With the return of the quirky and original circus show that had crowds and celebs flocking from all over in its first season last year, Limbo once again aims to amaze, bewilder and astound. Ahead of press night, I was able to speak with Heather Holliday, who not only held the title of being the youngest sword swallower in the world as a teen, but is also a fire eating extraordinaire! Heather speaks to Theatrefullstop about why she’s glad to be back in the UK, her inspirations, and why it’s important to have a good attitude in the circus industry!

Limbo returns to the Wonderground Festival this summer after a successful run last year. How does it feel to be back?

I’m really excited because (we’re) here for such a long season and (of) all of the places we go, London has the most entertainment and it’s the most interesting to be in. Also, (it’s) nice to be back because we’d just created the show last year and it was fairly new. We were still getting to know each other, the performers were getting to know each other’s skills so after a full year we’ve been able to just be a lot more creative with each other and get to know each other and I think that’s really going to show on stage with the new stuff we’re doing.

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Amy Clamp

From the very moment you switch on your Computer, Television, Tablet or smartphone, you’re bombarded with so called images of perfection, and that’s even before you’ve left the house! Then there’s the numerous amount of inescapable ad campaign in magazines, billboards and bus tops tempting you to buy the latest luxurious shampoo or miraculous mascara. But what, in 2014 does it mean to be a woman? To be a feminist? With the movement of feminism being a hot topic at present, Jackdaw Theatre explores this in their latest production of TEN WOMEN. I was able to talk to Artistic Director Bethan Dear and Creative Producer Amy Clamp ahead of their production about the Theatre Companies beginnings, travelling to Uganda and and why their proud to call TEN WOMEN a feminist play!

You’ve both formed Jackdaw Theatre whilst studying at Middlesex University. What inspired the creation of the company?

Amy: It was initiated by the fact that Bethan quite soon after University went and did a Residency Programme at the Finborough Theatre. Afterwards, she was offered a spot for a Sunday (and) Monday show and invited me to come on board as Production Manager, so that was the first project we worked on together and from that point realised that we worked really well together.

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Everybody has a story to tell, whether you’re a Costume Designer or a Production Assistant. To acknowledge this, the Adrian Pagan Playwright Award was launched last year in memory of the late Stage Manager who also enjoyed success a Playwright. Alongside working as an actor, having performed for the RSC and starring in the BBCs Casualty, Thomas Pickles can now add the credible title of award winning Playwright to his CV! A play that was 11 years in the making, Thomas talks ahead of opening night about his inspirations, his love of writing and why being a Magpie could be a good thing!

Your production of Dead Party Animals is the first recipient of the Adrian Pagan Playwright Award, how does that feel?

It feels great! It’s really good! The prospect of getting my first play produced is overwhelming, but brilliant as well! I’m chuffed to bits! I had this play, so I thought, what can I do with it? I saw the competition online and I was shortlisted! It’s been fab!

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Frantic Assembly are noted for their bold and daring performances as they continually challenge the way in which stories are told. This time, it’s no different, as the theatre company return with a UK tour of their latest show, The Believers. A production that marks a welcome return for performer Eileen Walsh, having  previously starred in Frantic Assembly’s Tiny Dynamite, I was able to speak to the actress about reuniting, touring and her role as Marianne.

You’ve been touring with Frantic Assembly in their new production, The Believers, could you describe what the production is about?

The production is about two different couples who are forced together on the one night. They have to stay in each other’s house, and it’s basically about, due to bad weather, what happens and what failings it brings out in each other’s relationship. It’s a very funny and moving piece.

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Over a decade on from its London Premiere, Dennis Kelly’s Debris makes a welcome return to the Southwark Playhouse. A play not shy on exploring the dark and sometimes unspoken aspects of life, Debris is a tale told through the eyes of two siblings as they attempt to make sense of the world. Ahead of the play’s opening night next week, I was able to speak to Leila Mimmack about preparing for her role, working in a small cast and why she was drawn to the play!

You’ll be starring in Dennis Kelly’s Debris at The Southwark Playhouse at the end of this month, could you describe what the play is about?

It’s about a brother and sister who are borderline abandoned. It’s them exploring what’s happened from when they were 9 until 16 in different climatic points through their lives. They take it in turns to tell each other’s stories; some of it is monologues, sometimes they tell a part of a story together in duologues. It’s fragmented but it’s all connected in the timeline of their life.

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You may be mistaken for thinking that the play’s title bares any relation to Olivia Newton John’s 1978 hit, however, the two could not be any more different! Ahead of Monday’s opening night, I was able to talk to Gbemisola Ikumelo, who plays prison in mate Serena in the Kate Tempest Production…

So you’re currently starring in Kate Tempest’s ‘Hopefully Devoted’, can you tell me what the show is about?

The show is about a woman called Chess, played by Cat Simmons. Chess is in prison for a long time, and her best mate in prison becomes her everything. Her best mate Serena ends up being put on parole and leaves, forcing Chess to look at herself, her past and the things she’s done. A character called Silver comes into the mix and helps her, through music, as she’s a music producer looking for redemption for herself in someways, and comes in to help Chess make music, so with Silver as her new support system, Chess has to face her truth, but find this freedom through the music.

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Finding the perfect monologue can prove to be quite the arduous task; an obstacle course of genre, era, character, plays and playwrights can make the selection process quite a daunting one. However, that no longer has to be the case! The Mono Box, co-founded by Actress Joan Iyiola and Movement Director Polly Bennett in 2012 is a portable library of plays, ranging from the classics to contemporary works. Hosting a range of workshops and events from their Speech Surgery events, to their Workshop Weekenders; The Mono Box aims to be a helpful resource for actors, writers and directors. I was lucky enough to talk to Joan Iyiola, Co-Founder of The Monobox ahead of this month’s Speech Surgery event.

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Minnie Crowe

Minnie Crowe has been the Creative Director of TriForce Promotions for 5 years now, and has watched on as the company has only grown in its support and popularity. TriForce’s star is only set to shine brighter, as 2014 sees the company broadening their horizons to Los Angeles, where their successful Monologue Slam event will make it’s international debut. I was lucky enough to talk too Minnie ahead of Nov. 4^th Monologue Slam event.

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Many of you may recognise Chizzy Akudolu as Mo Effanga from the BBC’s BAFTA award winning drama, Holby City. In between her busy filming schedule, Chizzy is also a keen writer/producer and Creative Associate for TriForce Promotions. Ahead of Nov. 4^th Monologue Slam event, I got the chance to talk to Chizzy about turning Host for the evening, the importance of Monologue Slam within the acting industry and the importance of honing your craft!

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