A new on-going column, covering interviews in the UK & US press with the people shaping theatre – from directors, designers, producers and creatives, to stars of the shows.
The Unfriend
STEVEN MOFFAT: The writer of The Unfriend starring Reece Shearsmith and directed by Mark Gatiss, coming to the Criterion Theatre in London
Steven Moffat: sorry, it’s being nice that makes you the butt of jokes: The award-winning TV writer and co-creator of Sherlock is turning to theatre with The Unfriend — and wants to make us laugh – Read the interview
By Steven Moffat, The Times (8 January 2023)
My culture fix: Steven Moffat – The writer lets us into his cultural life – Read the interview
By Steven Moffat, The Times (18 January 2023)
AMANDA ABBINGTON: Star of The Unfriend at the Criterion Theatre in London
Relative Values – Amanda Abbington and her fiancé: ‘Nearly dying teaches you about living’. The Sherlock actress and her partner Jonathan Goodwin, a former stunt performer, on his life-changing accident – Read the interview
By Danny Scott, The Times (18 January 2023)
Amanda Abbington on her West End show The Unfriend, getting angry over women’s rights – and her amazing fiancé – The actress is appearing in Stephen Moffat’s first play, a deliciously wicked look at why politeness isn’t always the best policy – Read the interview
By Nancy Durrant, Evening Standard (18 January 2023)
REECE SHEARSMITH: Star of The Unfriend
Reece Shearsmith – “There’s a lot of snobbery around comedy”: As well as creating and starring in some of TV’s most deliciously dark and daring comedies, the League of Gentlemen’s Reece Shearsmith has established himself in the West End. As hit comedy The Unfriend prepares to move to London’s Criterion Theatre, the actor talks to Natasha Tripney about his successes, his Shakespearean ambitions and returning to theatre – Read the interview
By Natasha Tripney, The Stage (19 January 2023)
Book tickets to The Unfriend at the Criterion Theatre in London
Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons
JOSIE ROURKE: Interview with the director of Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Josie Rourke
Sentenced to 140 words a day in Sam Steiner’s drama: The playwright and director Josie Rourke talk about ‘Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons’, which explores a world where language is rationed – Read the interview
By Sarah Hemming, Financial Times (13 January 2023)
Josie Rourke: ‘I stopped being an artistic director in the hope I could do life things’ – The former Bush and Donmar boss stepped away from a dazzling career running theatres so she could sort her life out. Now she’s back – Read the Interview
By Andrzej Lukowski, TimeOut (18 January 2023)
Book tickets to Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons at the Harold Pinter in London
Alex Edelman’s Just For Us
ALEX EDELMAN: Interview with Alex Edelman for his new show Just For Us at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Alex Edelman — the Jewish comic who got in with white nationalists: His hit show about one unusual night is coming to London, he tells Dominic Maxwell – Read the interview
By Dominic Maxwell, The Times (11 January 2023)
Comedian Alex Edelman on Just for Us, his show about antisemitism: ‘It’s too important not to joke about’ – The Jewish comedian’s new show tells the tale of how how he attended a white nationalist gathering incognito: ‘People are disappointed when I tell them I didn’t feel in the path of bodily harm.’ – Read the interview
By Nick Clark, Evening Standard (17 January 2023)
Book tickets to Alex Edelman: Just for Us at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Watch on the Rhine
ELLEN McDOUGALL & EMMA JUDE HARRIS: Interview with the director and dramaturg of Watch on the Rhine
‘She’s writing in a state of emergency’: Lillian Hellman’s thrilling Watch on the Rhine: As Hellman’s 1941 play is revived at the Donmar Warehouse in London, director Ellen McDougall and dramaturg Emma Jude Harris explain how it remains a call to arms – Read the Interview
By David Jays, The Guardian (12 January 2023)
More about Watch on the Rhine at the Donmar Warehouse
The Great British Bake Off Musical
Interview with the creators of The Great British Bake Off Musical – at the Noel Coward Theatre
The Great British Bake Off The Musical and there are no soggy bottoms in the house: As Bake Off the musical arrives in the West End, its creators on how they cooked up an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza from Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith’s reality TV show – Read the interview
By Richard Barber, Daily Express (7 January 2023)
Book tickets to The Great British Bake Off Musical in London
Noises Off
MICHAEL FRAYN: Interview with Michael Frayn, writer of classic comedy Noises Off, at the Phoenix Theatre
‘It’s my Mousetrap’: Michael Frayn on Noises Off, a farce to be reckoned with: The 1982 play stills pulls in crowds from Broadway to Helsinki, and is now returning to the West End for a fifth time. ‘I just can’t understand it,’ says its creator – Read the interview
By Vanessa Thorpe, The Guardian (8 January 2023)
Book tickets to Noises Off at the Phoenix Theatre in London
One Woman Show
LIZ KINGSMAN: Interview with Liz Kingsman, writer and star of One Woman Show at the Ambassadors Theatre
Liz Kingsman: the reluctant comedy phenomenon. Her genius one-woman show, er, ‘One Woman Show’ is the hottest ticket of the year. But Liz Kingsman absolutely does not want to be a superstar – Read the interview
By Andrzej Lukowski, TimeOut (16 December 2022)
Book tickets to One Woman Show at the Ambassadors Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire
PAUL MESCAL: Interview with Paul Mescal, star of A Streetcar Named Desire
The quiet magnetism of Paul Mescal: The Irish actor on modern masculinity, taking on Marlon Brando – and mortgages – Read the interview
By Beatrice Hodgkin, Financial Times (16 December 2022)
More about A Streetcar Named Desire at the Almeida theatre
Groundhog Day
MATTHEW WARCHUS: Interview with Matthew Warchus, director of Groundhog Day
Matthew Warchus: I’m putting on Groundhog Day (again!) The artistic director of the Old Vic tells Dominic Maxwell why he’s happy to be back doing theatre after his Matilda film – Read the interview
By Dominic Maxwell, The Times (6 December 2022)
Book tickets to Groundhog Day at The Old Vic in London
It’s a Wonderful Life
DANIELLE DE NIESE: Interview with Danielle de Niese, star of It’s a Wonderful Life
Danielle de Niese — can ENO’s guardian angel save the company? – Read the Interview
By Neil Fisher, The Times (29 November 2022)
Book tickets to It’s a Wonderful Life, London Coliseum
As You Like It
JOSIE ROUEK: Interview with Josie Rourke, director of As You Like It
Josie Rourke: ‘In the pandemic, I fell in love and ran away to the forest’. The director talks about her return to the theatre – Read the interview
By Dominic Maxwell, The Times (12 December 2022)
Josie Rourke: ‘If Shakespeare was alive now he’d be under commission to Nica Burns’ – Read the interview
By Arifa Akbah, The Guardian (28 November 2022)
Book tickets to As You Like It, @sohoplace theatre London
Orlando
MICHAEL GRANDAGE: Interview with Michael Grandage, director of Orlando
Theatre director Michael Grandage: ‘I think we are just catching up with Virginia Woolf’ – Read the interview
By Sarah Hemming, Financial Times (25 November 2022)
EMMA CORRIN: Interview with Emma Corrin, star of Orlando
‘It’s relatable’ … The Crown’s Emma Corrin on playing gender-swapping, time-travelling Orlando – Read the interview
By Claire Armistead, The Guardian (15 November 2022)
Book tickets to Orlando, Garrick Theatre London
Only Fools and Horses
LES DENNIS: Interview with Les Dennis, star of Only Fools and Horses
Why Les Miserable is having the last laugh: Now starring in the Only Fools musical, Les Dennis reveals how his career’s weathered heartbreak and tragedy (with a little help from his bare bottom) – Read the interview
By Cole Morton, Daily Mail (18 November 2022)
Book tickets to Only Fools and Horses, Theatre Royal Haymarket London
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial
LIV HENNESSY & LISA SPIRLING: Interview with writer Liv Hennessy and director Lisa Spirling of Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial
Wagatha play won’t punch down at Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, writer says – Read the interview
By Helen Bushby, BBC (15 November 2022)
Book tickets to Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, Ambassador’s Theatre London
Best of Enemies
ZACHARY QUINTO: Interviews with Zachary Quinto, star of Best of Enemies
Zachary Quinto: ‘There’s a tremendous fear around openly gay men in our industry’ – Read the interview
Louis Chilton, The Independent (13 November 2022)
Zachary Quinto: ‘I have lost a certain faith in America’s system’ – Read the Interview
Kate Wyver, The Guardian (11 November 2022)
JAMES GRAHAM: Interview with James Graham, writer of Best of Enemies
James Graham: ‘I’m tempted to abandon political neutrality and scream from the rafters’. From Sherwood to Quiz, This House to Ink, James Graham is the writer behind many of the most incisive dramas in recent years. He tells Anna Bonet about his new play, working with Elton John, and why it’s becoming harder to remain impartial – Read the interview
Anna Bonet, i News (3 December 2022)
When American ideologies collide: James Graham on his play Best of Enemies – Read the interview
By Peter Aspden, Financial Times (9 November 2022)
Book tickets to Best of Enemies, Noel Coward Theatre London
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