The Tower Theatre Podcast

5 Women Now & Then

Created during the Covid lockdowns, 5 Women Now & Then, is a brand-new, female-led, three-part audio drama that questions how much has really changed for women over the last 200 years. Beautifully told as a series of interwoven stories, a tapestry of rich narrative is juxtaposed with piano-driven bar songs, spoken word, cello composition, and evocative sound design.

Originally conceived in 2019 as a stage play the evolution of the piece to audio was not only a practical necessity but is a profound statement in making the inaudible audible. 5 Women Now & Then gives flesh to the lives of women buried by the history books but framed against a contemporary lockdown.

For the best listening experience we recommend the use of headphones. WARNING: Contains content some listeners may find distressing.

Episode Three. Polly, Jem and Jeannie

Polly - Arabella Hornby

Jem - Lynne Davis

Jeannie - Vyvian Shaw

Narrator - Rosanna Preston

Other parts were played by Bea Collett Bell, Stephen Brasher, Colin Guthrie, Deborah Ross, Martin South and members of the company.

The music was written and performed by Rosie Hayes, Kasia Sikora Black, Bea Collett Bell and Colin Guthrie.

Written by Lucy Moss and Angharad Ormond

Director - Angharad Ormond

Assistant Director - Sarah Relton

Musical Director - Rosie Hayes

Sound Design - Colin Guthrie

Cover art by Arabella Hornby @artbybeana

Publicity photos by Allan Hart

Produced by the Tower Theatre

5 Women Now & Then

Created during the Covid lockdowns, 5 Women Now & Then, is a brand-new, female-led, three-part audio drama that questions how much has really changed for women over the last 200 years. Beautifully told as a series of interwoven stories, a tapestry of rich narrative is juxtaposed with piano-driven bar songs, spoken word, cello composition, and evocative sound design.

Originally conceived in 2019 as a stage play the evolution of the piece to audio was not only a practical necessity but is a profound statement in making the inaudible audible. 5 Women Now & Then gives flesh to the lives of women buried by the history books but framed against a contemporary lockdown.

For the best listening experience we recommend the use of headphones. WARNING: Contains content some listeners may find distressing.

Episode Two. Cathy, Mary Jane, Elizabeth and Lily.

Credits:

Cathy - Bea Collett Bell

Mary Jane - Bea Collett Bell

Elizabeth - Deborah Ross

Lily - Arabella Hornby

Narrator - Rosanna Preston

Other parts were played by Stephen Brasher, Lynne Davis, Colin Guthrie, Vyvian Shaw, Martin South and members of the company.

The music was written and performed by Rosie Hayes, Kasia Sikora Black, Bea Collett Bell and Colin Guthrie.

Written by Lucy Moss and Angharad Ormond

Director - Angharad Ormond

Assistant Director - Sarah Relton

Musical Director - Rosie Hayes

Sound Design - Colin Guthrie

Cover art by Arabella Hornby @artbybeana

Photos by Allan Hart

Produced by the Tower Theatre.

5 Women Now & Then

Created during the Covid lockdowns, 5 Women Now & Then, is a brand-new, female-led, three-part audio drama that questions how much has really changed for women over the last 200 years. Beautifully told as a series of interwoven stories, a tapestry of rich narrative is juxtaposed with piano-driven bar songs, spoken word, cello composition, and evocative sound design.

Originally conceived in 2019 as a stage play the evolution of the piece to audio was not only a practical necessity but is a profound statement in making the inaudible audible. 5 Women Now & Then gives flesh to the lives of women buried by the history books but framed against a contemporary lockdown.

For the best listening experience we recommend the use of headphones. WARNING: Contains content some listeners may find distressing.

Episode One. Ines, Kate and Annie.

Credits:

Ines - Deborah Ross

Kate - Lynne Davis

Annie - Vyvian Shaw

Narrator - Rosanna Preston

Other parts were played by Bea Collett Bell, Stephen Brasher, Colin Guthrie, Arabella Hornby, Martin South and members of the company.

The music was written and performed by Rosie Hayes, Kasia Sikora Black, Bea Collett Bell and Colin Guthrie.

Written by Lucy Moss and Angharad Ormond

Director - Angharad Ormond

Assistant Director - Sarah Relton

Musical Director - Rosie Hayes

Sound Design - Colin Guthrie

Cover art by Arabella Hornby @artbybeana

Photos by Allan Hart

Produced by the Tower Theatre.

In our final podcast celebrating Black History Month, Landé Belo and Bianca Curaçao go international catching up with Nairobi-based writer, storyteller, director, actor, media trainer Maïmouna Jallow on creating theatre during lockdown and celebrating African traditions in theatre; we also hear from former Tower member, now Hollywood film actor, Edwin de la Renta on life after Tower. The drama section features Sweet Play by Amatesiro Doré; directed and presented by Maïmouna Jallow, (courtesy of Positively African: https://www.positivelyafricanmedia.com/); featuring Adewale Ajose, Beverlyn Atisa, Moza Muyabwa and Olasunkanmi Oyeniyi. Music and sound design by Franck Biyong.

A very special thanks to Maïmouna Jallow and Amatesiro Doré for allowing us to present Sweet Play from the anthology of reimagined folk tales, Story, Story! Story Come! Click here to access all the tales in the anthology: http://www.reimaginedstories.com/

Thank you to all our contributors and our listeners. Special thanks to Valerie Paul, David Sprecher, Andrea Paul, Nancy P. Touzé and Jacqui Dickson for their responses to this episode’s listeners’ question.

This episode features music by Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells and Franck Biyong

Producers - Landé Belo, Bianca Curaçao and Colin Guthrie

Episode Content Editor – Landé Belo

Sound and Music Design - Colin Guthrie

Episode Three continues a celebration of Black History Month.

Landé Belo and BeEbop Curaçao delve into the relationship between the arts and activism, the impact and evolution of British theatre, and the importance of creating theatre for a more inclusive and diverse audience. They catch up with Endy McKay –  international screen and theatre actress, theatre practitioner and playwright about her work, life and her play #Regeneration. They also ask emerging young actress Inez Solomon Gardner about her hopes, aspirations and artivism.

Interview 1: Endy McKay

Interview 2: Inez Solomon Gardner, who also read and wrote Dear The Oppressors

The listener's Question responses were from:

Ruth Sullivan, Gemma Mudu, Paul Woolf, Angelika Michitsch, Rosanna Preston, Bella Hornby, Angharad Ormond and Lucy Moss.

The Radio Drama section was read and written by Endy McKay from her blog: The Only Black In The Village: Part One.

Music was by Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells and Colin Guthrie.

In our first of three podcasts celebrating Black History Month, Landé Belo and Bianca Curaçao continue to delve into the importance of creating theatre for wider and more diverse audiences. They catch up with local Hackney resident and award winning playwright and screen writer Ade Solanke on the cultural influences in her writing and keeping the theatrical experience alive post-Covid; they also chat with Tower actors Tyan Archer and Marie-José Fulgence about working with the National Youth Theatre and its response to #TheatresPullUpOrShutUp call to action for more diversity and inclusion and get great insights from them on how Tower Theatre can attract young talent. The drama section features powerful and topical play: ‘#Matter’ written by Idris Goodwin, with Nancy P Touzé as ‘Kim’ and Nick Edwards as ‘Cole’. Directed by Landé Belo.

A very special thanks to Idris Goodwin for granting us permission to present his play ‘#Matter’ in this podcast.

Thank you to all our contributors and our listeners. In particular, thanks to our listeners: Isabelle Roughol, Simon Lee, Emilia Teglia, Robert Hebblethwaite, Simona Hughes, Annemarie Fearnley, Jonathan Wober and Janet South for their responses to this episode’s listeners’ question.

This episode features music by Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells and Colin Guthrie

Producers - Landé Belo, BeEbop Curaçao and Colin Guthrie

Episode Content Editor – Landé Belo

Sound and Music Design - Colin Guthrie

Next episode’s listeners’ question: what are your best experiences of immersive theatre?

Join Angharad, Lande, Matt and BeEbop as they kick-off Season 2. As we start to emerge from national restrictions we discuss the impact of Covid on the arts and hear from listeners Annemarie Fearnley, Emily Carmichael, Rosanna Preston and Ruth Sullivan about their experiences of post-lockdown theatre. We chat to directors Simona Hughes and Rob Ellis about what the future of theatre looks like and Lande is joined by Emily McCormick to talk about writing this week’s Radio Drama ‘Mug’. ‘Mug’ is performed by Jonathan Wober and Jasmine Rachelle.

'Mug' contains strong language and themes some listeners may find distressing.

Thank you to all our listeners and contributors.

Producers - Lande Belo, Matthew Cranfield, BeEbop Curaçao, Colin Guthrie and Angharad Ormond

Episode Content Editor - Angharad Ormond

Sound and Music Design - Colin Guthrie

Landé Belo and Bianca Curaçao takeover The Tower Theatre Podcast again in episode 9, exploring themes of diversity, social and cultural inclusion, as well as enquiring about music as a tool to challenge the status quo.  Bringing to you insightful and inspiring interviews with Karen Hope, Assistant Artistic Director at Tower and Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells, musical maestro and activist, who created the podcast takeover theme song, ‘Tula’s Tambú’.  

This episode includes a thought provoking drama section: 'Voices From The Past' presenting great leaders in their own words.  Featuring Sam Bulgin as Frederick Douglass, Marie-José Fulgence as Mary Seacole, Nancy P Touzé as Sojourner Truth and Bianca Curaçao as Mary Prince.  Directed by Landé Belo. 

As ever, a big thanks to our contributors and listeners, especially Jude Chalk, Lyndsay Bird, Angelika Mitchitsch and Ruth Sullivan for their responses to this episode’s listeners’ question.  Thanks to Colin Guthrie for his technical wizardry and to Angharad Ormond and Matt Cranfield for allowing us to takeover...again.

The Tower Theatre Podcast will return for the next season in September! 

In their final appearance on the podcast this season, Angharad and Matt, along with our lovely listeners, look back at some of their favourite podcast moments over the previous 8 episodes. Angharad speaks to Ruth Sullivan about all things foley, Colin has a musical chat with Phillip Ley and we plunge into darkness for this weeks radio drama, 'The Dark Zone', written by Andy Marchant and starring Leon Chambers, Dickon Farmar, Jasmine Rachelle and Katie Smith. Directed by Colin Guthrie.

Produced by Matt Cranfield, Colin Guthrie and Angharad Ormond

Presented by Matt Cranfield and Angharad Ormond

Edited by Colin Guthrie

Sound and Music by Colin Guthrie

Thank you to all our contributors and our listeners, especially Annemarie Fearnley and Jacqui Dickson for this week’s Listeners’ Question.