Come and celebrate the launch of The Actor and the Space, the new book by Declan Donnellan, founding director of Cheek by Jowl.

Join Declan in conversation with award-winning actor Adrian Lester as they discuss theatre, acting and performance.

Offering a bold new way of thinking about acting, The Actor and the Space tackles the fundamental questions that face any actor, and offers a universal set of keys to unlock the mysteries of performance. It is a fascinating distillation of Declan's work, developing and extending ideas first explored in his previous bestseller The Actor and the Target.

There will also be a preview of other exciting, upcoming projects from Cheek by Jowl.

The talk will be followed by a booksigning by Declan of The Actor and the Space. Pre-order your copy when booking your ticket for collection upon arrival, for the special event price of £13 (RRP £16.99) - copies will also be available to purchase at the event.

Barbican Centre, Fountain Room
Tuesday 19 March 2024, 19:00-20:00
Tickets: £6 from Eventbrite

World-leading director Declan Donnellan in conversation with actor Adrian Lester as they discuss theatre, acting and performance

Masterclass Script Socials in association with Nick Hern Books is back! Join our box-fresh book group of young theatremakers as we discuss, award-winning playwright, Benedict Lombe's new play Shifters. Directed by Lynette Linton, the show premieres at the Bush Theatre later this month.

The Park Theatre, London
7 March 2024, 7.30pm
Tickets here: https://masterclass.org.uk/event/shifters-by-benedict-lombe

Join a book group of young theatremakers to discuss Benedict Lombe's new play Shifters

Discover everything actors need to know about agents – with leading agent JBR

Join award-winning actor Julie Hesmondhalgh – known for her roles in massively popular TV shows such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street, as well as stage performances at venues including the Royal Court (God Bless The Child) and Manchester's Royal Exchange (Wit, Mother Courage and Her Children) – in conversation with Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the Royal Court, to discuss the realities of life in today's arts industry, and how to navigate it.

Drawing from her decades of experience on stage and screen, Julie will offer insights on topics such as managing the ups and downs of your career, developing a process that works for you, and looking after your mental health. Plus, there'll be the opportunity to ask your own questions.

This event will be followed by a book signing of Julie's book, An Actor's Alphabet, which will be on sale at the special discounted price of £8 (RRP £9.99). Pre-order your copy at the same time as your ticket for collection upon arrival, or purchase one on the day.

Saturday 25 November, 11.30am
Royal Court Theatre, London
Tickets: https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/julie-hesmondhalgh-and-vicky-featherstone-in-conversation/

Julie Hesmondhalgh talks to Vicky Featherstone about the realities of life in today's arts industry, and how to navigate it.

“Theatre is the greatest of collaborative art forms, and Shakespeare his greatest exponent: he used the form better than anyone else ever has to speak truth about the world.”

So asserts renowned theatre director Bill Alexander in Exploring Shakespeare. It’s a personal, forthright and practical book in which he takes us inside the rehearsal room to explore the relationships between actors and director, and how they work together to bring Shakespeare’s vision to life.

Bill is a former Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep. His landmark productions include the Olivier Award-winning The Merry Wives of Windsor and Richard III, the latter with the late, great Sir Antony Sher in the title role.

Fascinating insights for theatre practitioners and keen theatre goers alike.

Chaired by Paul Venables

Venue: Lansdown Hall, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Tickets: £10

Tickets on sale here.

The renowned theatre director takes you inside the rehearsal room

Making Orlando Live: Neil Bartlett in conversation with Dr Eleanor Lybeck

How do you take a novel as slippery and heartfelt as Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and bring it to life on stage in a way that will satisfy not only Woolf’s fans but also an audience that has never read the book? And what does it mean to be celebrating this particular story at a time when issues and images of queerness and gender non-conformity are so alive and so contested?

British novelist, playwright and theatre director Neil Bartlett created the script for the acclaimed staging of Orlando at the Garrick Theatre in London in 2022-3. In this event he’ll be talking to Dr Eleanor Lybeck, Senior Lecturer in Literature at Liverpool University, about the nuts and bolts of theatrical adaptation, the process of creating that script in particular, about his own very personal relationship with Woolf - and what it’s like to work with actor Emma Corrin, who played the lead in his adaptation.

Sunday 8 October, 2.30pm
Victoria Gallery & Museum, Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3DR
Tickets available here

Making Orlando Live: Neil Bartlett on the nuts and bolts of theatrical adaptation

Julie Hesmondhalgh is in conversation at Bradford Literature Festival, talking about her life in acting.

In her candid and empowering book, An Actor's Alphabet, she draws on her decades of experience on stage and screen – including playing the first transgender character in a British soap – offering a glimpse of the realities of life in today's industry, and how to navigate it.

A passionate advocate of the arts, she makes a powerful case for their importance to society, but also calls out the industry on what it needs to change to make it more accessible and inclusive. Join Julie for a refreshingly honest and humorous insight into what being an actor is really like, whether you dream of a life treading the boards, or are simply curious to know what actually goes on in this wondrous, madcap industry.

Bradford Literature Festival
Sunday, 2 July 2023, 4:15pm – 5:15pm
The Dye House Gallery, Bradford College, BD7 1AY
Tickets: £7 (concessions available) from the Festival website

Julie Hesmondhalgh is in conversation at Bradford Literature Festival, talking about her life in acting

One of the country's best-loved performers, Julie Hesmondhalgh will be discussing her career and her groundbreaking new book An Actor's Alphabet in a live onstage Q&A...

Wednesday 28 June 2023, 7.30pm
Live Theatre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Tickets: £10/£6 from Live Theatre

Copies of the book will be available for signing at the event.

One of the country's best-loved performers, Julie Hesmondhalgh will be discussing her career and her groundbreaking new book in a live onstage Q&A

Andrew Hilton, founder and long-serving  Artistic Director of Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, in conversation with Sir Christopher Frayling, award-winning writer, broadcaster and former Chair of Arts Council England, to discuss the company’s extraordinary legacy and renowned approach to staging Shakespeare – one detailed in Andrew's fascinating book Shakespeare on the Factory Floor, out now – and reflect on current trends in Shakespeare production. 

The event will be followed by a book signing.

Factory Theatre, Bristol
Sunday 11 June 2023, 7.30pm
Tickets: £5 ticket only / £16 ticket + book, from tobaccofactorytheatres.com

The founder of Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory discusses the company’s approach to Shakespeare and its extraordinary legacy, as well as current trends in Shakespeare production

Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh will be reading excerpts from her new book An Actor's Alphabet: An A to Z of Some Stuff I've Learnt and Some Stuff I'm Still Learning then answering questions from the audience.

This is a fundraising event for Maundy Relief and the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, both of which Julie regularly supports.

In this candid and empowering A to Z of being an actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh draws on her decades of experience on stage and screen – including in massively popular television shows such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street – to lift the lid on the realities of life in today's industry, and show you how to navigate it.

Friday 16 December, 6.30pm
Civic Arts Centre & Theatre, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3HZ
Tickets from: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/oswaldtwistle/civic-arts-centre-theatre/julie-hesmondalgh-in-conversation/e-oxxlrr

Actor Julie Hesmondhalgh on her new book An Actor's Alphabet

Director Rob Watt and playwright Chinonyerem Odimba explore how to create exciting learning activities for the classroom, based on her play Princess & The Hustler.

More information here: www.nationaldrama.org.uk/events/theatre-centre-and-national-drama-princess-and-the-hustler-by-chinonyerem-odimba

12 December 2022, 5.30pm-7pm
Online
£5 (free to National Drama members)

Playwright Chinonyerem Odimba explores how to create exciting learning activities around her play Princess & The Hustler

Join award-winning actor Julie Hesmondhalgh – known for her roles in massively popular TV shows such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street, as well as stage performances at venues including Manchester's Royal Exchange and the Royal Court Theatre, London – as she discusses her acclaimed career and the realities of life as an actor in today's industry.

Hear insights and advice from Julie on a range of topics – such as preparing for roles, managing career ups and downs, and looking after your mental health – drawn from her decades of experience on stage and screen. Plus, there'll be the opportunity to ask your own questions.
 
This Q&A will be followed by a book signing of Julie's new book, An Actor's Alphabet.

The Dukes, Lancaster
Wednesday 30 November 2022, 11am
Tickets from: https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/theatre/in-conversation-with-julie-hesmondalgh

The award-winning actor discusses her new book, The Actor's Alphabet

Join award-winning actor Julie Hesmondhalgh – known for her roles in massively popular TV shows such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street, as well as stage performances at venues including Manchester's Royal Exchange and the Royal Court Theatre, London – as she discusses her acclaimed career and the realities of life as an actor in today's industry.

Hear insights and advice from Julie on a range of topics – such as preparing for roles, managing career ups and downs, and looking after your mental health – drawn from her decades of experience on stage and screen. Plus, there'll be the opportunity to ask your own questions.  

This Q&A will be followed by a booksigning of Julie's new book, An Actor's Alphabet.

Thursday 17 November 2022, 7pm
Contact, Manchester
£7 ticket only / £15 ticket and book

https://contactmcr.com/shows/in-conversation-with-julie-hesmondhalgh/

The award-winning actor discusses her acclaimed career and the realities of life as an actor in today's industry

Russell Lucas delivers a Masterclass session, providing a practical toolkit to getting theatre projects off the ground. With top tips taken from his new book, 300 Thoughts for Theatremakers, he will teach you how to interrogate your ideas, find a path towards making it happen, and plan a production model and budget that works for you.

11 October 2022, 12-1.30pm
Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

More information here: https://masterclass.org.uk/event/russell-lucas:-the-guerrilla-guide-to-theatremaking

A practical toolkit to getting theatre projects off the ground, from the author of 300 Thoughts for Theatremakers

Join Giles Terera – who played Aaron Burr in the original West End cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton, for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical – as he reunites with some of his fellow original cast members at the Victoria Palace Theatre for an exclusive onstage Q&A event, hosted by actor and musician Jon Robyns.

A unique opportunity to ask questions and find out from the cast what it was like to be part of this once-in-a-generation production, and how it really felt to be in The Room Where It Happened.

A hardback copy of Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal by Giles Terera (RRP £16.99) is included in the ticket price.

The Q&A will be followed by a book signing and a chance to meet Giles.

7 December, 12noon
Victoria Palace Theatre, London
Tickets: £18 including the book and a £10 charitable donation
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/whats-on/giles-terera-hamilton-and-me

Giles Terera reunites with some of his fellow original cast members of Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre for an exclusive onstage Q&A event

Join Giles Terera, winner of an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the smash-hit musical Hamilton, to discuss his new book, Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal - a fascinating, in-depth account of opening Hamilton in London's West End.

Yeovil Literary Festival
Sunday 31 October 2021, 4pm
Tickets from the festival here

Giles Terera appears at Yeovil Literary Festival to discuss his new book Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal.

When Giles Terera, author of Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal, was auditioning for the role of Aaron Burr in the smash-hit musical Hamilton, a very different 'Aaron' was also on the table: that of Aaron the Moor in The Royal Shakespeare Company's Titus Andronicus.

The decision towards Hamilton was made and the rest is history – but throughout his time in the show, Giles' thoughts kept returning to Shakespeare, and how the Bard and Lin-Manuel Miranda's rap musical aren't as different as one might think.

Join the Olivier award-winning actor for fascinating insights into the surprising and enlightening parallels he discovered between the two worlds, as he delivers the annual Shakespeare Lecture at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Sunday 17 October 2021
Cheltenham Town Hall
Tickets from Cheltenham Literature Festival

The Olivier award-winning actor, star of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton, delivers the annual Shakespeare Lecture at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

It is the stage musical of a generation. When Hamilton opened in London, National Theatre regular Giles Terera became a star playing the role of Aaron Burr. He won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actor and last year was awarded an MBE for services to theatre. With a foreword by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal takes us from his first audition in New York, through research and rehearsals to rave reviews.

Join Giles Terera at Henley Literature Festival.

8 October 2021, 8.30pm
Christ Church, Henley
Tickets from Henley Literature Festival

Join Giles Terera, author of Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal, at Henley Literature Festival.

Giles Terera is at Wimbledon BookFest on 19 September to chart his extraordinary journey as Aaron Burr in the ground-breaking musical Hamilton – beginning with his first audition in New York, and continuing through extensive research and preparation, intense rehearsals, previews and finally, to opening night itself.

Enjoy an honest, intimate and thrilling look at everything involved in opening a once-in-a-generation production – the triumphs, breakthroughs and doubts, the camaraderie of the rehearsal room and the moments of quiet backstage contemplation – plus reflections on experiences from Giles's own life that helped shape his acclaimed portrayal.

A Radio 4 Book of the Week, this is an amazing event for fans of Hamilton, as well as for aspiring and current performers, students, and anyone who wants to discover what it really felt like to be in the room where it happened.

The event will also feature special guest appearances from original London cast members.

Sunday, 19 September 2021, 5-6pm
Tickets from Wimbledon Bookfest

Giles Terera is at Wimbledon BookFest on 19 September.

Playwright Lucy Kirkwood discusses her new play, The Welkin, with its director James Macdonald.

National Theatre, London (Lyttelton)
Thursday 26 March 2020, 6pm
Running Time: 45 minutes

Tickets: £9 (£6 concessions) from the National Theatre

Playwright Lucy Kirkwood discusses her new play, The Welkin, with its director James Macdonald.