News round-up: BBC and Independent interview Zoë; reasons to be a fan; special event for drama students

21 April 2021 18:40

Zoë’s insights into Prince Philip’s Globe patronage

On the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral, Zoë appeared on a special BBC One programme, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Remembered, to discuss his decades-long involvement with Shakespeare’s Globe as royal patron.

Speaking to presenter Huw Edwards, Zoë shed light on Prince Philip’s friendship with her dad, who founded the extraordinary theatre on London’s South Bank. ‘I think the reason Sam Wanamaker, my father, got on so well with him is because they were tenacious people’.

Like its founder, Prince Philip ‘was very, very passionate about the Globe,’ Zoë emphasised.

As a result, the Queen’s late husband certainly wasn’t a patron in name only. In Zoe’s words, ‘he was always enthusiastic and always there’.

The brief interview, which begins about 49 minutes into the programme, is available on the BBC iPlayer.

Zoë discusses ‘extraordinary’ arts in the Independent

‘The sciences and the arts are the lifeblood of a country,’ Zoë emphasises in an excellent interview with the Independent newspaper, published on 18 April.

With live performances thin on the ground for much of the pandemic, the arts sector has really struggled (hence Zoë’s support for the Theatre Artists Fund). Thankfully, there are plans to reopen venues, with Zoe herself set to star in Constellations in the West End.

‘She lights up when we discuss theatre’s return’, the interviewer, Isobel Lewis (who has said on Twitter that speaking to Zoë ‘was a joy’), points out. For Zoë, the arts are ‘extraordinary’ and should be celebrated.

The interview covers much more besides, from appearing in Netflix’s ‘intriguing’ Shadow and Bone fantasy series to having the courage to speak out ‘if something’s not comfortable’ when you’re working.

You can read it in full on the Independent’s website.

BBC America’s 10 Reasons to Celebrate Zoë

In anticipation of Zoë appearing in the Netflix Shadow and Bone fantasy series being released on 23 April, BBC America has drawn up a rather wonderful list ‘to celebrate this award-winning and prolific actress’.

‘10 Reasons We’re Huge Fans of Zoë Wanamaker’ highlights some of her most famous TV shows (My Family, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Doctor Who, Killing Eve), acclaimed stage work (such as The Cherry Orchard), the fact her father, Sam Wanamaker, founded Shakespeare’s Globe, and more.

One of my favourite reasons in the article is that ‘She has a magnificent actor’s voice’. Absolutely!

Zoë offers advice to Central drama students

As you may know, Zoë trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, graduating in 1970.

On 14 April, she was invited to take part in a special online event for the Class of 2020 and 2021, as part of Central’s support programme for emerging graduates.

Zoë discussed her career on stage and screen, answered students’ questions and offered advice. No doubt her input is particularly welcome at the moment; this is clearly a very challenging time for drama students and the acting industry in general.

As the event was run exclusively for Central’s emerging graduates, there’s no video or transcript available to the public. However, Central’s blog features a lovely message from Zoë to the students who were involved:

‘It was a pleasure to speak with Central’s students and graduates, look back on my time at Central in 1970, and offer some words of advice to help them address some of the new challenges being faced in 2021, and beyond. I have no doubt that they’ll go far!’

In his own message, Central’s Dr Joshua Abrams highlights Zoë’s ‘fabulous storytelling’ and emphasises that everyone was ‘utterly charmed by her presence’.

With thanks to @Lost_In_Films_ for the heads-up about the TV interview

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Shadow and Bone author Leigh Bardugo praises Zoë's 'exceptional' performance

14 April 2021 10:02

There are fewer than ten days left to wait until the Netflix Shadow and Bone adaptation is released. Recent comments by Leigh Bardugo, who wrote the hugely successful Grishaverse fantasy novels the series is based on, are bound to make you even more excited to stream it.

In an interview published by the Daily Mail, the best-selling author discusses her excitement at seeing key cast members work together. 'I think [Ben Barnes'] chemistry with Jessie [Mei Li, as the mysterious Darkling and mapmaker heroine Alina Starkov, respectively] and with many of the actors is just off the charts, and I can't tell you how much I loved watching him and Zoë [Wanamaker], who plays Baghra.'

Bardugo adds: 'Their scenes are some of my favourite, because it's just these two exceptional actors who are constantly pushing each other.'

Thankfully, we only need to wait until 23 April to see Zoë in action alongside her co-stars. In the meantime, we can enjoy the epic trailer.

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Zoë supports Tree Aid's Future Forest appeal to protect African communities and land

12 April 2021 19:29

Zoë is supporting the Future Forest fundraising appeal, launched today by Tree Aid, the charity she's been a patron of for more than 20 years.

The appeal, which has captured the attention of Sky News and the BBC, aims to save the Metema forest in Ethiopia, which is in danger of turning into desert due to the climate crisis. In addition, Tree Aid is contributing to the Great Green Wall initiative, an African-led movement to create a belt of lush vegetation across Africa and thereby tackle poverty and environmental issues.

The appeal aims to raise £352,875, and here's how the money will be used. The public's donations will support Tree Aid's Great Green Wall contribution and be matched by UK government funding until 11 July. That's fantastic news, as it means the fundraising total will be doubled. The government funding will support the Future Forest project, enabling Tree Aid to provide communities in Metema with tools and training to restore and protect the forest and generate a sustainable income from it.

Something that makes the Metema forest particularly special is that its trees produce frankincense, the precious resin used in essential oils.

Zoë says: 'I have been supporting Tree Aid for over two decades because they don't just plant trees and walk away – they work in partnership with communities to find long-term solutions that tackle both poverty and the climate crisis.

'I encourage people to support the Future Forest appeal if they can, knowing they can have double the impact as their gift will be matched by the government.'

Zoë speaks in more detail about her long-standing support for the charity in the video above. You may remember she presented a Radio 4 appeal on behalf of Tree Aid a couple of years ago (when the photo below was taken), which raised £15,000.

Other well-known people backing the Future Forest appeal include actor Joanna Lumley and naturalist Chris Packham.

If you'd like to support Tree Aid's work, you can donate to the Future Forest appeal online.

Thanks to Vanessa and Sally for their help.

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Zoë returns to West End theatre in Constellations this summer

10 April 2021 04:02

Good news has been in short supply for all of us since early 2020, but now the stars are aligned, so to speak, for Zoë Wanamaker fans.

The Donmar Warehouse has announced that Zoë will star in its West End revival of the smash-hit play Constellations by Nick Payne (who also wrote Elegy, which Zoe performed at the Donmar in 2016). She'll be joined in this highly original two-hander, which looks at human relationships through a cosmological lens, by none other than Peter Capaldi of Doctor Who fame.

They'll play cosmologist Marianne and beekeeper Roland, whose relationship is at the heart of Constellations. In an exciting twist, three other pairs of brilliant actors (Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah; Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey; Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O'Dowd) will also bring the play to life in separate performances. They all introduce themselves in a fun little video shared by the Donmar.

As the theatre remarks, Constellations takes audiences on a 'journey through the multiverse and the infinite possibilities of a relationship'. This revival, like the original production, is directed by Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Michael Longhurst.

Here's how the Donmar summarises the play:

'One drink. And if you never want to see me again you never have to see me again.'

A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbeque. They hit it off, or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they go their separate ways. In the multiverse, with every possible future ahead of them, a love of honey could make all the difference.

Zoë and Peter Capaldi's performances are set to take place from 23 June to 24 July (see the performamce schedule PDF for details). As the Donmar is undergoing renovation, Constellations will be staged at another London venue, the Vaudeville Theatre, part of the Nimax Theatres group. Priority booking for Donmar members opens on 13/14 April; public booking opens on 16 April. Tickets will be available to book via Nimax Theatres.

While the news about Constellations is uplifting, I'm aware that travel restrictions (both national and international) and many other factors may make it difficult for some fans to watch the show. Even though I live in the UK, I can't be certain I'll be able to see it. I'm not aware of any plans for it to be filmed. We'll just have to see how things go and hope for the best.

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Shakespeare's Globe pays tribute to Prince Philip: 'His friendship with our founder Sam Wanamaker was integral'

10 April 2021 02:36

Shakespeare's Globe has published a fascinating, moving tribute to its Royal Patron Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who very sadly died yesterday aged 99.

Prince Philip was enthusiastically involved with The Globe project for more than 40 years. 'His friendship with our founder Sam Wanamaker was integral to building the Globe Theatre, and later, opening the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse,' the article emphasises.

Prince Philip played a significant role in relation to both theatres, which included attending high-profile events in the company of Zoë and her father. He presided over The Globe's ground-breaking ceremony in 1987 and, alongside the Queen, its majestic opening ceremony ten years later, during which Zoë became the first person to perform on the stage.

12 months before The Globe opened, Prince Philip unveiled a bust of Sam Wanamaker, who'd very sadly passed away a few years earlier. This special event is captured in the news footage below, which also features Prince Philip confidently addressing the audience, as well as Zoë describing how emotional the day was and the brilliance of the theatre.

In addition, Prince Philip took part in the opening ceremony for the indoor, Jacobean-style Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2013, again alongside Zoë in her role as The Globe's Honorary President.

For more insights and photos of Prince Philip with Sam Wanamaker and his daughter, see the full tribute on Shakespeare's Globe's blog.

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