It’s the end of the school day and all you want to do is go home and relax. You walk through the door where you are instantly greeted by your parent or guardian asking you how your day has been. Social Media appears to be the only thing on your mind, and so you rush straight to your room. This is the perfect chance to catch up on the latest gossip with your friends online, however, what  happens when you receive vicious messages aimed at dwindling your confidence and self esteem? Ahead of her performance in Crystal Springs, I was able to speak to actress Suzan Sylvester about her role, her thoughts on the internet and her varied acting career!

You’ll be starring in Kathy Rucker’s play, Crystal Springs from Tuesday 5th August, could you describe what the play is about?

Two different mothers whose daughters are best friends and how a small unkindness snowballs into a terrible outcome.

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It has to be said that London has to be one of the most liveliest, if not the liveliest city in the world. A city that appears to never sleep; every road, street, avenue and lane takes on a characteristic all of it’s own. With Kilburn High Road, it’s no different as playwright Suhayla El-Bushra highlights the roads identity and diversity in her latest project, The Kilburn Passion. Noted for her previous works: Pigeons, produced by the Royal Court and Cuckoo, performed at the Unicorn Theatre, I was able to speak to Suhayla ahead of the production, which sees the playwright collaborate with the Tricycle Young Company Ensemble, about the production being brought back by popular demand, why theatre is for everyone and how being a former resident helped to write the show!

You’re currently working with the Tricycle Young Company Ensemble on their production of the Kilburn Passion which will be playing from Tuesday 5th until Saturday 9th August. Could you describe what the production is about?

The production is a kind of modern day Passion Play. It’s about a disparate group of people on Kilburn High Road, all lonely and disconnected from the rest of the world, whose lives are changed when a (vaguely) Christ like figure appears and affects them all in some way. It’s also about alienation in a big city, how we learn to ignore all the people around us and switch off, especially in the digital age. It’s mainly about those two things but each character has their own little story, so there’s lots of other stuff going on too.

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For centuries, our perceptions of the circus have been fixed into believing that the art form is a set genre, devoted to showcasing a selection of the weird and the wonderful, from contortion artists to jugglers, trapeze artists to clowns. Fast forward to the 21st century, and Artistic Director of Circa, Yaron Lifschitz updates the traditional art form into a thematic and imaginative playground full of wonder amazement. As the founder of the internationally acclaimed Circa, noted for their ambitious and awe inspiring productions, Yaron has witnessed the company’s popularity go from strength to strength. Having taken their performance of Beyond worldwide, Circa will be making a pit stop in Edinburgh for the next month as they take on this year’s Festival. Ahead of their performances, I was able to speak to Yaron about his inspirations for the production, what he’s looking forward to the most at this year’s festival and why it’s important to not take yourself too seriously!

Yaron, you are the Artistic Director of Circa, who will be showcasing the critically acclaimed Beyond at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 30^th July. Could you describe the concept of the production?
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When I say the word ‘news’, what do you think of? Suited and booted news presenters? Received Pronunciation? Complex terminology? Serious Headlines? Pristine news room sets? Politics? If you’ve said yes to two or more of these then prepare for your perception of the news to be changed! Celebrating a glorious 35 years this summer, the sharp and satirical crowd pleaser, NewsRevue returns to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival to offer its alternate look on the ever changing world of Current Affairs. Ahead of this year’s performances, I was able to speak to Musical Theatre performer, Mimi Edwards about her stand out news story of the year, taking part in a Guinness World Record Breaking show and the reason behind NewsRevue’s success.

Mimi, you’ll be starring in this year’s edition of Edinburgh Fringe staple, NewsRevue. How are you feeling ahead of this year’s festival?

I’m so excited. Edinburgh is such a wonderful city – I’ve been a few times but this will be my first time participating in the festival. Everyone I’ve spoken to who has done it before have all said the same thing of the experience – it’s the craziest but most amazing time of your life!

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It’s that time of year again, where thousands of fellow performers will embark on the largest arts festival in the world. Winner of the Sky Arts Future Fund, poet and playwright Sabrina Mahfouz is no stranger to the iconic festival, having taken her production of Dry Ice three years beforehand. Sabrina cooks up a storm as she’s set to debut her newest work, Chef, at the Udderbelly Cowgate from 31st July, and speaks to Theatrefullstop ahead of opening night about the rehearsal process, the acts she’s most looking forward to seeing this year and being inspired by chef Ollie Dabbous.

What attracted you to the subject matter of Chef?

Working within restaurants and at the same time working with women who had been through the prison system highlighted so many interesting perspectives and stories – I felt it would be an exciting challenge to combine the two worlds and see who the character would be who could lead us through them both.

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We appear to live in an era where the concept of feminism is shrouded in an historic haze, a movement associated with the fearless protests of inspirational women fighting for equality. However, what does it mean to be a feminist in 2014? As females, are we automatically categorised as feminists? These are questions that continue to dominate discussions and debates. Shutters, a triptych of plays directed by Jack Thorpe Baker examines the roles of women within American History within the last century. Ahead of press night, I was able to speak to cast member Yolanda Kettle about the relevance of the show, working with Jack Thorpe Baker and her varied acting career.

You’ll be starring in Shutters, a performance consisting of three American plays placing a focus on the journey of women within the last century. Could you describe what each play is about

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The show Idomeneus has its UK Premier at the Gate Theatre, opening on June 19^th. It has been directed by Gate Associate Artist Ellen McDougall. I spoke to cast member Alex Austin about the show and his career… 

You are currently working on Idomeneus at the Gate’s Head Theatre, how are the rehearsals going?

Its good thank you, we’re in the fourth week of rehearsals, getting ready to get in to tech for next week. There’s been a lot of exploring and that but it’s going good.

How would you describe the overall rehearsal process?

It’s very ensemble focused. We spent the first two weeks working very closely with the director, Ellen (McDougall) and the design team. They’ve been in rehearsals for a lot of the time so we’ve been working very closely as a group creating the language of the play, which flips between narrating and characters. It’s exciting it’s the UK premiere and it’ll be wicked to be a part of that!

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A talented singer and song writer in her own right, Sheila Atim has always had a passion to act. With both the Theatre and Music worlds working hand in hand, Sheila has been able to showcase her musical abilities within theatrical arena. She’s currently starring in award winning playwright, Ché Walker’s production of Klook’s Last Stand, where she plays the feisty Vinette. Ahead of press night, I was able to speak to Sheila about working with Ché, working in a small cast and why it’s important to surround yourself with artistic people!

You’ll be starring in Ché Walker’s play, Klook’s Last Stand at The Park Theatre (from Wednesday 11^th June). Could you describe what the play is about?

The play is a love story between two people who are in very interesting places in their lives. I’d say the experience that they share together will change the course of their life, both of them forever.

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With the 450th birthday celebrations of one of our most celebrated playwrights well and truly underway, each play serves as a reminder of just how influential Shakespeare’s part has been in the worlds of both the English language and the landscape of theatre making. Founded 2 years ago, Zoe Ford‘s theatre company, Hiraeth Productions has sought to bridge the gap between the Elizabethan/Jacobean era in which Shakespeare thrived, and the technological, forward thinking era in which we now live. Ahead of Zoe’s production of Hamlet, I was able to speak to the Director about her prison inspired interpretation, her inspirations for founding Hiraeth and why being a Text Assistant for Shakespeare’s Globe has proved invaluable!

As founder of Hiraeth Artistic Productions, what inspired you to create the company?

Starting a theatre company was an idea that came to me at drama school; studying theatre performance was the first time I was exposed to the process of theatre creation – production, direction etc. It fascinated me, the thought of starting my own company was exhilarating, so I plunged in head first.

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A Shakespearean classic, Hamlet is home to probably one of the most uttered lines in human history! But with the world of Shakespeare often feeling like an anomaly all of own, how can the themes of 400 years ago be in anyway relatable to todays issues? Hiraeth Productions answer this by updating the dramatic classic, setting the play in the gritty and male dominated confines of Her Majesty’s Prison, Liverpool. Typically the shy and retiring heroine, actress Jessica White redefines the role of Ophelia as a strong and independent psychiatric Mental Health Carer. Ahead of the production, I was able to speak to Jessica about Ophelia’s new found strength, her love for Stage Combat and why motion capture is the cinematic future!

You’re currently starring as Ophelia in Hiraeth’s production of Hamlet. How are rehearsals going for that?

They’re going brilliantly! We’re a couple of weeks in, all of the ideas are on the table, and we’re still in the playing stage, which is fun!

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