Podcasts about london theatre

Journalist and editor Marianka Swain returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Marianka discuss the West End transfer of Stereophonic (Duke of York's Theatre) as well as the latest news about the new Encores season including Billy Porter in La Cage aux Folles, new plays at the King's Head Theatre, Olly Alexander being cast in The Importance of Being Earnest and lots more.Marianka is a London-based journalist and editor, writing culture articles, reviews and general features for the Telegraph newspaper and for London Theatre. This is her sixth time co-hosting The West End Frame Show! Visit Marianka's website: www.mkmswain.comThis podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textAfter premiering in the Ustiniv Studio at Theatre Royal Bath in 2022, SHOWMANISM is making its London premiere at Hampstead Theatre. The show has been described as  a kaleidoscopic journey through theatre and its history, and will also mark Dickie Beau's fourth venture into Hampstead Theatre, a place which he describes fondly as his latest show prepares to open. Indeed, it was only earlier this year when he was starring opposite Simon Russell Beale in an acclaimed revival of 'The Invention of Love'. In this way, it seems that there will likely be an ongoing partnership between him and the theatre, with Hampstead's audiences continuing to be blown away by his performances.In this brand new interview with Dickie Beau, he tells us about the origins of SHOWMANISM and how he began by thinking of theatres as sacred, communal spaces. We talked about his unique process of using technology in his shows as he transforms himself into various esteemed actors including Sir Ian McKellen and Fiona Shaw. Over the course of our conversation, Dickie opens up about his love for actors and for live theatre before discussing his hopes for how audiences will come away from the show having had a fundamentally human experience.SHOWMANISM opens at Hampstead Theatre on 18 June and runs till 12 July 2025.Support the show

Jessica Daley (Evita / I Should Be So Lucky) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Jessica discuss the latest news about Jessie J turning down the role of Sally Bowles, Remember Monday, casting for Here and Now, Rob Houchen and Anna Jane Casey doing Sweeney Todd and lots more.They also talk about the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre's report with analysis on the current state of theatre in the UK.Fifteen years ago, Jessica was a finalist on Over The Rainbow, BBC1's search for Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Her theatre credits include: Ali in Mamma Mia! (West End), Maria in The Sound of Music (UK Tour), cover Fantine in Les Miserables (International Tour), Frenchy in Grease (Dubai), Lynette in An Officer and a Gentleman (Curve Leicester), Eva Person in Evita (International Tour), Billy's Mum in Billy Elliot (Leicester Curve) and Betty Haynes in White Christmas (UK Tour)More recently Jessica was in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium covering the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, she toured as Britney in I Should Be So Lucky and played Daisy in Lady Be Good in Sicily. She's also a podcaster in her won right, having hosted Park & Bark which is available wherever you get your podcasts.Follow Jessica on Instagram: @jessicacaca7This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Essex and Claire Walker are Co - CEOs of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre. Theirs is a longstanding partnership having come together initially at Teach First before progressing to being Co-Executive Directors at the British Chambers of Commerce before moving to their current role. In this episode, they talk about their journey of progressing as a partnership, including sharing some great tips for navigating the recruitment process together.  They also talk about the power of jobsharing for increasing resilience and in particular how this helped in some of the most challenging times in history through Brexit and during the pandemic. The episode also delves into the power of co-leadership and how jobsharing enables better decision making and ultimately a better outcome for the organisation. #TheJobshareRevolution #JobshareStories #FlexibleWorkingWorks #CoLeadership #Resilience #PowerPartnership

In a bonus episode, editor-in-chief Alex Wood chinwags his way around the Olivier Awards winners' room discussing the state of London theatre, new writing and emerging talent – featuring chats with the creators of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the team behind the record-breaking Fiddler on the Roof and the three Olivier Award-winning creatives in Giant – John Lithgow, Elliot Levey and Mark Rosenblatt. As subsidised venues reduce their programming output, what does the future of British theatre look like? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textIn her decades spanning career, Cassidy Janson has lit up all corners of the London theatre scene. From the Landor Theatre to the Menier Chocolate Factory to understudying Elphaba in Wicked to winning an Olivier for her role as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet, Cassidy Janson is a definitive West End leading lady. Having performed in concerts for some 10 years, she has established herself as a singer and songwriter as well as a bona fide West End star. Her most recent credits include Jerry's Girls, Florence in Chess and Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Ahead of her special concert at the Vaudeville Theatre as part of the Westway Sessions, Cassidy Janson sat down to talk about her love for gigging and how a meeting with a jive band led to her performing all around the world, introducing her to new audiences everywhere. In our conversation, Cassidy looks back at milestone moments like taking over the lead role in Beautiful and also originating parts in shows like & Juliet and Lend Me a Tenor. She looks back at her time in off-West End hits like Dessa Rose fondly and we hear her thoughts on how the industry has changed over the years as well as whether or not audience etiquette has gotten worse too. It's a fascinating exchange and we look forward to what Cassidy Janson has to offer in the next few decades of her career.Support the show

The 2025 Olivier Awards are less than a week away, and will once again celebrate an extraordinary year of achievement in West End and London Theatre.In today's video, Mickey-Jo and his stagey fiancé Aeron James are predicting which shows, performers and creatives will win and should win in a year that included the likes of OLIVER!, HELLO DOLLY!, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, KYOTO, THE YEARS, GIANT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF,, and more.Check out today's new video for their thoughts and make sure to comment down below with all of yours!•00:00 | introduction01:34 | new musical02:37 | new play04:52 | musical revival06:11 | play revival07:33 | entertainment or comedy10:19 | director 11:35 | choreographer13:15 | musical contribution14:40 | costume design17:16 | set design19:01 | lighting design20:34 | sound design21:54 | supporting actor in a play23:25 | supporting actress in a play24:53 | supporting actress in a musical27:32 | supporting actor in a musical29:11 | leading actress in a play30:19 | leading actor in a play33:05 | leading actor in a musical35:53 | leading actress in a musical•get tickets to see MickeyJoTheatre LIVE at the Phoenix Arts Club:https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/mickeyjotheatre-live/About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 75,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

Trish is a five time Olivier Award Nominee creating innovative and site-specific work in theatres across London, New York, Greece and Australia. Following an extensive international career as a journalist and Director of Marketing she moved into the theatre working at the Bush and Kiln Theatres. She created “FRESH LINES” which promotes new and emerging talent in the UK, she is also a member of SOLT (Society of London Theatre), UK Theatre, Director of the Uncertainty Principle, Trustee of the Britain Australia Society and Advance Ambassador for Australia. Most recently she co-produced:- FANGIRLS by Yves Blake with Sonia Friedman Productions- A Mirror by Sam Holcroft with Second Half Productions at the Almeida 2024. - Opening Night, with Wessex Grove, dir. Ivo Van HoveShe produced also:- Othello, Riverside Studios with 3 actors alternating Iago during each performance.- The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute at the Park Theatre, starring Amber Anderson and Luke Newton (Bridgerton). Both were nominated at the Best Off-West End Production Awards at the 2024 WhatsOnStage Awards. - Prima Facie by Susie Miller in Athens, 2024.- The Election Monologues, recent rehearsed reading at the Park Theatre led by Harry Burton. Look out for her latest show also at the Park, “How to Fight Loneliness” from 16th April. Tickets on sale now. Trish discusses her role in producing, coming to it from a career as a journalist and what excites her about telling great stories to people through live theatre. Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @goweroliverFor enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.com

The nominations were recently announced for the 2025 Laurence Olivier Awards, celebrating the best of the last year of West End and London Theatre.This year saw nominations for musicals including FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, OLIVER!, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON and NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 as well as plays such as KYOTO, THE YEARS, GIANT, OEDIPUS and THE FEAR OF 13.In this new video Mickey-Jo is talking through this year's snubs: the performers, creatives and productions we expected to be nominated... but weren't.Check out Mickey-Jo's thoughts and share your own in the comments!•00:00 | introduction03:16 | shows08:35 | designers15:26 | actors in plays19:22 | creatives23:45 | actors in musicals•get tickets to see MickeyJoTheatre LIVE at the Phoenix Arts Club:https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/mickeyjotheatre-live/About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 75,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier analyze the 2025 Olivier Award Nominations, which recognize the best of London Theatre. They also run through the latest shows they have attended or watched in the last few weeks, including the most recent national tour of Les Miserables, The Book of Mormon, Beautiful, Prince of Egypt, English, Gypsy, and more. onstageblog.comfacebook.com/onstageblogtwitter.com/onstagebloginstagram.com/onstagebloghttps://www.youtube.com/@onstageblog8213

One of this week's biggest London Theatre openings was a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's THE SEAGULL at the Barbican Centre, directed snd co-written by Thomas Ostermeier alongside Duncan Macmillan.The production's starry ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Jason Watkins, Emma Corrin, Priyanga Burford, Zachary Hart, Paul Higgins, Tanya Reynolds, Paul Bazely, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.Check out this full review to find out how Mickey-Jo responded to this challenging, and provocative contemporary staging of the iconic play...•00:00 | introduction02:25 | synopsis / overview07:04 | this production12:16 | adaptation / direction17:13 | standout scenes22:43 | performances•About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 75,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

On Tuesday 4th March at 12pm, the nominations for the 2025 Olivier Awards were announced, celebrating the best of the last year of London Theatre.The announcements were filled with plenty of surprises, from unexpected frontrunners to shocking omissions, and a few more reasons Mickey-Jo was taken aback.Check out this recap of the biggest surprises from the newly announced nominations and share your thoughts about them in the comments!•00:00 | introduction03:34 | Jamie Muscato - leading?!06:38 | 13 nominations for Fiddler09:25 | too many leading actors12:24 | The Years cast separated15:22 | Oedipus vs Oedipus17:41 | Why Am I So Single?19:50 | Shocking snubs 22:14 | Solo nominations for big shows24:10 | Underperforming revivals•get tickets to see MickeyJoTheatre LIVE at the Phoenix Arts Club:https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/mickeyjotheatre-live/About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 75,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

On Tuesday 4th March at 12pm, the nominations for the 2025 Olivier Awards will be announced, celebrating the best of the last year of London Theatre.In today's episode, Mickey-Jo and his stagey fiancé Aeron James are predicting which shows, performers and creatives might be nominated amidst a hugely busy year that included the likes of OLIVER!, HELLO DOLLY!, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, KYOTO, THE YEARS, GIANT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, MEAN GIRLS, and more.Check out today's new episode for their thoughts and make sure to comment down below with all of yours!•00:00 | introduction04:26 | new musical07:12 | new play09:24 | musical revival10:54 | play revival12:53 | entertainment / comedy15:00 | leading actress (musical)18:57 | leading actor (musical)21:08 | leading actor (play)23:11 | leading actress (play)26:33 | supporting actress (musical)28:45 | supporting actor (musical)29:40 | supporting actress (play)31:49 | supporting actor (play)33:13 | musical contribution36:03 | theatre choreographer37:02 | director38:02 | set design38:31 | lighting design39:23 | sound design40:35 | costume design41:21 | final thoughts•About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 70,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

After initially being announced for a 2024 premiere, it has finally been revealed that the stage adaptation of Suzanne Collins' THE HUNGER GAMES will arrive at a London Theatre in 2024.The exciting new production, written by Connor McPherson and directed by Matthew Dunster, will receive its world premiere at the purpose built Troubadour Theatre Canary Wharf in October.Check out today's theatre news recap for Mickey-Jo's thoughts on this exciting news and his reaction to a first glimpse from the show's workshop rehearsals...•About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 70,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

In a new week of London Theatre openings, Jonathan Bailey is starring in a new production of William Shakespeare's RICHARD II at the Bridge Theatre.Check out this review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of this production, Bailey's leading performance and the supporting cast.Don't forget to comment below with your thoughts on the play, and make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss upcoming reviews including more Shakespeare!•00:00 | introduction02:49 | overview / synopsis07:31 | Jonathan Bailey as Richard12:35 | supporting performances16:54 | creative choices•About Mickey-Jo:As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 70,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

As part of their year in search, Google have exclusively shared with Mickey-Jo the top 10 most searched London Theatre tickets of 2024, with some surprising results! With new arrivals to the West End dominating the list, do you think film adaptations like Mean Girls and Mrs Doubtfire will have proved the most intriguing to audiences, or star casting in shows like The Devil Wears Prada and Romeo & Juliet? Find out in today's brand new episode where Mickey-Jo is revealing the top 10 most searched for shows! • 00:00 | introduction 01:57 | 10 03:46 | 9 05:51 | 8 07:37 | 7 09:19 | 6 11:16 | 5 12:59 | 4 14:40 | 3 16:46 | 2 18:40 | 1 • About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 60,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

As Robert Icke tackles Oedipus and Alexander Zeldin reinterprets Antigone as The Other Place, Alex and Sarah talk about the ways Greek tragedies speak to our modern age - and why great actors such as Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, Emma D'Arcy and Tobias Menzies are signing up to star. Plus: And what does it all have to do with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis' new musical? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#TheLiftShow 302 - Playing the best of Urban Gospel Music 2024 #BeXtra   Brilliant interview by Dee-1 on The Breakfast Club Show March 24 UK Budget does it impress me? BlackOut with Slave Play in London Theatre

Kyle Birch (A Strange Loop / I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Kyle and Andrew discuss Title Of Show (Phoenix Arts Club) as well as the latest news about The Society of London Theatre's “Theatre for Every Child" campaign, casting for the Les Misérables arena tour, James Corden delaying a performance of The Constituent to watch England's penalties and lots more. Kyle is currently playing Brenda Dee Cankles & others in I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough, The Little). Written by Samantha Hurley, the show is described as a sharp new comedy that reminds us that with great obsession comes great heartache.Last year Kyle was in the UK premiere of A Strange Loop. Direct from Broadway, Kyle started out as the alternate for the central character, Usher, before taking over the role full-time to huge acclaim for the final months of its run at the Barbican Centre. Some of Kyle's other theatre credits include The Color Purple (UK Tour), Bat Boy (London Palladium), Children Of Eden (Cadogan Hall) and various iterations of In Pieces. He starred as Agwe in the British Theatre Academy's production of Once On This Island (Southwark Playhouse). I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire runs at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough, The Little) until 10th August. Visit www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk for info and tickets.Follow Kyle on Instagram: @kbirch27 Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.   

Alex has been singing along to Taylor Swift and Sarah has been on a musical theatre adventure with London Theatre at Sea. Which got us thinking about the power of song and how it makes people feel. Why does that make musicals such a potent force and are our emotions being played on - with special reference to Ghost Quartet, Dear Evan Hansen and Next to Normal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After arriving onto the London theatre scene. Daniel Monks has established himself as one of the most exciting actors around. He is now currently back at the Donmar Warehouse in Benedict Andrews' adaptation of The Cherry Orchard. He was last seen on stage in Jamie Lloyd's acclaimed production of The Seagull where he played the iconic role of Konstantin opposite Emilia Clarke and Indira Varma. Now as Pyotr Trofimov, he is once again demonstrating his prowess as an actor to audiences, and it is likely we'll see more spellbinding performances from him in the future.In this brand new interview with Daniel Monks, he talks to us about his London theatre career, looking back on highlights like The Normal Heart and The Seagull. He talks fondly of his time coming to London from Perth, Australia and the journey he has made from writing and directing to coming back to acting.  In our interview, Daniel also talks candidly about the ongoing struggles disable actors in the industry face, commenting specifically on the recent controversy around Shakespeare's Globe's casting of Michelle Terry in the role of Richard III. Still, he is encouraged by the progress made in London with actors like Lizzie Annis and Francesca Mills also delivering strong impacts on the industry. We also talk about the trailblazing directors he's worked with like Benedict Andrews and Jamie Lloyd who Daniel praises for having such courage to reimagine classic works. He also praises outgoing artistic director Michael Longhurst for his vision and openness to reimagining Richard III as Teenage Dick, bringing his talent to the consciousness of London audiences. It's a fascinating discussion and we look forward to seeing what else he does next in the future.

August Eriksmoen is an orchestrator and album producer of Broadway musicals and cast recordings, including a credit with Water for Elephants, now playing at the Imperial Theatre. The Beacon resident, who has been nominated for a Tony and a Grammy and won a Laurence Olivier Award from the Society of London Theatre for Come from Away, works with high-end equipment and expansive ensembles. Yet the main photo on his website shows him holding a mandolin, a shot taken during a performance by Bees in the Barn, his modern string band that is rooted in country music. "It's my favorite thing to do," he says. "I compose songs for film and TV and aspire to write for theater, but this format gives me a lot of space." When commissioned, Eriksmoen receives a piano sketch, the vocal parts and the number of instruments to write for (usually eight to 18 for Broadway shows and 25 to 100 for TV and film). "The band size is often dictated by the budget," he says. "I have no control over what the configuration of musicians will be." After devising parts in his head, he inputs them to notation software. Whenever possible, he knocks out a song per day and plays back the scores to see if he missed a flat here or a sharp there. Then, he attends early rehearsals to work with the composer and fine-tune. "I'm there to help the musicians with the interpretation and get instant feedback from the composer," he says. "We tweak the orchestration on the stands, right there." His film and TV work includes ABC's Once Upon a Time, the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building and the Disney film Descendants. Broadway credits include Prince of Egypt and Million Dollar Quartet. The Tony nomination recognized his score for the Steve Martin and Edie Brickell musical Bright Star, which is rooted in bluegrass. Bees in the Barn - consisting of Eriksmoen on mandolin, Sara Milonovich on fiddle, guitarist Jordan Shapiro and upright bass player Nate Allen - specializes in songs and instrumentals loosely based on 18th-century fiddle tunes that veer into experimental territory. The group releases its songs online and plays occasional gigs, like a recent show in Poughkeepsie sponsored by the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Eriksmoen served as master of ceremonies. The sophisticated arrangements of his original songs can present musical minefields when played live. Jagged, percussive passages requiring pinpoint timing melt into fluid melodic moments. In some tunes, the rhythm lopes along and then the dynamic turns on a dime as the tempo begins racing and feet start tapping. Unlike nearly every country-rooted string band across the land, Eriksmoen notates the music and reads it off an iPad during performances. At the gig, he cued the other musicians to impending changes, which they hit with the precision of a Swiss watch. The compact compositions blend in elements of Tin Pan Alley ("Malted Waltz"), classical ("Waterbug," "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot") and gypsy jazz ("Fermata," "Memorial" and "Moose on the Loose"). Parts of "Fermata" evoke something Frank Zappa might have composed for a four-piece string band. The thrill ride "Eclipse" starts with a chugging vamp. After the fiddle plays a squiggly melody line, intricate shifting parts fray into strands that eventually interlock. Out of nowhere, a bluegrass-style guitar solo breaks out. Eriksmoen grew up in southern California and his father often played country. "I heard a lot of Chet Atkins," he recalls. His wife, Jessica Welch, a native of Arkansas, will perform Patsy Cline songs on Bannerman Island in July. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Eriksmoen moved to Manhattan, then relocated to Beacon in 2011 after visiting friends. The Bees began to buzz six years later. He took up the mandolin in part, he says, because it's tuned like a violin and helps with his string arranging. "I get a better sense of the violinist's left hand, what intervals work and how I can move around note-wise," he says. During the Pough...

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.

After Mickey-Jo let you know his favourite and least favourite shows from last year, he's now ready to bring you his UK and London Theatre recommendations for 2024. From Broadway transfers such as Hadestown, Mean Girls and MJ to new plays like Red Pitch and The Motive and the Cue, this is a varied list of exciting productions! Check out the new episode to find out about the plays and musicals he is most looking forward to this year... • About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 60,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows both in New York, London, Hamburg, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

This is a festive cutdown taken from our Theatre podcast. Hear Nancy and the Nick's reveal some of their top West End shows from 2023 and what they're looking forward to in 2024. To hear the full episode hit this link: lnk.to/zHhmCdMerry Christmas, and have a happy New Year, with only the best kind of drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indulge us please, as we look back at a year of amazing London theatre. From Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard to Andrew Scott in Vanya, plus Guys & Dolls and Crazy for You. And of course, Joseph Fiennes in Dear England, as well as The Motive and the Cue, A Streetcar Named Desire...just to name a few.Plus, we talk about the West End shows arriving in 2024, that we are very excited about, including Plaza Suite with Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, and Charlie Josephine's Cowbois.Many of the stars mentioned in this episode have appeared on the podcast this year, so make sure you head to our archive to listen back.We'll see you on January 7th! Merry Christmas, and have a happy New Year, with only the best kind of drama.Get in touch with us at theatrepod@standard.co.uk For all the latest news go to standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Jill and Doron on the fifth episode of the podcast, to tell us his story, is a contemporary of ours, West End musical theater producer Kenny Wax, who was a pupil at Carmel from 1983 to 1984. Kenny Wax has been working in the West End since 1989, first as an usher, then as a flyman, a box office clerk, follow spot operator and on-stage crew before becoming a producer. Most recently, he is honoured to have completed a six-year term, initially as President and then as Vice President of the Society of London Theatre – the trade organisation for the West End Theatre industry. Over the Christmas season of 2023, as a Producer, he will have four productions running concurrently in the West End, with four shows touring the UK, productions on Norwegian Cruise Lines and Virgin Voyages, as well as five shows running in North America and one show on Broadway (the musical ‘Six', which happens to be a favorite of Doron's wife).  Kenny was a pupil at Carmel from 1983 to 1985. Hear Kenny tell us about moving from a Manchester grammar school to a school with girls and football, how his time on HMS Pinafore launched him on a course headed for the stage, unrequited love, and what he owes to Sir Cameron MackIntosh.   Thank you, Kenny, for turning us again to Carmel days!   Personal mentions in this episode: Jeremy Rosen (Headmaster) Philip Skelker (Headmaster) David Jones (Coach) Yoel Silver (Housemaster) Moshe Miller (Jewish Studies) Ronny Greenberg (Jewish Studies) Allan Hodge (Politics) Freddy Zartz (History) Jonathan Dwek Jeremy Solomon Paul Goldin Albert Corin Marcus Flacks Richard Harris Marc Katz Emma Katz Andrea Frankenthal Sean Casper Feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you liked about this episode.   To tell us your story, email us at doronjunger@yahoo.com/jill@jilkenton.co.uk  

Today's episode is all about the complexity of hair, from two very different angles. The first segment of the show is going to be a conversation with Theatre Peckham CEO and Artistic Director Suzann McLean about her new all-black cast production of the classic European fairytale Rapunzel – a story about a young girl trapped in a tower in the woods with her only means of possible escape being her extremely long hair. The second segment sees me with my friend and collaborator Winnie Awa of The Hair Lab podcast discussing how our first event, HAIR TALKS went. Thanks as always for listening – it means the world, and if you enjoyed do please rate the show on Spotify and review on Apple Podcasts or anywhere else you like to listen. Also be sure to check out my tiktok @charissekenion and sign up for my newsletter for free at beautymenotes.substack.com. See you next time. Information and tickets for Rapunzel at Theatre Peckham: https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/rapunzel/ BeautyMe on X: https://twitter.com/beautymepodcast BeautyMe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautymepodcast/ BeautyMe newsletter: https://beautymenotes.substack.com BeautyMe on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charissekenion BeautyMe on ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/beautyme  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beautyme/message

Let's do the Time Warp... it's the Rocky Horror episode!Though many people have seen the cult classic film, few people know about its origins in a 63 seat London theatre.  In this episode, we : delve into the creative team and cast responsible for its deviant mayhem, sharing their back stories and how they all converged in time and place in early '70s London,take a trip back in time to its first performance,follow the Rocky Horror road to Hollywood, pinpoint when this movie became a new creation based on a fan-conceived and fan-scripted interactive experience,consider Rocky Horror Picture Show as a cosplay pioneer,  andmark its legacy as young adult rite of passage, opening up ideas about identity, gender, and sexuality.For some, Rocky Horror was a fun and raucous night out, for others, it provided a safe and dependable community for creativity and a sense of belonging.  Come along for the ride!And come over to our SHOW NOTES for such fun bonus content!  You'll find:rare photos from its original London run (spoiler: Tim Curry as a blonde?), a ticket to a performance 2 weeks into its initial run (costing 80 p - oh, the longing), original program, a link to the full original script, articles, and interviews,and this episode's drink recipe, the "Hot-Pa-Toddy, Bless My Soul."

Arts journalist Marianka Swain returns to co-host The West End Frame Show! Andrew and Marianka discuss Sunset Boulevard (Savoy Theatre), Choir Boy (Bristol Old Vic), Moulin Rogue (Piccadilly Theatre) and Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) as well as the latest news about 13 Going On 30, Tinker Bell The Musical, Shucked and lots more. Marianka  is a London-based arts journalist. She writes about theatre, dance, TV, film, books and more for publications like the Telegraph, London Theatre, The i Paper and Musicals magazine. She also live-blogs Strictly Come Dancing for the Telegraph.  For more information, visit www.mkmswain.com or follow Marianka on Instagram/X @mkmswainHosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.   

Earlier this year, the Mind Tools and Emotion at Work teams ran a fringe event at the CIPD Festival of Work. At the event, we asked participants for their ‘Hot Takes': something that's a little bit provocative - but might actually be true. This week, in a special crossover episode, The Mind Tools L&D Podcast team are joined by Phil and Lizzi from Emotion at Work to reveal the winner: Most employees aren't actually that interested in L&D. We discuss: the extent to which we think this ‘Hot Take' is true the importance of development to employees vs ‘learning and development' as a function what L&D teams can do to market and promote themselves. During the discussion, Phil referenced the Kirkpatrick Model of evaluation. Ross referenced the work of Shannon Tipton to help L&D teams develop a brand. In ‘What I Learned This Week', Nahdia referenced the Edelman Trust Barometer and British Social Attitude Survey. Phil referenced Kids Week at the London Theatre. For more from Emotion at Work, including their podcast where you can find their own crossover episode, visit: emotionatwork.co.uk For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.  You can also contact rgarner@mindtools.com. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: Ross Garner Nahdia Khan Phil Willcox Lizzi Philokyprou

Get ready for an exciting episode of our podcast, where Natalie and Darren dive into the world of theatre. First up is the innovative play Spy for Spy at Riverside Studios, starring Olive Gray and Amy Lennox. This unique production allows the audience to choose the order of the scenes, creating a dynamic and interactive experience. Natalie and Darren explore the thrilling aspects of this show and delve into the impact of audience participation on the storytelling.In an exclusive interview, Darren sits down with Kirk Jameson, the director of Song From Far Away. They delve into the captivating world of this emotionally charged production, exploring the intricacies of the storytelling and the profound impact it has on the audience. With a keen focus on Will Young's exceptional performance, Darren and Kirk discuss the nuanced portrayal and the powerful connection he establishes with the audience. From the compelling musical moments to the raw and authentic exploration of grief and longing, they provide a deep dive into the artistic choices and the transformative nature of this extraordinary show. Join Natalie and Darren as they unravel the layers of Song From Far Away and uncover the beauty and resonance it brings to the stage.Lastly, Natalie and Darren immerse themselves in the compelling world of Isley Lynn's The Swell at the intimate Orange Tree Theatre. This thought-provoking play takes centre stage with its exploration of complex themes and captivating narratives. Featuring a stellar all-female cast, including the talented Sophie Ward, Jessica Clark, Ruby Crepin-Glyne, Shuna Snow, Viss Elliot Safavi, and Saroja-Lily Ratnavel, the production shines a light on the power of diverse storytelling. Natalie and Darren delve into the impact of the performances, praising the exceptional talent and chemistry displayed by the cast. They discuss how the portrayal of these diverse and dynamic characters adds depth and authenticity to the production, highlighting the importance of representation on stage. Together, they celebrate the significance of The Swell in challenging societal norms and fostering a more inclusive and vibrant theatre landscape.Join Natalie and Darren as they explore these intriguing productions, share insightful discussions, and provide a front-row seat to the vibrant world of theatre.

As the summer months begin, Mickey-Jo is sharing his top 10 recommendations for the best musicals you can see in London this summer! • About Mickey-Jo: As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MickeyJoTheatre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 60,000 subscribers. Since establishing himself as a theatre critic he has been able to work internationally. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows both in New York, London, Hamburg, and Paris. He has also twice received accreditation from the world renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has been invited to speak to private tour groups, at the BEAM 2023 new musical theatre conference at Oxford Playhouse, and on a panel of critics at an event for young people considering a career in the arts courtesy of Go Live Theatre Projects. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre

Get ready for a riveting episode as Natalie and Darren explore a diverse range of captivating productions! They'll discuss the highly-anticipated return of F***ing Men starring Charlie Condou at Waterloo East Theatre, a provocative play that promises to captivate audiences once again. Prepare to be enthralled by the thrilling transfer of Supernovafrom the Vaults Festival, a production that garnered immense critical acclaim at South London's Omnibus Theatre. They'll also delve into the world premiere of Glory Ride at Charing Cross Theatre, a compelling new play based on the true life heroism of Gino Bartali that has taken the stage by storm.  Brace yourself for the enduring suspense of Witness for the Prosecution, still thrilling audiences five years on at the perfectly located London County Hall, hailed as "criminally good" (Daily Mail). Get ready for a breath-taking musical experience with ENO's beautifully staged Symphony of Sorrowful Songs at the magnificent Coliseum. And finally, they'll discuss the National Theatre's Dixon & Daughters, a powerful story of family and forgiveness that will leave a lasting impact. Tune in for an episode packed with theatrical gems that will ignite your imagination and leave you wanting more!

My guest this week is author Deborah Phillips whose new book is titled: AND THIS IS MY FRIEND SANDY — SANDY WILSON'S THE BOY FRIEND, LONDON THEATRE AND GAY CULTURE. Sandy Wilson's The Boyfriend — for which he wrote the book, music, & lyrics — is one of the most successful British musicals of all time. It emerged in 1952 out of London's secretive but vibrant gay theatrical subculture, at a time when you could be sent to prison for being homosexual.  By the following year both The Boyfriend and Sandy Wilson were the toast of London's West End, and created nearly as much excitement as Queen Elizabeth's coronation that same year. That original West End production ran for five years. Meanwhile, a hit American version of The Boyfriend opened on Broadway in 1954 and made a star out of Julie Andrews. The show was revived on Broadway in 1970 and made a star of Sandy Duncan, and two years later an ill-conceived film version was released, starring Twiggy and Tommy Tune and directed by Ken Russell. Despite all of this, prior to this book, very little has been written about Sandy Wilson. Deborah Phillips, who is Professor of Literature and Cultural History at the University of Brighton, is the first researcher to delve into Wilson's extensive archives out of which she has created an captivating portrait of Wilson as a both a key figure in post-war British theatre and the era's gay culture. This book and interview introduced me to a number of fascinating subjects I had never encountered before including the hilarious BBC radio series, Round The Horne, that inspired the book's title; the history of London's Players Theatre; and the secret gay language, Polari. Exploring all that sent me into several amazing internet rabbit holes and I will be posting articles and video clips that I found there in the Broadway Nation FaceBook Group. This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of Broadway Nation Patron Club members Anne Welsh, Chris Moad, and Bob Braun. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of Broadway Nation Patron Club members Anne Welsh, Chris Moad, and Bob Braun. If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON! For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussion that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. And you will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. And all patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And If you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits. If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link: https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/ Thank you in advance for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 260 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on digital art, the AI debate and reasons why student degree shows exist. Plus this week, photographer John Haynes takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer's the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?' John Haynes started taking photographs in 1963 after seeing Cartier-Bresson's book The Europeans. After working for two years with The Sunday Times, he decided to specialise in theatre photography. He was the in-house photographer for The Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, and Michael Codron Ltd, from 1970-1994 , and between 1970 and 2006 photographed over 200 productions for The National Theatre. His most well-known images taken during his time were of the playwright Samuel Beckett. In 1986 Thames & Hudson published a book of Haynes theatre photography, called Taking the Stage: Twenty-One Years of the London Theatre, which was accompanied by an exhibition of his work at the National Theatre which later moved to the Colnaghi Gallery in New York, and then to The Moscow Arts Theatre. In 2003 Cambridge University Press published Haynes next book, Images of Beckett, with text by Samuel Beckett's biographer James Knowlson. https://johnhaynesphotography.net Dr. Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, a working photographer, documentary filmmaker, BBC Radio contributor and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was first screened in 2018 www.donotbendfilm.com. He is the presenter of the A Photographic Life and In Search of Bill Jay podcasts. © Grant Scott 2023

Natalie and Darren chat about Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial by Liv Hennessy at Ambassadors Theatre. Including an interview with the cast of Wags and the Wigs; Lucy May Barker, Laura Dos Santos, Jonnie Broadbent and Tom Turner.

Natalie and Darren discuss the plethora of theatre we've seen. Productions reviewed in this episode include: Killing the Cat (Riverside Studios), The Great British Bake Off The Musical (Noel Coward Theatre), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Lyric Hammersmith), Gone Too Far with a backstage interview with Jerome Scott (Stratford East), Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick Theatre) and Sylvia (Old Vic).

Samira Ahmed speaks to Academy Award-nominated actor Jude Law. They speak about his life and career, skipping school to go to the cinema in London as a teenager, his foray into acting, and the wide range of characters he's covered in his career, from Dr. John Watson to the Pope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your Host Shama Rahman looks at the artistic side of Covent Garden in this week's episode, with:Black Swans written by Viel Richardson and performed by Jasmine Elcock [Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London]Theatre of Blood written by Becky Stamp and performed by Stephen Fry [The Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London]Jane Austen Sees a Portrait written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Kate Reid. This story contains adult themes [Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London]Sound editing by Will Jacob.

We know the story. Three women. A London Office. A missing colleague. And a pandemic. Three women wake one morning to discover that a colleague has vanished in the night. Gone. Poof. Not a bit of a trace. The clue to the story lies in a play that has just opened in a London Theatre. … Continue reading A Bustle, A Corset, & The London Necropolis Express →

Natalie and Darren discuss a plethora of theatre we've seen in October and recommendations of whst's on in November. Productions reviewed in this episode include: Pretty Woman, My Neighbour Totoro, Tammy Faye, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Moulin Rouge, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Choir of Man, Eureka Day, An Improbable Musical, Enid Blyton's The Famous Five

"they were in a race to introduce actresses on the London stage"

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://thecitylife.org/2022/06/27/the-shed-and-london-theatre-company-present-the-us-premiere-of-david-hares-new-play-straight-line-crazy-starring-ralph-fiennes-as-robert-moses/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/citylifeorg/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/citylifeorg/support

Episode 92In episode 92 – Chris answers a listener's question around the topical subject of why P&O Ferries may look similar but are in fact not connected to P&O Cruises (UK or Australia). P&O Cruises is part of the Carnival Corporation, whilst P&O Ferries falls under a Dubai-based company DP World. And of course, we round out the show with the latest cruise news… and what a week it has been in cruise news.Image Credit: Pride of Dover, P&O Ferries, DP WorldSupport the showListen, Like, Subscribe & Review on your favourite podcast directory.Share the podcast with someone you think will enjoy the showBuy Me A Coffee – This podcast is only possible thanks to our supporters, simply buying a coffee keeps us on air. It is just like shouting your mate a coffee, and we consider our listeners close mates. https://bit.ly/2T2FYGXSustainable Fashion – choose a TBCP design or design your own… all using organic cotton, green energy and zero plastic https://bit.ly/32G7RdhSupport Chris in his walk from Cape to Cape: All donations support zero2hero empowering young people to deal with mental health.  https://donate.mycause.com.au/cause/263123?donateToMember=156839Cruise NewsAustralian Cruise Ban to officially end on 17 Apr 22. P&O Cruises Australia Sets Course to Resume Cruising in May with New 2022 ProgramP&O Cruises Australia has flagged a return to cruising at the end of May, with the launch of a new 2022 program of sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.The move follows the Federal Government's decision to lift the cruise ban from April 17 – a major development and the first critical step to enable cruising and its contribution to the national economy to resume after the two-year suspension of operations.Under the new program, Australian cruising will now resume when Pacific Explorer sails from Sydney on May 31 on a four-night roundtrip cruise to Brisbane, where the ship is scheduled to make the first call at the city's new cruise terminal on June 2. Pacific Explorer will then sail from Sydney on a series of Queensland and South Pacific cruises until late October, replacing Pacific Adventure's scheduled program. While most cruise itineraries will remain unaltered by the change of ships, a 10-night cruise to Vanuatu departing June 1 has been replaced with three shorter domestic cruises.Pacific Adventure will now begin her maiden season of cruises from Sydney on October 22, when Pacific Explorer will sail to Adelaide for a new mini-season of four cruises. Pacific Explorer will redeploy to Melbourne in November for three months, before returning to Adelaide in February 2023 for a longer season of nine cruises.Meanwhile, the Brisbane debut of Pacific Encounter has been rescheduled from June 4 to August 20, 2022, prompting the cancellation of 15 cruises.Princess Announces Restart Plans in Australia – Coral Princess to Sail from QueenslandPrincess Cruises today announced its planned resumption of cruising in Australia, with Coral Princess set to debut in Brisbane on June 16 for her inaugural season Down Under.In a move worth an estimated $60 million dollars to the Queensland economy, the 2000-guest ship will be homeported in Brisbane for 11 new departures ranging from 3-12 nights between June and August before returning for another 10 cruises this summer from November.The MedallionClass ship will make 48 calls to the State's ports this year, including her first visits to Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays, Cairns and Port Douglas.Meanwhile Coral Princess' sister ships, Grand Princess and Majestic Princess, will make a further six calls to Queensland ports as part of their scheduled Australian season sailing from Sydney and Melbourne.Highlights of the new winter program include:Six short getaway cruises from Brisbane and Sydney – perfect seacations for those with busy schedules.Five 7-day Queensland roundtrip cruises from Brisbane, sailing to Cairns, Port Douglas, and Airlie Beach (for the Whitsundays).A new 7-day New South Wales Coast roundtrip from Brisbane, with a maiden call to Eden (Sapphire Coast), Sydney, and Newcastle.A new 12-day Queensland and New South Wales voyage, sailing roundtrip from Brisbane.A new 12-day Queensland and the Conflict Islands voyage, roundtrip Sydney or Brisbane, crossing the Coral Sea to visit the stunning and remote Conflict Islands in Papua New Guinea.The winter program will be open for sale from 9am AEDT on 24 March, 2022Two Quantum Class Ships to Call Australia Home Royal Caribbean International will make its long-awaited return to Australia with two Quantum class ships sailing from Brisbane and Sydney from Oct 2022.The milestone is more than two years in the making, with both Ovation of the Seas (pictured) and Quantum of the Seas to offer a range of adventures.This season, cruisers will be able to take in the sights from North Star – the highest viewing deck on a cruise ship; or the RipCord by iFLY skydiving experience. Travellers can also catch a wave on the FlowRider surf simulator, or take to new heights on the RCI rock climbing wall.Holland America Line Speeds Up Embarkation Process with mBark Facial Recognition and VeriFLY Vaccine Verification ProgramHolland America Line is enhancing the preboarding guest experience and making embarkation easier by adding the use of mBark facial recognition and the VeriFLY vaccine verification program in all U.S., Canadian and European homeportsmBark is a mobile system that enables guests to check in for their cruise in less than 10 seconds, while the VeriFLY digital wallet for COVID-19 credentials offers a proven solution for proof of vaccination and test results.With mBark facial recognition, guests who load their photo and all necessary pretravel information to Holland America Line's website prior to embarkation will be able to use the touchless system. Following a quick face scan, guests can move through the check-in process in about 10 seconds, significantly reducing embarkation time. SKO Systems, based in London, England, designed and implemented mBark for Holland America Line.VeriFLY gives guests the option to upload the required information to the app, including proof of vaccination and test results, providing a way to go through the screening process prior to arrival at the terminal. Once registration is complete, guests simply need to show the VeriFLY QR code or “pass” (digital or printed) to the check-in agent. VeriFLY has a successful record of serving dozens of airlines, cruise lines, hotels and a variety of industries. The VeriFLY app is available for download at Google Play and the Apple App Store.Global pop superstar Katy Perry names Godmother of Norwegian PrimaNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, announced today that world famous pop icon and “American Idol” judge Katy Perry will serve as the godmother to its record-breaking and innovative newest ship, Norwegian Prima, debuting August 2022.As godmother, Perry will not only fulfil the longstanding maritime tradition of blessing and officially naming Norwegian Prima, the first of six vessels in the Prima Class, but she will perform during the christening ceremony before Norwegian Prima sets sail on its inaugural voyages from Reykjavík, Iceland, where the vessel will be the first major cruise ship christened in the Icelandic capital.A vital and familiar element of any ship launch and dating back centuries, the highly regarded tradition of appointing a ship's godmother is a fundamental nautical custom during which the selected godmother officiates a ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship's bow to bid the vessel and its traveller's good fortune.“My most favorite way to vacation with my family is on the water. Every morning that you wake up, you get to experience an incredible new view,” said Katy Perry “I love that I get to christen her with my good vibrations, and I'm so excited for this new, beautiful, high-end, high-tech ship to take the seas, and provide once-in-a-lifetime vacations for so many families.”Launching August 2022, Norwegian Prima will offer inaugural voyages to Northern Europe from Southampton, England; Amsterdam; and Reykjavík, Iceland beginning 12 August.; Bermuda sailings from New York City beginning 6 October. and Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas and Miami beginning 27 October.  To commemorate this exciting partnership and celebrating other entertainment headliners that will be featured on Norwegian Prima, NCL has put together a celebratory Spotify playlist.MSC Grandiosa now dedicated to the Norwegian Fjords for Summer 2022MSC Cruises' has announced that MSC Grandiosa will now be fully dedicated to the Norwegian Fjords for the entire Northern Hemisphere summer 2022 season. This sees one of MSC Cruises' most modern and environmentally advanced ships offering stand-out seven-night itineraries in one of the most stunning regions in Northern Europe. As a result, MSC Cruises will offer an unparalleled choice of itineraries to guests wanting to discover this unique part of the world this Northern Hemisphere summer, as MSC Preziosa and MSC Poesia also offer additional seven-night options next to MSC Grandiosa across the Norwegian Fjords regionMSC Grandiosa will perform spectacular seven-night itineraries from Kiel, Germany calling at the colourful capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen. The ship then heads north to Norway, calling at the breath-taking village of Hellesylt while experiencing the splendour of Sunnylvsfjord, sail through Aurlandsfjord on the way to the panoramic port town of Alesund and stunning Flam village.MSC Cruises had previously confirmed that the Line would suspend calls to St Petersburg, Russia and as such, MSC Grandiosa will now be fully dedicated to the Fjords region while MSC Poesia and MSC Preziosa will still call in the Baltics but with St Petersburg replaced with other popular destinations in the region like Stockholm, Tallinn and Visby.Cunard's London Theatre at Sea voyage to be Headlined by Olivier Award Winning Actress Sharon D. Clarke MBELuxury cruise line Cunard will stage its first London Theatre at Sea with the Olivier Awards voyage, curated by Society of London Theatre's Chief Executive, Julian Bird, this May.Sailing from New York to London on board flagship Queen Mary 2, the exclusive voyage will feature performances from some of the theatre world's finest talent, including Oliver Award for Best Actress winner, Sharon D. Clarke MBE, Olivier Award for Best Actor winner Matt Henry MBE, film, theatre and television actress and producer, Susie McKenna and Conductor and Orchestrator Larry Blank.The seven-night crossing, which departs New York on May 15, 2022, will be supported with a roster of workshops, talks and Q&As from industry insiders.Guests will be able to take part in acting masterclasses with performers and learn the tricks of the trade from luminaries such as Andreane Neofitou, the costume designer behind Les Misérables and Miss Saigon.For the first time, Cunard will be introducing an “Oliviers Gala Evening,” which will feature entertainment from headliners throughout the evening, as well as a never-seen-before show, “Olivier Awards in Concert” that has been created for this voyage by Society of London Theatre's Julian Bird. The concert will take place in the Royal Court Theatre and pay homage to the Olivier Awards' last 45 years in a dazzling one-off production with cast and orchestra.Global Adventurer, Mountaineer & Polar-Explorer, Alison Levine name Godmother of Seabourn Venture. Seabourn, the ultra-luxury expedition experience, is delighted to announce that global adventurer, mountaineer and polar-explorer Alison Levine will serve as Godmother of Seabourn Venture, the first of the line's two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition vessels. Levine will be on board and in the spotlight for the traditional naming and christening of the ship, which is set to launch in July 2022.Levine is an idyllic choice for Godmother of Seabourn Venture, which is being built to seek out adventure and natural wonders around the world. A native of Phoenix, she served as team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition in 2002, and in 2010 completed her bid for the Explorer's Grand Slam which includes climbing the Seven Summits – the highest peak on each continent – as well as skiing to the North and South Poles.Levine has also seen success in the business world. She earned her MBA from Duke University and worked in the pharmaceutical industry as well as on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs. After turns as deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful bid to become Governor of California and as an adjunct professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, she went on to become one of the world's most in-demand leadership consultants and keynote speakers. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and Other Extreme Environments”, which chronicles the lessons she learned on her various expeditions. In 2019 she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award she shares with seven U.S. Presidents and numerous Nobel Prize winners.Levine has also shared her experiences, insights and tales of adventure with guests of Seabourn through Seabourn Conversations, the line's popular onboard enrichment program, aboard Seabourn Sojourn in December 2019. It was her first-ever cruise – a trip she never thought she would do – but she admits she is hooked and looks forward to more travels by ship in the future. Seabourn Venture and its sister expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit, will feature 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites and take travelers to some of the most awe-inspiring places in the world, some of which are only accessed by ship. Viking Expands European River Fleet with Naming of Eight New Ships and Marks Beginning of 2022 River SeasonViking welcomed eight new river ships to its award-winning fleet during a celebration in Paris. Of the eight new Viking Longships®, four ships – Viking Fjorgyn, Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid and Viking Skaga – are built specifically to navigate the Seine River and bring guests to the heart of Paris with an exclusive docking location at Port de Grenelle, just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. The four additional ships – Viking Egdir, Viking Gersemi, Viking Gymir and Viking Hervor – will sail Viking's popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.The naming of the new river ships comes as Viking continues its 25th anniversary and a year of multiple milestones. In January 2022, the company launched Viking Expeditions and its first Polar Class vessel, the Viking Octantis®. By the end of the year, Viking will have also welcomed a second identical expedition ship, as well as two new identical ocean ships, new purpose-built vessels for the Nile and Mekong rivers and new Mississippi River voyages.Viking Naming CeremonyIn keeping with maritime tradition that dates back thousands of years, Viking invited eight distinguished cultural partners and important members of the company's extended family to serve as ceremonial godmothers of the new ships. The honored godmothers include:Alma Deutscher, Godmother of Viking Gymir – A musical phenomenon, Alma captivates the classical world with her talents as a violinist, pianist, composer and conductor, and at just 17 years old was hailed as the “new Mozart” at an early age. She recently appeared on an episode of Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, Viking.TV (Anne Diamond Welcomes Back Composer and Musician Alma Deutscher), where she discussed her upcoming concert series, which will be exclusive for Viking guests on select river voyages visiting Vienna.Helen Deutscher, Godmother of Viking Egdir – A violinist, pianist and vocalist, Helen is an accomplished musician who honed her musical and performance skills at the Music Gymnasium in Vienna and as a member of the Vienna State Opera's children's chorus; she has also performed in several productions of her sister Miss Alma Deutscher's opera, Cinderella. Helen and Alma recently appeared together on an episode of Viking.TV (Anne Diamond Interviews Classical Musicians, Alma & Helen Deutscher) where they discussed their remarkable lives and many musical milestones.Dr. Janie Deutscher, Godmother of Viking Radgrid – An author and educator, Dr. Deutscher is also an accomplished musician and earned an organ scholarship to Oxford University where she later taught medieval literature; in recent years, she has concentrated on homeschooling and supporting the musical ambitions of her two daughters, Alma and Helen, godmothers of Viking Gymir and Viking Egdir, respectfully.Brenda Hunsberger, Godmother of Viking Hervor – For more than four decades, Ms. Hunsberger, Senior Vice President of Travel Services with AAA Club Alliance, has worked in the industry as an accomplished travel agent; she believes in the power of travel to transform perspectives and change lives.Karryn Christopher, Godmother of Viking Gersemi – Ms. Christopher is Executive Vice President of Preferred Partnerships & Marketing for Signature Travel Network, a member-owned travel cooperative established in 1956, where she has led the transformation of the company's sales and marketing division.Ghislaine Wood, Godmother of Viking Fjorgyn – As the Deputy Director of the University of East Anglia's Sainsbury Centre, one of the most important public university art galleries in Great Britain, Ms. Wood carefully curates exhibitions, including the upcoming “Visions of Ancient Egypt,” which was developed in partnership with Viking; opening in September 2022, the exhibit will honor the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb. Ms. Wood discussed her work at the Sainsbury Centre in a recent episode of Viking.TV (Explore Alaskan Objects at the Sainsbury Centre with Ghislaine Wood), including the origins of their Alaska collection which examines how indigenous Alaskan communities developed technologies and tools to adapt to their environment.Muriel Wilson, Godmother of Viking Skaga – As the Director of Event Strategy & Sponsorships for Virtuoso, Ltd., Ms. Wilson has been a distinguished staff member of the global network of agencies for more than 40 years and leverages her deep knowledge of the industry to develop quality hospitality and travel experiences for Virtuoso's travel advisors and preferred partners.Kari Garmann, Godmother of Viking Kari – Former member of The Parliament of Norway and Oslo City Council, Ms. Garmann has made valuable contributions to Norway in the areas of government, business and banking throughout her career.The naming event was executed by connecting the new ships via satellite across two European cities: Paris and Amsterdam. The Viking Fjorgyn, Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid and Viking Skaga were docked in Paris at the Port de Grenelle, where they were named by their godmothers. The other four ships – Viking Egdir, Viking Gersemi, Viking Gymir and Viking Hervor – were docked in Amsterdam and named by their godmothers, who also joined the celebration in Paris. In keeping with another maritime tradition, a bottle of Gammel Opland aquavit was broken on the bow of each new shipMSC Group breaks ground in Miami for North Americas largest cruise terminal New $350 million terminal to provide seamless guest experience for up to 36,000 passengers a dayTerminal will be capable to host three latest-generation ships simultaneouslyMSC Cruises to deploy some of its most environmentally advanced vessels in MiamiThe Cruise Division of MSC Group broke ground on 10 March for its new $350 million mega cruise terminal in Miami which when it opens will be North America's largest.The four-storey building with four embarkation decks will be able to accommodate up to 36,000 passenger movements a day, and feature enough berthing space to serve three latest generation ships simultaneously.The project will allow MSC Cruises to further its presence in the North American market and attract more international travellers for holidays at sea in the Caribbean.  The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Italian ship builder Fincantieri announced a partnership in July 2021 whereby Fincantieri Infrastructure would construct the state-of-the-art facility which will feature a striking design by award-winning global architecture firm Arquitectonica.The new terminal will be able to accommodate MSC Cruises' largest and most environmentally advanced cruise ships, including its current flagship, MSC Seashore, and the line's future liquified natural gas-(LNG) powered World Class ships.  Most ships at berth at the new Miami terminal will be able to plug in to the local power grid, in line with PortMiami's plans to enable shore power connectivity.And more...Join the show:If you have a cruise tip, burning question or want to record a cruise review get in touch with us via the website https://thebigcruisepodcast.com/join-the-show/ Guests: Chris Frame: https://bit.ly/3a4aBCg   Chris's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisFrameOfficialPeter Kollar: https://www.cruising.org.au/Home Listen & Subscribe: Amazon Podcasts: https://amzn.to/3w40cDcApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2XvD7tF Audible: https://adbl.co/3nDvuNgCastbox: https://bit.ly/2xkGBEI Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RuY04u I heart Radio:  https://ihr.fm/3mVIEUASpotify: https://spoti.fi/3caCwl8 Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2JWE8Tz Pocket casts: https://bit.ly/2JY4J2M Tune in: https://bit.ly/2V0Jrrs Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/2BF6LnE Hosted on Acast. 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This week, join Maria Lovelady & Michael Alan-Bailey straight from 'The Royal Variety Performance 2021' at The Royal Albert Hall, as they chat to Chairman 'Giles Cooper' about all things Royal Variety. Our hosts then leap over to the charity's residential home, Brinsworth House, to speak to resident 'Jean Dudley-Hardy' about her days as an iconic 'Tiller Girl'. She reveals all about her life in the spotlight and lets us into a few Royal Variety backstage secrets. Keen to know who performed at the Royal Variety the year you were born? Have a listen and find out... Brought to you by Frame This Presents... & The Royal Variety Charity Affiliated links: https://www.instagram.com/framethispresents https://twitter.com/framethissolp?lang=bg https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/ Key Words: Music Hall, Variety Theatre, London Theatre, The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Variety Performance, The Royal Variety Charity, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Ed Sheeran, David Pogson

Back by popular demand, this week Maria Lovelady & Michael Alan-Bailey continue their conversation with their very special guests Michael Beare and Marian St Claire. This episode they focus on their time with The London City Ballet, from the companies creation to its' Royal Patronage. Maria & Michael also have some right royal news themselves, but what is it? Have a listen and find out... Brought to you by Frame This Presents... Affiliated links: https://www.instagram.com/framethispresents https://twitter.com/framethissolp?lang=bg https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/ Key Words: Ballet, Royal Ballet, Royal Festival Ballet, English National Ballet, London City Ballet, Princess Diana, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Double Act, Music Hall, Variety Theatre, London Theatre, The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Variety Performance, The Royal Variety Charity.

This week Maria Lovelady & Michael Alan-Bailey talk about variety theatre in 2021 with Ally Wolf, the self-proclaimed 'loose' producer of The Clapham Grand. Find out all about the history of this incredible theatre, how Ally and his team keep Dan Leno's legacy thriving with the fun-filled 'briche' events being held there today, and why Ally has a problem with the term 'Variety Theatre' itself. Our duo also discuss their eventful day trip to Brighton, when visiting author Alison Child and reveal which unlikely thief stole Maria's donut right out of her hand.... Brought to you by Frame This Presents... Affiliated links: https://www.instagram.com/framethispresents https://twitter.com/framethissolp?lang=bg https://claphamgrand.com/ https://www.behindthelines.info/biographies/ http://www.britishmusichallsociety.com/study_group.html Key Words: Clapham Grand, Blackpool, Las Vegas, Dan Leno, Marie LLoyd, Baga Chipz, Ant & Dec, Peter Kay, Noel Fielding, Double Act, Music Hall, Variety Theatre, London Theatre, The British Music Hall Society, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bruno Mars, Mars Attacks, Alison Child, The Royal Albert Hall.