Curtain Call Theatre Podcast

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076 - Anthony Welsh, The Brothers Size Feb 06, 2018

Show notes

Jonathan Ajayi, Sope Dirisu and Anthony Welsh make up the brilliant onstage company of The Brothers Size along with Manuel Pinheiro playing live music while the action takes place. This critically lauded play is on at The Young Vic and has been wowing audiences with it's electrifying performances and cracking script by Oscar-winning film "Moonlight" 's creator, Tarell Alvin McCraney.

This week, we speak to Anthony Welsh, who plays the non-brother in The Brothers Size Elegba, about his journey with this play. It was a play he was completely familiar with, having performed in it 10 years ago and it was interesting to see how he approached it with a decade's worth of experience under his belt.

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075 - There or Here Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

Special Relationship are back at the Park Theatre with There or Here, Jennifer Maisel's new play about connections, both real and virtual, when a couple outsource their surrogate pregnancy to an agency in India.

I saw the show on the first preview and it was in fantastic shape, getting a lot of laughs from the get go. And they've gone on to get some good notices, especially applauding the entirely female, BAME, and/or LGBTQ+ cast and crew – something you just don't see enough of on stage.

I sat down and talked to the entire cast, the producers and the playwright backstage at The Park, pre-matinee. That's a lot of us in a small dressing room, but it was perfectly cozy and a lot of fun.

Special Relationship Productions Website

Anita Creed Productions - There or Here page

Curtain Call Website

Park Theatre Website

Nicola Chang Website

074 - Alastair Coomer and the CDG Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

It has been all change at the Donmar Warehouse over the last few days. To begin with Josie Rourke and Kate Pakenham (the artistic director and executive producer, respectively) stepped down. Josie and Kate were the first female partnership to run a London theatre. It will be over six years of a collaboration that saw great successes such as The Vote and the Shakespeare Trilogy starring Dame Harriet Walter.

And in the last 24 hours as this episode drops, Alastair Coomer, the Donmar Warehouse's Casting Director is heading for pastures new across the river on the Southbank to become the new Head of Casting at the National Theatre. He will be replacing Wendy Spon, who has held the position for more than 11 years, recently casting Network and Follies, both huge hits.

We don't' really do this, but I thought I would take you back to a chat we posted in an earlier podcast where Alastair was joined by casting director Ginny Schiller as we talked about the Casting Directors' Guild.

073 - Salieri Returns Jan 09, 2018

Show notes

It's not often that shows that have played the National Theatre Olivier stage come back for another bite of the apple. Those occasions are few and far between. But that is exactly what is happening this Thursday, the 11th of January at the NT when the theatrical smash hit Amadeus returns for a four month run.

Peter Shaffer's timeless tale set in Vienna, directed by Michael Longhurst, was such a quick sell out that the National did the sensible thing and brought it back this season with most of the cast reprising their roles - including this week's guest Lucian Msamati as Salieri. Lucian was universally praised for his controlling, conniving portrayal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's nemesis (with Adam Gillen playing Mozart again) with the Sunday Times calling it "an immersive performance" in their five-star review, which I don't think anyone can argue with.

Curtain Call Website

072 - Swinging in London Jan 05, 2018

Show notes

This week sees the closing of a show that was praised for its brilliant choreography and direction of Christopher Wheeldon - making his directorial debut if you can believe it! Critics called it "theatrical gold" and a "riot of colour and movement", and I have to wholeheartedly agree. I was captivated by the company of "An American in Paris" as their skills as dancers, singers and actors were on full display. They also move every bit of scenery, ensuring that the flow of movement never stops. And to top it all off, there's a 20-minute ballet to finish this Broadway Transfer.

When we went to visit the company earlier this week, I had a quick look at the cast list and saw how many swings were on "An American in Paris." 13! That is a lot for any show, and I knew that I just had to sit down with some of them and let them tell their story about how intense this show is, not only the main cast and ensemble, but for the small army of swings.

James Butcher, Rebecca Fennelly , Aaron Smyth and Amy Hollins and I had a little chat just as the show started.

Curtain Call page for American in Paris

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071 - Farinelli Hits Broadway Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

Last year we covered Claire Van Kampen's Farinelli and the King after it transferred from the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe to the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End.

This past Sunday, it opened on Broadway. The reviews have been raves pretty much across the board.

Getting just as many great notices as the play's star are Sam Crane and Iestyn Davies who play Farinelli and Farinelli's Voice respectively.

The convention that director John Dove employed here was to have renowned counter tenor Iestyn Davies play the castrato Farinelli, who sings the Arias literally standing next to Sam Crane. And it really works, as the boys explain in this week's episode.

Bonus Episode - The Super Emma's Dec 08, 2017

Show notes

Earlier this week, in Episode 70 of the Curtain Call Theatre Podcast, we brought you the company of People, Places & Things...well, not the entire company. There were three local actresses that joined the West End Transfer at the St. Anne's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. I chatted to them about their previous experiences of the show, what it was like joining an already well-established company and just what is a "Super Emma".

070 - People, Places & Things in New York Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

Matt Humphrey and I had the opportunity to fly over to New York and catch People, Places & Things at the St Anne's Warehouse in Brooklyn. With both of us having seen the show a couple times before, we got to watch it again before heading backstage last Friday night. And I cannot begin to tell you how phenomenal this production was. The company has grown in stature, taking Jeremy Herrin's production of Duncan Macmillan's play to new heights.

It has been an absolute pleasure getting to meet this company and get to know them over the last year, and Matt and I were overwhelmed by the welcome we received, both when we watched the show and also when we were backstage. We realise what a privileged position we are in, and it is something that we never forget. This visit, was truly unforgettable.

I sat down and talked to the company about taking the play from London (both at the National and the Wyndham's Theatre) to New York, and how they themselves thought the audiences there received the play.

069 - Evening Standard Theatre Award Nominees (The Ferryman) Nov 21, 2017

Show notes

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards shortlist was revealed with two cast members from The Ferryman among those nominated.

Laura Donnelly has been nominated for Best Actress and Tom Glynn-Carney for the Emerging Talent Award.

Curtain Call paid a visit to The Ferryman when it was on at The Royal Court, just as they announced their transfer to The Gielgud in London's West End.

068 - Equal Representation for Actresses Nov 07, 2017

Show notes

We have seen a recent spate of high profile actresses making acceptance speeches at awards nights - highlighting the unequal representation of actresses on stage and screen and the need to redress the balance. It kicked off in earnest with Denise Gough at the 2017 Olivier Awards, actor Jimmy Nesbit even chipped in at the BAFTA TV awards, and is continuing as witnessed by Deirdre Mullins' speech after picking up a Best Actress in Film award at the Scottish BAFTA's.

I had the opportunity to sit down at the National Theatre a couple weeks ago, who have just announced themselves that there will be equal representation gender balance on stage by 2021, with two Equal Representation for Actresses members, advocates and campaigners Polly Kemp and Jennie Matthews.

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ERA Website Link

ERA Stage Article

NEROPA Casting Tool Website

Polly Kemp: @pollykemp

Jennie Matthews: @89Matthews

ERA: @ERA50_50