Tea And Tonic

Theatre director and choreographer, Racky Plews, chats about growing up in a musical household, learning ballet, the piano and base guitar, going to Sylvia Young Theatre School and Arts Ed, learning her trade working on over 40 productions at fringe venue 'Upstairs at the Gatehouse', her joy at directing Green Day musical 'American Idiot' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', working on 'Royal Caribbean's' big budget shows at sea, creating an actor/muso production of 'Footloose' and directing a comedy web series in lockdown; all over a late night cuppa! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress, director, activist, mental health awareness advocate and yoga instructor, Summer Strallen, chats about learning to dance aged 2, going to Arts Ed and Laine Theatre Arts, musical theatre roles, her fond memories of performing in 'Guys and Dolls', lockdown, learning to listen to herself, slowing down and self-care, speaking out about her mental health, meditation and launching her online performance and wellness platform, 'The Strallen Collective' to help those in the arts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, presenter and writer, Neil Hurst, chats about his love for performing, singing in his local clubs as a teenager, leaving uni to take up a role in 'Evita', doing variety and summer seasons, working with his comedy idols, musical theatre tours, TV, 'Michael McIntyre's Big Show', 'Coronation Street' and co-writing a panto; all over a brew! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress, dancer and teacher, Charlotte Gooch, chats about being taught how to dance aged 3 by her aunt, a former prima ballerina, her 3 years of training at Laine Theatre Arts, getting her first professional job in the ensemble in 'Dirty Dancing' in the West End, performing the role of Penny in the show here and in Germany, 'Cats', 'Legally Blonde' and 'Strictly Ballroom', understudying Sandy in 'Grease', lead roles in 'Top Hat' and 'Flashdance', joining the 'Spinettes' and teaching in London; all over a herbal tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Director, choreographer, author and teacher, Gary Lloyd, chats about learning to dance aged 6, competing in ballroom, Latin American and disco, his passion for choreography as a child, training at Laine Theatre Arts, his first professional job in 'Cats', his year at sea, working through the night on his 21st, 'Starlight Express', being in a boyband, helping artists on 'Pop Idol' and 'X Factor', working with Take That's choreographer on 'Oh What a Night', Royal Variety and the Queen's Jubilee, the only time he was starstruck, the advice he gives his students, Thriller Live and writing a book; all over a builders brew and a tonic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor and principal coach at London Speech Workshop, Jamie Chapman, chats about his foray into theatre in Weymouth aged 7, learning how to get a laugh, getting a scholarship at Bristol Old Vic, his time in Rep, auditioning for 'Extras', TV roles including 'Red Dwarf', and 'The Crown', performing in 'Nativity the Musical' and 'Nativity Rocks'; all over a tea AND a sherry! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress and singer Carley Stenson chats about dancing from the age of 3, ballet training, singing competitions, her time at Winstanley College, getting Hollyoaks aged 17 and spending the next decade there, staying grounded, performing in a band, making her West End debut in 'Legally Blonde' and later securing the lead role, getting Les Miserables, proving herself and not being complacent and making long lasting friendships; all over a peppermint tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, singer, writer, comedian and director, Gary Wilmot MBE, chats about how he started off doing impressions, winning 'New Faces' in the late 70's, performing on the Variety circuit, making his West End debut in 'Me and My Girl' at the Adelphi theatre in 1989, the range of musicals that followed, overcoming nerves, how the London Underground song came about for the Palladium panto, performing it for the Royal Family, writing a play and screenplay and being awarded an MBE; all over a coffee! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, director, producer, choreographer and one half of 'Clever Little Films UK', Dawn Buckland, chats about her 4 years at 'Sylvia Young Theatre School' being the best days of her life, living her best life for a decade in 'Starlight Express' aged 17, why she turned down 'Billy Elliott' the first time round, understudying the leads in 'Mamma Mia', getting roles in films, 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Mamma Mia 2', 'Nativity the Musical' and making her own films; all over a brew. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Choreographer and Director, Stephen Mear CBE, chats about learning to dance aged three, training at the London Studio Centre of Dance and working hard on his ballet technique, performing in his first two shows whilst at college, winning two Olivier awards, the success of 'Mary Poppins', taking 'Sunset Boulevard' with Glenn Close to Broadway, choreographing two music videos, working with Victoria Wood and winning the Carl Alan award; all over a cup of tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theatre Producer and Founder of Aria Entertainment, Katy Lipson, from Manchester, chats about being creative growing up, her love of music, finding her feet at uni and in her twenties, writing and putting on shows, performing, teaching and MD'ing to earn money whilst starting up her business, her admiration for Sonia Friedman, producing the UK Premiere Tour of 'The Addams Family' and opening her socially distanced show 'The Last Five Years'; all over a water! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor and author, Samantha Giles, chats about getting the acting bug, her tough times at University, working a multitude of jobs, TV and theatre roles, auditioning for Emmerdale, winning a TV Quick Award for Best Actress, leaving soapland for new challenges and releasing her first children's book; all over a cuppa! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dancer and choreographer, Tommy Franzen, chats about learning to dance in Sweden, performing in musicals as a teenager, getting a scholarship in London, how 'So You Think You Can Dance' opened doors, working with Kate Prince's 'Zoonation' and choreographing on 'Strictly Come Dancing'; all over a loose leaf tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer, director and playwright, Debbie Isitt, from the Midlands, chats to me about making up shows as a child, training in performing arts in Coventry, working as an actor, touring her own theatre company around the world, getting a standing ovation at the Venice Film festival for her first feature film, how her film ‘Confetti' came about, the 'Nativity' franchise of her films and musical and why she didn't move to Los Angeles; all over a tea! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor Simon Lipkin, chats about school days at Sylvia Young Theatre School, getting lucky with his first cruise ship job, auditioning over 10 times for 'Avenue Q', how Sir Cameron Mackintosh saved his career, touring with Monty Python's 'Spamalot', playing Nathan Detroit opposite Rebel Wilson's Miss Adelaide and starring in film, 'Nativity Rocks'; all over a brew! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor and writer, David O'Reilly, from Dublin, chats about training in musical theatre in Essex, his first professional job in 'Grease' in the West End, auditioning for and playing one of the lead roles in 'The Book of Mormon' for 5 years, landing a part in sitcom, 'Benidorm', how he got the gig for the tour of 'The Catherine Tate Show Live', being directed by Kathy Burke in 'Lady Windermere's Fan', performing in 'One Man Two Guvnors' and 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie' AND writing his own comedy short; all over a cuppa! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dancer, choreographer and TV judge, Lizzie Gough, chats about learning to dance in Southampton where she grew up, training at Laine Theatre Arts, attending classes at Pineapple Dance Studios, coming 3rd in 2010's So You Think You Can Dance, joining Take That's Circus Tour, being dance captain at the closing ceremony of London 2012 Olympics, performing with ZooNation and choreographing for Strictly Come Dancing; all over a chai tea! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Director and Olivier award winning choreographer, Bill Deamer, chats about learning to dance aged 8, studying at Guildford School of Acting, working with Dame Gillian Lynne, the tribute show to Fred Astaire at the London Palladium, winning an Olivier for 'Top Hat', the 2014 revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Cats', 'Follies' and choreographing on Strictly Come Dancing for the last 14 years; all over a peppermint tea! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, Robin Windsor, from Ipswich, chats about dancing from the age of three, moving away from his family in his teens to compete and represent England at the World Championships, touring the world with Burn the Floor for ten years, including a spell on Broadway, joining Strictly Come Dancing for four years, overcoming adversity and mental health issues and getting back on to the dance floor after lockdown; all over a JUICE! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress, writer and producer, Tori Butler-Hart, from Oxfordshire, chats about studying at Central School of Speech and Drama, starting up her film production company, Fizz and Ginger, with her husband to create their own work, making low budget indie films, gaining support from Sir Ian Mckellen and Stephen Fry, the importance of learning to believe in yourself and making a film during lockdown on an iphone; all over a tea AND a tonic! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Musical Theatre Director, Dean Johnson, from Belfast, chats about studying at Guildford School of Acting, his realisation that he preferred rehearsing to performing, being nominated for an award directing Godspell at Cadogan Hall with Ramin Karimloo, turning Tony Macaulay's memoir 'Paperboy' into a musical and nurturing talent in young people at the British Theatre Academy; all over an Assam tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dance School owner, Lindsey Shelley, chats over a gin and tonic about training for 3 years at Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey, opening her dance school aged 21, gaining the Mayflower Theatre's panto contract and the benefits of dance on our wellbeing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theatre Director, Sean Turner from Oxfordshire, chats about training at ALRA, grafting and crafting, how unearthing the script of Arthur Miller's first play and bringing it to audiences in London brought him worldwide media attention, directing The Play That Goes Wrong around the globe and organising open air arts festival, The New Normal Festival, following lockdown. All over a flat white! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Technical Director at RUG, Lee Batty, chats about how his love of theatre began in his teens working at his local theatre, The Civic, in Barnsley, his first paid job on a London tour, learning his craft and working on the Olivier Awards - all over a peppermint tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Business owner and teacher, Louisa Hart, from Southampton, chats about her time at drama school in London, the audition circuit, getting into the Soap Awards and how her film school for youngsters has given her a sense of fulfilment; all whilst sipping a green tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Company Manager on Book of Mormon, Neil White, chats about his thirty year career working with some of the greats in theatre, including Joan Rivers and Sir Ian McKellen, and the influence Producers Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Sonia Friedman have had on him, all over a green tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theatre producer, Michael Rose from Dorset, chats about the shows he has brought to the stage over the last 40 years, getting his production, Sleepless The Musical, safely open for audiences again and why film producer Barbara Broccoli OBE has been such an influence - all over a gin and tonic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.