✨ Pop nostalgia meets festive cheer in this lively, laugh-filled episode of MusicalTalk! ✨ This week, Nick and Andrew take a nostalgic step back to the '90s as they discuss HERE AND NOW — the brand-new Steps musical currently touring around the UK! Plus, Nick introduces a new voice to the MusicalTalk team — Emily! Emily joins to chat about ELF at the Aldwych Theatre — a festive favourite that she's performed in… but never actually seen until now! Both HERE AND NOW and ELF were star-studded gala performances, and our hosts share their thoughts on the spectacle, the audiences, and the sheer joy of theatre at its most celebratory.
Join Thos as he revisits a conversation with celebrated songwriter Sue Casson about her seminal musical masterwork, Dreams of Peace and Freedom, currently on a national tour, and learn how this piece has become part of a multiplatform experience entitled Songs of the People. From Magna Carta to Victorian Scottish land clearances, via the Nuremburg War Trials to Southwark Cathedral in 2025, Songs of the People encompasses international history, philosophy and democracy in a breadth of exciting and thoughtful ways - but always with achingly beautiful music at its core. Songs of the People is an epic entertainment for the generations. Don't miss this bumper episode!
In this reflective episode of MusicalTalk, Nick sits down with Thos to revisit his musical adaptation of Richmal Crompton's classic British short stories: Just William, first written as his examination piece twenty years ago. Together, they explore how two decades of experience — and a world of new technology (along with nearly 20 years of MusicalTalk!) — have transformed Nick's process as a composer and writer. From song ideas that have stayed with him since his student days to the tools that now bring them to life, it's a warm and insightful look at artistic growth and rediscovery. Plus, listeners will get to hear three of Nick's original demo recordings from the show, offering a rare glimpse into his creative evolution.
A digital disaster leads Thos to dig out his old CD collection — and rediscover a world of musicals he'd long forgotten. Nick joins him for a nostalgic spin through the golden age of discs, cassettes and vinyl, celebrating the physical joy of pressing play, turning pages, and uncovering songs that time almost buried. It's a charming conversation about rediscovery, memory, and the music that never really leaves you — they just wait patiently in the loft.
Join Colm and Thos as they again look at some of the shows you could have seen at this year's EdFringe - including the Queen is Mad, Hot Mess, Annie, High School Musical and Sense - A New Musical About Dementia to name but a few. With two fabulous songs from the brand new original Edinburgh Cast Recording of the five-star musical The Queen is Mad, you'd be mad to miss it!
Well, how about that? MusicalTalk reaches its 900th episode (and it's 19th birthday)! Not only that but we're Britain's oldest showbusiness podcast! To celebrate, we've got a special bumper double-length episode of songs, songs, songs! Join Thos as he looks into the history of British podcasting, and MusicalTalk's suprisingly important place in it, and then lie back and listen to twenty wonderful songs from some of the shows you could have seen at this year's EdFringe! It's cheers all round!
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 is dead! Long live the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026! But whilst we're waiting, it's time for MusicalTalk to begin its celebrated coverage of all the best musicals you could have seen this August at the world's largest arts festival. In this episode, Thos and Colm begin with an in-depth appreciation and analysis of two very different but excellent new musicals - The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse, which is MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe 2025, and Hole!, an epic but impossible musical! With zombies feasting on brains, and Hole! concentrating on an altogether different and opposite end of the body, this round-up really covers the Fringe from top to bottom!
This week, Nick and Hannah lift the silver cloches on a brand-new way to enjoy The Phantom of the Opera — in edible form! They take their seats at the Sofitel London St James's Rose Room to sample the official Phantom of the Opera Afternoon Tea. Join them as they nibble their way through pastries inspired by characters, sandwiches worthy of the Paris Opera House and enough cakes to make even Carlotta hit the high notes. They'll discuss why more shows aren't doing themed teas and food and what possible creations could be done!
Nick and Hannah sit down for a lively discussion spanning three landmark moments in musical theatre history. They celebrate the outrageous brilliance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on its 50th anniversary, reflect on a decade of Hamilton and share their delight at finally seeing Disney's Frozen captured in a dazzling Pro Shot on Disney+. www.musicaltalk.co.uk
With all the fun of EdFringe now in full swing, what better way to celebrate the world's biggest arts festival than with another delicious slice of conversation between Thos and Zach Burns, the multitalented perfomer, writer, actor, musician and Fringe veteran! In this fantastic episode, they discuss the eponymously named Fringe! The Musical, the nature of formal musical theatre training, and Zach's latest project, a brand new musical about the birth of the National Health Service called "For All Time". All this and an exclusive recording of the title song, you'd be potty to miss it. All together now: "Tuesday?!"
It's EdFringe 2025 time - and in this week's hilarious episode, Thos sits down with the multitalented and very funny Zach Burns to talk about some of his EdFringe experiences including his roles as actor and musical director for (hardy) perennial Fringe favourite, Potty the Plant! There's also insightful discussion on the differences between formal and informal musical training and all types of music from Anglican choral music to jazz! With hands to match!
In this illuminating episode of MusicalTalk, Nick Hutson sits down with esteemed theatre scholar Professor Robert Gordon to delve into his fascinating new book, The Theatre of Kander and Ebb. Together, they explore the groundbreaking legacy of one of Broadway's most enduring and influential songwriting duos — the brilliant composer John Kander and the incisive lyricist Fred Ebb. From Cabaret to Chicago, Kander and Ebb's daring approach to storytelling, their seamless blend of entertainment and social commentary, and their indelible contribution to the art of musical theatre are all put under the spotlight. Professor Gordon offers unique insights into their artistic process, thematic preoccupations, and the political and cultural contexts that shaped their iconic works. Also in this episode, Nick and Robert share thoughts on the West End's current production of Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, discussing its place in Disney's stage canon and how it compares to its animated origins.
With the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe fast approaching, join Thos as he talks to the talented composer and performer, Richard Lewis, about his two hit shows, More Songs for a (Brave) New World and Liberace In His Own Words which are coming back to the Fringe this year after great success in 2024. They also talk about Richard's role as musical director for other shows, and discuss the time Richard wrote a cabaret for Sir Ian McKellen, a man who needs no introduction - but got one anyway!
As the hit musical, Pop Off Michelangelo, follows its impressive London run with a return to the Edfringe in August 2025, Thos carries on his latest conversation with composer, writer and modern renaissance man, the hugely talented Dylan Marcaurele. In this fascinating episode, they discuss the unexpected phenomenon of cultural differences in orchestraton - what exactly makes an orchstration British rather than American and vice versa? And there's more on Dylan's plans for future musicals, all of which are linked with a golden thread of exploring moral conundrums.
Join Thos as he sits down again with Dylan Marcaurele, the talented writer and composter of hit musical, Pop Off Michelangelo! In this illuminating chat, they explore how this wonderful show has changed and developed as it moved from the EdFringe to London and discuss how you give an American show a very British sensibility! Like the lyrics of the opening number say, this is a show which is very in demand!
Join Thos as he continues his in-depth conversation about the evergreen cult musical favourite, Potty the Plant which opens at the Wiltons Music Hall in East London this week. With songs from the show and insights into this darkly hilarious musical, as well as more on its sister show, Fringe! the Musical, this is an episode that'll grow on you!
Hoorah! Potty The Plant, which was MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe at Edinburgh in 2023, is coming to the legendary Wilton's Music Hall in London in June! So join Thos as he talks to the people behind this cult comedy musical, Baden Jack Burns, Sarah Burns and Aeddan Sussex, as they discuss how the show has developed in the last few years, as well as their touching but satirical swipe at all things EdFringe in their second show, Fringe! The Musical. With songs from both shows, a grudging but sincere appreciation of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and insights on the perils of roller skates, you won't want to miss this happy chat!
In this week's episode of MusicalTalk, Nick and Hannah share their thoughts hot off the heels of the very first preview of Disney's Hercules, now making its West End debut at the historic Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. From gospel muses to gods on high, they dive into the show's music, staging, and how it adapts (and evolves) the beloved animated film for the stage. Does it go the distance? Has Alan Menken done it again? And how does this latest Disney stage offering stand alongside its predecessors?
MusicalTalk continues its two part tribute to the late Charles Strouse, the legendary composer of Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, I and Albert, All American, Charlotte's Web, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Minsky's, Mayor, Marty, Nick and Nora and so many others! In this episode, Thos and Charles enjoy a charmingly inimate, detailed and honest look at his works and career which paint a perfect picture of the hugely talented but modest man he truly was; and it's a chance to learn more about the aborted Stanley Kubric Star Wars Musical! Dick Van Dyke called him "one of the greats" and in this wonderful conversation, you'll find out why!
MusicalTalk pays a special tribute to the late, great Charles Strouse, who has just died a month shy of his 97th birthday. Charles was one of the giants of the last sixty years of musical theatre and leaves an enormous legacy: with new shows produced across seven decades, collaborations with Alan Jay Lerner, Lee Adams, Mel Brooks, Stephen Schwartz, Arthur Laurents, Martin Charnin, Rupert Holmes, Betty Comden and Adolph Green to name but a few, and with amazing rosta of shows and films featuring his music, such as Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Nick and Nora, Applause and All Dogs Go To Heaven, Charles Strouse was, as Dick Van Dyke observed "one of the greats". In this special episode of MusicalTalk, Thos recalls his memories of this amazingly talented, yet always modest, musical theatre legend - and there's another chance to hear Charles in conversation from 2009 - so put on a happy face!