In the Hot Seat: Marc Pickering of The Elephant ManMarch 30, 2007As I walk into the dark and slightly unsettling North London pub I scan the room for the type of person who'd play the role of 'The Elephant Man'. Marc Pickering is the actor I'm here to meet, but the grey hair atop the balding heads around me suggest he's upstairs rehearsing. With less than two weeks before the play hits the West End, it's not surprising the cast are busy. The story of the severely deformed John Merrick is a well known one and director Bruce Guthrie and his cast have a challenge ahead of them.
In the Hot Seat: Lesley GarrettMarch 28, 2007The Queen of UK Opera, Lesley Garrett, chats to Katie Spain about her role in The Sound of Music and how to keep a precious voice on top form.
In the Hot Seat: An Evening with Julie WaltersMarch 28, 2007It's not every night you have a 'date' with Julie Walters ... most people go through life watching the English national treasure on screen, wondering what she's like in person. I could only ever dream of getting straight forward advice from the leading lady; advice about life, acting, the media industry and chasing dreams. Sound heavy? It wasn't. As I sat in a room with other aspiring 'stars', I was shocked about her frank honesty, easygoing nature and razor sharp wit. You know what… the woman is human after all; she even spilt a drink down her front and tutted at her own clumsiness. Now that, my dear theatre buffs, is real-life showbiz.
Katie Splain is an Entertainment Editor, Radio