Evelyn Hoskins speaks exclusively to West End Frame about reprising her performance as Carol in the North American premiere of 42 Balloons at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Evelyn co-hosted last week's episode of The West End Frame Show and whilst she was in the podcast booth she spoke about taking 42 Balloons' to the US. We couldn't include that bit of the conversation in last week's episode as the casting news hadn't been revealed... but now that it's all announced, in this mini episode we bring you the clip of Evelyn discussing how she feels about returning to 42 Balloons for its North American premiere alongside Charlie McCullagh as Larry.

Last year Evelyn starred as Carol in the fully staged premiere of 42 Balloons at The Lowry in Salford, having played the role for the concert performances at the Vaudeville Theatre. The show is written by Jack Godfrey and directed by Ellie Coote.

42 Balloons runs at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre 24th May – 29th June 2025. Visit www.chicagoshakes.com for info and tickets.

Follow Evelyn on Instagram: @evelynhoskins 

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins.

@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

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Evelyn Hoskins (42 Balloons / Spring Awakening) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Evelyn discuss Six In Cinemas and Retrograde (Apollo Theatre) as well as all the latest news from this year's Olivier Awards... and lots more along the way!

Evelyn starred as Thea in the original London production of Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and in the West End. She recently reunited with the original cast for a reunion concert at the Victoria Palace Theatre which she also co-produced. Last year Evelyn starred as Carol in the fully staged premiere of 42 Balloons at The Lowry in Salford, having played the role for the concert performances at the Vaudeville Theatre.

Evelyn's other theatre credits include: Wendy in Peter Pan (US Tour), the title role in Carrie (Southwark Playhouse), Maureen in Mrs Henderson Presents (Toronto), Dawn in Waitress (West End / UK Tour), Louise in Gypsy (Mill At Sonning), Tatiana in Spies Are Forever In Concert (Gillian Lynne Theatre) and Portia in Something Rotten In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). In addition to playing Liesl in The Sound of Music LIVE (ITV), Evelyn has worked extensively on screen. 

Follow Evelyn on Instagram: @evelynhoskins 

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.

Imogen Bailey (Newsies / Shrek) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Imogen discuss the new Wicked cast (Apollo Victoria), Hannah Lowther's How Very Hannah podcast launch, Austenland (Savoy Theatre), Snow White starring Rachel Zegler (Disney) and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Olivier Awards, 2:22 starring Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, Sondheim’s The Frogs, The Addams Family, MTFest and more.

Imogen's theatre credits include understudy Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical (Eventim Apollo / UK & Ireland Tour), original cast of Newsies (Troubadour Wembley Park), understudy Jan and Patty in Grease (Dominion Theatre), Shelly and understudy Tracy in Hairspray (London Coliseum) and Kate in Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre). She has also starred in multiple pantos in Weston-super-Mare and Portsmouth.

Imogen is also a YouTuber, vlogging her experiences as a musical theatre performer.

Follow Imogen on Instagram: @immie_b

Check out Imogen's vlog: @imogenbailey2837

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.

Lisa Martland is BACK to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Lisa discuss Alexia Khadime and Lucy St. Louis' final performance in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) and Big Night Of Musicals (BBC1) as well as the latest news about Mean Girls closing, Burlesque's West End transfer, Palladium Panto casting and lots more.

Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is a theatre journalist who has worked for theatrical publications such as Musical Stages, Musicals Magazine, Stage Faves and My Theatre Mates. She is the Founding Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com.

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.

Toyan Thomas-Browne (MJ / Shucked) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Toyan discuss Clueless (Trafalgar Theatre) as well as the latest news about Rachel Zegler starring in Evita, Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman and Rachel Tucker reuniting for the Gravity concert, casting for the Moulin Rouge World Tour featuring Patrice Tipoki... and lots more!

Toyan is currently playing Marlon Jackson in the original West End cast of MJ The Musical (Prince Edward Theatre). He appeared in the workshop of Bliss (Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler's Wells) and from May he’s going to be in the UK premiere of Shucked (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

Toyan's theatre credits also include: Ain’t Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre), Moulin Rogue (Piccadilly Theatre), Jack & The Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK tour), first cover Lola in Kinky Boots (UK & Ireland tour), Me and My Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre), Guys & Dolls (Royal Exchange, Manchester), Wonderland (UK tour), The Prince: A New Musical (Arts Theatre), Christmas On Ice (Spirit Productions, USA), We Will Rock You (Royal Caribbean) and The Wizard of Oz (Haymarket Theatre).

Follow Toyan on Instagram: @toyantb

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.

Kitty Harris (Standby Ali in Burlesque) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Kitty discuss Bliss (Lilian Baylis Studio) and Mean Girls (Savoy Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Olivier Award nominations, Remember Monday representing Great Britain at Eurovision, The Greatest Showman musical, Musical Con, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong and lots more.

Kitty was Standby Ali in the premiere of Burlesque The Musical (Manchester Opera House/Glasgow Theatre Royal). She also played Young Heather in Greatest Days (UK & Ireland Tour) and was in Calendar Girls (Mill At Sonning). Most recently Kitty played the title role in Cinderella (Blackpool Grand).

Kitty is also a TikTok-er with over a million followers and over 40 million likes.

Follow Kitty on Instagram/TikTok: @kittyharrisx

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.

Shaun Kitchener (writer of Here And Now: The Steps Musical) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Shaun discuss Musicals By Candlelight (The Actors Church) and Back To The Future (Adelphi Theatre) as well as the latest news about Wicked's performance at the Oscars, The Hunger Games stage show, The Producers, Into The Woods, Six, Pop Off Michelangelo! and lots more.

Shaun is a playwright and screenwriter... and also an occasional journalist and DJ!

Shaun's plays have included Positive which ran at the Waterloo East and Park Theatres and All That which ran at the King’s Head and was nominated for multiple Offie Awards including Best Play. For television he is a core writer for Hollyoaks. 

In addition to further work on stage and screen, Shaun regularly writes about pop culture for Metro and in his newsletter Absolutely! via Substack.

Shaun is the book writer of the Steps musical Here And Now which premiered last year at the Birmingham Alexandra and is embarking on a major UK & Ireland tour from August.

Follow Shaun on Instagram: @shaunkitchenerbentley

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.

Mickey-Jo Theatre and Aeron James co-host The West End Frame Show on West End Frame's 13th birthday!

Andrew, Mickey-Jo and Aeron discuss Hadestown (Lyric Theatre) as well as the latest news about Cynthia Erivo hosting the Tony Awards and being cast in Jesus Christ Superstar, Moulin Rouge's performance on Dancing On Ice, Pippin, Ballet Shoes and more.

Mickey-Jo is a stagey YouTuber, international theatre critic and the most recognisable London based theatre influencer. Aeron is a freelance theatre PR, but also a YouTuber and all-round stagey content creator.

Mickey-Jo's live chat show MickeyJoTheatre: Live! is returning to The Phoenix Arts Club for three shows on 16th March, 20th April and 18th May. The shows will see Mickey-Jo joined by musical theatre stars for an evening of interviews, musical performances, games and more. Each show will also spotlight a musical theatre composer. Visit www.phoenixartsclub.com for info and tickets.

Follow Mickey-Jo and Aeron on Instagram: @mickeyjotheatre @aeronjamesuk

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.

This week Andrew hosts a solo episode of The West End Frame Show.

Andrew discusses If/Then (Savoy Theatre), Cabaret starring Billy Porter & Marisha Wallace (Kit Kat Club), Jane by Matt Nalton & Jodie Steele (Other Palace Studio) and My Mother's Funeral: The Show (Yard Theatre) as well as the latest news about Patti LuPone, The Great Gatsby, Come Fall In Love: The DDLJ Musical and more. Andrew also reports back after the cast change performance of Six (Vaudeville Theatre).

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.

Join West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins for a bonus Show Talk episode!

In this episode, Andrew discusses And Juliet (New Wimbledon Theatre, UK Tour), Ghost The Musical (Wycombe Swan, UK Tour), Scissorhandz (Southwark Playhouse Elephant), Hadestown (Lyric Theatre) and Mrs Doubtfire (Shaftesbury Theatre).

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.