Podcasts

Podcast: #WOSOuting to Goodnight Mister Tom

Last night (9 January 2013) we took 100 theatregoers to see the West End transfer of Goodnight Mister Tom at the Phoenix Theatre – until recently the home of West End longrunner Blood Brothers.

Olivier award-winner Oliver Ford Davies reprises his role as Mister Tom in the Chichester Festival Theatre, and joined us alongside adapter David Wood and other members of the company for our post-show Q&A.

Adapted from Michelle Magorian’s bestselling novel, Goodnight Mister Tom follows the story of the sad William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse Tom Oakley. All seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned by his mother back to London.

The production, which originally toured between February and May last year, is directed by Angus Jackson and continues at the Phoenix until 26 January.

Following the show we were joined by David Wood, Oliver Ford Davies, puppet director Toby Olie and several other members of the company. Wood talked about working in children’s theatre, and how Goodnight Mister Tom had been the first show he’d felt child actors were necessary for.

Ford Davies talked about working with different groups of children, and the different things that each pair brought to the show, and Olie discussed the challenges of making a puppet a believable animal. The cast then discussed research that they had done about World War II, and Ford Davies told of his own experiences.

Finally, Wood talked about author Michelle Magorian’s input in the play, and the cast talked about audience reactions that they get, particularly when lots of school groups are in.

To listen to the Q&A, which was hosted by Theo Bosanquet, click the ‘play’ button below; or to subscribe and download from itunes, click here.

As always, please feel free to email your comments and thoughts about the show, as well as any of your favourite insights from last night to feedback@whatsonstage.com and don’t forget to tweet using #wosouting! We would love to hear from you.

For details of other upcoming Outings, click here.

-by Rosie Bannister

Follow coverage of our post-show Q&A in the box below or on Twitter @Whatsonstage