The WhatsOnStage Podcast

By Sarah Crompton & Alex WoodTV & Film Society & Culture Arts Performing Arts

The WhatsOnStage Podcast episodes

February 07, 2025 41. Can critics spoil shows?
Sarah and Alex went together to see Inside Number Nine Stage/Fright and give their verdict from the stalls. Plus Alex takes us behind the scenes - and under the stage - for the WhatsOnStage Awards and both pick the shows to look out for from new season announcements at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and Hampstead.

This episode is sponsored by The May Fair, a five star hotel in London’s most iconic neighbourhood.
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36 min
January 31, 2025 40. Bonus episode: Cameron Mackintosh, Matthew Bourne and more talk Oliver! in the West End
Consider yourself spoilt with a bonus podcast episode as Cameron Mackintosh, Matthew Bourne, Shanay Holmes, Simon Lipkin and Billy Jenkins talk bringing Oliver! to the West End! If you're looking for our main episode, we released it slightly early this week – so scroll on to hear more from the RSC's co-artistic directors.
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10 min
January 29, 2025 39. Special guests Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey on the RSC's gigantic plans for the year
Joined by two famed artistic leaders, podcast hosts Sarah Crompton and Alex Wood discuss the RSC's exciting plans for the coming year - including a new stage version of The BFG, the transfer of Broadway hit Fat Ham, a football-focussed Much Ado About Nothing, Somerset Maugham's The Constant Wife (boldly reimagined by Laura Wade) and a deluge of tantalising productions. Oh, and, a large amount of chat about Chiltern Railways.
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36 min
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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43 min
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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40 min
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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41 min
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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10 min
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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36 min
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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32 min
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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30 min

About The WhatsOnStage Podcast

From the publisher's feed

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…