Tag Archives: fol espoir

The rewards of rural touring

Originally written for the February House Theatre Guest Blog. As well as being a freelance director I run Fol Espoir – a theatre company that tours to regional arts centres and rural networks across the UK. Small-scale touring is not exactly the glamorous end of the arts industry. On tour, we normally play a newContinue reading “The rewards of rural touring”

10 Fact About the Arts – from Equity

Equity recently put these together, and I couldn’t have come up with a better argument for continued support for the Arts. 10 Facts About the Arts The arts = popular: More people in Britain are engaged in the arts than in Premier League football – between April 2014 and March 2015, 77 per cent of adultsContinue reading “10 Fact About the Arts – from Equity”

Devised theatre: ten tips for a truly creative collaboration

(Originally published on The Guardian’s Culture Professional Network) Britain may lay claim to some of the world’s greatest dramatists, but solitary scribbling isn’t the only way to create theatre. “Devising” is a process in which the whole creative team develops a show collaboratively. From actors to technicians, everyone is involved in the creative process. SinceContinue reading “Devised theatre: ten tips for a truly creative collaboration”

The Writing Process by Freddie Machin

The first time John Walton and I met was at his old flat in Covent Garden. He auditioned me for one his first productions as a director, an adaptation of Mishima’s Yoroboshi. I didn’t get the part, but – and actors can take solace from this next bit – he kept me in mind forContinue reading “The Writing Process by Freddie Machin”

Winston’s PR journey – a post from our wonderful media genie Jane Verity

  Our journey with Fol Espoir started with a slightly awkward conversation with a fairly sceptical sounding John Walton. John had got in touch through a mutual friend who had recommended us, but I didn’t know this at the time, and thought it was an off spec enquiry. What I realised as I was speakingContinue reading “Winston’s PR journey – a post from our wonderful media genie Jane Verity”

Ten things you probably didn’t know about Winston Churchill

         Winston Churchill Aged 4 1. Winston celebrated his 21st birthday being shot at by anti-Spanish guerrillas in Cuba.  2. His father Randolph was a superstar of Victorian politics who believed Winston would amount to nothing and become ‘a social wastrel’. He promptly died before he could be proved wrong. 3. WinstonContinue reading “Ten things you probably didn’t know about Winston Churchill”

Fol Espoir featured in The Guardian

Artistic Director John Walton was invited to contribute a post to the Guardian Professionals Blog. The theme was the research process and post-show discussion for the show Winston On the Run. Full text below, or check it out at: http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/oct/11/post-show-theatre-discussions Post-show theatre discussions: presenting your ‘DVD extras’ menu Performance post shows are usually dull andContinue reading “Fol Espoir featured in The Guardian”

Hidden in Plain Sight by Freddie Machin

  Arriving at Halifax in the car, one foggy day in September, we were faced with an imposing set of Victorian built Mills, set cheek by jowl beside a spaghetti junction of 60s roadways and flyovers and the ancient Yorkshire countryside – a fascinating and beautiful picture of what was once the industrial north. TheContinue reading “Hidden in Plain Sight by Freddie Machin”