Shakespeare's Globe celebrates Sam Wanamaker and 20 years of stunning theatre

14 June 2017 22:43

To celebrate what would've been its founder Sam Wanamaker's 98th birthday, Shakespeare's Globe has today shared this lovely photo of father and daughter.

It's a particularly special week for The Globe, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on 12 June. On that date in 1997, Zoë became the first person to speak on the stage. During the official opening ceremony, she recited the Prologue to Henry V in the presence of the Queen and Prince Philip.

The speech, and Zoë's delivery of it, never fails to blow me away – unforgettable!

Thank you, Karoline and Janet, for your help!

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Zoë in conversation with Aled Jones on BBC Radio Wales, plus Essential Classics photos

31 May 2017 19:27

What a busy, brilliant week for radio interviews!

Zoë will join singer and presenter Aled Jones on BBC Radio Wales on 4 June at 1:05pm for conversation and music. (You may remember Jones hosted last year's Children & The Arts' Christmas Concert, at which Zoë gave a reading.) Even if you don't live in Wales, you can listen online or catch up later via the podcast or iPlayer.

In addition, there are two more editions of BBC Radio 3's Essential Classics, featuring Zoë as the special guest, to look forward to. You can hear her interviews on 1 and 2 June at 10am. The three previous editions are currently available on the iPlayer, while the BBC has released some lovely photos of Zoë at the recording session, as well as a couple of great clips.

You're sure to enjoy Essential Classics even if (like me) you're not particularly knowledgeable about history's great composers. The conversation between Zoë and the presenter, Sarah Walker, flows naturally and is full of insights, while Zoë's chosen pieces of classical music are diverse and inspiring.

Huge thanks to Janet for her help

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Hear Zoë interviewed on BBC Radio 3's Essential Classics next week

25 May 2017 02:01

Zoë will be the special guest on BBC Radio 3's Essential Classics next week. What makes this classical music show particularly exciting for fans is that she'll be interviewed on not just one edition but each edition from 29 May to 2 June, i.e. Monday to Friday. Tune into Essential Classics from 10-10:30am each weekday or catch up on the iPlayer to hear Zoë chatting to presenter Sarah Walker.

At the end of the week, a podcast version of their discussions will be available to listen to and download indefinitely.

As the BBC's programme details explains, 'As well as discussing her life's work, Zoë shares her passion for classical music, choosing a selection of her favourite works by composers including Verdi, Malcolm Arnold and Clara Schumann.'

That last name caught my eye – you may remember that Zoë played the 19th-century German composer and musician in Clara's Song (2014), which was written by her husband, Gawn Grainger. Like Essential Classics, the beautiful one-off performance at London's Royal Academy of Arts combined the spoken word with classical music.

Let's hope that Clara's Song is one of the subjects discussed next week...

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Great insights into Zoë's character in ITV drama Girlfriends

14 May 2017 03:09

Writer Kay Mellor's production company, Rollem, which is set to film Girlfriends, her new ITV drama, has shared some great insights into Zoë's character in the series on its website:

'Gail [...] has received her decree nisi from second husband Dave. She has six weeks and a day to win him back before the divorce becomes absolute, but can Gail switch focus from wayward son Tom and grandson Ben to concentrate on saving her marriage? Particularly as Tom is newly released from prison, tagged, and needs her help getting his life back on track.'

Will Gail succeed in rescuing her marriage or find herself putting her troubled family's needs before her own?

It'll be fantastic to see Zoë tackling this emotive storyline when Girlfriends is broadcast next year.

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Wishing Zoë a wonderful birthday

13 May 2017 01:21

Wishing this very special actress a very special happy birthday and many happy returns!

If you have a birthday message for Zoë, feel free to email it to me at liz@zoewanamaker.com, and I'll ensure it's passed on.

With Britannia, Inside Number 9 and the newly announced Girlfriends coming to TV, plus a theatre production on the horizon, the next twelve months look set to be a particularly exciting time for Zoë and everyone who enjoys her work.

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