Social media links are: twitter.com/jimdalycomedy instagram.com/jimdalycomedy facebook.com/jimdalycomedy tiktok.com/@jimdalycomedy?lang=en Website is jimdalycomedy.com Debut show from award-winning (and he will prove it) internet comedy sensation, Jim Daly (50+ million views). Jokes, songs and stories on his two biggest two loves: his two-year-old daughter and football. He negotiates the first year of being a new dad with the help of his love of the beautiful game and one of its most noteworthy and loved players, Ireland legend Tony Cascarino. Featured on JOE.co.uk, Amazon Prime, Yahoo Sport, BT Sport, and Blank Podcast. 'Very funny' (Daily Mirror). Viral sensation Jim has had more than 50 million views on his YouTube channel, with 145,000 subscribers. His warm and engaging style has seen him performing at comedy clubs all over the UK. Jim’s a multifaceted act with a wealth of experience in presenting, podcasting and the world of sports. He’s written and performed for sketch show News Revue and as an experienced presenter Jim’s worked with BBC 5live, BT Sport, London Live, TalkSPORT and JOE.co.uk's Friday Football Live. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

*Talking about coercive control, but we won't be going into the details.* The effect of being told you’re loved is very powerful. But what happens when that love becomes an invisible threat? Wildcard Theatre’s Ruckus is a compelling, unsettling one-woman thriller exploring the suppression and destruction caused by coercive control. Taking the audience through the sensations of being at the beginning of a coercively controlled relationship, this tense and thought-provoking drama will raise questions about women’s vulnerabilities to psychologically violent relationships within today’s patriarchal society. It explores how easy it is to be trapped in a cycle of threats, humiliation and intimidation and the system of power in our society which enables and protects the actions of perpetrators. Lou (Jenna Fincken, writer and performer) is a 28-year-old primary school teacher who’s wholly aware the audience are watching her. She wants to show them exact moments in her relationship, breaking down the progression of coercion as Lou journeys from freedom to being trapped. With the incorporation of a visceral sound design, Fincken draws us from our comfortable place as an audience, right into Lou’s experiences as she explores how a relationship that’s anything but loving can develop. From establishing love and trust, via isolation, monopolising perception, inducing debility and exhaustion, enforcing trivial demands, punishments, rewards, threats and degradation, the audience are with Lou every step of the way – right through to what kind of ending this could lead to. The moments that make up Ruckus are inspired by real women and real stories. Fincken makes use of reports from leading charities such as SafeLives as well as the work of leading sociologists, investigative journalists and researchers tackling domestic abuse and coercive control, to create an accurate and experiential play. Coercive control is an issue that is still not widely recognised, yet its side-effects kill up to three women every week in the UK. In Scotland, the police receive a call about domestic violence every nine minutes. Audience members needing help or advice after the production can access discrete care packages with details of various resources and charities. Rukus site: https://www.wildcardtheatre.co.uk/current-productions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMFtscf7YtMQrkcb4hsGDg https://www.facebook.com/WildcardTheatre/ https://www.instagram.com/wildcardtheatre/ https://twitter.com/wildcardtheatre --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

Founded in 2018 by Will Jackson and Lucy Bird, Quick Duck is an award winning West Midlands based theatre company. They make interactive shows with a fun and comic twist to create unforgettable live experiences. Confetti: Felix is uptight and unlucky in love. He’s the mate of honour at his best friend’s wedding - one they’ve been planning since childhood - and he’s going to make sure it’s absolutely perfect. That is, as long as there are no distractions along the way… It’s Helen’s surprise Hen Night, and you’re all invited! Join Felix for the week leading up to the wedding as he’s swept up in a tumultuous, secret romance, and facing weather, workouts and the worries of a bride-to-be. ​Confetti is produced by Quick Duck Theatre with funding and support from New Vic Theatre, Arts Council England & Attenborough Arts Centre. Fashion Spies: A queer, choose-your-own, family adventure filled with deception, divas and catwalk crooks. At fashion weeks across the globe, expensive must-have items have been stolen, and every top-secret agent sent to investigate has been kidnapped! With the infamous annual Burnwell-upon-Twynne Fashion Week around the corner, the Secret Agency Service has no other option but to send in the spy academy’s entire undergraduate class to solve the case - that’s you! ​ A queer, choose-your-own adventure made for families, Fashion Spies puts audiences right into the heart of the show. Find yourself on an undercover mission as you travel around the world with Quick Duck Theatre - your choices will help to thwart the biggest threat that fashion has ever seen. You’ll be equipped with a spy pack for the duration of the mission, with all the gadgets you might need, disguised as pieces of fabric and toilet roll tubes. The stakes and the shoulder pads have never been higher. ​ Fashion Spies is produced by Quick Duck Theatre with support from the New Vic Theatre, Peggy Ramsay Foundation & Arts Council England. https://quickducktheatre.wixsite.com/quickducktheatre https://linktr.ee/QuickDuck ​https://www.facebook.com/QuickDuckTheatre/ https://twitter.com/Quick_Duck_ https://www.instagram.com/quickducktheatre/?hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

Aimee isTheatremaker from the North East of England, currently based in Yorkshire. They are lucky enough to write, direct, lecture in and perform theatre across the UK. Aimee is currently directing The Beatles were a boyband for F-Bomb Theatre that is going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  Aimee Shields website: https://www.aimeeshieldstheatre.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/aimeejshields/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aimee.j.shields Twitter: https://twitter.com/aimee_j_shields LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-shields-2b893662/?originalSubdomain=uk F Bomb Theatre: https://fbombtheatre.co.uk/ The Beatles were a boyband: https://fbombtheatre.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2022-womens-theatre Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fbombtheatre Twitter: https://twitter.com/fbombtheatre IG: https://www.instagram.com/fbombtheatre/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

We are Expial Atrocious - a West Midlands-based theatre company who specialise in absurdist theatre and abstract methods of storytelling. This year, we'll be taking our latest absurdist drama, 'BUTCHERED', for a limited run at the Lime Studio, Greenside, Nicholson Square. Created in just under five months, taking inspiration from Alfred Jarry's iconic play 'Ubu Roi', Splendid Productions' choreography and video game music, this two-hander is a monster of a show. It features dynamic physicalization, new writing and an original soundtrack to immerse, unsettle and shock our audiences... "A sausage-maker and an apprentice walk into a kitchen, but this is no joke. After working in a basement kitchen for as long as they can remember, Master Sausage is content with their life. They work hard and cannot imagine doing anything else. They can't do anything else. But when a fresh-faced apprentice arrives, babbling streams of consciousness, artistic passions and a harsh reality are brought with them. With their daily routine disrupted, the Master is forced to look their life in the eye and climb into the belly of the beast. With tensions rising, sinister questions start to rear their heads. What does it mean to be happy? Is there more to life than this? What's in those sausages anyway? 'BUTCHERED' is a new, blood-thirsty absurdist drama about challenging tradition, escaping the mundane and doing what has to be done." Following the success of our 4-star digital show 'Hear. Speak. See.' from last year's Fringe, we can't wait to visit Edinburgh in the flesh and give audiences a twisted tale to sink their teeth into. Tickets for Fringe Festival: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/butchered --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

A local and sustainable culinary tour Triple A Food Tours is based in the vivacious city of Newcastle, the hub of the North East! The name Triple A derives from business owner Amy Whitfield's name, her son Archie & husband Andrew....(the three A's) Website: https://www.tripleafoodtours.com/about-us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tripleafoodtours Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripleafoodtours/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

Northern Stage will produce a magical new adaptation of family favourite The Sorcerer’s Apprentice this Christmas (27 November - 31 December). Set in the streets of Newcastle but not quite as we know it, audiences will be treated to live music, puppetry, magic and illusion as they follow the adventures of Hatty Rabbit and her friends after a mysterious letter arrives inviting Hatty to an interview for a sorcerer’s apprentice… Maria Crocker will direct her first main stage show for Northern Stage. Maria trained on the theatre’s first NORTH programme in 2013 where she met her fellow founders of The Letter Room, and has performed in several Christmas productions at the Newcastle theatre including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz adapted by Caroline Bird. An associate artist at Headlong, Maria’s credits include associate director on the Tony Award-winning Hadestown for the National Theatre and Local Hero for The Lyceum. She says, “It’s thrilling to be making a show for the epic space, having trained on Northern Stage’s NORTH scheme in 2013. This Christmas is all about making the normal feel magical. We have a fantastic team of creative wizards working tremendously hard to bring this Newcastle story to life in the most enchanting, sparkly way, and to spread some much needed festive joy.” Adapted by Laura Lindow (The Snow Queen/Northern Stage, Key Change/Open Clasp), The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is designed by Amanda Mascarenhas (Run It Back/Talawa Theatre Company, Cuttin’ It/Royal Exchange Theatre), with lighting design by Jai Morjaria (Wuthering Heights/National Theatre & Bristol Old Vic), sound design by Matthew Tuckey (Wolf!/Kitchen Zoo, Repeat Signal/November Club), movement direction by Gavin Coward - a performer, member and collaborator with balletLORENT, and original music by Katie Doherty who has created music for the Royal Shakespeare Company, five family Christmas productions for Northern Stage and the award-winning musical Beyond the End of the Road. Molly Barrett-Manasseh will design and make the puppets, with puppetry direction by Thomas Walton, and associate director is North East dramaturg and director Rachael Walsh - one of two recipients of the 2021 JMK Victoria Wood Bursary. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice runs from 27 November – 31 December. Tickets start from £10. Book online at www.northernstage.co.uk or call the box office on 0191 230 5151. Rachel Walsh Website: https://rachaelannwalsh.wordpress.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

Steve is delighted to be returning to Shone Productions for his fourth year, after playing Widow Twankey (Aladdin, 2019), Dame Dolly (Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, 2018) & Mrs Smee (Peter Pan, 2017). Born in Hull, Steve studied theatrical design at the Arden School of Theatre, Manchester before starting work as a freelance costume designer and maker, a job that he still loves to this day, and which he fits in around all of his other theatre work. (He even designed and made all of his own outfits for the show!) An experienced Pantomime artiste, he has toured the country extensively in a wide range of pantos and children’s shows. Notable roles include: The Sea Witch in ‘The little Mermaid’, The Wicked Witch of the West in ‘The Wizard of Oz’; The Sheriff of Nottingham in ‘Robin Hood’ (twice!), and Fagin in ‘Oliver Twist’. In 2020 Steve was delighted be one of the few performers to complete a full pantomime season, playing Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk, at Drive-in to Winter, the UK’s only indoor drive-in. Steve has spent 2021 proving once again that Panto is for life, not just for Christmas. In the summer he played Dame Dolly Donut in a national tour of’ Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ for Talegate Productions and then returned to them at Halloween for a national tour of ‘Harry Panto’ a parody of the popular wizarding franchise. He has also designed costumes for a brand new musical adaptation of ‘The Queens Knickers’ by Nicholas Allan. To book Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs click here https://bwdvenues.com/news/blackburn-pantomime-star-cast-announced/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

A key figure in the cabaret and variety revival, Mat has performed by Royal command on more than one occasion, headlined and hosted shows across the UK, and regularly appears further afield, including residencies in the legendary European Variete theatres, appearances in gala shows on stage and television the world over, and regular invitations to perform in such iconic venues as the Royal Albert Hall, The Savoy Hotel, and Hollywood's Magic Castle Website: https://www.matricardo.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatRicardoOfficial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matricardo/ You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7GozvAsW0KPlSEh6SCouQQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatRicardo --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message

Written by Jenny Daniels Music and Sound Design by Testament Premiere presented by Threshold Studios at Frequency International Festival of Digital Culture, Lincoln 28th to 31st October 2021 Embark on a journey of discovery as you seek out the monolith – you know, the one that has all the answers to life’s biggest questions that can’t possibly be answered... Or can they? Developed remotely with young people and creatives from across the country, monolith is an audio-based experience that uses meditation and mindfulness to take you on an adventure just beyond your perception. Throughout the pandemic, Zest has consulted with its youth advisory board Future Proof to better understand what young people need in this moment. Following long periods of isolation in and out of lockdown, monolithis a piece crafted from their suggestions - one that aims to renew connection whilst embracing mindfulness in a post-pandemic world. With a fresh and fun script by Jenny Daniels, vibrant music/sound design by Testament, and performed by a cast of young professionals, monolithresponds buoyantly to the growing mental health crisis young people face. monolith will be available from 28thOctober 2021 as part of Frequency Festival. Passes are free and can be booked via Zest’s website www.zesttheatre.com/monolith. Cast Someone - Jessica Gomez-Ejimbe Phone Operator - Lachlan Madin An Old Friend - Robert Hart Unwanted - Elly Adam Unseen - Katie Grant Chorus of Voices - Henry Austin, Millie Jenkins, Gaz Thomson Creative & Production Writer - Jenny Daniels Composer and Sound Designer - Testament Director - Toby Ealden Producer - Catherine Fowles Artwork - Fabric. Prop Designer & Maker - Helen Symonds Mental Health Consultant - Lou Platt Performance Mentor - Harris Cain Researched and Developed with - The young people of Future Proof Made remotely in Birmingham, Brighton, Darlington, Hartlepool, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Redcar, and Sittingbourne. For more information about monolithand Zest theatre, please visit https://zesttheatre.com/monolith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zesttheatre/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zesttheatre Twitter: https://twitter.com/zesttheatre You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3w2d-kJLC6wY4f8EXz9RCA  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/3vp3axnl1yhsd1w166msxmum1 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gemma-louise-hirst/message