Have you ever thought about stepping out of your comfort zone?

When Rachael Hawnt auditioned for a ITV show with zero expectations, she discovered a love for music she'd not had before. It was a leap into the unknown after months of lockdown - turns out, it was just what she needed!

Fast forward to 2026 and Rachael, winner of ITV’s Starstruck, is now taking on an international tour and celebrating every decade of Cher’s incredible career. Prepare to be dazzled by disco hits and party to pop chart-toppers as Rachael’s incredible talent shines through and makes you ‘Believe’.

What’s your comfort zone? Maybe it’s time to step out and try something new! Listen to Rachael chat about her journey, here!

🎟️ Tickets are onsale for the entire tour, including Demontfort Hall in Leicester on 18 April 2026, now.

#MusicJourney #LivePerformance #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #StepOut

Steve Steinman shares his unexpected journey from working in a restaurant to performing on stage, surrounded by the legends of rock. Who knew that a simple love for singing, and an appearance as Meat Loaf on Stars in their Eyes, could lead to a top 20 album alongside Taylor Swift and Robbie Williams?

🎶 From childhood memories of Elvis to collaborating with incredible musicians such as Toyah Wilcox and pianist Mark Alexander (who played with Meat Loaf), Steve is proud to bringing the 50th anniversary concert of "Bat Out of Hell" to Derby's Vaillant Live in November 2027. Tickets are onsale via Ticketmaster, now.

In this episode, Joseph Toonga of Just Us Dance Theatre chats about creating the UK’s first paid hip hop dance apprenticeship, offering five emerging artists the opportunity to train, create and earn simultaneously. Designed as an alternative to traditional pathways like university, the program supports young dancers who may feel excluded by conventional routes into the industry.

Drawing on experience working with major dance companies worldwide, the initiative’s founder identified a critical gap in support for hip hop artists—particularly when it comes to financial sustainability. This apprenticeship aims to remove those barriers, enabling creativity to thrive without economic pressure.

With an overwhelmingly positive response from the dance community, Just Us Dance Theatre is leading the conversation around accessibility and inclusion in the arts for dancers and choreographers. As they prepare to open their UK tour at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham next month (April 2026), the episode explores how alternative career pathways like this can empower the next generation of dancers and reshape the future of hip hop. Joseph also talks about a Q&A event and a rare opportunity to see a tech rehearsal.

Listeners are invited to reflect on how the dance industry can become more accessible and to support emerging talent through innovative programs like this one.

🎟️ Tickets can be purchased from Lakeside Arts

Kirsty Corbett spoke with Harry Kingscott, the Young Artist & Participant Producer at Derby Theatre about being the host of the Connections Festival in the East Midlands, for the National Theatre. Kirsty was also able to catch up with Derby Theatre Youth Theatre cast member Evie (aged 15) from Chellaston about her role as “Cherry” in their upcoming Connections production of “Sycamore Gap”. She was also able to chat with two of Derby Theatre’s young Ambassadors – Hope (aged 17) from Stockbrook and Georgina (18) from Burton – who are working on both marketing and backstage for this year’s festival running from 23 – 26 April 2026.

The National Theatre’s Connections festival is a nationwide youth theatre programme for ages 13–19 (up to 26 for additional needs), involving 250+ companies and 6,000+ young people across the UK every year. Participants perform new plays by leading writers, progressing from local shows to regional partner theatres, with selected groups reaching the Summer Festival finale. At Derby Theatre performers will include Inspire Coventry College, Burton & South Derbyshire College, Sydney Stringer Academy, Flying High and Allestree Woodlands as well as Derby Theatre’s youth theatre performing “Sycamore Gap.”

🎟️ Tickets for all of the performances, as well as the workshops, are available from the Derby Theatre website.

Q The Music’s James Bond Themed Concert Spectacular is coming to the Midlands.

Kirsty Corbett spoke with the creator of Q The Music, and professional trumpet player, Warren Ringham about the upcoming concerts. He talks about his lifelong love of Bond, choosing the right pieces of music for the concert & what it’s like having Caroline Bliss on his contacts list in his phone.

Compered by Miss Moneypenny, Caroline Bliss guides the audience through the world-famous scores - sharing fascinating snippets from her Bond experience and anecdotes of the Timothy Dalton era. Fans of the 007 franchise can experience the magic live, with performances scheduled at Vaillant Live in Derby on Sunday 22 March 2026, and the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry on Friday 27 March 2026.

This episode is a must-listen for Bond enthusiasts, film score lovers, and anyone interested in the artistry behind one of cinema’s most iconic soundtracks.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now and can be bought from venues or directly from James Bond Concert Spectacular

Ever had an idea you thought was crazy? Here’s how a simple chat turned into a global sensation! 🎤✨

The journey of "The Choir of Man" started with a casual conversation in a pub. Just two guys, a beer garden and a wild idea about men singing together - who knew it would evolve into a powerful statement about male friendship and mental health?

They’ve been touring the world and the reception has been incredible! From pubs to stages, this unique show is breaking down barriers and encouraging men to talk openly about their feelings.

You're now invited to join them in the Jungle, as it begins its UK tour, in celebrating community and the joy of singing together! 🎶

What does your community mean to you? Let’s keep the conversation going!

👉 Link in bio to catch the full story and details on our tour, including Nottingham Theatre Royal from 9 - 13 June 2026.

Celine McKeown joins Kirsty on the Arts & Toast podcast to share behind-the-scenes insight into the powerful musical inspired by the events of September 11 attacks and explains how the amateur-dramatic group is preparing to bring the moving story of compassion and community to the stage in Nottingham. She also talks about a special community project marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which aims to collect and preserve personal stories from people across the East Midlands who were affected by the tragedy. Tune in to hear how local theatre, history and community storytelling come together in this inspiring conversation -and find out how you can get involved and support this meaningful production. Tickets are onsale for the upcoming production of Come From Away by Carlton Operatic Society (26 - 30 May 2026) and can be purchased Nottingham Theatre Royal website.

Fabric Dance is fast becoming the Midlands' leading organisations for championing Dance. Formed in 2022 through the merger of DanceXchange (Birmingham) and Dance4 (Nottingham), FABRIC Dance is dedicated to supporting dance artists, choreographers and young performers across the UK.

We also explore APPLAUSE Youth Dance Festival, FABRIC Dance’s inspiring annual festival celebrating young dancers aged 11–24 from all genres, styles and backgrounds. For the first time, the festival is coming to Nottingham’s Concert Hall on 11–12 April, bringing together rising dance talent for an unforgettable showcase of creativity, passion and performance. Have a listen to discover how FABRIC Dance is supporting the next generation of UK dance artists, what audiences can expect from the APPLAUSE Dance Festival being held in the East Midlands.

🎟️ Ticket details

Kirsty spoke with Nottingham based Isaac Neilson about his campaign to play a gig a day throughout 2026 to highlight the lack of support within the UK music industry for grassroot musicians, all being documented via his Instagram account.

In this podcast, the East Midlands based singer-songwriter shares honest insights into the realities of the UK independent music scene, from playing small pub venues to festival stages like Y Not Festival. This year Isaac is documenting his journey, exploring the barriers many emerging artists face when trying to build a career without industry backing or connections. If you’re interested in independent music, singer-songwriters, live gigs and the behind-the-scenes reality of becoming a musician in the UK, then this interview will be right up your street! Oh, and Kazoo knowledge is also shared. Enjoy!

🔗 Isaac Neilson on Instagram

In this special episode of Arts & Toast, Derbyshire-born songwriter and performer John Tams, the “Songmaker” behind the acclaimed stage production War Horse, shares the story behind the music that helped bring the show to life. This is a rare and personal conversation about storytelling, music, and the lasting impact of war.

You may recognise John Tams from the hit TV series Sharpe, starring alongside Sean Bean, but his greatest passion has always been music. In this fascinating conversation, John recalls the unexpected moment when celebrated author Michael Morpurgo first asked him to help develop a "project" during a casual dinner in a Derbyshire pub. John reflects on how music helps communicate emotion, deepen storytelling and connect audiences to the themes at the heart of War Horse including the human impact of war and conflict both past and present. The episode also features a spontaneous and moving recital from John himself, offering listeners a rare chance to experience his music in an intimate setting - you will not hear this anywhere else but here, on Arts & Toast.

For fans of theatre, folk music, storytelling and the creative process behind major stage productions, this is a unique conversation you won’t hear anywhere else.

👉 Follow Arts & Toast on Instagram

🔗 War Horse on stage

🔗 John Tams