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

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

May 02, 2022 S6 Ep10 (ft. Sam Turrell): Cinderella Closing, Two Wicked Films, Dear Evan Hansen, Tina, Hamilton, Rock Of Ages + more!
Sam Turrell (Drew in Rock Of Ages) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Sam discuss Tina starring Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Hamilton starring Jay Perry and Dear Evan Hansen starring Mitchell Zhangazha as well as the latest news about the Wicked movie, Heathers, Elf The Musical and lots more. They also discuss the circumstances surrounding the closure of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella.

Sam has performed all over the world on various cruise ships including NCL, Royal Caribbean and Holland America in their shows and with the guest entertainer favourites, The Flyboys.

He first performed in Rock of Ages on the NCL Breakaway over three years understudying various roles including Stacee, Lonny and Drew before eventually taking over as Drew full-time.

Sam then joined the UK tour of Rock Of Ages as an understudy for Drew, and has now taken over the role full-time for the latest leg of the tour! Sam recently returned to the seas to star as a vocalist in Burn The Floor.

During the pandemic, Sam started a business which fused rock music and online workouts with MoshFit, perfect for anyone who wants to sweat to headbangers!

The Rock Of Ages tour is booking until May 2023. Visit www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk for information, tour dates and tickets.

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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59 min
April 25, 2022 S6 Ep9 (ft. Benjamin Yates): Bonnie & Clyde, Musical Con, Grease, Hannah Lowther makes Heathers history, Rachelle Ann Go + more!
Benjamin Yates (Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Ben discuss Bonnie & Clyde (Arts Theatre) and Grease (West End press launch) as well as the latest news about the first-ever Musical Con, Into The Woods, Billy Elliot, Life Of Pie and lots more.

Benjamin is currently starring as Tommy DeVito in the West End revival of Jersey Boys at the Trafalgar Theatre.
Ben’s theatre credits include: understudy Fiyero in Wicked (UK 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). He recently starred in several episodes of Emmerdale (ITV).
Jersey Boys is currently booking at the Trafalgar Theatre until 2nd October 2022. Visit www.jerseyboysmusical.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.
52 min
April 18, 2022 S6 Ep8 (ft. Marianka Swain): Cabaret starring Amy Lennox & Fra Fee, Zorro, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Lift, Chelsea Halfpenny in Waitress + more!
Arts journalist Marianka Swain (The Telegraph / The i Paper) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Marianka discuss Cabaret starring Amy Lennox & Fra Free (Kit Kat Club), Zorro (Charing Cross Theatre), Waitress (UK Tour, King's Glasgow), Cinderella (Gillian Lyne Theatre), The 47th (Old Vic) and ISH Dance Collective (Sadler’s Wells) as well as the latest news about understudies and swings (including Carolyn Maitland and Chris O'Mara), But I'm A Cheerleader, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Addams Family plus lots more!

Marianka writes about all things theatre, dance, TV, film, books and more for the likes of the Telegraph, The i Paper, London Theatre, Radio Times and Dancing Times magazine. Marianka is also the UK Editor of BroadwayWorld and a regular voice on The West End Frame Show (this is her fourth time on the podcast!).

You can find Marianka’s work at www.mkmswain.com. Follow her on social media: @mkmswain

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
April 11, 2022 S6 Ep7 (ft. Ella Vaday): Olivier Awards, Anyone Can Whistle, & Juliet, Drag Race, Annie Get Your Gun + more!
Drag Queen Ella Vaday (Drag Race UK runner-up/The Book of Mormon) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Ella discuss Anyone Can Whistle (Southwark Playhouse) and & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Olivier Awards, Cabaret, Annie Get Your Gun and lots more.

Ella is the creation of Nick Collier. Nick started out as a musical theatre performer, with his credits including Cats, White Christmas, Once Upon A Time at the Adelphi, Fame, Salad Days and 42nd Street.

He was a swing in Wicked (Apollo Victoria) for several years before going on to cover Joseph Smith in The Book of Mormon (Prince Of Wales) and the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House).

Nick had been cast as Sketch and understudy Corny Collins in the 2020 West End revival of Hairspray. However, after the production was postponed to COVID, Nick turned his focus to drag and Ella Vaday.

Ella was one of the stars of Drag Race UK season 3. After winning four maxi challenges (and showcasing top notch vocals along the way), Ella finished as a runner-up.

Since drag race, Ella has been working non-stop. She is set to appear alongside Ed Sheeran in the film Sumotherhood and is touring Canada and Australia this summer, having toured in Pick N Mix with Vanity Milan, Chorizo May and River Medway earlier this year.

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
April 04, 2022 S6 Ep6 (ft. Maria Coyne): To Kill A Mockingbird, Gemma Collins, Sondheim Gala, Joel Harper Jackson in C*ck, Coming To England + more!
Maria Coyne (Wicked/The King & I) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Maria discuss To Kill A Mockingbird (Gielgud Theatre) & Coming To England (Birmingham Rep) as well as the latest news about Gemma Collins, C*ck, Stephen Sondheim, plus lots more!

Maria had covered some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre, she was standby Glinda in Wicked (Apollo Victoria), understudy Christine in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's) and standby Anna in The King & I (UK & International Tour).

Her credits also include: Kathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain (Adelphi Theatre), Anne in A Little Night Music (Rose and Crown), Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show (40th Anniversary Tour), Martha in Spring Awakening (Broadway Theatre), dance captain in Crazy For You (London Palladium) and alternate Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour).

Most recently, Maria appeared in the ensemble whilst understudying the two leading roles in Mimma (Workshop/Cadogan Hall).

Follow Maria on Instagram: @peachcoyne

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
March 28, 2022 S6 Ep5 (ft. Joseph Fletcher): Ariana DeBose's Oscar, Les Misérables, Ben Stiller, Sister Act, Jason Donovan in Grease + more!
Joseph Fletcher (Wicked / 101 Dalmatians Musical) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Joseph discuss Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre) as well as the latest news about The Oscars, the Dirty Dancing usher who joined the musical's cast, Ben Stiller and lots more.

Joseph is a deaf dancer and actor, widely celebrated for his run in the West End production of Wicked. He appeared in The Snowman in the West End and on tour across the UK and internationally. He was a dancer for the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony and was cast in the 2019 UK tour of the Regent’s Park production of To Kill A Mockingbird.
Joseph has also performed various productions for Deaf Men Dancing.

Joseph appeared in the West End production of Wicked between 2015 and 2019, and later returned to the show in 2021 for the musical's post-lockdown reopening and 15th anniversary.
He is soon to appear in the world premiere of the 101 Dalmatians musical at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this summer in the ensemble and 1st cover Pongo head puppet and 2nd cover Perdi head puppet.

Follow Joseph on social media: @josephjfletcher

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
March 22, 2022 S6 Ep4 (ft. Joe Aaron Reid): C*ck, But I'm A Cheerleader, Legally Blonde casting, Six at Hampton Court, The Tempest + more!
Joe Aaron Reid (Dreamgirls/In The Heights) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Joe discuss C*ck (Ambassador's Theatre), The Tempest (Pleasance Theatre) and But I'm A Cheerleader (Turbine Theatre) as well as the latest news about Legally Blonde, Six, Sister Act, Kinky Boots and lots more.

Joe's Broadway credits include: Stephen in If/Then, understudy Willie Lopez in Ghost the Musical, Catch Me If You Can, understudy Howard in Finian’s Rainbow, Fred Casely in Chicago and Ronnie Driscoll in Curtains.

After moving to London, Joe played Benny in In The Heights (King's Cross Theatre) and originated the role of Curtis in the West End premiere of Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre).

After Dreamgirls, Joe left London for Paris, and then moved to LA. He recently returned to London to star in Steve at the Seven Dials Playhouse.

Joe's credits also include: Smash (NBC), Daniel in Once on This Island (Lucille Lortel), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout/Laura Pels), Howard in Finian’s Rainbow (Encores), Man #1 in Why We Tell The Story (Lucille Lortel), Kismet (Encores), Joe in Lines (TBG), Gabey in On the Town (5th Avenue), Gymnasia in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum (Williamstown Theatre Festival), understudy Coalhouse in Ragtime (Paper Mill), Munkustrap in Cats (Northern Stage), Camelot (Boston) and Beauty and the Beast (Les Places des Artes, Montreal & Lyric, Baltimore).

Follow Joe on social media: @joeaaronreid

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
March 15, 2022 S6 Ep3 (ft. Richard Carson): Olivier Award nominations, Newsies, Pamela Anderson, Mamma Mia!, Maria Friedman & Friends + more!
Richard Carson (understudy Javert in Les Misérables) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Richard discuss Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre) and Maria Friedman & Friends: Legacy (Menier Chocolate Factory) as well as the latest news about the Olivier Award nominations, Newsies, Pamela Anderson and lots more.

Richard is currently playing the Factory Foreman and Combeferre in the West End production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre. He's also the first cover for Javert and Fight Captain. Richard joined Les Mis in 2019 when the show re-opened at the Sondheim, and also appeared in the show's concert production during the pandemic.

Just a few of Richard's other credits include: Sky Masterson in Guy and Dolls (The Mill at Sonning), Sky in Mamma Mia! (Novello), understudy Chris in Miss Saigon (Prince Edward), understudy Fiyero in Wicked (Original UK & Ireland Tour), Strephon in Sasha Regan’s All-Male Iolanthe (UK Tour), Jason in Myth (Other Palace), Farmer in Oklahoma! (Royal Albert Hall) and Man 1 in Closer Than Ever (Pheasantry).

Richard previously co-hosted the eighth episode of The West End Frame Show whilst he was playing Reuben and covering Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium).

Follow Richard on social media: @RichardCarson21

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
March 14, 2022 BONUS (ft. Christina Bianco & Jodie Steele): The Rise and Fall of Little Voice tour & But I'm a Cheerleader at the Turbine
We're kicking off the week with a bonus episode of The West End Frame Show! Christina Bianco & Jodie Steele join us to discuss their latest projects.

Christina Bianco is preparing to play LV in a brand new touring production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. From Judy Garland to Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe to Billie Holliday, in the show Christina vividly brings to life performances from the great chanteuses in Jim Cartwright’s tender and life-affirming play.

Renowned for her musical impressions, Christina tours the world with her acclaimed one woman shows and is well known for her viral videos. She made her West End debut in Forbidden Broadway (Vaudeville) and starred as Fanny Brice in Stephen Mears’ acclaimed production of Funny Girl in Paris.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice opens 23rd March at MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton before touring nationally until 16th July 2022. For more information please visit www.littlevoiceuk.com.

Jodie Steele is starring in the world premiere of the musical adaptation of But I’m A Cheerleader at the Turbine Theatre, where it was formerly presented as part of MT Fest in 2019.

Jodie's theatre credits include: Standby Elphaba in Wicked (international tour), Katherine Howard in Six (UK & Ireland tour) and Carmen in Fame (UK tour). She is renowned for creating the role of Heather Chandler in the UK premiere of Heathers, a role she reprised last year when the show returned to the West End.

But I’m A Cheerleader runs at the Turbine Theatre until 16th April 2022. Visit www.theturbinetheatre.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.
36 min
March 08, 2022 S6 Ep2 (ft. Bryony Duncan): Beautiful, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family, Mimma, Crazy For You + more!
Bryony Duncan (Super Swing in Six) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew & Bryony discuss Beautiful (Curve/UK Tour), Jersey Boys (UK Tour), The Addams Family (UK Tour) and Mimma (Cadogan Hall) as well as the latest news about Joel Harper-Jackson, Crazy For You, Rob Madge, Cabaret and lots more!

Having trained at Mechanic Performing Arts, Bryony went on to play Geraldine in Doctor TV & The Zombies at the Leeds Playhouse before setting sail as a lead vocalist for TUI Cruise Line. She then joined the original Bliss cast of Six The Musical for Norwegian Cruise Line. Bryony was originally a swing for Boleyn, Seymour and Howard but took over as Katherine Howard during the contract.

After the lockdowns, Bryony returned to Six as a Universal Swing for West End and tour, regularly performing with both productions. She stayed with the West End company as a Super Swing when Six transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre and completed her run in November last year.

Follow Bryony on Instagram: @bryonyduncan

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

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,…