Welcome to another episode of The Standard Theatre Podcast, hosted by Nancy Durrant, Nick Curtis and Nick Clark.
This week our chief theatre critic, Nick Curtis, sits down with Patrick Vaill to talk all about the Upside Down. Patrick is starring as Dr Brenner in Stranger Things – The First Shadow, an adaptation of the hit Netflix show, which opens at the Phoenix Theatre on December 14.
In this prequel story, Vaill is playing a young version of the character so memorably realised by Matthew Modine in the TV series.
He tells us about what attracted him to the play, its use of old-fashioned stage magic and how this hit show will work on stage.
Plus, he talks about his time in Oklahoma! – some 15 years in the role which culminated with an Evening Standard Theatre Award – moving to London from New York, and the best thing about West End theatregoers compared to Broadway.
Nick Clark and Nick Curtis chew over Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Following Olivier Award-winning revivals of Cabaret and A Streetcar Named Desire, this is the director's debut at the National Theatre, in a production whose stars include Harriet Walter and Isis Hainsworth.
Nick Curtis and Nancy review a new revival She Stoops to Conquer at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. Tom Littler directs Freddie Fox, Greta Scacchi and Tanya Reynolds in a Christmas set version of the play updated to the early 20th century, but is it a festive treat or a load of baubles?
And finally, we discuss A Mirror coming to the West End in 2024, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s comments about more investment needed for British shows, and we reveal our formative memories of the theatre. Let us know yours at theatrepod@standard.co.uk. Listen above, or wherever you stream your podcasts.
