Since 2021, Rebecca Windsor has been producing 12month 12stories, a podcast that features short theatrical pieces by playwrights from all over the world. Now in its fifth year, we spoke with Windsor about her process and what’s next for the show.
What made you decide to start Itchy Feet Productions?
In all honesty, rejection. A lot of rejection. I’d had one of those weeks where everything I’d sent off for, applied for, came in at once. You know the days! Sometimes all the ‘thanks but no thanks’ at one time, in the same hour! And I was feeling frustrated, and I knew other people who were feeling the same, so I decided to start a podcast. It was also 2021, the world was just coming out of the pandemic, where podcasts had been the thing! But in all honesty, it was a cheaper, accessible, easy way for me to get work out there, and I hadn’t seen anything else like it, so I thought it was worth a go.
What is your process when you look for pieces to showcase on the podcast?
It really varies! I’ve approached different writers asking if they’d like to be involved. I’ve had actors and writers ask to be involved, which is always magic. I also put out calls on BBC Writers Room and London Playwrights Blog. It was only meant to be a one-year project, 12months of 12stories! But it’s kinda kept itself going, which has been the nicest surprise.
What have been some of your favorite episodes or pieces of work?
I honestly don’t have a favourite episode. What I love about the podcast is there’s such a beautiful mixture of voices, styles, and I think, hope! That there’s something there for everyone. Poetry, a bit of horror, love, comedy, drama! And that if someone stumbles across us, they can scroll through and find something that speaks to them.
What are the challenges and rewards with audio theatre? Where do you feel it fits in the wider theatre landscape?
To be honest, I can’t think of any major challenges. I’d like to make us more accessible. If we keep going, I’d like to perhaps also record the episodes as videos so we can add subtitles. That’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. I think the greatest joy for me is seeing that people around the world are listening! We’ve had downloads in Japan, Nepal, and Azerbaijan! To name just a few countries! As well as Europe and the States, and I love that so much, how a podcast can reach such a wide audience. I think that’s where audio theatre can really fit into the wider landscape. It’s atmospheric and transportive, and has this global platform. It’s very exciting. Also, it’s really accessible; you can record on a phone or with a small microphone and produce really great stuff. There are a lot of free sounds you can download! I’m a working-class artist and had a tough few years after I was made redundant during the pandemic, but doing the podcast was something manageable and doable for me, and it kept me creative. I recommend it to anyone wanting to make their own work to consider it!
What’s coming up for the podcast in 2026 and beyond?
We are working on a Valentine’s episode! Each year, I think this is it, this will be the last year. But somehow we just keep going, thanks to people wanting to be involved, sharing their time and talents! I’d love to be able to get some funding to pay people; artists need to eat! And to work on a video aspect to have subtitles to make us more accessible, but I never thought we’d still be here five years on! So I guess we’ll see where the year takes us.
Listen to 12month 12 stories here!
Artwork by Charlotte Ive
