Actor and writer Charlie Josephine talks to Chris Sonnex, Artistic Director of Cardboard Citizens. They talk about “theatre and about class and about identity and about passion”, including making theatre for and about people that have lived experience of homelessness, poverty and inequity. Cardboard Citizens creates theatre and art with and for people who experience homelessness, inequity, or poverty.  This episode contains some moderate swear words.  Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Actor and learning facilitator Ibrahim Toure talks to Philip J Morris – theatre director and Artistic Director of Trybe House Theatre about their own first encounters with Shakespeare and how they make those first encounters for young people. Philip explains how, “I had a bit of a complex of not feeling like I saw enough people that looked like me in theatres to begin with when I was younger.” Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Director, environmental consultant and activist Elizabeth Freestone who directed The Tempest for the RSC in early 2023 talks to Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society. They talk about the climate crisis and the place of theatre and the arts within that, as well as the mini ice age that happened in Shakespeare’s lifetime. Elizabeth is also the co-author of 100 Plays to Save the World, a guide to 100 brilliant plays addressing the most urgent and important issue of our time: the climate emergency. Each week Interval Drinks brings together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Director Erica Whyman talks to novelist Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet which was recently adapted for the Stratford and London stages and directed by Erica. They talk about Hamnet – the novel and the process of putting it on stage, as well as Hamlet and about autobiography in fiction, including the part Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, plays in his work. Erica was Acting RSC Artistic Director at the time of recording.  Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Director Atri Banerjee chats to Actor Lucy Ellinson about noisy snacks, theatre activism and playing Puck. Lucy talks about beginning her career: "I was out there is the world and quite lost, if I'm honest. So I'm not a trained actor and I didn't have very much confidence and to be honest not much of a clue about how to begin a career at all." Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Playwright and TV writer Nina Segal meets writer, director and performer Tim Crouch and they talk about intervals, honey and mango margaritas, going rogue, and having an "accidental" career as a writer. Tim says: "I keep carving into a block of stone and find new things in it. It's still the same block of stone. The plays, when they come, they're very different but they're still returning to some issues that I continue to have. I'm lucky enough to have had an idea, and to keep returning to that idea."  Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Actor Minnie Gale meets fellow actor Pippa Nixon and they talk about how the theatre industry is beginning to change so that women and men can continue working when they've become parents. Pippa talks about her experiences of performing in The Importance of Being Earnest and breastfeeding a newborn, and Minnie reflects of  her journey playing Margaret in all three parts of Henry VI, beginning when she was five months' pregnant for part one, and ending with a nine-month-old baby. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Actor Thom Petty talks to actor, writer and director Prasanna Puwanarajah. Both Thom and Prasanna came to acting after a career in the NHS (National Health Service) as doctors. They talk about playing doctors onstage and portraying the reality of life in the medical world, about going from medical school to drama school and beyond, and about using lasers on stage.

Theatre director Tinuke Craig meets RSC director Aaron Parsons to explain what is similar about directing a Sarah Kane play about trauma and a pantomime. Tinuke talks about what drives her as a director, how she decides which are the stories she wants to tell and some of the barriers she faced on her way to becoming a director. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).

Sound designer Claire Windsor chats to to MOBO Award nominated musician and composer Femi Temowo about his musical journey, from first picking up a guitar at age 19. Femi composed the music for the RSC's 2022 production of Much Ado About Nothing. He explains why theatre is like Power Rangers and shares his guilty pleasure in music. Each week we bring together current Royal Shakespeare Company actors with RSC artists who have inspired them. The music is ‘Oberon’s Theme – King of Shadows’, originally composed by Sam Kenyon for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016).