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

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

July 05, 2023 BONUS (ft. Rhashan Stone & Elexi Walker): Tambo & Bones and Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written
We're back with a bonus episode featuring Rhashan Stone (All About Eve / Into The Woods) and Elexi Walker (I Think We Are Alone / She Ventures and He Wins ).

Rhashan Stone is playing Tambo in the UK premiere of Tambo & Bones. Written by Dave Harris and directed by Matthew Xia, the show is running at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Tambo & Bones laughs through our past, blows the roof off our present and imagines an explosive future for our world... and for theatre.

Some of Rhashan's theatre credits include All About Eve and Cheek By Jowl’s As You Like It (Noel Coward Theatre), Simply Heavenly (Trafalgar Studios), Five Guys Named Moe (Lyric Theatre) and the recent revival of Into The Woods (Theatre Royal Bath). He has worked extensively on stage and screen.

Tambo & Bones runs at the Theatre Royal Stratford East until 15th July 2023. Visit www.stratfordeast.com for info and tickets.

Elexi Walker is playing Mary Tuck in Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written by Carl Grose at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Directed by Melly Still, this new take on the classic tale of Robin Hood is set in a desperate, divided kingdom where only the truly cunning can outwit the sheriff’s terrifying wrath.

Some of Elexi's theatre credits include A Christmas Carol (Rose Theatre), I Think We Are Alone (Frantic Assembly), She Ventures and He Wins (Young Vic) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Rose Theatre).

Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written runs at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 22nd July. Visit www.openairtheatre.com for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32

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Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
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33 min
July 03, 2023 S8 Ep20 (ft. Chris Fung): A Strange Loop, Groundhog Day, Then Now & Next, Aspects Of Love, New Frozen Cast + more!
Chris Fung (Frozen / Evita) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Chris discuss Groundhog Day (Old Vic), A Strange Loop (Barbican Centre) and Then, Now & Next (Southwark Playhouse) as well as the latest news about Aspects of Love, Frozen, the Olivier Awards and lots more.

Chris' stage credits include the West End productions of Frozen and Cyrano de Bergerac as well as Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Evita at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the Australian tour of The King and I.

Chris is currently producing and preparing to star in his debut play The Society for New Cuisine which will run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.

The Society for New Cuisine runs at Underbelly Cowgate 3rd – 27th August. Visit www.underbellyedinburgh.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.
56 min
June 26, 2023 S8 Ep19 (ft. Milly Summer): Mrs Doubtfire, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Robin Hood, The Third Man, BYMT + more!
Milly Summer (Producer for British Youth Music Theatre) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Milly discuss Mrs Doubtfire (Shaftesbury Theatre), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (New Wimbledon Theatre, UK Tour), Robin Hood: The Legend. Rewritten (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and The Third Man (Menier Chocolate Factory) as well as the latest news about heat wave cancellations, Jesus Christ Superstar, the Wicked film and lots more.

Milly started out as an Agent Assistant to Michael Garret at Global Artists. During her time at Global, Milly wrote a popular blog called #SummerSays for West End Frame.

After five years at Global, Milly joined Bill Kenwright Limited as a Production Executive. She is now a Producer for British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT), a national performing arts education charity and the largest commissioner of new musicals in the UK.

For more info about BYMT, visit www.britishyouthmusictheatre.org.

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.
55 min
June 19, 2023 S8 Ep18 (ft. Chris Jenkins): Diana in London, The Crucible, Assassins, Tony Awards, MT Pride Lab, Grease + more!
Chris Jenkins (Gus in Groundhog Day) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Chris discuss The Crucible (Guilgud Theatre), Lifeboats (King's Head Theatre, MT Pride Lab), Grease (Dominion Theatre) and Assassins (Chichester Festival Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Tony Awards, Diana The Musical, Lizzie, Cats and lots more.

Chris is currently playing Gus in Groundhog Day which has returned to the Old Vic where it previously ran in 2016 ahead of its Broadway transfer. Directed by Matthew Warchus, Groundhog Day has music and lyrics by Tim Minchin with book by Danny Rubin.

Some of Chris' credits include: Hex and Jack Absolute Flies Again (National Theatre), All That (King’s Head Theatre), The Arcadians (Wilton's Musical Hall), Cinderella (Hackney Empire), tick, tick...BOOM! and The Burnt Part Boys (Park Theatre) as well the West End productions of War Of The Worlds (Dominion), Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace), Spamalot (Playhouse) and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Gielgud).

Follow Chris on Instagram: @chrisjenko

Groundhog Day runs at the Old Vic until 19th August 2023.

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.
1 hr 1 min
June 12, 2023 The Broadway Episode (Part Two): Once Upon A One More Time, New York New York, And Juliet & Shucked in London (ft. Lisa Martland)
It's time for the second instalment of our Broadway round-up!
In this week's episode, West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, is back in the UK and reunited with theatre journalist Lisa Martland.
Andrew and Lisa discuss Once Upon A One More Time, New York, New York and & Juliet as well as the news that Shucked is coming to London!

Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is the Founding Editor of one of the UK’s top theatre websites, Musical Theatre Review which is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary. Lisa is Sub-Editor for Musicals Magazine.

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.
45 min
June 06, 2023 The Broadway Episode (Part One): Parade, Some Like It Hot, Shucked, Kimberly Akimbo, Titanique, Sweeney Todd, Hadestown & Six (ft. Lisa Martland)
It's time to find out what's happening on Broadway!

West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, is live in New York and joined by theatre journalist Lisa Martland.

In part one, Andrew and Lisa discuss some of this season's hottest shows including Parade starring Ben Platt, Some Like It Hot, Shucked, Kimberly Akimbo and Sweeney Todd. They also discuss off-Broadway hit Titanique as well as Hadestown and Six.

Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is the Founding Editor of one of the UK’s top theatre websites, Musical Theatre Review which is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary. Lisa is Sub-Editor for Musicals Magazine.

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.
1 hr
May 30, 2023 S8 Ep15 (ft. Emily Benjamin): Aspects Of Love, Love Never Dies, Greatest Days, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple + more!
Emily Benjamin (alternate Sally Bowles in Cabaret) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Emily discuss Aspects Of Love (Apollo Theatre), Greatest Days (UK Tour, Manchester Palace Theatre) and The Little Mermaid (Disney Live Action Film) as well as the latest news about Love Never Dies, The Color Purple, Bonnie & Clyde and lots more.

Emily was in the premiere of Bat Out of Hell at the Manchester Opera House and stayed with the show for its Coliseum, Dominion and Toronto runs. Her other credits include The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (Bridge Theatre) and Zog Live (UK Tour).

Emily is currently a swing and the alternate Sally Bowles in the West End production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. She took over as Sally for a limited run earlier this year, in addition to performing as Sally at West End Live (Trafalgar Square) and Magic At The Musicals (Royal Albert Hall).

Follow Emily on Instagram: @flemilyremily

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.
57 min
May 23, 2023 S8 Ep14 (ft. Shem Omari James): Once On This Island, Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard, How to Succeed, Myles Frost in MJ, Auliʻi Cravalho + more!
Shem Omari James (CC in Dreamgirls) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Shem discuss Once On This Island (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Southwark Playhouse) as well as the latest news about Nicole Scherzinger being cast in Sunset Boulevard, MJ West End casting, the Tony Awards and lots more.

Having graduated from Arts Ed during the pandemic, Shem made his professional debut alongside Cedric Neal, Rachel Tucker, Rachel John and Ramin Karimloo in the digital production of Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown. He later reprised his performance when the musical was staged at the London Palladium for two performances.

Shem's theatre credits also include The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Leicester Curve) and the world premiere of Vanara (Hackney Empire).

Most recently, Shem played CC and understudied Jimmy in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of Dreamgirls. He’s currently producing an LGBTQ+ cabaret at the Broadway Theatre in Catford as part of Pride Month celebrations on Saturday 17th June.

Fore information about the concert, follow the I Can Be Collective on Instagram: @icanbecollective

Follow Shem on Instagram: @houseofomarijames

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.
1 hr 2 min
May 15, 2023 S8 Ep13 (ft. Shanay Holmes): Magic at the Musicals, Operation Mincemeat, Glory Ride, Hadestown, Carl Man is Fiyero + more!
Shanay Holmes (Musical Con / Get Up Stand Up) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Shanay discuss Magic at the Musicals (Royal Albert Hall), Glory Ride (Charing Cross Theatre) and Operation Mincemeat (Fortune Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Tony Awards, Wicked casting, Hadestown's West End transfer and lots more.

After making her professional debut in Thriller Live (Lyric Theatre), Shanay went on to become the youngest person to ever play Rachael Maron in The Bodyguard (Adelphi Theatre). Her theatre credits also include: Close To You (Criterion Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Air Theatre), Joanne in the 20th anniversary production of Rent (UK Tour/The Other Palace), Glinda in The Wizard of Oz (Birmingham Rep), Narrator in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House), Marian in The Bridges of Madison County (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Laura in High Fidelity (Turbine Theatre).

Most recently Shanay created the role of Cindy Breakspeare in the West End premiere of Get Up Stand Up (Lyric Theatre) to huge acclaim.

Shanay is the co-founder of West End Musical Productions. She and her husband, Chris Steward, are the producers and creators of West End Musical Brunch, West End Musical Drive In, the various West End Musical concerts and Musical Con, the West End’s first musical theatre fan convention, giving theatregoers the opportunity to meet the stars, celebrate the shows and learn from the pros.

Last year's inaugural Musical Con was a sellout with over 10,000 people in attendance over two days at the ExCeL, and it’s back this year bigger and better than before on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October.

In this episode, Shanay discusses all things Musical Con, her recent performance at the Olivier Awards and saying goodbye to Get Up Stand Up... plus lots more!

For Musical Con info and tickets, visit www.musicalcon.co.uk.
Follow Shanay on Instagram: @shanayholmes

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.
56 min
May 10, 2023 S8 Ep12 (ft. Elly Jay): Some Like It Hot, Moulin Rouge, Hairspray at Kilworth House, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, Pretty Woman + more!
Elly Jay (understudy Vivian in Pretty Woman) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Elly discuss Moulin Rouge (Piccadilly Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Tony Awards, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Hairspray at Kilworth House, Jamie Oliver's new theatre restaurant and lots more.

Elly is currently making her West End debut in Pretty Woman The Musical at the Savoy Theatre as a swing and understudy for Vivian. Elly original started as the second cover Vivian, before becoming first cover. She is now the alternate Vivian and plays the role for both shows every Wednesday.

Some of Elly's theatre credits include the title role in Cinderella (Theatre Royal Bath), ensemble in Ghost Das Musical (Germany), super swing at Universal Studios Japan for Universal Monsters Live, Sesame Street, The Power of Pop, One Piece Anime, Festa De Parade, A Christmas Wish and Guest Special Events (Japan), singer/dancer in The Best of Musical Starnights (European Tour), singer/dancer on The Britannia (P+O Cruises) and ensemble/understudy Good Witch & Bad Witch in Beauty & The Beast (Perth Concert Hall).
Follow Elly on Instagram: @iamellyjay

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.
54 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,…