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Explore every episode of the podcast The WhatsOnStage Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The WhatsOnStage Podcast . Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 215. Comedy in the West End: Hay Fever special | 30 Oct 2026 | 00:30:11 | |
Nancy Carroll and Charles Edwards are starring alongside Christine Baranski and Richard E Grant in Noel Coward’s Hay Fever at Wyndham’s Theatre. Sarah went along to talk to them about the pleasures of plays that simply entertain, the qualities of Noel Coward, plus working with Angela Lansbury, Judi Dench and adventures in the Marvel universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 214. Bonus episode: Michael Sheen, Rakie Ayola and Sophie Melville discuss Owain & Henry | 28 Oct 2026 | 00:23:36 | |
Michael Sheen might currently be on screens running amok in a Scottish castle, but in a matter of days he'll be back on stage in an epic new Welsh play having its world premiere – Owain & Henry. Reframing the legendary tale of the last true Prince of Wales, the piece will open at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre next week. Sheen is joined by stage and screen stars Rakie Ayola and Sophie Melville. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 213. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Ten: the years 2018/2019 | 23 Oct 2026 | 00:59:16 | |
Sarah and Alex are within touching distance of the 2020s as they continue their examination of the best plays of the century. 2018 and 2019 offer up an array of epic plays exploring American history, solo shows that leave audiences flabbergasted, and a lot (really, a lot) of plays based on hit novels – from A Little Life, to Life of Pi, to Small Island. But which plays will Sarah single out as her favourite of each year? She has some difficult choices to make... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 212. Bonus episode: Manchester's 2027 theatre scene just got more exciting | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:24:56 | |
Today, artistic director Selina Cartmell unveiled her brand new season at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, coming hot on the heels of the 50th anniversary celebrations at the beloved theatre. Featuring new work by Simon Stephens and Ben Power as well as revivals of Faith Healer and Much Ado About Nothing (featuring the legendary Beverley Knight), Cartmell spills the beans on championing the theatre’s central ethos and telling vital stories for 2027 and beyond. She also had a lot to say about her love of Sondheim and her plans for an all-string orchestra for A Little Night Music, opening this Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 211. When does a show deserve five stars? | 15 Oct 2026 | 00:49:12 | |
Finally reunited after Alex's foreign forays, Sarah runs through her tireless fortnight of reviews – featuring Rent with Gaten Matarazzo, Hay Fever with Richard E Grant and Christine Baranski, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup, and As You Like It with Fisayo Akinade and Jonathan Groff. The conversation brings up a range of questions about reviewing revivals, the nature of star ratings and whether we should have more music critics reviewing musicals. After that, the pair discuss the new Almeida and Pitlochry seasons, and what audiences might expect from the new Tarantino play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 210. Bonus episode: Phantom at 40 with Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more | 12 Oct 2026 | 00:13:43 | |
On Friday night, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera turned 40 – with the event seeing a special reunion between original stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. We chatted to the pair, Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh and current stars Jordan Donica and Beatrice Penny-Touré on the show's red carpet as this musical blockbuster hits four decades in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 209. Special interview: Simon Russell Beale | 08 Oct 2026 | 00:44:06 | |
The great British actor is currently on stage as the great American showman Liberace. As he finished rehearsals he talked to Sarah about how to play characters with whom you have little sympathy, returning to the stage after serious illness, the Shakespeare roles he longs to play and working with Tom Stoppard just before the playwright’s death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 208. Bonus episode: Gillian Anderson and Derren Brown bring magic to the West End | 07 Oct 2026 | 00:13:23 | |
Hello WhatsOnStage Podcast listeners! With Alex freshly back from a fortnight away, he lets intrepid video expert Tom Millward sample some of his finest, starry interviews from the last couple of weeks – featuring multi-award-winning stage star Gillian Anderson and the legendary Derren Brown, explaining their experiences in their respective shows – Anderson leading the five-star Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Brown with his new West End residency with Only Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 207. The Best Plays of the Century Part Nine: the years 2016/2017 | 01 Oct 2026 | 00:55:00 | |
Sarah and Alex continue their journey through the finest new plays of the 21st century. This episode, Harry Potter hits the stage,climate change becomes a major theme and James Graham has an exceptionally busy year. Plus new plays by Lucy Kirkwood, Caryl Churchill, Mike Bartlett and a romance from David Eldridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 206. Bonus episode: Wicked's Head of Wigs Heather-Jay Ross on hair that defies gravity | 27 Sep 2026 | 00:21:16 | |
Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, brought to you by the West End production of Wicked. Last night, Wicked celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Apollo Victoria in the West End with a special celebration. While a certifiably joyous, hair-raising spectacle, the work being done on hair backstage is much, much more complicated – and pulled off with equal aplomb. We sit down with Wicked's head of wigs Heather-Jay Ross to reflect on the technical expertise happening behind the scenes, some of the incredible moments working on the show and some misconceptions about the world of wigs in theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 205. Special interview: Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:31:48 | |
Ahead of the RSC’s all male As You Like It, Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade discuss the similarities between Shakespeare and musicals, their best theatre experiences, the importance of Ian Charleson and the fun of dressing up in very glamorous frocks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 204. Bonus episode: Designer Tom Scutt on having three musical revivals in the West End | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:35:41 | |
What do Into the Woods, Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar all have in common? That's right, this year they're all being mounted in the West End, and they're all being designed by the same man: the Tony Award-winning Tom Scutt. We sit down with Scutt to discuss his design process, getting into the reeds of Into the Woods and where his artistic drive comes from. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 203. Josh O'Connor is a hit, Ava Pickett does it again and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George | 17 Sep 2026 | 00:38:59 | |
Recapping after a very busy series of trips and outings, Sarah and Alex run through the biggest openings and stories of the week: new warnings about the threat of AI to the creative industries, a gloriously knockout performance from Josh O'Connor at the Almeida, reactions to the National's new season and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 202. Bonus episode: Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Annabel Mutale Reed on the new Martin Guerre | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:36:38 | |
Martin Guerre has a devoted following amongst musical theatre fans, originally penned by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the two creators of that little-known musical Les Misérables (whatever happened to that one?). Now, they're returning to passion project Martin Guerre to give the musical a new lease of life at the Old Vic, staged in the round alongside rising star co-lyricist Annabel Mutale Reed. They join Alex Wood to discuss the project from their rehearsal room in south London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 201. Bonus episode: National Theatre’s 2027 season with Indhu Rubasingham | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:24:18 | |
In our bonus episode, the intrepid Tom Millward is at the National Theatre’s launch to run through their bumper 18-show 2027 season, chatting with the wonderful artistic director Indhu Rubasingham. Then, Alex Wood and David Gordon (plus squeaky chair) chew through the shows in question, with the season featuring West Side Story, a new Punchdrunk immersive production, Tracy Letts and Paul Mescal in Death of a Salesman and so much more… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 200. The best revivals to see out the year (Autumn preview part 2) | 06 Sep 2026 | 00:39:35 | |
It’s our 200th episode! Where has the time gone! Sarah and Alex reflect on the rollercoaster ride of podcasting their way through more than two years of theatre. But there’s important business at hand: as part of this second part of the autumn preview, they check in on musical classics in Manchester, multiple glitzy revivals about warring couples in the West End and even a stay in northern Scotland with Alan Cumming as Henry Higgins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 199. The best new work about to make a splash on UK stages (Autumn preview part 1) | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:35:35 | |
September has rolled around, bringing with it overcast skies, school terms and, as you might expect, a whole lot of exciting theatre! Sarah and Alex team up for part one of our bumper autumn preview, spotlighting some of the brand new work ready to wow on stages across the UK. From Bristol to Pitlochry, there's everything from Ceilidh musicals to plays about John Maynard Keynes to look forwards to... featuring some of the most exciting writers of the time including Ava Pickett, Ryan Calais Cameron and James Graham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 198. Bonus episode: Tim Minchin on 15 years of Matilda and plans for new musicals | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:21:48 | |
We're joined on this week's bonus episode by Tim Minchin, composer and lyricist of the treasured, international sensation, the RSC's Matilda the Musical. Minchin is celebrating 15 years of the multi-award-winning musical's success across the globe, with the West End productions and tour still going strong. He also teases four new shows he's working on over the next few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 197. The Best Plays of the Century Part Eight: the years 2014/2015 | 27 Aug 2026 | 00:53:21 | |
Sarah and Alex hit the mid 2010s as they continue their foray into the finest theatre works of the 21st century. This time around, a wave of well-received American plays make a big splash on both sides of the Atlantic – with the likes of Annie Baker, Lynn Nottage and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins all wowing with new work. There's also a strong current of work coming from Scotland, with the Edinburgh Festivals proving a hotbed for exciting voices. Plus Mike Bartlett writes a future history play with King Charles III, proving theatre's unwavering prescience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 196. Bonus episode: Pride musical finds a new London home! | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:23:46 | |
Pride is moving down the Thames after its National Theatre run! We talk to director Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford about the musical's sell-out success and what the future holds as the production continues its life. Based on the true story depicted in the 2014 film Pride, the musical is set during the 1984 miners' strike. The story follows a group of lesbian and gay activists who form Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), an alliance which sees them support a small mining community in South Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 195. Lin Manuel Miranda, The Greatest Showman - and reasons to be excited about radio drama | 20 Aug 2026 | 00:35:30 | |
Alex and Sarah get back together to discuss Alex’s trip to D23, Disney’s huge fan event in California where the creator of Hamilton was celebrated and the West End production of The Greatest Showman was unveiled. Plus more highlights from the Edinburgh Festival and a cracking season of radio drama from the BBC to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Royal Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 194. Bonus episode: The Greatest Showman at Disneyland with Samantha Barks and Oliver Tompsett | 16 Aug 2026 | 00:20:51 | |
Surprise! Alex has made the trip to Disneyland to mark the West End launch of The Greatest Showman, coming to Theatre Royal Drury Lane next spring. He sits down with Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks to discuss the gargantuan new musical's London run. What's more, he also caught up with the makers of Secret Cinema's Pirates of the Caribbean, running from February in Greenwich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 193. Bonus episode: Why comedy actors can do anything with Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:34:55 | |
We head to the Edinburgh Fringe to talk to Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson, normally known as comedy duo Britney, who are performing in a brand new play, Jitters. The duo, reflecting on a decade at the Fringe, detail what it's like breaking new ground professionally as they tackle a long-form drama as a twosome, and how the Edinburgh Festivals have changed over the last ten years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 192. Game of Thrones: The Mad King reviewed, Cats returns and Edinburgh highlights | 09 Aug 2026 | 00:49:04 | |
It's a bumper reviews special! In what might be the biggest theatre opening of the year, the world of Game of Thrones comes to the stage in a gigantic production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. But does it live up to the hype? Alex and Sarah discuss Dominic Cooke and Duncan Macmillan's efforts and what its future life might look like. Elsewhere, Sarah went to Regent's Park for a night under the (fake) moonlight at Cats, while Alex is trekking between theatres at the Edinburgh Festivals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 191. Ariana Grande, Trainspotting's fate and top shows at the Edinburgh Festivals | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:46:28 | |
In a busy week Sarah and Alex talk about Ariana Grande’s decision to step back from her projected stage appearance opposite Jonathan Bailey in Sondhem’s Sunday in the Park with George. And as Alex sets off for Edinburgh, they discuss his top picks for the festival, the failure of Trainspotting and the death of Peter Gill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 190. Bonus episode: The cast of Game of Thrones: The Mad King join the WhatsOnStage Podcast for an exclusive chat | 03 Aug 2026 | 00:39:35 | |
Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! A few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to take a very exciting trip into the rehearsal room for Game of Thrones: The Mad King, to chat to the lead cast about their time bringing Westeros to the stage. Currently in previews in Stratford-upon-Avon, the new stage play is penned by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Joining the podcast are Tanisha Spring (who appears as Ashara Dayne), Elizabeth Ayodele (as Princess Elia Martell), Mariah Gayle (as Queen Rhaella Targaryen), Callum Woodhouse (as Lord Robert Baratheon), Michael Shaeffer (as King Aerys II Targaryen), Harmony Rose-Bremner (as Lyanna Stark), Luke Brady (as Brandon Stark), Noah Ritter (as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen) and Michael Abubakar (as Eddard Stark). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 189. Roger Allam on returning to the Old Vic, Les Misérables and playing a testicle for Alan Ayckbourn | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:25:33 | |
With Sarah on foreign shores, Alex heads to the Old Vic rehearsal room to chat to stage and screen legend Roger Allam. Known for his TV and stage appearances in the likes of The Thick of It, Les Misérables and Frank and Percy, Allam is back on stage this summer in How The Other Half Loves at the Old Vic. And, apparently, he played a certain body part in an Ayckbourn radio play. Allam also touches on the topic of amplification and seeing his greats at the Old Vic when he was young. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 188. Bonus episode: Shaking up the West End with Phelim McDermott | 27 Jul 2026 | 00:33:23 | |
Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Phelim McDermott has staged everything – gargantuan operas, intimate shows and even forays into the world of Studio Ghibli with My Neighbour Totoro. He now brings his show Tao of Glass to @sohoplace for a West End season – mixing puppetry, the music of Phillip Glass and pseudo-memoir in an experience hoping to redefine what a West End show can be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 187. The Best Plays of the Century Part Seven: the years 2012/2013 | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:56:22 | |
The year of the London Olympics and its successor sees theatre at a red hot peak. Sarah and Alex discuss plays from James Graham’s breakthrough to Lucy Prebble’s The Effect and Lucy Kirkwood’s era defining Chimerica. Plus The Audience with Helen Mirren and the groundbreaking The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 186. Bonus episode: Tim Sheader on new Donmar season announcement + Hadestown stars on their film | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:46:05 | |
Welcome to this midweek bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Today, the Donmar Warehouse's artistic director Tim Sheader (fresh from directing Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium) reveals two brand new shows in his 2026 season – a new comedy involving Elvis' dead body, and a revival of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land. He also calls on more new comedies in UK theatre. After that, we head over to America where the stars of Hadestown discuss taking the award-winning musical to the big screen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 185. The Oresteia, the Odyssey and Lloyd Webber warns of Broadway tragedy | 17 Jul 2026 | 00:40:09 | |
Sarah and Alex discuss Simon Stone’s new adaptation of The Orestia, out in the same week as Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, and another example of the huge appeal of the Greeks. They talk about the cult surrounding Jonathan Larson, the composer of Rent, and ask whether Andrew Lloyd Webber is right when he puts the early closure of Cats:The Jellicle Ball down to the impossibility of producing theatre in New York’s famous heartland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 184. Bonus episode: No sooner Shed than done – producer Francesca Moody on her Edinburgh projects | 13 Jul 2026 | 00:28:42 | |
Producer Francesca Moody has brought some iconic shows to the stage: Fleabag, Baby Reindeer and Weather Girl amongst their number. This year, she's taking three new productions to the Edinburgh Fringe, even working with partners like Global Creatures, the minds behind the Moulin Rouge! and Muriel's Wedding musicals. Shedinburgh will also be shooting down south to the Young Vic for a London spell, in a big step forwards for the artist-led project. Moody also reflects on her programming strategy and always developing work with a long life in mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 183. Bonus episode: Hamilton's Thomas Kail on directing Moana and stage legend Frances Ruffelle discusses I Can Die Too | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:37:01 | |
An interview double bill to end the week! Our main episode ran early to coincide with the barnstorming Palladium production of Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium, but we had to wrap up the week with something special. Firstly, you can hear award-winning director Thomas Kail discuss his work on the live-action version of Moana, now sailing into cinemas across the world. We also ask Kail if he'd ever give Hamilton the same treatment... secondly, we head to Pitlochry Festival Theatre where stage legend Frances Ruffelle is premiering I Can Die Too, a brand new play with music co-created with Alan Cumming and Sally George. Ruffelle unpacks the fascinating, metatheatrical new work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 182. Jesus Christ Supersized + Sarah talks Pride | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:34:19 | |
What's the buzz? Our main episode has landed a few days early to coincide with the opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium! Sarah and Alex discuss Sam Ryder's performance and the show's ability to awe on the largest stages. Elsewhere, it was a big, bold, exciting opening for Pride at the National Theatre, while Sarah and Alex mull over big news stories from the NT, RSC and Bridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 181. Russell Tovey in The Guilty, art by actors, and memories of Tom Stoppard | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:31:34 | |
Actress Nancy Carroll returns to the podcast while Alex Wood takes a break. She and Sarah talk about their theatre outings to The Guilty at the Donmar Warehouse and Springwood with Robert Lindsay at Hampstead and the MAMA (Many Actors Make Art) exhibition Nancy is organising. Plus as a theatre is named the Stoppard, Nancy reveals his favourite thing in rehearsals - and why Arcadia is a perfect play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 180. Bonus episode: It's A Midsummer Night's Hot Mess as we bring the heat in a two-parter | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:44:05 | |
Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! In a double bill, we head first to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to hear from three of the cast members of A Midsummer Night's Dream – Jenny Rainsford, Terique Jarrett and Mary Malone. The trio explain why Shakespeare's comedy is such a tried-and-tested hit at the beautiful outdoor venue. Secondly, we hop to The Other Palace for the return of hit musical Hot Mess, which is currently celebrating a well-received second and expanded run at the central London venue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 179. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Six: the years 2010/11 | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:55:35 | |
We've hit the 2010s! Sarah and Alex continue their odyssey through the top plays of the century, which in this episode has two central themes: plays about climate catastrophe and the gargantuan success of the Royal Court under Dominic Cooke. At the same time, playwrights like Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Alice Birch are entering the mix... while Laura Wade correctly predicts Partygate a decade early. And James Corden brings some cheer with One Man, Two Guvnors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 178. Bonus episode: RSC's former artistic director Gregory Doran on Venus and Adonis + new book Walking Shadow | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:40:29 | |
Gregory Doran stops by on this bonus episode to discuss his production of Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis, performed by puppetry and narrated by Simon Russell Beale. As part of the chat, Doran also dives into the prompts behind his new book Walking Shadow, based on diary entries and experiences following the death of his husband, the legendary actor Antony Sher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 177. The art of naming theatres, and will Paddington work on Broadway | 18 Jun 2026 | 00:45:27 | |
Awards season may be over but the theatre news does not slow down! James Graham is back with a brand new play landing direct in the West End, while news from New York sees that indomitable bear Paddington making its furry way to Broadway. Also - Judi Dench will have a theatre named after her, and there's great news from the Bush as part of its 2026 season. Plus, Sarah mulls over what she thinks of the Traitors being turned into a five-part-cycle stage play experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 176. Bonus episode: How The Traitors will work on stage | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:22:20 | |
In this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, Alex sits down with Stephen Lambert, one of the masterminds behind the hit TV series The Traitors, as well as writer John Finnemore and director Rob Hastie, who explain how exactly they plan to bring The Traitors to the stage – in a multi-show experience like nothing else seen in the West End. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 175. Bonus episode: Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding talk Cyrano de Bergerac and the Dartmouth Scar Experiment | 11 Jun 2026 | 00:22:38 | |
If you're looking for our main episode, we released it two days early as the dust settled on this year's Tony Awards. That said, we had to get a bonus episode in to help with your weekly theatre fix, so below is our interview with the two stars of the forthcoming West End transfer of Cyrano de Bergerac, Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding, who will be returning to the roles of Cyrano and Roxane for the Noël Coward run of Edmond Rostand's play, adapted by Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson. In the interview, the pair discuss reinterpreting the role of Roxane, why a nose had to be shown on stage and the different rhyming structure bedded into the text. Oh – and if you're looking for the project Lester refers to, it's the Dartmouth Scar Experiment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 174. Can we solve the theatre etiquette problem once and for all? | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:45:32 | |
What's this? The main episode of the week coming out two days early? As the dust settles on another Tony Awards season, Sarah and Alex have a lot to chew on – topics include Brits thriving on Broadway, the sacrifices mothers have to make to succeed in the performing arts and, after an incident at Inter Alia, the mobile phone etiquette debate. If that's not enough, they also pick the six summer shows they can't wait to see - with shows in Manchester, Stratford-upon-Avon, London and Chichester (if you're travelling south via the M6, M40, A3 and A27). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 173. High Cs on the high seas – Sarah has a nautical, musical adventure to New York | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:34:21 | |
While Alex has been manning the fort back in London, Sarah has sailed over to the Great White Way for a small Broadway bonanza ahead of this weekend's Tony Awards. She observes the "Miller moment" that seems to be ongoing with productions of Death of a Salesman, All My Sons and Broken Glass all making headlines over the last year. After sampling the best New York has to offer, she makes some predictions ahead of Sunday's glitzy event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 172. Bonus episode: New musicals special with Redcliffe team, Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:46:26 | |
In this bumper episode, we are celebrating the world of new musicals with two great insights into the experience of staging new world. In the first part, we bring you our on-stage discussion with the music team of Redcliffe, Jordan Luke Gage's brand new musical having its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough. In part two, we head across the Atlantic to talk to Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts, the two "strangers" bring baked goods to the masses in the five-star musical Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), playing now on Broadway - ahead of this Sunday's Tony Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 171. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Five: the years 2008/9 | 28 May 2026 | 00:48:43 | |
As part of their long-running series, Alex and Sarah end the 00s with a bumper exploration of two pivotal years for playwriting this century – with Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, Lucy Prebble's Enron, John Logan's Red, Lynn Nottage's Ruined and so many more to mull over. But which plays will be Sarah's top picks? And what have we forgotten from the month before? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 170. Bonus episode: Sara Bareilles on ten years of Waitress and new musical The Interestings | 27 May 2026 | 00:28:31 | |
Ten years on from Waitress' Broadway bow, we had a virtual chat with composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles to discuss the lasting and profound effect of the show, from its much-loved numbers to its now-instantly recognisable characters. What's more, Bareilles is working on a brand new musical, and reflects on this second-time experience as she prepares to bring it to the stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 169. Brecht, Shaffer and are theatre tickets really getting cheaper? | 21 May 2026 | 00:37:11 | |
In another busy week Sarah and Alex sit down to discuss whether Peter Schaffer’s Equus is really the Adolescence of its day - and how relevant Brecht’s warnings about totalitarianism and war still feel. Plus a new report on theatre pricing prompts some new thinking Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 168. Bonus episode: How a 70-seat West End studio theatre goes from strength to strength | 20 May 2026 | 00:28:43 | |
In this episode, we take an exclusive look at Jermyn Street Theatre’s newly announced 2026 autumn season, including the UK premiere of Simon Stephens’ A Slow Fire and a revival of Richard Eyre’s Ghosts. We discuss what A Slow Fire might bring to London audiences following its Dublin premiere, and why Kwame Owusu’s direction of Ghosts continues the theatre’s commitment to developing emerging voices alongside established writers. We also explore the remarkable growth of Jermyn Street Theatre over the past decade, now operating as an intimate central London venue into a theatre increasingly attracting major writers, ambitious productions and a wider profile within the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 167. Why does Ian McKellen have unfinished business with King Lear? | 15 May 2026 | 00:33:26 | |
And who gives a Krapp about Beckett? Sarah and Alex have been ranging across the country, seeing shows in Bowness-on-Windermere and Brighton recently, but still find time to mull over the biggest news stories of the week – from the plans for Ian McKellen to return to the stage in a new version of King Lear at the Yard, and the National Theatre's report into the impact of streamed theatre. Plus, Sarah reminisces about her favourite performers who have tackled the title role in Krapp's Last Tape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 166. Bonus episode: US stars Noah Galvin and Josh Radnor are bringing new writing to London | 13 May 2026 | 00:27:26 | |
Alex sits down with the two stars of Hit Machine – Josh Radnor (known for playing Ted in How I Met Your Mother) and Noah Galvin (of The Good Doctor, Theater Camp and Dear Evan Hansen fame) – who will be performing at the Soho Theatre this summer. The new play by Jonathan Caren follows two estranged brothers, one a record mogul and the other an aspiring musician. It features original music by multi-Grammy Award winner Ben Harper with direction by Daniel Bailey. Why do the two US TV stars find themselves in London? We find out... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
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