Celebrating Zoë's website's 14th anniversary with a look back at memorable moments

30 July 2016 00:28

Today, 30 July 2016, Zoë's official website is fourteen years old! Funnily enough, that means it's now the same age I was when I first became a fan of Zoë, back in 1999. How time flies!

In order to celebrate the fourteenth anniversary, I've written all about the website's history, including memorable moments and milestones, as well as why being a fan is such a joy. The article is big, detailed and more personal than anything I've written for the site before. Whether you read the whole thing or dip in and out of it, I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you to everyone who visits the website – I hope you find it helpful and engaging. I certainly have as much fun managing the site now as I did fourteen years ago.

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Zoë describes the 'joy' of performing Much Ado About Nothing in Glyndebourne interview

29 July 2016 17:50

Zoë offers insight into playing Much Ado About Nothing's Beatrice in a Glyndebourne Festival podcast that compares Shakespeare's play with the opera it inspired, Béatrice et Bénédict, by Berlioz. The latter is being performed at the East Sussex festival until late August.

In the podcast, presenter Katie Derham points out that 'Beatrice's independent spirit appeals to Zoë', who starred alongside Simon Russell Beale in the National Theatre's acclaimed 2007 production (the video below includes clips of their performances).

'She wants a sophisticated relationship rather than a ''pretty'' one,' remarks Zoë, suggesting that Beatrice needs to be able to demonstrate her intellect and wit in her personal life.

Beatrice's witty war of words with her old sparring partner, Benedick, enables actors – and audience members – to revel in what Zoë calls 'the enjoyment of two opposites or seeming opposites'.

She adds that everyone she's spoken to about performing Much Ado About Nothing has said the play, which ends happily for its two central characters, gave them 'a feeling of joy'.

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Zoë celebrates Stevie Smith's 'extraordinary individuality' in Poet in the City's podcast and interview

29 July 2016 15:56

You may remember that Zoë gave poetry readings at Poet in the City and Faber & Faber's Stevie Smith celebration, held on 15 February at King's Place, London. Excitingly, several clips from her readings are included in Poet in the City's latest podcast, 'Poetry and Comedy'.

Whether you'd like to relive moments from the event or didn't get the opportunity to attend it, the podcast is well worth hearing. In addition to Zoë's beautiful readings of Smith's poems (including 'Do Take Muriel Out', 'The Galloping Cat' (a real crowd-pleaser!), an extract from 'Souvenir de Monsieur Poop' and 'Not Waving but Drowning'), there's thought-provoking discussion from academics and writers about how Smith broke the rules and the power of humorous verse.

For more inspiring discussion, you can also listen to a short interview Zoë gave to Poet in the City on the day of the event, in which she celebrates Smith's 'extraordinary individuality'. Zoë emphasises that 'her sense of irony, which I enjoy very much, and black humour, which I love,' are two qualities that stand out in Smith's writing, 'and that's what drew me to her'.

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The Shakespeareans exhibition to feature specially-commissioned portraits of Zoë

28 July 2016 22:55

Zoë will feature in a new exhibition, The Shakespeareans: Portraits in Paint and Words, alongside other actors and actresses well known for playing Shakespearean roles. The exhibition will run from 12-19 August at The Club at The Ivy in London's West End.

The Shakespeareans is the result of the collaboration between Dr Laura-Jane Foley, a writer and art historian, and Janet Lance Hughes, an artist and designer. They've produced portraits in both words and images in order to offer visitors a more well-rounded view of the featured performers than would be the case if the exhibition was reliant on just one of these creative mediums.

As you can see from the tweet below, Dr Foley recently interviewed Zoë in preparation for the exhibition. Zoë has played some of Shakespeare's most fascinating characters – Richard III's Lady Anne (pictured above), Othello's Emilia, Much Ado About Nothing's Beatrice and more – and so their conversation must've been fascinating!

Although The Club at The Ivy is a private members' club, the organisers of The Shakespeareans have advised me that non-members are welcome to contact the club nearer the time, if they'd like to book an appointment to view the portraits.

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Catch up with Zoë's documentaries on the iPlayer or BBC Store

3 July 2016 17:01

Here's a quick update about two BBC documentary series that have been narrated by Zoë and broadcast during the past few weeks.

Handmade: By Royal Appointment, the final episode of which was shown on BBC Four last Monday, is available to watch for a limited time on the BBC iPlayer. Alternatively, you can buy and keep either the whole series or individual episodes from the BBC Store.

Broadcast details for the last episode of Mr v Mrs: Call the Mediator have now been announced. It'll be shown on 5 July, at 9:30pm on BBC Two. The series is also available for a limited period on the iPlayer.

If you've missed any of the episodes from these fascinating series, I'd highly recommend catching up with them.

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