After post-show Q&As for Tonight with Donnie Darko, Vincent River, Angry and Tender Napalm, I’m delighted to be invited to chair another discussion with Philip Ridley, one of the UK’s greatest and most innovative living playwrights. This time for the live stage premiere of his online lockdown hit The Poltergeist.
‘Harold Shipman was my GP for four years’: Writer & performer Edwin Flay on depicting the serial killer in The Quality of Mercy
The Quality of Mercy, a new one-man play about notorious British serial killer Harold Shipman, premieres at London’s Courtyard Theatre this month. Taking a break from rehearsals, writer and performer Edwin Flay told us more about his very personal family connection to Shipman’s crimes.
VIDEO & PHOTOS: A devilish Q&A with the company of Lazarus Theatre’s Doctor Faustus
What might entice you to sell your soul to the devil? Fame? Riches? Immortality? World peace? A rent-free London flat? Four pints of Guinness? At my post-show Q&A for a production of Doctor Faustus, that was an irresistible question to pose to the company. But before that, we covered much else to do concerning adaptation and the creative process, with a lot of fun and laughter.
VIDEO & PHOTOS: A memorable night of both sadness & celebration with the cast & creatives of Proforca’s Flashbang
The death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced just before my arrival at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre. Like the rest of the country, the theatre staff had been braced for the sad news. So the world premiere of Proforca’s Flashbang was preceded by a public address and collective silence.
‘This is a show that brings pure post-pandemic joy’: Arlene Phillips explains why The Cher Show is ‘unmissable & fabulous’
Both have successful decade-spanning careers. Both are driven and fiercely independent. And then there’s the mutual love of sequins. Arlene Phillips talks to Vicky Edwards about Girl Power, refusing to act her age and why The Cher Show is an unmissable and fabulously feel-good extravaganza.
‘The audience involvement is what makes it special’: Julian Forsyth is thrilled to be returning to The Woman in Black
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon chatted to Julian Forsyth about starring in The Woman in Black as Arthur Kipps in London’s West End.
‘I think audiences can expect the unexpected’: Nadine Higgin prepares for her role in Yellowman at the Orange Tree Theatre
Nadine Higgin stars as Alma in the forthcoming production of Yellowman, which opens at the Orange Tree Theatre next month. Kirsty Herrington spoke with Nadine to find out more about her latest play.
Does prison actually work? Playwright James Kenworth on reformer Elizabeth Fry + show trailer
Elizabeth Fry: The Angel of Prisons, the latest in a series of site-specific plays inspired by the history of Newham in east London, is running this week in the Elizabeth Fry Room at Canning Town Library. We spoke to playwright James Kenworth about the Victorian reformer who inspired the play. Book now before it’s too late!
‘This show has a strong message for today’: Sera Maehara returns to the role of Liat in South Pacific in London & on tour
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon chatted to Sera Maehara about reprising her role as Liat in Daniel Evans’ production of South Pacific. We chatted to Sera Maehara about reprising her role as Liat in Daniel Evans’ production of South Pacific. How does it feel to be part of this production once again?I
feel very grateful to be back in this show. The process is very exciting, it’s not just coming back to what we found last year, but also discovering new approaches and adjusting to what feels right for us this year.
New post-show Q&A: Terri Paddock invites you on an explosive & gut-punching rollercoaster ride with Proforca’s Flashbang
After fascinating discussions around Feel, At Last and Lately, I’m back with Proforca Theatre to discuss Flashbang, the company’s fifth new play by James Lewis, as well as exciting new work by associate artists also programmed during the autumn season at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre.
‘Being at the Fringe for us means arriving on the world stage’: Director Mona Zaidi introduces Edinburgh audiences to new play My Own Private Shakespeare
Award-winning Canadian director Mona Zaidi is ready for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022, having staged Justin Hay’s critically acclaimed play My Own Private Shakespeare which continues its run at the Willow Studio, Greenside at Riddle’s Court until 27 August 2022.
‘I cannot wait for a kebab’: Writer & performer Christopher Wollaton on fasting while reviving his workout obsession play Brawn
Christopher Wollaton discusses the return of his solo show Brawn, revived as part of the King’s Head Theatre’s Boys!Boys!Boys! Season. The play, exploring body dysmorphia and mental health issues in men, runs from 16 August to 3 September 2022.
‘There’s beauty in every story no matter how everyday it feels’: Fred Wardale on being one of the Flashbang boys
After acclaim last year in Lately, Fred Wardale returns to London’s Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Proforca Theatre’s new explosive premiere Flashbang, written by James Lewis and helmed by artistic director. We chatted to him about camaraderie, creativity and small-town underdogs.
New post-show Q&A: Make a deal to join Terri Paddock for Lazarus Theatre’s reinvention of Doctor Faustus at Southwark Playhouse
Following the 8pm performance of Doctor Faustus at Southwark Playhouse on Wednesday 14 September 2022, My Theatre Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will talk to director Ricky Dukes, leading man Jamie O’Neill, and other Lazarus cast and creatives. Any questions? Join us!
‘It’s a true crowd pleaser, without the cliches’: MAM I’M ‘ERE – Liverpool
It’s been much, much longer than I thought since I sat down to watch a main stage performance at the Royal Court – and ten years since I caught the first outing of Mam I’m ‘Ere. Days later, I’m still smiling about this brilliant revival. And if the welcome back was warm, the cast was positively on fire.
‘I’m happy to be part of something so iconic’: Mika Onyx Johnson stars in Jamie Lloyd’s West End production of The Seagull
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon chatted with Mika Onyx Johnson about starring in Jamie Lloyd’s production of The Seagull at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
‘The idea was really rooted in Coventry’: Frankie Meredith on her play May Queen, now returning to Belgrade Theatre
Originally premiered last year as part of Paines Plough’s acclaimed Roundabout Season, May Queen returns to Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre for a strictly limited season. Midlands writer Frankie Meredith tells us more about the modern folk tale and how growing up in Coventry influenced it.
‘I’m beyond living my dream’: Kate James makes her professional debut in The Still Room at the Park Theatre
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon chatted to Kate James about starring as Janice in the world premiere of The Still Room, currently playing at the Park Theatre.
‘The work is intense & stimulating’: June Watson stars in A Doll’s House, Part 2 at the Donmar Warehouse
Emma Clarendon chatted to June Watson about starring in A Doll’s House, Part 2 at the Donmar Warehouse.
VIDEO: Exploring history onstage – The End of the Night writer Ben Brown & journalist Kurt Barling discuss how in Park Q&A
What is theatre’s role in exploring political and historical subjects? What echoes are there with contemporary events in Europe? Could The End of the Night be staged in Germany today – or in Russia? For this post-show discussion, Terri Paddock explores these issues with playwright Ben Brown and the award-winning journalist, author and academic Professor Kurt Barling.