The Halifax Arts Podcast

Welcome to the March 2022 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we meet the actor, writer and producer Rebecca Vaughan who is bringing her one-woman theatre production I, Elizabeth to Square Chapel Arts Centre on March 22nd. The show uses only Elizabeth's original words and explores her struggle with womanhood and sovereignty. Plus: film reviews of Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, The Duke starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, and French language films Petite Maman and Titane.

Welcome to the February 2022 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we interview policeman-turned-comedian Alfie Moore who is bringing his Fair Cop Unleashed Tour to Halifax this month. We also chat to Rebekah Fozard and Kate Edwards about how The Hebden Bridge Festival and Healthy Minds Calderdale are working together on a new project called 'Time Out'. Plus: film reviews of Stephen Graham's Boiling Point, George Clooney's The Tender Bar, Spielberg's West Side Story and the Broadway-themed Tick Tick Boom.

Welcome to the January 2022 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we get together in The Piece Hall to chew over our highlights of 2021, and look forward to what 2022 might bring in the the cultural capital of West Yorkshire that is Halifax and The Calder Valley… Plus: reviews of Silent Night, The Power of the Dog & Don't Look Up.

Welcome to the December/January 2021/22 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we talk to Sarah Horsley of Halifax's Viaduct Theatre at Dean Clough and the women behind Bradford's new publishing company Fox & Windmill. In the meantime, our film and TV reviewers have been casting their eyes over Squid Game, the Stephen Fry narrated documentary M.C. Escher, The Voyeurs and Lady Gaga's new film, House of Gucci.

Welcome to the November / December 2021 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we talk to the artist Kate Lycett, who is currently exhibiting her work at Bankfield Museum in Halifax. We also meet the writer and historian Jill Liddington, who is eagerly anticipating the second series of Gentleman Jack, inspired by her books about one of Halifax's most celebrated women. We also review four films that are available to see in cinemas or online; The Green Knight, Censor, Last Night in Soho and Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time.

Welcome to the October / November 2021 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we talk to the poet Roger McGough who will be in Halifax later in October as part of the Halifax Festival of Words. We also review a diverse quartet of films; Everybody's Talking About Jamie, New Order, Herself and The Pebble and the Boy.

Welcome to the September / October 2021 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this episode of the podcast we welcome Halifax band The Orielles (who have just played at The Piece Hall and who will be taking part in a Q&A after a showing of their film La Vita Olistica at Square Chapel Arts Centre on September 14th), we talk to Steven Lord about the upcoming Brighouse Arts Festival and our regular foursome of film reviewers cast their critical eyes over the Citizen Kane-themed Mank starring Gary Oldman, Timothy Spall in The Last Bus, Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer in Free Guy and First Cow directed by Kelly Reichardt.

Welcome to the June / July 2021 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. In this final episode before we take our summer break, we are looking forward to the ending of lockdown. Janet Warham has been speaking to Charles Morris, owner of the Rex Cinema about his plans to reopen the Elland-based venue; Rosi Gemmell has been chatting to the Calderdale writer Anna Chilvers about her work, including her short stories, one of which she reads for the podcast; and our regular film reviewers - Jeremy Walker, Alex Abel and Steve Archer - discuss Promising Young Woman, Possessor, Nowhere Special and the Oscar-winning The Father with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman. This episode of the podcast was recorded in front of a live audience (of dogs and cows...) at The Piece Hall in Halifax and in rural Barkisland.

Welcome to the May / June 2021 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. This month we talk to Kate Claughan, the owner of The Book Case in Hebden Bridge and The Book Corner at The Piece Hall in Halifax about the advantages of being an independent bookshop, chat to artist Sue Cordingley about her work that has included the illustrations for the children's book The Dragons Of Wainhouse Tower (as featured in last month's podcast) and, to coincide with the start of a new series of Ackley Bridge on Channel 4 and the recent filming of series 2 of Gentleman Jack in The Piece Hall, we revisit our report about 'Hollyfax'. And, of course, our regular band of film reviewers - which this month has expanded slightly from a threesome to a foursome - cast their eyes over Oscar-nominated Sound of Metal, the Icelandic film A White, White Day, time-bending Palm Springs and the wonder that is Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar.

Welcome to the April / May 2021 episode of The Halifax Arts Podcast. This month we are delighted to welcome one of Calderdale's most prominent writers to the podcast. Benjamin Myers is the award-winning author of many books including The Gallows Pole, the fictionalised tale of the Cragg Vale Coiners. April 2021 sees the publication of a new book of his short stories called Male Tears and he discussed the short-story writing process - as well as revealing future writing projects - with Janet Warham. Staying on the theme of books, Rosi Gemmell has spoken to the Halifax-based children's author Sarah Stone about her book The Dragons of Wainhouse Tower. And, of course, our resident films reviewers Steve Archer, Judy Green and Jeremy Walker cast their eyes over some recent releases; the French film Amanda, the Irish animation Wolfwalkers and the Lego movies. Yes, all of them!