STORYGLASS and ETT announce new podcast series, THAT PODCAST, featuring more than 100 artists, commentators and thought leaders
A new magazine-style 12-part podcast series that tells the story of a nation and a world in rapid transition with commissions and performances from some of the UK’s most exciting names in contemporary arts and entertainment. Launching on Thursday 6th May 2021.
- Featuring guest hosts: Remona Aly, Desiree Burch, Sophie Duker, Nish Kumar, Terry Gilliam and Chris McCausland.
- 23 new fiction commissions from some of the UK’s most exciting playwrights, novelists and poets including: Travis Alabanza, Ella Hickson, Eno Mfon, Hollie McNish, Gary Owen, Jack Rooke, Michael Rosen, Stef Smith and Testament.
- Featuring interviews and interventions from leading voices from across culture, science, politics and journalism including: Open Democracy’s Mary Fitzgerald, comedian Richard Herring, film critic Mark Kermode, Whores of Yore’s Dr Kate Lister, data scientist Dr Cathy O’Neil and Rabbi Alexandra Wright.
- Creative and acting ensemble includes: Lois Chimimba, Tinuke Craig, Paapa Essiedu, Sorcha Groundsell, Debbie Hannan, Kathy Kiera Clarke, Debbie Korley, Jodie McNee, Ben and Max Ringham, Jack Rowan, Sacha Wares and Siôn Daniel Young.
- Featuring stories and testimony by members of the public from across the UK collected by celebrated journalist Aina Khan.
Trailer: 22nd April 2021
Launch Date: 6th May 2021
Storyglass and ETT (English Touring Theatre) today announce a curated podcast and fiction series THAT PODCAST, bringing together artists, poets, novelists, comedians, journalists, scientists, spoken word artists, playwrights and members of the UK public to provide creative cultural insight into a nation that finds itself in a moment of profound change and upheaval.
From the global pandemic to digital sex work, the Black Lives Matter movement to the ubiquity of fake news, THAT PODCAST will explore the unparalleled times we’re currently living through with stories from everyday life retold from across the UK and internationally, refracted and reimagined by some of the most striking voices in contemporary fiction.
ETT’s Artistic Director, Richard Twyman, today said: ‘’THAT PODCAST is a project that is all about listening to the small and unexpected ways that our lives have changed over the last year, whilst also looking into the future and asking what will the impact of these changes be? Delving into the detail of how daily life has evolved has led us to some fascinating and extraordinary people and stories. By working together with freelance artists and bold new voices in drama, poetry, comedy and music, coming from all corners of the UK, the series speaks to the shock, insight and intensity of a year in all our lives.”
Robert Delamere, Storyglass, Executive Producer, commented: “After the recent successes of the Storyglass studio in fiction, arts and comedy, we’re delighted to have such an incredible range of talent working with us on this new format. THAT PODCAST is a daring and eclectic mix of fact, fiction and commentary. This curated series of podcasts offers an exciting range of new, emerging and established talent all addressing some of the key ideas, experiences and trends of our times.”
Steve Carsey, Storyglass, Managing Director, commented: “THAT PODCAST represents everything that Storyglass stands for. We are the home of production excellence, exceptional talent and creative partnerships. We want to amplify new voices that deserve to be heard. We want to give established writers a home for their creativity. We want to push the boundaries of fiction and become a go to destination for audio drama. THAT PODCAST is a home for new voices, new writing and new ideas. I couldn’t be prouder of everything Robert, Richard, the wider team and all of our contributors have achieved.”
Partnering on the series are Storyglass and ETT.Storyglass was launched as a standalone podcasting company in June 2020, by Bertelsmann businesses Fremantle, Penguin Random House UK, BMG and DK. ETT are a UK based international touring company, creating theatre and digital work of outstanding quality, imagination and ambition.
FULL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
The Hosts: Remona Aly, Desiree Burch, Sophie Duker, Terry Gilliam, Nish Kumar and Chris McCausland.
The Writers: Tim Crouch, Ella Hickson, Matilda Ibini, Sami Ibrahim, Shahid Iqbal Khan, Kimber Lee, Dina Nayeri, Eno Mfon, Gary Owen, Stef Smith and Abbie Spallen.
The Writer-Performers: Travis Alabanza, Christopher Brett Bailey, Jordan Brookes, David Edgar, Eddie Doyle, Hollie McNish, Muneera Pilgrim, Jack Rooke, Michael Rosen, Athena Stevens, Testament and Alissa Anne Jeun Yi.
The Commentators: Celya AB, Danielle Baskin from QuarantineChat, Dr Erica Seruset Borgstrom, Dr Carol Bruess, Dr Oliver Scott Curry, Aya Angel and April Fiasco from Cybertease, Mary Fitzgerald, MD Mominul Hamid (King Abir), Richard Herring, Reverend Ravi Holy, Dr Caroline Horton, Mark Kermode, Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, Dr Kate Lister, Abdul Rehman Malik, Luke Murphy, Dr Cathy O’Neil, Dina Nayeri, Jini Reddy, Mariel Richards from gal-dem and Rabbi Alexandra Wright.
The Digital Ensemble (actors, directors and sound designers): Anthony Almeida, Ayesha Antoine, Philip Arditti, Nathalie Armin, Helen Atkinson, Annabel Baldwin, Prisca Bakare, Tobi Bakare, Jennifer Bakst, Alexander Bean, Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, Lois Chimimba, Kathy Kiera Clarke, Tinuke Craig, Morag Davies, Robert Delamere, Paapa Essiedu, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Gareth Fry, Sorcha Groundsell, Debbie Hannan, Mali Harries, James Hingley, Alim Jayda, Amber James, Scott Karim, Aina Khan, Debbie Korley, Adrian Lee, Maimuna Memon, Jodie McNee, Annissa Murad, Max Pappenheim, Ben Quashie, Ben and Max Ringham, Jack Rowan, Richard Twyman, Ben Walker, Sacha Wares, John R. Wilkinson, Mike Winship, Siôn Daniel Young and Lisa Zahra.
For THAT PODCAST
Executive Producers: Robert Delamere and Richard Twyman
Commissioning Editor: Jennifer Bakst
Co-producers: Andrew Hughes and Sarah Jane Murray
Series Producer: Ben Walker
Assistant Producer: Ben Quashie
Consultant Producer: Holly Gilliam
Coordinator: Madeleine Sharma
Host biographies
Remona Aly
Remona Aly is a journalist and broadcaster with a focus on faith, lifestyle and identity. She writes for The Guardian and other publications on anything from Ramadan to rock music or burkinis to Bake Off. She is a resident Pause for Thought contributor on BBC Radio 2 on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, presented BBC Radio 4’s Something Understood and hosts various podcasts.
Desiree Burch
Desiree Burch is a comedian, writer and theatre maker. She has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, QI and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order (BBC), and 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4). Desiree hosts Netflix series Too Hot To Handle and Flinch. Her theatre show Tar Baby won a Fringe First Award and was an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression nominee.
Sophie Duker
Sophie Duker is a comedian and writer who has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week, and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. Sophie also hosts the monthly comedy night Wacky Racists Comedy Club, and the official TV companion podcast to I May Destroy You on BBC Sounds.
Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam is an award-winning film director, screenwriter, opera director and member of Monty Python, whose film directing credits include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Jabberwocky, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, The Brothers Grimm, Tideland, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, The Zero Theorem and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
Nish Kumar
Nish Kumar is a comedian and presenter. He has twice been nominated for the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival Comedy Award for Best Show. He has hosted The News Quiz, Newsjack and his own series, The Mash Report for BBC2. He regularly appears on shows including Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News For You and Taskmaster.
Chris McCausland
Chris McCausland is a stand-up comedian from Liverpool who is blind. He has multiple appearances across shows such as Would I Lie to You?, Have I Got News For You, QI, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Live at the Apollo. Tickets are on sale now for his re-rescheduled tour in 2022, but don’t worry, somebody else does the driving.