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Episode 161In today's guest episode I will be discussing Shakespeare's characterisations of the lower classes and looking at the role they play with Stephen Unwin, who's book ‘Poor Naked Wretches' explores the variety of working people in Shakespeare's plays as well as a vast range of cultural sources from which they were drawn and argues that the robust realism of these characters makes them so much more than mere Comic Relief. Stephen Unwin is an award-winning British theatre and opera director. He has directed almost 100 professional productions and worked with many well-established actors and singers, as well as developing the careers of many younger ones. He studied at the University of Cambridge.In the 1980s Stephen worked at the Almeida Theatre, London, the Traverse in Edinburgh, in repertoire theatre and at the National Theatre Studio. In 1993, he founded English Touring Theatre, for whom he directed more than 30 productions of classical and new plays, many of which transferred to London. In 2008, he became Artistic Director of the new Rose Theatre in Kingston, which he ran until January 2014. He has worked extensively at the Theatre Royal Bath and has directed more than 20 operas. Ten of his productions have been seen in the West End.Stephen has taught in conservatoires and universities in Britain and America and written 10 books on theatre and drama, including ‘Poor Naked Wretches'. He has also written five original plays: ‘All Our Children' was premiered at Jermyn Street Theatre in 2017 and staged in New York in 2019, and ‘Laughing Boy' opened at Jermyn Street in 2024 and also played at the Theatre Royal Bath. Stephen is a campaigner for the rights and dignities of learning-disabled people and ‘Beautiful Lives: How We Got Learning Disabilities So Wrong', is published by Wildfire Book in June 2025.This is only a shortened version of Stephen's achievements and I would encourage you to visit his website for much more information. You can find him at www.stephenunwin.uk https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/poor-naked-wretchesSupport the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.patreon.com/thoetpwww.ko-fi.com/thoetp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Since her debut in Fiddler on the Roof, Molly Osborne has proven herself to be one of the most exciting actresses to hit the London theatre scene. Her latest role sees her playing Rosie in Stephen Unwin's Laughing Boy at Jermyn Street Theatre, based on Sara Ryan's true story of her search for justice after her son Connor died in care. Steven Unwin also directs this new show which will also include Janie Dee, Alfie Friedman and Forbes Mason in the cast. This will also the mark the first time Molly has starred in Jermyn Street Theatre having previously worked extensively at the Menier Chocoalate Factory as well as at Southwark Playhouse. Following the London run, the show will transfer to Theatre Royal, Bath where Molly will also be making her regional theatre debut.In this new interview, Molly Osborne talks us through her career to date. Most recently, she starred in a 5 star production of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button alongside Jamie Parker. The production is due to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre later in the year and we hear Molly reflect on her earlier roles in Fiddler on the Roof and Indecent. In a career that's only spanned 5 years, Molly Osborne has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the theatre industry, taking on strong roles that she describes as inspiring to her, and helping forge a way for emerging talent too.Laughing Boy runs at Jermyn Street Theatre on 25 April - 31 May before transferring to Theatre Royal, Bath from 4 - 8 June.
[True Crime Case] In this True Crime Case we look at Quyen Nguyen.Quyen moved to the UK from Vietnam in 2010 to study business at a university in London.7 years later she was looking to rent a property when she met Stephen Unwin, who owned a property maintenance business.She didn't know that he was on license for murder, so she didn't expect anything untoward when she went round to his house, with the pretext of going to look at a property.--------------DISCLAIMERThis is a real, True Crime Case Documentary, so it's important that if you share or comment you do so with the appropriate sensitivity. ---If you like my content please subscribe. - Click here - https://youtube.com/allimsayingis?sub_confirmation=1 All I'm Saying Is, is now in lots of places, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and wherever you listen to your podcasts. For a full list please visit my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/itsallimsaying #UKTruecrime #truecrimeuk #truecrimecase ........The reason my True Crime cases go into such detail is because i take them seriously.I see myself as an "Investigative journalist", although I don't like the term when referring to myself, it does very much explain what i do.However I only ever use Information and Images that are already in the public domain.I try my best at all times to be respectful and unbiased. With only good intentions.If you are close to a Case/Crime that i cover and you want me to remove it from my youtube/Podcast. That being a close relative. Then feel free to contact me at millvape49@gmail.com . However please be aware, I am not obligated to do so.................---Sources.Support the show
Shakespeare's plays are peppered with characters from across the social spectrum, from kings and nobility down to servants, soldiers and shepherds. Speaking to Rhiannon Davies, theatre director and author Stephen Unwin explores the bard's portrayal of working people, and investigates how far his characters reflected the reality of living and working in Elizabethan England. (Ad) Stephen Unwin is the author of Poor Naked Wretches: Shakespeare's Working People (Reaktion Books, 2022). Buy it now from Waterstones:https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fpoor-naked-wretches%2Fstephen-unwin%2F9781789146615 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's episode 3 of Book Chat! And this month we are travelling hundreds of years back, to a book Pandora's always wanted to read (Orlando, by Virginia Woolf) and one of Bobby's all-time favourites (Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte.) Last episode, Pandora groaned at the prospect of Wuthering Heights, which she read - and loathed - for GCSE. So has she changed her mind? We discuss the two books and also the culture around the two authors: the upper-class, sexually liberal art collective, the Bloomsbury group, which Virginia Woolf was part of, and 'the Bronte myth' which has become part of the Wuthering Heights lore. How were the books received at the time - and do they stand up as modern reads? Other books/ articles mentioned:You Be Mother, by Meg MasonMan's Search for Meaning, by Viktor FranklJane Eyre, by Charlotte BronteMrs Dalloway, Jacob's Room, A Room of One's Own, The Waves and To The Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf Terrible literary wigs that I have known and loved, by Maddie Rodriquez for Book Riot https://bookriot.com/terrible-literary-wigs-i-have-known-and-loved/Who's Virginia Woolf afraid of? by Stephen Unwin for Byline Times https://bylinetimes.com/2022/12/22/whos-virginia-woolf-afraid-of/Emily, 2022 film https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.985aca68-2553-4b7e-83de-1b6465a3a8e4?autoplay=0&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wbOrlando, a play directed by Michael Grandage, on now at The GarrickOur books for Episode 4 are:The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin HamidAll That Man Is, by David SzalayYou can get in touch bookchatpod@gmail.comSound by Joel Grove and production by Pandora Sykes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Steve Uwin is a theatre director and writer. Amongst many accomplishments he has been the artistic director of the Rose theatre, founder of ETT, English Touring Theatre. He is also chair of the charity Kids, which provides services to children with disabilities. We speak about whether we need language to be human and what non-verbal people teach us. We chat on how theatre has developed over the decades and Steve's appreciation of Brecht and the Berliner Ensemble. We touch on Steve's experience of theTraverse theatre, dealing with the very different stakeholders of the Rose Theatre; and how European theatre, realism and London has influenced theatre over the decades; what's enjoyable about theatre over film. Steve discusses how much of liberal progressive thinking may overlook the history and challenges of disability. While contested, we chat about the possible roots of this in the 18th century enlightenment and its influences today. We talk about the importance of self-advocacy but also the challenges of self-advocacy if you are - for instance - non-verbal. Steve talks about going viral on Twitter around “mock gloom” and disability. He also provocatively suggests five of the greatest artists of the last century. We comment on: Bob Dylan The artist Piero della Francesca And what he has in his library of thousands of books And finish with his current projects and life advice Steve has. To let you know… The audio is a little crackly on Steve's side. Apologies in advance. It's still listenable, but there's also a transcript if easier, here. Enjoy. Thanks.
Join me for the drive home show featuring Stephen Unwin! In this episode I had the opportunity to discuss all things learning disability with the brilliant Stephen Unwin @RoseUnwin. We discussed negative language, societies views on learning disability and his fantastic campaigning around the realities of having a child with a learning disability. Tune in Talk it out!
Theatre director Stephen Unwin joins Luke and Kerry for one of their widest-ranging discussions; from Unwin’s favourite album The Times They Are A-Changin’ to The Bootleg Series Vol 8: Tell Tale Signs and Tempest. Topics include Bob and Brecht, Dylan and The Dead (“like orange juice and milk”), his disbelief in Tom Waits and his amazement at Bob’s awards ceremony persona (“such a tiny, eccentric, weird little guy!”). Tracks explored include Early Roman Kings (“can I be bothered with this?”) and North Country Blues (“deep American poetry”). Along the way, the mysterious location of the Red River Shore is cleared up and Roll On John is pronounced “a fantastic song”. Stephen Unwin is a director, writer and teacher. In the 1980s he was Associate Director at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. He founded English Touring Theatre in 1993, was resident director at the National Theatre Studio and in 2008 opened the Rose Theatre, Kingston, where he was Artistic Director. As well as directing more than fifty plays and operas, he has written eight books on theatre and drama, along with four original plays. He has translated twelve foreign language plays, written numerous articles in books and newspapers and has taught at drama schools and universities in Britain and the USA. Trailer Website: http://www.stephenunwin.uk/ Twitter: @RoseUnwin Spotify playlist Listeners: please subscribe and/or leave a review and a rating. Twitter @isitrollingpod Recorded 11th January 2019
It is Germany, 1941. A terrible crime is taking place in a clinic for disabled children. The perpetrators argue that it will help struggling parents and lift the financial burden on the mighty German state. One brave voice is raised in objection. But will anyone listen? Stephen Unwin's new play “All Our Children” memorializes this overlooked aspect of the Holocaust, the 200,000 children and young people who died and the brave few who fought against this injustice. In this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI, Tony Award winner John Glover (who stars as Bishop von Galen), writer Stephen Unwin and Executive Director of The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture William Spencer Reilly join us for a discussion of “All Our Children.”
In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets theatre director and writer Stephen Unwin. Stephen chooses two paintings which have informed his stage work - 'The Baptism of Christ' (c.1450) and 'The Resurrection' (c.1463-5) by the Italian Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca (c.1415 - 1492). To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on Twitter and use the hashtag #MyFavouriteWorkOfArtPresented and produced by Dr Laura-Jane FoleyRecorded and edited at Wisebuddah, LondonTitle Music - 'Blue' from Colours by Dimitri Scarlato See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Clive Anderson and Sara Cox are joined by Ray Winstone, Emma Donoghue, Adrian Edmondson and Stephen Unwin for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Bill Callahan and Boo Hewerdine. Producer: Sukey Firth.
Directed by Stephen Unwin, The Secret Rapture is set in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain and explores the impact of Thatcherism on personal relationships within the family of a junior government minister after her father’s death. Although written in the 1980s, David Hare’s play remains a timely and important piece. In this podcast we talk to the director, plus cast members Bessie Carter and Rose D'Aulbey, along with student sound and lighting designers Tom Bosworth and Tom Salmon. The Guildhall production of the Secret Rapture runs in Milton Court Studio Theatre from 12-17 October 2015.
Jonathan Derbyshire, the Managing Editor of Prospect magazine, and Observer columnist Nick Cohen discuss the genealogy of left wing politics in Britain. The thinker and psychoanalyst Slavoj Zizek takes on the ideology machine of Hollywood in his new film, The Pervert's Guide to Ideology. Directors Richard Eyre and Stephen Unwin discuss their two respective productions of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, which have both just opened. Melissa Benn asks what messages we are conveying to young women and what advice we should be giving our daughters to empower them for the future.