This week we talk to Actor and Lazarus Associate, Jamie O’Neill. Since we last spoke to Jamie we have worked together on three productions at Southwark Playhouse and a number of R&D’s and workshops. In 2021, we remounted our 2019 production of Oscar Wilde’s Salomé. Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus in 2022 and The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley in 2023.

In the episode we didn't get a chance to talk about Jamie's new project, Sound and Fury. Visit here to find out more.

We'd love to hear from you!

There are two ways you can support Spotlight on:

1. We're always trying to improve our work, and we'd love to hear what you think about Spotlight on. If you have 3 minutes to tell us what you think, take our quick survey.

2. We're answering your questions! If you have a question you would like to ask for our Mail Bag Episode, send them to [email protected]

This week we talk to Lazarus alum, Paula James. Paula is an actor, puppeteer, singer, composer, MD, writer and musician as well as being a Singing Sister. Since we last spoke to Paula she was in the original cast of the new musical Gin Craze! And the UK tour of The Lost Spells. In 2024, Paula received a Developing your creative practice grant from Arts Council England to “develop [her] artistry as a composer for theatre and live arts” and has subsequently composed for a production in 2024 and was also musical Director.

Discover more at www.paulajames.co.uk 

We'd love to hear from you!

There are two ways you can support Spotlight on:

1. We're always trying to improve our work, and we'd love to hear what you think about Spotlight on. If you have 3 minutes to tell us what you think, take our quick survey.

2. We're answering your questions! If you have a question you would like to ask for our Mail Bag Episode, send them to [email protected]

This week, Gavin and Ricky talk about the Lazarus GYM. 

The Lazarus Gym is a new initiative supporting performers to get into or return to classical ensemble work. A ‘pay what you can’ 3 hour classical text gym session where performers are introduced to the Lazarus text process – essentially our approach to text. 

The sessions will be ensemble led, working as a company to dissect, analyse and then play the text, performers will also work in pairs with other performers as well as one to one with our director with individual feedback given. 

More information can be found at https://www.lazarustheatrecompany.co.uk/gym 

If you have a question for our mail bag episode, where Ricky and Gavin answer your questions about casting, ensemble, the Lazarus working process, send them to [email protected]

This week, Gavin talks to Lazarus alum, Hamish Somers. Hamish is from Aberdeen, Scotland and trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. His Lazarus Debut was in our 2020 production of Macbeth at Greenwich Theatre. Since we last spoke to Hamish in our Shakespeare’s Birthday episode, he joined us for our 2022 production of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, and our 2023 production of The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley, both at Southwark Playhouse. Hamish was Movement Captain on both productions. 

In the first episode of Season 3, Gavin Harrington-Odedra speaks to Lazarus Associate and Actor, Micha Colombo. Micha is an actor, writer, storyteller, poet and voice artist. And in 2023, Micha became a filmmaker. Having now directed 2 film commissions from Exeter Phoenix. Since we last spoke to Micha, we have worked together on our 2023 production of Hamlet at Southwark Playhouse. 

Find out more about Micha at www.michacolombo.com

Lazarus Theatre Company's podcast, Spotlight on, is back!

Join us as we check back in with some of those we spoke to in seasons 1 and 2. We'll be finding out what they have been up to and talking about some ideas that are important to the Lazarus making process. We'll also be writing short stories together in an act of co-creativity.

Check back in on our conversations in season 1 and 2 and subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

This week Ricky and Gavin talk to Lazarus Associate and Actor, David Clayton. David was born in Germany but has been living in the UK for a number of years. He trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. We first met David when he played Canterbury in Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II at the Tristan Bates Theatre in 2017. He then reprised the role in the transfer of Edward II to Greenwich theatre in 2018, followed by Bottom in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, also in 2018, Trinculo in Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Guard of Herodias in Oscar Wilde’s Salomé both at Greenwich Theatre in 2019, and Macduff in Shakespeare’s Macbeth at Greenwich Theatre in 2020. For many of these productions, David has also been Movement Captain.

This week Ricky and Gavin talk to Lazarus Associate and Actor, Lewis Davidson. Lewis is originally from Aberdeen, Scotland. He trained at Kingston University Drama and has over 15 years professional experience in classical theatre. He is trained in aerial performance and dance and also in stage combat at The Globe Theatre, London.

His first production with Lazarus Theatre Company was Macbeth at the Blue Elephant Theatre in 2011 where he played Banquo. In the subsequent 10 years, Lewis has been in 7 Lazarus productions. He played Don Alba in Frederic Schiller’s Don Carlos at the Blue Elephant Theatre in 2011, Edmund the bastard and Oliver de Boys in our Shakespeare rep of King Lear and As you Like it at the Space in 2012, then another rep of King Lear and Christopher Marlowe’s Dido Queen of Carthage at Greenwich Theatre in 2013 where he reprised his role of Edmund and played Jupiter. Then 2 years later, Lewis came back to play Vindici in Thomas Middleton’s Revenger’s Tragedy at the Jack Studio Theatre in 2015. And finally, in a full circle moment, in 2020, Lewis came back to Lazarus again to play Banquo in Macbeth at Greenwich theatre. Also, in the years between 2015 and 2020, Lewis trained and became a full-time fire fighter.

We are back with season 2 of Spotlight on. This week we talk to Lazarus Alumni and Actor, Colette O’Rourke. Colette trained at Drama Studio London.  Colette first worked with Lazarus in 2013 as Jessica in The Merchant of Venice at the Jack Studio Theatre, then went on to play Cressida in Shakespeare’s Troilus & Cressida and Valeria in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus which formed the Our World at War season at the Tristan Bates in 2014, Henry V in Shakespeare’s Henry V at The Union theatre in 2015 and finally Grusha in Bertolt Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Greenwich Theatre in 2017. Colette has also worked on TV shows such as Casualty and Doctors and on stage around the UK, including a performance that Guardian Critic, Lyn Gardner said she was ‘Terrific’ in the role of Agnes.

In September this year, we received the very sad news that mentor, supporter and friend Ken Pickering had passed away. We first met Ken for our 2015 production of Christopher Marlowe's Tamberlain The Great. Ken in his capacity as chair of the Marlowe Society encouraged, supported and championed our work. And so we would like to reshare our spotlight on podcast episode with Ken which was recorded in May 2021.

We met Ken as a supporter, he became a friend, you will be deeply deeply missed. Thank you, Ken.