Zoë reveals how the arts can inspire people with dyslexia in Creative, Successful, Dyslexic

8 September 2015 18:17

Zoë discusses her experience of dyslexia in Creative, Successful, Dyslexic: 23 High Achievers Share Their Stories, a new book by Margaret Rooke. In the book Zoë and the other contributors 'reveal how dyslexia enabled them to see things differently, develop resourcefulness and use their unique creativity in exceptional ways'.

In a sensitive, insightful interview Zoë remarks that she felt relieved when she was diagnosed as dyslexic, just over ten years ago. She has always struggled to retain information. However, attending art school and drama school was a turning point. She found the creative disciplines far more engaging than a traditional academic environment, not least because her imagination is 'very visual'.

Zoë's experience suggests that dyslexia can in fact help people to unlock their creativity. 'There are many people in the arts who are dyslexic and who have many different forms of dyslexia. It's extraordinary how many people have surmounted it without really knowing it. A focus on the arts develops a vital muscle in the brain.'

If you'd like to read Zoe's full interview, as well as those of the other contributors (who include Prime Suspect's creator Lynda La Plante and Zoë's Five Children and It co-star Eddie Izzard), you'll be pleased to know that Creative, Successful, Dyslexic is available to buy online and in bookshops. The book is published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and a portion of the profits will be donated to UK charity Dyslexia Action, of which Zoë is an ambassador.

I'd highly recommend Creative, Successful, Dyslexic to anyone who has dyslexia, knows someone who does or would just like to reach a clearer understanding of what dyslexia means to a range of people.

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Photos: first images of Zoë and her Harlequinade castmates

7 September 2015 23:45

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company has today released several striking publicity photos of Zoë and her fellow cast members in the forthcoming production of Harlequinade. As previously reported on this website, Zoe will perform the comedy as part of a Terence Rattigan double-bill with the disturbing All On Her Own.

The collection of black-and-white photos, taken by talented photographer Johan Persson, is the first set of images to be released of the Harlequinade cast since they began rehearsing in late August. In the photos Zoë and her fellow actors are seen in a suitably theatrical setting: in front of a brightly lit dressing room mirror.

Harlequinade and All On Her Own will run from 24 October to 13 January, forming part of the theatre company's much-anticipated inaugural season of productions at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End. Tickets for this double-bill are available now.

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Lovely publicity photo of Zoë

30 August 2015 18:48

I have permission to share with visitors to this website a relatively recent publicity photo of Zoë. The lovely picture below was taken by the talented photographer Jillian Edelstein, who has photographed Zoe a number of times before. (In fact, one of Edelstein's previous photos of Zoë is in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.)

Click on the image to see a larger version.

You can also see another photo from this photoshoot on Jillian Edelstein's blog (see the blog post dated 21 November 2014). In that image Zoe recreates a pose from a photoshoot over twenty years ago.

With thanks to Zoe's PA, Vanessa, for her help.

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Zoë to recreate Stevie Smith's 'unforgettable' performance at Cheltenham Literature Festival

27 August 2015 20:05

This year's prestigious Cheltenham Literature Festival, which runs from 2 to 11 October, will feature a music and poetry performance by Zoë, in the role of quirky poet Stevie Smith. Zoe will recreate the poetry reading that was given by Smith at the same festival, fifty years ago, and described by the organisers as 'unforgettable'.

The news is sure to delight anyone who had the pleasure of watching Zoë portray the Palmers Green poet in Hugh Whitemore's play, Stevie, which was performed at Chichester and Hampstead in 2014 and 2015 respectively. When the production opened at Chichester, the Guardian's Lyn Gardner emphasised that 'Zoë Wanamaker is so perfectly cast [...] that you don't feel so much that she's acting as simply channelling the mid-20th century poet and novelist.'

The Stevie Smith event will take place on the Festival's final day, at 6:15pm in The Inkpot, Imperial Square. In addition to the performance, the event will include what is sure to be an insightful discussion between Zoë and academic Will May, the editor of the soon-to-be-published Collected Poems and Drawings of Stevie Smith.

Cheltenham Festivals members can book tickets now; public ticket booking opens on 2 September at 1pm (UK time). For full details, see the booking info on the Festivals' website.

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Zoë rehearsing Branagh Theatre's Rattigan double-bill

27 August 2015 18:32

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company announced on Twitter yesterday that rehearsals have begun for Harlequinade and All On Her Own, the double-bill of Terence Rattigan plays in which Zoë is set to star at London's Garrick theatre.

Let's hope we will soon be treated to rehearsal photos of Zoe and her fellow cast members – including Kenneth Branagh, Jessie Buckley, Miranda Raison and more – in action.

The plays will run from 24 October to 13 January; tickets are available now.

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