The Base

The Base
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We discuss Sartre's play 'No Exit' with Nina Power. Nina was our speaker in our December 2023 performance of Sartre's classic play. Nina takes us through some key ideas in existentialist thinking and explores with us what Sartre might have been asserting about the human condition. The Base Creates is a new production company founded by Oliver Bennett and Morgan Watkins. We want to rediscover, explore and reinvigorate great texts in the Western canon to challenge the conformity of the contemporary dramatic arts. In a series of readings, we will bring to life profound texts with responses from new interesting thinkers. Moving forward, we want to inspire new writers, fostering a movement of fearless creatives and exciting intellectuals. We believe drama needs to go deeper and challenge audiences in order to do justice to our fascinating and troubling modern world. The Base Creates will celebrate excellence, depth and vitality. Join us. www.thebasecreates.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/thebasecreates/ https://x.com/thebasecreates

  1. After Brando - Episode 4 - Laurence Olivier, The English Tradition and The Actor as Technician

    5 MAR

    After Brando - Episode 4 - Laurence Olivier, The English Tradition and The Actor as Technician

    This week on ‘After Brando’ we explore the life and work of Laurence Olivier, The English Tradition and The Actor as Technician. We are joined by the melodious and wise Simon Roberts. Sir Laurence Olivier (1907–1989) was one of the greatest actors of the 20th century and a towering figure of British theatre and film. Renowned for his Shakespearean performances, he played iconic roles such as Hamlet, Henry V, Othello, and Richard III on stage and screen. His celebrated films include Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948), Richard III (1955), Rebecca (1940), and Marathon Man (1976). As the founding director of the National Theatre, Olivier helped shape modern British theatre and left an enduring legacy in the art of performance.

    1h 26m
  2. The Origins of Ancient Greek Theatre with Elena Novello

    18 FEB

    The Origins of Ancient Greek Theatre with Elena Novello

    In this episode we discuss The Origins of Ancient Greek Theatre with Elena Novello. We have been reading through the Greek plays every Monday evening at 9pm and Elena has been hosting brilliant discussions with us all. We think she is brilliant and wanted to find out more from her about where this all began. Please subscribe, like and comment if you can. It really helps more people see the video. We hope this is a great resource to those interested in studying or acting in the incredible plays of Ancient Greece. This conversation delves into the origins, significance, and evolution of Greek theatre, exploring its connection to ancient storytelling, religious festivals, and the political landscape of Athenian society. The discussion highlights the architectural marvels of Greek theatres, the aesthetics of performances, and the crucial role of playwrights and the chorus in shaping the theatrical experience. It also touches on the complexities of morality as depicted in Greek plays and sets the stage for future discussions on specific playwrights and their works. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Greek Theatre 02:55 The Origins of Greek Theatre 05:43 The Role of Festivals in Greek Theatre 08:30 The Evolution of Storytelling and Performance 11:48 The Connection Between Theatre and Religion 14:35 The Etymology of Tragedy 17:25 The Nature of Greek Gods and Morality 20:36 The Influence of Greek Theatre on Western Culture 23:28 The Complexity of Greek Society and Theatre 26:44 The Significance of Rituals in Greek Festivals 29:37 The Legacy of Greek Theatre 44:08 The Evolution of Amphitheatres 47:28 The Role of Theatre in Athenian Society 51:17 The Political Significance of Theatre 55:38 The Aesthetics of Ancient Greek Theatre 58:57 The Role of Playwrights and Performance 01:19:45 Recap and Future Discussions

    1h 9m
  3. After Brando - Episode 3 - De Niro Vs Pacino & Gangsters

    12 FEB

    After Brando - Episode 3 - De Niro Vs Pacino & Gangsters

    In Episode 3 we discuss the careers and styles of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. We consider their training, approaches to acting and how actors playing gangsters defined the dramatic culture for years to come. We discuss their early life, training, film work and their approach to acting. We explore Method acting and what it actually means and then we consider the connection between Gangsters and acting. Please subscribe, like and comment if you can. We really appreciate all the feedback, thoughts and ideas. Check out our work at - www.thebasecreates.co.uk

    1h 18m
  4. After Brando - Episode 2 - Ricky Gervais

    31 JAN

    After Brando - Episode 2 - Ricky Gervais

    In the second episode of our series, After Brando, we explore the work and impact of Ricky Gervais. The Office first aired in 2001 and has influenced acting, comedy and culture at large over the last 20 years. It is hard to understate how big of an impact Ricky Gervais had on us all. We consider the legacy of Ricky Gervais on performance style and how his stand up comedy influenced humour right up to this day. Please check out our website at - www.thebasecreates.co.uk And consider following our show and leaving us a review. Many thanks, The Base

    51 min
  5. After Brando - Episode 1 - Marlon Brando & Stella Adler

    18 JAN

    After Brando - Episode 1 - Marlon Brando & Stella Adler

    This is the first episode of a new series, After Brando. We will be exploring actors/actresses throughout different eras and how their style and training impacted the dramatic world and culture at large. We start this series off with the man himself, Marlon Brando and his teacher, Stella Adler. Please let us know who your favourite actors are and why. We'd also be keen to hear about different practitioners and how they've influence your thinking. In the first 30 minutes we will provide a rough outline of Brando's life and career, please skip this if you'd like to get straight to the discussion. Please follow our work wherever you can and remember to subscribe, like and comment if you want to support our work. The very best, The Base

    1h 11m

  6. 16 JAN

    Clifton Duncan - Part 2 - Thomas Sowell: The Forbidden Thinker

    We talked with Clifton Duncan about the development of his one man show on Thomas Sowell. Thomas Sowell (born 1930) is an American economist, historian, and social critic whose life traces a remarkable journey from hardship to intellectual prominence. Raised in poverty in segregated North Carolina and Harlem, Sowell left high school early, served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, and only later returned to education—eventually earning degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago under Milton Friedman. Initially influenced by Marxism, Sowell’s experiences in government and rigorous economic study led him to abandon ideological thinking in favour of empirical analysis and a deep skepticism of centralized power. Over decades at institutions such as UCLA, Cornell, and the Hoover Institution, he produced an extraordinary body of work examining economics, race, culture, education, and political ideology. Books such as Basic Economics, A Conflict of Visions, and Intellectuals and Society argue that good intentions are no substitute for understanding incentives, trade-offs, and human limitations. Living through the Great Depression, segregation, civil rights era, and modern political polarization, Sowell’s work is defined by a long historical view and a refusal to flatter fashionable opinion. His legacy is that of an uncompromising thinker who insists that reality—not ideology—must be the final judge of ideas. Clifton Duncan is a classically-trained actor, singer, writer, podcaster, and FAIR in the Arts fellow. Having earned his MFA from New York University’s renowned Graduate Acting Program, his critically-acclaimed body of work spans Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theatre, and TV. His outspoken views on art, entertainment, culture and society have garnered a substantial online following, and landed him on popular podcasts such as Triggernometry, TimcastIRL, and the The Dr. Drew Podcast. He’s also the creator of “The Clifton Duncan Podcast” and writes a newsletter called “The State of the Arts.” Clifton advocates for freedom of expression for professional artists, and believes that a thriving arts culture is crucial to a healthy society. Please check out Clifton's work elsewhere - http://becomingsowell.substack.com/ https://substack.com/@cliftonduncan / cliftonduncanentertainment https://x.com/cliftonaduncan?lang=en

    31 min

  7. 11 JAN

    Clifton Duncan - Part 1 - Politics, Race and Culture

    We talked with Clifton Duncan about politics, race and culture. Clifton Duncan is a classically-trained actor, singer, writer, podcaster, and FAIR in the Arts fellow. Having earned his MFA from New York University’s renowned Graduate Acting Program, his critically-acclaimed body of work spans Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theatre, and TV. His outspoken views on art, entertainment, culture and society have garnered a substantial online following, and landed him on popular podcasts such as Triggernometry, TimcastIRL, and the The Dr. Drew Podcast. He’s also the creator of “The Clifton Duncan Podcast” and writes a newsletter called “The State of the Arts.” Clifton advocates for freedom of expression for professional artists, and believes that a thriving arts culture is crucial to a healthy society. Please check out Clifton's work elsewhere - https://substack.com/@cliftonduncan https://www.youtube.com/c/CliftonDuncanEntertainment https://x.com/cliftonaduncan?lang=en

    56 min

  8. 4 JAN

    The Life of W.B. Yeats with Professor Roy Foster

    We are proud to present The Base’s first podcast of 2026 – The Life and Times of W. B. Yeats with Professor Roy Foster. This is a deep dive into the life, work and times of Irish poet W. B. Yeats. We sat down with Yeats official biographer and eminent Irish historian, Professor Roy Foster. We are interested in Yeats not only because he is one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century, but also for his experiments in theatre and his complex relationship to Irish history during a tumultuous period. We performed three of Yeats plays’ last year, which is where we met Roy Foster, as he gave a response lecture that evening. So inspired were we by the life and times of Yeats that we read both volumes of Foster’s magisterial biography and sat down with him a few weeks ago to go deep into Yeats. We offer this interview here as a resource that doesn’t exist anywhere else, for anyone interested in twentieth century poetry, theatre, Irish history and the building of cultural identity. So please like and subscribe so we can continue offering these cultural resources. Thank you and enjoy! Links to Roy's incredible books below - https://www.amazon.co.uk/W-Yeats-Life-Apprentice-1865-1914/dp/0192880853 https://amzn.eu/d/illUxSG

    1h 43m
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

We discuss Sartre's play 'No Exit' with Nina Power. Nina was our speaker in our December 2023 performance of Sartre's classic play. Nina takes us through some key ideas in existentialist thinking and explores with us what Sartre might have been asserting about the human condition. The Base Creates is a new production company founded by Oliver Bennett and Morgan Watkins. We want to rediscover, explore and reinvigorate great texts in the Western canon to challenge the conformity of the contemporary dramatic arts. In a series of readings, we will bring to life profound texts with responses from new interesting thinkers. Moving forward, we want to inspire new writers, fostering a movement of fearless creatives and exciting intellectuals. We believe drama needs to go deeper and challenge audiences in order to do justice to our fascinating and troubling modern world. The Base Creates will celebrate excellence, depth and vitality. Join us. www.thebasecreates.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/thebasecreates/ https://x.com/thebasecreates

Information

  • Creator
    The Base
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Base

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