With our first birthday mere days away, we put Gutted masterminds Liz Richardson and Tara Robinson in the spotlight to see what makes them tick…
Liz Richardson
What’s your earliest memory of the theatre?
LR: “’Theatre’ of sorts: A pantomime in the village hall put on by my local Am dram crew. I remember having strong urges to get up and do a better job of the dame.”
If you were stranded on a desert island, what one book/piece of music would you take?
TR: Mark Knopfler’s soundtrack to Local Hero. It says wilderness, awe, rock and family car journeys
Which living actor/director/artist do you most admire?
LR: Bit of a Mike Leigh fan… and a fan of his ex-wife, Ms Steadman, too. Pretty talented duo with or without each other.
What has been your most difficult achievement?
TR: Coming to terms with the reality that not everyone in every audience will like everything I make.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
LR: The Voice. I get far too into it even though it’s more predictable than it being transferred to ITV.
Who would you most like to buy a pie and a pint?
LR: Rob Brydon- if he could just do his ‘small man trapped in a box’ whilst he ate his pie and pint, then that would make me immeasurably happy. Less so if he did his P&O Ferry advert audition.
If you had 24 hours and no travel restrictions, where would you go and what would you do?
TR: Assuming the travel is quick, I’d get myself to where the tigers are. The wild tigers. And I’d stare at them then get too close so I can feel what it’s like to be prey.
What are you most proud of?
TR: Writing a kickass internet dating profile. My fella is an ice lolly on a hot day. And this show. It’s a product of a generous and rich collaboration between me and Liz, so much so that the show just wouldn’t exist without one of us. We’ve nurtured each other’s creativity, and have created something special. That kind of partnership is rare.
Tara Robinson
Tell us something we don’t know about you…
LR: A once got fired from a temp receptionist job on the first day, within the first half hour, when I told the CEO of the company on the phone that he’d got the wrong number…
Where are you most likely to be?
TR: Outside. Which is odd because I spend quite a bit of time in dark theatres. I bought a little outdoor table and chairs for our balcony last year though, so if I’m having a writing day I’ll sit out there in a fleece with the cat nearby.
Gutted runs alongside Late Night Love between Thu 19 – Sat 21 May as part of our birthday theatre double bill. To find out more and book tickets, head here.
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