That's Theatre Darling

This week I’m thrilled to be sharing a brand new episode with the fantastic Oliver Mackwood. Oliver is a Theatre Producer with a huge passion for the arts and sharing stories. During the episode I finally learnt all about what being a Producer really is, we chatted about the importance of theatre and what it can do for people, and Oliver told me all about what and who inspires him. I really enjoyed finding out more about the life of a Producer, I hope you enjoy the episode too! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

I’m really excited to share this brand new episode with a hugely talented Composer, Orlando Gough! Orlando’s incredible skill and his craft is beautiful to behold, he really is a musical genius. I had a blast finding out more about him during this episode; his endless enthusiasm means that I could happily sit and chat to him for hours on end. We talked about his childhood trips to Chichester Festival Theatre; the beautiful crow language that he made up for a show that we worked on together; and his friend’s wisdom of seeing past work as compost for future endeavours. This episode was a real treat to record, I hope that you enjoy it! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week’s guest is a brilliantly talented Playwright, Tristan Bernays! I have been an admirer of Tristan’s work ever since seeing his incredible plays, including Teddy at the Southwark Playhouse and Boudica at the Globe. During the episode we chatted all about inspiration (and lack of, during the pandemic); his routine when it comes to writing; and he admits a faux pas that literally made me gasp. It was an absolute pleasure to meet and chat to him, and I hope you really enjoy the episode. Check out his website to see more about his work: www.tristanbernays.com If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

To celebrate one whole year of That's Theatre Darling, the tables have turned...I, Amy Slater, have been placed firmly in the hot seat! The ever so brilliant Holly Henshaw and Rachel Middlemore, previous podcast guests, took my list of questions and seamlessly settled right into the role of co-hosts. It's a whistle-stop tour through my career in theatre so far, my rambly thoughts and some great memories. I hope you enjoy this special bonus episode!  If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling  

My guest for today’s episode was a real delight to chat to, so open and super enthusiastic about her work and the theatre world. She is an incredibly talented Prop Maker and Supervisor…it’s none other than Rosheen McNamee! From a childhood dreaming of being a servant (!) to making a fully guttable, skinnable rabbit she has got many a story to tell. Rosheen shared a really powerful story about what theatre has done for her as a person, which I think is just so inspiring and really shows the power and importance of what we do. Check out Rosheen’s brilliant illustrations on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/InkyRoseIllustration If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week I am delighted to introduce you to a wonderful human being and Company Stage Manager extraordinaire, SJ Ledbury! Coming from a very theatrical childhood, she vowed that she absolutely did not want to work in theatre…but against all odds she couldn’t stay away! The passion in which she speaks about her job is just an absolute joy to hear, and I could honestly listen to her speak about it for hours on end. She took me by surprise with a very unexpected (but brilliant) piece of advice for people who work in theatre, you’ll have to have a listen to hear that gem… Disclaimer: please do not try and fix your baby with gaffer tape. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week’s guest is an absolute treat and I’m so delighted to introduce her to you…it’s the marvellous Grace Smart! Grace is a Set and Costume Designer who spends her days designing spaces that are jam packed full of character and feeling, rather than ‘beautiful’. During the episode we spent a lot of time giggling, particularly when Grace read her Dear Theatre letter! We chatted about the important stuff too, but it was definitely the giddiest episode so far. We had so much fun and I really hope that you enjoy it too. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Introducing the ever so brilliant, Will Keen! Will is a wonderfully talented actor on the stage and screen, with a plethora of brilliant stories to share. We chatted about his (pretty idyllic sounding) family plays as a young boy; uncontrollable corpsing on stage and Will shared his stunning letter to theatre which is truly unmissable. It’s abundantly clear how much passion that Will has for theatre and all of the people that work within it, and it was a total pleasure to hear his stories and memories. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week is a treat and a half, because I get to introduce you to my brilliant friend Edwina Allen! She is an incredible Deputy Stage Manager with so many good stories, words of wisdom and top DSM tips. We chatted about email signatures (top tip klaxon!), audience members weeing in an immersive show (!), and she blew my mind talking about a lack of confidence during the pandemic. It’s a DSM fest of an episode, and we had such a blast recording it. I hope you love it too! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week I’m delighted to introduce the ever so brilliant and ever so talented, Zoe Spurr! Zoe is a Lighting Designer and all round lovely person, it was such a joy to record this episode with her. We chatted all about the ins and outs of lighting, the importance of breaks and time off, and we also had a giggle about googling glowing balls (don’t try this at home!). Zoe is so wonderfully passionate about what she does, I think I could sit and listen to her talk about theatre all day! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Oh gang, do I have a treat for you this week. I am thrilled to introduce, Evelyn Miller! Evvy is very wonderful and generous actor with a whole host of brilliant stories to tell. We chatted about the weirdness of auditions, the importance of snacks and our mutual adoration for Michaela Coel. Evvy is such a delight to be around and we had such a lot of fun recording this, I hope you love it too! If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

This week I am very excited to introduce you to a brilliant Playwright and Actor, Kieran Knowles! Kieran and I hadn’t met before this conversation but it was as if I’d known him for years, he’s such an open and warm person. We chatted about the time that he accidentally threw cutlery all over the stage at the RSC in the middle of a performance; finding inspiration in everyday brilliance; and his advice for anyone who is thinking about starting a career in theatre. He shared with me his powerful Dear Theatre letter and the fascinating history that he has with that very thing… [Trigger warning: We spoke briefly about a play that Kieran wrote that is based around the subject of suicide and the male mental health crisis. Approx. 39mins 30secs – 43mins 30secs] If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Introducing the ever so talented, Katy Brooks! Katy is a Prop Maker, Buyer and Supervisor currently working at the Globe Theatre as Head of Props. We chatted about the absolute superheroes that are the Globe volunteers, unexpected prop sex chairs (!) and embracing a bit of mess and clutter in order to be creative. This episode was recorded a little while ago, so you’ll hear some references to Christmas gifts…though it’s never to early to get organised, eh? (Tip – support your local theatres!) I’d like to offer a small apology for the sound quality in this episode. The nature of recording remotely means that sometimes it doesn’t quite go as planned and for some reason we sound a little like we are in a swimming pool. But in my opinion Katy’s words of wisdom and brilliant stories fully make up for a little bit of echo! ------- If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

Annnnddd we’re back! Welcome to Series 2 of the podcast! Kicking off this series with an absolute ray of sunshine. Some of you may refer to her fondly as Cling Film Lizzie (more on that in the episode)…it’s Assistant Stage Manager extraordinaire, Lizzie Rodipe! We had such a giggle recording this episode and I hope that it provides a bit of light relief to you in these dark February days. From dreams of marrying Tom Hanks, to wanting to eat June Watson I guarantee that you’ll come away from this episode with a smile on your face. If you fancy supporting the podcast please make sure that you like, subscribe, share with your friends far and wide. I’d really appreciate it! https://ko-fi.com/thatstheatredarling

A letter to theatre, from podcast host Amy Slater.

This episode was an absolute joy to record, and I am so delighted to introduce to you the incredible, Finty Williams! Finty is a hugely talented actor and not only that, but she is also a wonderfully kind and generous human being too. During the episode we talked about getting a reputation for corpsing on stage, the pure importance of storytelling, and what Finty would put in her survival kit for tech week… It’s palpable, the sheer passion and love that Finty has for the theatre industry, and her tribe of people in it. Her letter was filled with emotion and love, and it will be a surprise to no-one that she made me cry while reading it! We had a right old giggle recording the episode and I really hope that you enjoy it too.

What a treat I’ve got for you this week, the absolutely wonderful…Rachel Middlemore! I’m sure it will become apparent pretty quickly when you’re listening, but Rachel is one of my all time favourite humans. She is a brilliantly talented Assistant Stage Manager, who also dabbles in a number of other roles too, whatever opportunities are presented to her really! During the episode we chatted about her childhood tennis skills; the importance of listening to your gut instincts; and having a job where buying lube is quite a regular occurrence… Rachel’s letter made me weep. This is possibly because she is one of my oldest friends, but I think it is mostly because of the heart and emotion that she poured into it. It was truly a special thing to hear, and I know it’s going to be relatable for a lot of people. I had such a great time recording this one, and I think you’re going to love it too.

This week I am delighted to introduce to you, the absolutely brilliant…Pooja Ghai. Pooja is a hugely talented Director, and in fact one of my all time favourite Directors that I have ever worked with. With her endlessly wise words and the calm, eloquent manner in which she puts her point across I am certain that you’ll see why. From childhood pop star ambitions, to her passion for new writing, we got into the nitty gritty of how Directors go about getting jobs; the need for more diversity in the stories we tell on our stages; and the pure joy of infinite possibility when it comes to making theatre. Pooja’s letter was so beautifully written and very much a call to action, highlighting some important things that we really need to address in the industry and in ourselves. I had such a lovely time recording this episode, I really hope that you enjoy it too.

This week I’m very excited to introduce you to a glorious human being by the name of Edith Furlong! Edith is Head of Front of House (affectionately nicknamed “HOFO”) at the magnificent Hampstead Theatre. She had a number of wonderfully varied aspirations as a child, but she finally found her tribe when working part time as an Usher at the ‘World Famous London Palladium’ while at university. We had a right old giggle during this episode, marvelling (or rather, feeling a little disgusted) at the full on weirdness of the general public. From discovering people in varying states of undress, to scrutinising CCTV footage trying to identify a phantom pooper, she really has seen it all…literally. Edith wrote a delightfully familiar letter to theatre, treating it like an old pal who’s just gone for a disco nap. I cannot wait for you to hear this episode, I’m certain that you won’t be able to help but smile your way through it.

It’s a joy and a pleasure to introduce this week’s guest to you, the magnificent…Kev McCurdy! Kev is a Fight Director, an Actor and a force to be reckoned with. With his boundless optimism, you cannot help but be swept along with his outlook on life, and his intense pride and passion in what he does. From a young age, Kev had a huge appetite for learning new things and that is something that has never gone away. During the episode, he tells us all about cultivating new skills at work and at home in his renovation work, and reaching sky high for something that he would love to learn to do in the future… We talk childhood aspirations, admiration of Stage Management, and the importance of putting your ego aside in a rehearsal room. It was so so lovely to finally get that time to find out more about the man, the mystery, Kev McCurdy…I’m sure you’re going to love hearing his stories as much as I did.