Curtain Call Podcast

Ghost Shows follows the shows that were conceived, programmed and even rehearsed in 2020 but were closed down before they’d even opened.  This is not a historical document - this is an emotional record of the first few months of lockdown. This is our untold story.  If you haven’t listened to the first episode, we'd really encourage you to do so. In Episode 1, we chronicled the lead up to the mass closures of theatres in March last year, and some of the individual shows that never made it to the stage. In this episode, we look at what happened next: the emotional and creative chasm that comes from finding yourself adrift in a wilderness.  Cast (in order of appearance): Lauren Grace - Actor Adele Thomas - Director (Narrator) Sharon D Clarke - Actor Maria Aberg - Director Ruby May Martinwood - Actor Atri Banerjee - Director Emma Baggott - Director Jessica Hung Han Yun - Lighting Designer Sunita Hinduja - Company Stage Manager Rona Munro - Writer Gemma Smith - Company Stage Manager Rona Munro - Writer Freelancers Make Theatre Work website CurtainCall Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year on from theatres closing their doors, ‘Ghost Shows’ asks what happened to the shows that were created, rehearsed and tech'ed but never lived in front of audiences? Presented by freelance opera director, Adele Thomas, the series features interviews with freelance performers, stage technicians, creatives and production staff from a variety of productions across the UK. From ‘the announcement’, through the confusion of government updates, in and out of lockdown, ‘Ghost Shows’ explores the unheard voices and impact of the pandemic on the day to day jobs and livelihoods of the freelance workforce.  Cast (in order of appearance): Sunita Hinduja - Company Stage Manager Adele Thomas - Director (Narrator) Maria Aberg - Director Lauren Grace - Actor Rona Munro - Writer Jessica Hung Han Yun - Lighting Designer Ruby May Martinwood - Actor Atri Banerjee - Director Emma Baggott - Director Gemma Smith - Company Stage Manager Freelancers Make Theatre Work website CurtainCall Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sally Beck Wippman, an American Director, had just moved back to the UK a few months before the pandemic sent the country into lockdown.  Far from family, and without an established place in the UK theatre community, she found solace in Freelancers Make Theatre Work - and the Migrants in Theatre movement. In this episode, Sally takes us into an empty Tobacco Factory Theatres in Bristol, England to reminisce on past productions and dreaming of future ones... She is joined by actor Joe Tweedale. Freelancers Make Theatre Work Website Curtain Call Website Episode Narrated by Leo Wan "Getting Better Every Day" arranged by Tom Johnson Episode Music Composed by Freddie Crossley Edited by John Schwab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Lighting Designer Prema Mehta returns to Storyhouse during the pandemic to reflect on previous experiences there, and also to show what a theatre freelancer feels like when they are no longer able to go into work with theatres shut. Prema has designed the lighting for over 200 productions, and works across the UK. Recent work includes productions at The Royal Court, Sheffield Theatres, Shakespeare’s Globe, Storyhouse, and The Young Vic. She has also designed for Madame Tussauds, The O2 Arena and Westminster Hall. She founded Stage Sight to widen the theatre workforce in offstage roles, and encourage those who are under represented backstage, so that our industry more accurately reflects our society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We thought we’d bring you a little bit of cheer in the form of our annual Christmas podcast. This year we turn our ears towards the creator of the world of The Wizard of Oz which, of course, begat the megahit musical “Wicked”.  In this slightly different Christmas tale by L Frank Baum, Santa encounters an unfortunate series of events that may or may not prevent him from delivering his presents.   Baum’s short story “A Kidnapped Santa” has it all.  Santa. Elves. Pixies. Knooks and Rils (don’t worry...if you don’t know, you will get to know) and Daemons....not just one of them. And to bring us this fantastical and fantastic story is none other than The Walking Dead and Wonder Woman actress Eleanor Matsuura.  So pour yourself a mug of eggnog, hot apple cider, mulled wine or just a simple good old cup of tea and let Eleanor whisk you away to the Laughing Valley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paule is an Olivier and Tony award-winning freelance lighting designer. She is an associate director of the National Theatre and of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.  She has worked on shows like Ocean at the End of the Lane, Angels in America, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Les Mis, Warhorse and Follies.  Her designs have transported audiences and characters to heaven, deep into the ocean, through the inner workings of a child's mind, through wars, and into dreams.  She is a passionate believer in collaboration - both onstage and off.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A little bite-size morsel of what's to come from the Freelancers Make Theatre team. A fantastic insight into the world of theatre in lockdown and it's anticipated return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No Pressure is all about artists, freelancers, creatives and creators like George MacKay - the people that make things happen, who are up against it every day, and work tirelessly behind the scenes (and as in George’s case) in front of the camera too.  This podcast was recorded at the tail end of the first UK lockdown in the summer of 2020, just before George was due to start filming a new project, "Wolf". He's one of the busiest actors around. so getting some sit-down time with him was a real win. George understands productions. He understands the huge collaborative effort that goes into a film, or a stage play. He’s grown up around productions, with parents who worked in the business, and he himself has been filming from a young age. Working with Sam Mendes, advice for young actors, work/life balance and playing in a punk band are just a few of the topics covered.  Curtain Call Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We catch up with Proper Production's Mark Ward and Loud Sound's Steven Reynolds as they take us through their journey from Newcastle to London via Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Reading, Oxford, Brighton and more. The #WeMakeEvents campaign continues to highlight the precarious position of freelancers and suppliers in the live events industries. Topics discussed. as you can imagine, include saddle soreness and crashing into buses.  Donate to the campaign We Make Events "Asks" Curtain Call Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We return to our first ever interviewee. Over five years ago, I sat down with West End actor David Hunter to chat about his career and recorded it, even though we didn’t know at that point we’d even have a podcast. Those were different times, for sure. This week, we did an online call to talk about his return to the West End stage after nearly 10 months. “Songs for a New World” was the first musical to appear on a stage in London’s West End since lockdown and I was there to witness what was a triumphant return, to say the least. Along with his cast mates, Rachel John, Rachel Tucker, Cedric Neal and Shem Omari Jones - they brought the house down on a number of occasions...even before the curtain! David Hunter official website "The Space Between" video Curtain Call website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a successful event lighting the Thames-side venues in London (and beyond) in red on August 11, followed by a global day of action on the 30th of September where over 2,300 venues around the world were lit in red...proving that even when there is no show..there IS a show... the next event is already taking place. The Survival Tour. A 1500 km bike ride from Newcastle to London via major cities around England. I sat down with Steve Reynolds from Loud Sound and Mark Ward of Proper Productions, two professionals at the very heart of the events industry and who are leading the Survival Tour to chat about the idea, the first couple days of riding and what the tour is hoping to achieve. We Make Events Website Fundraising Page Merch! PLASA Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tamara von Werthen, Lily McLeish and Josephine Starte are the podcast equivalent of the Three Musketeers - bringing justice and equality to the world of online audio theatrical drama. The Fizzy Sherbert Podcast is an extension of an idea that brought together the brightest female writing, directing and acting talent to the Hackney Attic. When Covid-19 hit, they needed to make sure that the momentum wasn’t lost, so they packed up their trunks and headed online. Fizzy Sherbert Website Fizzy Sherbert Podcast site Tamara von Werthen website Lily McLeish Website Facebook Twitter Insta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What started out as a campaign launched by the Professional Lighting and Sound Association to highlight the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the live events industry has grown into a global movement to keep the issues faced by those industries in the spotlight - both at governmental level and across the general public. We chatted to Nicky Greet from PLASA (Professional Lighting and Sound Association), Koy Neminathan from Avolites and Gavin Eldridge a freelance production manager to talk all things We Make Events - the genesis of the global movement, present and future events and what the industry needs to sustain itself until we can all get back to belting our collective throats off at a live event in the future. We Make Events Website Fundraising Page Merch! PLASA Website Are you a professional in the Events and Entertainment industries. Visit Curtain Call to see what we're up to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Georgia Tapp is an inspiration for anyone looking to find their way in the business. She’s done it all because she is a “doer”, and we love “doers” at Curtain Call. Sit back for the next 25 minutes and let Georgia tell you what called her to the theatre, her travels, the final auditions she was undergoing right when the pandemic brought everything to a halt and keeping your voice and body in good nick when you’re not using it every day. Twitter: @GeorgiaMTapp Insta: @georgiatapp @curtaincall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Founded by Stuart Brown in early 2019, Sounds of Broadway has an absolutely full schedule of musicals you love, along with some you may not even have heard about. There’s also weekly quizzes and request shows...not to mention his podcast. Needless to say he is a very busy man. His audience reach is truly global and growing and we were intrigued to find out what he’s planning and just how he manages his days. https://soundsofbroadway.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A returning guest this week. Playwright David Spicer and host John Schwab have a long history of working together. John directed two of his plays before...Long Live the Made Parade at a regional theatre and “Stop! - The Play” in the West End. Before lockdown, David and John were workshopping a new play. Covid stopped all that, but David didn’t stay still at all. He got to work writing new plays with Northern Comedy Theatre and went about selling tickets for the plays...something that is vital to support those in the industry that aren’t able to work because of theatre closures This weekend, an omnibus of the collaboration with Northern Comedy Theatre will be presented via Zoom before their final production takes place live on Sunday the 6th of September. https://northerncomedytheatre.com/ https://northerncomedytheatre.com/doing-the-business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our guests this week has already been on the show.  Laurence Mark Wythe appeared way back on episode 122 BC (before Covid) He’s not been sitting idle during lockdown, however.  Not only has he continued composing, he’s also started his very own podcast called Game of Shows.  It’s a fantastic podcast that pits cast members from different West End Shows against each other in a game of knowledge of all things musical. Represented shows include Hamilton, Six, Come From Away, Only Fools and Horses, Les Mis and more. They are just nearing the end of their first series and Laurence, his co-host Chris Stoddart and I sat down separately but together to chat about how it came about and their plans for the future. gameofshowsquiz.com  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/game-of-shows/id1513731808 

In this episode, we revisit our previous episode 39 to give you an encore of a Curtain Call show visit. I talk to the company of Amadeus, recently at The National Theatre, about the process of rehearsing with musicians who never had the opportunity of getting out from behind their instruments. But also had a chance to talk to the musicians about having to get out of their comfort zones and get comfortable with telling the story though movement as well as music.  

When we got a call from The Unicorn Theatre to take part in an R&D week to take it’s hit play “I Cinna (the poet)” and put it online, we jumped at the chance.  It was a fascinating experience to see just what could be achieved on the Zoom platform, and it’s safe to say that today’s guest, lighting and video designer Will Monks, absolutely pushed the boundaries of what could be done remotely. It was a brilliant week and was so successful that they are putting the show on and have already extended the run after the initial dates sold out extremely quickly. You can see all that he’s up to by visiting his website www.willmonkstheatre.com.

So...we’ve passed 100 days in lockdown here in London, and as restrictions ease down around the country for small and non-essential businesses, as of the time of release of this episode, July 1st 2020, there is no specific news for the theatre industry and live entertainment industries as a whole.   We know the pressure and uncertainty that puts on freelancers who work in the industry - and we will be bringing you a special episode with a panel in the very near future. But what about the buildings themselves? We have seen news reports high profile buildings going into administration including the Theatre Royal Plymouth and Nuffield Southampton Theatres. I had the opportunity to have an online chat with John David Morgan of the Theatres Trust to explain what they are doing to both raise awareness for the issue, but also how they’re actively reopening theatres that have long since been closed. THEATRES TRUST WEBSITE: http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/

Welcome to No Pressure - a podcast for creatives, theatre makers, artists, and ambitious souls with host, Matt Humphrey, photographer and founder of CurtainCall, In this episode I am so honoured to be talking to producer REBECCA WOOLCOCK - Lead Producer with Hartshorn Hook and Immersive Everywhere. This podcast is all about creators and theatre makers like Rebecca - the people that make things happen, who are up against it every day, and yet you’d never know it.  This is perhaps especially true right now - in the midst of lockdown that has been shaking our industry from the very core. As theatres, production companies and venues across the country face tremendous uncertainty and potential closure - we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. This podcast was recorded at the tail end of 2019 - BC - Before Covid - and a lot has happened since then. You may be pleased to hear that there is a good news story here, as Rebecca’s company Immersive Everywhere have recently announced that they will be opening a Covid-secure immersive production of Great Gatsby in London in October. http://immersiveeverywhere.com/ www.immersivedoctorwho.com https://immersivegatsby.com/event/the-great-gatsby

Whilst on lockdown, I have been mentoring five students from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts here in London. The five of them are all getting their MA in Acting and should be doing their showcase performances about now, but I don’t need to tell you if that is happening…I have been talking to all of them this week for the podcast My final guest student this week is Pear Chiravara. Pear is a fascinating and fantastic actor, coming to the acting profession after her best friend suggested that she follow her dreams. So she left Bangkok to travel to sunnier climes to attend Mountview and get her MA.

My penultimate guest student this week is Nathan Elliot. Nathan is another one of Mountview’s students who didn’t have a straightforward route into drama school. But his tenacity and perseverance paid off, and I think stands him in good stead for the challenges he faces in the industry, especially in a Covid-19 world. Nathan Elliot, acting student on the Acting MA course at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Keep listening this week to hear from more Mountview students that are continuing their course virtually in London and far, far beyond.

Whilst on lockdown, I have been mentoring five students from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts here in London. The five of them are all getting their MA in Acting and should be doing their showcase performances about now, but I don’t need to tell you if that is happening… My third guest student this week is Karen Ann Wong-Dorall. Karen is NOT your typical post-graduate drama student.  Already with a successful career as a teacher, the sacrifice she had to make to follow her dreams is inspiring.

Whilst on lockdown, I have been mentoring five students from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts here in London. The five of them are all getting their MA in Acting and should be doing their showcase performances about now, but I don’t need to tell you if that is happening… My second student guest from Mountview is Jessica Dawes. Jessica’s story is a fantastic untraditional route, having been interested in theatre from a young age, but feeling societal’s pressure to earn money in a “real job” before the tug of the theatre yanked her back in.

Since quarantine and lockdown regulations were put in place in March, theatre students across the UK have been adapting just like every other sector. It’s especially hard in an industry that is based on communication with another human being, either on stage or in an audience.  This week, we are speaking to five students on the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts currently on the Acting MA course. Our first guest is Gianni Selvaggi. We joined him by Zoom (of course) as he isolated in his parent’s home in Malta….I’m not jealous….not one bit.

On today’s episode is stage manager extraordinaire, Shane Thom. Shane has been behind the scenes on many shows in and around the West End for many years, very often seen at The National Theatre in London. He’s one of the hardest working stage managers out there working on the biggest shows including Evita, Angels in America and Hadestown.

This week we are bringing you the creatives behind the Curtain Call virtual play reading series “The Remote Read”. Tonight, May 2nd, we are producing a remote reading of Sir Tom Stoppard’s Play “A Separate Peace” Starring David Morrissey, Jenna Coleman, Denise Gough, Ed Stoppard and Maggie Service directed by award-winning stage and screen director Sam Yates. The reading will benefit the Felix Project and those professionals who have found themselves out of work during the Covid-19 pandemic. On today’s episode are the show’s producers. Myself and Matt Humphrey from Curtain Call and from Platform Presents, Gala Gordon and Isabella Macpherson. Due to the time we recorded this, Tim Kashani from Apples and Oranges Studios wasn’t able to join. This has been one hell of an adventure, and when we set out on this project merely two weeks ago, we had no idea how big it would become. All of the producers on this project could not be more proud of The Remote Read’s first offering. It takes a special type of person to be a producer, dropping everything and making sure everyone else is being looked after for the good of the production. But, as you can hear in this episode, we all love it. Get tickets at theremoteread.com

This week we are bringing you the creatives behind the Curtain Call virtual play reading series “The Remote Read”. This Saturday, we are producing a remote reading of Sir Tom Stoppard’s Play “A Separate Peace” Starring David Morrissey, Jenna Coleman, Denise Gough, Ed Stoppard and Maggie Service directed by award-winning stage and screen director Sam Yates. The reading will benefit the Felix Project and those professionals who have found themselves out of work during the Covid-19 Epidemic. On today’s episode is Director Sam Yates. Sam is an absolutely exciting young director, working on stage and screen. He was voted one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow in 2016, and named a rising star in The Observer her in the UK. His productions have been Olivier nominated. We at Curtain Call are so grateful to Platform Presents co-producers Gala Gordon and Isabella Macpherson for suggesting Sam and then going out to get him. He’s phenomenal to work with and is exactly the right captain to steer the ship.

This week we are going to bring you the creatives behind the Curtain Call virtual play reading series “The Remote Read”. This Saturday, we are producing a remote reading of Sir Tom Stoppard’s Play “A Separate Peace” Starring David Morrissey, Jenna Coleman, Denise Gough, Ed Stoppard and Maggie Service directed by award-winning stager and screen director Sam Yates. The reading will benefit the Felix Project and those professionals who have found themselves out of work during the Covid-19 Epidemic. On today’s episode is Stage Manager Georgia Bird. Georgia has just come off of the Broadway production of The Inheritance. Her previous credits include too many West End productions to mention, and now Matt Humphrey and I have thrown her into the deep end and she’s literally writing the handbook on how to stage manage a digital, virtual production.

On today’s episode is Costume Designer Amelia Sierevogel.. This week we are going to bring you the creatives behind the Curtain Call virtual play reading series “The Remote Read”. This Saturday, we are producing a remote reading of Sir Tom Stoppard’s Play “A Separate Peace” Starring David Morriessey, Jenna Coleman, Denise Gough, Ed Stoppard and Maggie Service. The reading will benefit the Felix Project and those professionals who have found themselves out of work during the Covid 19 Epidemic. Amelia joined the team last week and has been working with Director Sam Yates to come up with a look and feel for a virtual production, something that neither of them have done before.  For more information, visit www.theremoteread.com

On today’s episode is Entertainment Personality Adam Rothenberg. Adam is the creator of the website “Call Me Adam” which has been hosting celebrity interviews for over a decade and In 2018, Adam decided it was time to expand on his interviews and came up with the idea for a show entitled Baring It All with Call Me Adam which started out as a live stage show and has now morphed into a newly launched podcast. Adam Rothenberg or Call Me Adam as he is known everywhere.  Check out his podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow.  From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is theatre student Bethany O’Halloran. Beth is currently in her first year of training at the Oxford School of Drama.  As you can imagine, it’s a pretty crazy period of transition anyway into a first full year of drama. But to then have it curtailed in the way it has been with the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped her from staying on top of her training.

In today’s episode, we are talking to a couple of consummate theatre professionals who are defining a new form of theatrical storytelling. I think we will be hearing about Dance Musicals more and more as The Sisters Grimm keep producing groundbreaking shows. They work with pros at the top of their game including Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Jeremy Irons on iconic shows like Inala and Voices of the Amazon. Not only this, but they are constantly engaging in community outreach bringing underprivileged youth into the theatre to experience storytelling in a way that they might not have had access to. Pietra Mello-Pittman and Ella Spiro are an inspiration to listen to, and I caught up with them while they were on an unintentional lockdown in Dubai.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow.  From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is theatre journalist Lauren Guest. Lauren is the founder and editor of Theatreland’s most recent publication - TheatreNerd Magazine.  Spotting a gap in the market, she is bringing an online and physical magazine for theatre fans by theatre fans.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is actor Stephen Beirnaert. Stephen has been playing Timon, the mischievous meerkat in Disney’s Lion King for nearly five years now. He was most recently making his UK debut on the UK tour when the coronavirus epidemic happened. I caught up with him just as he returned to his native Belgium.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is an assistant professor Richard Bryant Richard is an assistant professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. His journey there isn’t a straightforward one - having planned to go for a few months, he has stayed for many years.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is actor, DJ and all round entertainer, Danny Nutt.  Danny has had a long career in the theatre world, starting with his time in the National Youth Musical Theatre. He carried on acting, then moved into DJ’ing and he also runs his own Children’s Entertainment Company..

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is actor, Georgie Luppi Now Georgie is about to embark on her career in the theatre business and will be auditioning for drama schools soon and is a member of the National Youth Theatre

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is actor, Bailey Harris-Kelly. Bailey is currently at ALRA South and he’s one to not sit still, and has his own podcast out of the Theatre Cafe called “Drink the Ink”

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; you’ll find them right here. On today’s episode is actor, Ed Stoppard. You’ve seen Ed on the screen in Upstairs, Downstairs and on numerous London stages, most recently in his father’s play...that would be Sir Tom Stoppard, Leopoldstadt.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is Actor, performer, writer, improviser Justin Brett. He has been on the West End Stage many times and is a member of the brilliant Showstopper! The Improvised Musical.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches; You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. Dahlia has had a fantastic journey, born in the UK but living in Spain and moving from acting into coaching and now voice reel editing.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. Each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. From seasoned professionals to drama students; vocal coaches to the life coaches. On today’s episode is New York writer Thomas Valorio. Thomas trained in London at E15 drama school before heading back to New York city via too many places to mention here. He’s now writing, but he’s a serious multi-hyphenate.

In today’s climate of increasing isolation, we want to bring you a daily dose of inspiration. In each episode, we’re giving someone in the theatre a chance to take a bow. You’ll find them right here giving insights into what drives them to be in the business and who inspires them. On today’s episode is London actress, Rebecca Humphries. Rebecca has been on our screens in The Crown and The Agency - to name but two - and she’s always popping up on a London stage somewhere. 

In this episode, I am so honoured to be talking to the first producer of a little show called Fleabag (which a few of you may have heard about) - the wonderful, modest and honest Francesca Moody. She’s driven, witty, brilliantly creative, and just a joy to speak with. She backed Fleabag early and took it to the Edinburgh Fringe, and cut her teeth working as a producer at Paines Plough.

Theo Bosanquet sits down with the one and only Olivier Award winner Janie Dee to discuss her plans for appearing on a much bigger stage. She is to star in the London transfer of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang. Whilst appearing there, Dee is to co-produce the inaugural London Climate Change Festival all happening at the Charing Cross Theatre. At the end of the episode, Dee recites Titania's speech from A Midsummer Night’s Dream - just as pertinent today as 400 years ago.

Paul Minx - whose plays include The Long Road South which played at the King’s Head Theatre with Imogen Stubbs and Michael Brandon - has a new play in town. The Dog Walker makes its London premiere at the Jermyn Street Theatre with Victoria Yeates (Call the Midwife, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) and Andrew Dennis (One Man, Two Guvnors). Paul Minx’s story of finding connection in the big city is as moving as it is funny, proving that hope springs in the most unlikely situations.

Welcome to the first ever episode of the No Pressure Podcast hosted by Curtain Call's Matt Humphrey. Matt is kicking off the series with a duo whose work, ideas and initiative I have much admired since they made a splash on the scene a couple of years ago. Isabella Macpherson and Gala Gordon are driven, selfless and passionate creatives. They are kicking off 2020 with the 3rd Poetry Gala on February 9th at the Savoy Theatre , featuring an A-list line-up, and raising funds for their Playwright Prize.

How many listeners have seen War Horse? Lion King? Avenue Q? The Grinning Man? Any Aardman project ever? What do they all have in common? Puppetry.  Puppetry has been a staple in theatre as long as there actually has been theatre, but the advent of massive theatre shows have taken puppetry to a new level, especially in the case of the first two of the aforementioned shows. After coming across Jimmy Grimes, I had to get in touch with him to see if he’d be up for chatting with me about his craft

Welcome to the Rock! takes you behind the scenes of one of the b biggest surprise hit musicals to hit Broadway and the West End. In our final episode of the series, you'll meet the lovebirds Nick (played by Robert Hands and Diane played by Helen Hobson in the West End and Sharon Wheatley who plays her on Broadway. Mayors Claude Elliott and Derm Flynn played by Clive Carter in the West End and Joel Hatch on Broadway and our local reporter Janice Mosher played by Emma Salvo.

Cormac McCarthy is receiving his premiere in the UK with The Sunset Limited at the Boulevard Theatre’s dramatic debut with Jasper Britton and Gary Beadle, two phenomenal actors with credit lists as long as your arm, and who’ve appeared on stages up and down the country as well as on our screens, too. Gary and Jasper took time out of their rehearsal schedule to chat with me about the play, relying on each other in a two-hander and also the excitement of playing in London’s newest space.

We are dedicating the final episodes of the series to bring you closer to the real life characters from Come From Away and some of the people that play them on both sides of the Atlantic. In this episode we’re introducing you to Harry Morrison and Sheriff Oz Fudge, David Shannon and Kevin Tuerff (otherwise known as the Gay Lumberjack) and from both Jenna Boyd and Astrid Van Wieren who play Beulah Cooper in the West End Cast and on Broadway respectively.

We are dedicating the final three episodes of the series to bring you closer to the real life characters from Come From Away and some of the people that play them on both sides of the Atlantic. In this episode we’re introducing you to Rachael Tucker and Captain Beverley Bass, Mary Doherty and Bonnie Harris, Nathanael Campbell and Tom MoCowan (who ends up as Bob in the musical) and lastly Jonathan Andrew Hume and Kevin Jung

Ros Blessed has been treading the boards around the country, following in her parent’s footsteps. And she has recently stepped into the shoes of the playwright, but has brought along her parents dad, Brian Blessed as executive producer and mom, Hildegard Neil as fellow cast member. Shedding light on what we often keep hidden from the world, The Delights of Dogs and the Problems of People and Lullabies for the Lost will be performed in rep throughout January at the Old Red Lion Theatre.

Before opening at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, we heard from the company about their pre-West End run in Dublin. And before that, the cast had a launch party at the Canadian Embassy in London’s Trafalgar Square. And in this episode, we are giving you a front row seat at that party with two exclusive recordings from the London cast.  

We’re taking a little festive break from that series to bring you our traditional Christmas episode where we read you a little story to help ring in the special season of hope, whichever religion (or not) may be. For the past two years, it has been me reading these stories. And I thought to myself “Surely there must be someone out there who can do a better job than me reading this…”, so I turned to friend of the show, and one of my favourite people to work with, Siubhan Harrison.

Welcome to the podcast series, “Welcome to the Rock!” A behind the curtain peek at what it takes to get a show from a seed of an idea all the way to a Broadway hit. In this episode, the creative team and the cast take you through their experience of opening a show in Dublin on their way to The West End. Many of them didn’t know what to expect and weren’t sure exactly how the show would be received. But everyone, including the audiences, were certainly happy that they did open there.

Welcome to the podcast series, “Welcome to the Rock!”. A behind the curtain peek of the multi-award winning musical Come From Away - and what it takes to get a show from a seed of an idea all the way to a Broadway hit and beyond. In this episode, meet the producers of Come From Away as they take us through what it takes to get a musical from a high school workshop performance to an international smash hit.

Welcome to the podcast series, “Welcome to the Rock!”. A behind the curtain peek of the multi-award winning musical Come From Away - and what it takes to get a show from a seed of an idea all the way to a Broadway hit and beyond. In this episode, meet the real inhabitants of Gander, Newfoundland and the Come From Away’s that you see on stage in the musical, including Captain Beverley Bass, Sheriff Oz Fudge and many more. 

Welcome to the podcast series, “Welcome to the Rock!” A behind the curtain of the musical hit Come From Away. Listen to the incredible real-life story of the passengers from all over the world that were grounded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland in the wake of the events of 9/11. In the first episode, the creative team behind Come From Away discuss their personal experiences on the journey of the musical.

Grace Blackman is a shining example of how you don’t have to go to drama school to make a living as an actor. She a true grafter, in every sense of the word. When she’s not working on feature film set or a short film set or on stage, she’s working tackling strangers in an escape room or she’s working on her showreel or she’s working on a new monologue.

Richard Brooker has been involved in theatre for his entire life. From working on the New London Theatre production of Cats, he worked his way up to Sound No. 1 and mixed shows for a dozen years before he started designing. He’s now one of the country’s top sound designers working on shows such as Dreamgirls, The Bodyguard, Funny Girl, Bend it like Beckham, Annie, West Side Story, Sister Act and many, many, many more.

Michael Longhurst’s production is a hard-hitting brutal play about teen depression, broken relationships, new relationships and stressed loyalties. But there is so, so much more in this play to discover. We had the opportunity to sit down with the principals in the cast just before warm up - Amaka Okafor, John Light, Laurie Kynaston and Amanda Abbington - to discuss the plays themes, the rehearsal process and the audience reactions.

Sophie Cohen, founder of House of Kittens, an erotic immersive theatre company sat down to chat with me about her new show Amatory Asylum. The audience will find themselves transported into a world of sensual theatre to experience a unique, immersive journey embracing the surreal, the dramatic and the erotic. We chat about House of Kittens, shows they create and how immersive theatre is a perfect fit for their shows. Don’t worry, you won’t get dragged on stage to take part in a spanking…

We’re going off-piste this week. This week, we’re going to give you a three of the bard’s finest works as you have never heard them before. A colleague of mine many years ago in the Reduced Shakespeare Company - Mikey O’Connor - well, we started a little project taking classic literature and turning it into palatable short versions that you would hear around a campfire, including folk songs. You get Romeo & Juliet as a country ditty, Henry V as a campfire tale and a Bob Dylan Hamlet.

Ken Davenport is a multiple-Tony Award-winning Broadway producer whose work spans around the globe. Ken is also busy giving back as much as he can to the theatre community at large. In that vein, he puts on a conference - The Producer’s Perspective Super Conference - every year where the world’s top theatrical talent gather for a weekend of education, inspiration and connection. We talk to Ken about The Super Conference and how he ended up as one of Broadway's hottest producers.

There’s a new theatre in London. And there’s a London debut to mark its opening. The Boulevard Theatre, right-smack-bang-in-the-middle of Soho, is London’s most technologically advanced theatre with a capacity of up to 165, and featuring a full revolving balcony and auditorium! David Malloy chats all things Ghost Quartet, its London premiere and working with the creative team that drove the success of the pie shop Sweeney Todd, which ran for ages in Tooting, the West End and in New York.

Earlier in the week, we brought you Samantha Pauly, Trent Saunders and Ektor Rivera as they got ready to go on stage. But I thought that just wasn’t going to be enough to really show you backstage before a show. Hopefully you’ll get a feel of what it’s like to be part of a company as I go from room to room and chat with some of the fantastic theatre professionals working on Jamie Lloyd’s production of “Evita” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

We were back at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this week - one of our favourite places to do our Curtain Call visits. It was a welcome return for us to see not only a Jamie Lloyd production, but following the sell-out success of Jesus Christ Superstar two years ago, another Andrew Lloyd Webber hit show. Samantha Pauley as Evita Peron, Trent Saunders as Che and Ektor Rivera as Juan Peron discuss their journey from across the Atlantic to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

This week, we talk to The Inbetweeners Joe Thomas, Olivier Award nominees Summer Strallen and Alex Gaumond, as well as Bo Poraj and Laura Patch about their new dark comedy "What's in a Name?", in which a dinner party gets wildly out of hand when a father-to-be suggests his son just might given the name of one of history's most vile human beings. 

Shure have come up with a microphone that is hitting the theatre world by storm. Smaller, lighter, better response and performance along with a body back that is far less conspicuous than those they have released before. I had the pleasure of talking to the Senior Product Manager, Microphones at Shure about the years of development and incredible invention and iteration that has seen their new Axient digital wireless system and the Twinplex system used on shows both sides of The Pond.

As Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank, Dominic Dromgoole oversaw 10 successive and extremely successful seasons at the Bard’s theatre. And now, Dominic Dromgoole is turning his hand to film directing, with his feature film debut “Making Noise Quietly” - screenplay by Robert Holman. I sat down to talk to Dominic about the transition from theatre to film, working with some of his favourite actors and what he sees himself doing next.

The Actor's Nightmare, a collection of Christopher Durang's short plays, is having it's World Premiere this week at the Park Theatre here in London. I sat down in their rehearsal room with director Lydia Parker, and pretty much all of the company to talk about getting their heads around playing many characters in numerous plays in the same production, the language of Durang, working in the round and their own actors nightmares.

When we were covering People, Places & Things in New York for Curtain Call, and Matt was busy taking some beautiful photographs, I was backstage chatting to the company. That is where I met Himesh Patel. Now, you may not have heard of his name yet, but you most certainly will have seen him on your screens recently. He’s the star of the film “Yesterday”, written by Richard Curtis and directed by Danny Boyle.

In 2008, actor Darren Raymond became Artistic Director of Intermission Youth Theatre. It couldn’t have come at a better time for Darren who had recently finished a run of Othello. He took charge with just four young people in that first season. Since that day, more than 100 16-25 year olds have past through St Savior’s and been introduced to the genius of Shakespeare, discovering that he is just as accessible today as he was 400 years ago.

Screenwriter and Playwright Janet Jones has had an astonishing career. She’s worked for just about every studio out there and not just as a writer, but that’s just the beginning. She’s written lyrics, poetry, worked as a tour guide for a major Hollywood Studio, writer’s assistant, script editor, and she’s even making her own podcast. She always has a ton of projects on the go. So sit back and listen to an extraordinary story of how somebody goes from Motown to the Tower of London in one li

BalletBoyz are now in their 19th year and have gone from those two original dancers to nearly a dozen, and they have moved into a fantastic home in Kingston on the outskirts of London. In June, they are bringing their latest show "Them/Us" to the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End, which will be the BalleyBoyz’s first foray into the heart of Theatreland.

Today, we come from a south London rehearsal room where we are talking to two members of the new company of Witness for the Prosecution who are about to join the cast of the site-specific production of the Agatha Christie classic which opened on October 6 2017 at County Hall on London’s South Bank. Lewis Cope and Carolin Stoltz play the lovers at the centre of this thriller and are extremely excited to be joining such a revered production in such an iconic location.

This week, I catch up with another friend i haven’t seen for quite some time. Along with his writing partner Timothy Knapman, Laurence Mark Wythe takes the story of The Big Bad Wolf and turn it on its head for the National Youth Musical Theatre. Laurence is an extremely busy man, so I really appreciated him sitting down with me, talking about his early career, how and why he got into the composer game and just what it’s like writing and recording music in a new digital age.

On this episode, we bring you Siubhan Harrison. Siubhan is the real deal. And she’s showing off her comedy chops as well as her dramatic acting prowess in the winner of Best New Comedy at this year’s Olivier Awards, Home, I’m Darling. We sat down in Siubhan’s dressing room for a quick pre-show chat to discuss how theatre is changing for parents, what we love about theatre and the proper pronunciation of Theatre Clwyd.

Ben Hewis is the guy that goes behind the scenes to bring you behind the scenes of some of the biggest shows hitting london. Recently. Ben has been up to something good. After seeing a production of Emilia (currently running at the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End) he’s been using the Twittersphere to raise awareness about the production and to encourage and take as many disadvantaged young women to see the show as possible.

We recently got to sit down with the company of "All About Eve", currently playing at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End to talk about bringing this classic Hollywood film to the London Stage, and then back to the screen on an NT Live broadcast.

Scarlett, Zizi, Saskia and this week’s guest, the wonderful Summer Strallen have all graced stages across London, the UK and indeed the globe - all the while picking up nominations and awards all over the place. And I had the absolute pleasure to meet, sit down and have a good old chin wag with Summer last week to chat about all kinds of things, because, let’s face it, she’s got a CV that most actors would die for, working for some of the greatest directors of our time.

This week, it’s a little mini podcast. One that shows just how manic it can be backstage before a show during one of our visits and one that you can listen to in between stations on the London Underground. Just about as long as an Oscar® speech. So why not let us celebrate the genius that is Olivia Colman. Not only is she a delight to watch on stage and screen. But as we found out this award season, she’s exceptionally good at an acceptance speech. Raspberries and all.

We got the opportunity to talk to Rachel Tucker about her role as “Beverley / Annette and others” in the magnificent "Come From Away". It’s a marvellous track, and we sat down to talk about just what it meant to be part of this amazing story that is SO much more than a 9/11 musical.

Earlier this week we brought you the first part of our “Get the Most Out of Your Next Job” panel at Surviving Actors London 2019. I was joined by director Bruce Guthrie, casting director Sarah Jane Price, producer Kimberly Thomas-Currie, movement director Amaia Mugica and lovely actor Sam Marks making there at Surviving Actors London 2019. Have a listen as we open up the panel to the actors in the audience.

Curtain Call had the opportunity to host a panel at Surviving Actors London 2019. If you don’t know about it, Surviving Actors was set up by actors for actors. We thought it would be good to have a panel that discussed how to get the most out of the opportunity you’ve been given. I was joined by director Bruce Guthrie, casting director Sarah Jane Price, producer Kimberly Thomas-Currie, movement director Amaia Mugica and lovely actor Sam Marks making there at Surviving Actors London 2019.

Curtain Call’s Theo Bosanquet takes the reins this week when he sat down with the Horrible Histories team to talk about their Coventry - City of Culture 2021 project with Director Adam Jenkins, followed by writer Greg Jenna. You’ll then hear from actors Jessica Ransom, Tom Stourton and Javone Prince before Mark Burnham, Costume designer, brings it home.

Curtain Call has recently published a couple of pieces about the top Broadway Musical transfers and the top musical revivals for 2019. We thought we would talk to someone who KNOWS about musicals...to go straight to the source…the amazing Jenna Russell. Urinetown, Merrily We Roll Along, Doctor Faustus, Grey Gardens, Di and Viv and Rose, Fun Home… These are just some of the more recent shows. The gal never stops… That's right... We're talking to Jenna Russell this week.

If you who didn’t get to see Follies at the National in 2017/18, you’re in luck, because Tracie Bennett is reprising her role of Carlotta Campion this Spring We had the chance to speak to Tracie during the last run about what it means to sing Sondheim’s classic tune "I'm Still Here, holding the stage at the Olivier and what it means to return to The National to perform.

The full episode of 108. which was just the intro when published This is going to be a two-parter, with part two coming out this Friday, so listen out for that...but to start it all off, Kinky Boots' Simon Anthony-Rhoden and Oliver Tomsett sat down with me just before Christmas to talk about all things Kinky from their first experience of Kinky Boots, to stepping into the big boots of those who went before them to just what it means to be playing in such a loved (and socially important) show.

In part one of this double-header, Simon-Anthony Rhoden and Oliver Tompsett talked about their first experience of Kinky Boots and what it means to be playing in such a loved (and socially important) show. In this episode, we dig a little deeper and get a little more personal as the boys relate how close to their hearts this show has grown, how important they believe the show’s message is and what they will individually take away from their time in Kinky Boots.

This is going to be a two-parter, with part two coming out this Friday, so listen out for that...but to start it all off, Kinky Boots' Simon Anthony-Rhoden and Oliver Tomsett sat down with me just before Christmas to talk about all things Kinky from their first experience of Kinky Boots, to stepping into the big boots of those who went before them to just what it means to be playing in such a loved (and socially important) show.

This week, to celebrate the holidays, I thought I would bring you one of my favourite Christmas stories. I have had the pleasure of reading an adaptation this story on BBC radio a few years back and, in my opinion, this sums up everything that we should all be, not only at this time of year but all year round. Selfless, giving, loving and grateful. So sit back and please enjoy the timeless tale, “The Gift of the Magi” written in 1905 by American author, O. Henry

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Andy Nyman (Tevye) before a show at London's Menier Chocolate Factory to talk about his journey to Anatevka, the setting of Fiddler on the Roof, the importance of the story (and not just to the Jewish population) and his personal emotional investment into this production. We were also joined by Paul Bogaev, the Emmy and Grammy winning musical director of Fiddler, who just happened to be walking through the foyer.

This week, we talk to co-founders of Showstoppers Dylan Emery and Adam Meggido, as well as the musical director, Duncan Walsh Atkins...who’s job is to keep up with the lightning fast improv taking place on stage and to somehow come up with any number of musical styles from across the ages at the drop of a hat…

Last week we brought you the first part of a two-part episode with Polly Bennett, the movement director behind Rami Malek’s breathtaking transformation into Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury for the hit film Bohemian Rhapsody. This week, we really wanted to delve deep into her passion project and full time job as creator of The Monobox. The Monobox is one of the best resources around for “emerged” actors, a word that Polly is owning...and to be honest, I love!

In the first part of a two-part discussion, we speak to Polly Bennett - a woman who has taken the idea and profession of Movement Director to new heights. In addition to being a superwoman running a business that supports artists, she worked with the RSC before going on to work at multiple Olympics ceremonies and top notch cross-over directors like Sam Mendes, who she worked with directly after Bohemian Rhapsody on the absolutely thrilling “Lehman Trilogy” at the National Theatre.

This week, we sit down with the writer of the world premiere of "Omish" - written by former Curtain Call employee Sophie Soanes and directed by Ewa Dina, as well of two of its cast members Joyce Omotola and Naomi Emanuelle at Above the Arts Club last week. We were super impressed by the enthusiasm at which this group of women was attacking the problems of not only putting on a play in London, but also starting a production company. All the while keeping their day jobs...and their sanity… 

During the final week of Jonathan Munby's production of King Lear at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End, we talk to King Lear company members Michael Matus, James Corrigan, Richard Clews, Anthony Howell, John Hastings, John Vernon, Scott Sparrow, James Millard, Caleb Roberts, Jake Mann, Johanne Murdock and Jessica Murrain

The John Lyons Theatre is located in Covent Garden within the CityLit building on Keeley Street between Holborn and Covent Garden tube stations. I sat down with Carys and asked her speak about what’s on offer there, both in continuing professional development opportunities for the theatre professional, but also about the history of the theatre, their recent productions and just how you can use this facility for a upcoming project yourself.

Milly Thomas doesn’t pull any punches in either her acting or her writing, and her latest play "Dust" tackles the issue of depression and suicide head on with no apologies. In one of our most honest chats to date, I sat down with Milly Thomas to talk to her about the genesis of her show, its journey to the West End, and all of the emotions contained therein.  

Kirsty Bushell, Claire Price and Anita-Joy Uwajeh, who play Lear's daughters had more to offer including a number of cast changes. Nearly half of the company are new to the production which can be tricky. We also touched upon the political aspects of the play - something which Sinead Cusack also had a bit to say about.

Curated by The Mono Box's Polly Bennett, the panel's discussion were kicked off by two questions about mental health and issues of self-worth. Those two questions took half an hour to address, and I thought I would let you listen to how the conversation unfolded. I found it fascinating, and hopefully you will, too.  It is apparent that we, in this industry, find it very hard to talk about how we are feeling, and yet we are expected to bare our souls in front of a camera or audience.

This week, Matt Humphrey and I sat down to talk with Vicki Mortimer, multi-award-winning designer...and just all round fantastic theatre professional. Vicki’s career is so full and varied, it’s one to be envied for anyone considering a career in theatre design. And not just theatre as we speak about it on day to day, but any production in a theatre. Musicals, drama, dance, opera, ballet...you name it, she has designed it.

The company of the National Theatre's production of "Julie" talk about how exciting it is bringing this 19th Century Swedish classic to the 21st Century London and being able to share it beyond the walls of the National Theatre's home on the South Bank to cinemas around the globe in their NT Live broadcast on the 6th of September 2018.

Theo Bosanquet talks to George Richmond Scott about his career as a vocal coach, how that role has helped him develop as a director, his time at the Sheffield Crucible, assisting on “Everybody’s Talking about Jamie”, why he chose “Blood Wedding” as his next project and why he set it in London in this reimagining of the piece.

We chat to London's Bring it On! company members Robin McIntyre (who plays super-earnest Campbell) and Isabella Pappas (who plays super-bitchy Skylar) along with musical director Chris Ma before the show at the Southwark Playhouse.

This week, I talk to the company of the latest revival of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice which begins playing at The Park Theatre later this month, where the director Tom Latter believes that, despite being nearly 30 years old, the play absolutely stands up in today’s fame-crazed social media driven world. 

Listen to John Goodman, Uzo Aduba and Michael C Hall share their experiences from the London stage.

We sat down with Rafe Spall and talked about Ivo van Hove’s Hedda Gabler rehearsal process, the intricacies of trying to look cool at all times on stage, avoiding slip ups on rose petals (you’ll have to listen to see what I mean) and just what it takes to come back to the stage as not only a theatre professional, but a theatre professional with a young family.

For the last 30 years, the Stage Management Association (SMA)has been presenting awards to the Stage Managers - students and professionals alike - with awards that recognise their hard work through hardship, misstep and mishap, hard work that ensured that the shows would go on.

We sat down with one of the founders of The Stable Musicals, Neil Marcus, a theatre producer with a distinguished history of developing new musicals and a massive supporter of emerging British musical theatre talent to discuss the growth of The Stable Musicals, their slate of new musicals and just how far they have come in the last four years.

The Factory is a theatre company like no other. No sets, no props, no blocking, no set cast, no auditions, open rehearsals...you name the theatrical convention and they are tearing it down.

I went to go see a show, as they say in the business. And that show was “Building The Wall” at The Park Theatre. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan’s hard-hitting piece. I got to speak to Angela and Trevor about their thoughts on the play at the Park Theatre, performing in front of major theatre stars, the immediacy of this new piece and what keeps bringing them back to the theatre.

Earlier in the year, we had the pleasure to visit the incredible show An American in Paris. I don’t think we have covered a show that was so full of triple threats… and maybe even quadruple threats - singing, acting, dancing, and stage management / technicians. There was so little in the way of automation of set pieces coming on, it was dazzling to see so much movement from the company, pushing and pulling, in between incredibly complicated singing and even more complicated dance numbers….

Curtain Call co-founder, Matt Humphrey, sat down with multiple award-winning lighting designer Paule Constable to talk about the proposed EU regulations, the huge implications they bring and explain in simple terms what it means for the industry here in the UK and across Europe.

We sat down with Sean Kingsley, Sanne Den Besten and Louis Maskell about how hard it is to place and describe The Grinning Man, (the musical transfer from The Bristol Old Vic to Trafalgar Studios), working with puppets and keeping the voice in fine working order in one of toughest sings on stage at the moment.

In this episode Lesley Manville, Jeremy Irons, Rory Keenan, Matthew Beard and Jessica Regan talk about their experience of bringing the classic Eugene O'Neill play Long Day's Journey Into Night from the Bristol Old Vic to the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End before their trip across the Atlantic to BAM in New York and the Wallis Centre in Los Angeles.  Curtain Call Show Page  

Listen to Mark Gatiss, Olivia Williams, Matt Cardle, Denise Gough and Lesley Manville talk about their love of theatre.

I want to give you guys the experience that we have when we go backstage. And no better an example to be in one of the boys’ dressing rooms of Giovanni Spano, Patrick Sullivan and Dom Hartley-Harris during a quick break while “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” is blaring out of the tannoy. You can hear mid-show vocal chord steaming, working out and having a light snack…this is what it takes them to get through this huge sing of a show.

Tyrone Huntley and Georgie Henley are currently on stage at the Southwark Playhouse in Phil Ridley’s “Angry” – not so much a play as a theatre piece with Huntley and Henley performing what Ridley describes as “vespers” or stand-alone monologues.

If you haven't heard of The HandleBards yet, you are in for a treat. As they describe on their website, they are "charmingly chaotic bicycle-powered Shakespeare". A roving company of bards who travel the country (and beyond), bringing a particular style of Shakespeare to audiences across the UK and beyond. Listen to Tom Dixon, a founding HandleBard and one of their producers, as he discusses the company's history, vision, views on sustainable theatre, burst tyres and so much more...

Jonathan Ajayi, Sope Dirisu and Anthony Welsh make up the brilliant onstage company of The Brothers Size along with Manuel Pinheiro playing live music while the action takes place. This critically lauded play is on at The Young Vic and has been wowing. audiences and critics alike. This week, Anthony Welsh, who plays the non-brother in The Brothers Size, Elegba, speaks about his journey with this play. It was a play he was completely familiar with, having performed in it 10 years ago and it was interesting to see how he approached it with a decade’s worth of experience under his belt.

John Schwab goes backstage to talk to the company of There or Here, Jennifer Maisel's new play, playing at the Park Theatre in London's Finsbury Park.

Alastair Coomer and Ginny Schiller, both members of the Casting Directors' Guild in the UK sit down and talk all things casting.

It’s not often that shows that have played the National Theatre Olivier stage come back for another bite of the apple. Those occasions are few and far between. But that is exactly what is happening this Thursday, the 11th of January at the NT when Amadeus returns. Peter Shaffer’s timeless tale set in Vienna, directed by Michael Longhurst, was such a quick sell out that the powers-that-be at the National did the sensible thing and brought it back in this season with most of the cast reprising their roles. Including this week’s guest Lucian Msamati as Salieri.

What is it like to be a swing on a hit West End show? Find out in this week's podcast.

Last year we covered Claire Van Kampen’s Farinelli and the King after it transferred from the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe to the Duke of York’s Theatre in London’s West End. This past Sunday, it opened on Broadway. The reviews have been raves pretty much across the board. Getting just as many great notices as the play’s star are Sam Crane and Iestyn Davies who play Farinelli and Farinelli’s Voice respectively.

Earlier this week, in Episode 70 of the Curtain Call Theatre Podcast, we brought you the company of People, Places & Things...well, not the entire company. There were three local actresses that joined the West End Transfer at the St. Anne's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. I chatted to them about their previous experiences of the show, what it was like joining an already well-established company and just what is a "Super Emma".

Matt Humphrey and I had the opportunity to fly over to New York and catch People, Places & Things at the St Anne’s Warehouse in Brooklyn. With both of us having seen the show a couple times before, we got to watch it again before heading backstage last Friday night. And I cannot begin to tell you how phenomenal this production was. The company has grown in stature, taking Jeremy Herrin’s production of Duncan Macmillan’s play to new heights.

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards shortlist was revealed with two cast members from The Ferryman among those nominated. Laura Donnelly has been nominated for Best Actress and Tom Glynn-Carney for the Emerging Talent Award. Curtain Call paid a visit to The Ferryman when it was on at The Royal Court, just as they announced their transfer to The Gielgud in London's West End.

We have seen a recent spate of high profile actresses making acceptance speeches at awards nights - highlighting the unequal representation of actresses on stage and screen and the need to redress the balance. It kicked off in earnest with Denise Gough at the 2017 Olivier Awards, actor Jimmy Nesbit even chipped in at the BAFTA TV awards, and is continuing as witnessed by Deirdre Mullins’ speech after picking up a Best Actress in Film award at the Scottish BAFTA’s. 

A few months ago, we went over to the ENO London Coliseum to take in the theatre spectacle that is Bat Out of Hell: The Musical. It started in Manchester before moving down to London, and last weekend the entire London company started their run in Toronto at the Mirvish Theatre. Bat Out of Hell is like nothing I have ever seen...or heard. The sound system in that theatre was incredible. And there were so many people in that production, that, for the first time, I had to have help to make sure that we talked to as many of the company as possible. Theo Bosanquet, who you have heard on this podcast before, and I spoke to scores of people that night, and we hope to have the majority of that content up on our site soon. This week, I thought I would bring you the full chat I had with Sharon Sexton, who plays Sloane in the show. We talked about everything from being in such a physically demanding show, various states of dress and how a musical theatre actor can keep their voice in tact during a long run of a show that’s such a big sing.

We were fortunate enough to find time with multi award-winning lighting designer Paule Constable, an associate of the National Theatre where her many credits include Follies, Angels in America, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and War Horse. She talked to Theo Bosanquet and Matt Humphrey about her serendipitous entry into the profession, her design process and collaborations with directors including Marianne Elliott, and how she feels the industry can improve in regards to gender and diversity. 

Curtain Call attended The Mono Box September Speech Surgery and talked to Niall Bishop.

I have been waiting to chat to my next guest for ages! I first met Olivia Williams when I was understudying Matthew Fox in Neil Labute’s two-hander “In a Forest Dark and Deep” back in 2011, and have had the privilege to share the stage with her on numerous Word Theatre stages around London. I am in AWE of her talent. Olivia doesn’t just play characters, she inhabits them. Rosemary Cross in Rushmore or Anna Crowe in The Sixth Sense to Miss Stubbs in An Education. On screen, you just believe her. And that’s brilliant acting. As for her on stage exploits...she’s such a powerhouse. And she's going from strength to strength in her latest production "Mosquitoes" at the National Theatre in London.

Curtain Call had the privilege of attending a Q&A after a performance of Man to Man at the Wilton's Music Hall this week. A fascinating discussion with Director Bruce Guthrie and Translator Alexandra Wood.

This week's podcast was recorded in the press room of The Stage Debut Awards, where winners and guest presenters spoke to Curtain Call's Theo Bosanquet about their own debuts. The answers were touching and surprising in equal measure (suffice it to say, we're keen to see Rufus Norris reprise his performance of a chicken). Guests you'll here from include Preeya Kalidas, Dan Gillespie Sells, Grace Moloney, Noma Dumezweni, Christina Bennington, Abraham Popoola, Lekan Lawal, Rufus Norris, Nica Burns and Kenneth Cranham. 

This week, I thought I would sit down with the Casting Directors Guild and find out just what it means to be a casting director. What it means to have those three little letters (CDG) following your name, and the path one takes to become a casting director in today's industry

This week's podcast is all about gender, a hot topic both in the news headlines and the arts world currently. It features a conversation with Camden People's Theatre (CPT) artistic director Brian Logan and acclaimed writer/director Lucy J Skilbeck. CPT is about to launch its festival Come As You Are, which features 'a host of gender-anarchists with more questions than answers'. Theo Bosanquet went along to find out more about it, and Skilbeck's new play Bullish, which is headlining the festival.

Reece Shearsmith celebrated a birthday this past weekend, and I thought we’d help him celebrate by bringing you a little chat we had with him when he was appearing in Hangmen at The Royal Court. Reece played the character of Syd, the stammering ex-assistant to David Morrissey’s ex-hangman Harry, both of whom are coming to terms with the abolition of capital punishment in Britain.

Bat Out of Hell The Musical starts just like it’s title, and doesn’t stop all evening. I have rarely been to a musical that kicks the door down with a wall of sound as big as it does here, and then carries on. Big props to the sound department on the show. And HUGE props to the entire company of Bat Out of Hell for a belting sound you produce. The singing on this show is off the charts. And we look forward to bringing you another podcast soon about how professionals keep themselves fit, both physically and vocally, when doing such a big sing. But this week, I wanted to bring you a conversation that we haven’t had the privilege of bringing you to date, and that is from a follow spot operator. That technician that sits, not just in the gods, but above the gods, and makes sure that special is turned on so that your star is basking in glorious floodlight. It’s a proper skill and the best follow spot operators are well known within the industry. Guy Aldridge has been at the ENO for 30 years working on hundreds and hundreds of shows. I talked to him about his early career and how he got to the ENO.