this month's
Ink Pellet contains
THE BIG INTERVIEW: Beyond the Cart
Having ‘retired’ from running their hugely successful company, Oily Cart, Susan Elkin caught up with Tim Webb and Dave Bennett to find out what the future now holds in store.
Hamlet at Leeds Playhouse
Susan Elkin chats to Amy Leach, associate director, about the casting of a female lead and ensuring a contemporary production.
Relaxed Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet will be offering its second relaxed performances in early 2019 – a specially adapted production of Beauty and the Beast at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and Birmingham Hippodrome. Here, dancer Jonathan Payn describes his involvement in the planning of this special production. Please introduce yourself for us: I’m Jonathan Payn, First Soloist […]
Nurturing Young Talent
The Lyric Hammersmith has extended its education outreach work. Susan Elkin went along to find out more.
Proudly Different
Musical Theatre Academy, long since rebranded as TheMTA, is a tiny vocational drama college whose working methods, influence and achievements are out of all proportion to its size. Susan Elkin went to find out how.
EXHIBITION: Razzle Dazzle ‘Em
Graham Hooper takes in a couple of shows looking at the art of distortion and its very practical application
Pause for thought… Christian Knowledge
Susan Elkin puts forward the case for Christian knowledge as an intrinsic part of English lessons
TheatreCraft
Susan Elkin visited TheatreCraft 2018, offering great advice to students looking for careers in the creative industries.
Book Review: Being a Playwright – A Career Guide for Writers
By Chris Foxon & George Turvey Published by Nick Hern Books Iwas delighted when this how-to book landed on my desk. I’m a writer (over 100,000 words a year). I go to the theatre to review several times a week. I’ve long thought I should somehow knit the strands of my life together and write […]
THEATRE REVIEW : Macbeth – National Youth Theatre 2018 Rep Company
The National Youth Theatre Rep Company is a vocational training group of 15 or 16 actors aged 18-25 who present a West End season at the end of their quasi-course. It’s the top tier of NYT’s work. Most participants go straight on to professional work. Abridged to 90 interval-less minutes by Moira Buffini and pithily […]
Library
Ink Pellet’s book review section covers an eclectic selection of new fiction, teachers’ guides, audio books and classics.
Many of our reviews are written by teachers, so we have an expert eye on how texts will work in the classroom. We hope to create a useful archive of reviews so that you can use this as a reference. If you would like to join our panel of reviewers, please join in or email the editor Lesley.finlay@inkwellpress.co.uk We hope the section inspires you to share new fiction with your pupils or to revisit old favourites yourself
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Graham Hooper compares two contrasting photography exhibitions currently showing in London
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This Christmas, Sally Cookson will be adapting The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Mark Glover spoke to the innovative director to discuss nostalgia, story-telling and the pressures of re-working such a classic book.
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In this, the first of a regular feature examining issues facing the arts, Susan Elkin posses the question why so few men still take up ballet
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In 2013, Hull was announced as the UK’s next city of culture. As the year begins its final season of programmes and events Mark Glover explores the work of Hull Truck Theatre and looks back on some of the year’s theatrical highlights.
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Chinonyerem Odimba, 43, is an award-winning playwright best known for Amongst the Reds (Clean Break, Edinburgh Fringe and Yard Theatre London. 2016) A Blues for Nia (Eclipse Theatre/BBC), The Birdwoman of Lewisham (Arcola 2015) and Joanne (Clean Break. Soho Theatre, 2015). Her most recent success is Twist, a radical reimagining of Oliver Twist for the 21st century, commissioned by Theatre Centre. Susan Elkin talks to her.
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Frantic Assembly’s Ignition training programme is aimed at young men, some of whom have never set foot inside a theatre. Mark Glover finds out more about this pioneering scheme and how it’s challenging the male stereotype.
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Susan Elkin meets up with a colourful Rakugo story teller to find out more about this traditional Japanese art form.
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A new online resource is being developed utilising the digital tools now available to enhance the teaching and training of physical theatre performers.
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Crime fiction author Anne Cassidy, who writes for young adults, hit the headlines in 2004 with her controversial novel Looking for JJ – one of over fifty titles she has to her credit. Susan Elkin meets her.
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The Royal Exchange Theatre is an iconic landmark in the heart of Manchester with a strong pedigree of plays and a close link to its schools and communities. Mark Glover spoke to the organisation’s new Director of Learning and Engagement Inga Hirst about reaching out to those beyond the bright lights of the city.