David Punter holds a BA, MA and PhD from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and is currently Professor of Poetry at the University of Bristol.

He is one of the world leading experts in Gothic Literature and has worked in Universities across the UK and China.

He has been long-listed for the Poetry Society's Annual Competition and short-listed for the Brian Dempsey Memorial Prize.

His work encompasses a long list of academic achievements and publications in Gothic Literature, as well as in William Blake, Phillip Larkin, Post-Modernism and Post-Colonialism.

More information about David, his published works and how to get in touch can be found via his website:

david-punter.org

He talks me through the foundations of the gothic, its traits and what the genre is about at its core. We reference texts such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber.

Great discussion for anyone currently studying the gothic and any one or more of the above texts.

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

Thank you all for your support.

Claire J. Loy trained at the Bow Street Academy in Dublin and the Gaiety School of Acting with practitioner Tom Kibbe. 

Her credits include Casualty (BBC), Vikings Valhalla and Bodkin (Netflix), The Girl at the End of the Garden (Dyehouse Films), The Gates with Stephen Hall and John Rhys Davis, who some may know as “Gimli” in The Lord of the Rings, and many short films including “In Orbit”, written and directed by Katie McNeice. 

For that she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award at the Underground Cinema Awards in Ireland. On top of that she won Best Actor at the Disappear Here Film Festival in 2022, and Best Supporting Actress in a Short Film at the South Film and Arts Academy Film Festival in 2019. Her performance was described as “intense and intelligent”. 

Claire talks me through her career to date, and the best way to get an agent. She tells me about how important it is to find the agent that you click with and know from gut instinct that you can work with them and above all trust them to help you in your career. 

We also discuss:

• Her training with Tom Kibbe
• How to say NO to jobs 
• Her book recommendation “Self-Management for Actors” by Bonnie Gillespie
• Her experience of working on Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” 
• How to take ownership of of yourself and what you want to achieve in this business
• How actors have to trust and believe in themselves entirely

Find Claire on Instagram: @claire_the_grey_

Her website: clairejloy.com

Great chat for anyone who is looking for representation and how to get the best agent for you. 

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

The Uncensored Critic Podcast was in the top 25% most globally shared podcasts of 2022 being heard in over 20 countries. In 2022 streams grew by 710%, listeners increased by 404%, and followers were up 379%. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2022. 

Thank you for all your support!

Rohan Carr works in Theatre Automation and Production across London's West End and the regions.

He's another member of the GSA family graduating in Theatre Production, Stage and Production Management and has worked across some of the most popular theatre events of 2022/23.

From Good, Lemons (x5) , and A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Merrily We Roll Along at the Southwark Playhouse

Constellations at the Vaudeville Theatre

Magic Goes Wrong at the Apollo

Soon he'll be backstage on The Time Traveller's Wife also at the Apollo Theatre.

Rohan talks about working on A Little Life, the demands of not only the cast but of the entire team behind the scenes. How everyone pulled together for each other and demonstrating it's not the actors that make a show it's the whole team, some you see, some you don't but nevertheless they all have a part to play.

He also offers advice on anyone who is keen to get involved with Stage Management and how they can make the career they want.

Check out Rohan's Instagram for enquiries and further information on his other work:

@rohancarr

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

Charlie MacGechan is an actor, producer, entrepreneur and founder of "Run At It Shouting" (RAIS). A company that brings actors in front of the world's leading casting directors to give advice and helpful tips on their self tapes. As well as run workshops on Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, Comedy and Audition technique.

For more information and upcoming workshops check out the website below.

As an actor Charlie recently appeared in "We Die Young", directed by Lior Geller, for which he was nominated for the 2019 Mammoth Film Festival Prize for Best Actor. Other credits include Unforgotten, The Girl From The Song, Squadron 42 and Deus.

For theatre he appeared in an adaptation of Harold Pinter's novel "The Dwarfs" at the White Bear Theatre, directed by Harry Burton. In recognition of his producing talents his BFI film "Incompatible", directed by Maxine Peake and executively produced by David Harewood. As well as the theatrical premiere of Phillip Ridley's "The Poltergeist" at the Arcola Theatre in October 2022.

Charlie discusses playing Pinter, creating RAIS, how it helps actors from all backgrounds and abilities, and what's next for him.

RAIS website: runatitshouting.co.uk

Charlie's Instagram: @macgechancharlie

RAIS Instagram: @runatitshouting

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

Thank you for all your support!

The return of Harry Burton!

If it wasn't for Harry suggesting I recorded our last conversation about Harold Pinter I wouldn't have a podcast. Thank you Harry for not only your time but for giving me this platform!

This time we turn our attention to Pinter's play "No Man's Land.

Written in 1975, the play was recently dubbed as "mystifying as ever" by the Chicago Sun-Times. We follow Hirst and Spooner drinking whiskey in Hampsted one gloomy night. Do they know each other? Or are they playing a farcical game that's played amongst old friends? Audiences continue to ask what is this play about?

Harry offers his thoughts as well as more stories about Harold, the people he met, and the stories he told.

Catch the production on National Theatre At Home, and check out Harry's own YouTube channel for even more discussions about Pinter with some of the best actors and directors in the business.

Also get in touch with Harry for copies of his documentary "Working with Pinter" on DVD as well as any other enquiries.

Harry's YouTube:  @Mataharifilms 

Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

Thank you for all your support!

The return of Rebecca Reaney!

Rebecca returns to the podcast to share more of her knowledge on movement and how integral it is to their process.

Since we last spoke she has spent time in LA with the Identity School of Acting, shooting movement videos and discovering more about her craft.

She shares what she's uncovered in the last year, how actors can mentally and physically prepare for demanding roles and her plans for the future.

Thank you for joining me again Rebecca, always a pleasure!

Check out her website to see more of her work and upcoming workshops:

www.rebeccareaneymovement.com

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

The Uncensored Critic Podcast was in the top 25% most globally shared podcasts of 2022 being heard in over 20 countries. In 2022 streams grew by 710%, listeners increased by 404%, and followers were up 379%. Official stats from #SpotifyWrapped 2022.

Thank you for all your support!

Caroline Sheen is an actress known for her appearances in some of the most well-known musicals of all time. Such as Les Miserables, Mamma Mia and Mary Poppins.

Across her career she’s played Mary Poppins on the US Tour in 2011 winning the Helen Hayes Award for her performance, as well as both Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables in London’s West End. 

Not to mention a fine Subway Sandwich commercial as well!

She discusses her training at GSA, her process, some funny on stage moments, and what it takes to tackle the huge musical roles whilst keeping it fresh every night during the long runs.

Great episode for anyone considering a career in Musicals and in theatre in general! 

Oliver Gower

Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261

Instagram: @goweroliver

Twitter: @GowerCritic

For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

Please Like, Download and Subscribe!

Thank you for all your support!

⚠️ Trigger warning ⚠️: In this episode we discuss matters relating to CCE (Child Criminal Exploitation) and County Lives. Viewer and listener discretion is advised. 

Catherine holds a MA in Drama and Theatre from Royal Holloway and a PGCE in Drama from Central. As well as having been the course leader of the MA Applied Theatre at Central and a Head of School at the University of Portsmouth from 2019-2022, she’s been involved in projects such as the Wellcome Trust’s “Rethinking Sexology”, and has lead the “TransActing Project” with Central School of Speech of Drama and Gendered Intelligence.

Not to mention she’s the current Head of School/commander-in-chief at the Guildford School of Acting. Her recent work has been involved in tacking the issue of County Lines and CCE (Child Criminal Exploitation) and the effect it has on young people in the UK.

Children between the ages of 12-15 are being exploited into the gangs that make them sell drugs or worse. Once the innocent child is groomed into the gang it is difficult to escape.   Catherine talks to me about how she’s tackling this issue with her online interactive story for use with young people, and her project “Cold Chips and Money” on how we can grow awareness of this issue and how the power of theatre and storytelling can help its cause.

Please like, download, and subscribe! 

Thank you for all your support.