Maureen Beattie - 30 August 2008

Maureen Beattie was on BBC Radio 7's Dad Made Me Laugh this morning. This fifth episode in a series of seven saw Maureen talking to Sally Magnusson about her father, Johnny Beattie. While it's too late to tune in the traditional way, the programme will be available through the BBC website until Saturday 6th September.

Matt Costain - 16 June to 12 July 2008

Matt Costain recently appeared in Monkey! at the Quarry Theatre, Leeds. The production ran from 16 June to 12 July 2008. This was an aerial-based visual spectacular, based on the old Chinese legend, and it was directed by Dominic Leclerc. Matt played Buddha/Yama, King of Death.

Editor's note: I didn't find out about this production until after it had already finished. I hemmed and hawed for a while, then decided I may as well add it to the blog anyway. It may be too late for any of us to see it, but I'd rather have a more complete history of the ensemble than try to ignore my errors. Hopefully we'll catch the next one in time!

Rob Carroll - 3 to 21 June 2008

Rob Carroll recently appeared in The Smilin' State at the Hackney Empire, London. The production ran from 3 to 21 June 2008. This was a new play by Noel White, and it was directed by Omar F.Okai. Rob played Bruce Huffman.

Editor's note: I didn't find out about this production until after it had already finished. I hemmed and hawed for a while, then decided I may as well add it to the blog anyway. It may be too late for any of us to see it, but I'd rather have a more complete history of the ensemble than try to ignore my errors. Hopefully we'll catch the next one in time!

RSC Open Day - 31 August 2008

The closer we get to the RSC Open Day, Sunday 31 August 2008, the more information there is and the more exciting the day sounds! I wouldn't be mentioning it again, but now that there's more information, I thought I'd point out events that may be of specific interest to those who read this blog.

Michael Boyd: Ensemble, The Shakespeare Institute, 10 - 11am
Following the success of the Histories ensemble, RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd and new RSC Associate Director Roxana Silbert discuss what ensemble means to them.
FREE. Booking required. Please ring the Box Office on 0844 800 1114.

Learning the ropes - aerial display, The Courtyard Theatre, Auditorium, 10.45 - 11.15am
Members of the Histories ensemble perform an aerial display and give an insight into the techniques used.
FREE. Booking required. Please ring the Box Office on 0844 800 1114.

Elizabethan Dancing, The Courtyard Theatre, Auditorium, 3.45 - 4.45pm
Inspired by BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing, watch RSC actors performing Elizabethan dance in front of our special panel of judges including Ray Fearon and Michael Boyd.
£5. Please ring the Box Office on 0844 800 1114.

There's also a whole host of events featured as-yet-unspecified "RSC actors" who may or may not be relevant to our interests. I suppose we shall find out on the day!

Visit the RSC website for more information and to buy tickets!

David Warner - 2008

David Warner has been recording a new Doctor Who audio adventure for Big Finish called Doctor Who Unbound: Masters Of War. It's a sequel to the 2003 audio adventure Sympathy For The Devil (which also featured a young Scottish chap name of David Tennant in a supporting role), directed by Jason Haigh-Ellery, and is a story from the Third Doctor era. It will be available to buy on CD from 30 December 2008. David is playing the Doctor.

Maureen Beattie - 18 to 22 August 2008

Maureen Beattie will be reading Radio 4's Book of the Week, Corvus: A Life With Birds by Esther Woolfson. It's a natural history book about Woolfson's relationship and fascination with corvids, such as rooks, crows, magpies. Selected extracts will be broadcast every weekday morning, from 18 to 22 August 2008, at 9.45am on Radio 4. You can either tune in the traditional way, or listen online. You can also listen online for up to 7 days after broadcast.

Patrice Naiambana - 15 August 2008

Patrice Naiambana will be presenting The Man Who Committed Thought at the Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town. This will be for one performance only on Friday 15 August, and tickets are free. The Man Who Committed Thought is Patrice's own solo show, for which he won the Edinburgh Fringe First award. Patrice is playing all five parts.

Miles Richardson

There's a nifty article on Miles Richardson in today's Birmingham Post. Meet RSC's man on a mission is all about the RSC's mission to further Shakespeare in education. Two months ago, Miles became an alumnus of Warwick University, being the first RSC actor to receive a postgraduate certificate in the teaching of Shakespeare. As someone who only came to Shakespeare recently, I heartily applaud any and every effort on the part of the RSC to get 'em while they're young. Well done Miles, and roll on a bard-filled future! ^_^

Katy Stephens - 7 to 25 October 2008

Katy Stephens will be appearing in Mine at the Hampstead Theatre, London. The production runs from 7 to 25 October 2008, and tickets are onsale now. This is a new play by joint Artistic Director of Shared Experience, Polly Teale, who is also directing the piece. The production is due to go on tour once it finishes its London run. Katy is playing Woman.

RSC Open Day - 31 August 2008

The RSC Open Day will be held in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer on Sunday 31st August. There's a whole array of events planned at a variety of venues, and it should be awesome. I actually have no idea if any of the Histories ensemble will be in attendance, but I shall certainly keep my eyes peeled for them. But even if they're not there (all busy working on exciting new projects, one hopes!), there's still enough going on to keep anybody busy! If you're free, you could certainly do worse than head for Shakespeare-land for the day. ^_^

Visit the RSC website for more information and to buy tickets!

Jonathan Slinger - summer 2008

Jonathan Slinger has had a day's filming this summer in forthcoming BBC Drama production Little Dorrit. It's a 14-part serialisation based on the Charles Dickens novel, has an array of directors, and has been filming since April 2008. It will be broadcast on BBC One in autumn 2008.

Thank you, my source. ^_^

John Mackay - 10 September to 8 November 2008

John Mackay will be appearing in Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gielgud Theatre, London. The production runs from 10 September to 8 November 2008, and tickets are onsale now. It is a West End transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre production. This is a new version of the play by Rupert Goold and Ben Power, based on the Luigi Pirandello original, and it is directed by Rupert Goold. John is playing Executive/Mr. Pace.

Geoffrey Streatfeild

There is a nice interview with Geoffrey Streatfeild in this month's online Vine magazine. A Sevenoaks-educated Shakespeare star discusses Geoffrey's acting history, from childhood to the present day, and while he may not know what he's going to be doing next, he's holding out for something exciting, and isn't averse to going on to do even more Shakespeare. Watch this space!

Anthony Shuster - August 2008

Anthony Shuster is currently filming a BBC Drama production called A Short Stay in Switzerland. It's a one-off drama based on a true story, directed by Simon Curtis, and will be filming in London from August 2008. It will be broadcast on BBC One in winter 2009. Anthony is playing Stephen.

Thank you, mz_annethrope. ^_^

Lex Shrapnel - 2008/2009?

Lex Shrapnel has been cast in Channel Five's remake of classic TV series Minder. It will be a six-part series, each episode lasting an hour, and is being produced by Talkback Thames. It will be - presumably - filmed in London over the coming months. It will be broadcast on Channel Five in 2009. Lex is playing Jamie Collins.

Forbes Masson - summer 2008

Forbes Masson has been filming a BBC Scotland production called No Holds Bard. It's a comedy mockumentary, directed by Brian Kelly, and has been filming in Scotland during the early summer of 2008. There is no date for broadcast at present, but it will appear in 2009, to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns's birth. Forbes is playing Cronie McKay.