Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

Every other week, I will be releasing solo episodes talking about different unspoken topics. This week I talk about what success is to me & how I have changed the way I view "success".

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode, I'm taking to Molly Cleere. She is currently playing Konstantina in Mamma Mia The Party. We talk about so much in this episode from growing up, to immersive theatre and trying to highlight YOUR strengths.

Instagram @behindthecurtain_pod

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

Every other week, I release solo episodes talking about different topics that I want to explore and dive deeper into.

This week I talk about some top tips about being on tour. On my fourth contract touring, I have picked up quite a few helpful tips along the way that I feel might help you if you are going on your first UK or International Tour.

And for this weeks Mindful Moment, I guide you through a grounding meditation. Why not go and listen to the episode and gift yourself some time to listen to the rest of this meditation.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode I am talking to Ceili O'Connor. Ceili graduated from ArtsEd with a BA in Musical Theatre and went on to perform in the WestEnd, UK & International tours.
Ceili is also the Founder & Director of PREP YOUR REP LDN. A training institution that combines life coaching to ensure professional performers are staying on top of their mental & physical health. Her aim is to help create an industry that is healthy in mind and body, to have a better work/life balance as well as working collectively with creatives, producers and performers.

Check it out: Prep Your Rep

⁠https://www.prepyourrepldn.com⁠

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

Every other week, I release solo episodes talking about different topics that I want to explore and dive deeper into. This week I talk about Authenticity. I explore my experience of loosing that through work, life, beliefs and stress and how I'm coming back to it and setting habits and boundaries to keep my authenticity shining.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode I am talking to Kieran Young. Kieran is a freelance musical director and musician from Glasgow, having graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2016. He worked on the Mamma Mia UK & International tour from 2019-2023 and since then has enjoyed depping on Jersey Boys and Sister Act UK tours.

Kieran is also an extremely passionate teacher and has taught in several different schools in the north of England and Scotland for several years. He has a very keen interest in invigorating the future of theatrical and musical talent across the country, alongside his work as an MD and musician.

Throughout this conversation, we delve into his journey in the industry - the highs, the lows and the lessons he has learnt to get to were he is today.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

Every other week, I will be releasing solo episodes talking about different topics. This week I talk about my weekly REPORT.

Reading: I'm Glad My Mom Died By Jennette Mc Curdy

Eating: Nasi Goreng

Playing: Hyrox Training with MyCoach

Obsession: Shameless Podcast

Recommendation: Laura Hills MT Jazz Class at Pineapple Studios

Treat: Elsewhere Coffee

Tag me in your weekly REPORTS on Instagram

enter

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode, I am speaking to Megan Armstrong. Megan is a a Musical Theatre Performer, a Soul Purpose Coach, Human Design Guide and Yoga Teacher. In this conversation we talk about how Megan's journey in the industry, how she got into coaching to help herself and others in audition environments, mindset and working from the inside out, as well as learning about Human Design and how to work with that to get the most out of life.

This conversation is super insightful and has so many amazing nuggets of knowledge and inspiration, I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

You can find Megan on Instagram at @megmindstrong for inspiration, knowledge and how to work with her personally.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket.Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain" the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

Every other week, I will be releasing solo episodes talking about different unspoken topics. This week I talk about some top tips I learnt from going to drama school and some little things I would try focus and understand to get the best out of your 3 years training.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

On today's episode, I'm speaking to Kaine Ruddach. Kaine is a northern performer from Yorkshire that has just finished the run in Heather the Musical, playing Preppy Stud as well as covering Ram and JD. We talk about training and continuing to practice your craft through jobs, the Heathers whirlwind and his personal stories of diversity in the theatre industry. 

Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket.Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain" the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

Every other week, I will be releasing solo episodes talking about different unspoken topics. This week I talk about 10 things I wish I had been taught at drama school. These are all personal opinions from myself and friends and hope some things are being educated now, and hope a few others are noted.

Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

On today's episode, I'm speaking to Jonathan Bentley. He has appeared in Mamma Mia the Party, Miss Saigon and From Here to Eternity. We talk about how rejection is a huge part of being in the industry and how to deal with it, the external pressures from industry standards and what we would like to change in the industry if we had a magic wand.

Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket.Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain" the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

Every other week, I will be releasing solo episodes talking about different unspoken topics. This week I talk about how to find routine in and out of work in the theatre industry. Also, I answer questions from the you listeners, so please send in yours via Instagram @behindthecurtain_pod and I will answer in the upcoming weeks. 

Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

Todays episode I am speaking to Ellie Potter. Ellie has worked as Deputy Company Manager and Assistant Stage Manger on shows like Mamma Mia, Lion King and Twilight Zone, as well as many more. She is now working in the NHS and we talk about the transition out the industry, tour life and protecting your time by setting boundaries.

Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket.Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

Every other week, I will be releasing solo episodes talking about different unspoken topics. This week I talk about how to deal with change and how I have dealt with it personally in my career. Also, I answer questions from the you listeners, so please send in yours via Instagram @behindthecurtain_pod and I will answer in the upcoming weeks.

Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket.Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain. On todays episode, Jena Pandya talks about training in lockdown, performance anxiety and riding the wave of the industries ups & downs. Jena is a Northern Actress who graduated in 2021 from Bird College. Since graduating she was part of the original cast of "What's New Pussy Cat" and most recently played the role of Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! the Musical. She is now performing in Halls the Musical at The Turbine Theatre. Whether you're a theatre professional , aspiring actor, or or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that will take you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. We will be stepping into the secret world of theatre, discussing the personal stories, hidden gems, and unspoken topics that lie behind that mysterious curtain.

Here is a little teaser episode to get the buzz flowing and to have a little insight on what to expect from this podcast.

Follow and share the podcast and don't forget to send in your DMs to @behindthecurtain_pod with any questions or topics that you would like to hear on the podcast.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

Intentional Tour. We talk about Christmas, backstage antics, vocal health and what the show means to them.

I also delve into intentions for the new year and help plant a seed in your minds for the new year.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode I am guiding you through a meditation that is aimed for a deep relaxation and reset inspired by the Yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra, often referred to as "yogic sleep," is a powerful meditation technique that induces deep relaxation while maintaining a state of consciousness.

Music is by Neil Rigg - thank you!

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode I am talking to Chloe-Jo Byrnes.

Chloe is a MT Performer with credits in the West End, TV, Concerts and more. She also is the Head of Theatre at Rhythmic Academy. In this conversation we talk about audition processes and how this differs for certain roles, how other jobs such as gigs, teaching and workshops are all apart of our career. And also, how having a social media presence is becoming bigger in castings and how we feel about this.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode, I am guiding you through a grounding meditation that is personalised for before an audition, self tape or even interview. This is something that has been calling to me over the last few months and I wanted to share my passion and knowledge with yoga & meditation on this podcast to help performers.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode I'm talking to Reece Kerridge. Reece is a west end performer with a CV including The Book of Mormon, Shrek the Musical, and most recently in the UK Premiere of the SpongeBob Musical playing the role of Old Man Jenkins alongside covering and played SpongeBob and Squidward. Reece also performers at the drag artiste Gracie Lou, who pride herself on a polished poised and professional persona, creating and performing high end cabaret shows with her musical director Michael England.

We talk about fitting the jigsaw of a cast, being creative individually, reminding ourselves why we do this and also remembering we are on our own journeys.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

Every other week, I release solo episodes talking about different topics that I want to explore and dive deeper into. This week I talk about the boundaries around alcohol and how this has evolved and changed for me over the years. With press events and social settings, alcohol is always flowing and recently been brought to my attention of how this feels quite pressured with the social setting.

I discuss boundaries around this and in general life of how to harness back the power and be clear of when you say yes, its from a place of honesty and truth and not people pleasing.

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

Welcome to "Behind the Curtain," the captivating theatre podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey beyond the stage. I'm your host, Hollie Nelson, and I'm thrilled to have you joining me on this journey of exploration and discovery.

On this weeks episode I am talking to Jo Bird. Jo is the Co-Founder of SansDrama - 2 part platform that is taking the tax drama out of being self-employed in the Arts. 

You can check out the platform here:

⁠https://www.sansdrama.com⁠

And also the SansDrama web App here:

https://www.sansdrama.com/appsplash.php

SansDrama offers a blog that is a free platform offering industry specific information to help educate people in the performing arts with the basics of being self employed.

It also offers a Web App that is ideal for self employed performers, creatives and freelancers who work in the industry to have a organised, paperless and simple solution to managing their accounts. 

If you are a graduate, you can get your first tax year for free. If you want to get it for free then email hello@sansdrama.com with:

• Your college name and graduating year (e.g. Bird College 2021 graduate); and
• A bit of evidence (like a photo of your graduation certificate).

Whether you're a theatre professional, aspiring actor, or simply someone who loves the magic of the stage, this podcast is your golden ticket. Prepare to be captivated as we pull back the curtain and reveal the secrets, stories, and struggles that bring the stage to life.

In this episode, Stacey takes the reins as she interviews Hollie about their inspiring journey in the industry.

Together, they explore the highs and lows, how yoga became a transformative practice in building confidence, and the power of embracing authenticity.

From navigating challenges in the professional world to discovering the strength that comes from within, this episode dives deep into what it means to be true to yourself in both your personal and professional life.

Whether you’re a performer, creative, or just love the world of theatre, this is your backstage pass. Let’s step Behind the Curtain.

Subscribe, share, and join our community.

@Behindcurtainpodcast

bhtcurtain@gmail.com

A New Act: The Relaunch of Behind the Curtain!

Welcome back to Behind the Curtain! After a little intermission, we’re back with fresh conversations, new perspectives, and the same passion discussing the side of musical theatre that isn't talked about enough.

In this relaunch episode, we’re diving into what’s changed, what’s coming next, and introducing our new co-host Stacey Monahan.

Whether you’re a performer, creative, or just love the world of theatre, this is your backstage pass. Let’s step Behind the Curtain once again!

Subscribe, share, and join our community.

In this episode, Hollie takes the reins as she interviews Stacey about their inspiring journey in the industry.

From her early days as a performer in Billy Elliot to touring with Bat Out of Hell, Stacey shares her journey and experiences that have shaped her path. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. Stacey talks about founding her own company and running The Golden Age Movement.

This episode is a deep dive into her creative evolution, the challenges of carving out your own space in the industry, and the passion that drives her to keep pushing boundaries.

Whether you’re a performer, creative, or just love the world of theatre, this is your backstage pass. Let’s step Behind the Curtain.

Subscribe, share, and join our community.

@Behindcurtainpodcast

bhtcurtain@gmail.com

In this episode, we sit down with the talented Adam Strong.

Adam shares his insights on how to trust the timing of your career, reminding us that everything happens for a reason—even when it doesn’t seem like it.

We talk about the importance of not taking things personally during auditions, how to stay resilient in the face of rejection, and the power of embracing those full-circle moments when everything finally falls into place.

Adam’s wisdom offers a refreshing perspective on how to stay grounded, keep the faith in your journey, and ultimately thrive in the ever-changing world of theatre and performance.

Whether you’re a performer, creative, or just love the world of theatre, this is your backstage pass. Let’s step Behind the Curtain.

Subscribe, share, and join our community.

@Behindcurtainpodcast

bhtcurtain@gmail.com

In this episode, we sit down with the vibrant and fearless Erica Wild to talk about life, career, and carving their own path across continents. From the creative industries of Australia to the UK, Erica shares their candid perspective on how the two worlds compare—what’s similar, what’s wildly different, and how each has shaped their journey.

We dive deep into the idea of trusting the timing of your life, the challenges and beauty of moving away from home, and how to stay grounded in a world dominated by social media expectations.

Whether you’re a performer, creative, or just love the world of theatre, this is your backstage pass. Let’s step Behind the Curtain.

Subscribe, share, and join our community.

@Behindcurtainpodcast

bhtcurtain@gmail.com

In this episode, we dive into the world of touring with a musical! Whether you're a performer, crew member, or part of the production team, hitting the road for a theatre tour can be an exciting yet challenging experience.

From dealing with travel logistics to managing your daily routine, we cover it all. Learn how to balance work and personal time, the best ways to prepare for a moving to different cities, and how to handle the unique challenges that come with touring.

Tune in to find out how to make your musical tour a smooth and successful journey.

Subscribe, share, and join our community.@Behindcurtainpodcastbhtcurtain@gmail.com

This week, we're joined by Alex Hetherington, founder of Front and Centre, a business dedicated to opening doors for aspiring performers across the UK.

In this inspiring conversation, Alex shares how he turned his passion for performance into a platform for others, creating opportunities where they’re needed most. We dive into the realities of building a business rooted in purpose, the journey of finding fulfilment beyond the stage, and the importance of staying connected to your 'why'.

It's a reminder to seek joy, lead with intention, and keep the love alive in everything you do.

Whether you’re a performer, creative, or just love the world of theatre, this is your backstage pass. Let’s step Behind the Curtain.

Subscribe, share, and join our community.

@Behindcurtainpodcast

bhtcurtain@gmail.com

We’ve made it to the end of the season — and to wrap things up, we’re doing something a little different.

In this special Q&A episode, we’re answering your questions.It’s casual, honest, and full of little behind-the-scenes nuggets we haven’t shared before.

If you’ve ever wondered what really goes into making Behind the Curtain, this one’s for you.

Thanks for listening, supporting, and being part of the ride this season. Let’s go out with a good one.