British Theatre Guide podcast

Manchester's 24:7 Theatre Festival was founded in 2004 as a showcase for new plays, as well as for up-and-coming acting and directing talent. It has since become a key event on the Manchester arts calendar. A week before this year's 24:7, we spoke to co-founder David Slack together with the festival's general manager Annika Edge in Manchester about an eventful year for the organisation since the 2014 event. The 2015 24:7 Theatre Festival Big Festival Weekend will take place at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama and the surrounding areas from 24 to 26 July 2015. For more information about all of the events and how to book for them, see www.247theatrefestival.co.uk.

18 Jul 201524min

The Studio at The Lowry in Salford supports and presents new work and new companies and artists in various ways. At a showcase on 21 April 2015, 11 artists and companies gave presentations about themselves and their work to potential supporters, sponsors and venue partners, and British Theatre Guide was able to speak to a few of them. The Letter Room is a devising theatre company from Newcastle. Its third show, Five Feet In Front, will première at The Lowry in June 2015. Kill The Beast's second show, He Had Hairy Hands, is currently on tour and due to return to The Lowry in May 2015, and the company is currently working on its third show with the working title of The Crystal Continuum. Lowry Associate Artist Monkeywood Theatre is a Manchester new writing company that has been creating new work since 2003. Its next show, By Far The Greatest Team, will be premièred at The Lowry in September. Laura Lindow is a writer-performer who has been commissioned by The Lowry together with two rural touring schemes to create her next show to tour in 2015-16, titled Then Leap!. For more information on The Lowry, including its Studio programme and artist support schemes, see thelowry.com.

25 Apr 20151h 1min

In April 2015, Manchester-based Box of Tricks Theatre Company will begin a tour of Plastic Figurines, a new play by Ella Carmen Greenhill, at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio. In this episode, Ella and director Adam Quayle, during rehearsals in Manchester, speak about the writing of the play and its roots in Ella's real-life relationship with her brother, who is on the autistic spectrum. You can also hear about Ella's other work and about the philosophy of Manchester-based new writing company Box of Tricks. Plastic Figurines will open at Liverpool Playhouse Studio on 8 April 2015. It will then tour to London, Hemel Hempstead, Bury, Hull, Halifax, Southport, Ellesmere Port, Wigan, Barnsley, Harrogate, Salford, Derby, Shrewsbury and Mold. For more information, see boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk.

31 Mar 201526min

In November 2014, David Thacker announced that he would step down as artistic director of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton at the end of his current tenure in July 2015 after six years at the venue. Four months later, the theatre announced that its associate director and head of new writing, Elizabeth Newman, will take over from him. We spoke to Elizabeth at the Octagon about her new appointment, her ideas for the future of the venue, her campaigning on theatre issues—including speaking in Parliament—and her training and background as a director. Elizabeth Newman takes over as artistic director of the Octagon from July 2015. Her production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives runs in the main house from 26 March to 18 April 2015. For more information about the Octagon, see octagonbolton.co.uk.

22 Mar 201535min

Sir Jonathan Miller has returned to Halifax-based Northern Broadsides Theatre Company to director company founder Barrie Rutter in the title role of Shakespeare’s King Lear. BTG editor David Chadderton speaks to Barrie Rutter about his new OBE, playing Lear, working with Jonathan Miller and touring large-cast productions and to Catherine Kinsella about playing Cordelia, winning a Manchester Theatre Award and making a career as an actor in the north of England. The production will open at the company’s base at the Viaduct Theatre in Halifax on 27 February 2015 before touring to Hull Truck Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, Liverpool Playhouse, The Lowry in Salford, York International Shakespeare Festival, Rose Theatre Kingston and finally New Vic Theatre in Stoke, where it will end on 13 June 2015. For more information about the company, see www.northern-broadsides.co.uk.

22 Feb 201536min

Douglas McGrath, who wrote the book, speaks to BTG London editor Philip Fisher about Beautiful – the Carole King Musical. They talk about the genesis of the project, the pleasure of interviewing the four leading characters and developing their lives into a musical and the work itself and its stars both on Broadway and in London. Beautiful - The Carole King Musical began previews at London's Aldwych Theatre on 10 February 2015. Press night will be on 24 February, and the show is currently booking until 13 June 2015. For more information, see the Beautiful in London web site. Image of Katie Brayben as Carole King, credit Uli Weber.

14 Feb 201523min

Comedian and actor Jonny Donohoe talks about the Edinburgh Fringe and New York success of Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan, as well as his experiences of working interactively with audiences and playing opposite Sarah Jessica Parker. After a successful run on the Edinburgh Fringe in Paines Plough's portable Roundabout Theatre at Summerhall, the production transferred to Barrow Street Theatre in New York from 5 December 2014 until 29 March 2015. Following its run in New York, Every Brilliant Thing will embark on an extensive UK Tour.

15 Jan 201522min

2014 sees Leon Craig celebrate his 13th pantomime Dame and first Beauty and the Beast at Oxtord Playhouse. He speaks to Simon Sladen about breaking into the industry, his favourite pantomime titles and reveals some of his experiences from daming up and down the country. Keith Jack and Olly Pike star as Prince Charming and his valet Dandini in the Capitol Theatre, Horsham's pantomime Cinderella. One of panto's best-established double acts, the two roles are rarely thought of in such a way. Simon Sladen speaks to Jack and Pike about their characters and careers encompassing Any Dream Will Do, CBBC and a combined total of nine pantomimes.

23 Des 201428min