Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This episode tips its hat to the dramatic and the delightfully ridiculous—from lost boys and duels at dawn to Shakespearean skulls and Victorian umbrella stands.
We kick things off with Stump the Room, where we dare you to unravel a set of stage-worthy questions spanning Hook, Hamilton, and Hamlet. From blink-and-you-miss-it cameos to the real-life rulebook behind duels, this quiz blends pop culture with classical flair. Play along and see if you can outsmart your friends.
Then it’s curtain up on a very special guest: Giles Terera—Olivier Award-winning star of ‘Hamilton’ and soon-to-be ‘Hamlet’ at Chichester Festival Theatre. From Neverland to revolutionary New York to the haunted halls of Elsinore, Giles shares the unexpected turns, profound challenges, and artistic awakenings that have shaped his extraordinary journey on stage.
Next, our Parish Notices take a literary turn as assistant producer Adam hits the streets to ask: “what’s your favourite book?” The responses lead us into a sneak peek of our brand-new Big Smoke Book Club. First pick? ‘Queer as Folklore’ by the endlessly insightful Sacha Coward. Fancy reading along with us? You can find out more info and join the club here!
Feeling a little under the weather? Good news—it’s time to meet our new resident doctor. Dr. Quack is in the house (or perhaps a 16th-century plague ward), offering historically accurate medical advice for your minor ailments.
And finally, it’s game time, Victorian Parlour Games returns! The Elephant’s Foot Umbrella Stand. It’s part memory game, part logic puzzle, and part descent into chaos. Bring your wits—and maybe an umbrella?
It’s thoughtful. It’s theatrical. It’s just a little bit unhinged.
Want more delightful oddities? Sign up at thebigsmokevariety.com for our fortnightly Periodical.
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Links
Read Giles’s book, ‘Hamilton and Me: An Actor's Journal’ Here!
See Giles as Hamlet at Chichester Festival Theatre
“You’re Blowing Smoke!”: Dr. Quack’s historical insights
More delightfully disturbing historical Quack-y medical facts
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:21) Stump The Room
(02:17) Giles Terera Interview
(53:12) Parish Notices
(59:14) Dr. Quack
(1:06:11) Victorian Parlour Games
(1:08:39) Stump The Room Answers
(1:11:02) Outro
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Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Dr. Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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