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Part 2 of an Oresteia double bill, this time we take a look at Robert Icke's totally new adaptation of last episode's classic. We talk altering plot points, phycological complexity, and the time period-fluid setting of Icke's plays.

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Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam @Samwebbercool

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First part of an Oresteia double bill, this time we take a look at a straight translation of the original. We talk gender representation, off-stage gore, and the complexities of justice (which is funner than it sounds)

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Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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Crazy stage directions? Form-breaking? Super long and in depth but somehow still entertaining discussions on female empowerment and the male role in society? YES PLEASE! Discussion includes: Scripts that don't tell you everything, gender-reversed acting, and the benefits of snacks on stage.


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

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Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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It's time for some children's theatre! In this delightful, dark, funny, fantastic, terrifying tale for all ages, Kneehigh theatre does what they do best with collaborative and innovative re-telling of a classic story. Discussion includes collaboration in art, the power of children's theatre, and the joy of little chicken puppets.


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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This episode Nancy & Sam discuss the shocking and powerful play drama Yen by Anna Jordan. The audio of the first half got mangled by the internet, so this one jumps in partway through - in this epic half-discussion, however, is covered themes of nature vs. nurture, the harsh choices around family life, and the depiction of intimate acts on the stage. It's certainly a cheery one!


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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This episode Nancy & Sam are joined by co-director of Coast to Coast Theatre Company and producer from the Norwich Fringe, Molly Farley, to discuss the intense and thought-provoking drama Gloria by Branden Jacob's Jenkins. Not only is it an absolute belter of a play, but Molly is fantastic as our first guest. Topics include: Workplace trauma, selfish journalists, and the absolute tenacity of playwrights who give impossible stage directions.

Molly can be found @mollysamfarley
Coast to Coast Theatre can be found @ctctheatrecomp


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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Nancy and Sam smash the patriarchy (or at least try to understand just how massive and far-reaching it is) with a look at this form-smashing play. Okay, so we don't smash the patriarchy, and 50 minutes is no time at all to cover everything, but we think this play is fantastic and had a blast diving deep into all the intense and challenging themes it presents.


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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In a first for the podcast, we look at a play that involves some heavy audience interaction and can change wildly from night to night depending on what the audience does. How do you script something like this? We're about to find out.

(Also, this is sadly probably our last sci-fi themed play for a while as we've exhausted those we know so early on in our run!)


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

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Another episode of the eternal journey to read and analyse every play ever (or at least a few good ones, as our time on this earth is limited). This time we take a look at something neither of us have read before - a strangely structured magical realist play from 1997, Crazyhorse packs a real punch (even if we still can't fully understand the title...)


Have some feedback? A play you'd like us to cover?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him

Send us Fan Mail

Oh go on then, have a little Christmas treat on us! Nancy & Sam drop their usual policy of finding the best in things for this bonus festive episode - they bring to you their top 10 list of the worst theatre-related things one could receive this Christmas.

Want to see the horrendous items for yourself? Have something you think is worse?

Visit the official podcast twitter @playgroundpoddy
Chat to host Nancy @N_Netherwood
Chat to host Sam in person if you happen to recognise him (but it's the holidays so best leave him be right about now)

Play Ground will be returning with it's normal slot next week to discuss Crazyhorse by Parv Bancil.