Holding Up the Queue

Theatre designer Christopher Oram is next in the queue joining Simon and author & illustrator Brian Selznick in part 2 of episode 5 From childhood influences to a stellar career designing for the theatre, Christopher discusses how he has come full circle. Creating imaginary worlds as a kid dreaming of Star Wars to creating the fantasy fairytale on stage for Disney’s Frozen, the Musical. His acclaimed work on the play Peter & Alice by John Logan – a fictitious encounter based on the literary characters namesakes meeting in Bumpus Bookshop uses the device of a toy theatre proscenium to transport the audience into Neverland. Costumes, lighting, sets. Christopher explains how ‘you cheat to tell the truth on stage’ as a theatre designer and Simon learns about whether you can reinvent the wheel when it comes to designing one of the most anticipated UK theatrical openings this decade. Frozen the Musical opens at the Drury Lane Theatre, Covent Garden in October 2020. PETER AND ALICE by Logan, , Writer – John Logan, Director – Michael Grandage, Designer – Christopher Oram, Lighting designer – Paule Constable, Composer – Adam Cork, Michael Grandage Company, 2013, Credit: Johan Persson – www.perssonphotography.com The post Holding Up the Queue: Pt 2 “The Proscenium as Portal” with theatre designer Christopher Oram appeared first on Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop.

Writer and illustrator Brian Selznick talks to Simon about the art of piecing together a page turner and how children’s books can be a guide and friend in navigating life as a child. Brian’s black and white illustrations set the scene for the reader to dream in colour. His 2007 book ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ was turned into a film about silent movie maestro Georges Méliès by Martin Scorcese. Hugo and Billy Marvel, castaway protagonists are central to two of Brian’s award winning children’s books.  Billy in ‘The Marvels’ survives a shipwreck and later finds work in a London theatre. Hugo lives in the wall of a Paris station and has to unlock a mystery of a mechanical man and a penniless toy shop owner. These orphan heroes join Cinderella, Pip from Great Expectations, Lyra from His Dark Materials, Peter Pan, Alice, Max from Where the Wild Things Are and Harry Potter in the realm of great foundlings of children’s literature. Survivors, brave and bold children who find themselves in a world, absent of parents. Weaving the themes of fragmentation, scraps and memories throughout their discussion Brian and Simon are joined by theatre designer Christopher Oram. HUTQ 5 is the first part of a double episode where both guests talk of their childhood influences and the importance of the childhood imagination in a creative career. Toy theatre from the publicity animation for The Marvels by Brian Selznick The post Holding Up the Queue: Pt 1 “How we make our own families” with writer & illustrator Brian Selznick appeared first on Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop.

The Doll: The original influencer, a companion, confidante and co-conspirator, what is the role now for the doll in this age when playthings are replaced by avatars on screens? As the popularity of the doll wanes, is she lost or are we? Holding Up The Queue with Simon in this the 4th episode of the podcast from Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop is the artist, doll photographer and instagram sensation Eileen Lam. Simon and Eileen discuss the Doll and the journey of this miniature ambassador on the road to idealism. The post Holding Up the Queue: A Doll went out into the world….with doll photographer Eileen Lam appeared first on Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop.

Holding Up the Queue with Simon this episode is Clive Hicks-Jenkins, an artist who has retained that essential spark of playfulness from childhood. Leaving his parents in Wales aged 12 to travel to the bright lights of London, Clive embarked on his metaphorical journey “from the forest to the fantastical”. Simon and Clive meander and muse on puppetry, the folk toy aesthetic that inspired his Hansel & Gretel toy theatre for Pollocks and popular culture. The conversational walk through the Tyrol to the fairground finishes with why the British love “villainry” and its roots in the theatre, pantomime, music hall and Punch & Judy… And the moral of the story is – always remember the breadcrumbs to find your way back home  (remember your roots and what inspired you as a child in your creative journey) Clive Hicks-Jenkins is a Welsh artist, choreographer, puppeteer, and theatre designer. A love of toy theatre has been a life long inspiration for his successful creative career.  Described by Simon Callow as ‘one of the most individual and complete artists of our time’, the toy theatre for Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop is part of his Hansel & Gretel opus which includes a musical interpretation with words by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. The post Holding Up the Queue: From the Forest to the Fantastical with artist & puppeteer Clive Hicks-Jenkins appeared first on Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop.

Simon and artist Charlotte Cory embark on a spirited discussion on anthropomorphism – from Victorian taxidermy tableaus to the transformative power of play and illustration. These absurd worlds, populated by anthropomorphic inhabitants can help to encourage confidence in children and a sense of liberated perception of others through “pure fantasy”. Charlotte Cory certainly knows how to hold up a queue. An artist, writer and raconteuse Charlotte Cory tells the story of The Grand Visitoria for Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop through a cast of characters from her ‘wholly believable’ post Darwinian universe.   The post Holding Up the Queue: Anthropomorphism and Children’s Toys, Illustration and Literature with artist & writer Charlotte Cory appeared first on Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop.

Close your eyes and picture a box that contains a world of magical wonders. A fantastical machine imbued with enchantments powered to life by the imagination and dreams of the seeker, searching for answers to lost and hidden questions, held crystallised like a beating heart within its four walls. This is no ordinary box, but the gilded miniature stage of childhood, the toy theatre, and the curtain is about to go up for the performance of a pantomime of transformation…. “The harlequinade!” In the first episode of Holding Up The Queue from Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop, join Simon to hear about the Harlequinade, how it influenced what we know as pantomime, and a discussion about their mutual fascination of toy theatres with expert Alan Powers.   The post Holding Up the Queue: The cult of the Harlequinade and the toy theatre appeared first on Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop.