Dischord : Figuring Out Musical Theatre

This episode I talk to Jethro Compton and Darren Clark, the writers of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and track the creation of a this new British musical adapted from the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. We discuss topics including adaptation, time, collaboration and kindness. Read Darren's blog about musical theatre here and see the show's Southwark Playhouse page here Find Dischord on twitter here Find Adam Lenson Productions' website here and Twitter page here.

Part two of a conversation with Guardian journalist Stuart Heritage and Actor/Writer Alex Young. Following a January 2018 article where Stuart Heritage said he hated musicals, we debate whether you can really hate a whole artform and discuss how speaking to those who disagree with you can teach everyone something new. (Stuart's original article is at bit.ly/2rwRuiV and Alex's twitter thread in response is at bit.ly/2Bo1QRY)

Kicking off series two, this week is the first part of a conversation with Guardian journalist Stuart Heritage and Actor/Writer Alex Young. Following a January 2018 article where Stuart Heritage said he hated musicals, we debate whether you can really hate a whole artform and discuss how speaking to those who disagree with you can teach everyone something new. (Stuart's original article is at http://bit.ly/2rwRuiV and Alex's twitter thread in response is at http://bit.ly/2Bo1QRY)

On this episode we investigate the word cheese, ask some people what it means and wonder about why it is so regularly applied to musical theatre.

We speak to the relentlessly busy british musical theatre writer Dougal Irvine about just how difficult it can be to sustain a career in new musical theatre. We also cover innovation, loving what you do and why giving up isn't an option.

This week I'm trying something new. Instead of an interview, I chat about something that has been on my mind. With the help of some extracts from other podcasts, I suggest that comic books and musicals have a lot in common.

This week I speak to playwright, actor and musical theatre writer Sevan Greene about his unconventional background, working on both sides of the atlantic and how there may not be a formula for writing musicals but there are tiny equations.

In this episode, I talk to acclaimed composer and songwriter Michael Bruce about the many facets of his background and learning. He has spent the past few years writing music for plays and we discuss what this has taught him about musical theatre.

In this episode we zoom out to look at the map and the territory of the British musical theatre scene. We talk with James Hadley, head of the Musical Theatre Network to ask where we are, where we've been and where we might be headed.

This week I discuss the piece Greater Belfast with its writer Matt Regan. He doesn't think the piece is a musical, but I think it might be. Our conversation covers, moving from scenes into songs, combining music and text, gig theatre and hating musicals.