This week on the Theatre Blueprint, director and choreographer Drew McOnie talks to award-winning actor Tyrone Huntley about his successful career in musical theatre, film and television. Interview: Tyrone Huntley Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre Blueprint is a collaboration between The McOnie Company and SYNAPSE, the programme of...

In the next three episodes of the Theatre Blueprint podcast, Drew McOnie finds out more about the performers onstage and how they come to be there. In the first episode, he meets Helen Clarkson and Alastiar Lindsey-Renton, two talent agents who represent actors and creatives in theatre, film and television. Interview: Helen Clarkson and Alastair Lindsey-Renton Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by...

This week on the Theatre Blueprint podcast, Drew McOnie finds out what goes on backstage when he sits down with Steve Wilkins, Technical Director for Northern Ballet. Interview: Steve Wilkins Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre Blueprint is a collaboration between The McOnie Company and SYNAPSE, the programme of business development support...

In this episode of the Theatre Blueprint, Drew McOnie meets Richard Lewis, an osteopath who works with performers and elite athletes to ensure they are in the best physical condition. Richard discusses his work in injury prevention, management, treatment and rehabilitation. Interview: Richard Lewis Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre...

This week, Drew talks to someone very close to the Theatre Blueprint podcast, our very own Siân Prime. Siân is Deputy Director for Goldsmiths’ Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship (ICCE), and Academic Lead: Enterprise. She nurtures and mentors talent with generosity and inclusivity and creates the conditions for creativity to thrive. Interview: Siân Prime Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize...

This week Drew McOnie talks to Carrie Johnson, an ex-dancer who now lectures in Performance Psychology at The Royal Ballet Upper School and provides 1-2-1 psychological support to performers and athletes. Interview: Carrie Johnson Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions

The skill and craft of theatre making is passed on through generations of passionate people who believe in the importance of tradition, technique and innovation of expression. In the next three episodes, Drew McOnie will speak to the people who nurture and encourage the talent you see on stage. First on the agenda is Barbara Houseman,  a leading voice and acting coach who’s been supporting actors and directors for over 40 years. Credits: Interview: Barbara Houseman Presented and...

To complete his previous two interviews unearthing the secrets of technical theatre design, this week Drew McOnie speaks to Nina Dunn. Nina is the UK’s most prominent female video designer and works across theatre and live events. She prides herself on bridging scenic, narrative and lighting disciplines using the infinitely flexible medium of integrated live video. Credits: Interview: Nina Dunn Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post...

This week on the Theatre Blueprint podcast, director and choreographer Drew McOnie meets Xana, an Offie nominated sound designer, live loop musician, sound artist, theatre maker and poet who has worked on a number of critically acclaimed theatre shows and performed in cities around the world from LA to Accra to Tokyo. Credits: Interview: Xana Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi -...

The next three episodes of the Theatre Blueprint podcast shines a spotlight on the incredibly talented technical designers who bring sound, lighting and projections to life. Drew McOnie starts the series by talking to award-winning lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, who works across interior and exterior installations, fashion, circus, events, theatre, festivals and dance. Credits: Interview: Jessica Hung Han Yun Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and...

To wrap up this three episode mini-series on theatre design, Drew talks to E.M. Parry, a transgender, trans-disciplinary artist, working and playing across scenography, performance, drag and visual art. Flitting between genres and platforms, they work with, through and for the queer body, squinting at history, flirting with ghosts and the things that go bump in the margins. Credits: Interview: E. M Parry Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by...

In this episode, we continue finding out about the process of designing for theatre. Drew McOnie is joined by set and costume designer Ryan Dawson Laight who works with his clients from initial design concept, through to final production, using a style that is born out of the unique collaborations that occur on each project. Credits: Interview: Ryan Dawson Laight Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day”...

The next three episodes of the Theatre Blueprint podcast will investigate everything to do with the design of theatre. First up, Drew will speak to Betty Marini and discuss her transformational world of wigs, hair and make-up. Credits: Interview: Betty Marini Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre Blueprint is a collaboration between The...

This week, Machel Ross joins Drew McOnie to talk about her experience working in the theatre industry. Machel is a Dominican American director and creative collaborator based in NYC, who specialises in the development of new work and aesthetic world building. Credits: Interview: Machel Ross Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre Blueprint is...

In this episode, Drew McOnie talks to Julia Cheng, a creative director, choreographer and dance artist who works nationally and internationally. Julia is the Founder of House of Absolute which cultivates the preservation of wisdom within art. It endeavours to dismantle systems of oppression advocating for communities and cultures, centred by the multi-continental values of Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Julia is also the choreographer of West End's Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club 2022, a judge and...

The next three episodes of the Theatre Blueprint podcast are dedicated to demystifying Artistic Leadership and kicks off with meeting Ebony Molina, Associate Artistic Director of the McOnie Company who shares her thoughts on her career, her experience and what goes into creative artistic direction. Credits: Interview: Ebony Molina Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available...

Timothy Sheader, Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Theatre, joins the Theatre Blueprint podcast this week and shares with Drew McOnie his insights into bringing ideas to life. He was appointed to his role in 2007 and over the last 10 years, the theatre’s productions have won seven Olivier Awards, three Evening Standard Awards and six WhatsOnStage awards. Credits: Interview: Timothy Sheader Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post...

The Theatre Blueprint podcast continues excavating how an idea is brought to the stage. In this episode, Drew talks to British writer, director and dramaturg Uzma Hameed about bringing stories to life. Credits: Interview: Uzma Hameed Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre Blueprint is a collaboration between The McOnie Company and SYNAPSE,...

The next three episodes of the Theatre Blueprint delve into how an initial idea is brought to life. To start off, Drew McOnie speaks to award-winning composer and lyricist Grant Olding, who writes and produces music for stage, tv and film. Credits: Interview: Grant Olding Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post Productions Music: “Seize the Day” by Andrey Rossi - made available by uppbeat.io The Theatre Blueprint is a collaboration...

In this episode of the Theatre Blueprint, Drew McOnie talks to Peter Laycock. Peter has worked for over 20 years in arts education and participation, creating opportunities for people to connect with art, culture and their own creativity. He supports artists and cultural organisations to develop and deliver their learning and engagement work and resources. Credits: Interview: Peter Laycock Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post...

In the second episode of the Theatre Blueprint, we hear from Claire Murray, Executive Director at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury. Claire’s extensive experience in the cultural sector spans communications, fundraising and senior management. She is a specialist in developing and growing audiences in order to secure artistic and financial success. Credits: Interview: Claire Murray Presented and co-produced by Drew McOnie and Siân Prime Produced and edited by Scratch Post...

The Theatre Blueprint aims to unearth the mysteries of successful theatre making, amplify an awareness of what really goes into getting a show on stage and highlight the multiple pathways into a successful career in the performing arts. In the first episode Director and choreographer Drew McOnie talks to Nia Janis whose experience as a producer and general manager spans the West End, Broadway, collaborations with subsidised houses, and UK and international touring. Credits: Interview: Nia...