Curtain Call Podcast

To kick off 2024, and what seems like a year of non-stop elections…USA Presidential elections, General Election here in the UK as well as a Russian Election (if you can actually call it that)...less of that, the better, I watched 1979 at the Finborough Theatre. A scathing satire of the Canadian political landscape, and a snapshot of the 6 month reign of the infuriatingly righteous Prime Minister Joe Clark - who, in an effort to not anger anyone, actually ends up angering everyone!

We sit down with producer Sarah Lawrie and actors Samantha Coughlan, Joseph May and Ian Porter on stage at West London's Finborough Theatre.

The show runs until the 27th of January

1979 Tickets - Official Website

1979 on Insta

1979 on X

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This week, we bring you another dose of cheer in the form of our annual Christmas podcast.

In the past, I have asked some of my theatrical friends to read out a classic Christmas story, with past readers such as West End stalwart Siobhan Harrison and The Walking Dead star Eleanor Matsura. This year, we have a special treat.  

On the 1st of December, my family was asked to put together a series of readings as part of a Christmas Carol concert for a charity close to our hearts, Allergy UK. It took place in Christ Church Petts Wood, southeast London and it was a great way to kick off the festive season.

I thought it would be a great idea to get some of my friends to read parodies of the Clement Clarke Moore poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from Saint Nicholas)”. The three actors I asked (Ed Stoppard, David Bedella & Myanna Buring) said “yes” straight away, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

To end the episode, we have Jack Schwab (I know...nepobaby!) singing his Christmas single (co-written with me) "Winter Blue"...available to listen to on all good music streaming platforms.

Have a wonderful holiday season and a blessed 2024

Allergy UK Christmas Carol Concert Video

Winter Blue on Spotify

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This week I’m chatting with a dear friend of mine Lourdes Faberes. You may have seen Lourdes in Sandman or The Power or No Time to Die or Good Omens or…I could go on!!!! She’s an incredible actor.

Lourdes is currently appearing in untitled f**k m*ss s**gon play at The Young Vic in London. Kimber Lee’s hard-hitting, but hilarious play is running now until the 4th of November. The play had its initial run at the Manchester International Festival earlier this year and has garnered great notices since opening last month. It's a play that deals with generational trauma and enforced stereotypes amongst Asian cultures in popular entertainment - from Pucini to Boublil and Schoenberg.  

Lourdes Twitter (X) Profile

Lourdes Insta Profile

www.youngvic.org 

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This week, I sat down with Sharlene Hector, who plays Thought 1. But you may recognize the voice as Sharlene is the lead vocalist for the band Basement Jaxx and appeared in the West End production of Hairspray.. But Sharlene can also be heard providing backing vocals for artists such as Alicia Keys, Primal Scream, Josh Groban and many, many more. 

We were joined by Tendai Humphrey Sitima (Thought 4) who is also a musician in his own right and could previously be seen in the West End Smash “The Play That Goes Wrong”

Official Website / Tickets

Broadway Podcast Network

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This week I am talking to a photographer who really is changing the game when it comes to headshots and self-tapes. 

When I came across Charlie Frances and his AKTA photography, that is A-K-T-A and their model of a “pay what you can” for those who see a professional headshot as a barrier to entry, I had to do some research. And if their website aktaphotography.com is anything to go by, Charlie and his team are only going to go from strength to strength.

Akta Photography Website

The Reel Voice Website

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There’s a new show in town, but born a few years ago… pretty much like the main character in this astonishing musical.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse: Elephant (not to be confused with the Southwark Playhouse Borough) . First appearing in London in 2019 at its sister theatre, Jethro Compton and Darren Clark’s musical is a fresh take on an old tale by F Scott Fitzgerald.

From the get go, the music and acting, not to mention direction, design, stage management and sound mixing are just off-the-charts good.

I just had to sit down and chat with the two central characters…I cannot call them leads, as this is truly and ensemble piece. Jamie Parker and Molly Osborne who play the titular character and the love of his life, Elowen Keene are an absolute delight on stage and  in person.

Official Show Page

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Cedering Fox is an internationally accomplished voice over artist.

However, her most incredible achievement is Founding Word Theatre way back in 2003. Along with Kirsty Peart here in the UK, Word Theatre and Cedering have been casting top film, TV and theatre actors in readings of works by the world’s finest contemporary authors.

Theatre talents such as Olivia Williams, Damien Lewis, Elizabeth McGovern, Rae Dawn Chong, Rashan Stone, Gemma Chan, Maureen Lipman, Zachary Quinto, Danny Sapani and a hundred more!

Word Theatre Website: https://wordtheatre.org/

Insta: @wordtheatre

Twitter @wordtheatre

John Schwab

Twitter and Insta: @johnschwab

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This week, I’m chatting with cast and some of the creative team behind the world premiere of Eric Henry Sanders’ play Maybe Probably - a play about two couples as they navigate the hilarious waters of preparing to have a baby, or recently having one. We’re all either the product of this or have gone through it ourselves.

Sanders isn’t new to London and UK theatre, with his work being seen in London and the Edinburgh Fringe. He’s also worked with Maybe, Probably’s director Lydia Parker. AND…it turns out that one of the cast members was coincidentally in Sander’s first play.

I sat down with Sanders and Parker, as well as cast members Christy Meyer, Maria Teresa Creasey, and Lance Fuller. They spoke of the joys of returning to the theatre, especially in a comedy and the process of discovering just what they could bring to the production for their personal experiences.

For Tickets and Info, click here

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Cottage is a gripping comic drama that has so many themes bubbling underneath the facade of two men meeting up in a public toilet. It goes beyond a queer story and commands the audience’s attention and asks questions of the viewer’s thoughts into human relationships and their deeply complicated makeup - no matter what sexual preference one might have.

Cottage’s playwight, Ben Willows, sat down with me, in separate rooms becuase he’s already in Edinburgh performing in a show, to talk about where the idea came for the play and it’s journey so far.

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Earlier in the year, i was honoured to be asked to judge the 2022 Durham Drama Festival at Durham University in the UK. It was an incredible 3 days of workshops, talks, networking events…but most importantly new theatre written, directed and performed by the incredible talent pool of students at Durham Uni.

One of the stand out plays was Em Oliver’s “Beautiful Nothing”. A one-woman show bringing into sharp focus how evil the internet can be towards women and the pitfalls that lie therein. It was a great piece of theatre and I wasn’t at all surprised to hear that it was going to the Fringe Festival this year.

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