Stage Directions July 2017

In this episode I talk theatre criticism's past and future with Megan Vaughan and Catherine Love. I interview Shôn Dale-Jones about the artistic and political journey that led to his latest show, Me & Robin Hood; and then I discuss 'theatrical heterotopias' and the Gate Theatre's The Unknown Island with Professor Kim Solga.

In this episode I go in search of right-wing theatre and try to trace out a little history of how and why the theatre might have a left-wing bias. I then talk about conservatism in the theatre with Kate Maltby. Finally, I interview Paul Miller, artistic director of the Orange Tree, looking back at his time there so far and previewing the new season. Full details of sources for clips used, references to various plays, and more information on my guests can be found on my website at http://www.danrebellato.co.uk/stage-directions/2017/8/17/stage-directions-august-2017

In this episode I talk to the wonderful Nadine Holdsworth and Chris Megson about British theatre and Brexit. I report from an academic conference in Reading and ask, what are academic conferences for? And I talk to the magnificent Aoife Monks about something she's seen and something she's read.

A discussion of Donald Trump and Performance with academics Sophie Nield and Bryce Lease, an investigation of a strange Ibsen performance from the 1880s, and an interview with director Ellen McDougall about her first season as Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill.