London Theatre with OffWestEnd.com

OffCast gets out the sleigh bell sound effects for a Christmas special, including the best new shows and interviews with comedian and songwriter Tim Minchin – talking about Mathilda, writing a pop record and his love of Orangutans – and outgoing Tricycle Theatre Artistic Director Nick Kent on The Riots Shows featured: A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (Little Angel) The Kitchen Sink (Bush) The Riots (Tricycle) And a Christmas round-up including Cinderella (Hackney Empire), Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith), Hamlet (Young Vic), The Comedy of Errors (National) and John Hegley's Christmas Crackers (BAC) And don't forget - listeners can get 20% off all Oberon Books publications mentioned on the show, including the perfect Christmas gifts! Visit the webpage for more information, this week including the Royal Ballet Yearbook 2011-12, The Riots playtext, From the Horse's Mouth: How Handspring and the National Theatre made War Horse and Catching the Light: Sam Mendes and Simon Russell Beale – A Working Partnership. Buy now: www.oberonbooks.com - enter discount code ONOFFCAST at checkout for any of these titles!

OffCast catches up with award-winning comedian and podcaster Richard Herring and Evening Standard award-nominated playwright Nick Payne. Plus we take in two new plays about modern Africa and showcase an unusual ability for mediocre theatrical puns... Download the bonus extended interview with Richard Herring - just visit www.offwestend.com/podcasts/OffCast_Richard_Herring.mp3 Shows featured: Fanta Orange (Finborough) The Swallowing Dark (Theatre 503) Richard Herring: What Is Love Anyway? (Soho) and Stewart Lee: Carpet Remnant World (Leicester Square Theatre) Also... Oberon Books special offers You can buy all of the Oberon Books publications mentioned in this episode at a special discount rate of 20% off - the cheapest place anywhere on the web: Fanta Orange: £7.99 (usually £9.99) Electra, adapted by Nick Payne: £7.99 (usually £9.99) Oberon Glossary of Theatrical Terms: £11.99 (usually £14.99) Buy now: www.oberonbooks.com - enter discount code ONOFFCAST at checkout for any of these titles!

OffCast gets gothic with a halloween theme, plus theatrical polymath Che Walker, a look back at the Bush Theatre's 66 Books with actors Ralf Little & Miranda Raison, Jonny tries some accents and OffWestEnd's own Sofie Mason sticks her oar in. Shows featured Revenge of the Grand Guignol - Courtyard Theatre Terror 2011 - Soho Theatre Inadmissable Evidence - Donmar Warehouse Danny & the Deep Blue Sea - Southwark Playhouse 66 Books - Bush Theatre and Shalom Baby - Theatre Royal Stratford East. Also... Oberon Books special offers You can buy all of the Oberon Books publications mentioned in this episode at a special discount rate of 20% off - the cheapest place anywhere on the web 66 Books £11.99 - usually £14.99 How to Do Accents £15.00 - usually £18.99 How To Do Standard English Accents pre-order £15.00 - usually £18.99 Shalom Baby £7.99 - usually £9.99 Oberon Glossary of Theatrical Terms £11.99 - usually £14.99 Buy now www.oberonbooks.com - enter discount code ONOFFCAST at checkout for any of these titles!

Bonus feature: this week you can also download an extended full-length recording of our interview with Simon Russell Beale.

The first episode of OffCast's second season - now with sponsorship and a proper theme tune! We talk to double Olivier Award-winning actor Simon Russell Beale about Catching the Light, the new book about his work with director Sam Mendes; fellow Olivier Award-winner Timberlake Wertenbaker talks about her new adaptation of Britannicus at Wilton's; and Jonny investigates the mysterious Bruntwood Prize for playwrighting. Plus the usual reviews, news, top tips and a few surprises!