In this episode, Rhys Williamson speaks with performer and co-creator Arielle Zilkha about The W.I.G of Life: A Conference, a futuristic, genre-blending production from Psychonaut Theatre that invites audiences to decide the fate of biological life itself.

Set in a world where humans are extinct, the show takes the form of an interactive AI conference where morality, memory, and legacy are up for debate. Featuring dance, comedy, puppetry, TV, and a smartphone-enabled voting system, The W.I.G. of Life offers a playful yet urgent reflection on our collective impact.

Created and performed by Arielle Zilkha, Francesca Fatichenti, and Christof Hofer, and supported by Arts Council England and the Swiss Cultural Fund, this 70-minute theatrical experience asks big questions with humor, style, and a healthy dose of absurdity.

Listen now as Rhys and Arielle discuss the making of the show, its collaborative process, and the power of letting audiences take the lead.

Thanks for listening to Inside Riverside Studios.

Presented by Riverside Studios
Hosted by Rhys Williamson
Marketing by Beatriz López de Priego
Produced by Yianni Sines

Stay connected with us:
Visit us at riversidestudios.co.uk
Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook
For updates on upcoming shows, sign up to our newsletter on our website.

In this episode, Rhys Williamson speaks with writer and performer Samantha Ipema about Dear Annie, I Hate You, a darkly funny and unexpectedly uplifting multimedia play exploring the chaos that follows when life veers off course.

Presented by Wild Geese Productions in association with HFH Productions, and starring Samantha Ipema and Eleanor House, the play tells the story of two characters linked by circumstance, struggling to navigate the messiness of identity, illness, and resilience. With direction by James Meteyard and sound design by Olivier-nominated Dan Balfour, the production uses humour and multimedia storytelling to confront life’s most unpredictable moments.

Following a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe, this new staging at Riverside Studios takes the show to bold new heights.

Listen now as Rhys and Samantha unpack the creative process, the personal roots of the story, and the humour that can emerge even in life’s darkest corners.

Dear Annie, I Hate You is partnering with Headway East London and Headway West London, two fantastic charities that support individuals affected by, and living with, brain injuries. For more information visit their websites: Headway East here, Headway West here and the Headway UK here.

Thanks for listening to Inside Riverside Studios.

Presented by Riverside Studios
Hosted by Rhys Williamson
Marketing: Beatriz López de Priego
Produced by Yianni Sines

Stay connected with us:
Visit us at riversidestudios.co.uk
Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook
For updates on upcoming shows, sign up to our newsletter on our website.

In this episode, Rhys Williamson speaks with actor Ned Campbell about Beats, the powerful coming-of-age story by Kieran Hurley that recently completed a successful run at Riverside Studios.

Directed by Olivier and Offie-nominated Toby Clarke, Beats follows teenager Johnno McCreadie on the night of his first illegal rave, set against the backdrop of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act. As the act attempts to outlaw gatherings centred around “a succession of repetitive beats,” Johnno and his best friend Spanner dive headfirst into a night of rebellion and freedom.

In a tour de force solo performance, Ned Campbell populated a vivid world of characters, with live music by on-stage DJ Emma Haines, capturing the energy, heartache, and resilience of a generation.

Beats is a pulsing, magnetic celebration of youth culture, resistance, and the lasting power of music still resonating thirty years on.

Listen now to hear Rhys and Ned discuss the making of Beats, the relevance of its story today, and the timeless pull of gathering to music.

Thanks for listening to Inside Riverside Studios.

Presented by Riverside Studios
Hosted by Rhys Williamson
Marketing: Beatriz López de Priego
Produced by Yianni Sines

Stay connected with us:
Visit us at riversidestudios.co.uk
Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook
For updates on upcoming shows, sign up to our newsletter on our website.

In this episode, Rhys Williamson speaks with writer and performer Susanna Hamnett about Hotel Elsinore, a darkly funny and deeply human new play inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Created and performed by Susanna Hamnett, Joshua MacGregor, and Lily MacGregor, and directed by Hamnett and MacGregor, Hotel Elsinore takes place in a Danish hotel room at 2am. Three family members gather in the wake of the great actor Henry Elder’s death, only to find he has one last performance left in him, dead or not.

Presented by Plant [UnLtd] and Susanna Hamnett Production, this 70-minute, no-interval production explores the complexities of grief, family, and the healing power of performance. With Shakespeare’s Hamlet woven into the heart of the story, the play balances absurdity, tenderness, and emotional truth in equal measure.

Join us at Riverside Studios for Hotel Elsinore, a rich, inventive tribute to the enduring power of theatre.

Tune in now to hear Rhys and Susanna's conversation.

Thanks for listening to Inside Riverside Studios.

Presented by Riverside Studios
Hosted by Rhys Williamson
Marketing: Beatriz López de Priego
Produced by Yianni Sines

Stay connected with us:
Visit us at riversidestudios.co.uk
Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook
For updates on upcoming shows, sign up to our newsletter on our website.

In this episode, Rhys Williamson (Head of Programming at Riverside Studios) speaks with writer and performer El Blackwood about her award-winning play Tending.

Presented by Anther Theatre and directed by John Livesey, Tending is a powerful and deeply human production that explores the everyday lives of NHS nurses.

Based on more than 70 interviews with nurses from a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, this 60-minute, no-interval play captures the laughter, heartbreak, and resilience found on the ward.

After a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Tending returns for a national tour — asking the essential question:

When the system is under pressure and lives are on the line, who takes care of the carers?

Join us at Riverside Studios from Tuesday 15 April to Sunday 4 May for this moving tribute to the people who hold up our National Health Service.

Tune in now to hear Rhys and El explore the real stories, inspirations, and emotions behind Tending.

Thanks for listening to Inside Riverside Studios.

Presented by Riverside Studios
Hosted by Rhys Williamson
Marketing: Beatriz López de Priego
Produced by Yianni Sines

Stay connected with us:
Visit us at riversidestudios.co.uk
Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook
For updates on upcoming shows, sign up to our newsletter on our website.

In this episode, Rhys Williamson (Head of Programming at Riverside Studios) chats with actor, director, and producer Rowan Armitt-Brewster about his new physical comedy, A Brief Case of Crazy.

Presented by Skedaddle Theatre, this heartwarming 60-minute romp follows an awkward introvert whose life is turned upside down by a magical briefcase. As he’s swept into a whirlwind of unexpected events, he begins to wonder: will his quest for love end in disaster, or will he discover that it’s what’s inside that counts?

A Brief Case of Crazy runs from Tuesday 8th April to Sunday 20th April – a no-interval, laughter-filled show full of heart and hilarity.

Tune in now to hear Rhys and Rowan dive into the creative process behind the madness.

Thanks for listening to Inside Riverside Studios.

Presented by Riverside Studios
Hosted by Rhys Williamson
Marketing: Beatriz López de Priego
Produced by Yianni Sines

Stay connected with us:
Visit us at riversidestudios.co.uk
Follow us on Instagram, and Facebook
For updates on upcoming shows, sign up to our newsletter on our website.