British Theatre Guide Podcast

The Octagon Theatre in Bolton ends its year-long season with the first UK revival of the musical Love Story since it closed on the West End in 2010. Based on the novel by Erich Segal and the hit film, both from 1970, the show features a book by Stephen Clark and a score by Howard Goodall. The Octagon’s production is directed by Elizabeth Newman, the theatre’s associate director, with the principal couple both played by graduates of the BBC TV audition reality shows: Daniel Boys, who was in Any Dream Will Do in 2007, and Lauren Samuels, who was Over The Rainbow in 2010. In this episode, both actors and the director together with musical director Tarek Merchant speak about the show and a rehearsal process that is more usual for a play than for a musical, and also about life as a working performer after the glaring spotlight of the TV reality show. Love Story will run at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton from 19 June to 12 July 2014. (Love Story rehearsal photos by Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club)

Kneehigh Theatre Company from Cornwall is currently working on a brand new adaptation of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera titled Dead Dog in a Suitcase, with a script by regular Kneehigh writer Carl Grose and music by Charles Hazlewood, directed by Kneehigh founder Mike Shepherd. Charles Hazlewood spoke to us from Sweden where he was conducting a concert of music from video games with the Malmö SymfoniOrkester. He talks about his involvement in the project from taking it to Mike Shepherd as an idea around three years ago through his process of creating the score in rehearsals with the performers and scriptwriter-lyricist Carl Grose. Mike Shepherd, speaking to us at the end of the first week of rehearsals at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, where the show opens in June, speaks about the evolving story and politics of the show and the influences of modern events and modern popular culture, as well as the process of bringing it to the stage. Mike also explains how Kneehigh has developed and constantly changed dir

Britain’s National Theatre is currently promoting tours of three of its most successful productions: War Horse, adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s First World War novel by Nick Stafford, Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors, an updated version of Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters set in 1960s Brighton, and an adaptation by Simon Stephens of Mark Haddon’s much-loved novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The title character of War Horse is Joey, created on stage by the puppetry of South African company Handspring. We speak to the three performers currently playing the part of the adult Joey, Dave Emmings, Stuart Angell and Mikey Brett, who play Joey’s head, heart and hind respectively The lead character in One Man, Two Guvnors was originally played by James Corden, but the latest tour will feature Gavin Spokes in the exhausting role of Francis Henshall, who tells us all about playing the role. We also speak to National Theatre associate director Marianne Elliott, co-director of War Horse

Irving Berlin’s classic Wild West musical Annie Get Your Gun, based on the true romance story of sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, is to be revived by Ambassadors Theatre Group starring Jason Donovan and Emma Williams in the two lead roles with Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill Cody. Like many of ATG’s own productions, it will open at one of the company’s own Manchester theatres as part of its “Manchester Gets It First” scheme, with previews at the Opera House from 16 May 2014. Director Ian Talbot OBE ran the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for 20 years where he introduced the summer musical productions for which the company is now famous. He talks about his take on the production and why he believes it hasn't been revived much professionally recently and reflects on his legacy at Regent's Park and the work he has done since he left. Norman Pace is best known as half of the comedy duo Hale and Pace but has also forged an acting career in plays and musicals, including a spell as Amos Hart in Chicago on the

Mark Babych, who was artistic director of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton for ten years up to 2009, was appointed artistic director of Hull Truck Theatre in 2013. His debut production as director is a revival of Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey, which will run at Hull Truck from 27 March 2014 starring Shameless and Waterloo Road actress Rebecca Ryan as Jo before embarking on a national tour. In this episode, Mark speaks about why he chose this play, bringing one of Salford's best-known plays back to Salford's Lowry, his involvement with the successful bid for Hull to become the UK's City of Culture for 2017 and how he went from the Octagon to freelance to taking on another building-based theatre company. He also pays tribute to Chris Honer, who stepped down as artistic director of Manchester's Library Theatre Company recently and whom Mark considers to be a big influence on his own work.

Highlights of the 2014 Manchester Theatre Awards at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester on 7 March 2014 hosted by Justin Moorhouse, celebrating the best theatre seen in Manchester throughout 2013. Speakers, presenters and award winners who can be heard on the podcast include: Kevin Bourke, Sue Jenkins, David Crellin, Andrew Wright, Kathryn Davies, Richard Mantle, Ray Fearon, Julian Glover, Lisa Maxwell, Catherine Kinsella, Paula Wilcox, Christine Cort, Christopher Villiers, Isla Blair, Shirley Darroch, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Alistair McDowall, Sir Richard Leese, Matthew Forbes, LipService, Graeme Hawley, Colin Connor, Lisa Connor, Rachel Austin, Ian Kershaw, Eric Potts, Charlotte Keatley, Rob Ward, Martin Jameson, Wyllie Longmore, Freya Sutton, Caroline Clegg, John Henshaw, Joyce Branagh, Suranne Jones, Cush Jumbo, Alex Poots and Chris Honer. Plus other representatives of the Michael Clark Company, Singin' in the Rain production team, Opera North, Manchester International Festival, National Theatre's War Ho

Ellie Nunn, daughter of director Sir Trevor Nunn and actress Imogen Stubbs, talks to BTG reviewer Belle Lupton about her one-woman show Bombshells. Ellie talks about playing six different roles in this comedy by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith which she performed at Jermyn Street Theatre in London in January 2014. She also explains about not going to drama school and about growing up with parents famous for their theatre work—plus how she reacts if they offer her advice.

Jersey Boys is a smash hit musical based on the songs and the life story of pop band Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons which started life at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California in 2004, moved to Broadway the following year and has since opened all over the world, winning best musical awards at the Tonys in 2006 and the Olivier Awards in 2008. Producer David Ian talks about bringing the show to the UK after seeing the last preview on Broadway. West End cast members David McGranaghan and Jon Boydon, who play Nick Massi and Tommy DeVito, and Tim Driesen, who has been playing Frankie Valli in the Dutch production, talk about the rigorous selection and training process and about what it is like to be a part of the show. Richard Hester, who has been involved with the show since it began in San Diego in 2004, tells us what it has been like to go from stage manager of that original production to being in charge of 11 productions throughout the world. Finally, co-writer Rick Elice talks us through the pro

Playwright Anya Reiss, whose first play was produced by London's Royal Court Theatre less than four years ago, talks about her adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull, written for Southwark Playhouse and currently being revived by Manchester's Library Theatre Company. Anya talks about her original works—Spur of the Moment and The Acid Test at the Royal Court, Forty-Five Minutes for National Theatre Connections and a monologue for the Bush Theatre's Sixty-Six Books—plus her adaptations, with new versions of Chekhov's Three Sisters for Southwark and Wedekind's Spring Awakening for Headlong both about to go into rehearsal. The Seagull will be the last play directed by Chris Honer as artistic director of the Library Theatre Company. It will be performed in the Quays Theatre at The Lowry in Salford from 21 February to 8 March 2014. For more information, see www.librarytheatre.com or www.thelowry.com. (Photo of Anya Reiss by Emma Bullivant)

Actor and writer Deborah McAndrew, who played Angie Freeman in Coronation Street in the 1990s, talks about her latest play, An August Bank Holiday Lark, commissioned by Barrie Rutter of Northern Broadsides Theatre Company to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War. Deborah talks about her research and writing process for this play, her 20-year association with Northern Broadsides as an actor and writer and, the week after Julie Hesmondhalgh made a high-profile exit from Coronation Street, about life and career after soap. For more information, see www.northern-broadsides.co.uk

London editor Philip Fisher speaks to some of the stars of Broadway and off-Broadway on his annual trip to New York's theatreland. Bryce Pinkham stars in the hit Broadway show The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. This is a musical based on the same story as the classic Ealing comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets. He talks about his road to stardom and also the pleasure of working in a Broadway success story. Eric Tucker and Andrus Nichols are the artistic directors behind Bedlam’s four-performer double bill of Hamlet and Saint Joan playing off-Broadway at Culture Project. They discuss the company's ethos and the way in which it manages to revive classics on a shoestring, giving perspectives both as actors and part of the creative team.

Home Manchester is a new purpose-built arts centre that will bring together Manchester’s Cornerhouse cinema and Library Theatre Company into one organisation with shared facilities, due to open in spring 2015. BTG editor David Chadderton speaks to Walter Meierjohann, who takes over from Library Theatre Company artistic director Chris Honer, and chief executive Dave Moutrey about the new building. For more information about Home, see the official web site homemcr.org.

The Nottingham Playhouse and Birmingham Hippodrome are two of the UK's leading pantomime powerhouses. Simon Sladen speaks to Rebecca Little of the Nottingham Playhouse's Jack and the Beanstalk and Danielle Hope, Gary Wilmot and Matt Slack of Birmingham Hippodrome's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs about their pantomime careers and this year's festive productions. Nottingham Playhouse's Jack and the Beanstalk runs from 29 November 2013 to 18 January 2014. Birmingham Hippodrome's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs from 19 December 2013 to 2 February 2014.

Kat B and Matt Dempsey have appeared in many Hackney Empire pantomimes. The two performers speak to Simon Sladen about the pantomime rehearsal process, their love for the Hackney Empire and their roles as Puss and Tom in this year's production of Puss in Boots. Having returned to the UK after filming Mister Maker Around the World for CBeebies, Phil Gallagher speaks to Simon Sladen about his pantomime career, his love of Kent and his role as Billy Trot in this year's Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

The winners of the £16,000 first prize and three judges prizes of £8,000 in the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting were announced at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester on 22 November 2013. We present some highlights of the ceremony itself, followed by a chat with winning playwright Anna Jordan and three members of the judging panel: broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray, Bruntwood chairman Michael Oglesby and Royal Exchange artistic director Sarah Frankcom.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his publishing house, Nick Hern talks to Philip Fisher about a career in theatre and his work with some of the greatest names in the business. For more information about Nick Hern Books, see www.nickhernbooks.co.uk.

Actor Martin Barrass on playing the fool in his 28th panto at York Theatre Royal, the art and the craft of slapstick, having the part of Alfie written for him by Richard Bean in One Man, Two Guvnors and his home town of Hull becoming City of Culture. Martin will appear in Aladdin and the Twankeys by Berwick Kaler at York Theatre Royal from 12 December 2013 to 1 February 2014. See www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk for details.

Paul Holman Associates has produced over 200 pantomimes since 1995. Simon Sladen speaks to Paul Holman (founder, company chairman and Managing Director) and Lee Waddingham (Artistic Director / Associate Producer) about their pantomime careers, producing pantomimes and Paul Holman Associates' 2013 season, which sees the company produce thirteen pantomimes and one Christmas musical in venues across the UK.

Playwright Tom Morton-Smith and director Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder on In Doggerland, the first national tour from new writing company Box of Tricks Theatre Company. The play will tour to: 7-9 November: The Lowry Studio, Salford 10-11 November: New Diorama, London 14 November: Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven 15 November: Derby Theatre Studio 19 November: Mill at the Pier, Wigan 20 November: York Theatre Royal Studio 21 November: The Continental, Preston 22-23 November: Lantern Theatre, Liverpool 26 November: Exeter Phoenix 27 November: Square Chapel, Halifax 28-30 November: Theatr Clwyd, Mold

After two and a half years, the newly-refurbished Birmingham REP has reopened with an additional third auditorium. REP executive director Stuart Rogers takes us on a tour of the new building and artistic director Roxana Silbert explains what it is like to have three separate spaces to programme.