Ruff Radio

Hannah Bonam-Young catapulted onto the literary romance scene with Out on a Limb , a love story between two physically disabled leads that challenges stereotypes and expands representation in the genre. Join Ruff Leadership Collective member Patricia Allison as she sits down with Hannah to discuss disability representation across her novels, why authentic representation matters, and the importance of reimagining + beyond!

Join Leadership Collective member Christine Horne as she sits down with historian and author Susan Dwyer Amussen to talk about her newest book, What’s in a Name?: How Historians Know Shakespeare Was Shakespeare . This episode is a wonderful dive into the world Shakespeare was raised in, exploring the people, places, and circumstances that shaped the man behind the legend we know today!

Join Ruff Collective Member Nathaniel Hanula-James as they sit down with the As You Like It Arden Fourth Series editor Tom Bishop to talk about editing the edition, what to expect from the Fourth Series, and all things Shakespeare. Tom is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Auckland. Pastoral By Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho) runs in Withrow Park August 18th - 30th, 2026. Find out more at shakespeareintheruff.com

Playwright Jeff Ho joins actors Jeff Yung and Norman Yeung for a post-rehearsal conversation about representation in Shakespeare and the upcoming production of Pastoral . Together, they reflect on their experiences, the importance of representation on stage, and the creative process behind Pastoral , written by Jeff Ho and starring Jeff Yung and Norman Yeung.

In this episode, Christine Horne from the Ruff Leadership Collective sits down with author Meredith Hambrock to chat about the inspiration and creation of her latest novel, She’s A Lamb! Spoiler alert: Christine is obsessed with it. Listen to this episode and then run to get a copy! We encourage you to search for it at your local book store and library or find it as an audiobook. This is the first episode of our season and we could not have asked for a better guest! Meredith is generous and open about the highs and lows of creating art in 2026. Listen in.

In this episodes, Patricia Allison from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership Collective joins Shaharah "Gaz" Gaznabbi in Ruff Radios first ever crossover epsiode. We sit down to talk about disability, creation, Shakespearian-Inspiration, and, of course, Tiff'ny of Athens. You can find find Cheers! The ORDA Podcast here.

In this episode, Christine Horne from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership sits down with Christopher Manousos of House + Body and Crow's Theatre to talk about different approaches to adapting classical works and how he navigates the rehearsal hall.

In this episode, Nathaniel Hanula-James and Christine Horne sit down with the brilliant and enchanting Will Wilhelm to discuss their upcoming tour of Gender Play . Dive into a conversation about Shakespeare, self-discovery, and how the mystical world of tarot helped shape this bold and personal piece. Catch Gender Play next at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival!

🎧 In this episode, Ruff Collective Leadership Member Patricia Allison sits down with WTFestival directors Alicia DiStefano and Byron Laviolette for a lively and thoughtful conversation about building creative community. Together, they dive into the origins of WTFestival, what it means to create space for ‘strange makers,’ and how fostering artistic risk and vulnerability leads to deeper connection and innovation. Whether you're an artist, a theatre lover, or someone curious about the magic that happens when bold voices come together, this one's for you. #BetterTogether Tune in

We are thrilled to have you here for our third season of the podcast. For those who are new, Ruff Radio is our auxiliary audio series where we dive deep into the themes, characters, and questions surrounding our annual production. This season, we're exploring Timon of Athens — and while it may be one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known works, we promise you: it’s the perfect play to be staging in 2025. It's sharp, complex, unexpectedly timely..and you know we aren't just going to do the original. Today’s episode is especially exciting. We are absolutely thrilled to be joined by Australian director Margaret Thanos , who co-adapted the acclaimed production I Hate People; or Timon of Athens with Sport for Jove artistic director Damien Ryan. It premiered in 2024 but is getting a remount in Sydney this June. Let’s get into it.

A final episode of Ruff Radio for you as we flip the calendar year from 24 to 25. Cozy up with this brilliant episode hosted by Ruff leadership collective member Nathaniel Hanula-James in conversation with the wondrous Will Tosh. Listen in and then go grab your copy of Straight Acting: The Hidden Queer Lives of William Shakespeare. 10/10 Recommend.

In this episode, Patricia Allison from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership Collective sits down with author, scholar, and poet Darren Freebury-Jones for a delightful conversation about attribution and his latest book Shakespeare's Borrwed Feathers. Listen in! You can grab your own copy of Shakespeare's Borrowed Feathers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Shakespeares-borrowed-feathers-playwrights-greatest/dp/1526177323 Or directly from the publisher, Manchester University Press: https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526177322/

In this episode, Christine Horne from the Leadership Collective sits down with author Peter Darbyshire to chat about his trilogy The Book of Cross and in particular, the second book in the series The Dead Hamlets. Listen in!

On this episode, Shakespeare in the Ruffs newest collective member Nathaniel Hanula-James sits down with author Rod Carley to chat about his career in story telling and education but, most importantly, his newest novel Ruff which was just published with Latitude 46 publishing. Find it here: https://store.latitude46publishing.com/products/ruff

In this episode, Patricia from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership Collective sits down with Young Ruffian Apprenticeship Coordinator Nicola Atkinson to chat about devising theatre. Join us on August 23rd & 24th live in Withrow Park for the YRAP pre-show presentation at 7pm before our main stage presentation of The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers.

In this episode, Ruff collective member Patricia Allison sits down with Professor, historian, and Ruff Board member Marlis Schweitzer. They talk through her career, her perspective of being on the Ruff board, and her brilliant podcast series Shaking Up Shakespeare . Listen in!

In this episode, Christine Horne from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership sits down to chat with Artistic Director of Shakespeare in the ruins Rodrigo Beilfuss. Listen in on this episode to learn more about Rodrigo's inspired career journey and get an inside look at SIR 2024 season.

In this episode Patricia Allison from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership Collective sits down with the wonderous Performer, Educator, and Entrepreneur Ming Bo Lam to chat about cultivating a passion for movement and sharing that joy with the world. Ming Bo is facilitating our upcoming Playground Intensive "Movement for Actors" which will take place on May 13 - 15th. Listen in!

In this episode, Christine Horne from the Shakespeare in the Ruff Leadership Collective sits down with renowned author Farah Karim-Cooper to discuss her highly acclaimed book The Great White Bard: How To Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race. Listen in!

In this episode, Christine Horne sits down with actor and educator Chick Reid to talk about her career and the upcoming Ruff's Winter Tale project Old Miranda .