Maddie Hansen on Life as an Actor-Musician and Her Love of Sondheim

Tómas Howser and Emily Dilworth are two fellow members of the GSA family that I was proud to share my year with. Tomas graduated in 2022, he can be seen as the role of “Deputy Commissioner Miles Irving” in all six of Sony Liv’s streaming series “The Walking of a Nation, directed by the multi-award winning Ram Madhuani. Other credits include “Entrapped” for Netflix, “When the Light Breaks” which made it to the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, and has voiced various roles including the Icelandic dubbing of “The Emoji’s Movie”. He is also a skilled rap artist and has featured on the “Fever Dream” European Tour. Check out his website to book your one to one sessions helping you with audition technique and advice for drama school. tomashowser.comEmily also graduated in 2022 and recently completed “F.I.T.D”, a short film executively produced by Romesh Ranganathan in association with Soho House. Stage credits include, Queen Elizabeth and Lord Mayor in two productions of Richard III. As well as, The Glitch, Pretend, By The Grace of God, Lady Macduff, Hedda Gabler, The Laramie Project and The Homecoming. She is also skilled in stage combat, horse riding and horse jumping. Both appeared in “The Welkin” at GSA in November 2021 with Tómas as “Mr Coombes” and Emily as “Elizabeth Luke”. A play by Lucy Kirkwood, set in 1759 Suffolk, Sally Poppy is accused of murder and faces the gallows. However at the eleventh hour she claims to be pregnant and under the law a woman carrying a child is not permitted to be hung. She goes to trail and a jury of twelve women led by Elizabeth Luke, with Mr Coombes the court bailiff observing, decide whether she is telling the truth or not.  Tom, Emily and myself take a deep dive into the play, the rehearsal process and what they play uncovers about the position of women in society. How far we’ve come since 1759 and how some things are still the same. This episode contains spoilers!Thank you Tom and Emily, until next time!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Nicki is a critically acclaimed singer with a passion for Jazz music. After spending her formative years singing in choirs and starting a band at 17, she went on to drama school before moving to London. Following a chance meeting with composer Simon Wallace, it led to her first studio album “Forbidden Games” which was The Evening Standard’s Album of the Week as well as raking in a four star review from both The Guardian and The Times. She then went on to be a fixture in the London jazz scene performing at the 606 Club, Pizza on the Park, Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street, The Groucho Club, The Café de Paris, The Barbican, The 100 Club, The Festival Hall amongst many more. Including clubs and festivals such as, The London Jazz Festival and The Stables of Wavendon. In 2017 she released an album of songs by Dory Previn recorded and produced by John Reynolds and her work can be heard on albums by Gary Husband and Belinda Carlisle. Stay tuned for Nicki’s new album coming in the summer of this year!Nicki and I discuss her love of music, especially Jazz, recording a studio album and the rewards and challenges of the creative process. To some of her musical inspirations and how in this time of AI, human creativity has never been valued more. Thank you Nicki!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Katie is an actor and writer who has graduated from Goldsmiths University and East 15 Drama School. Her credits include:Film:Burlesque FilmsAnimal CharmTV:The CutTheatre:Caviar and Chips - Soho Theatre and TourTwo’s Tales - King’s Head TheatreUncle Vanya - Theatre NomadHamlet, The Seagull and The Odyssey - Factory Theatre Company As both an actor and writer she has also appeared in her own one woman show “Fox”, written in 2018, first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, followed by a UK Tour. Including a recent run at the Park Theatre in Islington this past December, directed by Lisa Cagnacci. Katie and I discuss her play, the writing process, getting the show up and running, and the rewards and challenges of its subject, motherhood. The play follows a mother called “MUM”, she’s just given birth to her first child and finds herself increasingly anxious, as a result of being isolated in her flat all day caring for her newborn while her husband is at work. On top of this, a mysterious homeless man is perched on the other side of the wall of her flat. While he offers no threat to the mother and child, his presence is nevertheless unsettling, and the mother would like to know more about why and how he got there. This play is about the side of being a parent that many wouldn’t know about, it removes the rose tinted glasses and shows you what its really like. In addition, how important it is to ask for help if you’re struggling and how you don’t have to do it on your own. Thank you Katie!-Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

The return of Georgia Bird!Georgia is a stage manager extraordinaire, writer, lover of the arts, advocate for mental health and someone who has travelled the world with some of the biggest shows in the theatre. She is of course a member of the Prima Facie team which to this day continues to help people across the globe in more ways than one. It’s a big, big welcome back to the indomitable, the brilliant, the inspiring G Bird!Georgia returns to the show to talk about the continued success of Suzie Miller’s trailblazing play Prima Facie, now on a nationwide tour of the UK until 21st March. We discuss taking the play on tour, new discoveries made by the cast and company in rehearsal, the socio-political impact of the play since it opened in 2022 and Georgia’s return to stage management since becoming general manager of Empire Street Productions. For anyone who hasn’t seen the play yet, keep a look out for any future screenings at your local cinema or on demand, it’s a show that helps people more than you know. It’s a voice for the one in three, a demonstration that theatre can change the world and how something has to change. Always a pleasure Georgia!-Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Helen is a professional moment catcher from Derry whose work is used not only in the theatre, but for portraits, editorial work, promotional campaigns to making celebrities look good in iconic venues such as Wimbledon. She originally trained as an actor but after some time she realised, in her own words, she “preferred observing the chaos rather than being a part of it”. She made that decision in 2012 and has never looked back. Since then she has shot for over 300 productions at venues such as the National Theatre, Royal Court, Young Vic, Donmar, Barbican, Shakespeare’s Globe and RSC. Here are some honourable mentions:Prima Facie at the Harold Pinter (London) and John Golden (New York)We Black Woman, Donmar WarehouseOur Empty Theatres, a portfolio capturing over 22 theatres that went dark during the pandemicLong Days Journey Into Night, Wyndham’s Theatre with Brian CoxMany backstage shots across major theatres in the countryLehman Trilogy revival at the Gillian LynneCheck out her other projects:“Widening the Lens” with The Act for Change Project Her production company The Question is Productions which shines a light on Irish culture and identity. Their debut short “The Derry Feis” currently in pre-production, anyone wishing to donate to their crowd funder you can do so on her website. helenmurrayphotos.comOn top of all this, she is the chosen winner in the Photography 41 Awards 2025 and Best Production Photography of the Theatre and Technology Awards in 2017. Helen and I discuss her early years as an actor before turning to behind the camera, her process in finding the right picture and how she works with actors to sports personalities to get the perfect shot. As well as her time working with the creative team on Prima Facie and Long Days Journey Into Night and much more. Thank you Helen!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Son of actor David Troughton and Grandson of the second Doctor Who Patrick Troughton. Sam studied Drama at the University of Hull and after graduating he began his career with the RSC which brought three nominations for an Ian Charleston Award to his door. The award honours outstanding performances for young actors in classic plays. Since then he’s been part of some the most celebrated shows for both stage and screen including:Theatre:Beginning, written by David Eldridge, National TheatreKing Lear, Edmund, dir. Sam Mendes, National TheatreJuniper Blood, Donmar WarehouseStreetcar Named Desire, Liverpool PlayhouseMultiple shows with the RSC - Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, Winter’s Tale and many more. Film:Vera Drake, dir. Mike LeighAlien vs PredatorMank, NetflixNapoleon with Joaquin PhoenixTV:Black Doves, NetflixThe Hollow CrownRobin HoodA Very Royal Scandal, starring Michael Sheen and Ruth Wilson Chernobyl, HBO, created and written by Craig Mazin, directed by Johan RenckSam and I discuss his early work at the RSC, coming from a family of established actors and his roles in two huge shows A Very Royal Scandal and most notably Chernobyl. A superb, superb drama about the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant in Pripyat on 26th April 1986 and how the Soviet Union did everything in its power to cover up the facts. Sam talks about finding his character Aleksandr Akimov, the cost of the Soviet’s lies, and how catastrophic things like this one are possible in real life and not just in the movies. Thank you Sam!Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Georgia is a creative ageing specialist, academic, pro-ageing advocate and Applied Theatre expert. Her work is focussed on the elderly population, care homes and ageing positively. Using her creative powers to spread the word of issues within the older community and how the problems they are facing can be eradicated.Georgia’s practice started in 2014 when she founded a resident-led theatre company while being an Activities Co-ordinator for one of the UK’s leading care home providers. Since then she has worked with other homes, hospitals, shelters and digital platforms creating spaces for creativity, critical reflection and building communities. Earning recognition at some of the most prestigious institutions such as the Tate Modern, Alexandra Palace, BBC, BFI and The Stage. She holds a BA(Hons) in Performing Arts and Music from the University of Chichester and an MA in Applied Theatre from Central School of Speech and Drama. In 2023 she completed her PhD from the University of Portsmouth with her thesis “Applied Theatre in Later Life: Facilitation, Participation and Shame Resilience”. Exploring how theatre can support emotional well-being and the collective voices in the elderly community. On top of all this she is the programme leader and lecturer for the BA(Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre at the Guildford School of Acting. Last year she was awarded the Early Career Teacher of the Year Award from Surrey University’s Arts, Business and Social Sciences Department. Stay tuned for her upcoming debut book “Ageing on Stage: Creative Ageing and Theatre” which confronts ageing, tacking ageist shaming and stimulating shame resilience. We discuss her earliest inspirations to get involved with Applied Theatre and her love of working with the elderly population. In addition, how she conducts her practice and how theatre can change the world, especially within the older population fighting ageism, LGBTQ discrimination and loneliness. For more information about her work visit her website:Georgiabowers.co.ukThank you Georgia!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Maddie’s journey started the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, to both the National Youth Music Theatre in 2016 to the Guildford School of Acting from 2019-2022. To date her credits include:Brass - National Youth Music TheatreInto the Woods - GSA The Baker’s Wife - GSATripping the VelvetThe Witches of Eastwick Concert for Jack Maple Productions, directed by Maria Friedman Brassed Off with the Gala Durham CompanyJack and the Beanstalk - Leeds City VarietiesSpeedo Mick - The Musical - Liverpool Royal CourtCurrently starring in Aladdin: The Rock ’n’ Roll Pants at Leeds City Varieties, playing Muddles the MonkeyMaddie and I discuss her early inspirations to become an actor and musician as well as her early training. From stepping away from Guildhall after one year, to her time at the National Youth Music Theatre to training under lockdown restrictions in Guildford during the pandemic. We discuss how she navigated performing in covid, stepping away from a course you don’t feel is right for you, to coming out of lockdown and performing in theatres to full audiences again. In addition her time in “The Baker’s Wife” (which I saw), the challenges and rewards of training to be an actor-musician, to her admiration of Stephen Sondheim. Thank you Maddie, here’s to another episode soon!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

The long awaited return of Simon Furness!I’ve been meaning to have Simon back on the show since he was my second only guest back in 2021!This time we take a dive back into Vanya and Chekhov’s other celebrated work “The Seagull”. Both plays were given huge London revivals in recent times and we take a look at how their interpretations of the text are similar and different to how Simon believes Chekhov would have liked to be seen done. We also ask questions such as, with Chekhov putting his characters in such tragic circumstances, is he making a mockery of unfortunate lives or is it social commentary? In other words, is he mocking people who are sad or is he plainly showing this is the way of life for some people? As well as finding the humour in these dire straits, is it to make fun of their situations of unrequited love and desperate need to feel loved or it is a way to heal them? Make light of a bad situation in order to help them out of their depression and cure them?All this and much more in our discussion!Including Simon’s cameo in Netflix’s “Wednesday” and what he would do with a West End budget if he was given the reigns to a Chekhov masterpiece. Thank you so much Simon, a pleasure to have you back!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Olivia trained at Drama Studio, after graduating from UEA (University of East Anglia) and has been a part of some incredible work since graduation. Her credits include, for Film:Where the Hands TouchA Beautiful Cruise - which won three awards at the Paris International Film Festical 2022Leonora in the Morning LightTV:Doctor WhoMidsomer MurdersThe Woman in WhiteRoadkillQueens of MysteryTheatre:Romeo and Juliet - Leicester Square TheatreThe Dark at the Top of the Stairs - Belgrade TheatreYoung Chekhov Trilogy at the Chichester Festival, directed by Jonathan Kent - Platonov, Ivanov and The SeagullThe Circle - Orange Tree Theatre and UK TourAnd three appearances at the National Theatre - 50th Anniversary, King Lear playing Cordelia directed by Sam Mendes and Othello playing Desdemona directed by Nicholas Hytner, alongside Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear. Olivia and I discuss her time in Othello at the National. We delve into how the character is seen by some critics as a victim of impossible standards, to her naivety and how out of touch she is to human nature. For example her dialogue with Emilia when she cannot comprehend the fact that sometimes women cheat on their husbands if they aren’t satisfied with their current relationship in Act 4 Scene 3. We also look at her role in King Lear, how she found the disrupted relationship between Lear and Cordelia to looking after herself through emotionally demanding plays eight times a week. Thank you Olivia! Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: [email protected] Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning The Uncensored Critic Podcast was heard in over 47 countries in 2025. In the same year streams grew by 29%, listeners increased by 24%, brand new listeners were up by 999%, received more shares than 85% of other shows in the performing arts category and followers were up 58%. The podcast is a top 10 show for more than 200 people, top 5 for over 140, number 1 for more than 50 and has an average rating of 5/5 Stars. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2025.