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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · 6d

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear engineer and producer Hugh Padgham remembering his work on Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement. Now sponsored by @burningshed.com
www.xtclimelight.com/2025/10/03/h...

Hugh Padgham: working with XTC - xtclimelight.com

Hugh Padgham remembers his work on XTC's Drums & Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement, plus Brian Wilson, the Police, Phil Colins, Split Enz etc

www.xtclimelight.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · 8d

Keeping close to their chess at A Play, A Pie and A Pint: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/o...

Cheapo review – tense two-hander about teens under the influence of online misogyny

Katy Nixon’s unsettling play explores the shadowy rules adolescents live by as friends navigate manipulation, secrets and the pressures of conforming

www.theguardian.com

Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · 24d

And it's back... www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s...

Small Acts of Love review – tragedy and tenderness in Lockerbie eulogy

The people of a small Scottish town offer hope to bereaved families in the aftermath of the 1988 bombing in a moving music-theatre show

www.theguardian.com

Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Sep 5

Today's episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast features a fascinating conversation with Stu Rowe about working with Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, Barry Andrews, Peter Blegvad and Jen Olive. www.xtclimelight.com/2025/09/05/s...

Stu Rowe: collaborating with XTC - xtclimelight.com

Stu Rowe talks about working with XTC's Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, Barry Andrews, Peter Blegvad and Jen Olive

www.xtclimelight.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Aug 27

Sharpen up your criticism skills. Join Guardian critic Mark Fisher for a two-hour online How to Write about Theatre workshop on Sat 4 Oct howtowriteabouttheatre.com/product/how-...

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Aug 26

Festival? What festival? @playpiepint.bsky.social kicks off the autumn season next week www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/a...

Straight outta Stirling: the musical giving William Wallace the Hamilton treatment

Beats, rhymes and Bannockburn? The creators of Wallace explain why they used hip-hop to tell the story of Scotland’s national hero

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Aug 4

Ha-ha!

Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Aug 4

Thanks, Samira. I've been too fringed-out to open my copy yet

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Reposted by Mark Fisher

Samira Ahmed @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social · Aug 4

Lovely interview with arts journo @markffisher.bsky.social in the latest issue of @nujofficial.bsky.social's The Journalist magazine

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Reposted by Mark Fisher

Alison Eales, Nerves of Steel @alisoneales.com · Aug 1

I had the time of my life at the XTC Fan Festival. It was brilliant reliving the experience with Gayle, and it's also great to listen back to the conversation between Dave Gregory and Thomas Walsh, which was a highlight of the event. Thanks so much to @markffisher.bsky.social for inviting us on!

MealyGarage @mealygarage.bsky.social · Aug 1

ICYMI, myself and the wonderful @alisoneales.com are in the latest episode of the XTC podcast, What Do You Call That Noise, chatting about the recent fan festival in Swindon. #MusicSky
www.xtclimelight.com/2025/08/01/x...

XTC's Dave Gregory talks to Thomas Walsh - xtclimelight.com

XTC guitarist Dave Gregory and fellow musician Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) talk about everything from facial hair to inspirational guitarists.

www.xtclimelight.com

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Reposted by Mark Fisher

Terry (TC) Arnett @sticksman1.bsky.social · Aug 1

@mealygarage.bsky.social and @alisoneales.com contributed to @markffisher.bsky.social's podcast regarding the XTC Fan Festival in June... Have a listen ❤️
youtu.be/jOLqUeZHPLU?...

XTC's Dave Gregory talks to Thomas Walsh

YouTube video by XTC's Limelight

youtu.be

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Aug 1

This month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast features a highly entertaining conversation between XTC guitarist Dave Gregory and fellow musician Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) recorded at the 2025 XTC Fan Festival in Swindon. www.xtclimelight.com/2025/08/01/x...

XTC's Dave Gregory talks to Thomas Walsh - xtclimelight.com

XTC guitarist Dave Gregory and fellow musician Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) talk about everything from facial hair to inspirational guitarists.

www.xtclimelight.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jul 31

And we're off. First review of my 40th consecutive Edinburgh Fringe: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Falling: A Disabled Love Story review – clever comedy provokes our prejudice for happy endings

Aaron Pang’s sweet yet sharp one-man show about the mismatch between his erotic desire and physical capability needles the audience’s need for comfortable resolution

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jul 14

The Weir and wonderful www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Cheers to The Weir! What makes Conor McPherson’s mysterious pub drama so mesmerising?

As Brendan Gleeson prepares for his role in a revival of the 1997 hit, the stars of earlier productions toast its deceptively moving and profound barfly banter

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jul 7

Oh yes. Those were the days!

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jul 7

Hi Mark, we've met a couple of times in/about Edinburgh. I write songs with Hugh Nankivell. I'm words, he's music. But maybe you could be words. We sound like this: soundcloud.com/Sweet-Hunama...

Sweet Hunamafi Rhythm Orchestra

Hugh Nankivell and Mark Fisher

soundcloud.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jul 4

In today's episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we join Alfredo Marziano, the author of the newly published XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day, the Making of a Pop Classic.

www.xtclimelight.com/2025/07/04/x...

XTC's Skylarking with Alfredo Marziano - xtclimelight.com

Author Alfredo Marziano talks about XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day, the Making of a Pop Classic, which dives deep into one of XTC’s finest albums

www.xtclimelight.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jun 27

And they call it puppy love www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Man’s Best Friend review – lockdown, loneliness and a pack of cute canines

Douglas Maxwell’s monologue about a dog walker moves from lighthearted to maudlin as it evokes a world in limbo

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · Jun 27

And they call it puppy love www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Man’s Best Friend review – lockdown, loneliness and a pack of cute canines

Douglas Maxwell’s monologue about a dog walker moves from lighthearted to maudlin as it evokes a world in limbo

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Mark Fisher

Terry (TC) Arnett @sticksman1.bsky.social · Jun 24

I did a thing at the weekend. A big thing. I did it with dear friends... and we did it in front of lots of people... at the XTC Fan Festival in Swindon. Somebody mistook for Andy Partridge. Kazoo s were in abundance. I also saw Hugh Padgham, my all time favourite producer. Still on cloud nine...

The audience during Hugh Padgham's interview.

The author of the XTC book, Complicated Game: Inside The Songs of XTC, Todd Bernhardt and me.

Me with Ed Percival and Matt Bell as Terry & The Chalkmen.

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Reposted by Mark Fisher

James Banyard @jamesbanyardwriter.bsky.social · Jun 5

Pitch Fail Club: Guest Post from @markffisher.bsky.social

Mark warm-pitched an editor and shares the full pitch, the feedback, and what he learned.

pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-post-m...

Got a failed pitch? Email [email protected] for a shot at a free annual sub.

The Post-Mortem: Guest Post by Mark Fisher, Journalist and Theatre Critic

The Pitch That Was Ignored. Until It Was Too Late.

pitchfailclub.substack.com

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Reposted by Mark Fisher

Paul Williams @paulwilliams207.bsky.social · Jun 4

@markffisher.bsky.social ‘In this centenary year of (Arthur) Berry’s birth and three decades after his death, the @newvictheatre.bsky.social has dug out the first draft of his final play, spruced it up and given it a belated debut.’

@theresaheskins.bsky.social
@fionawallace.bsky.social

Whatever Happened to Phoebe Salt review – bittersweet 1950s tale of the Potteries

Isabella Rossi, making her debut, gives Arthur Berry’s drama of working-class life a burst of colour and energy

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · May 30

Whetting our appetite for the 2025 XTC Fan Festival, today's episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast discusses the joys and challenges of covering XTC songs live, with Dan Barrow, Peter Mills and Martin Malone www.xtclimelight.com/2025/05/30/c...

Covering XTC with Dan Barrow and Innocents Abroad - xtclimelight.com

Peter Mills and Martin Malone (Innocents Abroad) and Dan Barrow talk about covering XTC at the 2025 XTC Fan Festival in Swindon

www.xtclimelight.com

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Reposted by Mark Fisher

Mark Thomas @markthomasinfo.bsky.social · May 27

Late to this particular party. Clegg's a quisling and shill for austerity, betrayed his own ideas for boss class interest. Anything he says is aimed at impoverishing people. He represents no one but the spawn of the Meta family petrie dish. The little sign in front of him should just say CUNT.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Mark Fisher @markffisher.bsky.social · May 27

As ever, the kids get the best shows www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/m...

Edinburgh international children’s festival review – naughty shadows, silly grown-ups and tongue twisters

Delightful shows for youngsters include surreally inventive shadowplay and backstage chaos, while Greg Sinclair brings tricky phrases to life using a cake and someone’s aunty

www.theguardian.com