The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat

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The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat episodes

November 26, 2024 S11 Ep11 (ft. Tamara Tare): Here And Now: The Steps Musical, Wicked Box Office, If/Then starring Kerry Ellis, Tammy Faye, Jeremy Jordan + more!
Tamara Tare (Shrek / Just For One Day) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Tamara discuss Here And Now: The Steps Musical (Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham) as well as the latest news about the Wicked movie's box office success, If/Then starring Kerry Ellis, Jeremy Jordan's new Broadway show, Tammy Faye closing and more.

Having trained at the Royal Academy of Music, 2024 has been a big year for Tamara! She made her professional debut playing Alicia and understudying Amara in the premiere of Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical at the Old Vic.

Tamara just spent her summer at the Eventim Apollo playing Gingy in Shrek The Musical.

Follow Tamara on Instagram: @tamaratare

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 min
November 25, 2024 WICKED MOVIE: First reactions, Cynthia & Ariana's performances, direction, musical numbers + more! (spoiler free) (ft. Lisa Martland)
Join us for our first special episode about the Wicked movie!

In this episode, West End Frame Editor Andrew Tomlins is joined by Lisa Martland for a spoiler-free discussion about their first reactions to the Wicked movie.

Andrew and Lisa discuss Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's performances, Jon M. Chu's direction, some of the musical numbers, highlights, emotions and more.

Come back on Wednesday for the spoiler episode, featuring lots more Wicked movie chat and analysis!

Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa is the Founding Editor of one of the UK’s top theatre websites, www.musicaltheatrereview.com. Lisa is also Sub-Editor for Musicals Magazine.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
42 min
November 19, 2024 S11 Ep10 (ft. Claire-Marie Hall): Operation Mincemeat on Broadway, Wicked dolls, Hadestown live album, Lucie Jones in 13 Going On 30 + more!
Claire-Marie Hall (Operation Mincemeat) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Claire discuss Now That's What I Call A Musical (Milton Keynes Theatre, UK Tour) as well as the latest news about the Mattel Wicked dolls mishap, 13 Going On 30, Hadestown, Scissorhandz and more.

Claire is currently starring as Jean Leslie & others in the West End production of Operation Mincemeat. She was part of the musical's original cast, originally performing it at the Southwark Playhouse and Riverside Studios before transferring to the West End's Fortune Theatre.

Next year Claire will reunite with the original cast of Operation Mincemeat for the musical's Broadway transfer. Performances will begin in New York at the Golden Theatre on 15th February 2025, ahead of an official opening night on 20th March.

Claire's theatre credits also include: The Innkeeper’s Wife in The Wicker Husband (Watermill Theatre), The Grinning Man (Trafalgar Studios), Tuptim in The King and I (Leicester Curve & National Tour), Gabriella High School Musical (Hammersmith Apollo & National Tour) and Cosette in Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre).

At the age of 11, Claire made her professional debut as Ngana in the National Theatre’s touring production of South Pacific.

In this episode, Claire discusses her journey with Operation Mincemeat and how it feels to be taking the musical to Broadway!

Follow Claire on Instagram: @claire_m_hall

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 min
November 12, 2024 S11 Ep9 (ft. Lewis Brown): The Great Gatsby, Benjamin Button, Moulin Rouge, Luke Brady is Hercules, Black British Theatre Awards + more!
Lewis Brown (Closer To Heaven / TikTok creator) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Lewis discuss Moulin Rouge starring Natalie Kassanga and Dom Simpson (Piccadilly Theatre) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Ambassadors Theatre) as well as the latest news about Hercules starring Luke Brady, The Great Gatsby, Miss Saigon, The Black British Theatre Awards and more.

Since training at Urdang, Lewis has done cruises, tours and pantomimes. Earlier this year he played Flynn in the London revival of Closer To Heaven: The Pet Shop Boys Musical at the Turbine Theatre.

Lewis is also one of the leading theatre content creators in the UK; on TikTok he has over half a million followers and over fifty million likes. Lewis has collaborated with brands such as Amazon, Google, Samsung, Mastercard and Costa Coffee.

Follow Lewis on TikTok/Instagram: @lewbearbrown

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 min
November 05, 2024 S11 Ep8: Scissorhandz, Barcelona starring Lily Collins, The History Boys, Les Misérables, Operation Mincemeat, Hugh Jackman + more!
On this week’s solo episode, Andrew discusses Barcelona starring Lily Collins (Duke Of York’s Theatre) and The History Boys (Richmond Theatre, UK Tour) as well as the latest news about Scissorhandz, Les Misérables casting, Operation Mincemeat on Broadway, Hugh Jackman and more.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19 min
October 29, 2024 S11 Ep7 (ft. Georgina James): Becoming Nancy, Smash, Why Am I So Single, The Lion King, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Illusionist + more!
Georgina James (Beetlejuice / Jerry Springer The Opera) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Georgina discuss Becoming Nancy (Birmingham Rep) and The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre) as well as the latest news about Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical, Why Am I So Single, Smash, Bonnie Langford and lots more.

Georgina has toured the world as a lead vocalist on various cruise ships. Her theatre credits include Andrea/Archangel Michael in Jerry Springer The Opera (Hope Mill Theatre) and Miss Lynch in Grease (Royal Caribbean).

Most recently Georgina starred as Barbara in Beetlejuice The Musical (Norwegian Cruise Line). She is also a highly acclaimed and sought after jazz and vintage vocalist, performing at events and busking on the streets of London.
Follow Georgina on Instagram: @georginajamesss

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 min
October 21, 2024 S11 Ep6 (ft. Toby Shellard): Musical Con, Come Alive, The Devil Wears Prada, Dirty Dancing, Great Comet, UK Theatre Awards + more!
Toby Shellard (Pretty Woman / Hairspray) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Toby discuss Musical Con (ExCel Centre), Come Alive: The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular (Empress Museum) and The Devil Wears Prada press launch as well as the latest news about Dirty Dancing, casting for Joseph starring Christina Bianco and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, the UK Theatre Awards and lots more.

Toby graduated from Arts Ed last year and went on to make his professional debut as Brad and understudy Corny Collins in Hairspray at the Kilworth House Theatre. He played Jacob in the workshop of Babies and has just finished touring the UK & Ireland in Pretty Woman The Musical as understudy Gulio.

Follow Toby on Instagram: @tobyshellard

Toby stars as Jack in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Buxton Opera House 6th December 2024 - 1st January 2025. Visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
53 min
October 14, 2024 S11 Ep5 (ft. Meesha Turner): Reverberation, Titanique, Wicked merch, The Lightning Thief, Unbound, Spend Spend Spend + more!
Meesha Turner (Six / Stranger Things) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Meesha discuss Reverberation (Bristol Old Vic) as well as the latest news about Titanique, Wicked merch, Max Harwood being cast in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical and lots more.

Meesha is a 2020 graduate of The Royal Academy of Music. After touring in Soul Legends and The Magic of Motown, she made her West End debut as Catherine Parr in Six The Musical (Vaudeville Theatre).

Meesha went on to play Mrs Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (Old Vic) and is currently coming to the end of her run in the original cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Phoenix Theatre).

Later this month Meesha is starring in the concert of Matthew Harvey’s new musical Unbound. Following its premiere at the Birmingham Hippodrome as part of BYMT’s 20th anniversary season, Unbound is being staged at Hoxton Hall under the creative direction of Ryan Carter.

You can see Unbound at Hoxton Hall on 27th October. Visit www.unboundmusical.com for info and tickets.

Follow Meesha on Instagram: @turnermeesha

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
47 min
October 07, 2024 S11 Ep4 (ft. Katie Bernstein): Gavin Creel, Dame Maggie Smith, Operation Mincemeat, Cake, Buyer & Cellar, Hadestown + more!
Katie Bernstein returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Katie talk about the sad loss of Dame Maggie Smith, Gavin Creel and Ken Page. They also discuss Buyer and Cellar (King's Head Theatre), Cake (The Other Palace) and A Chorus Line (Wycombe Swan Theatre, UK Tour) as well as the latest news about Operation Mincemeat, West End Musical Halloween, Hadestown, Choir Of Man and lots more.

Katie was most recently in Power of Sail and Habeas Corpus, both at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Her West End credits include The Man in the White Suit, The Play That Goes Wrong, Mrs Henderson Presents and Urinetown. Katie was in Allegro at the Southwark Playhouse and the 2013 concert tour of Rent. She also works extensively on screen.

Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiebernsteinuk

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
47 min
October 06, 2024 BONUS: Tink at The Other Palace (ft. Lizzy Connolly, Kat Kleve & Rosanna Bates)
Having premiered at the Tobacco Factory prior to a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Tink is about to kick off a London run at The Other Palace Studio.

The show is composed and performed by Kat Kleve and written and directed by Lizzy Connolly with movement direction from Rosanna Bates.

"Tink is an imperfect, messy ‘female gaze fairytale’ in all its ugly glory. A nostalgic and thoroughly modern coming of age musical monologue navigating the complex social struggles of tweens, teens and full on adulting. It’s a love letter to a young you – reminding you to SHINE – like little you would want you to!"

After a day of rehearsals, Kat, Lizzy and Rosanna sat down with West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins over a glass of prosecco to discuss what this show means to them, how it feels to be revisiting the piece and navigating their careers as creatives whilst also being mums.

Tink runs at The Other Palace Studio 8th - 20th October. Visit www.theotherpalace.co.uk for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
38 min

About The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat

From the publisher's feed

Your weekly stagey catchup! Join West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, and industry co-hosts for a round-up of the latest theatre news and reviews. Special guests include West End performers,…