Leicester's Curve theatre has released the latest episode of its Curve in Conversation podcast, a look ahead to its line-up of productions in autumn 2021.
The winner of the 2019 Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) Sir Peter Hall Director Award, Anthony Almeida, talks in the podcast about the production of Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He discusses how he has continued to work on ideas with designer Rosanna Vize and how their plans are set to challenge preconceptions of the drama.
"If you Google Image Cat on a Hot Tin Roof you'll see pictures of beds, fans in the ceiling, balconies where everyone walks upstairs. We've become used to assumptions of how this play is done and how this play is seen," said Almeida who added that the design they arrived at "feels so much more electric".
He added, "it feels that Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a story for now. Tennessee Williams is asking those questions about how do we as people, trying to go about our daily lives and just get through the day, survive when we're confronted by these questions?"
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, a Curve, English Touring Theatre and Liverpool and Everyman Playhouse co-production, will run at Curve from Friday 3 until Saturday 18 September. It will then go on a national tour.
In the same episode, Leicester-based actor Sharan Phull talks about returning to her home city from Monday 20 until Saturday 25 September in the tour of the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
She first appeared on stage in Curve’s community productions and said Curve "is like a second home to me because I was able to build my career there after I left university.
"They did a lot for me and they acted as a stepping stone for me into the industry. It's full of people who are so passionate about making it a wonderful space for artists, for audiences—it’s such a good community of people."
In Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Phull will play Pritti Pasha, Jamie New's best friend. "She's such a rock to Jamie on his journey of discovery and she's got a real heart of gold. What I love so much about it is the heart of the show is so uplifting and it's got so many positive messages. Especially coming out of the pandemic, it's so important to celebrate people coming together again."
Released on the final Thursday of every month, the Curve in Conversation podcast takes audiences behind the scenes of the theatre and is hosted by former BBC Radio Leicester presenter Martin Ballard. Episodes are available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.