Join Joe Murphy, Sherman’s Artistic Director and previous Old Vic Baylis Director, as he welcomes a new guest fortnightly to talk about their career in theatre, their highs and lows along the way – and to ask them the ultimate question: what's your favourite play?
PlayCrush is created in collaboration with the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, and is is supported by Royal Bank of Canada in association with the TS Eliot Estate.
Neither The Old Vic or Sherman Theatre would be here during this uncertain time without their supporters. If you would like to give a donation to either The Old Vic (https://www.oldvictheatre.com/support-us/donate) or The Sherman Theatre (https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/support-us/) we would be extraordinarily grateful.
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In our final episode of series 3, Actor Stephen Tompkinson joins host Joe Murphy to chat lockdown hair styles, humble beginnings in school plays and his PlayCrush choice: 'Art', written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton.
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7 Jun 2021
Emma Rice, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Director Emma Rice talks to Joe Murphy this week about her fascinating creative process, the upcoming Old Vic and Wise Children production of Bagdad Cafe this summer, and a conditional love for her PlayCrush, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
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24 May 2021
Tinuke Craig, random
This week Tinuke Craig, recently announced as our next Baylis Director, talks to Joe about the prospect of directing for The Old Vic stage, an inspiring visit to Starlight Express on her 6th birthday, and her chosen PlayCrush: random by debbie tucker green.
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10 May 2021
Steffan Rhodri, The Norman Conquests
This week Joe Murphy is joined by actor Steffan Rhodri (Woyzeck, The Old Vic; Gavin and Stacey) to talk about the beauty of Welsh weather, career successes later in life, and how a last minute performance in The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn turned it into his PlayCrush.
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18 Apr 2021
Bronagh Gallagher, August: Osage County
This week, Joe Murphy talks to actor and singer Bronagh Gallagher about perseverance, impostor syndrome and having respect for others – and why her chosen PlayCrush, August: Osage County by Tracy Letts, is such an important play.
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4 Apr 2021
Golda Rosheuvel, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Welcome back to another series of PlayCrush. This week, Joe welcomes actor Golda Rosheuvel.
Golda talks to Joe about her role as Queen Charlotte in Netflix’s recent hit series Bridgerton, and the impact of the character, as well as the characters in her chosen PlayCrush, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by August Wilson, on the progression of black stories on stage and screen.
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26 Oct 2020
Arinzé Kene, The Crucible
In the final episode of Series Two, Joe is joined by Actor and Playwright Arinzé Kene.
Arinzé tells Joe why the play that scares him the most – The Crucible by Arthur Miller – also makes it to the top of his Playcrush list.
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12 Oct 2020
Isobel Waller-Bridge, Woyzeck
This week, Joe Murphy talks to Composer Isobel Waller-Bridge about her Playcrush, Georg Büchner's Woyzeck.
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28 Sept 2020
Owen Teale, Macbeth
This week, Joe Murphy’s guest is Tony Award-winning actor Owen Teale, telling us why Shakespeare’s Macbeth is his Playcrush.
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14 Sept 2020
Ella Hickson, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.
This week, Joe Murphy is joined by Playwright Ella Hickson.
Ella tells Joe why her PlayCrush is the experimental and provocative Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. by Alice Birch.
Contains strong language and adult content.
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1 Sept 2020
Hammed Animashaun, A Midsummer Night's Dream
This week Joe Murphy’s guest is Actor Hammed Animashaun.
Hammed tells Joe how the freedom and wildness of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream make it his PlayCrush.
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17 Aug 2020
Denise Gough, Electra
In the first episode of PlayCrush Series Two, Joe Murphy is joined by Irish actor Denise Gough.
Denise talks about how her PlayCrush, the two and a half thousand year old Electra by Sophocles, is still relevant and contemporary today.
Content warning: This episode contains strong language and discussion about addiction. We encourage anyone affected by the issues in this episode to reach out. You can call the Samaritans for free at any time on 116 123 or email them at jo@samaritans.org. You can also contact the Mind Infoline, a confidential service offering information on a range of topics. They can also help by looking for support for you in your own area. Call 0300 123 3393 Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Email info@mind.org.uk or text 86463. You can also find other support services for addiction and dependency at: https://bit.ly/3izpDoa
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6 Jul 2020
Michael Sheen, Hamlet
In the final episode of PlayCrush series one, Joe Murphy is joined by Welsh actor Michael Sheen.
Shakespeare's Hamlet is our PlayCrush this week, listen as Michael shares his fresh take on one of the worlds most performed plays.
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29 Jun 2020
Jade Anouka, The Phlebotomist
This week Sherman Artistic Director Joe Murphy is joined by Jade Anouka for episode five of PlayCrush.
Jade explores Ella Road's debut stage play, The Phlebotomist, for her PlayCrush.
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22 Jun 2020
Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests
This week Joe Murphy is joined by The Old Vic's very own Artistic Director Matthew Warchus.
In this episode Matthew reveals the journey that led him to the role of Director, sharing some hilarious anecdotes and honest insights along the way, and the pair dive into Matthew's epic PlayCrush - Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy, The Norman Conquests.
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15 Jun 2020
Nick Payne, This Wide Night
Playwright, and former Old Vic usher, Nick Payne joins Joe Murphy for this week's episode of PlayCrush.
Nick and Joe discuss writing for theatre, television and film, Nick's career and of course his PlayCrush, This Wide Night by Chloe Moss.
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1 Jun 2020
Sheila Atim, Agamemnon
Old Vic Trustee and Olivier Award-winner Sheila Atim joins Sherman Artistic Director (and former Old Vic Baylis Director) Joe Murphy for the second episode of PlayCrush.
Sheila Atim's PlayCrush is the Greek Tragedy Agamemnon, written by Aeschylus.
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25 May 2020
George MacKay, The Caretaker
The first episode in the brand new podcast series PlayCrush is hosted by Joe Murphy with special guest George MacKay.
In this episode George MacKay tells us why Harold Pinter's The Caretaker is his PlayCrush.
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