Inside The West End Podcast

In our 30th episode we chat to George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, aka Stiles & Drewe. Stiles and Drewe are a multi award-winning musical theatre writing partnership. Writing credits include Honk! (National Theatre, UK Tour and Worldwide), Mary Poppins (West End, Broadway, International and currently on UK Tour), Cameron Mackintosh's new version of Half A Sixpence (Chicester Festival Theatre and West End), The Wind in The Willows (UK Tour and opening at The London Palladium 2017), Betty Blue Eyes (West End and UK Tour), Just So (Tricycle Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and International), Peter Pan - A Musical Adventure (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Royal Festival Hall and International), Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre and in concert at Queen's Theatre), The Three Little Pigs (West End, UK Tour and International Tour), Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Singapore Repertory Theatre), and The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Singapore Repertory Theatre).Future projects include a stage version of Robert Harling's film Soapdish, and a new musical with director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell.Awards include the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical for Honk!, three of the top prizes at the Musical of the Year Awards for Peter Pan and The Three Musketeers, the TMA Best Musical Award (Moll Flanders), The Straits Times Award for Best Musical (A Twist of Fate) and the first ever Vivian Ellis Prize (Just So). Mary Poppins has won 45 major theatre awards around the globe including Tony, Olivier, Helpmann and London Evening Standard Awards. Laurence Olivier nominations and Mary Poppins and Betty Blue Eyes.Stiles and Drewe's passion for new musical theatre writing is recognised via the annual Stiles and Drewe Prize for Best New Song, now in its 9th year, and their new Mentorship Award supported by Musical Theatre International (Europe). They are also founding board members of Mercury Musical Developments (MMD), Associate Artists at The Watermill Theatre and patrons of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra.We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page.3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going.4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast"- Follow us on Instagram @insidethewestendpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prepare to be inspired! This week we speak to the man who turned a 15 minute skit, originally made to entertain a queue of people waiting to buy a book, into an Olivier nominated, critically acclaimed and world touring production! We are of course chatting to Co-creator of 'Potted Potter', 'Potted Panto' and 'Potted Sherlock, Dan Clarkson.This Christmas the Olivier nominated 'Potted Panto' returns to the West End and we hear all about how the hilarious 'Potted' world all came about!We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page.3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going.4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast"- Follow us on Instagram @insidethewestendpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to Maggie Patterson, Principle of Pineapple Performing Arts School and Ballet Teacher at Pineapple Dance Studios. Maggie gives us a brilliant insight into life inside one of the most iconic Arts institutions in the industry, as well as her incredibly inspiring route to setting up her performing arts school there.We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page.3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going.4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we chat to actor David Fynn, the leading man from Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest hit West End musical, 'School of Rock'! David's acting career has been incredibly varied, from performing at theatres such as 'The National Theatre' and 'The Donmar Warehouse', to appearing in hit television shows such as 'The Inbetweeners', 'Sherlock', 'Game of Thrones', 'Doctor Who' and most notably the hit US NBC sit-com 'Undateable'. Having been based in Los Angeles for the last three years, David is now back in London to open 'School of Rock' following the show's huge success on Broadway. So, during rehearsals, Rob headed down to the show's new West End home, The New London Theatre, and was kindly invited into David's dressing room for the chat!We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page.3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going.4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we speak to top theatre critic and arts journalist Mark Shenton!Mark is a theatre critic, commentator and interviewer. He writes regularly for The Stage (including a daily blog), where he is an Associate Editor and also joint lead theatre critic. He also reviews for London Theatre Guide and is London correspondent for Playbill.com, for whom he writes daily news stories. He has conducted public platform interviews at the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse and Stratford East Theatre Royal. He is also currently chairman of the drama section of the Critic's Circle. So basically, in terms of arts journalists, Mark is as prolific as it gets!This episode was made because of you! A number of people messaged us on Twitter requesting an interview with a theatre critic, so here it is. If you want to hear from any one else in the industry then tweet us @insidewestend !We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page.3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going.4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to the 'Wig Mistress' on the West End musical 'Motown', Katie Marson.We tweeted our followers asking what you would like to hear on upcoming episodes and we were inundated by people requesting more chats with the people working behind the scenes on West End shows. This episode was made because of you! If you want to hear from any one else in the industry then tweet us @insidewestend !We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page.3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going.4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we speak to one of the most influential people in musical theatre, Nigel Wright. Nigel has been Andrew Lloyd Webber's eyes and ears on pretty much all of his work since the early 90's. From orchestrating his shows to producing all of his cast recordings and movie soundtracks, Nigel's musical influence is impressively vast! We would go so far as to say that there is not a single listener who wouldn't have heard his work at some point! We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going4. DO YOUR AMAZON SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.5. SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! The more listeners we have the easier it is to secure guests, so keep sharing every week! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we speak to Deputy Stage Manager of the West End musical 'Motown', Ros Fenelon.After asking our followers on Twitter (@insidewestend) what they would like to hear more of on our podcast, we received a lot of tweets requesting more interviews with people working behind the scenes in the West End. So this is the first in a number of upcoming episodes revealing a totally different side of the industry! We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going4.SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.5. Do your Amazon shop via our website! Head to insidethewestend.com click on any of the Amazon adverts, it will redirect you to Amazon as normal, your shopping will cost you exactly the same as normal but Amazon will give us a small kick back on any of your purchases as a thank you.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to the legend that is Gary Wilmot!Gary started his career performing comedy routines and stand up in the working men's clubs of the UK. After an appearance on the TV talent show 'New Faces', Gary shortly became a house hold name on UK television, comedy and subsequently West End Theatre. With numerous roles and productions under his belt, Gary really is a true veteran of the industry. We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going4.SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we chat to musician, and now actor, Newton Faulkner!Newton's debut album, 'Hand Built by Robots', topped the charts in 2007, deposing Amy Winehouse, with over a million in sales and spending a year in the top 40. Since then Newton has toured extensively, releasing four further albums all to critical acclaim.Newton recently joined the cast of the Green Day musical 'American Idiot', playing the incredibly demanding role of Johnny, so we met up with him to hear how this transition into acting came about.We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going4.SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we speak to recently-promoted First soloist of The Royal Ballet, Claire Calvert.We hear all about Claire's upbringing in Bath, leaving home at the age of eleven to train at 'The Royal Ballet School' and her life as a professional ballerina since graduating. We give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then:1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show going4.SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to West End leading lady Julie Atherton.Having established herself as a household name with her portrayal of Kate Monster in the original West End cast of Avenue Q, Julie is now one of the most sought after musical theatre performers in the UK. She talks us through her life, from the early years scraping through school in her home town Preston, to coping with the demands of drama school at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Julie speaks very honestly about the ups and downs of life as a performing artist and about her transition into directing.Julie Atherton will be appearing in 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' at The Arts Theatre in Leicester Square on August 15th. For more information visit artstheatrewestend.co.ukWe give you this podcast completely free. If you've enjoyed it and you'd like to help us make future episodes then 1. Visit: insidethewestend.com 2. Click on the donate button at the top of the home page3. Make a contribution and help us keep the show goingWe release a new episode every week, so SUBSCRIBE to our podcast and they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please tell your friends about our show and share it on social media so that we can continue to inspire others, just like you! -Follow us on Twitter @InsideWestEnd -Like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to director Laurence Connor.Over the last decade Laurence Connor has become one of the most in demand musical theatre directors in the world. From re-imagining all of Cameron Mackintosh's most iconic musicals, to directing the critically acclaimed new Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'School of Rock', his career has been truly stratospheric. With 'School of Rock' opening in London this Autumn, Laurence came to chat to us fresh from a day of auditions. We hear all about his back ground and exactly how he has created this incredible career.Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to our podcast. We release a new episode every week and if you are subscribed they will automatically appear on your device ready for you to listen to.Please share our episodes on social media and via word of mouth. Follow us on Twitter @insidewestend and like our page on Facebook "Inside the West End Podcast".We make this podcast for free. If you enjoy it and want to contribute to future episodes then please head to insidethewestend.com and click on the donate button at the top of the home page. Thanks in advance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we finally release the first ever interview we did for this podcast! Way back in February 2015 this podcast was nothing but an idea and a series of scribblings in notepads. During his run as the Phantom in London, Gerónimo Rauch kindly agreed to be our first ever interviewee. So without any of our tech sorted we headed to his home, sat in a corner of his bedroom using his own sound equipment and this is the result!Gerónimo chats to us about his upbringing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his early days performing in musical theatre, winning the Argentinian TV show 'Popstars' and subsequently becoming a huge star in South America with the band MamBrú. From pop star to West End leading man, we hear how a three day run in a concert performance catapulted him to a whole new career in the UK.Gerónimo has just released the first single 'Something' from his forthcoming album 'Here, There and Everywhere'. Check it out on Spotify here: Spotify http://smarturl.it/GRSomeSpPLEASE SHARE THIS INTERVIEW WITH YOUR FRIENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND VIA WORD OF MOUTH!Follow us on Twitter @insidewestend or like our page on Facebook 'Inside The West End Podcast'.We make this podcast for free. It takes us a huge amount of time to compile each episode and it currently costs us money to do so. If you enjoy it, and wish to help contribute to future episodes, then head to insidethewestend.com and click on the donate button at the top of the home page. Thanks in advance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to West End leading lady Kerry Ellis.Kerry started her West End career as Martine McCutcheon's understudy in Cameron Mackintosh's revival of 'My Fair Lady'. From becoming the first British Elphaba in 'Wicked' (in both the West End and Broadway), to working extensively with Queen guitarist Brian May, we hear about it all.Follow us on Twitter @insidewestend or find our group on Facebook, 'Inside The West End Podcast'. We love hearing from our listeners, so please get in touch!We make this podcast for free and it takes a huge amount of time for us to compile it. If you enjoy it, and wish to contribute to it's future, then please head to insidethewestend.com and click on the donate button. Thanks in advance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we go backstage at 'Phantom of the Opera' and conduct our first group interview inside the lads ensemble dressing room. We chat to Tim Morgan, Richard Munday, Keith Higham and Tim Laurenti about the reality of life as a jobbing actor. We hear about juggling fatherhood with the industry as well as a whole heap of backstage gossip.Follow us on Twitter @insidewestend or alternatively find our Facebook page, 'Inside the West End'.We make this podcast for free, if you like it and wish to contribute to it's future then please head to insidethewestend.com and click on the donate button. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we chat to West End choreographer Alistair David. Alistair's choreography can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed West End revival of 'Show Boat'. We discuss his vast experience as both dancer and choreographer; from his own classical training to the qualities he looks for when casting. Please make sure you subscribe to the show and follow us on twitter @insidewestendWe make this podcast for free, if you enjoy it and want to help us continue to make it then please head to www.insidethewestend.com and click on the donate button at the top of the home page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back from our break! HURRAH!This week we talk to West End leading lady Summer Strallen. Summer hails from a dynasty of West End performers, with both her parents, aunties and all three of her sisters also being incredibly successful performers in their own right. We hear all about Summer's upbringing in this unusually showbiz family and she also chats about her active role in the ongoing fight for better working conditions for actors.Make sure you subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Twitter @insidewestendWe make this podcast for free, if you wish to contribute to future episodes then head to insidethewestend.com and follow the donate links. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS EPISODE ALERT! We are currently on a two week break while Rob enjoys his Honeymoon. Our normal weekly show will return on Sunday June 19th featuring West End leading lady Summer Strallen.In the meantime, here is a short compilation of the funniest things that some of our guests have seen happen on stage, featuring Killian Donnelly, Sasha Regan and Eva Noblezada.If you've enjoyed listening to our podcast, then please rate our show on iTunes and leave us a comment.Follow us @InsideWestEnd on Twitter and on Facebook.For more information, please visit:www.insidethewestend.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS EPISODE ALERT! We are currently on a two week break while Rob enjoys his honeymoon. Our normal weekly show will return on Sunday June 19th featuring West End leading lady Summer Strallen.In the meantime, here is a short compilation of the funniest things that some of our guests have seen happen on stage, featuring Damian Humbley, Eddie Elliott, Barry James and Debbie O'Brien.If you've enjoyed listening to our podcast, then please rate our show on iTunes and leave us a comment.Follow us @InsideWestEnd on Twitter and on Facebook.For more information, please visit:www.insidethewestend.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.