It's the first week of Malory Towers rehearsals and just like the first day of school, everyone is feeling a bit anxious and worrying about where to get lunch.

The lift is out of order along with the air-con as we join Emma in a noisy rehearsal room in East London - an insight into the inner working of Wise Children against a backdrop of Harps, Piano Tuners and hand dryers as she introduces us to the cast.

Recorded at ParkFarm/WiseChildren Rehearsals

Hosted by Emma Rice and featuring the original company of Malory Towers.

Produced and Mixed by Simon Baker for Wise Children Limited

First released on Monday 1st July 2019.

We're back!  Finally!  Since our last podcast Wise Children has been out tour, we even made a movie of it but right now Emma is back in rehearsal for our new show - Enid Blyton's Malory Towers.  Over the next few weeks catch up with all the usual suspects as we get the show ready for the first audience in our new summer venue - The Passenger Shed.  

In this episode join Emma as she explains why she chose Malory Towers.  She's joined by her Mum, Maureen Rice.

Recorded at ParkFarm

Produced and Mixed by Simon Baker for Wise Children Limited

First released on Friday 21st June 2019.

In this special episode for the holiday season, Emma Rice looks back on 2018 and the first year of Wise Children, both the show and the Company.

With previously unreleased material from the show, clips from the rehearsal room and a very special treat at the very end.  Emma talks candidly about leaving the Globe and her new adventure.  Wise Children.  

As Time Out wrote - "it's good to back on Planet Rice".

Hosted by Emma and featuring The Wise Children Company.

Recorded at The Old Vic, London and SandfordRoad

Produced and Mixed by Simon Baker for Wise Children Limited

First released December 2018

It’s preview week for Wise Children at The Old Vic, and Emma talks to the company backstage as they get ready for a performance after a day of rehearsals. She finds out how they prepare for each show, how they keep going in this demanding period before press night - while they’re performing every evening and continuing to work during the day - and what it’s like to finally put the piece in front of an audience.

Hosted by Emma and featuring The Wise Children Company.

Recorded at The Old Vic, London and SandfordRoad

Produced and Mixed by Simon Baker for Wise Children Limited

First released on Monday 15th October 2018

After all the planning, Emma Rice's new company move into London’s Old Vic to prepare for the opening of their first show: Angela Carter's Wise Children.  

This week, while the actors take a well earned day off, Emma bothers everyone in the auditorium and asks them what they do.  We meet the creative and technical teams as they prepare for the start of technical rehearsals and get ready for the Dress Rehearsal.  

Hosted by Emma and featuring Wise Children's Creative and Technical Teams including Cath Bates, Vicki Mortimer, Malcolm Rippeth, Simon Baker, Lucy Martin, Lizzie Frankl, Steph Curtis and Charlie Smalley.

Recorded at The Old Vic, London and SandfordRoad

Produced and Mixed by Simon Baker for Wise Children Limited

First released on Monday 7nd October 2018

This week Emma Rice talks to Bristol artists Beth Carter & Stuart Mitchell about the animation they have created for Angela Carter's Wise Children due to open at the Old Vic on October 8th.  

The animation takes Nora and Dora Chance from Brixton to Chelsea, from the wrong side of tracks to legitimacy, as they attend Melchior Hazzard's 100th birthday party.

Emma explains how she conceived this tricky but pivotal moment of staging.

Recorded at The Hut by The Harbour and SandfordRoad

Produced and Mixed by Simon Baker for Wise Children Limited

First released on Monday 1st October 2018

This week Emma talks to the Wise Children producing team, Judith Dimant, Poppy Keeling and Matt Lister and asks them to explain how a theatre company actually works.  Recorded at Ashton Court, Bristol and set against a backdrop of the early stages of rehearsal for Wise Children,  this is an insight into how theatre gets made.

Emma talks about the new School For Wise Children and her ambitions to train a new generation of actors and musicians.

Recorded during the first School For Wise Children - Music For Ensemble Theatre - and features material from the inaugural students and an interview with Ian Ross on what it takes to be a musician in a band for an Emma Rice show.  With music created and performed live by the students.

Hosted by Emma and featuring key members of the Wise Children team this first episode, recorded in June 2018, features rare and exclusive rehearsal footage as Emma starts work with the company on constructing material for the first production.

Hosted by Emma and featuring key members of the Wise Children team this first episode, recorded in June 2018, features rare and exclusive rehearsal footage as Emma starts work with the company on constructing material for the first production.