Clowns, comedy, and the kind of vulnerability you can’t script!

This week we’re joined by Maria Ansdell (clown-school grad and A-level drama comrade) as she shares the highs and lows of clown school, and tells us about her upcoming show Closure Cabaret — a one-woman cabaret exploring heartbreak, fantasy, and the messy idea of “closure”.

Follow Maria on Instagram - @mariaansdell or @closurecabaret.

In this episode, we’re joined by writer and theatre-maker Achilles Flyte, whose prompt leads us to a delightfully monstrous idea...

We talk about working with children and how their perspectives can open up new creative possibilities, the joys of picture books, and the differences between writing fiction and non-fiction.

We also dig into the role of issue-driven art - especially in spaces like refugee-led theatre - and ask: does engaging with a story feel like action, or actually lead to change?

This episode, we’re joined by Scribbles with Meg - a Coventry-based illustrator whose prompt sparks the start of a bold graphic novel filled with ghostly punks, teenage angst, and a whole lot of female rage.

We explore what it means to channel anger into art, how to stay honest while building a brand, and why junk journalling might just be your new favourite hobby.

Content note: This episode includes brief discussion of how sexual assault is portrayed in media.