Phelim McDermott
LightNews LightNews
banner
openspacer.bsky.social
Phelim McDermott
@openspacer.bsky.social
2.2K followers 4K following 470 posts
I improvise. I open space, I facilitate. I make unforgettable theatre, amongst others. Director My Neighbour Totoro.
Artistic Director @ www.improbable.co.uk
www.devotedanddisgruntled.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
openspacer.bsky.social
substack.com/@matildaleys...
substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:31 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
substack.com/@matildaleys...
Life, Art and The Snag
When I was young my school used to run a ‘Summer Holidays’ Diary Competition.’ The idea was to keep a diary through the whole summer - to make a daily entry.
substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
catsuka.bsky.social
Happy 85th birthday to Hayao Miyazaki ♡
January 4, 2026 at 4:16 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
When walking, just walk. substack.com/@matildaleys...
When Walking, Just Walk
It is hard to keep up with the changing atmosphere of the days at this time of year.
substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:40 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
My wife.. in the tall meadow of writing… up a rope. substack.com/@matildaleys...
In the Tall Grass
At present, the thing that causes me to feel unwell is when I get a phone call from the doctor.
substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
38d.gs/bm8t
Sign the petition to keep chlorine-washed chicken off our shelves
Here we go again. Trump has told the UK that if we want a UK-US tech deal, we need to buy chlorinated chicken from the US! 🤢🐔 How dare he try to impose poor food standards in Britain. Sign the petitio...
38d.gs
December 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
Wrestling angels.
Close to an Embrace substack.com/@matildaleys...
Close to an Embrace
Head sore, body bruised and battered, like I’ve been in a fight, not in bed for three days.
substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
sayittomyface.bsky.social
Dolly Parton is a national treasure!
Over 270 Million Free Books Gifted As Of February 2025 - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Imagination Library Has Gifted Over 270 Million Free Books As Of February 2025!
imaginationlibrary.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:11 AM
openspacer.bsky.social
substack.com/@matildaleys...
The Essence of In Between
Slowly does it.
substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:00 AM
openspacer.bsky.social
Matilda says Bee Well open.substack.com/pub/matildal...
Bee Well
So I started a Substack called in ‘Adventures in Wellness’, and then got properly sick!
open.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/matildal... Relapse or revelation?
Relapse or Revelation?
I am amazed, touched, slightly dazed.
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:19 AM
openspacer.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/matildal... Meds and myths.. a heroine’s journey
Meds and Myths
To take Gilteritanib, or not to take Gilteritanib - that’s today’s question.
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
openspacer.bsky.social
Do check out and subscribe to Matilda Leyser’s beautiful writing on her new substack as she starts out on the first day of a new writing adventure. “An Adventure in wellness.” So much heart, so much courage. open.substack.com/pub/matildal...
An Adventure in Wellness
An Invitation to join me, writing my way to being well.
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
openspacer.bsky.social
What I like about the steam sauna is you can cry in there and all the guys just don’t bat an eyelid.
December 3, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
writewhite.bsky.social
Our final show was My Neighbor (or Neighbour) Totoro. What a magical theatrical experience! It uses elements of Japanese traditional stagecraft, puppetry, and the film’s brilliant musical score. Honors the original while making the most of the stage medium in a charming and artistic way. I cried!
November 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
danstereo.bsky.social
Went to see the stage play version of My Neighbour Totoro absolutely stunning, I can see why they don't allow pictures during the show.
The technical aspects of how they bring Totoro into the show is amazing!
November 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
gregjenner.bsky.social
Just saw My Neighbour Totoro stage show in London, and it’s absolutely astonishing — magical, spectacular, funny, devastatingly emotional, and wonderfully innovative. If you love the film, or just love live theatre, it’s a must watch
November 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
I confess as an “experiencer” I’m much more interested in Cryptid-currency
November 29, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
dieworkwear.bsky.social
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
Dale Partridge on Twitter writes: "Feminist media is BIG mad about me saying that women shouldn’t wear underwear (leggings and sports bras) as outerwear. As Pearl says, “It’s amazing how hard women will fight to be naked.” Immodest ladies, read 1 Tim. 2:9, repent, and follow Christ." Attached are two images. Image 1 headline: “Outraged pastor slams worker at quaint coffee shop for wearing ‘sinful’ leggings and sports bra in front of kids” Image 2 headline: “‘Make sin shameful again’: Pastor sparks row after sports bra complaint”
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
rutgerbregman.com
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
apiln.bsky.social
Tell me you’ve used AI to tweak an archive photo without telling me you’ve used AI to tweak an archive photo. Breeds musnuey, indeed.
Bournemouth Echo From The Archives feature: Bournemouth's Wessex Way was fought tooth and nail by the people of Springbourne. Image is a colourised version of an archive photo of protesters. Their placards have been rendered into nonsense.
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
jasonbrez.bsky.social
I found that series absolutely fascinating. So strange.
November 20, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Phelim McDermott
youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com
VERY funny that Labour are being pointlessly cruel and haemorrhaging support from their base and yet none of what they're offering is ever going to be enough for the people whose approval they're seeking, WHO could have predicted it
November 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
openspacer.bsky.social
lithub.com/elon-musk-ge...
Elon Musk gets roasted on his own platform by Joyce Carol Oates.
Like an ancient cyborg culling through the ruins of a post-apocalyptic planet (twitter, derogatory), Joyce Carol Oates recently fired her full-power death ray at aspiring trillionaire Elon Musk, wh…
lithub.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:05 PM