The Uncensored Critic Podcast

Oliver Gower
  • 4.2 (5)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Weekly

My podcast talks to actors, directors, movement directors, creatives and anyone in love with the arts. I'm an actor myself so I'm always eager hear from people active in the industry, their journey's into it, and what they have learnt along the way. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy The Uncensored Critic Podcast.

  1. 1d ago

    Joel Harper-Jackson on Playing Frank Sinatra

    Joel trained at The Hammond and has been part of some of the most well-known shows to date.  Including one very recently you might be aware of. His credits include: Rent, UK TourWest End Women, UK TourEvita, Ljubljana Festival, SloveniaSimon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Regents Park Open Air TheatreCurious Incident of the Dog in the Nigh time, UK TourKinky Boots, UK TourCock, Ambassadors Theatre with Jonathan Bailey, replacing Taron Egerton after he stepped away from the project.  You can catch him right now in London at the Aldwych Theatre in “Sinatra” where he plays the man himself, Frank Sinatra, doing it his way (pun intended).  We discuss his introduction to the business as well as playing one of the most famous singers on the planet.  The show takes us through the highs and lows of Sinatra’s life, his romance with Ava Gardener which threatened to derail his career and how his comeback is regarded as one of the greatest of all time.  In addition, how he auditioned for the part, working with Frank’s daughter Tina Sinatra and bringing all time classics such as “Fly Me To The Moon”, “That’s Life” and “My Way” to life every night.  Tickets available now! Thank you Joel! Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

  2. 5d ago

    Fringe in Fifteen | Emily Drewett | "Situationsh*t"

    Hello guys and welcome back to another Fringe in Fifteen! A series dedicated to fringe artists across the UK and beyond, giving them a fifteen minute elevator pitch style interview promoting what their show is about and where people can see it.  Today we welcome fellow actor and friend of mine Emily Drewett and her show “Situationshit”, on at the Libra Theatre Cafe on 15th and 16th August at 3:45pm both days.  A show about “the ever shifting struggle of starting over, when life as you know it changes”.  To find out more and book tickets visit follow here: https://camdenfringe.com/events/situationsht/ Thank you Emily and good luck with the show! Any artist or group who would like to come on please drop me an email or a DM on Instagram 😊 Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

  3. Jul 27

    Danielle Manson on Being the Legal Consultant on Prima Facie and Inter Alia

    Danielle is a barrister at Matrix chambers and has been involved in cases involving serious crime, protest law, inquests and inquiries.  Bringing empathy and sensitivity to the table, especially during instances regarding children and young people, she thrives in bringing cases like these to justice.  She holds an LLB (Bachelor of Law) degree from Sheffield University and completed her BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) at the University of Law, Bloomsbury.  Prior to her training, she worked at the law reform charity “JUSTICE” as a criminal justice policy intern, whose research helped to get compensation for a case of miscarriage of justice at the Supreme Court.  While studying she also managed the “Innocence Project”, which worked on a range of criminal appeals and applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). In recognition of her services she was nominated for the Chancellor’s Medal and was additionally invited to sit on the CCRC’s stakeholder forum.  She spent some time in 2023 working as a sexual violence lawyer for the Centre of Women’s Justice. Advising survivors accessing the Women and Girls Network Survivors Gateway about their legal rights when the police asked for their digital data as part of an Operation Soteria Pilot Scheme.  Her work has been used for Netflix’s documentary “When Missing Turns to Murder”, and she has also been a legal consultant on Suzie Miller’s trailblazing plays, “Prima Facie” and “Inter Alia”.  Providing the cast and creative team with the current state of the law when it deals with sexual assault cases against women from both the side of the victim and perpetrator.  We discuss the areas of the law, tackled by both plays, that still to this very day are not helping victims of sexual assault get the justice they need. As well as her journey towards becoming a barrister and the huge impact that Suzie Miller’s plays continue to have.  For more information about Danielle and her work, visit her website: matrixlaw.co.uk/member/danielle-manson/ Art changes the world! Thank you Danielle! Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

  4. Jul 23

    Fringe in Fifteen | Joanna Orlowska | "Off Script"

    Hello guys and welcome back to another Fringe in Fifteen! A series dedicated to fringe artists across the UK and beyond, giving them a fifteen minute elevator pitch style interview promoting what their show is about and where people can see it.  Today we welcome along actor and writer Joanna Orlowska and her show “Off Script” which will play at the Drayton Arms Theatre, London on 23rd and 24th July, before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe (Paradise Green) from the 7th-14th August.  Joanna’s show is about “a journalist navigating identity, language and integrity inside a British newsroom, as personal and political tensions begin to collide” (from her website).  Tickets on sale now. Thank you Joanna and good luck with the show! Any artist or group who would like to come on please drop me an email or a DM on Instagram 😊 Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

  5. Jul 20

    Ray Fearon on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and working at the RSC

    Ray trained at Rose Bruford and has been a part of some of the best things across stage and screen since.  His credits include, for Film: HamiltonBeauty and the BeastHamlet, dir. Ken BranaghSummer in Cape Town Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone TV: Red DwarfDeath in ParadiseShakespeare and Hathaway Silent WitnessHis Dark Materials Theatre: Countless shows with the RSC - Pericles, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, Troilus and Cressida and The Merchant of Venice to name a few. Macbeth at the GlobeGuys and DollsThe Firm, Hampstead Theatre Including one very special credit with the RSC in 2012, where he played Mark Antony in Gregory Doran’s African adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s best plays, Julius Caesar. Special mention to the whole company and creative team behind it (now available on Globe Player and DVD)! We discuss his journey into the business and his monumental performance as Mark Antony. How he found his version of the character, who he is to him and how approaching famous monologues like “the dogs of war” or “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears” is anything but difficult.  You just understand what the character is saying and why they’re saying it.  All this and much more, thank you Ray! Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

  6. Jul 13

    Simon Evans on Directing "Staged" and Cyrano de Bergerac

    Simon is one of the most celebrated directors in the London theatre scene. He has tackled some of the most well-known texts in the literary canon as well as new writer’s work. His directing credits include: Killer Joe, staring Orlando Bloom - Trafalgar TheatreRubber Room, Old VicThe Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Donmar Warehouse, starring Lenny Henry and his sister Lucy EatonSilence of the Sea, Donmar Almost Maine, Park TheatreAlligators, Hampstead Theatre Currently, he is the director of the smash-hit revival of Edmund Rostand’s classic play “Cyrano de Bergerac”,  playing now at the Noel Coward Theatre after a successful run at the RSC, starring Adrian Lester.  On top of this, Simon also co-created, wrote and starred in “Staged”, a drama that brilliantly captured life in lockdown. Streaming now on BBC IPlayer starring Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Samuel L.Jackson, Lucy Eaton, Judi Dench amongst many more.  We discuss making “Staged” during the lockdown, the rewards and challenges of putting a piece of television together during the restrictions, and how you can make a story out of anything.  As well as, working with poet Debris Stevenson on reviving Cyrano de Bergerac, bringing it back to London audiences and how this play still has the power to make you laugh, cry and remind you of the power of words.  Get your tickets now! Playing until 5th September.  Thank you so much Simon! Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

  7. Jul 11

    Shakespeare Saturday | Twelfth Night

    Welcome back to Shakespeare Saturday!  Connecting modern hearts to timeless stories.  Hosted by myself and Sarah Spring 🎭 This week we look at one of the Bard’s most performed comedies, Twelfth Night.  The story starts at sea, a shipwreck, Viola thinking she is the only survivor between herself and her twin brother Sebastian, sets foot on the island of Illyria. “What country, friends, is this?” She asks.  What ensues is a love triangle of all love triangles between Orsino, Cesario (Viola) and Olivia.  Viola disguised as a boy (Cesario) meets the Duke, Orsino, who is infatuated with Olivia, who in turn is grieving the loss of her brother and father and is reluctant to return Orsino’s passion. Olivia upon a chance meeting with Cesario (Viola in disguise) falls head over heels in love with ‘him’ while Viola has become completely enamoured with Orsino, despite his constant wailing and self-deprecation.  Whilst at the same time, pure chaos kicks off between Maria, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Agucheek, who plan to prank Malvolio. They do so by planting a letter supposedly written by Olivia to the pompous and irritating purist, making him believe that she has fallen in love with him in a cruel yet amusing plot to bring him down.  Sarah and I discuss what makes this one of the most celebrated comedies as well as how far one could say this play is a tragedy in disguise.  Not to mention how this play was inspired by one of Shakespeare’s favourite poets, Ovid, and his book “Metamorphosis” which promotes Sarah’s “Echo Theory” that she outlines in detail.  Furthermore, how this play tackles themes to do with gender, cross dressing, false accusation, false hope, identity, sexuality and a celebration of Greek mythology, all in a way that makes you think and above all else, makes you laugh. Special mention to the brilliant all male production at the Globe in 2012 (available to watch on Globe Player) led by Mark Rylance as Olivia and Stephen Fry as Malvolio.  Stay tuned for more geek out sessions on Shakespeare Saturday, and until next time, keep finding the magic in your own life! Follow Sarah on Instagram: @shakespearemadeclear Her website: damesarahspring.com Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

    Shakespeare Saturday | Twelfth Night

  8. Jul 6

    Chloëbeth on Finding Your Voice and Believing in Yourself

    Chloëbeth is a classically trained singer who achieved a grade 8 in her ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) with distinction when she was only 17.  She studied Contemporary Theatre and Performance as well as Popular Music at University in Manchester for 4 years graduating with a first in 2014.  Her vocal interests stretch across genres such as jazz, musical theatre, pop, however her specialty is with the classics. The one that wows the crowds as well as men in Italian churches on Instagram! She has also been involved in television with a leading role in a BBC 1 Drama Documentary, as well as playing “Carmen” and “Serena” in Fame: The Musical.  Her vocals have been heard across luxurious events such as weddings to gigs all hanging on very note. For more clips and access to her music, follow her on Instagram where you’ll find more clips of her in action and much more.  We discuss her opera training, approaching famous songs such as Now We Are Free from Gladiator to how embracing your own interests and following your heart is the best thing you can do.  Thank you Chloë! Oliver Gower Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261 Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcritic For enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com Please Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️ Thank you all for your support! Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/  Track Name. Early Morning

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4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

My podcast talks to actors, directors, movement directors, creatives and anyone in love with the arts. I'm an actor myself so I'm always eager hear from people active in the industry, their journey's into it, and what they have learnt along the way. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy The Uncensored Critic Podcast.

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