Desmonda Cathabel might now be recognised as one of the country’s most talented performers – but her career started thousands of miles away in Jakarta.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she was awarded the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2022. In 2023, she was a finalist on ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream where she shot to national attention.

On stage, Desmonda played Princess Jasmine on the UK & Ireland Tour of Disney’s Aladdin, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends and she currently stars as Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Desmonda talk about sustaining a healthy voice, the challenges of being an alternate and their touring experiences. Desmonda shares her journey from Indonesia to the West End, and shares the stories behind from behind the scenes of I Have A Dream and landing her role in Hadestown.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon Lipkin is one of the West End’s most accomplished actors. Having originated roles in many of London’s biggest shows (including Avenue Q, Rock of Ages and Elf The Musical).

He can’t just sing, act and dance, he’s also an accomplished puppeteer (he was the dog in I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical, and the Lorax in The Lorax at the Old Vic) and a magician, having performed in Derren Brown’s Unbelievable in the West End in 2024.

He’s currently starring as Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s 4x Olivier Award nominated revival of Oliver!, for which Simon was nominated as Best Actor in a Musical.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Simon talk about life-changing training experiences, being nominated for an Olivier Award for Oliver!, being mentored by Cameron Mackintosh and the key to having a versatile career in both theatre and television.

They also share experiences from Avenue Q… and spill the tea on Simon’s relationship with Georgina Castle!

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a multiple Olivier Award nominated actor on Call To Stage today... and, even better, she is form one of Amber's favourite shows currently on in the West End.

Clare Foster started her professional career in Germany, as an understudy in Saturday Night Fever. Ever since then, she has shot to the top of London's theatre royalty. With roles in We Will Rock You, Avenue Q (where she received her first Olivier nomination), Crazy For You (where she received her first WhatsOnStage Award nomination), Merrily We Roll Along, Travesties and, most recently, in Consent at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Clare has performed around the world - from Boston to Bolton, and currently stars in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Clare talk about making her West End debut in We Will Rock You, the crazy ride that was Avenue Q and working on TV shows such as The Bill and Casualty. They reflect on the importance of learning from failures, and the joys of working with a reliable cast.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a highly requested guest on this weeks episode of Call To Stage!

Hibe Elchikhe graduated from Mountview and quickly made her professional stage debut in the Asia tour of Ghost, followed by her first lead role as Jasmine in the Australian tour of Aladdin.

In London, Hiba made her stage debut in Antony & Cleopatra at the National Thatre, and made her West End debut as Pritti Pasha in Everybody's Talking About Jamie. Since then, she has gone on to star in The Time Traveller's Wife and, most recently, Here & Now (the Steps musical) in Birmingham.

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Hiba talk about training at BRIT School and Mountview, her first big break in Asia and her journey to landing the role of Jasmine in Aladdin. They also touch on the impact of Everybody's Talking About Jamie and dreams of working on Broadway...

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In many ways, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the underdog musical of the year in the West End - a production which started off-West End in 2019 and fought its way to the Ambassadors Theatre thanks to its incredibly passionate fanbase. In John Dagleish, the show has found its star.

The winner of Best Actor in a Musical at the 2025 Olivier Awards (for his role as Benjamin Button), Dagleish's history in the West End is storied.

He previously won Best Actor in a Musical at the Oliviers in 2014 for his performance as Ray Davies in the original cast of Sunny Afternoon. He's also performed in the West End productions of Harlequinade and The Winters Tale. Outside of theatre, John has been in Justice League, Christopher Robin and the live action The Little Mermaid, among others.

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and John talk about the magic of bringing Benjamin Button to the stage, his synergy between being an actor and a musician, influential acting teachers, his West End debut and Olivier Award wins. He also shares his insights into the differences of performing on stage, and performing in front of the camera.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Six to Mean Girls - and even Legally Blonde along the way - Grace Mouat is one of the most exciting stars on the West End.

Having made her West End debut in Six (where she was Dance Captain, Swing and covered all six leads!), her journey has also included stints in & Juliet, the Arlene Phillips directed concert version of Hair, the iconic Legally Blonde at the Regents Park Theatre and the West End transfer of The Great British Bake Off Musical.

However, it's Grace's show-steeling performance as Karen in the West End run of Mean Girls that has her name on everybody's lips (and 'everyone' includes WhatsOnStage, who nominated her for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical).

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Grace talk about skincare struggles, her West End debut, the challenges of swinging in a new musical and her journey to Mean Girls. Plus, they talk about SVN, the realities of performing in an Open Air theatre and personal growth onstage.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: ⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If this performer has a million fans, we are one of them. If they have no fans, we are dead. We have the outstanding Jo Foster on this weeks episode of Call To Stage!

Jo is perhaps best known as the co-lead in the Marlow & Moss musical Why Am I So Single, a role for which they were nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for 'Best Performer In A Musical'. Before this, they starred in Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical at the Old Vic, & Juliet in the West End and HEX at the National Theatre.

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Jo talk about the importance of representation in theatre, overcoming hearing loss and drama school experiences. Jo also shares their Why Am I So Single journey from casting to workshops and then the West End!

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this week's episode of Call To Stage isn't just a hugely accomplished performer, but he's also one of the most loved actors by other performers!

Benjamin Yates has toured the world in Jesus Christ Superstar, toured the country in Wicked (as 1st Cover Fiyero) and has cemented himself in the West End as a cast member in iconic shows including Cats, School of Rock, Jersey Boys and, most recently, the acclaimed revival of The Wizard of Oz.

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ben talk about the challenges of covering roles, struggling with imposter syndrome and the journey of finding your place in the theatre world. Along the way, Ben also shares insights from his roles in Jersey Boys, Cats and The Wizard of Oz.

Towards the end of the episode, we also pay tribute to The Vivian and share thoughts about losing a colleague in the industry.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're so excited about the release of SIX in cinemas all across the UK this week that we thought it would make the most sense for us to be joined by the OG Catherine Parr!

Maiya Quansah-Breed made her professional debut in the award-winning musical start after graduating Guildford School of Acting (with fellow West End icon Grace Mouat). From there, she starred in Cases at the Pheonix Theatre, played Mimi in the Hope Mill Theatre production of RENT and she even played Princess Diana in the concert version of Diana The Musical at the Eventim Apollo! A Queen and a Princess?

On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Maiya talk about the journey to recovery after vocal injuries, her process to getting into Guildford and, of course, landing the role as Catherine Parr in SIX. Plus, they chat about auditions, filming the SIX pro-shot and the rise of one night only concerts.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plucked straight out of the Marlow & Moss cinematic universe, this week we're joined by the incredible Collette Guitart on Call To Stage!

Collette most recently starred in the Original West End Cast of Why Am I So Single? as the alternate lead. Before then, she was a swing and the dance captain in Six on the West End. Outside of Marlow & Moss, she was in Just For One Day at the Old Vic as well as the West End productions of & Juliet and Bat Out of Hell.

Amber and Collette chat about life after a West End show, learning on the job as a swing, her life changing contract in Bat Out Of Hell and even some unexpected onstage moments! They also talk about Collette's journey from debuting in Rise Of A Falling Star to her West End debut and her most recent experiences in Why Am I So Single and Six The Musical.

For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage

Follow Call To Stage

Instagram: @calltostagepod

TikTok: @calltostagepod

YouTube: @calltostage

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices