage Center" during the run of his 74th play, "Life of Riley". He discusses why he chooses to mention his parents' unhappy marriage in his program biography; why so many of his plays involve infidelity; his feeling about happy endings; the challenge and opportunity of creating characters who never appear on stage, but are often spoken about, as is the title character in "Riley"; whether as a director of his own plays he enjoys the benefit of knowing what every character is thinking; the advice he gives to other directors who are tackling his plays and seek him out; his feeling about star casting and how it influenced his early hit "How The Other Half Loves"; why he imposed a moratorium on his plays being done in the West End for several and why it remains in place for his new plays; the experience of bringing work to New York to critical acclaim ("Private Fears in Public Places", "Intimate Exchanges" and "My Wonderful Day") and why he's content to have it seen for a limited run in a small venue; why he called off plans for "Private Fears" to be remounted with an American cast; whether he can still create "event theatre" along the lines of "The Revenger's Comedies", "The Norman Conquests" and "House and Garden"; and whether he misses being the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, his primary occupation for the better part of four decades. Original air date - January 5, 2011.
Sir Alan Ayckbourn discusses his new play, “My Wonderful Day,” which he both wrote and directed. The insightful and articulate playwright talks about his lengthy career and shares writing techniques, which have helped him create 73 plays to date.