Nirjay Mahindru is joined by Che Walker.
Che Walker studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and has worked with Edward Bond, Philip Ridley, Mark Ravenhill, Stellan Skarsgaard, Chris Penn and Robert David Mc Donald.
His first play BEEN SO LONG premiered at the Royal Court theatre in 1998, starring Sophie Okonedo, and was runner-up for The John Whiting Award and the Meyer-Whitworth Award, and has subsequently been translated and produced worldwide.
FLESHWOUND premiered at the Royal Court in 2003 and won the George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright, and The Arts Council Young Writer of the Future Award.
CRAZY LOVE was produced by Paines Plough theatre company ('a brilliant piece of dramatic poetry- the scotsman" 'brilliantly buzzy..poignant'- the guardian) and, along with it's sister piece, BURNT-UP LOVE, won the Mark Marvin Peter Brook Award.
In 2008, his play THE FRONTLINE made English Theatre history ,becoming the first contemporary-set new play to perform at Shakespeare's Globe theatre since MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. An enormous critical success, THE FRONTLINE was revived in 2009.
His musical adaptation of his first play 'Been So Long' - a collaboration with composer Arthur Darvill, premiered at The Young Vic Theatre in 2009, before playing The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, and Latitude Rock Festival. 'Been So Long' was nominated for the Evening Standard Best Musical Award. Walker's former student, Naana Agyei-Ampadu was also nominated for Best Newcomer for her role as Yvonne in 'Been So Long'.
He has received commissions from Regent's Park Theatre, English Touring Theatre amongst others. As he teacher, Che has taught acting at RADA, Arts Ed, E15, and has taught at Central, Oxford, Identity Drama School, and was Head of Drama for the Weekend Arts College for over ten years. This interview was recorded in June 2020 during the period of the lockdown.