LPT: We really miss the live shows but you have an unbroken record because NewsRevue is now available as a Podcast. What kind of new skills have you had to draw on?

Sam: Starting the podcast has meant learning a whole new skill set which has been both really fun and creatively satisfying especially during these crazy Corona times! It’s one thing to learn how to edit audio together but another to create full sketches and songs with effects and soundscapes etc. Apart from editing and mixing the episodes the process has been very similar to that of the live show rehearsal process. We still have submissions from our writers, rehearsals and writing sessions with the cast via Zoom and we even have group Zoom recording sessions with the cast!

LPT: What kind of feedback have you had about the new format?

Sam: The feedback has been so wonderful! After working with NewsRevue for a while I knew that we had a huge following but I would have to say that the response to the podcast has exceeded expectations! Our listenership is constantly growing and it really shows that people’s appetite for Newsrevue hasn’t gone away but has in fact grown during this time. It has also been wonderful to hear back from our Alumni who have been involved in the episodes and how they have been so happy to be back working on the show!

LPT: It’s very much a team effort, even the politicians do their bit. Who has been your all time favourite political persona? 

Sam: In terms of playing a political persona I would say my favourite over the years has been Donald Trump. My first run of NewsRevue was back in January 2017 during Trumps Inauguration and we had an absolute field day. I often say that unfortunately the worse things are politically/in the news, the better it is for NewsRevue as we are never short on material!

LPT: As writers can no longer rely on visual gags, have you got some tips for budding comedy writers you would be willing to share?

Sam: Go as big as possible! What has been so fun with the podcast is being able to put politicians and notable figures into situations that we couldn’t possibly do on stage. It’s incredibly fun to create vivid images for people to imagine as they listen along.

LPT: As a writer yourself, could you give a flavour of one of your top quality sketches?

Sam: Ooooh ummm now that is difficult! It depends on what your definition of ‘Top Quality’ is haha. Anything I write is always incredibly silly, just pure unadulterated bonkersness (that’s a word right?), so if you’re listening to the podcast and you come across an especially ridiculous sketch, chances are I wrote it haha.

LPT: As director, what are the trickiest things to get right?

Sam: That’s also a difficult one! With a show like NewsRevue there are so many elements that have to come together perfectly in order for the show to work. However, I would say that week in and week out for both the live show and the podcast it’s the running order that is often the decision that can make or break the show. The wrong placement of a one liner joke or even having too many sketches in a row can totally upend a show and often it will take multiple look overs with the Cast, Musical Director and Producers before you hit the sweet spot!

LPT: Have you ever thought you could just do the whole show, perform, write, direct (just you, the Producer, and the Musical Director)?

Sam: Well as the show hasn’t stopped in over 40 years and if there was a disaster where the cast couldn’t perform I’m sure we could pull something out of the bag, but in normal circumstances I would say probably not! One of the great things about NewsRevue is that with the ever changing nature of the show week to week our performers not only need to be great Actors but also great comedy writers which is another skill you develop during a run so everyone is very used to taking on different job roles!

LPT: Which is your favourite NewsRevue Podcast which we should all listen to while we’re doing the washing up, having a glass of wine/beer, sitting with chums etc … ?

Sam: I would say that we have been quite lucky with a lot of the material we’ve had so far because most of it is still rather relevant. Boris is still being Boris, Trump is still being Trump and Coronavirus is well… you get the picture! With the episodes being roughly 20 minutes each you could easily get through them all while doing the dishes etc!

LPT: Finally, what will you miss about the Podcasts when you return to the live shows?

Sam: One thing I will miss is the opportunity to work with so many fantastic NewsRevue Alumni week in and week out. The great thing about the live show is that it is all about discovering and nurturing new comedic talent and what we have found with the podcast is that talent never goes away. Once you have done a NewsRevue run you have learned skills for life! Every single member of NewsRevue Alumni we have had on the podcast has been an absolute joy to work with and they have all brought so much to each episode!