We topped off a lovely year for Wireless Theatre by recording a comedy by new writer Laura Harvey in front of a packed out audience at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre. The 60 seater theatre sits above a fantastic pub which was super festive and serves lovely food. The recording was directed by Cherry Cookson, one of our most prolific directors and starred Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey, Pride & Prejudice), Geoffrey Whitehead (Not Going Out), David Timson, Stephen Critchlow, Rachel Atkins, Jessica Dennis, Sarah Whitehouse and Adam Hall. With live sound effects performed by Jessica Bowles and our regular dream team at the lighting and sound desk, Tshari King, Gareth Brown and Izzie Newbury.
Ladies was inspired by the very real and very fraught campaign at the turn of the 20th Century to build a ladies’ loo just outside Camden Town tube. Restricted toilet facilities for women were causing social, political and economic problems at the time, to address the issue a proposal to build a women’s public convenience on Park St was made to the St Pancras Vestry council, and greeted with unsurprising but enthusiastic horror. The story behind the radio play is very real, although the characters were created by the writer for your titillation.
Check out these photos of the technical and dress rehearsals by the brilliant Mike Garnell.
I listen to a couple of your dramas every day there is a huge proportion of excellent, original ideas with a mix of long established performers and wonderful new talent.
They feel intimate, being performed in smaller venues which create powerful atmosphere.
Audio drama is the perfect medium, enabling us to have our individual idea of characters and location.