Mark Addy plays a warlike king in Sky Atlantic HD’s latest big-budget import, Game of Thrones. In this week’s issue of The Stage, he tells Matthew Hemley about adapting George RR Martin’s cult fantasy novels and working again with his RADA contemporary Sean Bean:
They [the producers] were not to know we would get on so well, but it helped, especially playing characters who are lifelong friends. It helps to have a little bit of history and it means you don’t have to go through the whole period of everyone being far too polite to each other and not wanting to offend.
Launched in 2007, HighTide Festival Theatre is already an important platform for new writing, backed by figures including David Hare and Nicholas Hytner. Alistair Smith finds how ambition and enterprise have been key to its success
Insight: As Jay Hunt settles into her new role as chief creative officer of Channel 4, Ben Dowell examines why she decided to take up the post and what her impact will be on the direction the channel takes
Backstage Focus: Saved by a Grade II listing in 2004 after plans to replace it with a supermarket were scrapped, the Forum Theatre Billingham continued to face an uncertain future. But brighter days are ahead after a two-year, £2.5m refurbishment, finds Allan Glen
In the latest of our Stage scholarships, we have two places at Beckenham-based Herbert Justice Academy for their three-year performing arts course. For the application form and eligibility requirements, see this week’s paper or download from http://www.thestage.co.uk/scholarships/
Also this week:
Now in its 30th year, Nick Smurthwaite meets Battersea Arts Centre’s joint artistic director David Jubb and celebrates a history of forward-thinking and always original theatre
The Tempest is being reinterpreted on stage and screen in a series of exciting productions taking place in Coventry, Stratford and even Hollywood. Whatever form it takes, Stanley Wells finds the brilliance of Shakespeare’s play shines through
Maggie Brown looks forward to the new series of Doctor Who
Richard Jordan on the ongoing issues around Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark
Dear John: I am about to embark on a live tour. How do I make the most of all the time and energy I am putting into it?
We round up some of the student showcases from the last three months from LIPA, Drama Centre London, Queen Margaret University, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, GAMTA, East 15, Italia Conti Academy, Mountview and Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
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