(screencap sources: the Creative Industries Federation and the Theatre Royal Plymouth)
Upcoming projects
Sam will narrate Walton's Henry V with the Minnesota Orchestra, 22-24 January. Mark Wigglesworth will conduct (via markwigglesworth.com).ITV has released a trailer for the third series of Mr Selfridge, which will premiere in January.
Sam will direct After Electra, a new play by April De Angelis at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, 12-28 March. The production will transfer to the Tricycle Theatre, 7 April-2 May (via his Twitter, @exitthelemming).The play is a black comedy challenging what it means to be a mother, and exploring how the choices we make can change our lives forever.
He is the Orator for Morning Heroes by Bliss, which will be performed at a BBC Symphony Orchestra concert on 15 May (via @BBCSO).
The Aurora Orchestra, Katherine Parkinson and Sam will perform Kreutzer vs Kretuzer at the Globe 12 & 13 July (via Digital Spy). Laura Wade's play has been inspired by "The Kreutzer Sonata", a short story by Tolstoy; it features full performances of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Violin Sonata and Janácek’s String Quartet of the same name.
The work premiered in November 2010, with Sam, Robin McLeavy and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Richard Tognetti arranged the Beethoven and Janácek works for the Orchestra.
In April 2016, Sam will perform David Garrick's Ode at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford (the Guardian and the University of Birmingham). The performance is part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of Shakespeare's death.
Recent work
Sam and fellow Lady Margaret Hall alumni Michelle Paver, Philip Hensher and Cathy Newman competed in a round of University Challenge last Saturday. Click here to watch the episode on iPlayer.
Britten to America has received a Grammy nomination for Best Classical Compendium (via NMC). The awards will be held 8 February.
He received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Birmingham on 10 December. He has contributed to the University's Shakespeare Institute by giving classes and donating scripts and notes from his personal archive.
[the following is a catch up for the past few months...!]
November
Sam tweeted about his costume and lighting from the set of The Hollow Crown.
Patricia Hodge, Lucy Parham and Sam performed Nocturne at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on 7 November; Lucy posted a picture of them on Twitter.
On 8 November, Simon McBurney, Tom Hollander and Sam performed in "The Listening Space", an evening of live music and spoken word. The event raised £10,000 for the St Paul's Steiner School in Islington (Eventbrite via @AntHolden and the Islington Tribune).
He tweeted the set list from his Bath Mozartfest performance on 9 November.
Sam read poems by Ian Beck at the launch of Behind the Dusty Glass. Here is a selection of tweets about the launch.
At Art Workers Guild for launch of Behind the Dusty Glass by @ianarchiebeck designed by @laurencebeck beautifully read by @exitthelemming
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@ianarchiebeck and thank you so much for lovely evening on Wednesday @exitthelemming 's reading was divine and your words are so image rich
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At the Art Workers Guild last night to hear Ian Becks wonderful poems brought to life by the actor Sam West. A triumph for the Becks
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@adelegeras The poetry book launch went well helped enormously by @exitthelemming (Sam West) wonderful readings
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Sam, director Giles Ramsay and writer Nigel West talked about "The Art of Deception" - the similarities between acting and spying - at the V&A on 21 November. Minna Takala summarised the main topics discussed - click here for her blog post about the event. Also, @lady_aglaya tweeted, "fascinating topic and enjoyable evening".
He features in a video on the Creative Industries Federation website (via @Creative_Fed). The Federation's members are from various organisations in the UK's creative industries, such as production companies, educational institutions and theatres.
He attended the 60th London Evening Standard Theatre Awards on 30 November (Getty Images). Winners included Tom Stoppard, Gillian Anderson and Jeremy Herrin.
Harry Burton shared a picture of Sam and Jason Isaacs on Twitter from a Harold Pinter celebration in September 2009.
October
Sam added his pronunciation of "potato" to Ben Crystal's accent map (via @exitthelemming); visited inmates in Pentonville Prison taking the Six Book Challenge (@exitthelemming); and attended the Dinard Film Festival (@mtvnotbullets) and opening night of Uncle Vanya at the St James Theatre.
September
(screencap source: BBC)
The Labour Arts Alliance organised a panel discussion in Manchester about the impact of the arts on children and young people (Eventbrite via @LabourArts). Panellists included Sam (representing the National Campaign for the Arts) and Jude Kelly (Artistic Director, Southbank Centre). Sam tweeted:
Top time at #Lab14: Manchester buzzing, young activists speaking out, lots of useful suggestions. Manifesto commitment to arts anticipated.
— Samuel West (@exitthelemming) September 20, 2014
On a different part of the political spectrum, Sam made a speech, "Does Culture Matter?" at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. He posted the text of his speech at the artsfunding Ning, as well as some responses to questions at the event, which was organised by the Association of British Orchestras.Sam wrote about the painting "A Dance to the Music of Time" by Nicolas Poussin for the Telegraph. The work is part of the Great Gallery in London's Wallace Collection, which reopened after a refurbishment in September.
@GrouchoLiz posted the text of an article Sam wrote about Hornblower in 1998 (via @exitthelemming).
