Chatting with Sahar Hamidollah, a part of the Barbican's Young Film Programmer's Scheme, and Blair Davis, Barbican Young Creatives Producer, about the Chronic Youth Film Festival running on the 26th and 27th of April at the Barbican Cinemas was a joy. The program centers around the theme Against All Odds, including one UK premiere, two previews, an archive feature, documentaries, and a short film program showcasing films beyond mainstream cinema's confines. Alongside the program, there will be correlating events, including workshops, post-film discussions, a scavenger hunt, and a DJ dance party. 

https://www.barbican.org.uk/our-story/press-room/chronic-youth-film-festival-2025-against-all-odds-sat-26-sun-27-april

@barbicancentre

@alisseningshow 

Support the show

In conversation with the one and only Jay Miller, Artistic Director of The Yard Theatre - the infamous East London amphitheater. We are celebrating the life of The Yard Theatre before the building will make way for the construction of a New Yard Theatre designed by award-winning Takero Shimazaki expected to open in 2026. Listeners out there … you must see The Glass Menagerie running at The Yard Theatre till the 10th of May before the Yard's brief departure. 

https://www.theyardtheatre.co.uk/

@theyardtheatre 

@alisseningshow 

Support the show

I am overjoyed to bring you insight into the previously sold-out run of The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady that transforms the Barbican Theatre once again from the 16th – 19th of April, featuring the collaboration of the Clod Ensemble and Nu Civilization Orchestra to bring Charles Mingus’ infamous recording to life. I am joined by tenor saxophonist, David Kayode and Chloe Carterr, a spoken word artist hosting this immersive theatrical concert. 

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/the-black-saint-and-the-sinner-lady

@clod.emsemble

@nucivilisationorchestra 

@barbicancentre

@chloe_carterr

@d.kayode

@alisseningshow

Support the show

What a joy to interview Naomi Westerman, playwright, screenwriter, author, and former anthropologist who chats about her upcoming play, Puppy running at the Kings Head Theatre from the 1st-27th of April. Puppy is a female-centric romantic comedy about dogging, critiquing the late-stage capitalism porn industry, and the exploitation of female sexuality and sexual liberation. As an award-winning playwright, her work has been staged at numerous theatres across London and the UK, as well as in the USA, Canada, Chile, and Germany.

https://kingsheadtheatre.com/

@kingsheadtheatre 

@alisseningshow 

SIDE NOTE: the recommended book is Bitch by Lucy Cooke 

Support the show

INSIGHT EPISODE - recorded January 2025

What a whirlwind to interview Sara Farrington, NYC & NJ-based playwright & co-founder of the theater company Foxy Films. I previously had the joy of interviewing Sara in December 2024 for her play, A Trojan Woman, which had its London debut at the King's Head Theatre. I was immediately intrigued by her experience in writing traditional and non-traditional pieces of theatre, and as a native New Yorker based in London, I was curious to learn more about her experience working in the theatre scene in NYC. Tune into the interview to receive insight regarding the life of a playwright in NYC - Sara's previous works and what she is currently working on...

https://www.ladyfarrington.com/

Theatre is Hard

@alisseningshow

Support the show

In conversation with Andrea Walker, Artistic Director and Choreographer of 201 Dance Company to chat about the UK tour of their critically acclaimed production of Sad Book, adapted from the children's novel written by Michael Rosen. The production plays at the Hackney Empire on the 2nd of April with live narration by Michael Rosen and a post-show discussion. (Not to be missed!)

https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/sad-book

@201dancecompany

@alisseningshow

Support the show

What joy to interview author and curator Tony Fairweather, who has joined me to chat about Woolwich Works, which is honoring the Windrush Generation this March and April with a series of events, including the ‘Windrush Front Room Exhibition’ and ‘Windrush Front Room House Party.’ In this interview, Tony also chats about his experiences growing up in South London with Jamaican parents and how he established his successful career as a published author, writer, and art curator. 

LINEUP

Windrush Front Room 4 -16 of March

Windrush Front Room House Party – 7th March

Sunday Afternoon in the Front Room – 9th of March 

In Celebration of my Sisters – 30th of March

https://www.woolwich.works/ 

@woolwichworks 

@alisseningshow

Support the show

It was wonderful to chat with dancer and actor, Dylan Barone, who is currently playing the Little Prince in the stage production of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's timeless novel, The Little Prince marking the 80th anniversary of its publication. The new stage production filled with theatrical spectacle, dance, aerial acrobatics, and ground-breaking video mapping technology arrives in London for its UK premiere following sold-out performances in Paris, Sydney, and Dubai and a season on Broadway. The Little Prince flies at the London Coliseum from the 12th-16th of March. 

https://londoncoliseum.org/

@alisseningshow 

@thelittleprincetour

Support the show

It was such a joy to speak to the writer ofWeather Girl, Brian Watkins, and actor, Julia McDermott who will be reprising her role as Stacey the Weather Girl at the Soho Theatre from the 5th of March through the 5th of April. Weather Girl is produced by Francesca Moody Productions and previously won a Scotsman Fringe First, Popcorn Award, LIST Award, and Lustrum Award during its run in Edinburgh in 2024. Tune in to learn more about the creation of Weather Girl and what is forecast…

https://sohotheatre.com/events/weather-girl/

@alisseningshow 

Support the show

INSIGHT EPISODE with Tim Etchells 

I spoke with Tim Etchells, artist and writer whose work encompasses performance, visual art and fiction. Most notably Tim is the leader of the world-renowned performance group Forced Entertainment, which recently celebrated 40 years of theatre making with a UK tour. In 2016 the group was awarded the International Ibsen Award, which honors an individual, institution or organisation that has brought new artistic dimensions to the world of theatre. Tune in to learn more about Tim's career and the world of performance art. 

https://www.forcedentertainment.com/

@tim_etchells

@alisseningshow 

This podcast was recorded January 2025 

Support the show