Britain has passed a law that removes almost all rights from people escaping violence, torture and starvation who want to settle in the UK. Those claiming asylum in what was once ‘great’ Britain will now supposedly be put on planes and sent to Rwanda which the UK Supreme Court defined as unsafe. The new law passed by cruel cowards declares that Rwanda is actually safe regardless of evidence - it is the legal equivalent of declaring black to be white.

I don’t usually write about politics on my Substack but this morning it feels almost impossible to not comment or express some emotion at what has happened.

A couple of years ago I saw a play at The Bush Theatre in West London that continues to affect me emotionally and politically. The P Word is written by Waleed Akhtar and tells the story of two men of Pakistani heritage who are in Britain under very different circumstances. Bilal (known as Billy) has lived in the UK all his life whereas Zafar is seeking asylum in the country due to homophobic beatings he suffered in Pakistan.

The play shows the heartless and arbitrary nature of the UK Immigration system and how it is a complete waste of money and resources with refugees unable to work and decisions made to deport people in secret and without giving opportunities for legal representation

As I say in the review this play shines a light on some very dark places that 99% of the UK population would be completely shocked by if they were aware of them.

The P Word rightly won an Olivier Award in 2022. It deserves another theatre run now because it is an excellent play and shows us all the power of art to raise awareness through emotional storytelling.

Interview with Waleed Akhtar

The JasonWard Creative Substack is for readers like you. I really appreciate your time spent here and invite you to support my work by taking out a subscription. A paid subscription gives you access to exclusive content plus the entire archive of over 100 articles, reviews, interviews, podcasts and playlists all full of creative insight designed to help you develop your creative projects and practise.

The JasonWard Creative Substack is a reader and listener supported publication. I really appreciate your time spent here and would love to invite you to support my work by taking out a subscription. A paid subscription gives you access to exclusive content plus the entire archive of over 100 articles, reviews, interviews, podcasts and playlists all full of creative insight designed to help you develop your creative projects and practise.

Creating and producing one show is a big endeavour. In this week’s episode Sophia Marie Hornsey CEO of Sophisticated Entertainment talks us through how her company creates, delivers and produces multiple shows across eight venues with eight casts for her client Park Holidays, a major UK leisure brand.

This is a return to the podcast for Sophia Marie who was also one of my early consultancy clients. She is a wonderful example of someone who identifies what she wants to do with her business and what skills she needs to achieve her ambitions. Every time we speak it feels as if her company has developed and grown further.

In a few short years Sophia Marie has taken Sophisticated Entertainment from a start up delivering birthday entertainment over Zoom to now creating and delivering entertainment for national brands, operating an artist agency and producing theatre shows. The word is that the company is also about to announce a major international partnership too. Sophisticated Entertainment is definitely one to watch!

In this episode Sophia Marie talks about;

* The importance of a clear rehearsal process.

* How to look after your cast.

* Adapting creative ideas for multiple casts and casts with multiple abilities

* Producing an adult comedy show while maintaining your family friendly brand.

* How to set creative and taste boundaries when producing adult comedy

* The importance of looking after yourself as a creative and company director.

If you want to grow your creative entertainment company or just want to know how creating and producing at scale works then you will find plenty in this episode to learn from.

You can find out more about Sophia Marie’s work here:

https://www.sophisticatedentertainment.com

You can follow Sophisticated Entertainment on Instagram @sophisticatedentertainment

You can find out more about her client Park Holidays here:

https://www.parkholidays.com

Sophia Marie Hornsey is also a Council Member or The Entertainment Agent’s Association https://teaa.uk

If you would like consultancy support with your creative project or practice then please email directly [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram @jasonwardcreative

Thank you for checking out the JasonWard Creative Substack. To support my work please consider taking out a subscription. Thank You.

Thank you for checking out the JasonWard Creative Substack Podcast. To support my work please consider taking out a free or paid subscription. For less than the price of a cappuccino every month you get access to over 100 interviews, reviews, creative articles, podcasts and playlists PLUS exclusive content.

It is difficult and scary being a new musical theatre writer. Creative (and romantic) duo Baker & Ryall took a look at what they needed to do in order to present their first show, Tasting Notes, and decided to become producers as well.

In this Interview Charlie and Richard discuss their professional journey and offer some powerful insights into writing and producing new musical theatre.

As creatives they have recognised that they are inspired by the bleaker and darker themes that inform so many great musicals. But rather than fight against these themes the duo have turned this recognition into a strength enabling them to truly focus on material that they are passionate about.

During our conversation Richard also shared some great insights into the musical director’s view of working on shows explaining why he looks to be led by text. And how to find your way into a show that you might not be convinced about.

I am fascinated by Richard Baker & Charlie Ryall’s focus on truly going after what they need. I asked Charlie why the duo tried to get new piece Hangover Square on at 54 Below in New York: was it to get the show in front of Broadway producers or just to prove that they could present their work in New York? -She replied “The latter and both!” Lesson: set yourself clear objectives and believe you can achieve them!

How many of us, as creatives, set ourselves these kinds of goals? Baker & Ryall are not fabulously wealthy people that can drift around knocking on doors until something happens. Instead they need to make things happen in order to get their work seen: in order for their creative journey to make sense.

Hangover Square by Baker&Ryall is at 54 Below on 19th September 2024. Book Tickets here: https://54below.org/events/new-musical-hangover-square-by-baker-ryall/

You can follow Baker&Ryall on Instagram here: @bakerandryall

Listen the music from their first show Tasting Notes on Soundcloud here: https://soundcloud.com/tastingnotesldn

The JasonWard Creative Substack is a reader supported publication. A paid subscription gives you access to over 100 podcasts, playlists, articles, reviews and interviews with creatives and costs less than a cup of cappuccino per month!

The Confidently Creative Podcast series is part of the JasonWard Creative Substack, a reader supported publication. Please consider taking out a subscription by clicking the button below. A paid subscription gives you full access to an archive of over 100 articles, reviews, interviews, podcasts and playlists as well as exclusive creative insights content. Enjoy the episode and Thank You for your time.

There is so much to admire about Gus Gowland and his work. He is unusual in being a musical theatre writer from a working class background who writes shows and is passionate about helping others understand the genre. He is also fascinating to speak with as I discovered during our recent interview when we talked about his own work, the challenges those without money face trying to make a career in theatre and Gus’ views on how long shows should run.

Gus Gowland’s three produced shows all look at very different situations but they share a common humanity.

Pieces of String is about same sex relationships during World War 2 seen through the lens of a family discovering that their father/grandfather/husband had been in love with another man. The music in the show is beautifully layered and melodic which helps the show look at a grand theme from a very human perspective.

Check out the wonderful Standing in the Shadows from the show’s run at the Colchester Mercury Theatre.

Mayflies which was produced at York Theatre Royal looks at what would happen if we slowed down our online dating. Using the life of a mayfly as a metaphor the show explores a couple who only communicate online for two years before meeting. It is also constructed to have a rotating cast so that the audience sees diverse dynamics depending on the age, gender or sexuality of each character. It is a very clever piece that got some great reviews - but also a couple of puzzling critiques which Gus addresses in our interview.

Gowland’s latest show is Candidates which is being produced by the GSA Conservatoire directed by Julian Woolford. It is based on Much Ado About Nothing but transported to a modern day US High School. The writer describes it as a bit of an homage to High School Musical and Mean Girls and talks about how exciting it is to work with the young talent at GSA.

In our interview Gus talks about what he has learnt and how he deals with the frustrations of working in theatre. By sharing his experiences (good and bad) and offering well thought through and eloquent conclusions, Gus Gowland offers an insight into what it takes to be successful in musical theatre and inspires all who want to make it their life.

To find out more about Gus Gowland and his work click here:

https://www.gusgowland.com

Much of Gus Gowland’s work including Mayflies is available on Apple Music here: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gus-gowland/943840989

Follow Gus on Instagram @gustopherjones

And check out his work and online classes on You Tube Here

And if you want something special then check out Alice Fearn singing The Girl Next Door

Gus Gowland’s new book Contemporary British Musicals: ‘Out of the Darkness’ is available from Bloomsbury here

Thank you for listening and please consider taking out a subscription to The JasonWard Creative Substack which will help support my work.

The JasonWard Creative Substack is a reader supported production. You can help by taking out a subscription which gives you access to over 100 articles, reviews, interviews, podcasts and playlists.

Carley Varley is genuinely a good person. She worked hard to overcome her own shyness and lack of confidence by taking to the streets and busking. Once she started to achieve success Carley began helping other artists through online sessions on everything from songwriting to preparing your single for release and preserving your voice. On top of this she writes great pop songs!

I first met her in 2018 when she was playing in my local pub and I soon booked her for corporate gigs at Carnival UK where I was working. Soon after I signed her up for Gary Barlow’s 710 Club This was a new concept venue onboard P&O Cruises’ Iona that Gary Barlow’ was promoted as curating and my job was to find new singer songwriters to perform there. When Covid struck the project went out of the window but Carley continued to creatively and professionally develop.

Her first singles sonically reveal all her early Swift and Sheeran influences coupled with Carley’s trademark lyrical honesty. As her sound developed the honesty remained culminating in Envy which is a sophisticated song commenting on her treatment at the hands of a fellow female songwriter backstage at a gig. While Homesick finds her taking advantage of having a full band to rock out with in total teenage house party mode!

Carley has an incredible support network from her family and her church. And it was the church that gave her the opportunity to express herself musically in the first place. This support is never taken for granted and I think this is why she is so keen on supporting others. This exposure to working with musicians and learning to understand how music works is one of the foundations for Carley Varley’s success, first of all in writing great songs, and then in developing her sound from the acoustic singer songwriter genre into becoming front woman of a rock band.

Her songs talk about honest feelings of love, confusion and sometimes rejection. They are never aggressive because Carley has a sense of self and her own morals that is deeply ingrained. What this offers the listener is a reflective and (that word again) honest examination of feelings and emotions.

Carley Varley has set herself the joint objectives of headlining festivals and opening a cake shop in the New Forest on England’s South Coast. I believe that she will achieve both! However, there is a second part to the ambition which demonstrates the kind of person she is more than anything else: when she talks about the cake shop, Carley says that a key element will be a space for young up and coming acoustic artists to play their music. As she says by helping others with their creativity we develop ourselves.

To find out more about Carley Varley use her Linktree:

Carley Varley Linktree

Songs Heard In This Episode:

Envy - by Carley Varley

Won’t Say Sorry by Carley Varley

Homesick by Carley Varley

All incidental music in the episode was composed and recorded by Jason Ward.

The episode was written, hosted and produced by Jason Ward in Ballydehob, West Cork Ireland.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast. To support my work and get access to over 100 articles, reviews, interviews and podcasts please consider taking out a paid subscription. Many Thanks!

Thank you for taking the time to read The JasonWard Creative Substack. I work across live entertainment creating, producing and managing for partners that have included theatres, major cruise lines, Disney, arts festivals, theatre producers and writers. I consult and mentor creatives at all stages of their journey and review new work in theatre, dance and the visual arts. I would love you to subscribe to my Substack and share your thoughts on my writing

Last summer I went to see a brand new musical called Hugh written by two hilarious women: Susan Grant and Joni De Winter. The show features an original story about a play within a play and takes down some pretty sexist tropes from 90s romcoms. I was lucky to do some creative work with Susan and Joni during which we talked in depth about what the show is about - I call it ‘finding your big idea’

Check out the original review HERE

I love to see a work in progress and work that progresses. And since I saw the show, Hugh has progressed so much that Susan and Joni have already started work on their next project.

I caught up with them a few weeks ago to record this podcast and found them in fine form. Their journey from (excellent) function band singers to inspired and inspiring musical theatre writers is a testament to their creativity and focus.

In the interview they explain that they both have lives already full with jobs, families, and all that goes with that so the thought of holding it all together AND becoming theatre writers seemed to be totally unachievable. However, once they made a commitment to show up for their creativity things changed and Hugh was born.

The point is that once they committed to the project they soon realised that they could write a show that people would pay to see. This became a virtuous circle and their own attitude to their creativity changed. Instead of giggling apologetically when telling people that they wrote a musical they now confidently assert that they are theatre writers. Which they are!

Our conversation took place on a dark evening in January. Susan and Joni were relaxing in Joni’s living room while elegantly sipping champagne and there was a lot of laughter. What struck me most was the openness and honesty that both women expressed about their personal and creative lives.

They have come along way from crying on the floor in fear and desperation the night before their first performance. They regret nothing, have lots of experience to share and their advice for anyone considering starting a creative project is “Just F*****g DO IT!” Which is sound advice for all creatives!

Find out more about Hugh The Musical here

Find out more about Belle Street Duo here

Thank you for reading the JasonWard Creative Substack. I appreciate you spending your time here and if you would like to support my work then please consider taking out a free or paid subscription. You will have access to over 100 articles, interviews, playlists and podcasts. Many Thanks Jason

Thank you for sharing your time with The JasonWard Creative Substack. If you enjoy my work then it would be great to welcome you to our community of subscribers. Free and paid options are available - just click below! Many Thanks Jason

New musical Savage is a story with a story. In this episode the show’s originator Nicolette Blount talked about how writing the show became a journey to discover more about herself, her heritage and how indigenous people are treated by Broadway and US theatre in general.

Savage is about Nicolette’s great grandmother Mattie Owanda Hardwicke who, like Nicolette, is a proud member of the Chickasaw nation. After an early widowhood she went to perform in vaudeville as Wanda Savage in a sharp shooting act and then went to Hollywood where her skin and hair had to be lightened in order for her to work. Despite getting work, the movie dream turned sour and she wound up in brothel from where she turned her life around again - almost!

By telling her story today, Savage looks at women’s rights and opportunities in the 1920s and also allows us to draw our own conclusions about how opinions and prejudices around race, gender and skin colour continue to pervade our culture today.

Nicolette’s own story will inspire everyone who has experienced barriers to expressing their creativity. Nicolette is a 50 year old woman who has already brought up a family and now has written a show as and about an Indigenous or Native American person - a group who make up less than 1% of Broadway’s legions of creatives, writers, performers and technicians.

The issues around Native American representation in US theatre that Nicolette explains are thought provoking. Storytelling is an essential part of Native American culture which makes us question why that is not translated into theatre which is a storytelling art form.

Above all, this episode tells a story of how a creative idea becomes a tangible reality. How a show moves from chords on a piano and lines on a notepad through workshops, and readings to full production, 54 Below and Broadway Shark Tank. As Nicolette says ‘ You need to take every opportunity you can’

Enjoy the podcast and please let me know your thoughts.

Many Thanks

Jason

If you would like to learn more about Savage The Musical go to:

https://savagethemusical.com/home

Songs from Savage feature in the podcast and the soundtrack is available on Apple Music and Spotify

Thank you for reading and listening to the JasonWard Creative Substack. It would be great to welcome you to the ever growing community of subscribers with both free and paid subscription options available. Thank You

Oklahoma had been seen as almost a sacred script in musical theatre. The show stands as the parent to modern musical theatre and always gives theatre companies the chance to get their cowboy costumes out and enjoy a good ole hoe down. For me, Oklahoma has been the show of my nightmares after having spent the first 6 months of drama school having to sing (and listen to other people sing) Oh What A Beautiful Morning in audition class.

However, Director Daniel Fish took Oklahoma and sanded down the layers of lacquer and artifice that others have painted over the show. He revealed a dirty, truthful and sexy show about young people living in the middle of nowhere. They are coming to terms with themselves as adults as their land is coming to terms with itself as a country. New deeper meanings were revealed under the paint without changing a single word or song.

Oklahoma had never been a show that I enjoyed but this production was a creative masterclass in how to dig down and find meaning in a theatre piece.

This episode is from my Theatre Review Podcast series.

Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you enjoyed this episode then I would love it if you could take a time to subscribe to the Jason Ward Creative Substack. Subscription is either free and or paid with over 100 articles, reviews, playlists and podcasts to enjoy with the latter option. I look forward to welcoming you in. Thank you

This is a brand new show with a stellar cast and creative team.

With names like Drew McOnie and Zizi Strallen you know it should be worth seeing.

Check out the review to find out if this show is as hot and sweet as it sounds!

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Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. This interview is one of my favourites with the incredible creative director and burlesque performer Lucy Ryan. I loved recording the interview and it was only afterwards when I listened back that I realised how much creative insight and wisdom Lucy had shared. Whether you are female, male or non-binary, a performer, painter or producer -if you are passionate about creating your art and getting it to an audience then I am sure this interview will inspire you. The headline comes from something Lucy said in the interview that what she has learned during her career is to Be Unashamedly Yourself. I hope you enjoy the interview and please help me continue this work by subscribing to The Jason Ward Creative Substack which is currently free of charge! Subscription will give you access to over 100 articles, podcasts and playlists full of creative inspiration and insight!

Next month Lucy Ryan will be taking her alter ego, Ivy Paige, and the show An Evening of Burlesque into the West End. I spoke with Lucy a few months ago while she was creating a new show for Edinburgh and continuing to work on An Evening of Burlesque. She is an incredible creative who understands the power of Burlesque as something beyond titillation (although it is also that) and continues to develop a character and narrative based form through her character Ivy Paige.

Onstage as Ivy, Lucy knows how to control and guide the audience. She also strives to make Burlesque a place that is welcoming and inclusive which somehow seems counter intuitive but blossoms into reality in her shows. While many might point to the diversity of the cast in the show as an indication of inclusivity, I believe that is has more to do with Lucy’s view that Burlesque is more about how we reveal rather than what we show. Encouraging the use of imagination still has a place in Burlesque!

To check out my review of An Evening of Burlesque click here:

Celebrating How We Reveal

To find out more about An Evening of Burlesque in London click here:

An Evening of Burlesque West End

To find out more about An Evening of Burlesque in Dublin click here:

An Evening of Burlesque Dublin

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