Since leaving RADA in 2016, Jamael Westman has led productions at the Royal Court, Shakespeare's Globe and of course took on the title role of Alexander Hamilton in Lin-Manuel Miranda's blockbuster musical in the West End's premiere cast. Now, he is starring in the National Theatre's production of London Tide, an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend by Ben Power with songs by PJ Harvey. The show is currently playing in the Lyttleton Theatre and is directed by Ian Rickson. In the show, Jamael plays Eugene Wrayburn, a character that he particular admires and feels proud to be playing alongside a delightful cast of actors that includes Peter Wight, Tom Mothersdale and Bella Maclean.In this brand new interview, Jamael Westman speaks passionately about the importance of love and empathy in a world that feels increasingly apathetic. After starring in politically themed works like Hamilton and Patriots, he tells us about how he sees being an actor as a political act too and he encourages those around him to be more empathetic and show love to others. We hear him reflect on the parallels between Dickens' London and modern London where the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. Still, he remains positive about the world we live and shares his hope that people will come away from his latest show wanting to take action and decrease inequality. He also tells us about his desire for diversity and representation in theatre, to showcase a London which he loves and comes from in the hope more diverse talent will enter the industry as well. It's a fascinating conversation which leaves you with plenty of food for thought and we hope you enjoy listening.London Tide runs at Lyttleton Theatre, National Theatre until 22nd June.
Since her debut in Godspell on tour in 1994, Anna Francolini has cemented herself as one of the most respected actresses on the UK stage. In a remarkable career now spanning 3 decades, she has since earned a TMA Award for Best Actress for playing the title role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and worked on landmark productions of both plays and musicals. Some of her most notable credits include working on acclaimed productions of Stephen Sondheim's musicals such as Sam Mendes' Company, Michael Grandage's Merrily We Rolle Along, both at the Donmar Warehouse as well as Jamie Lloyd's Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory. She is now currently starring as Olivia in William Shakespeare's classic comedy Twelfth Night (Or What You Will), working opposite the likes of Julie Legrand and Richard Cant, under the direction of RSC Associate Artist Owen Horsley.In our interview, Anna Francolini talks candidly about the struggles of working in the theatre industry and tells us how grateful she is to be able to still find meaty roles 30 years since her debut. She tells us about her admiration for Shakespeare having previously worked on The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream to great acclaim although remains humble about her knowledge about approaching his work. We also hear her share her excitement at getting to play in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre for the first time and getting to share in the magic of outdoor theatre. Over her career, Anna has also gained considerable credits on screen too working on House of the Dragon, Vera and Roadkill just to name a few. Still, she remains committed to theatre and live audiences and we hope to see her continue to share her incredible theatrical talents for 30 more years.Twelfth Night runs at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 8th June with tickets available NOW!
After Love Sick won rave reviews during its run in San Francisco, the show is premiering in London under a new title: A Song of Songs. In this brand new interview, the show's creator Ofra Daniel talks to us about the experience of bringing this story to the Park Theatre. The show sees her character undergo an extraordinary journey of discovering sexual and personal desires after realising she has a secret admirer. The show will play in the Park200 theatre which Ofra describes as an incredible space because of the intimacy it offers to audiences so they feel immersed within this world too.In this new interview with Ofra Daniel, we hear her reflect on her Middle Eastern roots and her interest in telling stories about relationships. She passionately tells us about her admiration for her fellow musicians and actors who are each able to bring a unique flare to this piece which blends Middle Eastern beat and flamenco rhythms. At a time when the world feels particularly divided, a magic seems to have been uncovered in the rehearsal space as people from all backgrounds are able to come together to create a show that truly celebrates diversity.A Song of Songs runs at Park Theatre from 9 May - 15 June.
2024 marks 10 years since Martin James Bartlett won BBC Young Musician of the Year and since then, he has garnered various accolades including the inaugural Prix Serdang and the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rosebowl. He most recently released his 3rd album, La Danse inspired by French music and regularly continues to perform around the world in solo recitals as well as a guest for various major orchestras. At home, Martin has also continued to share his love of food and cooking with his followers on social media and he tells us about his passion for culinary arts in our interview. With classical music also still under siege by critics for being "elitist", we hear him dismiss these remarks pointing out how many popstars charge high ticket prices for concerts whilst encouraging those new to the medium to be open to the art form.In this brand new interview, Martin James Bartlett opens by reflecting over the last 10 years as a professional musician as he enters a transition phase from being a young artist to a more mature one. Many critics would point out that part of his charm has always been his maturity as both a performer and a gentleman, and it has been wonderful to see him grow into this role through his musical prowess. As he continues to showcase his ability to play a wide range of repertoire, we also get to hear him share advice for younger emerging performers, borrowing advice from heroes such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. As classical music also continues to evolve too, we feel certain that Martin James Bartlett will be part of the future of classical music.
In the last weeks of Opening Night, Hadley Fraser kindly sat down with us to talk about his experience with the show and to look back on some of his recent credits too. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Hadley has proven himself to be one of the most versatile actors on the West End stage, taking on principal roles in both musicals and classic plays. Hadley has also worked extensively in regional theatre, championing venues like Chichester Festival Theatre, Sheffield Crucible and Manchester's Royal Exchange. During Josie Rourke's tenure at the Donmar Warehouse, he also worked closely with the Donmar team on a number of shows including Coriolanus, Saint Joan and City of Angels. The Donmar was also where he met his now-wife: Olivier nominee Rosalie Craig with whom they share a daughter. The couple still occasionally work together, most recently on a livestream of Stuart Matthew Price's Before After and we look forward to seeing the pair on stage again soon.In this new interview, Hadley Fraser opens up about his experience as a performer and as a creative. He talks to us about his current experience of putting together Opening Night with Ivo Van Hove and discusses the importance of taking risks, even when in a difficult financial climate. He admits he was aware the show would split opinion but remained intrigued by the avant-garde director's vision of the show and shares his admiration for Wessex Grove Productions, Rufus Wainwright and Ivo Van Hove. As he prepares to take his final bows next month, he remains grateful for the time spent with this company as he looks ahead to life after Opening Night.Opening Night runs at Gielgud Theatre until 18th May with tickets available NOW.
Since her debut in Fiddler on the Roof, Molly Osborne has proven herself to be one of the most exciting actresses to hit the London theatre scene. Her latest role sees her playing Rosie in Stephen Unwin's Laughing Boy at Jermyn Street Theatre, based on Sara Ryan's true story of her search for justice after her son Connor died in care. Steven Unwin also directs this new show which will also include Janie Dee, Alfie Friedman and Forbes Mason in the cast. This will also the mark the first time Molly has starred in Jermyn Street Theatre having previously worked extensively at the Menier Chocoalate Factory as well as at Southwark Playhouse. Following the London run, the show will transfer to Theatre Royal, Bath where Molly will also be making her regional theatre debut.In this new interview, Molly Osborne talks us through her career to date. Most recently, she starred in a 5 star production of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button alongside Jamie Parker. The production is due to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre later in the year and we hear Molly reflect on her earlier roles in Fiddler on the Roof and Indecent. In a career that's only spanned 5 years, Molly Osborne has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the theatre industry, taking on strong roles that she describes as inspiring to her, and helping forge a way for emerging talent too.Laughing Boy runs at Jermyn Street Theatre on 25 April - 31 May before transferring to Theatre Royal, Bath from 4 - 8 June.
After bursting onto the West End musical theatre scene in 2019 as the title character in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in Laurence Connor's acclaimed revival at the London Palladium, Jac Yarrow has become one of the West End's fastest rising stars. After recently concluding a Toronto run of Joseph and a critically acclaimed run of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends in the West End, Jac Yarrow is heading to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane to lead the 50th anniversary concerts of Pippin, taking on the title role. Joining him will be a star-studded cast that includes Tony Award winner Alex Newell as the Leading Player and Olivier Award winner Patricia Hodge as Berthe; with Hodge previously playing Catherine in the original West End production of Pippin. In the upcoming concerts, Catherine will now be played by West End star Lucie Jones, with the cast supported by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra and a 50 member choir.In this brand new interview with Jac Yarrow, we take a deep dive into his career so far, looking back at highlights like Joseph but also At Last, It's Summer at the Palladium last year and Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella at Cadogan Hall in 2019, also with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. During our interview, Jac also talks candidly about his experience at ArtsEd following recent allegations into bullying and misconduct at the elite drama school. Although he admits he himself didn't experience anything abusive during his time, he acknowledges that other's experience may be different and entirely valid too. As he now approaches a new challenge with Pippin, he reflects on his time so far within the industry and shares his advice for emerging and graduate performers too.Pippin - 50th Anniversary Concert run at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 29th and 30th April. Tickets on sale NOW!
After over a decade in theatre, Olivier nominee Anoushka Lucas has established herself as one of the most exciting acts to arrive on the scene as a musician, actress and playwright. Her latest role sees her playing Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller's The Crucible at Sheffield Crucible - also her first venture into regional theatre. Most recently, her debut play Elephant played to sold out crowds at Bush Theatre and her performance as Laurey in Oklahoma! at Young Vic Theatre earned her an Olivier nomination. As we entered this conversation, Anoushka talks us through her recent career highlights and shares her gratitude for all the experiences she's had so far as a creative.In this brand new interview with Anoushka Lucas, we hear her talk about her transition from playing ingenue roles to playing more mature roles like Elizabeth Proctor. We hear her talk about her admiration for Anthony Lau coming to the Crucible and her observations on how different audiences are in Sheffield compared to in London. After graduating from University of Oxford with a degree in Russian and Italian, Anoushka's career journey has been pretty extraordinary taking her to Regent's Park to play Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar to playing opposite Kit Harrington in Henry V at the Donmar Warehouse to now The Crucible. It's a fascinating conversation with plenty of good humour and we can't wait to see what she does next as she shares her hopes to play more strong female roles going forwards.The Crucible runs till 30th March at Sheffield Crucible with tickets on sale NOW.
After dazzling audiences last year as Willy Wonka in the UK tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gareth Snook is preparing to make his Hampstead Theatre debut in April De Angelis' The Divine Mrs. S. The new play was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn prize with Gareth describing the play to us as genuinely funny and moving. In the show, audiences will see him play multiple characters including writer James Boaden and the painter Thomas Lawrence - both significant figures in Sarah Siddons' life which he show is about. The show is directed by Anna Mackin, with Rachael Stirling playing the title role of Sarah Siddons.In our interview, Gareth Snook opens up about his experience working on big musicals and his excitement at getting to originate a role for a brand new play. We also hear him talk of his admiration for Hampstead Theatre and their continued support for new writers and new plays during such a difficult climate for the industry as a whole. As one of only 2 male actors in the show, he also tells us about his admiration for for the women he's worked with in the past as well as the brilliant actors and creatives he's working with on The Divine Mrs. S. Since starting his career, Gareth has taken on roles in some of the best known productions in the West End including The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard and Made in Dagenham so it was great to hear how much he is looking forward to performing in the gorgeously intimate space of Hampstead Theatre.The Divine Mrs. S opens at Hampstead Theatre on 22nd March, running till 27th April with tickets on sale now!
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is one of the most acclaimed leading ladies on the West End scene today. After taking the West End by storm in the UK premiere of In The Heights, she has went on to tackle key roles in TheWild Party, Murder Ballad and Cinderella, earning Olivier award nominations for the latter two. Now, she is currently preparing to make her Charing Cross Theatre debut in the UK premiere of Bronco Billy, a musical adaptation of Clint Eastwood's 1980 Western, featuring a book by Dennis Hackin who also wrote the screenplay. Here, audiences will get to see Victoria take on the role of Constance Lily, the wicked stepmother of Emily Benjamin's Antoinette Lily. Of course, this is not the first time Victoria has played a villain and throughout our interview, we hear her talk about her love for bringing out her naughtier side and how she goes about developing characters like Constance and the Stepmother in Cinderella. In this brand new interview, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt shares her excitement at reuniting with Tarrin Callender after working together on The Odyssey at the National Theatre last Summer. As a long-time champion of new musicals, she tells us about the joy of getting to create a character and her passion for building comedy in an intimate venue like Charing Cross. We also hear her talk about the challenges of working in such a high pressure industry as she reflects on the juggle of being a West End performer and a mother to two young children. It's a fascinating conversation where we hear about some of the harsher realities of being a West End leading lady as well as the joys that come with the job. Indeed, Victoria happily admits to her love for playing villains and we can't wait to see what she does with Constance Lily in this new show.Bronco Billy runs at the Charing Cross Theatre from 24 January - 7 April with tickets on sale now!
Ahead of the opening of Exhibitionists at the new King’s Head Theatre, award winning writer Shaun McKenna sat down with us to talk about his brand new show and how it feels to have his work premiere at the theatres brand new home. After successful revival of his musical adaptation of The Lord of the Rings last year too, Shaun seems to be experiencing a new high in his career, working with many other celebrated names in the industry. In our interview, he talks to us about the joy of collaborating with Andrew Sickle on developing this comedy which he hopes will appeal not only to gay audiences but to all audiences who go to see it.During the course of our conversation, we also hear Shaun McKenna reflect on his career. Having started out as an actor, he tells us why he left acting and pursued writing instead. Since then, he has worked as a playwright, lyricist and screenwriter. He has written both original works and adaptations and gives us a glimpse into his passion for the entertainment industry.Exhibitionists opens at the Kings Head Theatre on 8 January and runs till 10 February!
Olivier Award winner Elliot Levey was last at the Almeida for Nine Lessons and Carols, and before that in Three Sisters. Now, he has returned to London's top producing house in Cold War: Conor McPherson's adaptation of Pawel Pawlikowski's Oscar-nominated film. Over the course of his career, Elliot has established himself as one of the most recognised actors in British theatre. As Kaczmarek, he helps set up the story of Cold War, setting out the importance of traditional folk music in post-war Poland. Indeed, music plays a very important role in the story of Cold War and audiences are treated to a luscious score by Elvis Costello in this exciting London premiere.In this brand new interview, Elliot Levey opens up about his career working with the likes of Rupert Goold and Elvis Costello, but he also talks about working with Mike Bartlett on Snowflake and his experience of working on unsuccessful pieces like Take Flight at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He tells us about his love for telling compelling stories and seeing audiences moved after a performance. With one of the most familiar faces on stage and screen, he remains constantly excited by new collaboration opportunities having worked with directors such as Stephen Frears, Rebecca Frecknall and even Madonna. Naturally a curious thinker, audiences continue to be delighted by his performances and it's likely we'll have more intriguing performances from him to look forward to.Cold War runs at the Almeida Theatre until Saturday 27th January 2024.
After winning the coveted role of Cilla Black in Bill Kenwright's tour of Cilla the Musical, Kara Lily Hayworth quickly became one of the industry's most exciting newcomers. After the tour finished, Kara took on the iconic role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret, working opposite Anita Harris and John Partridge. Over her career, Kara has also taken on the role of Maggie May in a production at Finborough Theatre and was also in Stand and Deliver at the King's Head Theatre. Most recently, she finished filming on Assassin's Guild with Stuart Brennan and is now regularly a feature guest in West End Sings... at The Crazy Coqs.In this brand new interview, Kara Lily Hayworth looks back on her career highlights and also shares about how motherhood has changed her as a person. She talks fondly of her former co-performers and about the shows she's gotten to do so far. Kara also tells us about her hopes for the future as the industry continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic and we look forward to seeing what else she does next.
After previously starring in the last West End revival of Oliver!, Jenny Fitzpatrick is preparing to return to Dickens' England in Leeds Playhouse's eagerly anticipated revival of the much-loved musical. Now starring as Nancy, Jenny tells us about her journey to the role having previously covered Jodie Prenger at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. This also marks the first time Jenny has returned to Leeds since her outing in Aladdin in 2010. We hear in this interview her excitement at returning to Leeds and getting the opportunity to play the pivotal role of Nancy in James Brining's reimagining of Lionel Bart's classic show.Over the years, Jenny Fitzpatrick has played some of the most memorable roles in the West End and on tour in shows such as Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and Ghost the Musical. More recently, Jenny took on the role of Fama in the world premiere of Berlusconi the Musical at the newly opened Southwark Playhouse Elephant. In the course of interview, Jenny tells us about her love for playing challenging and complex characters. We hear her talk about the rewards of getting older in the industry - being able to bring new layers of depth to her characters dealing with difficult issues such as abuse and rejection. The upcoming revival of Oliver! will see Jenny also reunite with Chris Bennett who also featured in the West End revival of the show and we hear Jenny talk about the joy of working with the esteemed company and her hopes for what audiences will take away with them from seeing the show.Oliver! opens at Leeds Playhouse on 24 November and runs to 27 January at Leeds Playhouse with tickets on sale now!
After previously working together and winning an Olivier Award for Passion, David Thaxton has reunited with Jamie Lloyd on his 5* production of Sunset Boulevard. Having been an admirer of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, he tells us in this brand new interview about the joy of getting to now work on Sunset Boulevard having previously worked on Jesus Christ Superstar, Love Never Dies and The Phantom of the Opera. Since starting his career in the mid-2000s, David Thaxton has carved out one of the most varied CVs among his peers, taking on roles in both limited engagements and in the long-running shows. David is also a member of the band Divisions Real and regularly records and performs live with his bandmates when not on the West End. Alongside his partner Nancy Sullivan, David also delivers W1 Workshops, a service aimed towards providing aspiring young performers skills and experience to work on the West End at an affordable price.In our interview, David Thaxton looks back on his remarkable career from playing Enjolras to Javert in Les Miserables, his experiences working with Jamie Lloyd on Passion and now Sunset Boulevard. He remains humble about his achievements and offers some reflection on how the industry has changed in recent times. He has a lot of praise for his fellow cast in Sunset, remarking on the talent and work ethic of those he's working around. Throughout our interview, he is also brutally honest about the realities of working in musical theatre and the hardships that come along the way. Still, it seems it's unlikely David would ever walk away from musical theatre and we look forward to seeing what the next 20 years will bring him.Sunset Boulevard runs at Ssvoy Theatre until Saturday 6th January 2024.
After starring in Translations and Othello at the National Theatre, Jack Bardoe is currently touring in Richard Eyre's acclaimed revival of A Voyage Round My Father. The production opened in Theatre Royal, Bath and is currently making its way around the UK, bringing John Mortimer's much loved piece to audiences throughout the country. In an exclusive interview, Jack Bardoe opens up about his experiences working with some of our most esteemed directors such as Sir Richard Eyre and Ian Rickson. After leaving RADA, Jack also been seen in shows such as Belgravia as Charles Pope as well as played Toby Phillips in SCREW. Now, Jack stars in a brand new revival of John Mortimer's semi-autobiographical piece opposite award-winning actor Rupert Everett as the Father. Since leaving drama school, Jack has played principal roles in Translations and Othello, both at the National Theatre, a venue he grew up visiting. He talks fondly about the experience stepping out onto the Olivier and Lyttleton stages in 2 landmark productions of great texts. Now, as he continues on tour, he looks back at how theatre continues to be a strong passion and he tells us how this motivates him forward to continue looking for challenging and interesting work.A Voyage Round My Father is on tour until 18 November.
After garnering an array of accolades for his role in Dear Evan Hansen, Sam Tutty is preparing to make his stage return in Kiln Theatre's Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Sam was named one of the brightest newcomers to the stage in 2019 and fans have been eagerly anticipating what the young star will do next. In a similar way, theatregoers have been eager for a new musical from Kiln Theatre following the success of Blues in the Night in 2019. Jim Barne and Kit Buchan have become one of the industry's most dynamic writing duos and we hear Sam share his excitement at getting to work on this world premiere. With the show continuing to develop, it was great getting to sit down with Sam to discuss the new show and to look back over some early career highlights too.In this brand new interview, Sam Tutty opens up about his creative process, now approaching a brand new musical, one year after the closing of Dear Evan Hansen. He reminds us of the importance of separating oneself from their character and shares his thanks to his family and friends for allowing him to switch off from playing heavy parts. As he now approaches the role of Dougal, we hear him talk about the importance of playing characters who are flawed and reflective of the human experience. He continues to be ambitious too - sharing his hope to continue diversifying in his career choices with more screen work as well as to continue starring in more musicals. It's a delightful conversation where we hear how much Sam has matured since his early days as a fresh graduate and we look forward to seeing whatever he does next.Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) runs at Kiln Theatre from 9 November - 23 December).
Since arriving into the UK 20 years ago, Damian Humbley has become one of the most eminent figures on the musical theatre scene. After taking over the role of Walter in The Woman in White at the Palace Theatre, Damian has since taken on roles such as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Charley in Merrily We Roll Along and is now appearing in the all-star cast of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends. A lifelong Sondheim aficionado himself, he tells us about his love of Sondheim and how amazing it feels to be working alongside such established talents on Old Friends. In this exclusive interview, Damian Humbley looks back over his career, telling us about how the theatre scene has changed and is continuing to evolve. After recently starring in The Great British Bake Off musical, we hear him talk about how it's becoming increasingly challenging creating shows that are as commercially successful as they are critically. After the show premiered in Cheltenham, the show made its way to the Noel Coward Theatre where it had a modest run and gained new fans as well. Old Friends also marks the first time Damian has returned to the Gielgud theatre having previously starred in the acclaimed but short-lived production of Lend Me a Tenor. It's interesting to hear Damian provide his insight and analysis of what is currently happening across the theatre landscape as he looks ahead to the next 20 years of his career. He remains committed to creating high quality pieces of art and shares his hopes of working on more Sondheim pieces going forwards.Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends runs at the Gielgud Theatre until 6th January 2024
Since her breakthrough in Mamma Mia! in the West End, Kelly Price has become one of the most respected leading ladies on the West End and UK stages. Most recently, Kelly Price has led key revivals of Stephen Sondheim's Passion and played Lady Bellaston in Leeds Playhouse's production of What's New, Pussycat? Now, she is preparing to play Lady Dant and Madame Colbert in the London premiere of Flowers For Mrs Harris. After the original production won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike in Sheffield and Chichester, musical theatre fans are eager to see the acclaimed British musical arrive at the Riverside Studios.In our interview with Kelly Price, we hear her talk about her excitement at the recent flurry of new British musicals being produced on our shores. Having established herself as one of the most versatile performers, Kelly tells us about the challenges of learning the material for Flowers For Mrs Harris but also how rewarding it feels to work on such a detailed piece of musical theatre. Last year, audiences also saw her return to the Menier Chocolate Factory for The Sex Party, a controversial new play by Terry Johnson and we hear Kelly reflect upon her experience working on the premiere of that play. Throughout our conversation, we hear Kelly remain very humble about her career achievements, playing a huge variation of roles and gaining a reputation for being a truly versatile actress. It will be interesting to see what other roles Kelly will play in the years to come and we look forward to seeing her make her Riverside Studios debut.Flowers For Mrs Harris runs at Riverside Studios from 30th September - 26th November with tickets on sale now!
One of the most eagerly anticipated productions for Chichester Festival Theatre's current season is Rock Follies, an adaptation of the hit 1970s series. The cast is led by West End star Carly Bawden as Anna, a role that was originated by the late Charlotte Cornwell in the TV series. The role marks Carly's first time performing in the Minerva Theatre having previously performed at the theatre's Concert in the Park 2021 and notably worked with departing Artistic Director Daniel Evans on My Fair Lady at Sheffield Crucible. After a short career break, Rock Follies also marks a return for Carly to the stage and we hear her talk about her experience readjusting to being in a rehearsal space, working with a company to create a show for Chichester audiences. In our interview, Carly Bawden sat down to talk about creating the new show with Dominic Cooke and finding ways to honour the original source material whilst keeping the show fresh for a modern audience. We also hear Carly talk about her Somerset roots, growing up in a small town to performing on West End stages. Throughout our conversation, she remains very humble about her success since leaving Somerset and tells us how grateful she is to the local community for supporting her ambitions to perform. Indeed, since leaving school, Carly Bawden has become one of the most sought-after performers, leading landmark revivals of Carousel and Assassins as well as helped open the new Boulevard Theatre with Ghost Quartet back in 2019. Always playing challenging roles, we hear her talk about her love of working on thought-provoking texts and her hopes to continue working with brilliant people within the industry.Rock Follies runs at the Minerva Theatre until Saturday 26 August.