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

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

May 07, 2024 S10 Ep12 (ft. Emmanuel Akwafo): Tony nominations, Titanique in London, Sister Act, The Baker’s Wife, Ncuti Gatwa + more!
Emmanuel Akwafo (Sappho / For Black Boys) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Emmanuel discuss Sister Act starring Beverley Knight (Dominion Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Tony Award nominations, Lempicka closing, Titanique's West End transfer, Lucie Jones starring in The Baker's Wife, casting for The Bodyguard in Slovenia and lots more.

Emmanuel played Pitch in the original cast of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at the Royal Court and for the play's first sold out West End run at the Apollo Theatre.

Some of his other theatre credits include Lady Jelly-Bottom in Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith), Amiens in As You Like It (Globe Theatre), Tim T in Primary Playwrights (Soho Theatre), Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith) and Mr Martin in The Bald Soprano (Leicester Square Theatre).

Emmanuel is currently playing the Narrator in Sappho by Wendy Beckett which is spreading queer joy at the Southwark Playhouse. Fusing ancient poetry with modern music, Greek chorus with contemporary dance, Sappho is described as a thrilling adult fairy tale of mythic proportions that may – or may not – have happened.

Follow Emmanuel on Instagram: @eman.akwafo. Sappho runs at the Southwark Playhouse until 25th May, visit www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk for tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

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Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
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59 min
May 06, 2024 SHOW TALK: Pippin starring Alex Newell, 42 Balloons, Frankie Goes To Bollywood & Remembrance Monday
West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, is back for some bonus show talk!

The shows covered in this episode include Pippin In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), 42 Balloons (The Lowry, Salford), Frankie Goes To Bollywood (Watford Palace, UK Tour) and Remembrance Monday (Seven Dials Playhouse).

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.
18 min
April 30, 2024 S10 Ep11: Stranger Things The First Shadow, Two Strangers Carry A Cake, stage door etiquette, Lee Mead, Stacey Dooley + more!
Andrew hosts a solo episode of The West End Frame Show.

Andrew discusses Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Phoenix Theatre), Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York (Criterion Theatre) and Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) as well as the latest news about stage door etiquette following Melanie La Barrie's recent online statements, Sister Act, My Son's A Queer, 2:22 and lots 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.
25 min
April 22, 2024 S10 Ep10 (ft. Reece Kerridge): Jane McDonald joins Palladium Panto, Ushers, Oliver!, 2:22, Kym Marsh is Cruella + more!
Reece Kerridge (Adam/Felicia in Priscilla The Party) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Reece discuss Ushers: The Front Of House Musical (The Other Palace Studio) and The Ballad of Hattie and James (Kiln Theatre) as well as the latest news about this year's London Palladium Pantomime starring Jane McDonald and Julian Clary, Oliver! transferring to the West End, 2:22 making a West End return and lots more.

Some of Reece's theatre credits include The Book of Mormon (West End), understudy SpongeBob & Squidward in SpongeBob The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour), Top Hat (The Mill at Sonning), understudy cover Lord Farquaad in Shrek The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour) and Our House (Union Theatre) as well as many pantomimes and cabarets.

As a presenter Reece co-hosted the radio show Sit In The Stalls and also performs as his drag persona Gracie Lou.

After spending Christmas touring arenas in Peter Pan and Elf The Musical, in which he understudied Buddy, Reece is now starring as Adam/Felicia in Priscilla The Party which has opened at HERE at Outernet.

Priscilla the Party is staged by the creative team behind Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical re-directed by original director Simon Phillips and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth.

Priscilla the Party is booking at HERE at Outernet until Sunday 29th September 2024. Visit www.priscillatheparty.com 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.
44 min
April 15, 2024 S10 Ep9 (ft. Ben Culleton): Olivier Awards, Kinky Boots starring Johannes Radebe, Lauren Samuels is Elphaba, Your Lie In April, Bare + more!
Ben Culleton (Les Misérables / La Cage aux Folles) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Ben discuss the 2024 Olivier Awards (Royal Albert Hall), Your Lie In April (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Bare In Concert (London Palladium) as well as the latest news about Kinky Boots starring Johannes Radebe, Lauren Samuels joining Wicked's US tour, Heathers, Rob Madge, Opening Night and lots more.

Ben is currently playing Courfeyrac and understudying Enjolras in the West End production of Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre). Having trained at ArtsEd, he made his West End debut understudying Kenickie and Doody in Grease (Dominion Theatre).

Ben's other theatre credits include swing in 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet) and Ricky in Pump Up The Volume (Turbine Theatre, MT Fest). Last summer Ben received huge acclaim for playing Jean-Michel in Tim Sheader's revival of La Cage aux Folles (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

Follow Ben on Instagram @benculletonn. For info about Les Misérables visit www.lesmis.com.

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.
51 min
April 09, 2024 S10 Ep8 (ft. Jye Frasca): Romeo & Juliet, Red Pitch, Coming Clean, Jessica Vosk, Oklahoma! starring Phil Dunster & Zizi Strallen + more!
Jye Frasca (Syncopation / Wicked) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Jye discuss Red Pitch (@SohoPlace), Coming Clean (Turbine Theatre) and Cruel Intentions (The Other Palace) as well as the latest news about Oklahoma!, Jessica Vosk, I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical, Jerry's Girls and more. There's also discussion about the online racial abuse which occurred following Francesca Amewudah-Rivers' casting in The Jamie Lloyd Company's production of Romeo & Juliet.

After growing up in Australia, Jye moved to London to attend drama school. Jye was in the original West End casts of Wicked, Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins, with his other UK theatre credits including West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Cats, Anything Goes, Love’s Labour's Lost, We Will Rock You and Thrill Me.

After moving to America, Jye took over as Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys before making his Broadway debut as Boq in Wicked for the musical’s 15th anniversary! Jye has worked on screen, most recently appearing in Amazon Freevee’s Leverage: Redemption.

Ten years on from moving to America, Jye is back on the London stage, starring in Syncopation at the Bridewell Theatre. Directed by Karen Jemison, Jye is performing opposite Devon-Elise Johnson in the UK premiere of Allan Knee's two-hander ballroom-inspired play.

Syncopation runs at the Bridewell Theatre until Saturday 13th April 2024. Visit www.syncopation.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.
58 min
April 01, 2024 S10 Ep7: MJ The Musical, Opening Night, Mean Girls casting, Priscilla The Party, Breeding, Wild About You, & Juliet tour + more!
This week Andrew flies solo for a packed episode of The West End Frame Show.

Andrew discusses MJ The Musical (Prince Edward Theatre), Opening Night (Gielgud Theatre), Breeding (King's Head Theatre), Priscilla The Party (Here At Outernet), Wild About You In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Tosh Wanogho-Maud: Songs + Stories (Piano Smithfield) as well as the latest news about Mean Girls, & Juliet, The Devil Wears Prada, Cool Rider Live 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.
40 min
March 26, 2024 S10 Ep6 (ft. Rachel Rawlinson): Wicked Live Vocals, For Black Boys, Babies, Pretty Woman starring Amber Davies, Syncopation + more!
Rachel Rawlinson (Six / Heathers) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Rachel discuss For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy (Garrick Theatre), Pretty Woman (Milton Keynes Theatre, UK & Ireland Tour) and Syncopation (Bridewell Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Wicked Movie, Babies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tammy Faye, Ben Platt and lots more.

Rachel recently completed a two year run as a Super Swing in the West End production of Six The Musical (Vaudeville Theatre), covering and playing all six queens.

As a child, Rachel understudied Jemima Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), played Jane Banks in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre) and Margaret Gormley in Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre).

Some of her other credits include: Wag The Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Rizzo in Grease (Belinda King), Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Norwegian), Christmas Spectacular (Thursford), Daisy in Jack and the Beanstalk (Harlow Playhouse) and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Edinburgh Fringe Festival),
Rachel played Stoner Chick and understudied Ms Fleming & Martha in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket). She's preparing to launch her own business called Rest End.

Follow Rachel on instagram: @rachelrawlinson

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.
52 min
March 19, 2024 S10 Ep5 (ft. Jenny Fitzpatrick): Olivier Award nominations, Guys & Dolls, Pippin, The Wizard of Oz, Ghost The Musical + more!
Jenny Fitzpatrick (Nancy in Oliver!) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Jenny discuss Guys & Dolls (Bridge Theatre) and The Wizard of Oz (New Wimbledon Theatre, UK & Ireland Tour) as well as the latest news about the Olivier Award nominations, Pippin In Concert, Dolly Parton's Here You Come Again, West End Does: Country plus lots more.

Jenny recently received huge acclaim for her performance as Nancy in Oliver! at the Leeds Playhouse, having previously played the Rose Seller in the West End production.

Jenny made her professional debut in Henry IV Part I, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Camelot at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Her credits also include Nala in Legend Of The Lion King (Disneyland Paris), Ronnette in Little Shop of Horros (Menier Chocolate Factory/West End), Billie in Our House (UK Tour), Louise & understudy Oda Mae Brown in Ghost The Musical (Manchester/West End), Delores in Sister Act (Aberystwyth), A Pacificst’s Guide To The War On Cancer (National Theatre), Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour), Lucius/Centurion in Boudica (Globe), Fish/Sonny’s mum in Wonderboy (Bristol Old Vic), Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol (Old Vic), Fama in Berlusconi (Southwark Playhouse) and multiple runs as Justice in Rock Of Ages (UK Tour).

Having played Tina Turner in the 2013 UK tour of the musical Soul Sister, Jenny was the alternate Tina Turner in the original West End cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Jenny recorded an episode of our interviews podcast In The Frame whilst starring in The World Goes Round (Barn Theatre). On screen, she has been seen in The Alienist, Mi High V ‘Patient’ and EastEnders.

Follow Jenny on Instagram: @jennytfitz

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.
49 min
March 12, 2024 S10 Ep4 (ft. Benjamin Yates): Mary Poppins, Marisha Wallace on Celebrity Big Brother, The Drifters Girl, Bradley Jaden, & Juliet + more
Benjamin Yates (Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Benjamin discuss The Drifters Girl (New Oxford Theatre, UK Tour) and An Officer and a Gentleman(Glasgow Kings Theatre, UK Tour) as well as the latest news about Marisha Wallace entering the Celebrity Big Brother House, Mary Poppins, & Juliet, MJ and lots more.

Some of Benjamin's theatre credits include understudy Fiyero in Wicked (UK & Ireland tour), understudy Tony in West Side Story (Kilworth House), Mungojerrie in Cats (London Palladium), Sonny in Grease (Slovenia), School of Rock (West End), Wonderland (UK Tour), Tommy The Musical (Blackpool Winter Garden) and Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena Tour). On screen, he starred in several episodes of Emmerdale (ITV).

Benjamin played Tommy DeVito in the West End revival of Jersey Boys at the Trafalgar Theatre and is currently starring as the Scarecrow in the UK & Ireland Tour of The Wizard Of Oz.

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.
52 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,…