Ben Spiller - they / them
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mxbenspiller.bsky.social
Ben Spiller - they / them
@mxbenspiller.bsky.social
120 followers 69 following 36 posts
Sign name - Shakespeare. Artistic director, 1623 theatre company. Disabled, mixed, queer, working class.
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Migration is life, no one is illegal. 🕊
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.
Repping @1623theatre.bsky.social at @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social today - doing a session with students on setting up and running a theatre company. 🩷🤍🚉
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
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
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
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.
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
Catch this beautiful show ! One more week @derbytheatre.bsky.social and then onto Hull Truck, Bolton Octagon and Theatre by the Lake
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
"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
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
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
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
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
#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
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
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
Tonight's EastEnders was written by my pal Kev. So proud of him. X
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
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
Merry Christmas! With love from everyone at 1623. 💖✨️
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart, while wearing a red and white jester hat with bells. 💖✨️
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.
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 💚🩷