What decision did you make today that had implications on the rest of your life?

For Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland star player John White a simple choice to play golf made a devastating difference to the lives of his family when a freak accident saw him killed by lightning.

John White was by all accounts a footballing genius. His nickname, "the ghost of white hart lane" gained due to both his speed on the pitch and his slight appearance lends itself to the book and play of the same name about him.

Today we talk to John's son, Rob, who co-authored his father's biography, Martin Murphy, writer and director of the play and Callum Lewis-Newman who has been playing john, Rob and a host of other characters in the one man play that debuted at White Hart Lane, took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm and is about to return.

Further reading & Info:

The Ghost of White Hart Lane: In Search of My Father the Football Legend, by Julie Welch and Rob White

https://stanchionbooks.com/products/the-ghost-in-search-of-my-father-the-football-legend

Scotland in the 60's by Ronnie McDevitt

Flower of Scotland? by Archie Macpherson

Guests: Rob White, Martin Murphy, Callum Lewis Newman

Host: Lottie Walker

Readings by: Steve Taylor & Luke Taylor

Production & Editing: Jacob Taylor

Get social:

https://www.bruisedskyproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BruisedSkyProductions

https://www.instagram.com/bruised_sky/

https://www.instagram.com/robawhite/

https://www.instagram.com/callumlewisnewman/

https://www.instagram.com/themartinmurphy/

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

“In any civilised community the arts... must occupy a central place. Their enjoyment should not be regarded as something remote from everyday life” ⁠
⁠
What a quote - what a woman!⁠
⁠
Jennie Lee was an MP before she was old enough to vote. She was the first Minister for the Arts and the main drive behind the formation of the Open University. ⁠ She was also married to Nye Bevan, father of the NHS.

We think we'd have liked Jennie. How could you not like someone who said:⁠
⁠
“Better to enjoy and suffer than sit around with folded arms. You know the only true prayer? Please God, lead me into temptation.”⁠
⁠

Marianne McNamara is Artistic Director of Mikron Theatre Company, currently touring with "Operation Beach Hut" and "Hush, Hush" (the latter about the women of Bletchley Park) and are on the road river until October 2025.

Dr Daniel Weinbren is a lecturer in history at the Open University and is the author of the history of the Open University

Further reading:

Jennie Lee: a Life - by Patricia Hollis

The Open University: A History - by Daniel Weinbren

My Life with Nye - by Jennie Lee

NYE: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan - by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Before the Arts Council: campaigns for state funding of the arts in Britain 1934-1944 - by Howard Webber

Social media and website links:

https://profiles.open.ac.uk/daniel-weinbren

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-weinbren-2b257521a

https://mikron.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/mikrontheatre/

https://www.facebook.com/mikrontheatre

https://www.youtube.com/MikronTheatre

Guest: Marianne McNamara & Dan Weinbren

Host: Lottie Walker

Editing & Production: Jacob Taylor

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

Call Backs takes us back to that weird post lockdown era when we were still sort of locked down. All sorts of relationships were affected in all sorts of ways…

This is a fun look back on those very strange times!

Written by J.J. Leppink

Performed by Greg Arundell & J.J leppink

Studio recording & editing: Harry Jacobs

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

Released to coincide with the Hackney History Festival The Hackneyed Detective is an audio drama about Daniel Ludlow, a modern day private eye based in East London.⁠
⁠
Daniel is down on his luck and takes solace from the imaginary world of the 1940's New York gumshoe Danny Ludlow.⁠

The Hackneyed Detective is an original play from the pen of: J.J. Leppink

Cast:
Daniel/Danny Ludlow: Steve Taylor
Francesca "Frankie" De Mateo: J.J. Leppink
Julie Ludlow: Lottie Walker
Secretary: Greg Arundell

Studio recording and production: Harry Jacobs

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

Nellie Bly was an American journalist who is famous for her record breaking 72 day round the world trip.⁠
⁠
Before that though she went undercover into an "insane asylum" to report on the appalling conditions to which the patients were subjected.⁠
⁠
This short play by JJ Leppink guesses what might have happened in the time leading up to Nellie's incarceration.⁠

This is the first in a season of 4 short audio dramas written by J.J. Leppink. It features:

J.J. Leppink and Greg Arundell

Studio recording and editing: Harry Jacobs

⁠
⁠

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

A while ago we spoke with Dr Mary Shannon about Billy Waters and Mary's upcoming biography of him - "Billy Waters is Dancing".

Well the book is now out (and a jolly fine read it is, too) and Mary has joined forces with historian Dr. Ben Marsh, artist Selena Scott and musician Angeline Morrison on the Age of Revolution's "Songs from the Shadows" project.

The project is a free educational resource intended for students aged 11-16. It consists of a graphic novel and a digital landscape all based on the story of Billy Waters.

To access educational resources:
https://ageofrevolution.org/
Insta: @ageofrev

About Selena Scott:
https://www.selenascott.com/
Insta: @selenarosescott

About Mary Shannon:
https://marylshannon.com/
Insta: @drmarylshanon

Billy Waters is Dancing is available from your independent bookshop:
https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300267686/billy-waters-is-dancing/

About Angeline Morrison:
https://www.angelinemorrisonmusic.com/
Insta: @angelcakepie2

Date for your diary - "Jump Billy", A celebration of English folk's diverse history, through the life of celebrity Black Regency busker Billy Waters at Cecil Sharp House in London
https://www.efdss.org/whats-on/26-gigs/14401-jump-billy

Guests: Dr Mary Shannon, Dr, Ben Marsh, Selena Scott

Host: Lottie Walker

Studio Editor: Lis Barlow

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos

Avril Coleridge-Taylor (1903-1988); Wikipedia says she was a "pianist". She was. She was also a composer and conductor (in fact she was the first female conductor of the band of the Royal Marines). She was also the daughter of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Historian and author Stephen Bourne and musician and author Patricia Hammond talk about her talent and her eventful life in this episode.

Find out more about Stephen and his work championing black and LGBTQ history here: https://stephenbourne.co.uk/
Follow Stephen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/blackpoppies14

Find out more about Patricia, her music and her work to rediscover the music of the past , particularly unsung female composers here: https://patriciahammond.com/
Follow Patricia on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/hammondpatricia

Music: Mr Sun & Can Sorrow Find Me are used with permission. Both, along with many other gems can be found on Patricia's Youtube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/patriciahammondsongs


Host: Lottie Walker
Guests: Stephen Bourne & Patricia Hammond
Production & Editing: Harry Jacobs

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.

If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.

Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos