Putting it Together

It’s the first time I’ve had a storyteller on the show and Dan does not disappoint. Delving deep into the nuts and bolts of what stories are all about and why we tell them, we spend a smashing hour exchanging ideas and of course laughs. Thanks for listening to us, and if you enjoy the episode, why not share it with your pals? If you can afford to, please join the growing number of peop...

Both a brilliant actor and an all-round decent human, Jamie Marie has recently been seen in Dominic Hill’s production of Cinderella at the Citz and Adam McNamara’s groundbreaking police drama, Stand By, directed by Joe Douglas. Our chat happened in the middle of Christmas show time, so I managed to catch Jamie in between shows and luckily neither of us had a panto cold at the time. Tha...

Actor and the star of Kieran Hurley’s recent hit, Mouthpiece, Lorn Macdonald chatted to me about being observed, moving swiftly from one role to the next, and even a healthy dose of spirituality. Big thanks to Lorn for taking the time to be on the show. Remember, if you’d like to help support the podcast, you can do so for just a few pounds a month by clicking here . The post Lorn Macd...

Orla spent seven years at the helm of the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, championing, programming and directing some of the best new writing in the world. We sat down to talk about her time at the Trav and what’s next, both for the theatre and for her! Remember, if you’d like to help support the podcast, you can do so for just a few pounds a month by clicking here . The post Orla O&#82...

Hello Pitpodders and a happy new year to you! This is a very special episode where the tables are turned. My friend and colleague Blythe Duff, the first guest I ever had on the show, agreed to interview me for this episode, even insisting that I sit on the “guest” side of the studio table. No intro or outro this week – just straight into the interview. I really hope you enjoy it!...

Theatre director, magician, puppeteer – the list seems endless. It’s Ross MacKay, a brilliant human and a prolific talent, who makes considerable effort to get to my wee studio and chat for an hour. Big thanks to Ross for doing it. I think the promise that it would be the christmas “special” was part of the lure… Please become a patron of the show if you can afford it...

Jo Clifford was at one time something of a lone wolf; the only openly trans playwright in the UK theatre scene. Now, thankfully, she is a leading figure in a vibrant and growing community and this season she revives her hugely successful one-woman play, The Gospel According to Jesus Queen of Heaven. We sat down at Jo’s Leith home to talk theatre, politics and just plain old being human. Why...

A “garret playwright”, Douglas Maxwell has written in his own unusual way (i.e. – mostly unsolicited) for over twenty years and boasts The Whip Hand, Fever Dream: Southside and Charlie Sonata among his many successes. We talk about being an artist, being a “success” and the ever-present imposter syndrome. Big thanks to Douglas for taking the time out to chat to me, an...

Star of the soon-to-be-released film “Beats”, Cristina Ortega is currently appearing in “Wendy and Peter Pan”, at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre and I managed to catch up with him to talk books, plays, not passing exams and the “corporate rave scene”. Big thanks to Cristian for taking the time to chat with me, and to you for listening! To contribute a we...

My guest today has worked as a stage manager on shows big and small all around the world. I thought it was about time we heard what it looks like from behind the scenes. So here we are, chatting our way through what high school drama looks like for the tech-orientated people, how to learn from others’ successes and failures, and just how much responsibility rests on the shoulders of a produc...

Join me and my guest, Guy Hughes, as we wander through childhoods spent putting on shows, how we get inspired to create, and of course the story of Guy’s worst audition! Guy and I recently worked together on Twelfth Night and I had the pleasure of grabbing him for a chat before the show closed. Thanks, as ever, for listening. This podcast is funded by listener contributions, so if you think...

Fresh from taking the lead in the acclaimed People, Places and Things on its first national tour, Lisa made time to talk to me in between performances of Twelfth Night. We get to grips with being in the bubble, coming out of the bubble and not forgetting your real life whilst in the bubble. There’s a fair bit of bubble chat, along with a generous helping of wisdom from this terrific actor I&...

Musical director for such productions as The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, The James Plays and more recently Midsummer and Twelfth Night, Aly describes his discovery of music and drama in deepest Ayrshire, how a night out at Kelso Folk Club turned into one of the most famous pieces of theatre to come out Scotland in recent years and just how far you can get on grade 2 piano. Thanks for listen...

It’s been a year since I released episode 1, and in celebration of that, I’ve made a special episode which looks back over the year and highlights a few favourite moments. Please share as widely as you can! Here’s to the year ahead! The post One Year of Putting it Together appeared first on Putting it Together .

The brilliant Katie joins me this week for episode 51 and we discuss growing up on a diet of musical theatre soundtrack albums, being an introvert and anxiety in the life of the performer. Thanks for all the retweets and lovely comments for last week’s 50th episode! Long may it continue! The post Katie Barnett appeared first on Putting it Together .

Collectively known as Noisemaker, they’re the team behind the music and lyrics of “My Left/Right Foot”, and the currently in development, “My Name is Ben”. They joined me for episode 50(!) to talk all things writing and musical theatre before they set off for the states where their new show has its premiere early next year. Thanks as ever for the responses to the show...

A prolific director of radio, TV and stage, but more importantly a pal, Marilyn joins me to share her take on art: what it’s about, what it’s for and why she loves it. Yet another hour I spent completely fascinated by one of the greats of our industry. Thanks for listening! The post Marilyn Imrie appeared first on Putting it Together .

Creator and performer of Hitch and Heads Up, co-writer of the recent Square Go and writer of the upcoming Mouthpiece at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre, Kieran Hurley’s CV can’t fail to impress. But how does he do it? What is the process of actually getting the thing written. We chat about collaboration, daydreaming, discipline and the role of the shed in writing. Join us! Thanks fo...

Fresh from a sell-out run with Birds of Paradise and National Theatre of Scotland’s “My Left Right Foot’, Richard Conlon joins me backstage at the Lyceum to chat about his work and process. How does he approach Shakespeare? Why does he relish the time between jobs just as much as the jobs themselves? And just how well-known around in Edinburgh is Fergus? All this and more on toda...

Brought up in Kuwait, Colette found creativity to be the key to understanding the world, so when drama appeared as a school subject, she grabbed it with both hands. What a pleasure to share a stage with her in Twelfth Night, where she gives a powerful and magnetic performance, and to share an hour with her on the show. Thanks for listening. The post Colette Dalal Tchantcho appeared first on Puttin...

The first female artistic director of Dundee Rep, not to mention director of Oliver Emanuel and Gareth Williams’ “306: Dawn”, Jemima Levick chatted with me for an hour about all things directing, casting and even the joy of the model box. Come and have a wee listen in, why don’t you? Thanks for listening! The post Jemima Levick appeared first on Putting it Together .

He’s spent many years on our screens in shows such as Taggart, Coronation Street and most recently, Holby City, and now John Michie comes along to PITPOD for a chat! John takes us through his unorthodox childhood to his time as a stage manager who couldn’t work a lighting desk, all the way up to the present day, telling me about his preparation for going on stage or in front of the cam...

From amateur dramatics in Carnoustie all the way to the West End with the hugely popular “Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour”, Caroline Deyga joins me in the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh to chart her journey, her various great roles and to discuss the current state of gender politics in our industry. Join us, won’t you? The post Caroline Deyga appeared first on Putting it Together .

Direct from his massive success in Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America”, both at The National and on Broadway, James McArdle joins me to chat about playing an iconic American role for both British and American audiences, dealing with stage fright and the common misconceptions surrounding Scottish actors working outside Scotland. Join us for a wee chat. Thanks, as always for listeni...

A child of PACE, Paisley’s long-standing youth theatre outfit, Dani Heron went on to study acting at LAMDA and has been seen in The James Plays (NTS), The Venetian Twins (Lyceum) and is soon to be seen in Rebus: Long Shadows (Birmingham Rep and National Tour). It’s always good to have an old pal on the show, so come and join us as we chew the fat The post Dani Heron appeared first on P...