The Show People Podcast With Andrew Keates

By Hosted by Andrew Keates | Produced by Queer Theatre Ltd.

The Show People Podcast shines a spotlight on the UK performing arts industry and those dedicated to their craft.

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How many episodes does The Show People Podcast With Andrew Keates have?

The podcast currently has 66 episodes available.

The Show People Podcast With Andrew Keates episodes:

September 20, 2026 066: Cheryl Fergison (Part One)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This is Part One of a funny, heartfelt and wonderfully candid conversation with actor, singer and author Cheryl Fergison.
Known to millions as Heather Trott in EastEnders, Cheryl has a lifetime of stories beyond Albert Square. In this first half of their conversation, she and Andrew explore the experiences that shaped her: a working-class childhood, finding humour in the face of bullying, a passion for community theatre and an unpredictable journey into the West End, television and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Cheryl discusses why queer spaces matter, her lifelong LGBTQIA+ allyship and the enormous pride she takes in her son, Alex. She reflects on writing her autobiography, recovering from a stroke and learning to embrace who she is. There’s also a glimpse of the television series she and Alex are writing together, alongside her excitement about the film Tits Up.
From training at Rose Bruford to arriving at Wigan Pier expecting a seaside theatre, Cheryl shares the unexpected beginnings of her professional career. There are tales of learning the cello for Chicago, her mother meeting Peter Bowles, working with Kenneth Connor and Alec Guinness, and an RSC audition that involved improvising Shakespeare — without realising Trevor Nunn was in the room.
Along the way, Cheryl and Andrew speak openly about body image, class, belonging and the masks we learn to wear. Andrew reflects on his own ADHD diagnosis, while Cheryl describes fighting for support for her son. The conversation also explores the craft of making a small role memorable, with reflections on ’Allo ’Allo!, Doctor Who, Little Britain and Beadle’s About.
Warm, irreverent and full of laughter, this is a conversation about finding your voice, standing up for other people and discovering that a career can take you to places you never imagined.
Episode Highlights Include:
Why queer venues, Pride and knowing LGBTQIA+ history matter to Cheryl
Motherhood, her bond with Alex and the television series they are writing together
Writing her autobiography, turning 60 and finding perspective after a stroke
Childhood bullying, body image and learning to use humour to fit in
Working-class identity, belonging and the different faces we show the world
Training at Rose Bruford and her love of community theatre and workshops
A first professional job at Wigan Pier — with an unexpected shortage of seaside
Learning instruments for the stage, including the cello for Chicago
ADHD, Andrew’s experience of diagnosis and Cheryl’s determination to get her son support
Memories of Peter Bowles, Kenneth Connor and Alec Guinness
Improvising Shakespeare at an RSC audition and failing to recognise Trevor Nunn
Creating distinctive characters in small television roles, from Doctor Who to Little Britain
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment Part Two is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us.
Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Sean Lindsell
@skl.photog on Instagram
Audio and Stage Management by Liam Chaplin
@djliamchaplin on Instagram
Cheryl and Andrew’s Hair Styled by
Louis Wilson
Special Thanks
Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of The Two Brewers.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQIA+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about our acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases, live events and community.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk
Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK
TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK
Threads: @QueerTheatreUK
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast
X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates
TikTok: @andrewkeates
X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Cheryl Fergison
Instagram: @cherylfergison1
Behind the Scenes by Cheryl Fergison is available now in print and audiobook editions.
...more
56min
August 24, 2026 065: Rosie Jones (Part Two)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This is part two of an in-depth conversation with comedian, writer, actor, presenter, children’s author, documentary maker and charity founder Rosie Jones.
One of the boldest and most distinctive voices in British comedy, Rosie has appeared on The Last Leg, Live at the Apollo, QI, Taskmaster, Question Time, 8 Out of 10 Cats and many more. She is also the creator, co-writer and star of the Channel 4 sitcom Pushers and the founder of The Rosie Jones Foundation.
In this urgent, candid and frequently riotous second instalment, Rosie reflects on the television appearance that changed her career and the complicated pressure of being expected to represent disabled people through her comedy. She charts her journey from feeling that every joke had to address her disability, through a period of refusing to discuss identity altogether, to finding a balance that allows her to be funny, political and unapologetically herself.
Rosie speaks powerfully about appearing on Question Time, the ableist abuse and death threats that followed, and why she eventually stepped away from social media to protect her mental health. She discusses therapy with a counsellor who also has cerebral palsy, the importance of surrounding herself with supportive people, and the strength she has found in admitting that living with a disability can sometimes be extraordinarily difficult.
The conversation also explores Rosie’s experiences working with The Last Leg, the urgent need for more disability-led television and the creation of her Channel 4 sitcom Pushers. Rosie explains why she fought for a predominantly disabled ensemble, meaningful representation behind the camera and an access coordinator who could ensure that every member of the company felt heard and supported.
Rosie then shares the deeply personal mission behind The Rosie Jones Foundation, which provides people living with cerebral palsy with counselling delivered by therapists who share that lived experience. She discusses the stigma surrounding mental health support, the Foundation’s extraordinary achievement in funding 1,000 counselling sessions and why this work may ultimately become the proudest achievement of her life.
In a moving final section, Andrew and Rosie discuss recovery, shame, addiction, community care and the forces that divide queer and disabled people. Together, they consider what it means to look after one another, speak up during a hostile political climate and become the adults their younger selves so desperately needed to see.
Content note: This episode includes discussion of ableist language, online abuse and death threats, mental health, addiction, suicidal thoughts and discrimination.
Episode Highlights Include:
• Rosie’s first appearance on 8 Out of 10 Cats and the television moment that changed her career
• The pressure of representing disabled people and finding a balance between comedy, identity and activism
• The ableist abuse and death threats that followed her Question Time appearance
• Why Rosie stepped away from social media to protect her mental health
• Finding transformative support from a counsellor who also has cerebral palsy
• Working with The Last Leg and the urgent need for more disability-led television
• Creating Pushers with a predominantly disabled ensemble and meaningful representation behind the camera
• Why accessible working practices make television better for everybody
• The mission of The Rosie Jones Foundation and its lived-experience-led counselling
• Funding 1,000 counselling sessions for people living with cerebral palsy
• Andrew and Rosie on mental health, recovery, shame, community care and refusing to remain silent
• What the younger Rosie would think of her life today, and her definitive answer about disabled people having sex
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Sean Lindsell
@skl.photog on Instagram
Audio and Stage Management by Liam Chaplin
@djliamchaplin on Instagram
Special Thanks
Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.

Rosie’s Hair Styled
Louis Wilson
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases and events.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Rosie Jones
Instagram: @josierones
www.rosiejonescomedy.com
www.rosiejonesfoundation.com
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
51min
August 10, 2026 064: Rosie Jones (Part One)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This is part one of an in-depth conversation with comedian, writer, actor, presenter, children’s author, documentary maker and charity founder Rosie Jones.
One of the boldest and most distinctive voices in British comedy, Rosie has appeared on The Last Leg, Live at the Apollo, QI, Taskmaster, Question Time and many more. She is also the creator, co-writer and star of Channel 4 sitcom Pushers, the author of The Amazing Edie Eckhart, founder of The Rosie Jones Foundation, and the driving force behind the powerful documentary Rosie Jones: Am I a R*tard?.
In this candid, moving and frequently riotous conversation, Rosie discusses growing up in Bridlington with ataxic cerebral palsy, the love and encouragement of her family, and her experiences of ableism from a very young age. She charts her journey from working behind the scenes as a television researcher and joke writer to finding her own voice as a stand-up comedian.
Rosie also explores the extraordinary precision behind her comedy, the performers who shaped her work, and how she transformed the rhythm of her speech into one of her greatest creative strengths. In a deeply personal conversation, Andrew and Rosie discuss coming out, internalised ableism, the absence of positive queer-disabled representation, and learning that everyone deserves to be seen, celebrated and loved.
Episode Highlights Include:
• Growing up in Bridlington with ataxic cerebral palsy
• How Rosie’s parents encouraged her to believe she could become anything she wanted
• Her close relationship with her brother Oliver and his instinctive refusal to judge others
• Experiencing ableism from the age of four and understanding its impact later in life
• Why Rosie chose to confront the power of the R-word in her Channel 4 documentary
• Living with daily ableist abuse and refusing to allow cruelty to diminish her
• How the circumstances of her birth shaped her ambition and determination to live fully
• The assumptions people make about physical disability and intelligence
• The teachers who recognised Rosie’s talent and the importance of accessible education
• Her lifelong admiration for children’s author Jacqueline Wilson
• Working behind the scenes as a television researcher and joke writer
• Writing lies for Would I Lie to You? and jokes for major comedy programmes
• Her spontaneous first stand-up performance in front of eight people at a small comedy club
• How Victoria Wood, Billy Connolly and Tig Notaro influenced her comic voice
• Rosie’s “jigsaw” theory of joke-writing and why she considers every single syllable
• Turning the natural rhythm of her speech into a powerful comedic advantage
• The three questions comedians should ask before making a joke about somebody else
• Her gradual journey towards coming out as a gay, disabled woman
• How a lack of queer-disabled representation affected Rosie’s belief that she was worthy of love
• Overcoming internalised ableism and finding a happy, loving relationship
• Andrew and Rosie on shame, visibility, resilience and living unapologetically
• And many stories about comedy, writing, identity, disability, queerness and finding your voice
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Sean Lindsell
@skl.photog on Instagram
Audio and Stage Management by Liam Chaplin
@djliamchaplin on Instagram
Special Thanks
Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.

Rosie’s Hair Styled
Louis Wilson
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases and events.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Rosie Jones
Instagram: @josierones
www.rosiejonescomedy.com
www.rosiejonesfoundation.com
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
59min
July 05, 2026 063: Kerry Ellis (Part Two)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This is part two of an in-depth conversation with West End and Broadway star Kerry Ellis.
Widely recognised as one of the great leading ladies of British musical theatre, Kerry Ellis has played some of the most iconic roles in the West End, on Broadway and beyond. Best known for becoming the first British Elphaba in Wicked, Kerry’s extraordinary career includes originating Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You, playing Fantine in Les Misérables, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Nancy in Oliver!, Grizabella in Cats, and appearing in My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, Chess, The War of the Worlds and many more.
Episode Highlights Include:
• Does Kerry ever get sick of talking about Wicked?
• Kerry’s relationship with Idina Menzel
• Kerry’s approach to playing Elphaba and finding the comedy in the role
• The reality of green makeup, glitter and becoming Elphaba night after night
• The physical and emotional demands of performing Wicked eight shows a week
• Backstage shenanigans with Oliver Tompsett, Diane Pilkington and the Wicked company
• The personal cost of playing such a demanding role - 8 shows a week!
• Why actors and theatre can save lives through escapism, community and connection
• What Kerry has stolen from shows, and how exactly you break a broom
• The key differences between working in the West End and on Broadway
• Kerry’s experience working on the Wicked film with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
• Kerry’s Dalmatian puppy and her connection to Cruella
• Motherhood, working in the West End and the challenges of modern culture
• Regrets, happiness and learning what really matters
• Kerry’s advice to young musical theatre students
• And many more stories from both Andrew and Kerry about life, theatre, resilience and working in the performing arts.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Sean Lindsell
@skl.photog on Instagram
Audio and Stage Management by Liam Chaplin
@djliamchaplin on Instagram
Special Thanks
Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases and events.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Kerry Ellis
Instagram: @kerryellis79
www.kerryellis.com
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
44min
June 22, 2026 062: Kerry Ellis (Part One)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This is part one of an-depth conversation with West End and Broadway star Kerry Ellis.
Widely recognised as one of the great leading ladies of British musical theatre, Kerry Ellis has played some of the most iconic roles in the West End, on Broadway and beyond. Best known for becoming the first British Elphaba in Wicked, Kerry’s extraordinary career includes originating Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You, playing Fantine in Les Misérables, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Nancy in Oliver!, Grizabella in Cats, and appearing in My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, Chess, The War of the Worlds and many more.
In this conversation, Kerry discusses her journey from training at Laine Theatre Arts to becoming one of the most recognisable voices in musical theatre, her life-changing collaboration with Queen legend Brian May, the demands of leading major West End and Broadway shows, and what it takes to sustain a career at the very top of the industry, as well as a touching conversation between Andrew and Kerry about their shared ADHD diagnosis.
Episode Highlights Include:
• How Kerry’s childhood and training shaped the performer she became
• Her early days at Laine Theatre Arts and breaking into the West End
• Being discovered by Brian May while understudying Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at the National Theatre.
• Her early experiences of being thrown on-stage with little to no rehearsal.
• Originating Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You
• Playing Fantine in Les Misérables and other major musical theatre roles
• Playing Grizabella in Cats and the pressure of singing Memory night after night.
• Her long-running creative partnership with Brian May
• The discipline required to lead major shows
• How ADHD affects both the lives of Andrew Keates and Kerry Ellis.
• And many stories from both Andrew and Kerry about life, theatre, resilience and working in the performing arts.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Sean Lindsell
@skl.photog on Instagram
Audio and Stage Management by Liam Chaplin
@djliamchaplin on Instagram
Special Thanks
Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases and events.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Kerry Ellis
Instagram: @kerryellis79
www.kerryellis.com
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
58min
June 01, 2026 061: Jack Holden (Part Two)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham. This is the second part of an in-depth conversation with Olivier Award winning actor and writer Jack Holden.
Recorded just before Jack travelled to America for the Off-Broadway transfer of Kenrex, and before he went on to win the Olivier Award for Best Actor, this conversation captures him at a thrilling turning point in his career. Best known for writing and performing Cruise, his acclaimed one-man play about Soho and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, Jack discusses the creation of Kenrex, the true-crime thriller he co-wrote with Ed Stambollouian, in which he delivers a virtuosic solo performance playing multiple characters.
Episode Highlights Include:
• Creating his West End smash hit, Cruise and the challenges writing an AIDS play.
• The physical and vocal techniques he uses for both Kenrex and Cruise
• How he feels after Kenrex received six Olivier Award nominations
• His experiences adapting Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty.
• Playing a real person in James Graham’s Ink
• Working with Sean Bean in Marriage
• What went wrong with the TV show Ten Percent
• How he feels about working in America as a gay actor.
• And many stories from both Andrew and Jack about working in the performing arts.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Paul Madeley
paulmadeleystudio.com | @paulmadeleystudio
Special Thanks
to Liam Chaplin, Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases and events.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Jack Holden & Kenrex
Instagram: @1jackholden, @kenrextheplay
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
1h 9min
May 17, 2026 060: Jack Holden (Part One)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This episode features an in-depth conversation with now, Olivier Award winning actor and writer Jack Holden.
Recorded just before Jack travelled to America for the Off-Broadway transfer of Kenrex, and before he went on to win the Olivier Award for Best Actor, this conversation captures him at a thrilling turning point in his career. Best known for writing and performing Cruise, his acclaimed one-man play about Soho and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, Jack discusses the creation of Kenrex, the true-crime thriller he co-wrote with Ed Stambollouian, in which he delivers a virtuosic solo performance playing multiple characters. Just some of the credits dicscussed include Marriage for BBC One, Ten Percent for Amazon, the RSC’s Oppenheimer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, James Graham’s Ink at the Almeida and in the West End, War Horse for National Theatre and much, much more.
Episode Highlights Include:
• How Jack’s childhood shaped his career today
• Discovering his sexuality at a young age
• His experience of Bristol Old Vic theatre school
• How he came to meet and collaborate with Kenrex director, Ed Stambollouian.
• Starring in War Horse in the West End and working with Handspring’s puppets
• How he has survived between jobs as an actor
• Working with the RSC on Oppenheimer and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• The lesson’s he’s learned to be a great writer.
• And many stories from both Andrew and Jack about working in the performing arts.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Paul Madeley
paulmadeleystudio.com | @paulmadeleystudio
Special Thanks
to Liam Chaplin, Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases, and event.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Jack Holden & Kenrex
Instagram: @1jackholden, @kenrextheplay
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
51min
April 30, 2026 059: Martin Sherman (Part Two)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This is the second part of an in-depth conversation with legendary gay playwright, screen-writer and author - Martin Sherman.
Perhaps best known for writing landmark gay play, Bent, As well as other stunning plays such as When She Danced, Messiah, Cracks, Gently Down The Stream and many, many others. On screen, his credits include Mrs Henderson Presents (BAFTA-nominated), The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, Callas Forever, Alive and Kicking, and The Clothes in the Wardrobe. Across theatre and film, Martin has been nominated for two Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and two BAFTA Awards, and he has crafted queer stories thoughtout the decades.
Episode Highlights Include:
• Opening night of Bent at the Royal Court.
• Memories of working with legendary actors such as Sir Ian McKellen and Vanessa Redgrave DBE.
• Taking Bent to Broadway and the trials and tribulations that came with it.
• His experiences adapting Bent into a feature film and working with director Sean Mathias.
• What it was like writing his masterpiece, Rose.
• How he felt after his play Onassis was panned by critics in the West End.
• Taking Bent to Broadway and the trials and tribulations that came with it.
• How queer stories have changed over the decades and how age influenced his play, Gently Down The Stream.
• And many other insights into playwriting and being one of the greatest gay playwrights to have written for stage and screen.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Paul Madeley
paulmadeleystudio.com | @paulmadeleystudio
Special Thanks
to Liam Chaplin, Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases, and event.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
On The Boardwalk by Martin Sherman, published by Inkandescent
incandescent.co.uk | @inkandescent
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
28min
April 06, 2026 058: Martin Sherman (Part One)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This episode features an in-depth conversation with legendary gay playwright, screen-writer and author - Martin Sherman.
Perhaps best known for writing landmark gay play, Bent, As well as other stunning plays such as When She Danced, Messiah, Cracks, Gently Down The Stream and many, many others. On screen, his credits include Mrs Henderson Presents (BAFTA-nominated), The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, Callas Forever, Alive and Kicking, and The Clothes in the Wardrobe. Across theatre and film, Martin has been nominated for two Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and two BAFTA Awards, and he has crafted queer stories thoughtout the decades.
Episode Highlights Include:
• Martin Sherman on writing his memoir and why prose felt possible where theatre did not.
• Growing up in the shadow of Huntington’s disease and the fear of inheritance.
• A haunting childhood memory of his mother on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
• The silence, mystery and influence of a mother who gave him Shakespeare and theatre.
• How illness, family history and survival shaped his understanding of life and art.
• Theatre as escape: seeing major productions in Philadelphia as a child.
• The performances and actors that formed his artistic eye.
• Martin’s father, charisma, narcissism and the performance of power.
• A striking comparison between his father and Donald Trump.
• What Martin learned from the Actors Studio and Lee Strasberg.
• Why craft matters as much as emotional truth.
• Realising he was not meant to be an actor, but a writer.
• Passing By and the challenge of casting unapologetically gay characters in the 1970s.
• Finding artistic and political community in London through Gay Sweatshop.
• The origins of Bent and the image that unlocked the play.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Videography by Ned Wakeley of The Showreel Company
theshowreelcompany.com | Instagram: @theshowreelcompany_
Photography by Paul Madeley
paulmadeleystudio.com | @paulmadeleystudio
Special Thanks
to Liam Chaplin, Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers, and of course, Pearl Mackie.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases, and event.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
On The Boardwalk by Martin Sherman, published by Inkandescent
incandescent.co.uk | @inkandescent
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
1h
March 29, 2026 056: Marina Sirtis (Part One)
Join host Andrew Keates for The Show People Podcast, recorded live from The Two Brewers in Clapham.
This episode features an extraordinary conversation with actor and activist, Pearl Mackie.
Episode Highlights Include:
• A frank and honest conversation about being sexually abused as a child and how the trauma manifested into an eating disorder.
• Marina's childhood, her difficult relationship with her mother, the trouble she used to get up to I her teenager years.
• Marina's time at the Guildhall School of Speech and Drama and the difficulty she had with some of the teachers there.
• Her earliest jobs, including working with a very difficult goat...
• What it was like working with director Michael Winner.
• What brought her to the United States of America
• And of course, how she secured the role of Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and so many stories about bolding going where no woman has gone before.
Like and Subscribe
Make sure you like and subscribe to be notified the moment our next episode is released!
Support Us
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to help us nurture LGBTQIA+ theatre-makers and proudly tell Queer stories, by visiting www.queertheatre.co.uk/support-us

Sponsors & Supporters:
Theataccounts: The entertainment industry's trusted accountants, looking after thousands of clients across theatre and performance.
Connect at www.theataccounts.co.uk or Instagram: @theataccounts.
Boyan Georgiev: The Show People Podcast offical photographer.
Connect at boyangeorgiev.com or on Instagram: @boyangeorgiev
Thanks to The Two Brewers and their wonderful team for hosting this event.
Connect at www.the2brewers.com/london. or Instagram: @the2brewers
Special thanks
to Liam Chaplin, Adam Deamer, Oliver Blatherwick, Rhys Godfrey and the staff of the Two Brewers, and of course, Pearl Mackie.
Queer Theatre
This podcast is proudly produced by Queer Theatre, committed to LGBTQ+ storytelling and nurturing Queer talent. Discover more about their acting classes, Queer Play Reading Club, showcases, and event.
Connect at www.queertheatre.co.uk, Instagram: @QueerTheatreUK, TikTok: @QueerTheatreUK, @Threads @QueerTheatreUK.
Follow The Show People Podcast
Instagram: @theshowpeoplepodcast, X: @ShowPeopleUK
www.queertheatre.co.uk
Follow Andrew Keates
Instagram: @MrAndrewKeates, TikTok: @andrewkeates, X: @andrewkeates
www.andrewkeates.co.uk
Follow Marina Sirtis
Instagram: @officialmarinasirtis
Thank you for your support.
Until next time - love always, Ax
...more
59min

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The podcast currently has 66 episodes available.