Spieling The Beans

My guests this episode are the Gaudí Award winning star (Victoria Luengo) & Oscar nominated director (Rodrigo Sorogoyen) of the Palme d'Or nominated THE BELOVED, on working with Javier Bardem, theatre vs film, long takes, shared cinematic languages, and why we need stories. Recorded at the headquarters of Curzon, as part of the London Film Festival. Special thanks to Curzon for enabling this inter...

A COMMON STORY's director, Anna Foglietta, and its producer, Paolo Sopranzetti, join me to discuss the transition from celebrated actor to first-time director, being inspired by Bergman and Loach, and why we need stories. Recorded at the London Film Festival. Special thanks to BFI for enabling this interview.

My guest this episode is Gabe Klinger - the director of ISABEL, co-written with its star Marina Person. We discuss filming on 16mm, turning their active film set into a local film school, the history of São Paulo, and why we need stories. Recorded at the London Film Festival. Special thanks to BFI for enabling this interview.

My guest this episode is Harvey Zielinski - the writer, director, producer, and star of SWEET MILK LAKE. We discuss multi-roling in your own directorial debut, why we need stories, and to what extent authenticity is relational. Recorded at the London Film Festival. Special thanks to BFI for enabling this interview.

My guest this episode is Sean Mathias, director of FRANK AND PERCY. We discuss transforming the original 2023 play (which he also directed) into a film, his unique relationship with Sir Ian McKellen, and why we need stories. Recorded at the London Film Festival. Special Thanks to BFI for enabling this interview.

Fresh from winning Best Actress at Cannes for her work on ALL OF A SUDDEN, my guest this episode is Virginie Efira. We discuss working with Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Justine Triet, her awe of the UK's National Theatre, and her incredible career which has taken her from TV presenter to César Award winning actor. Recorded at the London Film Festival. Special thanks to Curzon for enabling this interview.

STB's first red carpet episode: the cast and director of ZERO INTENTION OF LIVING QUIETLY discuss the film, filmmaking and storytelling at its Leicester Square Premiere at the 70th Annual BFI London Film Festival.

My guest today is Simon Evans, director and co-adaptor of Cyrano de Bergerac for the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding, currently playing its West End transfer at the Noël Coward Theatre. He became a very familiar face during the pandemic with the BBC TV series Staged, which he wrote, directed and co-starred in, with Michael Sheen and David Tennant, all playin...

My guest for this episode of Spieling The Beans is Dame Judi Dench. You know who she is. Recorded 9th April 2026.

My guest this episode is the globally-renowned, multi-award-winning playwright, poet, and performer, Inua Ellams MBE FRSL, whose work has been produced by the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC / Disney+'s Doctor Who, to name just three. Research Producer: Eileen Gbagbo

Tomorrow, the Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke starring SAIPAN opens in UK cinemas. In October, at the London Film Festival, I got to talk to its directors, Glenn Leyburn & Lisa Barros D’Sa. This is that. Producer: Farah Sadek.

My guest this episode is Daniel Bailey: award-winning director, writer, dramaturg, former Associate Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre, Chair of Judges for the Alfred Fagon playwriting awards, and all-round theatre-making phenomenon. Recorded at ID Studios, Hackney, December 2025. Research Producer: Eileen Gbagbo.

For the finale of season seven, my guest is the Booker Prize winning author Sir Salman Rushdie. Recorded at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024.

In the longest interview we've ever done on Spieling The Beans, my guest is the sixth Artistic Director of the National Theatre (2015-2025), Sir Rufus Norris.

Dom speaks to the globally revered comedian Gary Gulman (The Great Depresh, Born on Third Base), on constructing masterful stand-up, working with directors, and effability of the word 'ineffable'.

Dom talks to Simon McBurney OBE, the co-founder and artistic director of the monumentally consequential theatre company Complicité, and an actor you’ll recognise from his roles in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Duchess, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, and Rev, to name just a few. His latest show is FIGURES IN EXTINCTION, a co-creation with the Olivier Award winner Crystal Pite; a collaboration b...

My guest today is Rupert Goold - the double-Olivier-winning, Tony-nominated director behind such shows as Dear England, Enron, Ink, King Charles III, Tammy Faye, Patriots, and Cold War. His screen career includes directing Ben Whishaw in the BBC adaptation of Richard II, James Franco and Jonah Hill in the movie True Story, and perhaps most notably directing Renée Zellweger’s Oscar winning performa...

My guest this episode is Max Webster, the Tony & Olivier Award nominated director of astonishing theatrical feats including The Life of Pi, David Tennant & Cush Jumbo's Macbeth, and imminently the Ncuti-Gatwa-led The Importance of Being Earnest. We discuss the construction of these shows, his training at La Coq, making the invisible visible, directing barefoot, how film and tv perfecting hyper rea...

MY guest this episode is the Olivier-Winning, Tony-Nominated Super-Producer of Fleabag, Baby Reindeer, and Kathy And Stella Solve A Murder, Francesca Moody MBE. On how to produce a hit show from script to cult fringe favourite to global domination, how she became a producer by accident, what exactly a producer does, and so much more. Recorded at The National Theatre.

My guest is Emmy, Golden Globe and double Olivier Award winning actor, director, producer and writer, Brian Cox. In a wonderfully unguarded conversation, we talk Eugene O'Neill, Logan Roy & Succession, great examples of directing, acting with Gielgud, how to shape a character, how to run a rehearsal room, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and we end with a recitation of his favourite poem. Recorded i...

Season 6 Premiere Episode: My guest is the multi Grammy and Emmy nominated comedian, filmmaker, actor, writer, and podcaster Tig Notaro. A true artist of standup. Continually pushing bits and using boundaries to advance all of our understandings of quite what one can do and achieve with stand-up comedy. As we discuss, and is mentioned in virtually every introduction given to her, she has suffered...

My guest for the Season Five Finale is George Clooney. You know who he is. Recorded at a special BAFTA screening of his latest film 'The Boys In The Boat', in December 2023.

My guest this episode is the Edinburgh Perrier and Royal Television Society Award-winning actor and writer, Justin Edwards. Star of The Thick Of It, as Ben Swain MP, along with The Trip, The News Quiz, The Man Who Invented Christmas, The Death of Stalin, Paddington, Thor, Wonka, Empire of Light, Yesterday, or Sorry I’ve Got No Head to name just a few. On being directed by Sam Mendes on Broadway, i...

My guest this episode is Adam James, star of Vigil, The Buccaneers, Charles III, Doctor Foster, Extras, Wicked, Johnny English Strikes Again, and countless more productions. Across our conversation, we discuss what makes a good director, approaching Shakespeare, working with Rupert Goold, the theatrical value of table tennis, performing on Broadway versus West End, playing Ariana Grande’s father i...

My guest today is Patrick Cotnoir, best known as the producer and co-host of The George Lucas Talk Show, he’s also been the producer and talent booker of over 500 legendary UCB ASSCAT 3000 shows, The Chris Gethard Show, Comedy Central's The President Show and Marvel Entertainment, and is a living testament to how a glittering career in showbiz can be started simply by putting your hand up and aski...