Before I tell you about this weeks guest, I have a couple questions for you - first, do you love theatre? I hope so or this is not the podcast for you. Second - are you free and able to get to London on April 20th? And third, do you fancy spending £35 for a night of joy, celebration, music, and theatrical fun? If yes, tickets are on sale right now for the Stalls to Stage Awards 2026, happening at London’s Lyric Theatre. I would love to have you there, get your tickets here!

My guest this week has taken the theatre world by storm on both sides of the Atlantic, and it’s not even been 2 years since he graduated. He made his Broadway debut in 2024 as Artie and understudy Joe in Sunset Boulevard, and then last year wowed audiences in London all summer as Che in Evita at The Palladium. He’s back in town this Sunday as part of an all star line up for the Love Life Charity Concert in support of One For The Boys, raising money and awareness for men’s cancer. Join me for chat with Diego Andres Rodriguez.

Hello and welcome to Stalls to Stage and the first episode of the 2026 season. Let it never be said that I don’t give the people what they want because we are starting big, we are starting with easily the most requested guest I’ve had - he’s currently walking to the underworld and back 8 times a week at the Lyric Theatre as Orpheus in Hadestown, join me for chat with Dylan Wood.

There’s a big announcement coming soon about the 2026 Stalls to Stage Awards, so be sure to follow @stallstostage on instagram so you don’t miss it!

And let me know who you want to hear me chatting with in 2026, and I’ll try my best to make it happen 🧡

Thank you for listening!

Hello! Welcome to another episode of Stalls to Stage, a home for all things theatre!

I am so excited to introduce our guest for this episode, because whilst we are blessed with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent on our UK theatre stages, I believe you’d be hard pressed to find a more captivating storyteller and vocalist than this person. He made his West End Debut almost 10 years ago now in the Original West End Production of Motown as Berry Gordy, and since then his star has only continued to rise. He appeared as Balaga in the UK Premiere Cast of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at the end of last year, was also Olivier nominated in 2024 for his time as Nicely Nicely Johnson, and right now he’s giving a performance not to be missed as Hermes in Hadestown. And this Saturday for 2 performances, he takes to the Southbank Centre stage as Lloyd Price in the musical Personality.

There are discussions of substance abuse, recovery, and mental health struggles in this episode, just to let you all know!

But please, join me for chat with the inimitable Cedric Neal.

After ep notes - Like we say, there are tickets still available for tomorrow’s show’s if you aren’t yet booked - head to the Southbank Centre website to secure yours.

Also! As you heard, Cedric is nominated in the second year of the Stalls to Stage Awards - you can vote for him, and see a full list of nominees at stallstostage.co.uk/vote

If you enjoyed this episode, please do give us a 5 star rating and go check out our earlier episodes you might have missed.

Hello! Welcome to another episode of Stalls to Stage, a home for all things theatre!

This weeks guest is Shalisha James Davis, who is currently making her West End debut in Punch, the newest offering from powerhouse writer James Graham. It tells the true story of Jacob Dunne - who as a teenager threw one punch which had fatal consequences for James Hodgkinson.

I’d like to take the chance to offer some trigger warnings for this episode as there are discussions of cancer, depression, and mental health struggles during topic of choice, and of course the discussion around the play itself does involve discussion of death.

But if you’re able to, I hope you give this episode a listen - I do think it’s one of our most important chats yet!

To add to what Shalisha was saying about the wrap around work - the producers of Punch have also committed their royalties and any producer profits

from the West End run into sharing the play with young people around the UK in the future. And on top of this, writer James Graham will be channelling all his earnings from the West End run of Punch into supporting access initiatives in the West End – particularly in paying for tickets and travel for community groups and young people from his home county of Nottinghamshire – and into the educational and social missions beyond the London run. So big up to all involved for understanding some things are more important than profit, and standing on business - love to see it. Punch is running at the Apollo Theatre until November 29th, and details of the post show talks can be found at punchtheplay.com

Also! Votes are now open for the 2026 Stalls to Stage Awards - in which Shalisha is a nominee. To see a full list of nominees and cast your votes, head to stallstostage.co.uk/vote

Until next time!

We’re back! Did you miss us? Because we missed you!

That’s right baby, after a little bit of a break, I am back to chit chat all things theatre with the lovers and makers again! This week I am joined by Grace Mouat, absolute sweetheart of the UK Theatre scene. All the fan faves of the last 5 years, she’s been in them - Six, &Juliet, Bake Off, Mean Girls - and now she’s taking on the role of Lucy in the world premiere of 13 Going On 30 at Manchester’s Opera House.

Settle in and hear about two roles that have shaped her, her first last favourite shows, her topic of choice, and of course all about the new show!

Welcome to Stalls to Stage where I sit down with the lovers and makers of theatre to talk all about it. And huge news, it’s our first girly of the year. My guest this week has played some major roles on UK stages, originating the role of Fatimah in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, took on the crown of Anne Boleyn in Six, and Elle Woods at the Regent’s park production of Legally Blonde. Right now she’s touring the country as Lauren in the Leicester Curve production of Kinky Boots. Join me for chat with Courtney Bowman.

Welcome to this weeks episode of Stalls to Stage, where I sit down with the lovers and makers of theatre to talk all about it. This week I am joined by an actor you may know better from TV than from stage, starring in Channel 4’s Humans as Max, A Discovery of Witches as Christopher Roberts, and Lockwood and Co as Inspector Barnes. But right now he is gracing the West End with what is one of the finest performances I’ve seen in a long time as Sidney Poitier in Retrograde. It’s a role he reprises after its original run at Kiln Theatre in 2023, and it’s showing now at the Apollo Theatre until June 14th. Join me for chat with Ivanno Jeremiah.

Welcome to Stalls to Stage, where I sit down with the lovers and makers of theatre to talk all about it. My guest this week has established quite a name for himself on our West End stages despite only having graduated from Guildford School of acting in 2021. His appearance as JD in the UK tour and @sohoplace run of Heathers saw him nominated for best professional debut at our inaugural awards earlier this year. Now you can see him taking on the role Paul Rudd made famous on screen - Josh in Clueless The Musical, at the Trafalgar Theatre. Join me for chat with Keelan McCauley.

My guest this week is an Irish actor whose career really does just keep climbing to new heights. Quite literally in the case of 42 Balloons. Something like 16,000ft in a lawn chair. You may know him from the Original London and West End casts of Bonnie & Clyde where he was cover for both Buck and Clyde Barrow, or perhaps you saw him last year as alternate Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, or of course as the leading role of Larry Walters in 42 Balloons. Join me for chat with Charlie McCullagh.

Welcome to Stalls to Stage, where I sit down with the lovers and makers of theatre to talk all about it.

My guest this week is an actor who has been making people laugh on London stages for coming on 20 years. He was part of the original casts of Avenue Q and Rock of Ages, has gotten festive on more than one occasion in Elf and Nativity, he’s also a card carrying member of the magic circle. Maybe. I don’t know if they carry cards but he’s in it, and right now he can be found at the Gielgud Theatre playing Fagin in the newest revival of Oliver! Join me for chat with Simon Lipkin.

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