It should be possible to be an actor and nothing else.

Why is that rarely achievable? 

Actor and Arts Campaigner Leo Wan talks about surviving a pandemic as an artist and asks what REALLY motivated theatres to release Black Lives Matter statements. Director Alan Lyddiard speaks passionately about the disappearing voices of older people and about the community-professional binary in theatre. Poet Shirley May tells us about learning from empowered young people through the lens of bone-crunching dance routines! Actor, director, singer and choreographer Mina Anwar talks about creating work in cities labelled Northern Powerhouses.

A new podcast by Northern Broadsides

Hosted by Shabina Aslam & Millie Gaston

Sound Editing by Alex Colley

Produced by Hallam Breen & Jess Rooney 

This series of eights podcasts, recorded in lockdown, embraces the Northern Voice in all its glory, whether we're exploring disability, migration, class, ethnicity, accent, gender or sexuality, The Northern Voice confounds expectations of what it means to be Northern in the world of arts and culture today.

Each episode has a panel discussion hosted by Shabina Aslam, our Creative Engagement Producer, and a one-to-one interview with a Northern artist, led by local actor Millie Gaston.

*****

Guest biographies 

Leo Wan

Actor and Arts Campaigner

Leo is an actor and arts campaigner. As an actor, he has worked with the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe and New Earth Theatre. He works with a number of campaigns to ensure the performing arts is diverse, equitable and accessible. He is passionate about theatre’s power to effect social change.

Shirley May

Poet and Director of Young Identity.

Shirley May is a poet from the Speakeasy Collective in Manchester, which she co-managed for five years. She is also director of 'Young Identity' - a writing charity, They works with 13–25s in the Manchester area. Her own work has been published in several anthologies 

Alan Lyddiard

Theatre and Film Director, Producer and Writer

Alan is best known as an advocate of the community arts movement, international collaborations and ensemble theatre practice. He was Artistic Director of The Northern Stage Ensemble (1992-2005), Artistic Director of TAG Theatre Company (1988-1992) and Associate Director at Dundee Rep (1984-1988). Alan is currently Artistic Director of The Performance Ensemble, a company of performers aged 60 and over. The ensemble starts its work from within a community setting and develops productions over a year long process. 

Mina Anwar

Actor, Director, Singer and Choreographer 

Mina trained for 3 years at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in Acting and Musical Theatre. Mina is also well known as an actor and musical theatre performer in theatre, radio, television and film with work spanning 30 years. TV credits include: Doctor Who, The A Word, Happy Valley. Theatre includes: Life of Pi (Sheffield Crucible and West End), The Importance of Being Earnest (Lawrence Batley and The Dukes). 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.