The Green Room with Guildford Shakespeare Company

Our Co-Founder Matt chats with Indiana Lown Collins, director of our latest show The Purple Princess, and actors Tom Capper and Isabelle Hart. The show raises awareness of epilepsy, and is primary schools in Guildford this May and June, including two free public performances in the Castle Gardens on 29 May. The show has been inspired by the real-life experience of Indiana, who has uncontrolled epilepsy and experienced a seizure on a train, while fellow passengers were unable to help her. To engage younger audiences, the play, written by Ant Stones and designed by Ice Niemz, and featuring actors Hassan Maarfi and Emily Juler, merges modern life with fantasy creatures.

Matt Pinches gives us the story so far, setting the scene for 'Henry V' with a speedy run-through Shakespeare's three preceding history plays in the Henriad - Richard II, Henry IV part 1 and Henry IV part 2!  Streaming live and online from 22 - 25 April! Book tickets here: https://booking.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/booking-start

Kerry Elkins, our award-winning regular Audio Describer, presents a new audio description for GSC's 'Henry V', streaming live and online from 22-25 April. Listen to Kerry explaining the context of the performance, the virtual backgrounds and get to grips with the 25 different characters being played by the 5 actors in the company!

Watts Gallery, Artists' Village is the hidden gem of the Surrey Hills. Founded initially by G.F. Watts before his death, the arts and crafts hub boasts historic sculpture and painting in its gallery space, the grade I Listed Watts Chapel and Watts Studio and Limnerslease, a closer, more intimate look at the Victorian artist’s life. Before coming to Watts Gallery Artists' Village, Alistair Burtenshaw was the director of Charleston in East Sussex, the former home of Bloomsbury Group artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Alistair is also currently chairman of Surrey Hill Arts.  Ciaran sat down with Alistair to talk about the founding of the artists' village, its art-for-all mission and the prosperous online work they have been producing! Follow Watts Gallery on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and find out more on their website here: https://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/ Recorded 1 March 2021. Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

Guildford Fringe Theatre Company bring the West End to Guildford with their ethos that you don’t need all the bells and whistles of major regional theatre productions to enjoy the same fun! Nick Wyschna had trained in Musical Theatre before founding Guildford Fringe Theatre Company and is passionate about bringing all the arts together in Guildford every July as part of The Fringe Festival. Matt Pinches sat down to Jeremy to talk about the power of conducting, and how music can bring a community together. Recorded 5 March 2021. Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

Jeremy Backhouse joined Guildford-based Vivace Chorus in January 1995 and has since led it to dazzling heights. He has conducted Vivace in ambitious programmes including Howells’ Hymnus Paradisi and Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater, and Verdi’s Requiem in the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Ciaran Walsh, Marketing and Graphics Designer at GSC, sat down to Jeremy to talk about the power of conducting, and how music can bring a community together.  Recorded 11 March 2021. Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

Dominique Frazer, Director and Founder at The Boileroom, is renowned for her commitment to booking an eclectic programme of emerging national and international musicians as well as spearheading creative and wellbeing workshops that support and benefit the local community in Guildford. Ciaran Walsh, Marketing and Graphics Designer at GSC, sat down to Dominique to talk about her journey from music promoting to founding a venue, what's going on at The Boileroom this season and looking forward to reopening with actual audiences!  The Boileroom website: http://www.theboileroom.net/ Recorded 2 March 2021. Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

Joanna Read, Director and Chief Executive of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre joins The Green Room today. Joanna was previously Principal and Chief Executive LAMDA, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Salisbury Playhouse, Associate Director at Octagon Theatre Bolton and Head of Education and Participation at Birmingham Rep. Matt Pinches, GSC Co-Founder, sat down to chat with Joanna about all things theatre, the history of the industry and what the future looks like in uncertain times! Recorded 24 February 2021. Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

Gavin Thomas is a singer-songwriter from Guildford who has been playing his solo acoustic request nights across the South East for the last three decades. He runs the critically acclaimed GT Live Sessions and despite the pandemic Gavin continues to play live online twice a week from the summer house in his garden. Matt Pinches, GSC Co-Founder, sat down to chat with Gavin about how he's been coping with the pandemic, his illustrious career and the first song he ever learnt on the guitar... (Gavin has a repertoire of over 400!) Gavin's website: http://www.gavinthomas.com/ Recorded 18 February 2021. Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus Photo credit - Hester Barnes

Ten years ago, in February 2011, Caroline Devlin directed a riveting production of one of Shakespeare’s best known plays and possibly one of the greatest pieces of drama ever written. A team of actors were assembled, Ben Ashton in the title role, Noel White as Claudius and Johanne Murdock as Gertrude, most of whom had never performed in a GSC show before. Together they told the Bard’s oft-adapted story and it played to rave reviews. BBC Surrey described the show as “Intelligent, provocative, hard-edged...a very fluid, powerful adventure story.” And it was for the British Theatre Guide, simply "A Hamlet to die for – outstandingly powerful and atmospheric...a riveting thriller" . Now, in 2021, we’ve assembled the original cast of the production to talk memories, what they miss, and the enduring power of Shakespeare’s Hamlet... Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

This week on the rebranded 'The Green Room' podcast, we are joined by Natasha Rickman and Naylah Ahmed (director and writer of 'A Christmas Carol') to chat all things live-online-theatre! Ciaran speaks to Natasha and Naylah about what it's like adapting one of the most popular stories of all time! Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

This week on the rebranded 'The Green Room' podcast, we are joined by Professor Patricia Pulham, who is is Professor of Victorian Studies at the University of Surrey. Patricia is also Secretary of the British Association for Victorian Studies and editor of the European Politics Journal, Victoriographies. Ciaran and Patricia chat about the context of Dickens' original novel and its reception at the time in a very insightful and informative chat! Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

This week on the rebranded 'The Green Room' podcast, we are joined by family law solicitors KJSmith, who are sponsoring our festive online Zoom production 'A Christmas Carol'. With offices based in Guildford, KJSmith see a unified community and kind gestures at the heart of their work, a spirit that is shared by the themes of 'A Christmas Carol'.  Listen in for a fascinating discussion about the relationship between sponsors and theatre companies, and everyone's favourite adaptation of Dickens' tale! Dream on me by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58983 Ft: Javolenus

Tonight is Bonfire Night, and in this new podcast, GSC Co-Founder Matt Pinches looks at the origins of event and revisits the article he wrote for Macbeth in February this year.

Matt Pinches, (Bottom and Egeus in A Midsummer Night's Dream), delivers a fascinating talk about acting and rehearsals in 1595, the year Shakespeare wrote Dream. Using the characters of the Mechanicals in Shakespeare's work, Matt reads the significance of the meta-theatre in Dream through his own acting experience. Running 24 September - 2 October, A Midsummer Night's Dream tickets can be bought here.

In advance of the upcoming online GSC co-production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with Octagon Theatre, Bolton, marketing officer Ciaran sat down with NATHAN IVES-MOIBA, Oberon and Lysander in the show! From the challenges of a Zoom production to Nathan's previous work with Octagon Theatre, Bolton, they'll get you ready for entering the magical forest!   Running 24-27 September, A Midsummer Night's Dream tickets can be bought here.

In advance of the upcoming online GSC co-production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with Octagon Theatre, Bolton, marketing officer Ciaran sat down with Lotte Wakeham to get an idea of what audiences can expect!  From virtual backgrounds to exciting new developments in Bolton, their chat is a perfect primer for the show!  Running 24-27 September, A Midsummer Night's Dream tickets can be bought here.

Our final conversation in this series is with the creative genius of Caroline Devlin. Caroline has directed some of GSC's most memorable shows including Hamlet, King Lear, Henry V and both Merry Wives of Windsor. Here she talks about her route to directing, her processes and many wonderful GSC memories.

Kerry has been delivering our award-winning Audio Description service for the blind and visually impaired since 2012. An invaluable service to those who live with sight loss, enabling them to enjoy the same theatrical experience as the rest of the audience. Find out what goes into making this happen and how long it takes to prepare for just one performance.

Elaine is a freelance Deputy Stage Manager, who's first job with us was in 2010 on our first production of Romeo & Juliet. Since then she's continued to work with whilst also being DSM for the London Palladium Panto, QDOS, Royal Opera House and many UK and international tours. Meet the wonderful Elaine below!

Sterre is a professional Voice and Vocal Coach who has been working with us since 2016. It's Sterre's job to make sure you can hear us and that we are speaking with clarity and confidence. Harder than you might think in our many varied venues! Voice is Sterre's passion, and it's not just all about theatre, as you'll discover in our chat...

Chris worked on both our open-air shows last summer, and our 2017 production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. His extensive career includes The Savoy and Arts Theatre (West End), Civic Theatre Chelmsford, Barbican Plymouth, and many many pantos!

Anett has worked on almost all our shows since 2014, and in many capacities! As Costume Designer, Supervisor and as an Assistant and Associate Designer. Her she talks about how she got started in costume design, her experiences with other theatre companies and some of her favourite moments with GSC.

Tom has directed six of our shows, including the most recent All's Well That Ends Well. His productions have gained numerous Critics’ Choice and OffWestEnd Awards, for which he has been nominated eight times as Best Director. He was Associate Director of Theatre503 from 2012-2016 and Artistic Director of Primavera for ten years. He was Associate Director of the Peter Hall Company and worked several times as Trevor Nunn’s associate director. Tom also teaches English Literature at Cambridge University. He is currently the Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre in Piccadilly, London.

Philip has been creating our stage fights since 2008 and has worked on 19 of our shows, including the most recent, Macbeth. His work has taken him all over the world, and has created fight sequences for the RSC, Shakespeare's Globe and the Royal Opera House. His work has also been seen on the silver screen in King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (Warner Bros); Pan (Warner Bros); The Knife That Killed Me (Universal). Philip is an Equity Registered Fight Director, and a fight examiner for the BASSC.  He also teaches at RADA and Drama Studio London.

Charlotte has part of the GSC family for over 10 years. Her first show with us was The Taming of the Shrew in 2009. Since then she has gone on to direct some of our best loved shows including Grimms' Fairy Tales, both Romeo & Juliets, Measure for Measure, Alice in Wonderland, and our most recent Macbeth. Her work elsewhere includes West Yorkshire Playhouse, Hampstead Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Creation Theatre, resident director for The National Theatre and early in her career she was assistant director at the RSC.

From the crackling gramophone in Love's Labour's Lost to the downright scary soundscape in our recent Macbeth, Matt has worked on almost all of GSC's shows since 2011, Hamlet being his first. In March this year he won the Off West End Award for Best Sound Designer at the OFFIES for our 2019 production of All's Well That Ends, at Jermyn Street Theatre. Matt has worked all over the world designing sound for theatre, and he is also a composer and has his own band PRAM.