Putting it Together

Writer, actor and prolific audience member, Steve McMahon returns to the pod!

The post Steve McMahon appeared first on Putting it Together.

The triumphant return of Ciara Flynn!

The post Ciara Flynn appeared first on Putting it Together.

A musical theatre kid with an unending passion for the form, it’s Joe Atkinson!

The post Joe Atkinson appeared first on Putting it Together.

Playwright, former actor, and chef Kari Hall. Their play, “hame. teeth. CLUB.” is a love letter to their younger self and the working class Scottish club scene they grew up in. It’s a hilarious, dark, and deeply personal story about class, identity, and finding your way.

The post Kari Hall appeared first on Putting it Together.

“I’m Scottish, yes, I’m Bangladeshi. I was born in London. I’m proud of all aspects of my identity, but I’m also so much more than just that.” Hiftu Quasem talks to Brian about identity, representation and the pressure actors can sometimes feel to explain or represent an entire culture, religion or community. 
In this wide ranging conversation, Hiftu talks about her first Shakespeare play, growing up in Aberdeen, and the rather indirect route that took her from civil engineering to acting.

The post Hiftu Quasem appeared first on Putting it Together.

“Very rarely does my original idea or concept end up being what’s on stage, it’s a negotiation, a collaborative experience. That’s when the magic happens.” Steve Lauder-Russell has choreographed pantos, directed youth theatre productions, and worked as a movement director on everything from Edinburgh Fringe shows to brand new Scottish musicals (currently Wallace the Musical). But when Cole asked him about his process, it was this idea – that the best work happens in the gap between your concept and what the performer brings back to you – that cut to the heart of what he actually does.

The post Steve Lauder-Russell appeared first on Putting it Together.

Cole and Brian do the Glasgow to London catch-up!

The post Down the Line appeared first on Putting it Together.

“I started at a drama school in London. I left after four days.” Stephen Matthews has been a jobbing actor for over 30 years, but he’s never forgotten who’s in the seats. We talk about the trap of long running shows, how easy it is to slip into autopilot when you’ve done 500 performances and how he fights against it every night. He also reveals why he walked away from a four year stint in The Lion King after a moment of brutal honesty backstage. “An actor I was on stage with looked at me and said, ‘Sorry mate, I wasn’t listening.’ And in my head, that was when I went. I’ve got to go.” It’s a fascinating chat about staying present, surviving the uncertainty, and the art of keeping it fresh when the 8 shows a week start to blur together.

The post Stephen Matthews appeared first on Putting it Together.

Yana Harris spoke to Brian about her West End debut in Trainspotting: The Musical. She learned firsthand how quickly things shift in commercial theatre from having her main song cut hours before the first preview to finding out the national tour was cancelled mid-run. They talk about handling industry heartbreak with grace, avoiding the trap of cynicism, and finding joy in the work anyway.

The post Yana Harris appeared first on Putting it Together.

Actor Tyler Collins soundproofed his home studio with leftover meal kit packaging stuck to acoustic foam, a trick he found completely by accident. We sat down with the Alaska-raised, Glasgow-trained actor (you’ll know him from panto stages across Scotland, plus voice work in Eiyuden Chronicle and Forza Horizon 5) to talk comedy technique, industry awards culture, and why he thinks actors should make their own work.

The post Tyler Collins appeared first on Putting it Together.