The Uncensored Critic Podcast

Flora trained in musical theatre at Arts Ed and has gone on to be part of some of the biggest shows for stage and screen. 

Her credits include, for screen:

• Judy, dir. Rupert Goold
• Streetdance: The Movie 
• Malory Towers, Series 1, 4 and 5 - BBC
• Geek Girl - Netflix

Theatre:

• Singin’ in the Rain - Chichester Festival and West End
• Kiss Me Kate - Welsh National Opera
• Funny Girl
• Wonderful Town
• The American Clock - Old Vic
• Macbeth - Players Theatre Company
• The 47th - Old Vic, Rupert Goold, understudy Ivanka Trump
• Suddenly Last Summer, English Theatre Frankfurt
• Stranger Things: The First Shadow, West End, dir. Justin Martin 
• Currently - Understudy to Rosamund Pike in Suzie Miller’s latest hit play Inter Alia - playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London and will soon be making its Broadway debut later this year. 

Not to mention, she was also part of the Walker’s crisps 70th Birthday advert in 2018 playing the “Tupperware lady”. Brilliantly I must say!

Flora discusses her time at Arts Ed, the rewards and challenges of musical theatre training as well as  understudying Rosamund Pike in the huge role of Jessica Parks in Inter Alia. In addition, how the play’s subject matter (slight spoilers ahead) sparks tough but essential conversations about consent, what teenagers can access on the internet and creating a safe space to discuss sensitive subjects. 

Thank you Flora!

Oliver Gower

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Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

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Track Name. Early Morning 

Vivian trained at the Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam, Netherlands. 

Her credits include, for film:

• ​Heather Duke, Heathers: The Musical, 2022

For theatre:

• ​Dear Evan Hansen, Manchester
• ​Heather Duke, Heather’s: The Musical, The Other Palace Theatre
• ​Judy Benly, 9-5 The Musical UK Tour

She is currently starring in the UK and Ireland Tour of Mean Girls in the iconic role of Regina George, made famous by Rachel McAdams in the hit 2004 film alongside Lindsay Lohan. 

For more information and to book tickets you can do so via the link below:

https://meangirlsmusical.com/

Vivian and I discuss her journey into the business, training at Codarts and getting cast in Mean Girls. As well as, life on the road, the demands and rewards of the job and how she makes this famous role her own. 

Thank you Vivian!

Oliver Gower

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

Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic

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Track Name. Early Morning 

Hi guys and welcome to another new series!

Fringe in Fifteen 🎭

A show for artists and production companies putting on their shows at every respected Fringe festival in the UK and beyond. 

Guests get a fifteen minute elevator pitch style opportunity to promote their show, cast, what it’s about and where people can see it.

First up, the brilliant Verity Bajoria with her show “Smile” currently on at the Drayton Arms Theatre in South Kensington. 

The show follows Tammy Woodburn trying to get an agent and the journey she goes on to obtain one. Binding together all forms of comedy from traditional stand up to humour through music, this is one for all comedy and theatre lovers out there!

Tickets available here: https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/smile

Anyone else who wants to promote their show on here, please get in touch. 

Thank you Verity and good luck with the show!

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 

It’s a big welcome back to the master that is Chris Palmer! 

Chris is a voice, breath, movement, yin yoga, tai chi, Shakespeare and accent expert.

Now celebrating her second book, exploring more about the voice and how some of the world’s leading practitioner’s methods can tie into vocal support helping you with pitch, resonance and articulation.

Those include Michael Chekhov, Meisner and Stanislavski to name a few. 

The book is called Voice Training Through Acting and Movement and is now available online as well as in major retailers. 

Chris delves into the Meisner, Michael Chekhov and Stanislavski and how their methods can apply to training your voice as well as helping you develop the characters you play. 

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 

Hello guys and welcome back to Shakespeare Saturday! 

Hosted by myself and Sarah Spring 🎭

This time we look at another widely studied and most performed play, Romeo and Juliet. 

Verona, two households both alike in dignity, where out of the ashes of this conflict a pair of star cross’d lovers appear, and what unfolds is one of Shakespeare’s most beautiful and devastating tragedies. 

Performed all over the world in multiple languages, this play covers themes from adolescent love both requited and unrequited, conflict between families, political tension, hormones raging and how love is always there even in the darkest of times.

Join us for further geek out session for another of our favourite plays and stay tuned for more!

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @shakespearemadeclear

Her website: damesarahspring.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 

Lucy is a Movement Director, Choreographer and Intimacy Director who has worked on some of the biggest shows in the British and International theatre scene. 

Her work across all three professions include, for screen:

• Banana, E4
• Truthseekers, Amazon
• The Nutcracker, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina and Peter Pan, BBC
• Criminal Record Series 2, STV Studios for Apple +

For theatre:

• Workshop Leader for the Paralympic Opening Games, London 2012
• Wind in the Willows, West Yorkshire Playhouse
• Twelfth Night, Sheffield Theatres 
• The Effect, Sheffield Theatres
• No’s Knife, Old Vic
• Ugly Lies the Bone, National Theatre
• Girl from the North Country, Old Vic, Noel Coward Theatre and Public Theatre (Off-Broadway)
• Billy Elliot, Curve Leicester 
• Machinal, Old Vic
• Waiting for Godot, Theatre Royal Haymarket
• Fear of 13, Donmar
• Christmas Day, Almeida
• Road, Royal Exchange
• Inter Alia, National Theatre, Wyndham’s and soon Broadway, directed by Justin Martin - amongst many more!

Lucy and I discuss her work across all three of her professions and specifically her time on the recent West End transfer of Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia. A play about the impact on the youth of today as a result of what they can access on the internet, as well as how she works with her actors choreographing intimate scenes and making them as comfortable as possible. 

All this and much more! Thank you Lucy!

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 

Melissa is an actress, journalist and producer whose work expands way beyond acting. To the opera, working as a dramaturg, in advertising, cinema, television and leading workshops. 

Her training came from a number of institutions, one being Campagnia Finzi Pasca, a company she has collaborated with from a young age, the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York, and also with José Sinisterra in Barcelona. 

Campagnia Finzi Pasca uses resources of acrobatic movements and clown presences based on the “Theatre of Caress”, a concept developed by Daniele Finzi Pasca. 

Some of the most important things in her process as an actor are movement research and body expression. In helping actors develop their interpretations of the characters that they play. During this time she was also an assistant to the great director Elias Andreato, preparing actor Juca de Oliveira as King Lear among other great roles. 

Also with Campagnia Finzi Pasca she has also joined the dynasty of actors performing “Tessa” in Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie. A play about the flaws in the legal system when it comes to women defending themselves in sexual assault cases. Making the point that even now, as we speak, more still needs to be done and something has to change. 

Melissa and I take a deep dive into Prima Facie, hearing about some of the surreal reactions she has had performing across Italy and Switzerland in recent months. In addition to discovering new things about the text that I never thought about before, and the show’s global effect in helping numbers of people in more ways than one.

Grazie Melissa! 

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 

Daisy is a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter whose work has been heard on her singles, albums, television series narrated by David Attenborough, to films such as “Loki” and “Yesterday”. 

While at school she signed to Decca (Universal) records to become part of the quartet “All Angels” as a lead vocalist. 

Her work has also featured on Film/TV/Video Games from:

• The Sims 4
• Shaun the Sheep
• BBC Radio Scotland
• Sky
• ITV
• CNN
• Bob Harris’ “Under the Apple Tree” series. 

She holds a dual citizenship between the UK and the USA and can be found touring around Nashville, New York, LA and Chicago to name a few. As well as, festival appearances including Glastonbury Green Futures, Cornbury and the Edinburgh Fringe. 

In 2024 she won a Grammy as part of the Birdsong Project with her piece “Murmuration” inspired by starling murmurations. Her songs have been recognised in competitions, coming first in “Roots Tech” with her song “Music Is There” and in the “Coffee Music Project” with her song “London’s On Fire”. 

On top of all of this, Daisy also received the 2024 Cameron Makintosh MT Writer Placement Award and is currently co-writing musicals with Rebecca Brewer. Those include “Caven” and a new one about Jane Austen’s life for Mayflower Studios. 

Most recently she appeared on a panel at the renowned drama school Arts Ed on International Women’s Day. Talking about the availability of good parts for women, navigating the industry, advocating for yourself, being your own superhero and what we want the future to look like for women in the arts. 

We discuss her journey into the business, “All Angels”, writing music and the experience of both winning a Grammy, and hearing your work against the backdrop of legendary broadcaster David Attenborough. 

Thank you Daisy!

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 

Lauren trained at “The Television Workshop” with Ian Smith and has gone on to great things in her career thus far. 

Her credits include:

Film:

• Burn Out
• Faith

Stage:

8 productions with “The Television Workshop” including:

• Dark of the Moon
• Measure for Measure
• He’s Talking
• The Priority
• The Daughter in Law

TV:

• Doctors, BBC
• Truckers, Company and BBC
• Banana, E4
• Vera, ITV
• Granchester, ITV
• Coronation Street
• Mrs Sidhu Investigates, Acorn TV

Most recently she finished understudying the role of “Tessa” in the latest UK tour of Prima Facie led by Jodie Comer, directed by Justin Martin. 

Lauren and I talk about her inspirations to become an actor and some of her early work, to her latest experience on tour with Suzie Miller’s trailblazing play. A one woman show about the flaws in the legal system when it comes to women defending themselves in sexual assault cases. Not to mention, how there is still more to be done for the legal system to completely protect those that have suffered from this horrendous act. 

Lauren discusses learning the text, life as an understudy and being on the road with Jodie and the rest of the company. In addition, the impact the play continues to have on its audiences and those who make the show the masterpiece it is. 

Thank you Lauren!

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 

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new series, Shakespeare Saturday!

Connecting modern hearts to timeless stories.

Hosted by myself and fellow Shakespeare enthusiast Sarah Spring!

This series is for all you Shakespeare and theatre lovers, as well as those studying the plays at a high level. For those in the UK that could be for your GSCE’s, A Levels or degree. Or for your SAT’s in the USA to college standard.

To begin with we look at one of Shakespeare’s most studied play across the UK, Macbeth, aka “The Scottish Play”. A play written with warning about succumbing to the dark, demonic world of witchcraft and to the power of dangerous ambition that threatens to turn the world upside down.

This week we take a dive into the play’s supernatural powers, theatrical superstition, dangers of blasphemous ambition and tackling some previous exam questions. 

For anyone studying the Macbeth or any other of Shakespeare’s cannon, please get in touch with your questions and elements of the play you’d like to know more about.

Sarah's Instagram: @shakespearemadeclear

Her website: damesarahspring.com

Thanks for listening and stay tuned for our next episode!

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