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The Everything Theatre Interviews

The Everything Theatre Interviews

By Everything Theatre

Already a successful website for reviews and interviews, we've recently taken to the airwaves with our first radio show. But if you can't listen to the show, we'll be bringing you the interviews we carry out there to our podcast series here
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Ep 39: Just what would be your Song of the Summer?

The Everything Theatre InterviewsJun 22, 2022

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42:01
Let's call it PPP for simplicity

Let's call it PPP for simplicity

If your show is called Pansexual Pregnant Piracy, it probably goes without saying that things are going to get a little silly. And that's just what we got when we sat down with Eleanor Colville, Ro Suppa, Robbie Taylor Hunt, the trio who make up Airlock Theatre.

Pansexual Pregnant Piracy is the story of eighteenth-century pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, although it's probably not giving too much away to say that they have taken some artistic licence with the story and it may not all be entirely based on truth. But as they tell us, they want to tell queer stories that are also a whole lot of fun.

The show plays at Soho Theatre until 13 April.

Mar 27, 202428:55
Just To Add Insult To Injury
Mar 20, 202425:51
Spiralling Downwards with Horne's Descent
Mar 17, 202430:24
Wherefore art thou Conrad?

Wherefore art thou Conrad?

We've been massive fans of Conrad Murray's work for a number of years. His work with Batterseas Arts Centre's Beat Boxing Academy alone would be enough in itself, but Conrad has also devised shows that uses all his beatboxing and rap skills in creating new exciting ways to tell a story. So when we bumped into him at the recent OffWestEnd Awards, where he won for best TYA Production, it was a great opportunity to ask him if he'd like to join us on our podcast. And thankfully he said yes.

Right now he is working on a hip hop retelling of Romeo and Juliet, playing at Polka Theatre, aimed at a younger audience. He's also bringing Pied Piper back for a short run at Southbank Centre. On top of that, he has a few other projects in development, so there was an awful lot to pack in to our chat.

Note: We recorded this after he had just come off stage at Polka, and so you will hear a little background noise of the theatre going about its business! The sound also goes slightly odd for the final minute, apologies for that.

You can find out more about Romeo and Juliet here, and Pied Piper here.

Mar 07, 202435:20
Mimi Collins chats all things Bespoke Plays

Mimi Collins chats all things Bespoke Plays

When Mimi Collins moved to the UK from the States, she brought with her a little piece of Bespoke Plays, a theatre group dedicated to giving new writing the chance to be heard via their staged readings. Bespoke already put on readings in New York and L.A. but now Mimi has added a third string to their bow with London.

Their first show, Water Party, performed to a sold our Union Theatre and, if a taste of what may be to come, means we are in for plenty of amazing treats in the future.

We sat down with Mimi to chat about Bespoke, why staged readings are a great stepping stone for new writers, and what else they may have planned for 2024.

Feb 29, 202440:45
Giving Oranges To The Kids

Giving Oranges To The Kids

Burnt Orange Theatre is an award winning youth theatre company championing the voices of young creatives across London. They work collaboratively, consciously and cleverly to create new and boundary-pushing theatre for young people, by young people.

Right now, that includes their inaugural REP Company Season, which means taking a group of 16 - 21 year old's and putting them through their paces by working on not one, but two shows; The Tempest and Constellations. Both shows are then being taken to Drayton Arms Theatre from 23 April.

We caught up with one of Burnt Orange's founders, Rosie Thomas, to discuss what they do, what we can expect from the upcoming shows, and why in an ideal world, companies such as Burnt orange wouldn't even be required.

The Tempest plays 23 - 27 April, and Constellations from 30 April - 4 May

Feb 21, 202431:31
Leah Vassell and Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
Feb 14, 202429:11
Getting Elementary with Dr Watson
Feb 11, 202430:16
Putting Our Faith In Nell Hardy
Jan 17, 202434:56
Adding Some Colour with Moulin Rouge

Adding Some Colour with Moulin Rouge

We were graced with two West End stars for our latest podcast, in the forms of Tanisha Spring and Dom Simpson, who are currently starring in Moulin Rouge.

Tanisha and Dom sat down with Lily Middleton to talk about their careers, offer some advice to those who want to fill their shoes one day, and just how you manage your life when you're working six evenings a week!

Dec 03, 202331:06
Summoning The Christmas Spirit with Midwyntar
Dec 03, 202327:54
From Russia With Love
Nov 15, 202327:35
Devising all the way from America to The Space
Nov 08, 202331:46
Things That Go Bump In The Space

Things That Go Bump In The Space

Joe Facer & Adam Sandy are founders and artistic directors of To The Ocean, a company aiming to build a collection of stories, within theatre, film and tv, exploring narratives rooted in reality but often existing in a world with a touch of the fantastical. 

Right now, they are putting the finishing touches to Alex and Maggie Go Ghost Hunting, which will be playing at The Space from 31 October to 4 November, plus livestreamed on Friday 3 November and then available on-demand for two further weeks.

Whilst the title may suggest a straight forward ghost story, it promises much more, exploring sibling friendships and life for young adults in a Northern town that maybe hasn't seen the leveling up that has been promised.

We discuss this and much more in this week's podcast, available here and from all the usual podcast providers.

About the show:

In a sleepy South Yorkshire town, nothing of interest really happens. Except for Alex, and on the odd occasion, his sister Maggie. For them, this town is a perfect place to go ghost hunting (and that’s not because half of the residents look dead). But when Alex and Maggie begin their hunt, it’s their own personal lives and recent loss that comes back to haunt them. 

Set in an old school hall, Alex & Maggie Go Ghost Hunting is the new play from To The Ocean that offers an authentic lens into life in a Northern town and a depiction of real ghostbusters (not really, Maggie doesn’t have a clue what she’s doing).

So join Alex and Maggie this Halloween for a night of spooky and paranormal encounters. 

Tickets available here.

Oct 18, 202328:07
Getting Grim at the Old Red Lion
Oct 12, 202334:34
Ep 99: A chilly chat in The Nag's Head
Oct 12, 202331:40
Ep 98: Singing From The Balconies
Sep 28, 202330:01
Ep 97: Watching The Defectives
Sep 22, 202328:31
Ep 96: What We Need Are More Pirates
Sep 14, 202330:17
Ep 95: I Wish My Life Were Like A Podcast
Sep 05, 202324:31
Ep 94: From Batersea to New Wimbledon, via Hollywood
Sep 01, 202333:23
Ep 93: What's In The Box
Aug 23, 202324:39
Episode 92: Getting All Hung Up With Friction Burn
Aug 13, 202330:42
Episode 91: Discussing the secrets of Operation Mincemeat
Aug 03, 202334:34
Episode 90: Getting into the festival vibe with Neverland
Jul 26, 202335:02
Episode 89: This Isn't Working - well actually it is!
Jul 23, 202332:33
Episode 88: Be My Guest is this week's guest

Episode 88: Be My Guest is this week's guest

Ahead of two nights at Applecart Arts on 7 and 8 July, before then heading up to Edinburgh for August, we caught up with Monia Baldini to find out what Be My Guest is all about.

We discuss the show, where it came from, why she writes in English even though she is Italian, and how audiences vary from country to country. Plus a whole lot more.

Jul 02, 202328:58
Episode 87: Grabbing A Pint and A Play with Open Bar Theatre

Episode 87: Grabbing A Pint and A Play with Open Bar Theatre

Our latest guests on our Runn Radio show were Nicky Diss and Vicky Gaskin, Artistic Directors of Open Bar Theatre. This summer they are taking two of the bard's finest works on a tour of Fullers pub gardens, come rain or shine.

We chat about the originals of the company, why pub gardens are actually the perfect place to perform Shakespeare, and how they cope with the variables of the British summer weather! We also discuss why their casting process allows them to cast their net wider and hopefully results in a greater diversity of actors than would be the case if they followed more normal processes.

Romeo and Juliet and Twelth Night will be touring Fuller pub gardens from 3 July until 15 September. You can find full details of venues and shows here.

Jun 21, 202335:25
Episode 86: Molly O'Gorman on new musical Ghost Light

Episode 86: Molly O'Gorman on new musical Ghost Light

This week our guest on our Runn Radio Show was Molly O'Gorman, the writer of new musical Ghost Light. This new musical that tells the story of a washed-up child star named Kat trapped in a cycle of emotional and financial abuse, and the toll that the nature of being a woman in the public eye takes on her mental health. When her sister returns and finds Kat at her lowest, dissatisfied with her own life, she has to decide whether to go back to the world that destroyed her.

We chat with Molly about the show, and why the portrayal of mental illness on stage can sometimes be done in ways that are not realistic. We also talk about the joys of making fringe theatre and how having to make a show on a very limited budget can often lead to some very inventive ideas.

Ghost Light comes to The Hope Theatre 11 - 29 July. Further information and tickets available here.

Jun 14, 202330:09
Episode 85: Bouncing along to the Lion and Unicorn with Tom Derrington
May 28, 202335:27
Episode 84: From first to last with Our Last First
May 23, 202337:50
Episode 83: Chewboy Productions' talks about new play these words that'll linger like ghosts till the day i drop down dead

Episode 83: Chewboy Productions' talks about new play these words that'll linger like ghosts till the day i drop down dead

Our latest guest on our Runn Radio show was Georgie Bailey, well known on these pages for his work with Chewboy Productions. Their latest show, these words that'll linger like ghosts till the day i drop down dead comes to The Pleasance from 13 June, so it seemed the perfect time to sit down and ask the one question that is surely on everyone's lips - why on earth have you given your show such a long title?!

But we do more than just moan about the length of that title, we also discuss what the play is all about, whether due to its space themes if there will be any zero gravity special effects and what else Chewboy are planning for the year. We also get a little history about how Chewboy came into being, something we cannot believe we've never actually asked when he has been our guest before.


About these words that'll linger like ghosts till the day i drop down dead

Two living, breathing people face each other in a theatre space. One is here to help. The other is here for redemption.

These words that’ll linger like ghosts till the day I drop down dead is a brand-new experimental play from the multi-award-winning playwright Georgie Bailey, exploring the things we wish we’d said to those that have left, how effective art is as a coping therapy mechanism, how we manage grief and how ultimately, we can never change the past no matter how hard we try.

May 14, 202329:54
Episode 82: Speaking from the Beak for Beak Speaks
May 03, 202326:35
Episode 81: A half hour of Happy Hour

Episode 81: A half hour of Happy Hour

We chat with writer Andy Walker and director Lesley Manning as they prepare to bring their new show Happy Hour to Upstairs at the Gatehouse.

Happy Hour finds Jacqui confronting her inner demon, who happens to be called George, and who is constantly tempting her to keep drinking. As we hear, whilst a work of fiction, the play comes from Andy's own fight with drink, although he has been sober for a few decades now.

The play comes to Upstairs at the Gatehouse from 16 - 28 May

Apr 30, 202328:23
Episode 80: Stitching Together Camden Fringe and Eurovision

Episode 80: Stitching Together Camden Fringe and Eurovision

We first came across Ruby Shrimpton when she brought her show Unstitching to Camden Fringe in 2022. The show is centred around Ruby's love of the Eurovision Song Contest, although as with all great theatre, that is just a starting point for something much more fulfilling. We said about the show at the time "when you accept the randomness of it, it can be genuinely enjoyable and unironic fun."

The show was written long before it was announced that Liverpool would be the host for the 2023 edition of Eurovision. But as Ruby tells us, coming from Liverpool, how could she not want to have the opportunity to put her Eurovision loving show on as part of the city's celebrations around the contest. Which is exactly what is happening when she takes the show to Liverpool Arts Bar in May.

So it was a perfect time to chat with Ruby about the show, more about how she got involved with Liverpool's celebrations and what else she might have planned, both for the show and herself, in 2023.

As well as Liverpool, the show will also be playing at Brighton Fringe Festival (22 - 24 May), London's King's Head Theatre (29 May & 2 June) and Edinburgh Fringe Festival (14 - 22 August).

Apr 29, 202329:22
Episode 79: A Second Round of Experiment Human
Apr 17, 202330:33
Episode 78: Happy Hour but in half that time

Episode 78: Happy Hour but in half that time

Our guests this week are writer Andy Walker and director Leslie Manning, chatting about their upcoming show, Happy Hour. Happy Hour is a comedy/ drama about Jacqui and her relationship with drink, and her demon George who encourages her to keep drinking.

As he tells us, Andy has been sober for 40 years now, but has tapped into his past to write this play. So we obviously have to discuss that, and why they decided to make the protaganist female and not male then. We also chat about how his background in animation means he writes very visually, and how this helps or hinders Leslie when it comes to directing his work.

Happy Hour plays Upstairs At The Gatehouse from 16 - 28 May. Further information can be found on the venue website here.


Happy Hour

Jacqui has a problem: herself.

She’s controlled by an internal demon named George. George is everything Jacqui would like to be: funny, attractive, sociable.

But George’s purpose is tempting Jacqui to drink alcohol. Jacqui doesn’t need much tempting. And drinking is killing her.

Jacqui needs to break free from the self-slavery of addiction and regain her soul. However, George isn’t prepared to free his captive without a titanic struggle.

HAPPY HOUR tackles a truly universal subject – alcohol addiction – with an imaginative blend of comedy and drama.

Apr 12, 202328:23
Episode 77: A Misfortune(ate) experience

Episode 77: A Misfortune(ate) experience

Our latest guest is Aaron-Lee Eyles. Aaron-Lee is no stranger to Everything Theatre, having reviewed for us in the past inbetween working on his own shows. And his latest show is Mi$fortune, which tells the tragic story of Billie-Bob Harrell Jr, an American lottery winner, who quickly found that winning big isn't always that good. The show started life a couple of years ago under a different title, and we actually spoke to Aaron-Lee about it then. So this time around we recap the show but also discuss what has happened in the two years since. It's a great insight into the lifecycle of a play.

Mi$fortune comes to Golden Goose Theatre from 18 - 22 April, further information can be found here.


About the show.


Texas, Summer 1997. Home Depot worker and devout Christian Billie-Bob Harrell Jr. wins big on the lottery, $31 Million big. The months that followed surely changed his life, but not in the way you might imagine. What many would expect to be a life-changing miracle for a humble family man unravelled into a fatal battle of faith vs pride.

From Unmarked Theatre, whose previous work has been described as 'experimenting with form and structure in ways traditional theatre probably never will' (Everything Theatre, 2022) comes MI$FORTUNE - a bold exploration of one man's tragedy told through physical theatre, improvisation & song.​

Apr 12, 202326:52
Episode 76: Someone Is Watching You

Episode 76: Someone Is Watching You

Our guest this week is Jonathan Oldfield. Jonathan is bringing his new show, One Way Mirror to The Pleasance from 24 April. The show is about his experiences of watching people through the one way mirror that is the frontage of the solicitors office he has been living in as a guardian since 2019. This means people outside see their own reflection in the office windows, completely unaware that on the other side is actually someone's front room. It sounds far fetched, but it is completely true, as you will hear.

We chat about why he found himself living in such an unusual place, how the show devleoped from this, and we of course have to touch upon whether he feels a voyeur as he watches people outside, and whether he feels like the wildlife cameramen who film but never interfere with what is happening.


Mar 29, 202327:43
Epidode 75: We jump straight to Act II
Mar 22, 202331:31
Episode 74: Molly Anne Sweeney on Decommissioned
Mar 15, 202329:02
Episode 73: Getting the Lowdown on Camden Fringe
Mar 12, 202331:21
Episode 72: Bring on the revolution
Mar 01, 202326:40
Episode 71: A Pinch and A Punch, You're It
Feb 24, 202325:36
Episode 70: Save The VAULT Festival

Episode 70: Save The VAULT Festival

We are massive fans of the VAULT Festival, which takes place over January to March each year. It's grown year on year, and in 2023 will be hosting over 500 shows, ranging from theatre, comedy, cabaret and anything else you can put on in one of its many spaces. 

But they have now been informed by the venue landlord that their lease is not being renewed for 2024, and so they are now seeking a new home for the future. So we wanted to give them the chance to explain what is happening and why they are seeking to raise £150,000 by the end of this year's festival to ensure their future.

Bec Martin, Head of Programming, found the time to chat with us about all this, and whilst we had it, it would have been a waste not to also ask her about some of her highlights of this year's festival, and how people can go about applying to be part of the future festivals. 

Feb 22, 202331:06
Episode 69: When you have nowhere left to Hide

Episode 69: When you have nowhere left to Hide

We were joined this week by Laura Sampson, whose show, Hide, will be playing at VAULT Festival Saturday 25 February, and then Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March. Tickets are available here

We chat about the shows themes of identity, and how the show mixes together fairytale and modern day, using the Lindworm story as an analogy of Laura's own life. We also discuss spoken word and story telling in general, and why it can such an incredibly powerful device when done right.

About Hide.

There’s a legend that says the power to shed one’s skin was given to snakes by accident: the gods meant it for us. But instead of being able to shuck off each identity as we grow out of it, our human skins layer up and harden into leather – a Hide, to hide inside.

Inspired by timeless folktales such as THE LINDWORM, Laura Sampson will speak of the challenges she faces as a person of mixed heritage. Is that story’s monster-prince, tricked into shedding his hide to reveal what’s underneath, a way to understand the protective layers of identity Laura’s grandparents had to build when they first arrived in England from Trinidad & Tobago?

What is the cost of growing a thick skin?

About Laua Sampson

Laura Sampson is a performance storyteller and writer whose mixed heritage and myth studies have led her on many adventures. Recent London credits for adult audiences include THREE-CROSSING RIVER (White Conduit Projects), WOMEN WHO GAVE NO FUCKS with Story Jam (Rich Mix; Tobacco Factory), and LEGEND OF THE BURNING BELL (British Library), plus appearances with top storytelling collective The Crick Crack Club. Previous collaborations with Sam Enthoven include THE OLD BLACK DOOR (RADA Studios) THE NEW MIRROR (Bloomsbury Festival), and DEADTOWN (AMP Studios, also with Andrea Aste).

Feb 18, 202336:32
Episode 68: Leaving So Soon?
Feb 08, 202325:07
Episode 67: Refugees, Immigrants and Understanding
Feb 01, 202339:14
Episode 66: Tonight’s Proceedings Will Be Conducted By Someone Power Crazed.
Jan 25, 202336:52
Episode 65: All The Way from Kyiv

Episode 65: All The Way from Kyiv

When we got asked if we would like to record a podcast with a theatre company based in Kyiv, Ukraine, well, you don't say no to that do you! So we tasked our reveiwer Dave Bushe with the task of making it happen, and that was how, on Boxing Day, he found himself on Zoom with Pro English Theatre, direct from their theatre which they have now rebranded as the Art Shelter, a theatre turned into a bomb shelter housing local elderly people, parents with kids and 8 cats. It really is quite remarkable that they could find the time to chat.

We talk about what they are doing right now, hosting a Christmas party, and how they worked with Finborough Theatre to put on shows both in London and then Kyiv itself. 

Considering the situation the recording went remarkably well, except for one drop out in the middle where we thought we'd lost them for good, although thankfully it was just an internet glitch, and then as you will hear, the ending drops out suddenly just as we are saying our farewells. 

Jan 18, 202332:07