Devising and Adapting a Show: Jo Tomalin talks to Julian Spooner and Matthew Wells about making The War of the Worlds

Jo Tomalin talks to Rhum & Clay’s Artistic Directors, Matthew Wells and Julian Spooner, about their physical theatre company, how they choose topics for their devised shows and how they developed and adapted The War of the Worlds from Orson Wells’ 1938 radio broadcast adaptation of H.G. Well’s sci-fi novel of the same name.

‘No-one would have believed in the early years of the twentieth century that this world was being watched…’ But we did believe. Written with Isley Lynn (Skin A Cat) and inspired by Orson Welles’ radio broadcast, The War of the Worlds explores the ongoing power of fake events to cause real reactions. Intense, unsettling and entertaining, this super-smart and multi-layered show proves that in dark times the truth is a precious commodity. **** (Guardian). **** (Observer). **** (Stage). Winners: The Stage Edinburgh Award 2018 (Mistero Buffo) Pleasance Indie, Best Theatre Production 2017 (Testosterone).”

Listen to our interview with Matthew Wells and Julian Spooner



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