Persistent and Nasty

Elaine and Louise chat with the Stacey Simmons author and psychotherapist about her book The Queens Path and the 2-day workshop event which is taking place in Glasgow on the 23rd and 24th of August 2025 at the Grand central Hotel. We discuss the event, the creation of the book, the studio system and much, much more. As part of our ongoing mission to remove barriers and support creative connection,...

Elaine and Louise chat with the brilliant Zara Gladman about her Edinburgh Festival Show Zara Gladman is… Aileen: Cameron’s Gap Year Fundraiser and her new BBC Scotland show Good For Her. We talk about the full circle moment for all of is that this podcast is. As Zara and her writing partner Laura’s script was the very first thing we selected for the very first Persistent and Nasty event. We also...

Elaine chats with co-founder of F-Bomb Theatre co Rachel O’Regan about their latest project Monumental which is a walking tour of the imagined statues of five women from history and their connection to Edinburgh. We also chat with two of the writers Hannah Low, Emery Schaffer and the director Emily Ingram. F-Bomb are working with Edinburgh 900 celebrations to brig Monumental to the audiences. In a...

Elaine chats with Katch Holmes Creative Producer and Programmer and steerer of Knockengorroch Festival. We chat everything from the beginnings of the festival, finding your North Star, music and how it makes you feel and much more. KNOCKENGORROCH FESTIVAL 22ND -25TH MAY 2025 TICKET LINK Link to hear Kuchke Knockengorroch and The Green Gathering Two of the UK’s longest-running grassroots festivals...

Wild Rose Elaine and Louise chat with writer of Wild Rose Nicole Taylor along with Wild Rose herself Dawn Sievewright and co-stars Louise McCarthy and Hannah Jarret-Scot. A beautiful chat during the press night celebrations talking about the joy of feeling represented on stage, seeing important and truthful working class Scottish stories and women finding themselves and following what drives them....

4 STARS ACROSS THE BOARD This is our very first MAIL BAG episode. We asked the question via our Instagram stories if anyone had a topic/thought they would like us to discuss and we felt this question was one we had to answer. The Question: PERSISTENT AND NASTY WHAT ARE YOU TRUE THOUGHTS ABOUT SCOTTISH THEATRE CRITICS? Elaine and Louise give you an honest and a little spicy answer. If you want to c...

THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH Persistent and Nasty is & years old. We can’t believe it. In this episode Elaine and Louise celebrate the achievements of the last seven years. We cover everything from how we started, the ups and downs, the hard truth that by advocating for everyone in our industry we might not work again, that even if we do work we can fall into the trap of wanting to been seen as “nice and e...

Elaine chats with actor, writer, Molly Geddes We talk about Molly’s short film Where We Stop which was created to be part of an initiative for Glasgow Girls Club. The initiative aims to raise awareness of Violence Against Women and Girls among young women aged 16-21 in Glasgow as well as highlight information about the available support services. We also chat about being a survivor and how it feel...

In this RE-LISTEN episode Elaine chats with actor, writer, director Virginia Gay. We talk about Virginia’s Fringe First award winning show Cyrano. We talk talking old stories and bringing them to new audiences without repeating the same story but bringing a fresh perspective to it and how vital that is for us all. We talk about the wonderful tool that is comedy that let’s us reach our audience in...

Final episode of our spooky season. A perfect episode for the crossover between Halloween and Christmas, when the nights are darker and colder and you’re not quite sure if you heard something or caught a glimpse of something out the corner of your eye. Ungetatable by Ellie Zeegan and Janet Coulson. Voice Actors: Eileen O’Shaughnessy – Rebecca Dunn George Orwell – Fergus John McCann Woman – Elaine...

Spooky Season. Next up is a spooky season is It comes with rain by Siobhan Murphy . Voice Actor: Amira Al Shanti Siobhan Murphy Siobhan is a Glasgow-based freelance writer and editor with a background in ELT and educational publishing. I am a passionate writer, and, previously successfully applied to pitch a fantasy novel to publishers and agents at Xpo North festival in Inverness. I also had a pi...

Spooky Season. Next up is a spooky season is Bite Pattern by Charlotte Smith. Voice Actors: Kath – ChloeAnn Taylor Imy - Rebekah Lumsden Charlotte Smith Charlotte Smith is an Edinburgh-based playwright. She studied Drama Writing at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and her work has been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Òran Mór, the Scottish Youth Theatre, the CCA, the Golden Goose Theatre and...

Next up on our spooky season series is Living History by Torya Winters. Voice Actor Megan Lovat TORYA WINTERS Torya is an Edinburgh based actor and writer, and graduate of RCS. She was shortlisted for the Scottish Arts Club Flash Fiction Award in 2021, and her short plays have been performed at the Blazing Hyena scratch night and workshopped at Stage to Page in Glasgow. She is currently working on...

Spooky Season is back. Spoky season is a mixture of audio plays/scripts and true stories Today is a real life spooky tale from writer artist, wellbeing facilitator, and EDI consultant Harry Mould. Voice Actor: Louise Oliver Harry Mould Harry (they/she) is a queer, mixed-heritage writer, artist, wellbeing facilitator, and EDI consultant. Their critically acclaimed first play, The Brenda Line, was c...

Spooky Season is back. We have a week of brilliant audio drama coming your way. Today is The Revival by Corinne Sailsbury Voice Actors: Alex – Fergus John McCann Iona – Elaine Stirrat Corinne Sailsbury Corinne Salisbury is an Edinburgh-based playwright. She's had plays produced at the Traverse Theatre and the Scottish Storytelling Centre (both commissioned by Strange Town for their youth theatre g...

Spooky Season is back. We have a week of brilliant audio drama coming your way. Today is Inedia by Lucy Wilson. Content warnings to be aware of themes of blood, surgery and body dysmorphia. Voice Actor: Shawny McAloon Lucy Wilson Lucy is a writer from Lanarkshire. Normally more of a comedy writer, this is her first foray into anything resembling horror, a genre she is not naturally inclined toward...

Spooky Season is back. We have a week of brilliant audio drama coming your way. First up we have Cull by Cara Watson. This is two extracts from Cara’s script, and we hope it gives you a sense of the story. Content warnings to be aware of themes of blood, violence and animal hunting, although not fully explored in the extracts. Our voice actors in this episode are: Fern – Chloe Kaney Cal – Jamie Cu...

In this episode Elaine chats to Canadian theatre maker Claire Love Wilson. We talk about their show Morag You’re a Long Time Died. Which is touring Scotland/Ireland/England this month after a successful month at the Edinburgh Festival. We chat about the show, generational relationships and much more. Tickets here: http://clairelovewilson.com/morag-youre-a-long-time-deid Morag You’re a Long Time Di...

In this episode Elaine chats with actor and singer Michaela Burger about her show The State Of Grace. We chat the inspiration for the show, care when you are telling the stories of those who have been brave enough to share their stories, sex work and the outdated narratives around this and much more. The State of Grace Dates: 1st -24th August @7.05pm Tickets here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/what...

In this episode Elaine chats to non-binary writer, actor, activist and burlesque performer Novaduh. We chat about their show The Disappeared the inspiration for it, the importance of using your voice for those who can’t use theirs, the joy and wonderous expression of burlesque and much more. The Disappeared - Summerhall Dates 1st-26th August @1.45pm Tickets Here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats...

In this episode Elaine chats with Australian performance artist and dancer Leah Shelton about her show Batshit. We chat the inspiration for the show, her grandmother’s story and the narrative of the “Cray” woman. Batshit - Traverse Theatre Dates: 1st -25th August @ Various Times Get Tickets Here: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/batshit-festival-24 BATSHIT Women have long been locked up,...

In this episode Elaine chats with writer and performer Nina Rose Carling about her show Seeking Representation. We chat the inspiration for the show, working for famous celebrities, the fringe experience and much more. Nina Rose Carlin : Seeking Representation - theSpace @Surgeons Hall Dates 12th- 24th August @11.35am Tickets Here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nina-rose-carlin-seeking-rep...

In this episode Elaine chats with actor and writer Emma Howell about her show This will make you happy. We talk the inspiration for the show, not feeling like theatre was ever an option for you because of your background, multi-marketing and much more. I really Do Think This Will Change Your Life - Pleasence Dome Dates 1st-26th August @12.20pm Tickets Here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on -...

In this episode Elaine chats with writer, musician and actor Em Hoggett about her show. Showtime! We chat the inspiration for the show, being a young female musician in the music industry and much more. Showtime! - C ARTS | C venues | C aurora Dates: 1st to 25th August @7.45pm Tickets here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on - q=Showtime! Showtime! If Tim Burton met Stephen Sondheim in the KitK...

In this episode Elaine chats with actor, writer and co-founder of Pretty Knickers Productions Mhairi McCall. We chat the inspiration for the show, songwriting, self-producing, not having to mould yourself to a ridiculous unattainable standard and some fabulous nail art. Mary Queen of Rock! - Assembly Rooms - Ballroom Dates: 1st-25th August @9.20pm Tickets available here: https://tickets.edfringe.c...