nationaltheatre

Physical theatre company Gecko, based in Ipswich, was founded in 2001 by Amit Lahav, who is still its Artistic Director.

The company’s latest production, Kin, toured the UK in 2023 and will be at the National Theatre in London in January 2024.

Amit spoke to BTG Editor David Chadderton about the origins of the production in the story of his grandmother Leah’s journey from Yemen to Palestine as a child in 1932 to escape persecution, how this developed to look at migration stories more widely, the politics of migration then and now and Gecko’s—and Amit’s—creative process in making theatre.

Kin will run at the Lyttelton Theatre from 12 to 27 January 2024.

(Photo of Amit Lahav in Kin by Gecko (c) Malachy Luckie)

We take a look at the 2011 stage production of Frankenstein - starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller, written by Nick Dear and directed by  Danny Boyle - which you can now watch on line with the National Theatre At Home service!

Having made a career in theatre and film as a writer and actor, I like to think the arts can be pretty powerful in lots of ways, but how can it be used to inspire us about climate change?

I spoke to playwright April De Angelis whose 20 year career has seen her plays produced at the National Theatre, The Royal Court and the RSC among many others. In 2011 her play 'Jumpy' starring Tamsin Grieg, received much acclaim.

April is also a longstanding activist and a part of Extinction Rebellion. She has a new play, 'Extinct' coming out at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, which she talks to me about in the episode. 

To book tickets for 'Extinct' visit: Here

For information about Extinction Rebellion: Here

Planet & The People is by Tom Ward-Thomas and is on Facebook & Instagram: @planetandthepeople, and Twitter @planetandthep

Vicki and James review an online production by the Powerhouse Theatre Company.  white Noise uses Zoom to create the venue, so we could watch it from the comfort of our homes!

But was the production just another monotonous Zoom meeting, or did it have something to shout about?  Download the podcast to find out!

James and Vicki dust off their computers to watch the National Theatre Online's version of Amadeus.

But was this a classic, or out of date?  Download the podcast to find out.

James and Vicki pop back to the sixties to watch the Nationals production of ‘One Man Two Guvnors’  But was it Corden Bleu or Corden Blurgh?  Download the podcast to find out!

If you would like us to come and review your production, you can contact us via our Facebook page.  If you like what you hear please remember to rate and review us on ITunes..

Thanks for listening!

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 with Tom Morris and director of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, about both of her productions and also about her personal and professional history with Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre and how that shaped her career as a director.

For more information, go to www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/whats-on and scroll down to the “Other Venues” section.

Associate Puppetry Director Tommy Luther talks about the first ever UK tour of the National Theatre hit production of War Horse, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, and about his involvement in the production since the early workshops in 2007.

Recorded at The Lowry in Salford, where the production will spend Christmas and New Year 2013-4 on its longest run of the tour.

For more information about the production, see the War Horse On Stage web site.

Philip Fisher interviews James Graham ahead of the transfer of his Evening Standard nominated political drama This House to the Olivier Theatre.

In addition to discussing British politics in the second half of the 1970s, the conversation also looks into what it takes for a young writer to make it to the National, the joys of working at the Finborough and James Graham's career to date.

Jodie Prenger, who won the part of Nancy in Oliver! in TV reality show I'd Do Anything, is currently starring as Dolly in Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors, the multi-award-winning comedy from the National Theatre based on Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters directed by Nicholas Hytner, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London.

Jodie will join the current tour of the production for a couple of its northern dates. David Chadderton talks to her about bringing the production to her home town of Blackpool.