Curtain Call Podcast

A returning guest this week. Playwright David Spicer and host John Schwab have a long history of working together. John directed two of his plays before...Long Live the Made Parade at a regional theatre and “Stop! - The Play” in the West End.

Before lockdown, David and John were workshopping a new play. Covid stopped all that, but David didn’t stay still at all. He got to work writing new plays with Northern Comedy Theatre and went about selling tickets for the plays...something that is vital to support those in the industry that aren’t able to work because of theatre closures

This weekend, an omnibus of the collaboration with Northern Comedy Theatre will be presented via Zoom before their final production takes place live on Sunday the 6th of September.

https://northerncomedytheatre.com/

https://northerncomedytheatre.com/doing-the-business

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One of our guests this week has already been on the show. Laurence Mark Wythe appeared way back on episode 122 BC (before Covid)

He’s not been sitting idle during lockdown, however. Not only has he continued composing, he’s also started his very own podcast called Game of Shows. It’s a fantastic podcast that pits cast members from different West End Shows against each other in a game of knowledge of all things musical. Represented shows include Hamilton, Six, Come From Away, Only Fools and Horses, Les Mis and more.

They are just nearing the end of their first series and Laurence, his co-host Chris Stoddart and I sat down separately but together to chat about how it came about and their plans for the future.

gameofshowsquiz.com 

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/game-of-shows/id1513731808 

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In this episode, we revisit our previous episode 39 to give you an encore of a Curtain Call show visit.

I talk to the company of Amadeus, recently at The National Theatre, about the process of rehearsing with musicians who never had the opportunity of getting out from behind their instruments. But also had a chance to talk to the musicians about having to get out of their comfort zones and get comfortable with telling the story though movement as well as music.

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When we got a call from The Unicorn Theatre to take part in an R&D week to take it’s hit play “I Cinna (the poet)” and put it online, we jumped at the chance. 

It was a fascinating experience to see just what could be achieved on the Zoom platform, and it’s safe to say that today’s guest, lighting and video designer Will Monks, absolutely pushed the boundaries of what could be done remotely. It was a brilliant week and was so successful that they are putting the show on and have already extended the run after the initial dates sold out extremely quickly.

You can see all that he’s up to by visiting his website www.willmonkstheatre.com.

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So...we’ve passed 100 days in lockdown here in London, and as restrictions ease down around the country for small and non-essential businesses, as of the time of release of this episode, July 1st 2020, there is no specific news for the theatre industry and live entertainment industries as a whole.  

We know the pressure and uncertainty that puts on freelancers who work in the industry - and we will be bringing you a special episode with a panel in the very near future. But what about the buildings themselves? We have seen news reports high profile buildings going into administration including the Theatre Royal Plymouth and Nuffield Southampton Theatres.

I had the opportunity to have an online chat with Jon David Morgan of the Theatres Trust to explain what they are doing to both raise awareness for the issue, but also how they’re actively reopening theatres that have long since been closed.

THEATRES TRUST WEBSITE: http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/

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Welcome to No Pressure - a podcast for creatives, theatre makers, artists, and ambitious souls with host, Matt Humphrey, photographer and founder of CurtainCall,

In this episode I am so honoured to be talking to producer REBECCA WOOLCOCK - Lead Producer with Hartshorn Hook and Immersive Everywhere.

This podcast is all about creators and theatre makers like Rebecca - the people that make things happen, who are up against it every day, and yet you’d never know it. 

This is perhaps especially true right now - in the midst of lockdown that has been shaking our industry from the very core. As theatres, production companies and venues across the country face tremendous uncertainty and potential closure - we find ourselves at a pivotal moment.

This podcast was recorded at the tail end of 2019 - BC - Before Covid - and a lot has happened since then. You may be pleased to hear that there is a good news story here, as Rebecca’s company Immersive Everywhere have recently announced that they will be opening a Covid-secure immersive production of Great Gatsby in London in October.

http://immersiveeverywhere.com/

www.immersivedoctorwho.com

https://immersivegatsby.com/event/the-great-gatsby

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Whilst on lockdown, I have been mentoring five students from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts here in London. The five of them are all getting their MA in Acting and should be doing their showcase performances about now, but I don’t need to tell you if that is happening…I have been talking to all of them this week for the podcast

My final guest student this week is Pear Chiravara. Pear is a fascinating and fantastic actor, coming to the acting profession after her best friend suggested that she follow her dreams. So she left Bangkok to travel to sunnier climes to attend Mountview and get her MA.

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My penultimate guest student this week is Nathan Elliot. Nathan is another one of Mountview’s students who didn’t have a straightforward route into drama school. But his tenacity and perseverance paid off, and I think stands him in good stead for the challenges he faces in the industry, especially in a Covid-19 world.

Nathan Elliot, acting student on the Acting MA course at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Keep listening this week to hear from more Mountview students that are continuing their course virtually in London and far, far beyond.

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Whilst on lockdown, I have been mentoring five students from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts here in London. The five of them are all getting their MA in Acting and should be doing their showcase performances about now, but I don’t need to tell you if that is happening…

My third guest student this week is Karen Ann Wong-Dorall. Karen is NOT your typical post-graduate drama student.  Already with a successful career as a teacher, the sacrifice she had to make to follow her dreams is inspiring.

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Whilst on lockdown, I have been mentoring five students from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts here in London. The five of them are all getting their MA in Acting and should be doing their showcase performances about now, but I don’t need to tell you if that is happening…

My second student guest from Mountview is Jessica Dawes. Jessica’s story is a fantastic untraditional route, having been interested in theatre from a young age, but feeling societal’s pressure to earn money in a “real job” before the tug of the theatre yanked her back in.

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