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When I went to see a live performance of Mark Stratford's one-man-play 'Macready' at the Brockley Jack Theatre, I was highly entertained and learnt a thing or two so decided to have him as a guest on the podast.

Mark speaks with us about the historic figure at the centre of his play, as well as delivering a fascinating journey down theatrical history. We also discuss the trials and triumphs of being a one-man researcher, writer, producer, actorDon't miss the top tips on how to plan your own tour for anyone interested in writing, producing, and touring your own one-person show.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND

Charles Macready was born in 1793. When his theatre-manager father went into bankruptcy and was thrown into debtor's prison, Macready entered theatre life in an attempt to salvage the family business. He went on to become a highly influential figure whose work helped to forge many facets of modern theatre which we often take for granted today. For example, he encouraged the proper design of costume and theatre sets to align with the playwright's intent; dedicated time as a director to the rehearsal of all roles even fairly minor ones which in the past had been overlooked; and made significant headway in distancing the profession from the hitherto unchallenged presence of brothels in most theatres. Macready also went on to be a close friend of Charles Dickens and is the true individual who inspired Dickens's 'Nicholas Nickleby'.

Mark Stratford is simultaneously touring his rendition of 'The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. D Hyde' through fringe theatres and hopes to soon develop a play which his wife, a fellow actress, can tour with him.

TO LEARN MORE:

Find Mark here: One-man shows Mark Stratford | Stratford Productions

Find Brockley Jack Theatre here: Jack Studio Theatre (brockleyjack.co.uk)

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10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

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10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

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This story was recroded in front of a live face-to-face audience at Lakefest 2022: Pen & Parchment stage

Warning! This story was created over many years of storytellings with disgusting audiences of snotty little children and shrinking, squirming grown ups. We are proud of that! 

This story is an adult free zone. Why? Because it is simply too scary, or too horridly disgusting, for most adults. We know this is true. Kids can handle it. Usually. Adults can’t. Mostly. There are very few grown who can sit through the full telling of this tale. Not without scrunching up their noses, or scrinching up their eyes, or gasping “EEEwwwww” or just saying “Yuk that’s disgusting” before the tale reaches its end. Very brave grown-ups may be allowed to listen, if at least one child will vouch that they can handle it. So now you know that, we can carry on...

This is a folk tale for children, set once upon a time, in a place not so far from you.

Meet the schoolboy Hunch - the village hunchback. Hunch lives in a small village surrounded by a tall forest. All the parents always tell the children, "Don't go in the woods!" When the children ask why, the adults always say, "Because strange creatures called Things live in there! We don't know what they look like, but we do know that anyone who enters that forest, never comes back"!

Would YOU enter the forest if you'd been told that?

Nobody ever dares go in the woods, because of the strange Things that live there.

But Hunch the village hunchback is different from everyone else. He knows it. Everyone knows it. And his arch-rival at school - a boy named Tax who is best at absolutely everything - never fails to use it against him. Tax is Hunch's very own bully - you could say that Tax is 'King Of The Thugs' and makes sure Hunch remains miserable.

Then one full moon after being bullied by Tax, Hunch gets so upset he runs into the forest. He can't help himself. He's not thinking - he's just got one voice in his head. It is saying "Oh why was I born me?" and blinds out all thoughts about his own safety.

In this story where goodness receives its own reward, nobody expects the surprise at hand when Hunch meets the Things. He will never be the same - if only he can survive, and remember to say thank you!

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10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

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First broadcast as part of our 31Women project which broadcast a new interview with a different woman every day in March 2023 as our month long celebration of International Women's Day. Lack of resources meant this project could not repeat for 2024, fingers crossed for enough sponsorships/subscribers in 2025.
Mormor is a practitioner and teacher in Spiritual Psychology & Counselling: Healing & Spiritual Mentoring. Founder of ‘The Arimathean Retreat’based in Glastonbury UK,a residential centre for personal and spiritual development offering Diploma Courses in Healing and Spiritual Mentoring, MorMor retired some years ago from the public arena and so we call her simply 'Mormor' meaning 'Grandmother' in Scandinavian. Born in Denmark shortly after the , tragedy struck at an early age when her father and brother died in a fishing expedition. She says, "Sometimes when we face tragedy, when we face the unexplained, that is when we begin to question. And we can't move forward, we can't find any answers- until we find the questions first." This enticing eposide reaches a climax with an exquisite guided meditation, but not before revealing enriching wisdom about faith healing, the rich manifestation of thoughts - "to change our mind into thoughts that are positive, we can then really make a profound difference in the world" - and the consequences of living in fear when releasing fear brings profound benefits. MorMor may be available for guided meditations online - if you have a query then contact her via her son's website: https://www.torstourofthetor.com/ 

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10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

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Support the show

10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

Send us a text

Support the show

10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

Send us a text

Support the show

10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

Send us a text

Support the show

10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

Send us a text

Support the show

10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways

Send us a text

Support the show

10-Month Course in Ancient Tribal Medicine Stories, Guided Meditations and Shamanic Healing Ritual Pathways To Aid Pain Relief designed by The Myth To Miracle Academy. For more info on this course, see here: https://mythtomiracle.thinkific.com/products/courses/ancient-medicine-story-pathways