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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).

Sunday 27 September 2015

Samuel West - The Seagull, The Frankenstein Chronicles, Portrayal of Disability

Sam had an aerosol mix up for The Seagull dress rehearsal...
The Seagull, a play in the Young Chekhov season at Chichester, is in previews from 28 September.

The Frankenstein Chronicles will have a premiere screening at Everyman on 11 November. Click here for tickets.

He will contribute to "Portrayal of Disability", a one day conference organised by the BFI in partnership with UK Disability History Month (via Disability Arts Online). The event is on 19 November at the Blue Room, BFI Southbank.

Saturday 26 September 2015

Charles Edwards - Double Acts, #15secondshakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Charles and Celia Imrie will star in the first episode of John Finnemore's Double Acts on BBC Radio 4. The series begins in October (Finnemore's Twitter, @JohnFinnemore 1|2|3)

This is Charles' take on #15secondshakespeare*

Playwright Ken Ludwig mentioned Charles in an interview about his "Favorite Things" (Playbill).
"As for Much Ado, this funniest of all Shakespeare plays has received two other productions that I love: one that I’ve only seen on tape, with Sam Waterston in the Public Theater production; and one that I saw at the Globe in London with Charles Edwards and Eve Best. Together, they gave two of the best Shakespeare performances I’ve ever seen – and you can get it on DVD!"
Ludwig is referring to a 2011 production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe; click here to find out more.

* reciting lyrics, Shakespeare style (Nerd Reactor)

Friday 18 September 2015

Samuel West - The Book of Disquiet, Frank Auerbach, Peace Brigades International

The Book of Disquiet has been featured in the New York Times' "Fall and beyond" music listings. It will be performed 21-24 January at Montclair State University. Click here for tickets.

Sam, Juliet Stevenson and Ian Mckellen will perform in "Shakespeare and the Law" (16 November, Middle Temple Hall). The event has been organised by Peace Brigades International (PBI) and the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk.
Juliet and Sam have previously worked with PBI. In May 2013, they performed in a gala honouring defenders of the rule of law.

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Sam went to the Photograph 51 press night on Monday. Rather appropriately, he wore a tie with a periodic table on it (wooller.com and his Twitter, @exitthelemming). Andrew Scott and Harriet Walter also attended the event.

Earlier this month, Sam discussed artist Frank Auerbach in Art Quarterly (via @artfund).

Parents in Performing Arts will have a campaign launch at the Young Vic on 16 October. Romola Garai and Poppy Burton-Morgan are confirmed to speak. Sam and John Simm are listed as supporters on the Eventbrite listing.

Sam endorsed the arts policy proposed by Christian Wolmar (via @wolmarforlondon). Wolmar was a candidate seeking nominations to be Labour's candidate for Mayor of London.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Samuel West - Young Chekhov at Chichester


(Samuel West and Olivia Vinall. Source: The Corner Shop PR; photo by Johan Persson)

The Corner Shop PR has released rehearsal pictures from the Young Chekhov season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Sam will play Trigorin in The Seagull and the title role in Ivanov.

He and Jade Williams were interviewed on the theatre's website.

The Guardian has featured the season in its "hottest plays of autumn 2015":
A rare chance to see the formation of Chekhov’s genius in his three earliest plays in new versions by David Hare directed by Jonathan Kent. A 22-strong ensemble, headed by Anna Chancellor, James McArdle and Samuel West, appears in all three plays which, on certain orgiastic occasions, you’ll be able to see in a single day.
Sam has tweeted some pictures from rehearsals, including books for research and props.

Sunday 13 September 2015

The Mono Box

The Mono Box is a resource for actors, directors and playwrights. It was set up by actor Joan Iyiola and movement director/choreographer Polly Bennett in 2012. The organisation runs workshops and events. It also has a collection of plays that was entirely donated by industry professionals. Several donors are people I have featured on my blog over the years* - actors Hugh Bonneville, Olivia Colman, Charles Edwards, Andrew Scott, Michael Sheen, Juliet Stevenson and David Tennant; and playwrights Caryl Churchill, Lucy Prebble and Laura Wade.




* belated realisation that I've had this blog for nine years!