Step into the captivating world of live performance with the Theatre Audience Podcast! Hosted by the dynamic duo, Natalie and Darren and special guests. This ongoing series promises to whisk you away into the heart of the theatre scene.
Every Thursday afternoon, we bring you insights into the latest shows, buzz-worthy theatre news, and exclusive interviews with industry insiders. It's your backstage pass to the drama, the laughter, and the sheer magic of the stage.
Join us on this exhilarating theatrical journey where the curtains never close on excitement. Tune in, stay ahead of the curve, and let your love for theatre shine bright! Don't miss out... Subscribe now for a front-row seat to the most thrilling episodes.
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In Conversation with Torben Betts
dimanche 8 novembre 2026 • Durée 35:50
What really happened to Marilyn Monroe and Lee Harvey Oswald? And how far would you go to uncover the truth?
This episode, we are joined by acclaimed British playwright Torben Betts, whose distinctive blend of dark humour, psychological tension and sharp social observation has made him one of the most compelling voices in contemporary British theatre.
From Invincible and Muswell Hill to Murder in the Dark, Torben reflects on his life, career and fascination with the secrets, contradictions and darker sides of human behaviour. We explore the relationship between comedy and suspense, the challenges of writing for the stage and what continues to inspire his storytelling.
At the heart of our conversation is his latest play, Speculations, receiving its world premiere at London's Marylebone Theatre. Directed by the legendary Sir Trevor Nunn and starring the extraordinary Janie Dee, the production follows American journalist Dorothy Kilgallen as she investigates the mysterious deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Lee Harvey Oswald.
Torben reveals what drew him to Kilgallen's extraordinary story, the research that took him deep into the world of political intrigue and conspiracy theories, and the delicate balance between historical fact and dramatic fiction.
We also discuss collaborating with Sir Trevor Nunn, seeing Janie Dee bring Dorothy Kilgallen to life, and whether a good playwright needs to be just a little bit paranoid.
A fascinating conversation about theatre, truth, power and the stories that refuse to stay buried.
Kimberly Akimbo, Stories, The Master Builder & La Perle
Saison 6 · Épisode 54
jeudi 5 novembre 2026 • Durée 43:42
This episode, we're taking you on quite the theatrical journey! From the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo to the extraordinary dancers of Stories at the Peacock Theatre, a contemporary revival of Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder at the Arcola Theatre, and the breathtaking aquatic spectacle of La Perle in Dubai. Four very different productions, taking us from intimate human stories and complicated relationships to astonishing physical performances and theatrical spectacle on an enormous scale.
Kimberly Akimbo
Five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and now a much-anticipated London production starring the wonderful Maria Friedman. With book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Jeanine Tesori and direction by Michael Longhurst, Kimberly Akimbo tells the bittersweet story of a teenager with a rare genetic condition that causes her to age four times faster than normal. Friedman leads a terrific cast including Alice Fearn, Peter Hannah, Niamh Perry and Gilli Jones in a musical that finds humour, heartbreak and hope in the most unexpected places. We discuss whether this unconventional coming-of-age story lives up to its Broadway acclaim, and how a musical about growing old before your time can have so much to say about living in the moment.
STORIES: The Tap Dance Sensation
Tap dancing like you've never seen it before! From French choreographer Romain Rachline Borgeaud and RB Dance Company, STORIES brings ten extraordinary dancers together in an explosive fusion of tap, urban jazz and cinematic storytelling. The production follows Icarus, a successful young actor trapped under the control of a powerful film director, with spectacular choreography and inventive staging transporting audiences through film sets, hotels and gambling clubs. Natalie explores the extraordinary precision, athleticism and energy of a company determined to reinvent tap dance for a new generation.
The Master Builder
Greg Hicks takes on one of Henrik Ibsen's most complex characters in The Master Builder, directed by Mehmet Ergen, in a new English version by David Edgar. Hicks plays Halvard Solness, a celebrated architect whose professional success masks insecurity, fear and an increasingly destructive relationship with the people around him. When the mysterious Hilde Wangel reappears, his carefully constructed world begins to unravel. With as Hilde, as Doctor Herdal, as Ragnar Brovik and as Aline Solness, this stripped-back production places the focus firmly on Ibsen's characters and their complicated relationships. We discuss the challenges of making Ibsen resonate with modern audiences, Binder's compelling performance and why Peter Guinness proves such a welcome presence in a production that doesn't entirely convince.
Damien Warren-Smith: The Man Behind Garry Starr
Saison 6 · Épisode 53
lundi 2 novembre 2026 • Durée 33:15
In this episode, we sit down with award-winning actor, writer and producer Damien Warren-Smith, the creative force behind the brilliantly anarchic alter ego Garry Starr.
From training at the legendary École Philippe Gaulier in Paris to becoming an international comedy sensation, Damien has carved out a unique place in contemporary theatre through his fearless physical comedy, absurdist humour and extraordinary clowning skills.
His multi-award-winning show, Garry Starr: Classic Penguins, sees his outrageous alter ego embark on a wildly ambitious mission to save literature from extinction by performing every Penguin Classic ever written — mostly naked and occasionally wearing flippers! The production has delighted audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in London's West End and internationally.
We explore the origins of Garry Starr, the art of clowning, the freedom and vulnerability of performing naked on stage, and whether creating Garry was Damien's very own David Bowie–Ziggy Stardust moment. We also discuss the fine line between highbrow literature and gloriously lowbrow comedy, the unpredictability of live performance and what happens when a theatrical alter ego develops a life of his own.
And, of course, we ask the ultimate question: after all these years, who's really in charge - Damien or Garry?
A wonderfully entertaining conversation about creativity, comedy, taking risks and the glorious art of making a complete fool of yourself.
This episode, we're exploring two productions that put human relationships centre stage: a bold new interpretation of Jonathan Larson's iconic musical Rent, and the contemporary drama How to Keep Warm in Winter.
From the passion, rebellion and unforgettable music of Rent to the emotional complexities of navigating life's colder moments, both productions explore what it means to find love, belonging and hope when circumstances are working against you.
Rent
Thirty years after its Broadway debut, Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical Rent returns to the West End in an electrifying new production directed by Luke Sheppard.
Inspired by Puccini's La Bohème, the story follows a group of young artists struggling with love, friendship, identity and the realities of living through the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York's East Village.
Gaten Matarazzo, best known for Stranger Things, leads the company as Mark, alongside Travis Ross as Roger, Alexa Lopez as Mimi, Jeevan Braich as Angel, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen and Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne.
With choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, we discuss how this reimagined production brings fresh energy to Larson's much-loved score, and whether its themes of community, creativity and living for today remain as powerful as ever.
How to Keep Warm in Winter
From the streets of New York to 1970s South London, How to Keep Warm in Winter explores love, migration and the challenges of building a new life in an unfamiliar country.
Written and directed by Kaleb D'Aguilar, the play takes us to London in 1973, as Prime Minister Edward Heath's Three-Day Week looms and Britain faces a deepening energy crisis.
Ballet Black, The Gang of Three, Thelma & Louise & The Story
Saison 6 · Épisode 51
jeudi 22 octobre 2026 • Durée 41:55
This episode, we're celebrating a remarkable variety of theatre, from Ballet Black's 25th anniversary at Sadler's Wells to political intrigue in The Gang of Three, a thrilling musical reinvention of Thelma & Louise at the Young Vic, and a gripping newsroom drama starring Letitia Wright at the National Theatre.
Ballet Black at 25
Founded by Cassa Pancho, the groundbreaking Ballet Black celebrates 25 years of championing dancers of Black and Asian descent with an extraordinary double bill.
Mthuthuzeli November's Olivier Award-winning Ingoma, inspired by the 1946 South African miners' strike, returns alongside …all towards hope, a joyful new commission from acclaimed American choreographer Hope Boykin, making her UK choreographic debut.
We explore how this remarkable company continues to challenge conventions, champion diverse voices and tell powerful stories through dance.
The Gang of Three
Politics, ambition and a fascinating glimpse behind the closed doors of Westminster.
Written by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky and directed by Kirsty Patrick Ward, The Gang of Three brings together three towering Labour politicians: Roy Jenkins, Denis Healey and Tony Crosland, whose friendships, rivalries and political ambitions helped shape modern Britain.
Starring Hywel Morgan as Jenkins, Colin Tierney as Healey and Alan Cox as Crosland, this sharp, witty political drama explores loyalty, ideology and the compromises made in the pursuit of power.
Thelma & Louise
Buckle up! The iconic 1991 road movie becomes a brand-new musical at the Young Vic.
In Conversation with Tim Crouch
Saison 6 · Épisode 50
mardi 20 octobre 2026 • Durée 36:29
This episode, we're joined by the wonderfully inventive Tim Crouch - award-winning playwright, director, performer and one of British theatre's most original voices.
From My Arm and The Author to I, Malvolio, An Oak Tree and Truth's a Dog Must to Kennel, Tim has spent his career questioning what theatre is, how stories are told and the extraordinary relationship between performer and audience.
At the heart of our conversation is his groundbreaking play An Oak Tree, a theatrical experiment in which a different guest actor takes to the stage at every performance, having neither seen nor read the script beforehand. It's an extraordinary exploration of grief, suggestion, imagination and the unpredictable magic of live performance.
We explore Tim's unconventional approach to storytelling, his fascination with the audience's imagination, the risks of surrendering control and why uncertainty can be one of theatre's greatest strengths.
Thought-provoking, playful and refreshingly unconventional, this is a conversation about creativity, trust and the wonderfully strange things that happen when performers and audiences share a room.
Because with Tim Crouch, theatre isn't simply something you watch. It's something you help create.
The Afronauts, Golden Boy & Million Dollar Quartet
Saison 6 · Épisode 49
vendredi 16 octobre 2026 • Durée 55:02
This episode, we're travelling from the Royal Court Theatre's exciting launch of The Afronauts to the bruising world of Golden Boy, before turning up the volume with Million Dollar Quartet.
It's an episode packed with theatrical ambition, extraordinary performances, musical legends and stories about people determined to follow their dreams - whatever the cost.
The Afronauts - Royal Court Theatre Launch Party & Cast Reveal
We're at the Royal Court Theatre for a special launch party and cast reveal for The Afronauts, an intriguing new production that promises to take audiences on a journey beyond the ordinary. Natalie catches a moment with the writer and co-directors Ryan Calais Cameron and Monique Touko and actor Lucian Msamati.
We bring you a flavour of the celebrations, the excitement surrounding the announcement and a first look at the company bringing this ambitious new work to the stage.
Golden Boy
Josh O'Connor steps into the ring in Golden Boy, Clifford Odets' powerful drama about a gifted young violinist who abandons his musical ambitions for the potentially lucrative but brutal world of professional boxing.
It's a story about ambition, identity, family expectations and the sacrifices we make in pursuit of success.
O'Connor delivers an intensely physical performance, while Hayley Squires is a particular standout in a production that finds ingenious theatrical ways to bring the violence of boxing to life - without needing to stage a conventional fight.
We discuss the clever use of a suspended punchbag, the extraordinary contribution of lighting and sound, and whether the production lands its emotional punches as convincingly as its physical ones.
From the Heart, Tartuffe (Remixed), Jerker & Hay Fever
Saison 6 · Épisode 48
jeudi 8 octobre 2026 • Durée 49:47
This episode, we're covering four very different theatrical experiences, from an exclusive press-junket sneak peek at legendary lyricist Don Black's West End celebration From the Heart to a bold reimagining of Molière's Tartuffe, the provocative intimacy of Jerker, and Noël Coward's gloriously chaotic comedy Hay Fever.
It's an episode packed with theatrical royalty, wicked humour, unexpected tenderness and some wonderfully questionable behaviour.
Don Black's From the Heart - Press Junket Sneak Peek
We kick things off with a special behind-the-scenes visit to the press junket for Don Black's From the Heart, returning to the Garrick Theatre.
Celebrating the extraordinary career of Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black, the show brings together much-loved classics from Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love and the James Bond films, alongside brand-new material. Featuring Clive Rowe, Caroline O'Connor, Michael D. Xavier, Shona McGarty and Frances Mayli McCann, this promises to be a celebration of one of musical theatre's greatest lyricists. We share a sneak peek at what's in store.
Tartuffe (Remixed)
Mark Rylance returns to the stage as the deliciously manipulative Pastor Blake in Tartuffe (Remixed), a vibrant reinvention of Molière's classic comedy.
Adapted and directed by Darren Raymond, the action moves into a contemporary Nigerian–Jamaican household where family loyalties, religion and an impending wedding collide with one very convincing con artist. With Usifu Jalloh, Nakeba Buchanan, Suzette Llewellyn and Sara Mokonen among the terrific company, this is a bold, funny and surprisingly moving retelling.
We discuss Rylance's remarkable ability to disappear into a character and why this 17th-century story about hypocrisy, greed and gullibility feels so wonderfully relevant today.
“I Am Not Nora”: Kirsten Shepherd
Saison 6 · Épisode 47
lundi 5 octobre 2026 • Durée 43:08
What if one of theatre’s most famous female characters was inspired by a real woman whose own voice was subsequently pushed into the margins?
In this episode, we’re joined by Kirsten Shepherd, Professor of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Oxford and leading Ibsen scholar, to uncover the remarkable story of Laura Kieler - the writer and friend of Henrik Ibsen whose personal experiences were transformed into the story of Nora in A Doll’s House, without her knowledge or permission.
Kirsten’s research lies at the heart of Breach Theatre’s new production Burning Down the House, which brings Laura out of the footnotes and places her centre stage. We discuss Ibsen’s complicated legacy, the ethics of turning real lives into art, the silencing of women in literary history, and whether knowing Laura’s story changes the way we view A Doll’s House today.
We also discover how Laura attempted to reclaim her own narrative through Men of Honour, the play she wrote in response to Ibsen’s actions, now being presented in English for the first time.
A fascinating conversation about authorship, appropriation, feminism and who gets to tell our stories - and what happens when the person whose story has been taken finally gets to speak.
Deep-Heat Rivalry, The Mirror Crack’d, The Human Voice / The Seven Deadly Sins & Still Life
Saison 6 · Épisode 46
jeudi 24 septembre 2026 • Durée 55:36
This episode, we’re covering four wildly different theatrical experiences: a double bill of opera at Charing Cross Theatre, Noël Coward served with afternoon tea at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, an Agatha Christie mystery at the Mill at Sonning, and the gloriously outrageous Deep-Heat Rivalry at The Other Palace.
The Human Voice / The Seven Deadly Sins
One woman, two operas and two very different journeys.
Charing Cross Theatre brings together The Human Voice and The Seven Deadly Sins in a fascinating double bill exploring women pushed to their emotional limits.
Francis Poulenc and Jean Cocteau’s The Human Voice unfolds through a single devastating telephone conversation as a woman speaks to her former lover for what may be the final time. It’s paired with Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s The Seven Deadly Sins, a biting satire infused with Weimar cabaret and American jazz, in which Anna is divided into two halves of the same soul and sent across America to earn enough money to build her family a home.
We discuss two very different musical worlds brought together to create one intriguing psychological portrait.
Still Life
Before there was Brief Encounter, there was Noël Coward’s Still Life.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s magnificent Grand Saloon is transformed into the refreshment room at Milford Junction station for an intimate, immersive production directed by Tam Williams.
With afternoon tea served as part of the experience, the audience sits inside Coward’s world as Rachel Pickup and Alasdair Craig play Laura and Alec, two married strangers whose chance meeting develops into an intensely restrained love affair.
Louisa Binder
Peter Guinness
Ryan Wichert
Sally George
La Perle by Dragone
And finally, we're leaving London behind for something on a completely different scale! Created by the late visionary Franco Dragone, whose spectacular work helped redefine contemporary circus and aquatic theatre, La Perle is Dubai's extraordinary permanent live entertainment production at Al Habtoor City. Performed in a purpose-built aqua theatre, the show combines world-class acrobatics, aerial artistry, extraordinary visual effects and breathtaking stunts. The stage floods and drains within seconds, performers dive from dizzying heights, and the action unfolds all around the audience. We discuss the sheer scale, technical ambition and physical brilliance of a production where the performers and theatrical engineering are every bit as remarkable as the spectacle itself.
From Maria Friedman's moving portrayal of a teenager racing against time to dazzling tap choreography, Ibsen's psychological complexities and Dubai's gravity-defying extravaganza, this episode celebrates the remarkable range of experiences that live performance offer.
Four productions. Two countries. And theatre in all its extraordinary forms.
Julene Robinson plays Irene, newly arrived from Jamaica to join her childhood sweetheart Everton, played by Emile John. Sharing a cramped room in Peckham, the couple must navigate racism, financial hardship and the growing tensions within their relationship. Dudley O'Shaughnessy plays David, their landlord, whose friendship with Irene complicates matters further.
Presented as part of the Ryan Calais Cameron Season, this intimate three-hander examines the Windrush generation's experiences, cultural identity and the difficult choices people make in pursuit of a better future.
We discuss the performances, the play's historical setting and how a story rooted in 1970s Britain still speaks to contemporary audiences.
From the bohemian streets of New York to a cold winter in Peckham, both productions remind us that when life becomes uncertain, human connection can be the thing that keeps us going.
Two productions. Two generations. And stories of love, resilience and belonging.
Amy Lennox stars as Thelma alongside Rachel Tucker as Louise, with Jordan Luke Gage as JD and Trevor Dion Nicholas as Hal.
Reimagined for the stage by the film's original Oscar-winning screenwriter Callie Khouri, with music and lyrics by Neko Case and direction by Trip Cullman, this exhilarating musical celebrates female friendship, freedom and rebellion against a world determined to hold women back.
We discuss the powerhouse performances, the new score and whether this much-loved cinematic classic finds a fresh life on stage.
The Story
Letitia Wright, best known for Marvel's Black Panther, makes her National Theatre debut in The Story, a compelling newsroom thriller by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Clint Dyer.
When a white teacher is murdered in a Black neighbourhood, an ambitious young journalist sees an opportunity to break a career-defining story. But as the investigation unfolds, questions of race, truth, journalistic integrity and personal ambition become increasingly tangled.
With a formidable cast including Lorraine Toussaint, Ashley Thomas, Aliyah Odoffin and Wilf Scolding, this thought-provoking drama examines the stories we choose to tell, the truths we overlook and the price of getting ahead.
From Ballet Black's extraordinary legacy to Westminster power struggles, a rebellious American road trip and the murky ethics of journalism, this episode explores the people who challenge the establishment - and those determined to control the narrative.
Four productions. Powerful stories. And some truly exceptional talent.
And finally, we're heading back to the birth of rock ’n’ roll!
Million Dollar Quartet celebrates the legendary 1956 recording session at Sun Records in Memphis that brought together four extraordinary musicians: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
Packed with iconic hits, infectious energy and a fascinating glimpse into music history, this jukebox musical recreates the night four future legends found themselves together in one recording studio.
We discuss the performances, the musicianship and the irresistible appeal of hearing some of rock ’n’ roll's greatest songs performed live on stage.
From the promise of new theatre at the Royal Court to Josh O'Connor's bruising battle between art and ambition, and four musical legends making history in Memphis, it's another wonderfully varied week at Theatre Audience Podcast.
Three productions. Big ambitions. And plenty of star power.
Provocative, explicit and unexpectedly tender, Jerker by Robert Chesley returns in a 40th-anniversary production directed by Henry Adams.
Set in 1980s America against the emerging AIDS crisis, two men begin a relationship through a series of increasingly intimate telephone conversations. Paul Dennison and James Lee play strangers whose sexual fantasies gradually reveal something far more vulnerable and deeply human.
We explore how a play that initially appears to be about sex becomes a moving examination of connection, loneliness and queer history.
Hay Fever
And finally, theatrical royalty behaving very badly!
Christine Baranski makes her West End debut opposite Richard E. Grant in Noël Coward's gloriously mischievous Hay Fever, directed by Emily Burns.
Baranski plays the outrageously theatrical Judith Bliss, with Grant as her novelist husband David. Joined by Ophelia Lovibond, Will Close, Nancy Carroll and Charles Edwards, the wonderfully self-absorbed Bliss family and their unfortunate house guests embark on a weekend of flirtation, social embarrassment and spectacularly bad manners.
We discuss whether Coward's century-old comedy still has the power to delight, and what happens when two major stars share the stage with an ensemble of accomplished comic performers.
From Don Black's timeless lyrics and Mark Rylance's masterful deception to intimate late-night phone calls and Christine Baranski causing chaos in the country, it's another gloriously varied week at Theatre Audience Podcast.
Four productions. Some extraordinary performers. And absolutely no shortage of drama.
Supported by Elizabeth Elvin, Antony Jardine and Seren Sandham-Davies, with music performed live by the company, this is Coward served with tea, sandwiches, longing and heartbreak.
We discuss whether placing the audience right inside this quintessentially British love story makes its famous emotional restraint even more powerful.
The Mirror Crack’d
There’s been a murder in St Mary Mead - which can only mean one thing: Miss Marple is on the case.
Liza Goddard takes on Agatha Christie’s legendary detective in The Mirror Crack’d at the Mill at Sonning, adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff.
When Hollywood star Marina Gregg arrives in the village and throws a glamorous party at Gossington Hall, the celebrations end in murder. Secrets emerge, suspects multiply and Miss Marple begins piecing together what really happened.
We discuss Goddard’s interpretation of Miss Marple, Sara Crowe’s turn as fading Hollywood star Marina Gregg, and a production directed by Jonathan O’Boyle that left us with plenty to talk about.
Deep-Heat Rivalry
And then things get hot. Very hot.
Deep-Heat Rivalry at The Other Palace takes the world of professional ice hockey, adds forbidden romance, powerhouse vocals, Shakespeare, tiny towels and an impressive quantity of innuendo - while proudly admitting to having absolutely no understanding of sport.
Written and directed by Trevor Ashley, the outrageous parody follows hockey superstars Shane Hollandaise and Ilya Stroganoff, sworn rivals who discover that all that aggression might actually be disguising something considerably steamier.
Sario Solomon brings enormous charm and vulnerability to Hollandaise, while Jason Leigh Winter knows exactly what he’s doing from the moment Stroganoff makes his deliciously sultry entrance. Diana Vickers lets rip as The Diva, delivering powerhouse vocals and fearless comedy, while Ross Chisari as Puck provides narration, Shakespeare and some scene-stealing one-liners.
Filthy, ridiculous, unapologetically queer and enormous fun, we discuss why Deep-Heat Rivalry might just be one of the best Saturday nights out in London.
From Poulenc and Brecht to Christie and Coward - before ending with sweaty hockey players ripping each other’s clothes off - you really can’t accuse us of lacking variety this episode.
