Author | Lightnews

Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Mar 23

Migration is life, no one is illegal. 🕊

Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Mar 19

Lady Bracknell could well be an advisor to Wes Streeting:

"Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids.

I consider it morbid.

Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others.

Health is the primary duty of life."

Ugh. Victorian ableism is alive and well.

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Mar 14

Repping @1623theatre.bsky.social at @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social today - doing a session with students on setting up and running a theatre company. 🩷🤍🚉

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Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them

1623 theatre company @1623theatre.bsky.social · Feb 13

Can you help us revive our Queer Lady M show and run a community workshop as part of the LGBTQ+ season at Shakespeare North this spring? We really need your support to make it all happen.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/queer-lady...

Queer Lady M

With your support, we will bring our LGBTQ+ show and workshop to the Queer Season at Shakespeare North Playhouse.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

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Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them

Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · Feb 26

Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.

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Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them

Sarah Brigham @sarahbrigham.bsky.social · Feb 23

Catch this beautiful show ! One more week @derbytheatre.bsky.social and then onto Hull Truck, Bolton Octagon and Theatre by the Lake

An image of two men ( George and Lennie) stood on stage against a sunset coloured background. The title Of Mice and men is on it plus lots of stars from reviews

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Feb 17

Please help us take Queer Lady M to Shakespeare North this spring.

Crowdfunder.co.uk/queer-lady-m

Queer Lady M

With your support, we will bring our LGBTQ+ show and workshop to the Queer Season at Shakespeare North Playhouse.

Crowdfunder.co.uk

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Feb 11

Happy 50th birthday, @painesplough.bsky.social! X

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Feb 11

Hello @ruthmackenzie.bsky.social! So fab to see you here! X

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 27

In the long and terrible shadow of the unimaginable atrocity that was the Holocaust, please can we all look after each other just that little bit more? Thank you. x

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 23

"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath."
- Portia, The Merchant of Venice

#MariannEdgarBudde #Legend

Mariann Edgar Budde stands at a lectern in a pulpit and talks into a microphone. She is a white woman with short grey hair. She wears glasses, a vicar collar, a white shirt with long sleeves, and robes in black and red. Behind her is a stained glass window predominantly in blue. In front of her are white and red flowers among green foliage.

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 21

Let's fight back with all the good stuff - creativity, community, family, friends, love, hope, generosity, allyship - in the face of this shitshow of bigoted billionaire thuggery. We have each other. Always. x

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 9

Everyone who continues to make and support theatre at this hugely challenging time - that's everyone, whether you are on 'The List' or not - big up, keep going, and thank you. You are making a positive difference.

Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them

1623 theatre company @1623theatre.bsky.social · Jan 9

All performances of The Winter's Tale at @DerbyTheatre.bsky.social have sold out.

If you don't have tickets, fear not - we are livestreaming the show on Sat 11th Jan starting at 7pm GMT.

There will be two livestreams - one with BSL interpretation, one with captions.

youtube.com/playlist?lis...

The Winter's Tale livestream - BSL, captioned - YouTube

Broadcast live from the studio of Derby Theatre, 1623 presents the UK premiere of Tracy Young's gripping new translation of Shakespeare's bold and moving pla...

youtube.com

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 4

So... the Fri night show has sold out, Sat afternoon is almost sold out, and Sat night has pretty good availability. Book soon, my friends - don't want you to miss it! xx

Derby Theatre @derbytheatre.bsky.social · Jan 3

#TheWintersTale shows NEXT week – A bold, modern retelling of Shakespeare’s gripping play!

Set on a struggling council estate, Tracy Young’s powerful translation explores jealousy, betrayal & hope.

Captions & Audio Description included.
#DerbyTheatre, 10–11 Jan 2025.
🎟️- bit.ly/40h9tbu

Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 3

Bring yourself over to Derby Theatre and take in The Winter's Tale - it's a proper bobby dazzler full of laughs, gasps and tears. Fri 10th and Sat 11th Jan in the Studio. Tickets selling fast.

www.1623theatre.co.uk/the-winters-tale

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The Winter's Tale — 1623 theatre company

www.1623theatre.co.uk

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 3

This afternoon, BBC Radio's Ben Jackson interviewed me about 1623 and our new show The Winter's Tale, which plays Derby Theatre soon. Here is our chat, which starts about 12 mins into the programme. I am working on a transcript.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

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Ben Jackson on BBC Radio Derby - 02/01/2025 - BBC Sounds

The latest news, great music and inspirational people to take you through the afternoon.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 1

Tonight's EastEnders was written by my pal Kev. So proud of him. X

Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Jan 1

Huge love. Always. X

Snow falls from a dark sky and settles on the ground. Blue and pink neon lights spell out words - happy in blue, new year twenty twenty five in pink.

Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Dec 28

Lots to be grateful for this year, including these highlights:

🙏🏼 working with Jenny Sealey on Romeo and Juliet for Graeae at Shakespeare North

🙏🏼 teaching Shakespeare and contemporary practice at Northants University

🙏🏼 co-directing Winter's Tale with Sophie Stone for 1623 and Play On Shakespeare

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Dec 27

Glorious!

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Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them

1623 theatre company @1623theatre.bsky.social · Dec 25

Merry Christmas! With love from everyone at 1623. 💖✨️

A collage of photos by Jay Nandha of our current show - The Winter's Tale. The photos show the diverse cast wearing modern clothes, and paper crowns on their heads. The set is a tower block of flats and a caravan. Featuring Elliot Webster-Mockett as Polixenes, Donna Mullings as Hermione, Wambui Hardcastle as Mamillius, Karen Spicer as Emilia, and Oliver Tunstall as Leontes. Set and costume design by Nikki Charlesworth. Lighting design by Sam Osborne.

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Dec 25

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart, while wearing a red and white jester hat with bells. 💖✨️

Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Dec 21

Just finished reading Lemn Sissay's My Name Is Why - painful yet full of hope, this deeply moving memoir speaks truth to power from a place of total integrity. Stunning work.

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Ben Spiller - they / them @mxbenspiller.bsky.social · Dec 18

I watched a film called Wicked today and - much to my surprise - really enjoyed it. Funny, moving and ultimately exhilarating. Strong political messages too. Loved it. #Popular #DefyingGravity #NooneMournsTheWicked 💚🩷

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