Brewing Actors Podcast

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My guest today is actress Ruthie Henshall. Ruthie’s multi-award winning career has seen her star in the most popular musicals of the past thirty years including Cats, Miss Saigon, Crazy For You, She Loves Me, Oliver!, A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, Billy Elliot and Chicago. She has also enjoyed tremendous success in plays, in concert and on television. Ruthie recently returned to Chicago play Mama Morton in the West End, making her the only British actress to have played all three leading female roles in the show.  Ruthie’s appearance in Crazy For You at the Prince Edward Theatre established her as one of the most popular stars in the West End. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance and took the show to Canada where she played opposite Mickey Rooney. In 1994, Ruthie starred in She Loves Me at the Savoy Theatre, winning her first Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

I had the privilege of working alongside Ruthie this year in Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s Passion which ran for a limited season at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. 

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Originally from Burry Port in South Wales, John has released 6 studio albums, worked extensively in theatre and has appeared on television, radio and in concert all over the world.

At the age of 19, John left Wales to study acting at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Since then he has worked as an actor and singer in theatres all over the country in a great number of different shows. However, he is probably best known for his acclaimed record-breaking performances in Boublil and Schonberg’s Les Miserables and in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. He remains the youngest actor in history to have played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables (a role he also played twice on Broadway), was voted the “Best Ever Valjean” and “Best Ever Performer in Les Miserables" by fans of the show worldwide and can be heard as Valjean on the Les Miserables Live! album. His re-interpretation of the character on the re-imagined 25th anniversary production earned him a Manchester Evening News Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2010. He has played The Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera nearly 2000 times (more than any actor in the show’s West End history) and was a special guest in the finales for both the Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera 25th anniversary concert events – both seen by a global audience of millions. He has also appeared many times on television and radio in the UK both as an actor and as himself, has recorded voiceovers and audiobooks, presented radio shows and live events, has directed and produced live events and has performed solo concerts all over the world in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, London, Carnegie Hall, New York and the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. He has released 6 solo albums and two compilation albums -which he also produced - through record labels Sain Music, Sony Music Japan and his own label JOJ Music: Hallelujah e.p (2006), John Owen-Jones (2009), Unmasked (2011), Rise (2015), Music of the Night (Japan-only compilation 2016), Bring Him Home (compilation 2017), Spotlight (2019) featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and most recently The Christmas Album (2021). 2022 will see him launch a theatre based podcast called The Last Show On Earth.

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Charlotte is a stage director and dramaturg specialising in political theatre and new writing, with an emphasis on the development of British musicals. 

She is currently developing a contemporary political musical with writers Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth, a state of the nation drama by Owen McCafferty and a one woman musical satire with Richard Hough and Ben Morales Frost for the Barn Theatre, Cirencester. 

After graduating with first-class honours for Drama at the University of Manchester and training at Augusto Boal’s Centre of the Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro, Charlotte’s career started at the Donmar Warehouse, where she was the Resident Assistant Director between 2004-2005. For the Donmar, she directed Kiss of the Spider Woman and Lower Ninth (for Donmar @ Trafalgar Studios). Charlotte was also associate director on Frost/Nixon to Michael Grandage and Piaf to Jamie Lloyd for both the Donmar West End transfers at the Gielgud and Vaudeville respectively.

Charlotte has been recognised for numerous awards, including a 2006 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre as associate director to Nicolas Kent for Bloody Sunday – Scenes from the Savile Inquiry. She received a nomination for a 2006 Whatsonstage Theatregoers Choice Award for Gladiator Games; the same play was part of a season at Stratford East, which was nominated for the 2007 Olivier Award for outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. Waiting for Lefty was a finalist for 2003 James Menzies Kitchin Award for Young Directors (BAC). 

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Adam Robert Lewis sits down (virtually) with acting coach, John Osborne Hughes

John began training as an actor on the Hampshire County Specialist Speech and Drama Course. He then trained for three years at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts known as (ALRA) in London . Following his training John then went on to do a further two years as a stage director, with teacher Sam Kogan, in association with The Moscow Institute of Theatre Arts. Through John's thirst for a deeper understanding of the laws of acting and grounded by his background in the System of Stanislavski, he began an in-depth study of the laws of Psychology and Human Zoology and endeavoured to explore their application within the context of the art of acting.

The system that evolved was then further enriched by the study of Mythology and Philosophy, this proved to be the master key in helping the actor to develop charisma and stage presence and it was at this point thatThe Spiritual Psychology of Actingwas born.

John has taught extensively in London, Berlin, New York and Los Angeles, as well as presenting courses online to theatre and film professionals from all over the world.

John's technique begins with the assumption that to build a character, you must first fully understand your self. Only in doing so can you begin to examine a character outside yourself, because you'll be free of the internal baggage that hampers your creativity, imagination, and empathy.  John’s approach to acting is considered by many to be the cutting edge of actor training available in the world today.

Want to find out more? Click  the link below to find out about the introduction Seminar to the 'Spiritual Psychology of Acting' . Tuesday 1st February 2022 (6.30 – 9pm BST). £25

Find out more

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Adam Robert Lewis sits down (virtually) with Scottish actor, Cameron Jack.

Born in Patrick, Glasgow. Cameron's earliest experiences of acting was watching films with his father and experience that cemented his ambition to pursue acting.  In 1992 he received the Margaret Rutherford Scholarship to study at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. 

Graduating in 1995, he set out on an eclectic career, appearing in everything from West End musicals to Independent British films and Hollywood blockbusters. In 2011, he was cast in his first feature film role in the final part of Christopher Nolan's  Batman trilogy, 'The Dark Knight Rises'. Since then Cameron has gone on to appear in such films as the UK Thriller 'Level Up' and the acclaimed Sci Fi thriller 'What Happened To Monday' with Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close and Willem Dafoe. In 2016 he appeared in the feature films 'iBoy', 'Death Race: Beyond Anarchy', 'Perfect Skin' and 'Calibre' in which he appeared as Frank McClay. The film was a huge international hit and won the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best British Film in 2018 at The Edinburgh International Film Festival. 

Cameron has described himself as ' Rent a Thug' and has gone on to showcase his talents as THE classic British villain. 

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Adam Robert Lewis sits down, virtually, with director Sara Sugarman.

Sara, born in Rhyl, began her career as an actress making her television debut aged just 14 as ’Jessica Samuels’ in the BBC teen-drama ‘Grange Hill’.

Sara moved away from her acting career in the 1990s and decided to further a career behind the scenes, directing.

Sara gained praise behind the camera with a number of award-winning short films. Some of Sara’s early directorial pieces took place on location in the Garw Valley, where I grew up and consider home. 

Sara’s 1996 film ‘Valley Girls’, starring Gemma Jones and Wendy Phillips especially resonated with me. Wendy, affectionately known as Mrs Mop due to her previous job as our school cleaner, inspired me to go after my dream of acting. Sara and her faith in Wendy’s talent indicated that the dream was indeed possible.

Sara returned to the Garw Valley in 2001 to film cult-classic ‘Very Annie Mary’, a musical-comedy written and directed by Sara, starring Rachel Griffiths and Jonathan Pryce. I have fond memories of this proudly Welsh film and coincidentally consider it as my first acting job albeit as a very young extra amongst the crowds!

Sara soon moved from the Welsh valleys to the Silver Screen of Hollywood, where she directed motion pictures with Disney including teen-flick ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen’, starring Lindsey Lohan, Adam Garcia and Megan Fox.

Sara’s most recent project “Saving the Cinema’ for Sky Movies, follows the story of Liz Evans and her campaign to save the local Lyric Cinema, starring Samantha Morton, Tom Felton and Jonathon Pryce.

This interview held an extra ‘special something’ for me, almost a feeling of things coming full circle. Being able to discuss how my passion for acting began because of Sara and her work was truly an honour.

And so with every story, we must start at the beginning…

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My guest today is Actor and Singer Rodney Vubya! 

Originally from Uganda, Rodney’s path to the stage is one I can relate to. Rodney initially started a degree in Classics at Leeds University. While studying, he immersed himself in the Stage and Musical Society in his second semester and from there he caught the bug! 

Rodney took a huge gamble and decided to pursue Musical Theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Since graduating, his hard work and determination has landed him some incredible productions; from Book of Mormon, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Evita and most recently Street Scene with Opera North, UK Tour! 

Rodney talks openly about his experiences and how he’s worked on his acting & work principles to further his career...

So, like any story we have to start at the beginning...

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Adam Robert Lewis sits down (virtually) with Sir Simon Russell Beale. 

Simon has been hailed "the greatest stage actor of his generation” and one of Britain's leading Shakespearen actors. 

Simon began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). He's worked his way through many of the major roles in Shakespeare’s canon and can adapt effortlessly between the bard modern works.  

Although Simon is best known for his theatre work, Simon is one of the country’s most versatile actors bringing his talents to the big screen in ‘Deep Blue Sea’, ‘My Week with Marilyn’ and ‘The Death of Stalin’ in which he won the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Simon has had a long and successful working partnership with director Mendes. Across twenty years and eight productions, their collaboration delivers exceptional work on stage. Most recently Simon performed in Sam Mendes' critically acclaimed production of ‘The Lehman Trilogy’. Simon was due to perform on Broadway in a long run of the production when theatres were closed due to the pandemic. 

We discuss Simon’s incredible career, what introduced him to acting and how his roles have defined his life. 

So, like with any story we have to start at the beginning...

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Adam Robert Lewis sits down (virtually) with Scottish actor and singer, Scott Davies. 

Born in Glasgow, Scott trained in Opera at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Scott has worked in both Opera and Musical Theatre, performing in Carmen, Rigoletto, Tosca, Cats, Carousel, Brigadoon and Phantom of the Opera. 

Scott Davies has been playing the Phantom for over 25 years now. Few actors are so deeply connected as Scott Davies is with The Phantom of the Opera. From joining the show as a swing back in 1991, Scott has risen through the ranks and is now a firm fan favourite Phantom among many!

 For those who have been lucky to watch his performance he's performed the immortal word's "Music of the Night" over 2,000 times...

Up until the closure of the West End theatre's Scott was the standby phantom at Her Majesty’s Theatre a position he's held for more than 10 years. 

Music of the Night extract copyright of The Really Useful Group.

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Brewing Actors Podcast returns with Series 2! In Episode 1, Adam Robert Lewis sits with Brian Cox; Olivier, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner! Brian has gained huge success on both sides of the Atlantic. One of Britain’s most admired actors working in film, television and stage today! Originally from Dundee, Scotland, Brian’s acting career began at the age of 14 with Dundee Rep. Since his early years of treading the boards in Rep up and down Britain, Brian has become an acting giant. Brian has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of Titus Andronicus in Deborah Warner's critically acclaimed production. 

It would be Cox’s Olivier Award winning performance as Detective Nelson in the Royal Court’s production of ‘Rat in the Skull’ that projected Cox’s career onto the silver screen. 

Cox has garnered a huge success with blockbuster hits ‘Manhunter’, ‘Braveheart’, ‘Rob Roy’, ‘The Bourne Series’, ‘X Men’ and has recently returned to television with his award winning performance as Logan Roy in HBO’s series ‘Succession’. 

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