The Uncensored Critic Podcast

Marianne Oldham is an actress who was also part of the incredible company who made A Monster Calls at the Bristol Old Vic which transferred to London in Summer 2018. A show discussed in depth on this show and one that stays extremely close to my heart. 

She is also well-known for her roles in:

As well as a huge body of work in the theatre with credits that include:

Marianne discusses working on set with A Very English Scandal and her experience on the impeccable A Monster Calls.

We discuss the impact on the show, her role as Connor’s Mother and how the show made a profound impact on its audiences. From its movement sequences, how the play encourages people to express their truth and the power of love and family. 

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

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Dani Arlington recently understudied Jodie Comer in Prima Facie in London at the Harold Pinter Theatre and in New York at the Golden Theatre. In what was called the theatrical event of 2022 that followed a young lawyer Tessa fighting for justice for women who have been the victim of sexual assault cases. 

Dani trained at Mountview and the HB Studio in New York and has worked extensively across Theatre and Screen. 

Making appearances for screen in:

• Doctors and The Dumping Ground for the BBC
• How Not to Disappear Completely
• The Silent Accomplice
• Soulboy
• Music Video for Koru’s “If My Heart Aches” 

For theatre she has worked as an actor and as an associate director, her directing credits include: 

• Darling at the Hope Theatre
• The Fulstow Boys by Gordon Steele
• The Speaker with the Live Theatre Company in Newcastle
• And of course Prima Facie 

Dani talks about her experience in Prima Facie, life as an understudy and the world of Suzie Miller’s play. 

She explains that while life as an understudy can be difficult, it is actually an incredible opportunity to take, and what a better play to do that with Prima Facie!

How you can make the role your own, not just copying what the lead actor is doing, how to be called upon at a moments notice and how being prepared for your moment is PARAMOUNT. 

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

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Track Name. Early Morning 

With over eight years of experience in advertising Stefanie Sword-Williams has built up an incredible amount of work as well as story-telling expertise. Applying her knowledge to support anyone in any industry by helping people know their worth.

In 2018 she set up “F*ck Being Humble”, a platforms designed to do just that. Inspire and remind people of their achievements and celebrate how much they’ve accomplished so far. Making people unapologetically proud of their work.

Since then she has written her debut book “F*ck Being Humble: Why Self-Promotion Isn’t a Dirty Word”, and has also done a TEDx Talk on why the world needs to be a little less humble and not become absorbed by “FOSS”. A term coined by Stefanie which stands for “Fear Of Sounding Stupid”. Her sell-out talks have reached people in over 50 countries.

She was named in Forbes’ Under 30 list for Europe and in the top 100 women changing the creative industry two years in a row. Her online community now consists of over 150,000 followers and her work has appeared in Vogue, Forbes, The Times, Cosmopolitan, Stylist Magazine, Estée Lauder, Puma and many more.

I first met Stefanie at an Old Vic Careers Event in December 2018 and I can say that she leaves her audience inspired and raring to get going in whichever business excites them the most. Great talk about owning your work, achievements, taking risks and how to embrace failure.

This episode is not only for actors and creatives but for entrepreneurs and creative people with a vision they want to share with the world.

Pleasure talking to you Stef, really enjoyed it.

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

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Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

The return of Rose Ryan!

Movement director, Intimacy Co-Ordinator, Laban Expert, Yoga Teacher and lover of the arts.

Rose returns to the podcast to discuss her latest discoveries in the Laban realm and her new work as an intimacy co-ordinator.

She discusses what working with actors in intimate scenes entails and how actors can feel comfortable in sex scenes on stage and screen.

As well as, how it's completely up to the actor to decide how far they are willing to go. It's your choice no-one else's. Never do anything you're uncomfortable with and make it clear what's ok for you to do and what isn't.

Check out Rose's website for more information about herself and her upcoming work:

www.roseryanimp.com

Great to have you back Rose, learnt so much!

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

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Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

David Punter holds a BA, MA and PhD from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and is currently Professor of Poetry at the University of Bristol.

He is one of the world leading experts in Gothic Literature and has worked in Universities across the UK and China.

He has been long-listed for the Poetry Society's Annual Competition and short-listed for the Brian Dempsey Memorial Prize.

His work encompasses a long list of academic achievements and publications in Gothic Literature, as well as in William Blake, Phillip Larkin, Post-Modernism and Post-Colonialism.

More information about David, his published works and how to get in touch can be found via his website:

david-punter.org

He talks me through the foundations of the gothic, its traits and what the genre is about at its core. We reference texts such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber.

Great discussion for anyone currently studying the gothic and any one or more of the above texts.

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

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Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

Claire J. Loy trained at the Bow Street Academy in Dublin and the Gaiety School of Acting with practitioner Tom Kibbe. 

Her credits include Casualty (BBC), Vikings Valhalla and Bodkin (Netflix), The Girl at the End of the Garden (Dyehouse Films), The Gates with Stephen Hall and John Rhys Davis, who some may know as “Gimli” in The Lord of the Rings, and many short films including “In Orbit”, written and directed by Katie McNeice. 

For that she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award at the Underground Cinema Awards in Ireland. On top of that she won Best Actor at the Disappear Here Film Festival in 2022, and Best Supporting Actress in a Short Film at the South Film and Arts Academy Film Festival in 2019. Her performance was described as “intense and intelligent”. 

Claire talks me through her career to date, and the best way to get an agent. She tells me about how important it is to find the agent that you click with and know from gut instinct that you can work with them and above all trust them to help you in your career. 

We also discuss:

• Her training with Tom Kibbe
• How to say NO to jobs 
• Her book recommendation “Self-Management for Actors” by Bonnie Gillespie
• Her experience of working on Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” 
• How to take ownership of of yourself and what you want to achieve in this business
• How actors have to trust and believe in themselves entirely

Find Claire on Instagram: @claire_the_grey_

Her website: clairejloy.com

Great chat for anyone who is looking for representation and how to get the best agent for you. 

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

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Thank you all for your support!

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

Rohan Carr works in Theatre Automation and Production across London's West End and the regions.

He's another member of the GSA family graduating in Theatre Production, Stage and Production Management and has worked across some of the most popular theatre events of 2022/23.

From Good, Lemons (x5) , and A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Merrily We Roll Along at the Southwark Playhouse

Constellations at the Vaudeville Theatre

Magic Goes Wrong at the Apollo

Soon he'll be backstage on The Time Traveller's Wife also at the Apollo Theatre.

Rohan talks about working on A Little Life, the demands of not only the cast but of the entire team behind the scenes. How everyone pulled together for each other and demonstrating it's not the actors that make a show it's the whole team, some you see, some you don't but nevertheless they all have a part to play.

He also offers advice on anyone who is keen to get involved with Stage Management and how they can make the career they want.

Check out Rohan's Instagram for enquiries and further information on his other work:

@rohancarr

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️

Thank you all for your support!

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

Charlie MacGechan is an actor, producer, entrepreneur and founder of "Run At It Shouting" (RAIS). A company that brings actors in front of the world's leading casting directors to give advice and helpful tips on their self tapes. As well as run workshops on Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, Comedy and Audition technique.

For more information and upcoming workshops check out the website below.

As an actor Charlie recently appeared in "We Die Young", directed by Lior Geller, for which he was nominated for the 2019 Mammoth Film Festival Prize for Best Actor. Other credits include Unforgotten, The Girl From The Song, Squadron 42 and Deus.

For theatre he appeared in an adaptation of Harold Pinter's novel "The Dwarfs" at the White Bear Theatre, directed by Harry Burton. In recognition of his producing talents his BFI film "Incompatible", directed by Maxine Peake and executively produced by David Harewood. As well as the theatrical premiere of Phillip Ridley's "The Poltergeist" at the Arcola Theatre in October 2022.

Charlie discusses playing Pinter, creating RAIS, how it helps actors from all backgrounds and abilities, and what's next for him.

RAIS website: runatitshouting.co.uk

Charlie's Instagram: @macgechancharlie

RAIS Instagram: @runatitshouting

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️

Thank you all for your support!

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

The return of Harry Burton!

If it wasn't for Harry suggesting I recorded our last conversation about Harold Pinter I wouldn't have a podcast. Thank you Harry for not only your time but for giving me this platform!

This time we turn our attention to Pinter's play "No Man's Land.

Written in 1975, the play was recently dubbed as "mystifying as ever" by the Chicago Sun-Times. We follow Hirst and Spooner drinking whiskey in Hampsted one gloomy night. Do they know each other? Or are they playing a farcical game that's played amongst old friends? Audiences continue to ask what is this play about?

Harry offers his thoughts as well as more stories about Harold, the people he met, and the stories he told.

Catch the production on National Theatre At Home, and check out Harry's own YouTube channel for even more discussions about Pinter with some of the best actors and directors in the business.

Also get in touch with Harry for copies of his documentary "Working with Pinter" on DVD as well as any other enquiries.

Harry's YouTube:  @Mataharifilms 

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️

Thank you all for your support!

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning 

The return of Rebecca Reaney!

Rebecca returns to the podcast to share more of her knowledge on movement and how integral it is to their process.

Since we last spoke she has spent time in LA with the Identity School of Acting, shooting movement videos and discovering more about her craft.

She shares what she's uncovered in the last year, how actors can mentally and physically prepare for demanding roles and her plans for the future.

Thank you for joining me again Rebecca, always a pleasure!

Check out her website to see more of her work and upcoming workshops:

www.rebeccareaneymovement.com

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

For enquiries and requests: [email protected]

Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️

Thank you all for your support!

Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ 

Track Name. Early Morning