Playwright Lizzy Nunnery on Narvik for Box of Tricks
Liverpool playwright Lizzy Nunnery's new play Narvik directed by Hannah Tyrell-Pinder for Box of Tricks will open its national tour at the end of January 2017 following a successful run at Liverpool Playhouse in September 2015. Lizzy spoke to BTG editor David Chadderton a couple of weeks before the tour opened about the process of creating the play from stories from her grandfather and other World War II sailors stationed in the Arctic and about her career writing for stage and radio over the last ten years. Narvik opens at HOME Manchester from 31 January to 4 February 2017 before touring to Stahl Theatre in Oundle, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, Mumford Theatre at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury, Mac in Birmingham, Clwyd Theatre Cymru in Mold, York Theatre Royal, The Unity at the Bluecoat in Liverpool, The Met in Bury, The Carriageworks in Leeds and Harrogate Theatre before ending at New Diorama Theatre in London from 21 to 25 March.
23 Jan 201720min
Village Voice's Michael Feingold on the New York theatre scene
Michael Feingold of the Village Voice talks to BTG London editor Philip Fisher about current trends on the New York theatre scene, suggests shows that should not be missed and develops thoughts about the impact of Donald Trump on Broadway and beyond.
17 Jan 201728min
Conrad Lynch on his first season at Keswick's Theatre by the Lake
Theatre by the Lake in Keswick in the Lake District has had at its helm Executive Director Patric Gilchrist and Artistic Director Ian Forrest since before the current theatre building opened in 1999. Conrad Lynch has taken over as both Artistic Director and Chief Executive after working alongside his predecessors for the last few months. Not long after announcing his first season in his new post, he spoke to us about his future plans for this Cumbrian theatre.
22 Des 201619min
New Perspectives on rural touring of classic ghost story
BTG Midlands editor Steve Orme speaks to director Theresa Keogh and artistic director Jack McNamara of Nottingham-based New Perspectives Theatre Company about their new rural touring production of M R James's classic ghost story Oh Whistle and I'll Come To You adapted by David Rudkin and also about recently working with best-selling crime writer John Harvey on Darkness, Darkness with Nottingham Playhouse.
27 Nov 201631min
Joyce Branagh on directing Huddersfield theatre's first panto
In December 2016, the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield will stage its first professional pantomime, Cinderella, written by Andrew Pollard and directed by Joyce Branagh. Joyce was preparing to start rehearsals for Cinderella when we spoke to her, but she had also just directed a fifteen-minute version of Wuthering Heights for JB Shorts, a regular evening of short new plays which has just moved to new Manchester venue 53two. Cinderella will be at Lawrence Batley Theatre from 9 to 31 December 2016. (Photo of Joyce Branagh in Boomtown Gals by Lucas Smith)
13 Nov 201642min
Alex Chisholm on North Country from Freedom Studios
Freedom Studios is an inter-cultural theatre company based in Bradford, West Yorkshire which is about to open a new play by Tajinder Singh Hayer set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy version of Bradford called North Country at The Wild Woods in the heart of the town where it is set. Alex Chisholm, the play’s director and recently appointed co-Artistic Director of Freedom Studios, spoke to BTG editor David Chadderton about the play and about the philosophy behind Freedom Studios. North Country will be at The Wild Woods in Bradford from 26 October to 5 November 2016. (Rehearsal image of Alex Chisholm by Maria Spadafora)
16 Okt 201625min
Luke Wright's What I Learned From Johnny Bevan
Performance poet Luke Wright is is currently touring with a solo verse play directed by nabokov’s Joe Murphy called What I Learned From Johnny Bevan. Luke plays Nick, an arts journalist, who is transported by current events back to memories of his days in university in the mid-‘90s when his friend, after whom the play is named, changed his life. In this episode, Luke speaks to BTG editor David Chadderton about the show, politics, New Labour, festivals, acting awards and poetry. Luke tours the UK until December 2016 with What I Learned From Johnny Bevan. For details of where he will appear, see the gigs page on his web site. (Photo credit: Guiseppe Cerone)
4 Okt 201629min
Hugh Maynard and Sophie-Louise Dann on Sweeney Todd at Derby Theatre
Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sweeney Todd—the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a co-production between Derby Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester directed by Daniel Buckroyd. In this episode, BTG Midlands editor Steve Orme speaks to the two lead actors in the production: Hugh Maynard who plays Sweeney and Sophie-Louise Dann who is Mrs Lovett. Sweeney Todd is at Derby Theatre from Friday 30 September until Saturday 22 October. It then transfers to the Mercury Theatre Colchester from Wednesday 26 October until Saturday 12 November. (Rehearsal image of Hugh Maynard and Sophie-Louise Dann by Robert Day)
24 Sep 201623min
