Backstage

Ahhhh... crazy good times... We look back on 2020 and the stuff we did (and didn't) do, punctuated by show tunes where appropriate. And we provide a sniff of what we'll up to in 2021. Episode 45, done.

Our first Christmas episode! We cover Christmassy stuff, including shows that may or may not be Christmas themed... and our #MusicaloftheWeek is Elf! Bring it on!

Talk about a talk-fest! Mike was busy, so Mel invited her bestie, Jacinta Parsons, to co-host this week. They've done a lot together and there's more to come! And by the way... the #MusicaloftheWeek is the one and only Les Miserables!

Come on up to the lab... and see what's on the slab... We celebrate The Rocky Horror Show as our #MusicaloftheWeek in this week's episode. Special guest Kristian Lavercombe joins us to talk about his life as Riff Raff, and the show's creator Richard O'Brien is in the #WritersRoom. Songs are from the original 1973 London cast recording.

Everyone's favourite red-haired orphan features for our #MusicaloftheWeek... Annie! We also talk about the ongoing impact of Broadway being dark, plus our playwright in the Writers Room is Arthur Meek.

B-A-C-K-S-T-A-G-E has The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as our #MusicaloftheWeek, and we look at the pros and cons of staging a Harry Potter stiry set 25 years after the last adventure. In the Writers Room is the remarkable Michelanne Forster.

Defining the Jukebox Musical... you'll be amazed how many there are around too! Benny Marama joins us in The Writers Room, and our #MusicaloftheWeek is the challenging drama Next To Normal.

Created by Free FM, Hamilton, New Zealand

Find out why we owe a lot to Commedia dell'arte, 400 years later. Our featured playwright in the Writers Room is Eli Kent and our #MusicaloftheWeek is the often overlooked Godspell – more of a hit than you may realise!

Mike faces a 50-question quiz to see if he really is qualified to be a theatre nerd... (Mel got 88%)... our playwright in the Writers Room is Jess Sayer... and our #MusicaloftheWeek is Wicked!