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My blog has quite a lot of posts about Samuel West (Julius Caesar, On Chesil Beach and Darkest Hour) and Charles Edwards (My Fair Lady Australian tour and Henry IX).

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Samuel West - Mr Selfridge, Britten, festivals and literary events


(screencap from episode 1 of Mr Selfridge and a screenshot from the Moomin, Mymble and Little My app)

Filming for series 2 of Mr Selfridge began in April. Its broadcast in early 2014 coincides with the centenary of the First World War (ITV).

The Vanishing will be repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra this Saturday.

On 8 June, Sam will read poetry and prose at the Lewes Chamber Music Festival, in a concert featuring works by Schumann and Janáček (via the Mid Sussex Times).
Sam is the reciter for Henry V by Walton, which will be performed by the Henley Symphony Orchestra at Shiplake College on 23 June.
He will be the presenter at the Sheffield City Hall Christmas Concert (14 December), which is part of the Sheffield International Concert Season (via the Sheffield Telegraph).

In the second half of the year, Sam is taking part in events highlighting various dimensions of Benjamin Britten's work: WH Auden's poetry, Britten's writing and his music for cinema. He and the Utter Jazz musical ensemble will perform at the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival (21 July). "Look, Stranger" focuses the collaboration between Auden and Britten. On 20 August, Sam and Alexandra Harris will discuss the relationship between Britten's words and music at the Proms (BBC Proms). Two months later, the Aurora Orchestra will make its debut at the Fairfield Halls on 10 November. Sam will narrate documentaries scored by Britten.

Sam, Rebecca Swift, Esther Freud, and Sjón will explore the literary legacy of Tove Jansson in "Between Light and Dark" at the Writers Centre Norwich on 18 June.
Juliet Stevenson, Ronald Pickup and Sam will make appearances at the Ledbury Poetry Festival (5-14 July; via the Ledbury Reporter).
He is on the judging panel for the Forward Prizes for Poetry. The prizes will be awarded 1 October at the Southbank Centre.


Sam will appear in the video for "Handyman Blues" by Billy Bragg. A few weeks ago, he shared a picture from filming on Twitter.
He narrates an upcoming audiobook of For Your Eyes Only - it is part of 007 Reloaded (tweets 1|2|3|4).

Last week, Sam, Hattie Morahan and Juliet Stevenson performed at a gala for Peace Brigades International.
In April, he narrated The Genius of Turner: Narrating the Industrial Revolution on BBC2, starred in the Saturday Drama Present Laughter and stage managed a concert at Prussia Cove featuring works by Beethoven and Hindemith.

His response to Maria Miller's maiden speech as Culture Secretary is at the Arts Funding Ning. Also, he has written a piece in support of the My Theatre Matters campaign.

Sunday 19 May 2013

Charles Edwards - Playhouse Presents, Strange Interlude, Downton Abbey



(screencap source: National Theatre)

Playhouse Presents "Stage Door Johnnies" will be broadcast 23 May on Sky Arts.

Anne-Marie Duff and Charles star in Strange Interlude by Eugene O'Neill at the National Theatre. Previews begin 28 May and press night is 4 June.

Tellyspotting has some photos from filming for series 4 of Downton Abbey.