The Martin Talk Show

How do we find the creativity that exists in all of us? In Episode 635 of The Martin Talk Show, I’m Martin Colton, and I sit down with dancer, actor and creative producer Naomi Sorkin at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road in West London. We talk about the power of music and dance and what they can teach us about expressing ourselves.Naomi joined American Ballet Theatre at 17 and went on to dance as a principal with San Francisco Ballet. Her career took her from ballet to the West End, where she performed in Brigadoon and Grand Hotel. At The Playground Theatre, she played the title role in Ida Rubinstein: The Final Act. She’s also the theatre’s creative producer and curates Women’s Voices: A Celebration, a festival showcasing women’s work across theatre, dance, music and more.What brings out your creative side? Tell me in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with change makers across the arts.Naomi Sorkin’s biography — https://www.naomisorkin.com/aboutThe Playground Theatre — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/Women’s Voices: A Celebration — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/wvacThe Martin Talk Show — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/#TheMartinTalkShow #NaomiSorkin #ThePlaygroundTheatre #Creativity #Dance

What happens when the women on stage tell stories they’ve lived themselves? 🎭In Episode 634 of The Martin Talk Show, I’m at The Playground Theatre in West London with actor, director, writer and producer Nicole Ansari-Cox. I’m Martin Colton, and we’re talking about SHE/HER, the show Nicole created and directed, and why it matters who gets to tell their story on stage.SHE/HER brings together ten stories drawn from the performers’ own lives. Through spoken word, original live music, dance and video, the women share stories of love, loss, humour and survival. After an Edinburgh Fringe run and a workshop at the theatre’s Women’s Voices festival, the show returns to The Playground Theatre for a full run, produced by Brian Cox, Actors Rising Productions and the theatre.Nicole’s career spans the West End, Broadway and the Théâtre du Soleil in Paris. She’s appeared in HBO’s Deadwood and directed the award-winning web series MESSY.🎟️ See SHE/HER from 24 November to 5 December 2026The Playground Theatre, Latimer Road, London W10 6RQBook tickets — https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theplaygroundtheatre/2350535Performance times and show details — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/sheherExplore Nicole’s work — https://nicoleansari.com/🎙️ Follow The Martin Talk ShowWebsite — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/5wfvOukaochthhVFf9EMnsApple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-martin-talk-show/id1700080572Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/the_martin_talk_show/Whose story would you love to see on stage? Tell me in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with change makers.#TheMartinTalkShow #NicoleAnsariCox #SheHer #AmplifyingVoices #ThePlaygroundTheatre #WomensVoices #LondonTheatre #TheatrePodcast #AmplifyingChangeMakers

What do you take with you from the stage into the director’s chair?In Episode 634 of The Martin Talk Show, I sit down with actor and theatre director Emily Raymond at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road in West London. We talk about her move from acting into directing and why it matters to her to make space for the next generation of theatremakers.The Playground Theatre is part of Emily’s own story. She directed Laura Wade’s Posh there for Drama Studio London’s 2025 graduate season. Her career also includes playing Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Broadway and working as associate director on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage production of Game of Thrones: The Mad King.🎙️ Hosted by Martin ColtonWho led by example in your creative life, and what did you learn from them? Tell me in the comments and subscribe for more conversations with change makers.🎭 Explore Emily’s work and The Playground TheatreEmily Raymond’s Broadway credits — https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/emily-raymond-73028Emily Raymond’s screen credits — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0713252/Posh at The Playground Theatre — https://www.dramastudiolondon.co.uk/summer-newsletter-2025/Game of Thrones: The Mad King at the RSC — https://www.rsc.org.uk/press/releases/world-premiere-of-george-r.-r.-martin-s-game-of-thrones-the-mad-king-opens-at-the-royal-shakespeare-theatreThe Playground Theatre — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/🎧 Find The Martin Talk ShowWebsite — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/5wfvOukaochthhVFf9EMnsApple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-martin-talk-show/id1700080572Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/the_martin_talk_show/#TheMartinTalkShow #EmilyRaymond #ThePlaygroundTheatre #TheatreDirecting #AmplifyingChangeMakers

🎙️ Molly J | Beyond The Voice | Recorded at The Playground Theatre | Episode 632Three coaches turned their chairs for Molly J when she sang Beyoncé’s ‘Dangerously in Love’ on The Voice UK. She chose Sir Tom Jones as her coach and reached the 2026 semi-finals, where she sang ‘A Song for You’ at the piano.In this episode of The Martin Talk Show, I sit down with Molly at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road in West London. We talk about what she wants to say through her music and what she hopes people feel when they hear it.Molly is a French-Congolese singer-songwriter, pianist and producer who started out playing classical piano in Toulouse. Her sound draws on gospel, soul and R&B, and she wrote and produced her single ‘Risk It All’.🎟️ See Molly J liveAn Evening with Molly J is her headline debut at The Playground Theatre on Friday 18 December 2026 at 7.30pm. Join her for an intimate evening of songs and stories at the piano.Book tickets for An Evening with Molly JWatch Molly J’s blind audition on The Voice UKListen to Molly J’s musicExplore more episodes of The Martin Talk ShowWhich of Molly’s performances stayed with you? Let me know in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations.Martin Colton | The Martin Talk ShowAmplifying Change Makers#MollyJ #TheVoiceUK #TheMartinTalkShow #PlaygroundTheatre #SoulMusic

“You can’t make a difference unless you have a seat at the table.” — Anni Domingo🎭 In Food For The Soul, Episode 631 of The Martin Talk Show, I sit down with actor, director and author Anni Domingo at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road in West London.We talk about finding your voice, using it to make a difference and what you can do for others once you have a seat at the table. It’s a conversation about who gets to tell their own story and how theatre can make room for more voices.Anni played Nma in Inua Ellams’ Three Sisters at the National Theatre. She’s an associate artist and board member at The Playground Theatre and chairs Theatre Peckham. Her debut novel, Breaking the Maafa Chain, draws on the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta and follows two sisters separated by the slave trade.💬 Who made room for you to tell your story? Let me know in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with the artists and changemakers shaping our communities.📚 Explore Anni’s workAnni Domingo’s biography at Rose Bruford College — https://www.bruford.ac.uk/about-us/staff/anni-domingo/Breaking the Maafa Chain from Jacaranda Books — https://jacarandabooks.co.uk/products/breaking-the-maafa-chain-2Anni on taking the chair at Theatre Peckham — https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/theatre-peckham-announces-new-chair-dr-anni-domingo/What’s on at The Playground Theatre — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/whats-on🎙️ Follow The Martin Talk ShowWebsite — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@MartinTalkShowSpotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/5wfvOukaochthhVFf9EMnsApple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-martin-talk-show/id1700080572Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/the_martin_talk_show/#AnniDomingo #TheMartinTalkShow #ThePlaygroundTheatre #FoodForTheSoul #TheatrePodcast #AmplifyingChangeMakers

“All the world’s a stage, now let’s protect it!” — Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret🌍 The responsibilities we share for our planet | Janie Dee | Episode 630What can a song or a story do to change the way we care for the planet? In this episode of The Martin Talk Show, I sit down with actor, singer and climate campaigner Janie Dee at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road in West London. We talk about the responsibility we share for our planet and how the arts can bring more people into the climate conversation.Janie is an associate artist at The Playground Theatre and won Olivier Awards for her performances in Carousel and Comic Potential. She also founded the London Climate Change Festival. Her Beautiful World Cabaret brings together song and spoken word to explore our relationship with nature.🎙️ Hosted by Martin ColtonWhat’s one thing you’d like to see your community do to look after the environment? Share it in the comments and subscribe for more conversations with change makers.🔗 Explore moreJanie Dee — https://www.janiedee.com/London Climate Change Festival — https://londonclimatechangefestival.com/The Playground Theatre — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/The Martin Talk Show — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/#TheMartinTalkShow #JanieDee #ThePlaygroundTheatre #ClimateAction #AmplifyingChangeMakers

“Music … can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.” — Leonard Bernstein🎙️ Getting into the Music | Darren Berry | Episode 629 | Playground TheatreFor this episode of The Martin Talk Show, I sit down with composer, musician and musical director Darren Berry at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road in West London. We talk about how music can change the way we feel and what happens when we take that energy and use it to make something of our own.Darren is an associate artist at The Playground Theatre. He wrote the music and words for The Crocodile of Old Kang Pow, a comic opera that mixes gospel and puppetry, and composed the score for the film A Kind of Kidnapping.💬 What’s one piece of music that always puts you in the mood to create? Tell me in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations from our Playground Theatre series.🎭 Explore Darren’s work and The Playground TheatreThe Crocodile of Old Kang Pow — https://www.tete-a-tete.org.uk/event/the-crocodile-of-old-kang-pow/The Playground Theatre — https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/🎧 Find The Martin Talk Show with Martin ColtonWebsite — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/5wfvOukaochthhVFf9EMnsApple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-martin-talk-show/id1700080572Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/the_martin_talk_show/#TheMartinTalkShow #DarrenBerry #ThePlaygroundTheatre #MusicPodcast #CreativeProcess #AmplifyingChangeMakers

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” — Annie Dillard, The Writing LifeEver sat down to dinner and realised your head was still at work?🎙️ In Episode 628 of The Martin Talk Show, I’m joined by Charlene Aldridge for a conversation about finding a work–life balance when you’re building a creative career and making time for family.Charlene is a British actor, filmmaker and mum who paid for weekend acting workshops with money from paper rounds and cleaning jobs. She went on to play Maddie in the action film Fyre Rises and wrote and produced the award-winning short Broken Promises.💬 What’s one thing that helps you switch off after work? Let me know in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with the people making things happen in the arts.🔗 Follow Charlene AldridgeInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/charlene_aldridge/TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@charbarzIMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8701779/🎧 More from The Martin Talk ShowWebsite — https://www.themartintalkshow.com/Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/5wfvOukaochthhVFf9EMnsApple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-martin-talk-show/id1700080572#TheMartinTalkShow #CharleneAldridge #WorkLifeBalance #CreativeCareers #WorkingParents #AmplifyingChangeMakers

🎬 What Does a Cinematographer Do? | James Elcome | Episode 627Who turns an idea into the images we see on screen? And what does a cinematographer actually bring to a film?In this episode of The Martin Talk Show, I’m joined by cinematographer and filmmaker James Elcome of Elcome Media for a conversation about filmmaking, visual storytelling and the creative work behind the camera.James’s journey started with making short films with friends in his back garden. He went on to study Film and Television, build experience in production and work on projects including Inspector Gadget 2. His career also includes working as a Director of Photography for advertising agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi.Today, through Essex-based Elcome Media, James brings together his experience in cinematography, photography, production and digital design to help filmmakers, creatives and businesses tell their stories.Whether you’re interested in entering the film industry, developing your own creative project or simply understanding what happens behind the scenes, join us for a look at the person behind the lens. 🎥🎙️ Host: Martin Colton🎬 Guest: James Elcome — Cinematographer, Elcome Media📺 The Martin Talk Show — Episode 627🔗 CONNECT & EXPLORE🎥 Elcome Media:https://elcomemedia.com📸 Follow Elcome Media on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/elcomemedia/🎙️ Discover more from The Martin Talk Show:https://www.themartintalkshow.com💬 What would you most like to know about working behind the camera? Leave your question in the comments.👍 Enjoyed the conversation? Like, subscribe and share it with someone who loves film.The Martin Talk Show — Amplifying Change Makers.#TheMartinTalkShow #JamesElcome #ElcomeMedia #Cinematography #Filmmaking #FilmIndustry #VisualStorytelling

What does it mean to find your place when you’re chasing creative dreams and everyone expects you to have life figured out?In Episode 626 of The Martin Talk Show, Martin Colton welcomes Mexican actress, writer and producer Ana Torre, who co-wrote, produced and stars in the recently released British-Mexican comedy-drama Chasing Home.Directed by Christopher Mills, the film follows Camila, a 30-year-old comic-book creator in London whose hopes of buying her first flat collide with financial struggles and an unexpected family announcement: her 51-year-old mother is pregnant. Through humour and family tensions, Chasing Home explores identity, self-worth and the pressure to reach life’s milestones on someone else’s timetable.A Drama Studio London graduate, Ana’s career spans theatre, television and film, with credits including The Crown, Far Away at the Donmar Warehouse, and work as an acting coach on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Her short film The Box, addressing Latin American representation in the UK, earned her Best Actress at RS Film Fest.Meet an artist creating opportunities for herself and bringing her community’s stories to the screen.🎬 Watch Chasing Home on Eventive.🎭 Discover more about Ana Torre.🎙️ Explore The Martin Talk Show.Subscribe, share the episode and join the conversation: what does “home” mean to you?The Martin Talk Show — Amplifying ChangeMakers.#AnaTorre #ChasingHome #TheMartinTalkShow