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Have you ever wondered about the people who make theatre magic happen night after night? The ones you never see but whose work is essential to every performance you've ever loved?

Who Makes Theatre answers those questions. This podcast pulls back the curtain on the hidden world of West End theatre, guided by Khadifa, a dresser with 20 years of backstage experience. This isn't just about costume changes and technical wizardry—it's about the extraordinary community that forms behind the scenes of your favourite shows.

For the very first episode of this podcast series, Khadifa goes full circle, talking to Michael Brown whom she first worked with on Mary Poppins and now twenty years later works with when she deps at Lion King. As the Lion King is one of the shows she currently deps on she decided to launch the podcast with a special double bill, released over two days.

This Lion King special features Michael Brown (Deputy Head of Automation) and Patience Persson (Company Manager), whose journeys reveal both the technical mastery required to mount spectacular productions and the human connections that sustain them. Michael's transition from flyman to automation spans decades of theatrical evolution, while Patience's path from ballet student to performer to company manager demonstrates how representation in theatre continues to evolve.
These conversations explore how theatre creates space for authenticity and connection while challenging lingering barriers to diversity and inclusion.

Whether you're a theatre professional, an aspiring artist, or simply curious about what happens beyond the footlights, these stories will transform how you experience your next performance. 

Special thanks to the management at the Lion King and Disney Theatrical for supporting the show. Both episodes were recorded at The Lyceum Theatre - substage and in the office.

Subscribe now to hear from those making theatre a better place, one show at a time.