British Theatre Guide podcast

The 2016 Palme d'Or and BAFTA-winning film I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty and featuring comedian and actor Dave Johns in the title role, was adapted by Johns for a stage production in 2023 directed by Mark Calvert.
The production is to be revived for a short tour in 2026 produced by Northern Stage in Newcastle and Leeds Playhouse featuring most of the original cast and production team.
BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to director Mark Calvert about the play and its strong message, how playing the title role in the film fired up Dave Johns politically and made him keen to bring it to the stage, the reactions from audiences across the political spectrum in 2023, the fear of having Loach and Laverty in the audience on press night and more.
I, Daniel Blake opens at Northern Stage in Newcastle from 20 March to 2 April 2026 before touring to Citizens Theatre in Glasgow 7–11 April, The Dukes in Lancaster 14–18 April, HOME Manchester 21–25 April and Leeds Playhouse 28 April–9 May.
(Photo of Mark Calvert, credit: Von Fox Promotions)

English Touring Opera has been taking live opera productions and educational and community projects around the UK since 1979.
The company has been based in London up to last year, when it began a move to Sheffield, and its spring 2026 season will be its first to open in the South Yorkshire city.
BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to ETO's Artistic Director and CEO, Robin Norton-Hale, about the three productions about to open as well as about what makes the company unique, the challenges of touring, developing new opera works and about why no one should be afraid or daunted about going to the opera.
Ada and the Code Crusaders by Anna Pool visits mainly schools and libraries around the country from 17 March to 23 May.
Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci will open at Sheffield Lyceum on 20 and 21 March respectively before touring to Cheltenham Everyman, Hackney Empire, Buxton Opera House, Norwich Theatre Royal, Storyhouse Chester, the Marlowe in Canterbury, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Hall for Cornwall in Truro and Gala Durham.
For more information and tickets, contact the theatres themselves or see English Touring Opera's own web site.

Ockham's Razor was founded in 2004 by its current Artistic Directors, Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney, who have directed and toured many large-scale circus-based productions over the last two decades.
Their latest show, Collaborator, is an intimate two-hander that sees the company founders back on stage together for the first time in five years.
BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Charlotte about the origins of the show and how it came together, the company's approach to making work, the challenges of touring a circus show to conventional theatre venues, adapting running a theatre company around raising a family and a great deal more.
Charlotte also spoke about seeing a contemporary circus performance in Chile about the 'disappeared' during the Pinochet regime that still made her feel emotional to talk about 25 years on and that probably set a smoking, drinking literature student on track to what she does today.
Ockham's Razor's Collaborator will open at The Place in London from 29 to 31 January before touring to The Lowry in Salford from 5 to 7 February and the Corn Exchange in Newbury on 11 March 2026.
(Photo of Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey in Collaborator, credit: Kie Cummings)

BTG's Panto Editor Simon Sladen spoke to Allan Stewart, who marks an extraordinary milestone of 50 years in pantomime.
Allan reflected on his early start as a teenage club performer, his unexpected first role as Buttons without ever having seen a panto and the lessons learned from mentors such as Jack Radcliffe and producer Paul Elliott. He shared stories from working alongside stars including Les Dawson, Danny La Rue and Frank Bruno and offered insight into the craft of comedy and the traditions that make pantomime unique.
Simon and Allan also discussed his long-standing partnership with Andy Gray and Grant Stott, the enduring appeal of Edinburgh's Kings Theatre and how pantomime has evolved from single microphones to spectacular, high-tech productions.
Allan also considered the sense of family that develops within a company and why panto remains such an important introduction to theatre for audiences of all ages.
Jack and the Beanstalk continues at Edinburgh Festival Theatre until 11 January 2026.
(Photo of Allan Stewart as Auntie May in Jack and the Beanstalk (c) Douglas Robertson)

The Big Tiny Productions Ltd, founded in 2019 by Will Cousins and Ben Richards, is producing four shows in the North West for Christmas 2025, three of which are pantos written by Ben and designed by Will.
BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to them both, with a few contributions from their dog, Toby, about the company and this year's shows, as well as about the changing nature of panto, the balance between tradition and innovation (it's like a lasagne…), choosing panto stories, Northern v Southern humour, funding spectacular shows in small venues and Ben's panto-related PhD, amongst other things.
The Big Tiny's shows for Christmas 2025 are Rumpelstiltskin at Contact in Manchester from 9 to 31 December 2025, The Pied Piper of Hamelin at The Met in Bury from 6 to 28 December, Hansel and Gretel at Millgate Arts Centre in Saddleworth from 6 December to 3 January and Mrs Claus Saves Christmas at Bolton Octagon from 10 to 24 December.
The set, prop and costume exchange service that Ben and Will mention in the interview is Pursued By Bear.
(Photo of Will Cousins & Ben Richards, credit Howard Barlow)