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For the best part of a decade, Jordan Broatch has already been performing up and down the country in various productions from Ellen Kent operas to playing in Oliver at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Since graduating however, Jordan has established themselves at one of the most exciting newcomers onto the London stage, starring in 2 stellar productions at Southwark Playhouse. Many musical theatre fans saw them redefine the role of J. Bowden Hapgood in Anyone Can Whistle, starring opposite Alex Young and Chrystine Simone. The show was one of the biggest Sondheim revivals since the composer's passing and critics hailed Jordan as a "blazingly engaging" performer. An openly non-binary performer, they have also been a vocal advocate for more diversity and representation of queer characters in the industry. It seemed particularly appropriate that in Lift, he got to play an Avatar - one that is not male or female. Whilst the role was less showy than Hapgood, Jordan remained enthusiastic about the time spent in the show and now proudly calls their company members friends.

In this exclusive interview, Jordan Broatch sat down to reflect over the past year so far and expressed his gratitude for getting to make such an impressive debut. It doesn't seem surprising at all to learn that they've been involved in the industry for some time, albeit only recently graduating as an adult performer. Still, they are humble and insists they have more to learn and indeed, we should look forward to whatever Jordan has lined up next. They also describe to us their ambitions for their career, telling us their love for The Other Palace as well as Southwark Playhouse where they made their debut. Jordan also makes it clear they will only work on projects that make them happy and encourages others to do the same, hinting they would also be keen to explore work outside the realms of musical theatre too. It's a fascinating to hear the young graduate speak about his experience and we look forward to watching them continue to flourish in their career.

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For the best part of three decades, Joanna Ampil has been recognised as one of the most prolific musical theatre acts to arrive onto the scene, taking on roles like Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Grizabella in Cats and Kim in Miss Saigon. After receiving a huge reception as Bloody Mary in South Pacific last year at Chichester Festival Theatre, she is reprising the role in the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical at Sadlers Wells Theatre, before heading on tour with the show. Although traditionally seen as a caricature, in Daniel Evans' new production, Joanna is given the opportunity to humanise this character and make her someone audiences are able to empathise with. It's an opportunity that she's fully taken advantage of as we are invited to see Bloody Mary through a new lens. Of course, Joanna's portrayal has also meant we are treated to a terrific performance as well as luscious vocals.

In this new interview, Joanna Ampil sat down to talk about how she felt it was really important to return to the show to tell Bloody Mary's story. After performing in a concert production of South Pacific in Manilla a few years prior to the Chichester run, she tells us about how surprised she was by how richly deep and antiracist the show really is. We also hear Joanna share her hopes for the musical theatre industry as in many ways, the industry is still continuing to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She hopes audiences will return on larger scales to support the industry and that shows like South Pacific will continue that drive. As she prepares to go on tour, we hear her also talk about her experience working on productions all around the world from her home in the Philippines to the rest of Asia and of course here in the UK. It's a fascinating listen and we look forward seeing Joanna continue her role on tour in the coming weeks.

South Pacific plays at Sadler's Wells Theatre until 28 August and a list of tour dates can be found on southpacificshow.com

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In a post-pandemic world, one of the brightest stars to light the London stage is Alfie Friedman. After bursting onto the scene earlier this year, Alfie Friedman has cemented himself as an actor to watch. Most recently, Alfie played Gabriel Davies in the hit Channel 4 drama The Undeclared War opposite the likes of Alex Jennings, Sir Mark Rylance and Simon Pegg where he also got to work under the careful direction of writer-director Peter Kostminsky. His performance earned much praise from critics and audiences, calling it one of the biggest breakthroughs of 2022. On stage, Alfie has also been making waves in the musical theatre scene, starring opposite his mother Maria Friedman in her Legacy show celebrating Stephen Sondheim, Marvin Hamlisch and Michel Legrand. Following this, Alfie went on to star in a new concert revival of The Witches of Eastwick as Michael Spofford, once again working under the watchful eye of Maria Friedman.

In this exclusive interview, Alfie Friedman shares what it's been like to thrust himself into the entertainment industry, getting to star in a hit Channel 4 drama and carrying on the Friedman legacy. We hear him reflect over the success he's earned over the last year and why storytelling continues to be important to him. After developing a large TikTok following, Alfie also tells us about why he loves connecting with audiences and sharing his optimism with the world. Following the death of his friend and mentor Stephen Sondheim, Alfie also takes the time to share his love for the beloved composer and pays tribute to the man who he credits as being one of the reasons why he's alive today. It's a fascinating interview with a young man who we expect to see continue rise in his career. 

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After a 2 year delay, Francesca Martinez' brand new play All Of Us is finally arriving to the National Theatre. One of it's stars is Francesca Mills, who joins us for this very special interview to talk about the experience of developing this show with Francesca Martinez and director: Ian Rickson. She previously starred in A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer in the Dorfman Theatre where All Of Us is set to play. As Poppy, Francesca hopes to give voice to an angry society, who are frustrated with the inequalities in society and who have been neglected during the pandemic. With the industry slowly changing and trying to give voice to disabled people's experiences, All Of Us should strike a chord with all audiences with Martinez's script encouraging empathy and hope for the future.

In this new interview, Francesca Mills talks candidly about returning to the National Theatre, after a pause due to the pandemic. She tells us about the experience of reuniting with many of the same cast from the 2020 run and how joyful it's been working under Ian Rickson and Francesca Martinez. Audiences will probably be aware of Francesca's work on screen, playing Cherry Donnington in Harlots and is about to be seen in The Witcher: Blood Origin on Netflix. Still, she insists that it is theatre that she is in love with and prefers doing, getting to connect with audiences in an intimate space like the Dorfman Theatre. We also get  a glimpse of Francesca Mills' personality outside of acting and she shares her gratitude for the experiences offered to her as well her career aspirations too.

All Of Us officially opens on Thursday 4th August at the Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre and tickets are on sale now!

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After travelling around the world as Glinda in the international tour of Wicked, Carly Anderson has returned to the UK to make her Chichester debut as Polly in Crazy For You. The production has already won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike where we get to see her take on classic Gershwin numbers like I Got Rhythm and Someone to Watch Over Me. The latest revival also sees globally renowned Susan Stroman return to the show after her Tony and Olivier award winning turns in the original West End and Broadway productions of Crazy For You, something that Carly also recognizes as making this incarnation of the show particularly special. Stroman here has also paired her with Charlie Stemp as Bobby, one of the most acclaimed young performers on the West End stage today and we get to hear Carly express her excitement at starring alongside him.

In this brand new interview, Carly Anderson talks about her upbringing in a small Scottish town in Morayshire and how she grew to love musical theatre. We hear her reflect back on her time working in the musical theatre industry and the journey her career has taken her on. Chichester has also slowly become a more special place for the actress as she praises Chichester Festival Theatre's close engagement with the local community and how it's reputation as a leading producing house has been able to draw talent and audiences from around the country. As Carly Anderson also transitions out of the traditional ingenue roles in the musical theatre repertoire, she also tells us about her hopes for her career post-Crazy For You.

Crazy For You is running at Chichester Festival Theatre until 4 September with tickets available now!

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After a 2 year absence from the UK theatre scene, Robert Tripolino has returned to make his Watermill Theatre debut in a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down The Wind. After critically acclaimed turns in Jesus Christ Superstar and High Fidelity, he also reunites with director and choreographer Tom Jackson Greeves to bring this beloved show to one of the UK's most prestigious regional venues. The actor-musical production is the first of it's kind in the show's history and boasts a strong cast of multi-talented talented actors.  Robert Triplolino, himself also a guitarist has been on the musical theatre scene for over 10 years now, first starting off in Australia in shows like A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and La Cage Aux Folles, before heading out on an international tour of Aladdin. Now as he prepares to open this eagerly anticipated revival, he also takes time to look back over the last decade as well as to talk about his hopes for the future.

In this special interview with the theatre actor, Robert Tripolino shares some exclusive insights into his career with all the ups and downs that has happened along the way. He tells us about his admiration for Tom Jackson-Greeves and his love for shows which have a big heart such as Whistle Down the Wind.  He also tells us about his passion for performing in smaller, more intimate venues too and the important connection he feels with his audience.  As well as being an actor, Robert is also a composer and regularly plays the guitar. Some of the shows he's written included Dreamsong which he discusses joyfully on this podcast as well as Guilty Pleasures and Death Suits You. Throughout our conversation, we hear him share his gratitude for the people who have helped him grow in his career.

Whistle Down the Wind plays at the Watermill Theatre from 22nd July until 10th September with tickets on sale now!

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Joanna Riding is one of the West End's most revered leading ladies, with two Olivier Awards under her belt and credits including Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Sally Durant Plummer in Follies and Jane Smart in The Witches of Eastwick. Today, she is preparing to open a brand new production of Gypsy at Buxton Opera House as Madam Rose. The production forms part of Buxton International Festival's 2022 season at the Opera House and Joanna takes time to acknowledge the splendour of the venue and shares her excitement about getting to explore the festival too. A Northerner herself,  we also get to hear her talk about the thrill of playing to regional audiences as well as to her devoted London audiences too.

In this rare interview, Joanna Riding reflects on her time in the theatre industry, having taken on roles in both musicals and plays. Since becoming a mother, she has continued to garner praise from critics and audiences alike for her performances in shows such as Flowers for Mrs Harris at Chichester Festival Theatre and of course in her showstopping performance in the National Theatre's production of Follies. Last year, Joanna Riding also returned to the world of Carousel as Nettie Fowler, nearly 30 years after her Olivier Award winning performance as Julie Jordan at the National Theatre.  As she prepares to play one of the most iconic roles in the musical theatre cannon, she also shares memories of working with the late Stephen Sondheim who wrote the lyrics to Gypsy and with whom she worked closely with on the National Theatre's revivals of Follies and in A Little Night Music, as well as in the film adaptation of Into the Woods. After three decades in the industry, Joanna remains optimistic about the future of musical theatre and tells us of her enduring love for performing on stage.

Gypsy runs at the Buxton Opera House from 7th July for a limited run and tickets are available now!

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Despite a mixed reception over the years, Southwark Playhouse is currently reviving Stephen Sondheim's early classic Anyone Can Whistle. The show which has light discussions of faith in miracles, corruption and mental illness has seen the likes of Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters and Rosalie Craig take on key roles in the show's history. In this final episode of the season, we are joined by Mayoress Cora Hoover Hooper herself: Alex Young. Here, we are treated listening to Alex's experience returning to Southwark Playhouse after playing in Promises, Promises and workshopping The A-Z of Mrs P.  After also starring in the National Theatre's revival of Follies, Alex Young also takes time to talk about the enduring legacy of Stephen Sondheim and why his work will continue to live through the years.

Over recent years, Alex Young has helped recreate some iconic roles in the musical theatre cannon including Nellie Furbish in South Pacific, Amalia in She Loves Me and Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls. During this time, Alex has firmly established herself as one of the most exciting leading ladies working on Britain's stages today, taking on leading roles in the West End, Chichester and of course Sheffield Crucible where she has starred in 6 different productions. Today as Mayoress Hoover, Alex is still continuing to receive praise from audiences for her energetic performance as deliciously wicked politician with an equally delicious soprano. In this interview, we hear her reflect over the success of her career in recent years and what it's been like working alongside a new generation of talents in this revival Anyone Can Whistle. We should expect to see Alex Young's name pop up on more theatre posters moving forwards and we hope you enjoy listening along to our conversation.

Anyone Can Whistle is currently running until 7 May 2022 and tickets are available here: https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show-homepage/anyone-can-whistle/

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After a hugely acclaimed 2 shows in the Bonnie & Clyde the Musical concert, George Maguire is preparing to return to the role of Buck Barrow in Frank Wildhorn's beloved show. Reuniting with Nick Winston, the director of the sell-out Theatre Royal, Drury Lane concerts, George will be reprising his role in the new limited run of Bonnie & Clyde at the Arts Theatre from 9 April. There is already much anticipation around this new production from musical theatre fans, especially after the success of the concert earlier in the year. The upcoming run will also see the return of Natalie McQueen as Blanche Barrow and Frances Mayli McCann as Bonnie Parker. West End star Jordan Luke Gage will also be joining the cast as the eponymous Clyde Barrow and musical theatre fans are preparing to be wowed once more by the show.

In this special interview, George Maguire sat down to talk about his love for Frank Wildhorn and his intrigue from the story of Bonnie & Clyde. Fresh from his run in The Wicker Husband at the Watermill Theatre, George tells us about his excitement at returning to London's West End to bring this show to audiences for a full run. A veteran performer, George Maguire has starred in shows such as Thrill Me, Hair, Oliver and won the Olivier Award for his role as Dave Davies in Sunny Afternoon. He earned huge praise from audiences and critics for his portrayal of Buck Barrow and we  expect his performance to be another highlight of Nick Winston's production. In the interview, George also reflects candidly on the real life story of Bonnie & Clyde, acknowledging the victims of their crimes and reminds listeners that these characters aren't necessarily "heroes" either. Nevertheless, with the ongoing popularity of true crime stories, we expect this production to be a huge hit and can't wait see George Maguire's performance.

Bonnie & Clyde runs at the Arts Theatre, London from 9 April - 10 July. Tickets are on sale now!

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55 years after the murder of Joe Orton, the Seven Dials Playhouse is preparing to revive John Lahr's Diary of a Somebody, a play adapted verbatim from Orton's diaries. It's also been 35 years since the show was first premiered at the National Theatre and George Kemp was kind enough to sit down to discuss the upcoming production with us. In the mid 1960s, Joe Orton was one of the most influential playwrights of his time, creating popular works such as Loot and  Entertaining Mr Sloane. Diary of a Somebody takes audiences into the mind of Joe Orton and his meteoric rise to success as well as into his relationship with his long-time partner and eventual murderer: Kenneth Halliwell. George Kemp is getting ready to take on the role of Joe Orton alongside a stellar cast including Toby Osmond as Halliwell, and also reuniting with director Nico Rao Pimparé who he co-starred alongside in Rope at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch.

In this special interview, George talks about his experience working with the company and exploring the complex dynamic that existed between Orton and Halliwell. We look at the legacy of Joe Orton and how his story still remains relevant today. The interview also highlights the importance of being able to tell stories that represent modern society at a time where more stories about gay men are being told on stage. George also tells us about his initial meeting with John Lahr at the first reading of the play, and how enjoyable it has been getting to work with Nico Rao Pimparé again. He remains ever humbled throughout the conversation about his work as an actor though as we also glaze over working on hit Netflix series Bridgerton  as well as his return to the National Theatre later this year in Jack Absolute Flies Again. There's been much speculation around Diary of a Somebody, especially after the enormous success around the Seven Dials Playhouse's premiere of Steve earlier on in the year, so it seems that we can expect this new revival of Lahr's text to be a highlight of the season.

Diary of a Somebody runs at the Seven Dials Playhouse from 22 March - 30 April and tickets are available from the theatre's website NOW!