The Uncensored Critic Podcast

Claire and Verônica are leaders of Fractured Time Productions, a UK-based theatre company that brings together both classic and modern plays through a contemporary lens. From Shakespeare, Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, the Ancient Greeks to their latest show The Dying Wish by Mauro Fazion. 

Claire:

Claire is an actor, musician and producer who graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York in 2018. She has worked in the UK, USA and in Madrid at the Teatros de Canal. She is also a trained violinist with experiences with actor-musician productions of Shakespeare and new musicals. 

Including experiences as a stage manager, overseeing productions with creatives such as George Heslin and Mark Ravenhill. Moreover, she is skilled in theatre tech with the ability to operate “both sound and projection cues, ensuing seamless transitions during live performances” (quote from Claire’s website). 

Also check out her other company in partnership with Fractured Time, follow the account Broadway Broads on Instagram. 

Verônica:

Verônica is an award-winning actor, director and personal development coach. She has degrees from Drama Centre, Escola Superior de Arts Célina Helena in Brazil and the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute in Russia where she learned the Stanislavsky system.  

As a coach she’s mentored actors, theatre makers and people from other walks of life through a series of workshops across drama schools and other instiuitions since 2013. 

She is also trained a reiki master. 

Get in touch via her website below to sign up for acting classes and personal development sessions. Being trained in the Alexander technique her methods can help you not only become a better performer, but help you build a more confident and healthier mindset. 

Claire, Verônica and myself discuss the founding of Fractured Time as well as the messages behind their recent production of The Dying Wish as part of the Lambeth Fringe. A play taking place in an execution bunker where the employees await their next job. In other words, the next person in line to kill in order to earn their pay checks. The show poses many questions, especially about these “woke” times we live in and how to remind ourselves that our freedom of speech and movement is our God-given right, and no-one can take it away from us! 

All this and much more! Thank you both, here’s to next time! 

Shoutout to the cast of Dying Wish: Omar Aga, Chris Gallagher, Chris Machari, Iago Cabrero, Romeo Olukton, Cyril Auclair, Andrea Furlotti and Precious Scott.

Claire website: https://www.claire-moniquemartin.com/general-9

Verônica website: https://www.scenestudyveronicasarno.com/

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 Uncensored Critic Podcast was heard in over 34 countries in 2024. In the same year streams grew by 39%, listeners increased by 30%, brand new listeners were up by 88% and followers were up 136%. The show has an average rating of 5/5 Stars. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2024. 

Kimberley is a former actress turned filmmaker with her own company “KollabKreate”. That she started in 2023 off the back of a full time degree in independent film production, obtaining a first class honours from the University of Lancashire. 

During her time studying she was introduced to feminist film theory, which explores the power of story-telling through a gendered lens. Observing authentic female expression on film. 

Out of this curiosity she founded her company which makes compelling brand films for businesses and brands. Challenging norms and amplifying voices of entrepreneurs and female-centric businesses through visual storytelling. 

In the company’s own words “our social media experts ensure that your videos reach their full potential across various platforms by optimising each piece of content to boost visibility, engagement and conversations. Whether you are looking to enhance brand awareness, launch a new product or engage with your audience on social media. We’re here to help you succeed. Let’s Kollab and Create!”

More information here: https://www.kollabkreate.com/

Kim discusses her early years as an actor, to then turning her attention to becoming a filmmaker for both creatives and business minds alike. Furthermore shattering any limiting beliefs that we all carry within us, from knowing that it’s never too late and you’re never behind in life at any stage!

Thank you Kim!

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 Uncensored Critic Podcast was heard in over 34 countries in 2024. In the same year streams grew by 39%, listeners increased by 30%, brand new listeners were up by 88% and followers were up 136%. The show has an average rating of 5/5 Stars. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2024. 

Katie trained at LAMDA and at The BRIT School (graduates include Adele and Amy Winehouse) and has been a part of some incredible things in recent years, including:

Short Films:

• A Punch From The Sun
• These Walls
• Angel

TV:

• Criminal Record
• Titans - HBO

Theatre:

• The Mirror Crack’d - Millennium Centre, Cardiff
• Museum of Austerity - English Touring Theatre and National Theatre
• Othello - also National directed by Clint Dyer, (one half of the Death of England duo)
• That Face - Orange Tree Theatre
• Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams - English Theatre Frankfurt 
• Clybourne Park - Park Theatre, produced by the great Trish Wadley, for which she received an Offie Nomination for Best Supporting Performance for the roles of “Betsey” and “Lindsey”. 
• Soon to be appearing in “Ragdoll” at the Jermyn Street Theatre from October 9th-November 15th, get your tickets now!

We discuss Katie’s role in Tennessee Williams’ Suddenly Last Summer, where she played “Catharine Holly”, originally played by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1959 film. The play is one of Williams’ least performed, nevertheless packs a big punch. Katie and I discuss the messages behind the text, influence of Williams’ close relationship with his sister on his work and how to tackle a demanding role every night. 

As well as her work on the recent production of Othello at the National starring Giles Terera and our mutual love for Shakespeare!

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 Uncensored Critic Podcast was heard in over 34 countries in 2024. In the same year streams grew by 39%, listeners increased by 30%, brand new listeners were up by 88% and followers were up 136%. The show has an average rating of 5/5 Stars. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2024. 

Sarah Spring (or “Dame Sarah” to those close to her!) is an actor, coach and Shakespeare enthusiast. 

She shares her knowledge of The Bard across Instagram, TikTok and even on Amazon with a link to her Storefront, full of recommendations of books to help sharpen your knowledge of Shakespeare. 

She trained at Interlochen Arts Academy and Fordham University at the Lincoln Center. As an actress she has tackled most of Shakespeare’s cannon, a few of her favourites include:

• Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing
• Isabella, Measure for Measure
• Hermione, Winter’s Tale
• Viola, Twelfth Night
• Regan, King Lear
• And Lady Macbeth

Her brand new film, now on the short film circuit in the states, “A King’s Curtain”, starring Austin Pendleton, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Charles E.Gerber, just won Best Drama at the LA International Short Film Festival. 

There is no stone left unturned in Sarah’s work. From the original pronunciation of possessive noun endings, the difference between you and thou, the meaning of character’s names, trochaic tetrameter, verse vs prose, monologues vs soliloquies and how ultimately, Shakespeare belongs to you!

Her various platforms (links below) are filled with helpful and accessible methods into the more complex and interesting areas of Shakespeare, especially those we didn’t think to look at in the first place. 

Check out her socials and reading list for more facts and inspiring content. Also if you’re looking for 1:1 sessions to help prepare for an audition or academic assignment you can book those via the link below. As well as follow her across her various platforms for regular updates, facts and topics.

Helping you to ENJOY Shakespeare and see his work for what it is. Astonishing, vivid, timeless, beyond beautiful, beyond clever, just the best writing you will read and speak. 

Ray Fearon's version of "Cry Havoc!":

https://youtu.be/zPl4HWrN5Ss

Thanks so much Sarah! Here’s to next time!

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 Uncensored Critic Podcast was heard in over 34 countries in 2024. In the same year streams grew by 39%, listeners increased by 30%, brand new listeners were up by 88% and followers were up 136%. The show has an average rating of 5/5 Stars. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2024. 

Sarah’s Links:

FREE GUIDE/Shakespeare's Verse:

stan.store/ShakespeareMadeClear/p/get-my-free-guide-to-unlocking-shakespeares-verse

TikTok:

tiktok.com/@shakespearemadeclear?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Book One-on-One Coaching:

stan.store/ShakespeareMadeClear/p/private-coaching-with-dame-sarah

Instagram:

instagram.com/shakespearemadeclear

Amazon Storefront:

amazon.com/shop/shakespearemadeclear?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfsho

David is an entrepreneur, business icon, charity founder, lover of football and the arts, specifically theatre. 

His work is dedicated to helping people in more ways than one. From an early age he has had a keen entrepreneurial flair starting with a wholesale business supplying food imported from West Africa and the West Indies. Inspired by his mother’s shop in Shepherd’s Bush Market during the Windrush years. 

To then setting up various charities including “The Twinning Project” which works extensively with people in prisons to help them get back on their feet after their sentence is up. The project partners with football and the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice to help rebuild lives that have had a tough beginning. Trustees include Ian Wright and Dame Sally Coates. 

In terms of the arts, David was part of “Stage One”, a bursary that works with commercial theatre producers to help their work get made. In the last five years alone they have supported 80 new producer, awarded £430,000 to emerging producers, £320,000 worth of top ups to previous collaborators and created new partnerships to emerging musical theatre presentations. 

Of course he is most famously known for being the former vice-chairman of the greatest football club in the world, The Arsenal. Being the man who hired Arséne Wenger, winning 18 trophies and guiding us to a season completely undefeated. 

If that’s not enough, he also received an MBE in recognition of his achievements in 2019.

David and I discuss his love for theatre, football and how both can help people in so many ways. You don’t get anywhere unless “you stick your neck out” and never fear “missing the moon because you’ll hit the stars”. 

Thank you David, such an honour!

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 Uncensored Critic Podcast was heard in over 34 countries in 2024. In the same year streams grew by 39%, listeners increased by 30%, brand new listeners were up by 88% and followers were up 136%. The show has an average rating of 5/5 Stars. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2024. 

Robyn started acting professionally from the age of 14. She has a BA in Performing and Screen Arts from the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland, New Zealand, graduating in 2009. During her time there she studied under Sanford Meisner graduate Michael Saccente. 

From there she continued her studies at The Neighbourhood Playhouse School of Theatre, otherwise known as The Meisner School in New York. She then returned to New Zealand to complete her post-graduate studies in Journalism from the Auckland University of Technology in 2012. 

Her acting work, like her studies, have taken her all over the globe. In 2013 she won the Best Female Newcomer at the Sydney Theatre Festival for her one woman show “The South Afreakins” which also enjoyed a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016. Her show was also named as “The Edinburgh Reporters Pick of the Fringe”leading to a further tour of New Zealand. 

She moved to London in 2014 where she began working in post-production for television commercials across the UK, Europe and UAE (United Arab Emirates). Then onto teaching at Royal Holloway in the directing faculty, to taking her Meisner workshops to Kingston and Roehampton Universities among many more. 

On top of all this she is the commander-in-chief of The London Meisner Company, leading workshops across London on Sanford Meisner’s techniques to help actors give the best performance they can. Robyn is one of the brightest and attentive coaches of the Meisner technique so get in touch below to get yourself involved. 

thelondonmeisnercompany.com

@the_london_meisner_company

Robyn’s passion for Meisner and helping actors is unparalleled and this was one of my favourite episodes to record! Thank you again Robyn, until next time!

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 Mildred Yuan!

Mildred returns to the show to discuss the rise of AI, its impact on the performing arts and how now more than ever, we need to embrace our humanity. 

Mildred stresses that while AI is amongst us, it is not here to replace you. There are things it can do to help us as she has discovered with her own piece of software “AI Mildred”. Where you can ask it anything from which agent should I sign for? What reputation does this creative team have? To what does this clause in my contract mean?

In “The Stage” recently, she wrote about how it can be an effective tool for things like the above. In this conversation she suggests that humans and AI should use this opportunity to get to know each other better. Not give our power away to it, but understand what it can do for us and where we should draw the line. In these changing times I believe it’s important to have these discussions so we know more about what’s coming and not allow anything to replace us. 

On a lighter note, Mildred and I both stress that no matter how advanced AI is prepared to go, it can never take away our authentic human experience. In her own words, “Let AI be the tool, you be the soul”. Let’s take some time to understand it, whilst also knowing it can’t take away the feeling of being human, having lived experiences, feeling genuine emotions and hearing stories that you simply can’t make up!

For access to Mildred’s “Power Hour” sessions on Patreon (£12 a month), her articles in The Stage, “Mildred AI” and how to get in touch, visit her website and Instagram below:

@mildredyuan

mildredyuan.com

Great to have you back Mildred and for shining a light on this topic. Here’s to next time!

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 Cassandra Woodhouse!

Cassandra returns to the show to discuss her second outing of Prima Facie and how actors can look after their nervous system. 

Since our last conversation she has taken Suzie Miller’s play around New Zealand for a second time, making new discoveries and deepening her relationship with the character Tessa. A young lawyer fighting her way into the British justice system from a working class upbringing. Until one night something awful happens to her and she is forced to face the cracks in the establishment she fully believed in. 

We discuss her new findings of the play, her continuous work with sexual assault charities and some of the latest reactions she’s getting from audiences. In addition to her future with the play, the rewards and benefits of producing a one woman show by yourself and how she implores actors to look after their nervous system. 

She discusses how performers should prioritise looking after their nervous systems as sometimes it doesn’t know what is real and what isn’t. It doesn’t know that you’re playing someone else’s story and not your own so when you’re tackling big material like Prima Facie, looking after yourself is paramount. 

⚠️Trigger warning: This episode contains references to sexual assault⚠️

For more information regarding her tour and future endeavours you can see that on the New Zealand Theatre Company website and her Instagram below:

nztheatrecompany.com

@cassandra_woodhouse

Thank you again Cassandra, here’s to next time!

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 

George graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Speech and Drama in 2016 and has many credits to his name across stage and screen.

For screen:

• A Number of Short Films - Open, Re-live, Hangnail and Sundowning
• Unpredictable - Amazon Prime
• Spirit Rangers Series 1-3 - Netflix
• Tore - Netflix
• Web of Lies

For stage:

• Taming of the Shrew, Madness in Valencia and The Rover - Richard Burton Company
• Baby and Sold - Park Theatre
• Wendy and Peter Pan - written by Ella Hickson at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh
• One Man Two Guvnors
• The Mousetrap, UK Tour and West End
• Present Laughter and Henry V - Barn Theatre
• Second Best, understudying Asa Butterfield (Sex Education, Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) at the Riverside Studios, directed by Michael Longhurst and written by Barney Norris 

We discuss his understudying role in Second Best, the story of Martin Hill who came second to Daniel Radcliffe while auditioning for Harry Potter. The one man show sees Martin contemplating what life could have been if he had landed the role of a lifetime as he enters a new chapter in his own life, becoming a father. Second Best asks, would life be better if I was famous or was missing out the best thing to happen to me?

We discuss George’s time being an understudy, behind the scenes and working alongside Asa on bringing Martin’s story to life. As well as his time on the longest running play in West End history, The Mousetrap. 

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 

Joyce is the founder of “Off Book It” a platform dedicated to helping actors learn lines in a fun and creative way. She’s helped countless actors removing mental blocks and providing great techniques to help them now and in the future. 

She trained at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, she is also a three day champion on the game show “Jeopardy” for NBC. 

Joyce has featured on many Q&A panels including:

• Actors Breakfast Club 
• DaJuan Johnson’s “Self-Tapes that Book”
• Blythe Howard’s commercial workshop
• Anastasia Edward’s “Actor’s Biz”
• Actor Playbook
• “Why I’ll Never Make It” Podcast 

For more information check out her website and Instagram below:

Website: https://www.offbookit.com

Instagram: @offbookit

Contact: [email protected]

Go check out her website for your FREE MASTERCLASS video. For anyone who accesses the masterclass with receive a $100 discount on her courses which also can be found via her website. 

For any actors listening or watching who want advice on memorisation this one’s for you as we discuss her four part process to making you learn your lines quicker and more effectively. Especially when you’re against the clock!

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