In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Shem is currently starring as Caladar in the world premiere of Vanara. Following its workshop performances and concept album, Vanara is being staged at the Hackney Empire. The musical is written by Tony Cucchiara, Gianluca Cucchiara, Andrew James Whelan and Michael Conley. This production is directed by Adam Lenson and Eleesha Drennan, who also serve as dramaturg and choreographer respectively. Later this year, Shem will star as CC in the first ever UK tour of Dreamgirls which kicks off at...

Lucie is starring in the UK tour of Waitress, reprising her performance from the West End production (Adelphi Theatre). Based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress has music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles with book by Jessie Nelson. Directed by Diane Paulus with choreography by Lorin Latarro, Waitress has garnered multiple awards and nominations in both America and the UK. Lucie burst onto our screens in the 2009 series of The X Factor (ITV) and has gone on to become one of...

Marc Antolin is preparing to play Leo Matienne in RSC's new musical The Magician's Elephant. Adapted from Kate DiCamillo's novel, The Magician's Elephant has book & lyrics by Nancy Harris and music & lyrics by Marc Teitler. The production is directed by Sarah Tipple. The Magician's Elephant marks Marc's return to the RSC, having originated the role of Rudolpho in Matilda The Musical. Just a few of Marc's credits include The Music Man, Singin’ in the Rain & Amadeus (Chichester), Taken At...

Olivier-Award-winning and Tony-Award-nominated performer Jenna Russell is currently preparing for her first large solo concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 7th November 2021. Jenna will perform some of her favourite songs and material from some of the roles she has played, with a live band helmed by her friend, and musical director, Nigel Lilley. Jenna most recently starred as the title role in Piaf (Nottingham Playhouse/Leeds Playhouse) and Celebrating Sondheim (Chichester Festival...

Shobna can currently be seen in Going The Distance, a new digital comedy by Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan. Directed by Felicity Montagu, Going The Distance is a co-production from the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes and The Watermill Theatre. The cast also includes Sara Crowe, Nicole Evans, Sarah Hadland, Merch Husey, Matthew Kelly, Emma McDonald and Penny Ryder with Stephen Fry as the Narrator. Going The Distance is available to stream until 17th October via...

Akeem is currently starring as Seaweed J. Stubbs in the UK touring production of Hairspray The Musical. Prior to Hairspray, he understudied Stevie Wonder in the UK tour of Motown The Musical. In this episode, Akeem discusses his path into the industry, why Seaweed is his dream role and lots more! Hairspray is currently touring through to April 2022. Visit www.hairsprayuktour.com for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @Andrew_Tomlins Thanks for listening! Email:...

West End legend Rachael Wooding is currently starring as Kit De Luca in Jerry Mitchell's production of Pretty Woman at the Savoy Theatre. Pretty Woman features original music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a book by Garry Marshall and the film’s screenwriter J.F. Lawton. Early in her career Rachael starred as Meat in We Will Rock You (Dominion) and later returned to play Scaramouche in the musical’s closing West End cast. Just a few of Rachael's credits include: Eva in Evita...

Molly is starring in the West End production of The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown at the Garrick Theatre! Molly made her professional debut understudying Joanna in Sweeney Todd at the London Colesium. Her other credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Grange Park Opera/Royal Albert Hall), Betty in Sunset Boulevard (UK Tour/Curve Digital Production) and Wasted (Southwark Playhouse). Molly understudied Clara in The Light in The Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall, and returned to the...

Landi Oshinowo is starring as Mrs Phelps in Matilda The Musical which resumes its record-breaking West End run at the Cambridge Theatre from Thursday 16th September 2021. Landi was part of the original cast of Sister Act (London Palladium), understudying Deloris. She went on to star as Dragon/Ugly Duckling in the original West End production of Shrek The Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Most recently she played Jarene in The Color Purple (Leicester Curve/Birmingham Hippodrome). Landi's...

Olivier winner Clive Rowe recently look over as Jethro in the West End production of The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion Theatre. Clive won the 1997 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Guys and Dolls. He was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2009 for outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire and in 1993 for Best Supporting Performance in Carousel. Just a few of his recent theatre credits include: Sweet Charity (Donmar...

Ben Joyce is starring as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys which has returned to the West End at the Trafalgar Theatre. Ben recently graduated from Mountview, making him one of the youngest actors to ever play Frankie in Jersey Boys history! Ben discusses Jersey Boys' big return to the West End, how it feels to be taking on such an iconic role, his path into Musical Theatre and lots more! Jersey Boys is currently booking at the Trafalgar Theatre until Sunday 2nd January 2022. Visit...

Olivier Award winner Cassidy Janson will soon be seen as Virginia Woolf in Well-Behaved Women at Cadogan Hall in September. A new song cycle by Carmel Dean, Well-Behaved Women is an ode to the fierce famous females from history. These stories of courage, strength and resilience are memorialized through a range of musical styles from rock and jazz to country. Cassidy recently won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance as Anne in the West End premiere...

Cedric Neal is originating the role of Goldie Wilson in Back To The Future The Musical. Based on the 1985 film, Back To The Future has a book by Bob Gale, featuring 16 new songs with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, with additional songs from the film including The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode. Cedric’s Broadway credits include After Midnight and Porgy and Bess. He has worked extensively within US regional theatre, including a turn as Jimmy in Dreamgirls. He made...

Christina is starring as Veronica in the West End production of Heathers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Heathers previously enjoyed two record-breaking seasons, launching at London’s The Other Palace and transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2018. It has now returned to the West End, in addition to launching a UK tour. Christina’s theatre credits include understudying Magnolia in Show Boat (Sheffield / West End), playing Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Derby Theatre / Mercury Theatre),...

Jodie is currently reprising her performance as Emma in the UK touring production of Tell Me On A Sunday by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black. Directed by Paul Foster, this production originally ran at the Watermill Theatre. In 2008 Jodie won I’d Do Anything (BBC) and went on to play Nancy in the West End revival of Oliver. Her other West End credits include One Man Two Guvnors, Spamalot and A Taste of Honey. Jodie's other theatre credits include Abigail’s Party, Shirley Valentine, Annie,...

Sophie Evans & Lauren Samuels both appeared on Over The Rainbow (BBC) back in 2010, finishing in second and third place. After Over The Rainbow, Sophie went on to star as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. She made her Broadway debut in Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance and most recently starred as Glinda in the West End production of Wicked. Lauren made her West End debut as Sandy in Grease with her other West End credits including playing Scaramouche in We Will Rock...

This week we're joined by best friends & iconic MT duo Idriss Kargbo and Jordan Shaw! Idriss and Jordan first met when they appeared in The Scotsborough Boys at the Young Vic. They have both gone on to have incredible careers and have been best friends ever since. Prior to the pandemic, Idriss had reprised his performance as Boq in the West End production of Wicked whilst his other credits include Five Guys Named Moe and Shrek The Musical. Jordan had been touring the world as Simba in The...

Rebecca is currently appearing in the UK premiere of You Are Here at the Southwark Playhouse. The musical is described as a "hilarious and heart-breaking tour-de-force musical that will leave you cheering for the resilience of the human spirit". Just a few of Rebecca's theatre credits include: Les Misérables, A Small Family Business, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Viva Forever, We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia, Taboo and The Sound Of Music Live. Rebecca was part of the original...

Renowened for her musical impressions, Christina Bianco tours the world with her acclaimed one woman shows. She made her West End debut in Forbidden Broadway (Vaudeville) and, prior to the pandemic, starred as Fanny Brice in Stephen Mears’ acclaimed production of Funny Girl in Paris. Christina’s voice can currently be heard on the new musical podcast The Ballad of Anne and Mary. Christina plays Anne Bonny with the show taking listeners back to 1721 London, where notorious pirates Bonny and...

Director / choreographer Drew McOnie & producer Paul Taylor Mills first collaborated on the UK premiere of In The Heights, with Drew winning the 2016 Olivier Award for Best Choreographer. Drew recently helmed the Broadway production of King Kong whilst Paul is busy producing Heathers and Be More Chill. They’re currently working together on MT fest, Paul’s festival of new musical theatre at the Turbine Theatre. Exciting new shows are being staged, including Cake which Drew is...