Tag Archives: Richard Evans

What about women? Asks Cambridge Festival of Ideas

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Pregnant_woman2Should there be gender quotas in the boardroom? Why is it still hard for women to be single in 2013? What’s causing the different fertility rates in countries across Euro?

Today’s news headlines highlight the inequalities faced by women. Despite decades of social progress, women are still under-represented in top positions in government and in corporate leadership positions, and heated debates continue over women’s role within religions. Even women’s sporting achievements are still not accorded full recognition in society.

These issues and more, including recent developments in tackling the problem of violence against women, feature during a series of stimulating and challenging public events being held throughout the annual Cambridge Festival of Ideas (23 October – 3 November).

Corporate boards, female quotas and political theory. 6pm– 7pm, Tuesday 29 October. How should we allocate positions of power in today’s corporate sector? Aristotle argued that ‘the best flutes should be given to the best flute players’. Such thinking might lead us to reject the EU’s recent draft directive calling for all listed companies to give at least 40% of their board memberships to women. Drawing on various perspectives from the field of political theory, Dr Jude Browne considers the UK debate on corporate quotas.

How to be a single woman in 2013, whether you’re 25 or 60. 5pm– 6.30pm, Saturday 26 October. Times have never been better for single women. Then why is it still so hard? Four women, experts on psychology and relationships, share their insight and suggestions. The speakers are journalist and broadcaster Rowan Pelling; Cecilia d’Felice, clinical psychologist; Susan Quilliam, a Cambridge-based agony aunt and author; and Zoe Strimpel, a journalist and author on lifestyle and relationship topics.

Zoe, who recently completed an MPhil in Gender Studies at the University of Cambridge, commented, “Newspapers warn women not to ‘wait’ to have babies, adding on the pressure to do this in the context of a picture-perfect relationship with a man. Meanwhile, older single women are either called spinsters or – if they express sexual desire – pumas, cougars, cradle-snatchers. Despite considerable advances in other areas, it’s no wonder being a single woman, particularly aged 30 and above, remains a flashpoint for a huge amount of anxiety. In this discussion, we will unpack what’s gone wrong and how to get round it, joyously.”

Is it a feminist position to encourage women to work and study in male dominated fields? 7.30pm– 9pm, Monday 28 October. The beginnings of feminism date back over a hundred years and it’s 40 years since the equal pay act. Yet we still see inequality in our workplaces. Should a greater emphasis be made on the business case for employers to include a fuller range of talents and skills in the workforce?

Dr Jenny Koenig, a founder member of Cambridge AWiSE (Association of Women in Science and Engineering), will be part of the panel. Dr Koenig’s main interests concern the education and training of scientists, as well as the communication of science and she is a supervisor in Pharmacology for Lucy Cavendish and Wolfson College. A member of Cambridge University Students’ Union Women’s officers will also be on the panel to talk about their ‘I need feminism because…’ campaign.

Can Europe reproduce itself? Debating Europe’s fertility. 6pm– 7.30pm, Monday 28 October. Across the EU, people are having fewer children. However, fertility rates vary widely between countries. This panel considers the factors causing regional fertility differences and will debate Europe’s reproductive future. They will also consider what is behind recent headlines about the increase to the UK’s birth rate. The speakers are Professor David Coleman, Professor Sarah Franklin, Professor Richard Smith, Professor Simon Szreter, and Dr Chris Wilson.

Feminine frontiers of faith. 1pm– 2pm on Wednesday 30 October. A session with women of faith in leadership, featuring Laura Janner-Klausner, Rabbi to the Movement for Reform Judaism and Julie Siddiqi, Executive Director of the Islamic Society of Britain.

Laura and Julie met recently when both were taking part in a leadership course for faith leaders. Julie explained, “Laura and I have shared so many stories over the past few months, highlighting to us how similar the debates are in our respective communities around the issue of gender, the role of women, how that transpires at a community level and the importance that an informed debate still has.”

In this session, both speakers will share some of their own experiences of working as women of faith in Britain, outline some of the current thinking around those issues and give their thoughts about where they think the issue is heading in the future. Both women were independently chosen to speak at the Enough Food IF rally at Hyde Park in front of 40,000 last month on behalf of their faiths.  Is that in itself is a change that signifies a shift in attitudes – women speakers chosen to represent both the Jewish and Islamic faith groups in Britain?

How far have we come? Ending violence against women and girls. 6pm – 7pm, Wednesday 23 October. The problem of violence against women and girls has been prominent in media coverage with many distressing cases coming to light over the last year and more. What steps are being taken through legal processes by organisations and academia to tackle the issues involved? Speakers include Norah Al-Ani of Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre.

There’s no stopping her: insights from Paralympian Claire Harvey. 5.30pm– 6.30pm, Thursday 24 October. The inspirational Paralympian Claire Harvey will also be speaking at the Festival, about her experiences of competition during 2012. Claire was captain of Paralympics GB’s Sitting Volleyball Team at last year’s Paralympics, and she will share her experiences of life, managing challenges and reaching the top of her game. This event has been co-organised with the University’s Equality and Diversity team.

Claire, who graduated from Cambridge University in 2006 with a Master’s degree in Criminology, said, “The 2012 Paralympics were an emotional rollercoaster and I feel so proud of every woman in the team and all that we have accomplished.

“The Paralympics opened up a discussion around disability. People hadn’t necessarily given too much thought to disabled people, and the Paralympics changed that. The Games showed people what social cohesion can achieve. It inspired a spirit of being in something together and working towards a positive goal.

“I fundamentally believe that sport changes lives: it’s vital, not just for athletes, but for people involved at any level, be it as a participant, a volunteer or a supporter. It teaches life skills, confidence, friendship and commitment.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of people in every sport, of different gender, sexuality and ability. The most important thing I’ve learnt is just to be yourself, because that is what has helped me achieve my goals.”

This year’s Cambridge Festival of Ideas is bursting with over 200 events for people of all ages. Those taking part include Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and Master of Magdalene College, academics Mary Beard, Noreena Hertz, Anthony Giddens, Richard Evans and David Reynolds, artist Quentin Blake, MP Frank Field, authors Owen Jones and MJ Hyland and George the Poet.

The Festival was the first public engagement initiative by a UK university to bring together a large-scale free public programme for all ages exploring the diversity of subjects in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Events are held in lecture halls, theatres, museums and galleries around Cambridge and entry to most is free.

Malavika Anderson, the Festival of Ideas Coordinator, said: “The Festival of Ideas has grown significantly over the last few years, in terms of both the number as well as the diversity of events on offer. We were delighted to have welcomed over 14,000 visitors at the festival in 2012 and look forward to welcoming even more over 12 days this autumn. The theme this year, Frontiers, is being interpreted to explore how borders, boundaries and margins are being either challenged or reinforced around the world. The theme has inspired the development of some truly exciting events.”

The full Festival programme, which features a number of outstanding women across all topics, will be available on Monday, 2 September. For more information, please visit: www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas and follow us on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/camideasfest  #cfi2013

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cambridgefestivalofideas

 

Richard Evans CDG: Casting director interview {The Film Set}

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1) How did you get into casting?
I worked as assistant to two casting directors, but I’d always had a casting director’s brain (I used to read Spotlight in the local library from the age of 8, which, although it sounds sad, completely fascinated me!). I started on my own in 1989, as the first freelance casting director to specialise in theatre – in those days, the vast majority of theatre casting was done by artistic directors and their secretaries, and was not considered worthy of specialised casting knowledge (the only people who cast for theatre worked in the casting departments of the major companies, such as the RSC and The National Theatre, and the only other freelancer was Leonie Cosman who did many of the West End musicals). While many film and TV casters initially treated theatre with disdain, viewpoints changed remarkably quickly, so I, in turn, diversified, but theatre is still my favourite medium.

2) Favourite film you have cast?
I’ve cast relatively few films, as it’s not really a medium that I’ve pushed to work in. I am, however, extremely proud of most of the projects I’ve cast, for a multitude of reasons.

3) What do you love about your job?
Getting it right! Leaving a casting where we have first, second, third… even eighth choices for each character makes me walk on air. I always strive for absolute perfection and sweat blood over everything I do, so when everything falls into place it makes it all worthwhile. My absolute favourite thing is giving someone their first job out of drama school and then seeing them progress to bigger and better things – it doesn’t often happen, as there aren’t always suitable roles on my desk at the right time, but it’s amazing when it does.

4) Advice for actors?
Buy my book!… no, seriously… BUY MY BOOK! Where do I start?! Be honest about your capabilities and what you’ve done. We are in a small business, which gets smaller the longer you are in it, so any fibs will surely be found out. Prepare everything thoroughly, know as much as you can about the projects you’re up for and the industry you’re in. Be prepared for anything, and, above all, enjoy whatever you do – if you don’t, others won’t. I could go on, but there’s lots of other advice, tips and resources at my website.

5) Who is your inspiration?
Anyone who knows what they want and goes for it wholeheartedly… especially if they have overcome adversity to do so.

6) What’s next?
I’m currently in discussions to cast a new musical, which it’s hoped will tour the UK in early 2011, and I’m told that a corporate video has had its budget approved, six months after I was first called about it. My policy is to always believe that a project is only definite after it has happened and the cheque has cleared. People are being far more cautious at the moment, due to the recession, but the great thing about our Industry is you never know when the phone will ring and your luck will change – even after all these years, I am frequently surprised when it happens to me.

7) Tell me about your book.
AUDITIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE is, I’m told, just that. I wanted to write a book that is an easy and amusing read and would be useful and pertinent to every performer, from those considering training or starting a career in performing arts to the most experienced actors who want to brush up their skills and learn new techniques. The reaction has been phenomenally positive, even from people who have been in the Industry for decades and are notoriously harsh critics (I’m still waiting for someone to contact me and say ‘I didn’t like your book because…’, which would actually be quite refreshing, silly though that may sound). The book covers many different genres and takes the reader through the audition process step by step. Writing this book was a long-held ambition – I first thought of writing it back in 1993 – and was a huge learning curve, taking over 4 years from conception to publication. I wanted to write it partly as I was frustrated at the amount of performers who unwittingly lose jobs by auditioning badly and, on a more selfish note, because I wanted to prove to myself that I could write a book and get it published. It is without doubt the proudest achievement of my life… so far!

8 ) What is your background?
I was an actor for 10 years, which I believe has stood me in excellent stead to work in casting, as, having seen things from both sides of the audition table, I am able to appreciate everyone’s point of view and, hopefully get the best out of performers when auditioning.

9) What does your average day consist of?
There’s really no such thing as an average day, every day is different and that’s the way I like it. I’m usually at my desk by around 10am, replying to emails that have come in overnight and ploughing through my daily to do list. Some days are frantic, others very quiet, there’s no pattern. I go to the theatre to keep abreast of actors’ work at least 3 or 4 nights a week and may then return to my desk afterwards to catch up, especially if I’m dealing with agents and producers in America.

10) Favourite actors?
My favourite actors are mainly those that I like as people as well as for their skill as performers. There are many, and most aren’t the least bit famous or even yet in the public eye, so I’ll spare their blushes by mentioning them and having you saying ‘Who?!’ Those you may have heard of include: Douglas Hodge who is terrific and starting to be given the recognition he deserves, having been awarded best actor on both sides of the Atlantic for his astounding performance as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles. Samantha Morton always gives wonderfully naturalistic performances; Daniel Radcliffe is really proving himself to be a great actor (he’s also not a bad magician in real life!); Sheridan Smith has been excellent in everything I’ve see her do; Julie Walters is far more versatile than most people ever see, and Alec McCowen is doubtless the most underrated actor of his generation, if not all time.

11) What is the hardest part of the job?
Getting performers to prepare adequately for auditions and recalls, especially when they’ve been sent sides or songs to learn… and also getting some companies to pay my invoices on time!

Buy Richards book on Amazon or visit his web site.

Main picture credit Ethel Davies.