The WhatsOnStage Podcast

By Sarah Crompton & Alex Wood

WhatsOnStage managing editor Alex Wood and chief theatre critic Sarah Crompton host a weekly podcast on all things theatrical. News, views, frank exchanges and lists offer an unmissable guide to what’... more

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FAQs about The WhatsOnStage Podcast:

How many episodes does The WhatsOnStage Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 213 episodes available.

The WhatsOnStage Podcast episodes:

January 24, 2025 38. The greatest stage disasters
Sarah and Alex look back at some terrible theatrical fails and ask what they have in common. What unites Peter O’Toole’s Macbeth and Shogun:The Musical? Are there lessons that can prevent shows failing? And what did Anthony Hopkins learn from an early nightmare?
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43min
January 17, 2025 37. The future of West End musicals, AI reviews and Michael Sheen's next move
Sarah and Alex blast away the January blues by battling through a deluge of theatre news – from the West End transfer of Stereophonic to Michael Sheen's new Welsh National Theatre. Beyond that, Sarah has thoughts on the freshly opened hit shows Titanique and Oliver!, leading to discussions on the future of new musicals in the West End. Alighting briefly on the subject of artificial intelligence and AI reviews, they also discuss some of their favourite screen openings of the month - including Adrien Brody-led The Brutalist and Robbie Williams monkey musical biopic Better Man. Who said January started slowly?
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40min
January 10, 2025 36. Britain’s most haunted theatres, ghost lights, the future of the National and stage size headaches
In our first question and answer episode, Sarah and Alex answer your queries. What does break a leg mean? Are there any good shows featuring puppets coming up? Will the National Theatre change when Indhu Rubasingham takes over? And much more

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41min
January 07, 2025 35. Bonus episode: Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lloyd talk Tempest
In a special mid-week bonus episode, WhatsOnStage's intrepid deputy editor Tom Millward raced over to Theatre Royal Drury Lane to discuss the ongoing production of The Tempest, led by Sigourney Weaver and directed by Jamie Lloyd. Lloyd also spilled more juicy details about his production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita, which heads to The London Palladium later this year.
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10min
January 02, 2025 34. Will 2025 be a game-changing year for theatre?
With Stephen Sondheim’s last musical, Michael Shannon and Ruth Wilson teaming up, Evita returning to the West End, a bumper year at the National Theatre and Gary Oldman’s return to the stage where he started his career, Sarah and Alex continue their round up of the best theatrical offerings round the UK in 2025!
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36min
January 01, 2025 33. Top tips for shows to see in 2025 - part one
From a new Hamlet to Jonathan Bailey as Richard II, or from Cate Blanchett and Emma Corrin in Chekhov to Brie Larson and Rami Malek in contrasting Greek tragedies, Sarah and Alex take a look at some of the best British theatre has to offer in 2025
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32min
December 27, 2024 32. Is Wicked the best stage-to-screen movie? What might beat it?
As the musical Wicked becomes a big screen sensation, Sarah and Alex talk about the challenges and pleasures of transferring a stage show to a movie format. And list their all time favourites from Brando’s Streetcar Named Desire to Mamma Mia!
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30min
December 25, 2024 31. The best movies about theatre
With the release of Sing Sing, a film about the power of theatre in prison, in time for the awards season, Sarah and Alex chose their top three backstage dramas. From Synedoche, New York to Birdman to Tick, Tick….Boom! there’s a lot to discuss. And we know we’ve left some out!
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30min
December 20, 2024 30. What are the best stage shows of 2024?
As the theatrical year comes to an end with The Tempest, Sarah and Alex look back on the hits of the last 12 months from The Years to Fiddler on the Roof, from Oedipus to Weather Girl. With honourable mentions multiple musicals with very long titles. And Oliver!
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37min
December 18, 2024 29. Bonus episode! Wilde women Sharon D Clarke, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ and Eliza Scanlen discuss the National Theatre's Importance of Being Earnest
In a fantastic additional episode, WhatsOnStage's intrepid deputy editor Tom Millward hopped to the National to meet three of the stars of The Importance of Being Earnest. The cast discuss Max Webster's take on the classic, finding the queer underpinnings in Wilde's work and bringing new audiences to the National – as well as working with Ncuti Gatwa.
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10min

FAQs about The WhatsOnStage Podcast:

How many episodes does The WhatsOnStage Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 213 episodes available.

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