Not True, But Useful... A Cheek by Jowl Podcast

Declan and Nick take a deep dive into one of Shakespeare's best loved comedies, Much Ado About Nothing. They join Lucie to discuss the darkness beneath the play's lightness, the horror and dread in Beatrice and Benedick's love story, and how it has become the blueprint for many modern romcoms. More information about Cheek by Jowl's 1998 production of Much Ado About Nothing here.Join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with Cheek by Jowl’s news, events and opportunities.The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.

Ahi ahi ahi ahi! This week’s discussion takes us back to Piccolo Teatro di Milano and Cheek by Jowl’s last live onstage production before the lockdown of 2020, The Revenger’s Tragedy by Thomas Middleton. In this episode, Declan and Nick speak about theatre as a problem-solving business, and what Middleton’s play teaches us about being right and our need to seek justice.More information about Piccolo Teatro di Milano and Cheek by Jowl's 2018-21 production of The Revenger's Tragedy here.The additional music in this episode was composed by Gianluca Misiti for The Revenger's Tragedy.Join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with Cheek by Jowl’s news, events and opportunities.The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.

This week, Declan and Nick talk the politics of acting, the importance of ensemble, and the danger of logic in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. More information about Cheek by Jowl's 2013-19 production of Measure for Measure here and their 1994 production here.The music in this episode was composed by Pavel Akimkin for Cheek by Jowl's 2013-19 production of Measure for Measure.Join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with Cheek by Jowl’s news, events and opportunities.The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.

If you think Chekhov’s plays are about nothing happening, think again. This week, Declan, Nick and Lucie discuss Three Sisters, another play of love, loss and self-deception in which – from the very first line - the protagonists are faced with an overwhelming predicament…More information about Cheek by Jowl's 2005-13 production of Three Sisters here.Join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with Cheek by Jowl’s news, events and opportunities.The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.

Dive into the complexities of Shakespeare's Hamlet as the hosts share their experiences staging it as a ballet. Discover the profound themes of existence and invisibility that haunt Hamlet, alongside the role of emotional repression in relationships. Innovative stage designs, including a transformative light box, are highlighted, bringing the narrative to life. The poignant graveyard scene sheds light on grief and memory, featuring Hamlet's reflections on Yorick, blending evocative imagery with deep human connections.

This week, Declan, Nick and Lucie discuss Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s great tale of love, loss, and self-deception.More information about Cheek by Jowl's 1986-87 English production here, and their 2003-18 Russian production here.The music in this episode was composed by Alexander Gusev for Cheek by Jowl's 2003-18 production of Twelfth Night.Join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with Cheek by Jowl’s news, events and opportunities.The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.

Lucie Dawkins, a Shakespeare expert, dives into the intricate layers of Macbeth. She discusses how ambition feeds loneliness, as Macbeth's quest for power isolates him from Lady Macbeth and Banquo. The conversation highlights the play's exploration of fear, failure, and psychological turmoil. Lucie also shares insights on innovative staging choices that reveal the complex dynamics between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, emphasizing how light and darkness enhance the emotional depth of this timeless tale.

Series 3 of ‘Not True But Useful’ is on its way! The new series will see Declan, Nick, and Lucie returning to their mics to share personal insights into acting, directing, and plays, but above all, to build a bridge between these processes and life as we live it now. Featuring Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Three Sisters, and many more... Like and subscribe to get the latest episodes as they are released in May!www.cheekbyjowl.com/podcast/Trailer music composed by Sergey Chekryzhov for Three Sisters (2005-2013)

In the final episode of the series, Declan, Nick and Lucie discuss Shakespeare's 'badly behaved' play Cymbeline. They chat about empathy, the idea of 'realism', inventing one's own exercises, and THAT boyband number, performed by Tom Hiddleston in their 2007 production.More information about Cheek by Jowl's production of Cymbeline here (www.cheekbyjowl.com/productions/cymbeline)The music in this episode was composed by Paddy Cunneen for The Winter’s Tale (2016-17)The additional music used in this episode was composed by Catherine Jayes for Cymbeline (2007)The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.

This week, we head to Russia to discuss Pushkin's great lyrical masterpiece Boris Godunov, a compelling exposé of the seductive appeal of power and the price that must be paid for it. Declan and Nick discuss the beginnings of their Russian ensemble, the mystery of how electorates behave, and the show's Shakespearean scope.More information about Cheek by Jowl's production of Boris Godunov here (https://www.cheekbyjowl.com/productions/boris-godunov/)The music in this episode was composed by Paddy Cunneen for The Winter’s Tale (2016-17)The additional music used in this episode was composed by Maxim Gutkin for Boris Godunov (2000-2010)The transcript of this episode is available upon request. Please contact info@cheekbyjowl.com to request a link.