Putting it Together

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...

Director of ‘Square Go’, currently playing at Summerhall’s Roundabout venue at 8.20pm every night, Finn popped by to tell me about growing up on the sidelines of rehearsal rooms, becoming a director after actor training, and about the specific set of skills required to be an associate director. Thanks for listening, and here’s wishing everyone who’s there a great Edin...

Direct from the hugely successful national tour of “Sunshine on Leith”, Neshla Caplan sat down with me to chat about Scottish musicals, parenting whilst training and working as an actor, and her experience of managing a box office and secretly wanting to be on stage. Thanks for listening in pals. Give us a share and subscribe to the show! The post Neshla Caplan appeared first on Puttin...

Star of “Only an Excuse” since the 1980s and now starring in the hugely successful “Two Doors Down”, on BBC2, Jonathan Watson charts his journey from youth theatre classes in Glasgow all the way to becoming one of Scotland’s best-loved comic actors. Thanks, as ever, for listening. The post Jonathan Watson appeared first on Putting it Together .

Star of “Adam” and “Locker Room Talk”, Rehanna MacDonald comes by to have a chat about how she approaches her work, and what it means to her to be involved in the arts. It was an honour to sit across from her and talk about the value of art and have a few laughs along the way. Thanks for listening pals! The post Rehanna MacDonald appeared first on Putting it Together .

Star of Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road, Andrew Still drops in to talk about his experiences as a young actor, straight from school, getting a part in a major TV drama. From there, he has gone from strength to strength on TV and stage and he shares what he’s learned about the business, and about himself, along the way. Thanks, as ever, for listening. If you haven’t already, please subscrib...

I’m back from a short break and I’m delighted to bring you my interview with the wonderful Barbara Rafferty. What an absolute joy it was to sit down with her and look back over a tremendous career in theatre and television, and to look forward to everything this great lady still has to give to our business. Thanks for your patience with the recent hiatus. Normal service resumes next we...

Writer, director, actor and self-confessed bad poet Stuart Hepburn joins me today to talk about processing the world through ideas and about how showing up reluctantly and on crutches to a first student audition would eventually lead to a part in “Tiger’. Wait, that’s “Taggart”. Join us for another episode of Putting it Together. And if you haven’t already, plea...

My guest this week is prolific actor and director, Alison Peebles. We talk about her journey from art school to stage management to finally beginning to act in regional tours. We also have a chat about Alison’s MS and how it has affected her life and work. A joyous hour with an endlessly fascinating woman. Thanks for listening and sharing the show. Keep it going, pals! The post Alison Peeble...

My guest this week is the tremendous, warm and funny David Mara. You might have seen him in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time in London’s West End or one of the many large-scale pieces he’s been involved in at both the National Theatre of Great Britain and the National Theatre of Scotland. I grabbed a free moment on his last trip to Scotland to ask him about where his l...

CATS-nominated for her starring role in The Macbeths, Charlene Boyd pops by for a chat about life, theatre and kids! Feed your soul by spending a happy hour in the company of this joyous lady. Thanks to everyone for keeping listening and sharing the podcast. Have a great week! The post Charlene Boyd appeared first on Putting it Together .

How does one wee change of heart about football turn into a decades-long career in TV, film and theatre? Join Colin McCredie and me as we find out. Colin starred in Taggart for 15 years and originated the role of Brian in Passing Places, and he joined me in the studio to talk about those and many other projects. Thanks for listening, sharing, subscribing, the whole bit! The post Colin McCredie app...

The second Scots Makar, or national poet of Scotland, Liz Lochhead is also one of Scotland’s most widely performed playwrights, and a performer in her own right. We spent time together laughing, crying and discussing the nature of our work, and what a joy it was. Join us as we put it together. Thanks for listening! The post Liz Lochhead appeared first on Putting it Together .