Ben Spiller - they / them
@mxbenspiller.bsky.social
Sign name - Shakespeare. Artistic director, 1623 theatre company. Disabled, mixed, queer, working class.
Migration is life, no one is illegal. 🕊
March 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Migration is life, no one is illegal. 🕊
Lady Bracknell could well be an advisor to Wes Streeting:
"Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids.
I consider it morbid.
Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others.
Health is the primary duty of life."
Ugh. Victorian ableism is alive and well.
"Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids.
I consider it morbid.
Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others.
Health is the primary duty of life."
Ugh. Victorian ableism is alive and well.
March 19, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Lady Bracknell could well be an advisor to Wes Streeting:
"Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids.
I consider it morbid.
Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others.
Health is the primary duty of life."
Ugh. Victorian ableism is alive and well.
"Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids.
I consider it morbid.
Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others.
Health is the primary duty of life."
Ugh. Victorian ableism is alive and well.
Repping @1623theatre.bsky.social at @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social today - doing a session with students on setting up and running a theatre company. 🩷🤍🚉
March 14, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Repping @1623theatre.bsky.social at @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social today - doing a session with students on setting up and running a theatre company. 🩷🤍🚉
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
Can you help us revive our Queer Lady M show and run a community workshop as part of the LGBTQ+ season at Shakespeare North this spring? We really need your support to make it all happen.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/queer-lady...
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/queer-lady...
Queer Lady M
With your support, we will bring our LGBTQ+ show and workshop to the Queer Season at Shakespeare North Playhouse.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
February 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Can you help us revive our Queer Lady M show and run a community workshop as part of the LGBTQ+ season at Shakespeare North this spring? We really need your support to make it all happen.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/queer-lady...
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/queer-lady...
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
February 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
Catch this beautiful show ! One more week @derbytheatre.bsky.social and then onto Hull Truck, Bolton Octagon and Theatre by the Lake
February 23, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Catch this beautiful show ! One more week @derbytheatre.bsky.social and then onto Hull Truck, Bolton Octagon and Theatre by the Lake
Happy 50th birthday, @painesplough.bsky.social! X
February 11, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Happy 50th birthday, @painesplough.bsky.social! X
Hello @ruthmackenzie.bsky.social! So fab to see you here! X
February 11, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Hello @ruthmackenzie.bsky.social! So fab to see you here! X
In the long and terrible shadow of the unimaginable atrocity that was the Holocaust, please can we all look after each other just that little bit more? Thank you. x
January 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
In the long and terrible shadow of the unimaginable atrocity that was the Holocaust, please can we all look after each other just that little bit more? Thank you. x
"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath."
- Portia, The Merchant of Venice
#MariannEdgarBudde #Legend
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath."
- Portia, The Merchant of Venice
#MariannEdgarBudde #Legend
January 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath."
- Portia, The Merchant of Venice
#MariannEdgarBudde #Legend
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath."
- Portia, The Merchant of Venice
#MariannEdgarBudde #Legend
Let's fight back with all the good stuff - creativity, community, family, friends, love, hope, generosity, allyship - in the face of this shitshow of bigoted billionaire thuggery. We have each other. Always. x
January 21, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Let's fight back with all the good stuff - creativity, community, family, friends, love, hope, generosity, allyship - in the face of this shitshow of bigoted billionaire thuggery. We have each other. Always. x
Everyone who continues to make and support theatre at this hugely challenging time - that's everyone, whether you are on 'The List' or not - big up, keep going, and thank you. You are making a positive difference.
January 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Everyone who continues to make and support theatre at this hugely challenging time - that's everyone, whether you are on 'The List' or not - big up, keep going, and thank you. You are making a positive difference.
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
All performances of The Winter's Tale at @DerbyTheatre.bsky.social have sold out.
If you don't have tickets, fear not - we are livestreaming the show on Sat 11th Jan starting at 7pm GMT.
There will be two livestreams - one with BSL interpretation, one with captions.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
If you don't have tickets, fear not - we are livestreaming the show on Sat 11th Jan starting at 7pm GMT.
There will be two livestreams - one with BSL interpretation, one with captions.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
The Winter's Tale livestream - BSL, captioned - YouTube
Broadcast live from the studio of Derby Theatre, 1623 presents the UK premiere of Tracy Young's gripping new translation of Shakespeare's bold and moving pla...
youtube.com
January 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
All performances of The Winter's Tale at @DerbyTheatre.bsky.social have sold out.
If you don't have tickets, fear not - we are livestreaming the show on Sat 11th Jan starting at 7pm GMT.
There will be two livestreams - one with BSL interpretation, one with captions.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
If you don't have tickets, fear not - we are livestreaming the show on Sat 11th Jan starting at 7pm GMT.
There will be two livestreams - one with BSL interpretation, one with captions.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
So... the Fri night show has sold out, Sat afternoon is almost sold out, and Sat night has pretty good availability. Book soon, my friends - don't want you to miss it! xx
#TheWintersTale shows NEXT week – A bold, modern retelling of Shakespeare’s gripping play!
Set on a struggling council estate, Tracy Young’s powerful translation explores jealousy, betrayal & hope.
Captions & Audio Description included.
#DerbyTheatre, 10–11 Jan 2025.
🎟️- bit.ly/40h9tbu
Set on a struggling council estate, Tracy Young’s powerful translation explores jealousy, betrayal & hope.
Captions & Audio Description included.
#DerbyTheatre, 10–11 Jan 2025.
🎟️- bit.ly/40h9tbu
January 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
So... the Fri night show has sold out, Sat afternoon is almost sold out, and Sat night has pretty good availability. Book soon, my friends - don't want you to miss it! xx
This afternoon, BBC Radio's Ben Jackson interviewed me about 1623 and our new show The Winter's Tale, which plays Derby Theatre soon. Here is our chat, which starts about 12 mins into the programme. I am working on a transcript.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
1/2
Ben Jackson on BBC Radio Derby - 02/01/2025 - BBC Sounds
The latest news, great music and inspirational people to take you through the afternoon.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 3, 2025 at 12:23 AM
This afternoon, BBC Radio's Ben Jackson interviewed me about 1623 and our new show The Winter's Tale, which plays Derby Theatre soon. Here is our chat, which starts about 12 mins into the programme. I am working on a transcript.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
1/2
Tonight's EastEnders was written by my pal Kev. So proud of him. X
January 1, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Tonight's EastEnders was written by my pal Kev. So proud of him. X
Huge love. Always. X
January 1, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Huge love. Always. X
Lots to be grateful for this year, including these highlights:
🙏🏼 working with Jenny Sealey on Romeo and Juliet for Graeae at Shakespeare North
🙏🏼 teaching Shakespeare and contemporary practice at Northants University
🙏🏼 co-directing Winter's Tale with Sophie Stone for 1623 and Play On Shakespeare
🙏🏼 working with Jenny Sealey on Romeo and Juliet for Graeae at Shakespeare North
🙏🏼 teaching Shakespeare and contemporary practice at Northants University
🙏🏼 co-directing Winter's Tale with Sophie Stone for 1623 and Play On Shakespeare
December 28, 2024 at 11:28 PM
Lots to be grateful for this year, including these highlights:
🙏🏼 working with Jenny Sealey on Romeo and Juliet for Graeae at Shakespeare North
🙏🏼 teaching Shakespeare and contemporary practice at Northants University
🙏🏼 co-directing Winter's Tale with Sophie Stone for 1623 and Play On Shakespeare
🙏🏼 working with Jenny Sealey on Romeo and Juliet for Graeae at Shakespeare North
🙏🏼 teaching Shakespeare and contemporary practice at Northants University
🙏🏼 co-directing Winter's Tale with Sophie Stone for 1623 and Play On Shakespeare
Reposted by Ben Spiller - they / them
Merry Christmas! With love from everyone at 1623. 💖✨️
December 25, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Merry Christmas! With love from everyone at 1623. 💖✨️
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart, while wearing a red and white jester hat with bells. 💖✨️
December 25, 2024 at 2:05 PM
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart, while wearing a red and white jester hat with bells. 💖✨️
Just finished reading Lemn Sissay's My Name Is Why - painful yet full of hope, this deeply moving memoir speaks truth to power from a place of total integrity. Stunning work.
December 21, 2024 at 11:30 PM
Just finished reading Lemn Sissay's My Name Is Why - painful yet full of hope, this deeply moving memoir speaks truth to power from a place of total integrity. Stunning work.
I watched a film called Wicked today and - much to my surprise - really enjoyed it. Funny, moving and ultimately exhilarating. Strong political messages too. Loved it. #Popular #DefyingGravity #NooneMournsTheWicked 💚🩷
December 18, 2024 at 9:43 PM
I watched a film called Wicked today and - much to my surprise - really enjoyed it. Funny, moving and ultimately exhilarating. Strong political messages too. Loved it. #Popular #DefyingGravity #NooneMournsTheWicked 💚🩷
Calling all theatre reviewers in the Midlands......
Would you like a couple of tickets for 1623 theatre company's The Winter's Tale in Leicester or Derby this season?
We would love to welcome you to the show and discover what you thought and felt about it in your review.
1/2
Would you like a couple of tickets for 1623 theatre company's The Winter's Tale in Leicester or Derby this season?
We would love to welcome you to the show and discover what you thought and felt about it in your review.
1/2
December 1, 2024 at 8:09 PM
Calling all theatre reviewers in the Midlands......
Would you like a couple of tickets for 1623 theatre company's The Winter's Tale in Leicester or Derby this season?
We would love to welcome you to the show and discover what you thought and felt about it in your review.
1/2
Would you like a couple of tickets for 1623 theatre company's The Winter's Tale in Leicester or Derby this season?
We would love to welcome you to the show and discover what you thought and felt about it in your review.
1/2
