The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat

We had to do an EMERGENCY episode to discuss Songs For A New World which was staged at the London Palladium starring Rachel John, Rachel Tucker, Cedric Neal, David Hunter and Shem Omari James. West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, is joined by journalist Lisa Martland (Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com & former Deputy Editor of The Stage) to discuss why this was such a special, unforgettable, five-star production. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins @Andrew_Tomlins Thanks for...

It's the final episode of the series, so we knew we needed a super stagey co-host... the one and only Joshua St. Clair (Frozen/City Of Angels)! In this episode, Andrew & Josh discuss Sleepless (Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre) and Claudia Kariuki's set for Duality Music (Centrepoint). In addition to an industry update, Andrew & Josh cover the latest news about Songs For A New World, First Date, Theatre Royal Windsor and more. Josh's credits include: understudy Fiyero in Wicked...

Maureen Rejali from Sunday Show Tunes co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Maureen discuss The World Goes 'Round (Barn Theatre) & Godspell (Hope Mill Theatre Online Concert) as well as the latest news about French Theatre, the Tony Awards, Dear Evan Hansen, The Stage Debut Awards & more. For the past five years Maureen has been co-hosting and producing Sunday Show Tunes alongside Paul Branch. To listen to Sunday Show Tunes, visit www.sundayshowtunes.co.uk. Hosted...

Theatre critic Lizzie Loveridge co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Lizzie discuss Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and Fanny & Stella (Garden Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Tony Awards, Pippin, Doctor Who, The Boys In The Band and lots more. Lizzie has been reviewing theatre for twenty-four years. She is chief London critic for CurtainUp and a member of the Critic’s Circle. Lizzie is currently preparing to launch...

Toyan Thomas-Browne, who recently covered Lola in Kinky Boots, co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Toyan discuss A Little Night Music (Holland Park) and the latest industry update, as well as news about Diana on Netflix, the Turbine Theatre, the National Theatre and the Come From Away film. Toyan's theatre credits include Angel/understudy Lola in Kinky Boots (UK Tour), Me & My Girl (Chichester), Guys & Dolls (Manchester Royal Exchange), Wonderland (UK Tour),...

Claire-Marie Hall (Les Misérables/The Grinning Man) co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Claire discuss The West End Musical Drive-In (Drive In London) and the latest industry update, as well as news about BroadwayHD, Dirty Dancing and Channing Tatum plus casting for And the World Goes 'Round (Barn Theatre) and Camelot (Watermill Theatre), At the age of 11, Claire made her professional debut as Ngana in the National Theatre's touring production of South Pacific....

West End star Jennifer Tierney (Come From Away/Wicked) joins us to co-host The West End Frame Show! In this episode Andrew & Jennifer discuss Encore with Kristen Bell (Disney Plus) and the latest industry update, as well as the latest news about The Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music, Once on this Island, Crazy Coqs and lots more. Jennifer discusses life in lockdown, the challenges of learning Come From Away, her iconic performance on the Lift concept album and her experiences in...

Performer Reece Kerridge (Starlight Express/Shrek The Musical) co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Reece discuss Songs For A New World & The Space Between as well as an industry update and the latest news about Jesus Christ Superstar casting, NT At Home, Lucie Jones' live album and lots more. Reece's theatre credits include: Our House (Union), The Book of Mormon (West End) and Shrek The Musical (UK Tour). Most recently he was in rehearsals to play Brexit and...

Director Kirk Jameson joins us to co-host The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Kirk discuss Intermissions and this week's Government update as well as the latest news about Six's Drive-In Tour, Jesus Christ Superstar, Frozen, The New Normal Festival and The Theatre Café. Kirk is currently directing Intermissions, an online musical theatre show which is hosted by Alice Fearn (Elphaba in Wicked & Beverley Bass in Come From Away) live from her garden! Kirk's directing credits...

Performer Fred Smiley (The Book of Mormon) joins us to co-host The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Fred discuss Turn Up (Cadogan Hall) and History Has Its Eyes On You (Disney+), as well as the latest news about outdoor theatre, Godspell, Showstoppers, Wicked and The Southwark Playhouse. After touring the UK as Simon Senior in Kinky Boots, Fred recently made his West End debut in The Book of Mormon. He’s one of the hosts of "The TBH Podcast". Follow Fred on Twitter:...

Arts journalist Marianka Swain (UK Editor-in-Chief of BroadwayWorld) co-hosts an action-packed episode of The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Marianka dedicate an entire segment to the Hamilton film (Disney+) and also discuss Into The Unknown: The Making of Frozen II (Disney+) & Every Little Step (A Chorus Line documentary - Amazon Prime). This week there is news about the Government's £1.57bn one-off investment in UK culture and the launch of a new UK Theatre Fund headed up...

To celebrate one year of The West End Frame Show, original co-host Jenny Gayner returns for another stagey catchup! In this episode, Andrew & Jenny discuss The Last Five Years (Lambert Jackson Productions) & Falsettos (BroadwayHD) as well as the latest news about Oliver Dowden's roadmap to reopen theatres, the return of SIX, The Phantom of the Opera, Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor starring Ian McKellen, Sleepless at Troubadour Wembley Park and Lin-Manuel Miranda's new Disney...

Actor Joshua Lovell (The Book of Mormon/Kinky Boots) co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Joshua discuss Peter Pan LIVE (The Shows Must Go On) & the Hamilton trailer (Disney+) as well as the latest news about British Theatre, Turn Up at Cadogan Hall & In The Wings. Joshua's theatre credits include: Annie (Toronto), The Book of Mormon (West End), Mack & Mabel (Chichester/UK Tour), Follies (Royal Albert Hall), Singin' in the Rain (UK Tour), Pipe Dream (Union Theatre),...

Actress & Producer Shanay Holmes co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Shanay discuss The Wiz LIVE (The Shows Must Go On) & Staged (BBC) and there's lots of news about the Dear Evan Hansen film, Sara Bareilles' new Apple TV+ show & Vicki Manser's debut single topping the charts. Andrew & Shanay also continue the Black Lives Matter conversation, discussing the theatre industry, casting and why we need to do more to ensure we have black producers and creatives at the...

In this week's episode, West End Frame Editor Andrew Tomlins discusses Black Lives Matter and racism within the theatre industry, including discussion about the UK's leading drama schools and experiences from black performers in the West End. In addition, we celebrate the #StandByMeChallenge which has seen theatrical community's from around the world coming together in solidarity. Useful Links (as discussed during the episode): Asmeret Ghebremichael: I’m tired of being the token Black...

Journalist Lisa Martland (Founding Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com and former Deputy Editor of The Stage) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show! In this bumper episode, Andrew & Lisa discuss Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall (Netflix), Hairspray LIVE (The Shows Must Go On), A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic/NT At Home), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC/Channel 4) & Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (Netflix documentary). There's lots of news about The...

Leon Craig (Sandra Bollock in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) co-hosts The West End Frame Show! Leon recently understudied the Genie and played Babkak in Disney's Aladdin. Andrew & Leon discuss Bombshell in Concert (Broadway Concert for The Actors Fund) & The Sound of Music LIVE (The Shows Must Go On); there's lots of news about SMASH, Troubadour Meridian Water, Newfound Hope Songs & West End LIVE + Leon discusses joining Jamie, the challenges of playing Genie & his collection of pantomime...

Mark Dugdale (Kevin T in Come From Away) co-hosts The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Mark discuss Cats The Musical (1998 filmed production) and Fun Home (Victory Gardens achieve); there's lots of news about Frozen, Hamilton & A Monster Calls PLUS we play charity single "We're Unstoppable" by Stiff & Kitch and James Taylor. Mark also discusses all things Come From Away, getting up to antics with Rachel Tucker, learning bass guitar for The Commitments and his dream of playing...

West End actor Keith Jack joins us to co-host The West End Frame Show! In this episode, Andrew & Keith discuss By Jeeves (The Shows Must Go On), Fleabag (Wyndham's Theatre, NT Live recording) & Pieces Of String (Mercury Theatre Colchester). There's news about Rachel Tucker, Lizzie Bea, Barber Shop Chronicles & Harry Potter PLUS Keith discusses his top picks from Disney+, touring the UK with Fame and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2007, Keith Jack finished second on Any...

Actress & singer Kerry Ellis joins us to discuss her album & new podcast! In this episode, Andrew discusses Ryan Murphy's Hollywood (Netflix), Frankenstein (National Theatre at Home), Take Me To The World: Sondheim’s 90th Birthday Concert (YouTube Concert) & Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday Concert (Royal Albert Hall). There's lots of news about the Theatre Support Fund, the Sunday Favourites concert series, Rags cast album and Fun Home PLUS Andrew delves further into the #TeamPhantom...