'It's a magical place, the theatre,' says Zoë in new radio interview

5 December 2015 01:51

On Wednesday afternoon, Hospital Radio Reading broadcast a brand new interview with Zoë, as part of The Matthew Rolland Show.

Discussing her love of theatre at the beginning of the interview, Zoë recalled that she was fortunate enough to be introduced to live performances at a young age and was captivated by watching stories unfold on stage. 'It's a magical place, the theatre,' she emphasised.

Zoë spoke enthusiastically about her current project, performing All On Her Own and Harlequinade at London's Garrick Theatre. In this Rattigan double bill, she stars as haunted widow Rosemary and formidable actress Dame Maud. She described them as 'two contrasting characters which are really fascinating to play'.

Zoë clearly enjoys being part of the acting profession, not least because of the number of 'extraordinary' people with whom she has the opportunity to work. She remarked that 'so many people are so talented', and 'each person brings something wonderful to their work'. 'I've remained starstruck all of my life!' she laughed.

On a personal note, I'm extremely grateful for Zoë's kind words about this website, when she was asked about her fanbase. The site's been online for more than ten years, and I enjoy managing it as much now as when it was first launched during summer 2002.

You can listen to the full interview online (it begins about half an hour into the radio programme).

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News round-up: Evening Standard Awards, Othello on screen, Dyslexia Action appeal and radio interview

1 December 2015 03:11

Zoë and her husband, Gawn Grainger, attended the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, held at London's Old Vic Theatre, on 22 November. They were photographed on the glamorous event's red carpet with Lenny Henry, as well as at the champagne reception, for BBC Radio 2, ContactMusic.com, Zimbio and Getty Images.

Zoë has raised awareness of charity Dyslexia Action's Christmas Appeal on her Twitter profile. You can donate online to the fundraising campaign; the money raised will help the charity (of which Zoë is an ambassador) to support dyslexic children. Another way to support Dyslexia Action is to buy Margaret Rooke's book, Creative, Successful, Dyslexic: 23 High Achievers Share Their Stories, in which Zoë discusses her own experiences of dyslexia.

This Wednesday Zoë will be interviewed on Hospital Radio Reading, during The Matthew Rolland Show, which starts at 5pm (UK time). You can listen live online, via the radio station's website.

London's Barbican will screen Othello (1990) on 17 January at 3pm, as part of its RSC Shakespeare on Screen film season. The highly acclaimed production was performed on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon and London, in 1989, before being filmed. In the words of the Independent, Zoë 'turned the forgotten role of Emilia into a spellbinding portrait of divided loyalties'. Her co-stars include Willard White, Ian McKellen and Imogen Stubbs; the director is Trevor Nunn. For tickets and more details, please see the Barbican's website.

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Celebrate #LoveTheatreDay with All My Sons watchalong!

18 November 2015 17:57

Today, 18 November, is Twitter's #LoveTheatreDay 2015. As Twitter explains, the event is 'a virtual celebration of all things theatrical'.

As part of this celebration, Digital Theatre will run an All My Sons 'watchalong', starting at 6pm (UK time). You can join in the conversation about the production, using the hashtag #Showtime.

There's certainly plenty to love about All My Sons! Miller's classic, heart-breaking play was staged in 2010 at London's Apollo Theatre and stars Zoë and David Suchet. The show received tremendous acclaim, with the Telegraph's Charles Spencer calling it 'a stunning production of a modern classic'. For her portrayal of troubled Kate Keller, Zoë won Best Actress in a Play in the Whatsonstage.com Awards, with Suchet winning the Best Actor in a Play award.

What's more, you can get a 25% discount on DigitalTheatre.com titles by using the code LOVE at checkout, until midnight tonight.

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Zoë's 'a thrill to watch' in Kenneth Branagh's Plays at The Garrick

18 November 2015 17:29

Even more fantastic reviews of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's productions of All On Her Own/Harlequinade, starring Zoë, have been published. Zoë's performances in this Rattigan double bill are capturing the attention of critics and audiences alike.

In All On Her Own Zoë 'terrifically segues between the accents and personalities of the spouses', Rosemary and her late husband Gregory (John Nathan, The Jewish Chronicle)

In Harlequinade Zoë is 'a thrill to watch. It's rare to see an actor have such an effect on an audience.' She 'also gives a bone-rattling performance' in All On Her Own. 'It's not hard to see why she's won two Oliviers' (Culture Whisper)

In Harlequinade Zoë 'is both subtle and side-splitting' (Paul Levy, Plain English, an Arts Journal blog)

In Harlequinade Zoë's 'Dame Maud owns the stage whenever she appears' (Yassine Senghor, The Upcoming)

In the double bill 'the most memorable actor of the night was Zoe Wanamaker, who not only stole every scene she played as outspoken actress Dame Maud but also put in a thrilling performance as a widowed middle-class Londoner in Rattigan's one-hander All On Her Own' (Laura Enfield, East London and West Sussex Guardian Series)

All On Her Own and Harlequinade 'are both thoroughly fascinating'. The former is 'chillingly delivered by the wonderful Zoe Wanamaker', who gives 'a touchingly truthful performance'. In the latter she makes 'scene-stealing appearances' (Davor Golub, London Box Office)

Part of the Plays at The Garrick season, All On Her Own and Harlequinade are being staged as a double bill at London's Garrick Theatre, until 13 January. Tickets are available.

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More excellent reviews of Zoë's performances in All On Her Own/Harlequinade

10 November 2015 19:39

More excellent reviews of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's productions of All On Her Own and Harlequinade have now been published, with Zoë's portrayals of guilt-ridden Rosemary and formidable Dame Maud earning considerable praise, as shown below.

Harlequinade is 'infectiously warm-hearted'. Zoë 'excels' in All On Her Own (Sarah Hemming, Financial Times)

Harlequinade is 'appealingly silly'. In All On Her Own Zoe's 'performance is at once fierce and melancholy – finely judged and genuinely sad' (Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard)

'All On Her Own features Zoe Wanamaker in glorious form as a woman wracked with guilt' (Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter)

In Harlequinade Zoë is 'the real scene stealer'. In All On Her Own she gives a 'dark, stylish performance'. (Charlotte Marshall, Official London Theatre)

In All On Her Own Zoe paints a 'starkly vulnerable portrait' of widowed Rosemary. In Harlequinade 'Wanamaker is a hoot' (Marianka Swain, The Arts Desk)

'A terrific Zoe Wanamaker plays Rosemary' in 'memorable' monologue All On Her Own (James FitzGerald, Londonist)

All On Her Own 'is brought to life by Wanamaker in a tantalisingly engaging performance'. Harlequinade is 'a hoot' (Chris Omaweng, London Theatre 1)

In All On Her Own 'Wanamaker depicts the slow unravelling of [Rosemary's] innermost thoughts with a captivating vulnerability' (Daniel Perks, A Younger Theatre)

This double bill of Terence Rattigan plays is being staged at London's Garrick Theatre until 13 January. Tickets are available.

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