The Uncensored Critic Podcast

Hannah is a multi-award winning photographer based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, and she talks me through the various elements of photography in its various forms.  

She has a wealth of experience from qualifying into The British Institute of Photography at 19 years of age to being in the running to win the National Business Women's award in 2019.  

She has shot all over the world, working with actors, athletes and everyone in between. She talks about her inspiration and her obsession with light and how it helps to paint a picture without a canvas or an easel, but with a camera.  

Such a pleasure listening and learning from her, she did my last batch of headshots and I cannot recommend her services enough!  

Hannah's website: https://www.hcphotography.co.uk 

Her Instagram: @hannahcouzensphotography  

Oliver Gower

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Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

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Something slightly different in this episode, I was on a zoom call with the lovely Alex Sedgley from agency Curtis Brown who represent people such as Stanley Tucci and Daniel Mays.

She answers questions and gives advice on how to contact agents to get representation, and how to work with one when you get signed up.

Credit to Casting Connections for organising this call, and for allowing me to upload the recording.

Apologies for the sound quality throughout the episode. 

Oliver Gower 

SPOTLIGHT PIN: 9097-9058-5261

Instagram: goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

Ashten is a singer, actress, and dancer, she graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in 2017 with a BA in Musical Theatre. Since her graduation she has started her own singing business Ashten York Singing which you can find on Instagram and her website, links to her pages are below. 

She also has toured around Europe as a member of the performance crew onboard Viking cruises, and currently she is embarking on her second tour with the company, where she will premiere her new one woman show, comprised of songs that have touched her heart. I know for a fact she is so excited to share this with the world and reach new heights as a singer and a thespian.   

Not only being an accomplished performer, she is also a keen musician, playing the piano and the guitar, even trying her hand at writing her own material. She also has her own podcast which she created with her sister Amy called Sister Business which you can find on her YouTube page which is linked below.

Learning from her, as well as getting to know her this past year, has been a great pleasure, long may our collaborations last! She encourages me and her other students to feel confident in their singing as well as themselves, and I have learnt so much about vocal theory and self-confidence from her than I ever thought I would. You're a real gem Ash!

One of her dream roles is Elphaba in Wicked, I'm sure we will see her in town raising the roof with her interpretation of that character one day!

This podcast was originally recorded in October 2020 via Instagram Live.

Instagram: @ashtenyorksinging

Website: https://www.ashtenyork.co.uk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AshtenYork/featured

Oliver Gower

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

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

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Christian and I both worked together at the National Theatre on a piece called "My Country; a work in progress", a verbatim play that centred around the result of the EU referendum of 2016 under the guidance of Rufus Norris, and Poet Laureate, at the time, Carol Ann Duffy. An experience that both of us treasure to this very day. 

It was a genuine pleasure to hear Christian's stories about his early life and work, to the challenges of working as an actor, and working at the National Theatre by my side. 

Oliver Gower

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

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

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David Barnett is currently Professor of Drama at the University of York.

David's primary research point is the work of Brecht, and the Berliner Ensemble, he has written countless journal entries and articles about the foundations of Brecht's practice. 

Telling the reader, performer, and director, how you can apply them to a production, and for that matter, any existing play, and come up with a different angle depending upon the social contradictions that are hiding beneath the surface. 

We talk about three foundations of Brecht's work, GESTUS, HALTUNG, and, VERFREMDUNG. 

This conversation would be great for anyone who is studying Brecht at school or university, or for that matter, anyone who wants to know a little more about his work.  

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!

Simon is an actor and Chekhov specialist. 

We talk everything from Simon's earliest memories of Chekhov at drama school, to discussing Chekhov's yin-yang approach to life as a man of science, yet has a spiritual attachment to him at the same time. 

We discuss Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, and how Chekhov's influence was very much with us during the pandemic, and how he can capture life's humorous moments, even in the darkest of times. 

Both these things and everything in between makes Chekhov one of the most celebrated playwrights of our age. 

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!

Welcome to The Uncensored Critic Podcast!

Thank you so much for tuning in and listening to my show.

For my first episode I had the pleasure of talking to long-term collaborator, and friend of Harold Pinter, Harry Burton. 

We discuss everything from Pinter's early years growing up in Hackney, living through post-WW2 London, to finding out the best way to tackle Pinter's work in performance. 

We take a close look at "The Caretaker", first performed in 1960, tells the story of Aston, recovering from electric shock therapy, who brings a random tramp home off the street, Davies. Along with Mick, his brother, and their new flatmate, a three way power struggle suddenly ensues.  

It was such a great and insightful conversation to have, understanding the way Pinter liked to work, his political views, and how his interpretation of our world fed into how he wrote his plays. 

This episode also features myself doing a reading of a speech from Harold's play The Caretaker, hope you enjoy it.

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!