The WhatsOnStage Podcast

209. Special interview: Simon Russell Beale

The great British actor is currently on stage as the great American showman Liberace. As he finished rehearsals he talked to Sarah about how to play characters with whom

208. Gillian Anderson and Derren Brown bring magic to the West End

Hello WhatsOnStage Podcast listeners! With Alex freshly back from a fortnight away, he lets intrepid video expert Tom Millward sample some of his finest, starry interview

207. The Best Plays of the Century Part Nine: the years 2016/2017

Sarah and Alex continue their journey through the finest new plays of the 21st century. This episode, Harry Potter hits the stage,climate change becomes a major theme and

206. Bonus episode: Wicked's Head of Wigs Heather-Jay Ross on hair that defies gravity

Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, brought to you by the West End production of Wicked. Last night, Wicked celebrated its 20th anniversary at the

205. Special interview: Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade

Ahead of the RSC’s all male As You Like It, Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade discuss the similarities between Shakespeare and musicals, their best theatre experiences, t

204. Bonus episode: Designer Tom Scutt on having three musical revivals in the West End

What do Into the Woods, Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar all have in common? That's right, this year they're all being mounted in the West End, and they're all being de

203. Josh O'Connor is a hit, Ava Pickett does it again and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George

Recapping after a very busy series of trips and outings, Sarah and Alex run through the biggest openings and stories of the week: new warnings about the threat of AI to t

202. Bonus episode: Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Annabel Mutale Reed on the new Martin Guerre

Martin Guerre has a devoted following amongst musical theatre fans, originally penned by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the two creators of that little-known

201. Bonus episode: National Theatre’s 2027 season with Indhu Rubasingham 

In our bonus episode, the intrepid Tom Millward is at the National Theatre’s launch to run through their bumper 18-show 2027 season, chatting with the wonderful artistic

200. The best revivals to see out the year (Autumn preview part 2)

It’s our 200th episode! Where has the time gone! Sarah and Alex reflect on the rollercoaster ride of podcasting their way through more than two years of theatre. But ther

199. The best new work about to make a splash on UK stages (Autumn preview part 1)

September has rolled around, bringing with it overcast skies, school terms and, as you might expect, a whole lot of exciting theatre! Sarah and Alex team up for part one

198. Bonus episode: Tim Minchin on 15 years of Matilda and plans for new musicals

We're joined on this week's bonus episode by Tim Minchin, composer and lyricist of the treasured, international sensation, the RSC's Matilda the Musical. Minchin is celeb

197. The Best Plays of the Century Part Eight: the years 2014/2015

Sarah and Alex hit the mid 2010s as they continue their foray into the finest theatre works of the 21st century. This time around, a wave of well-received American plays

196. Bonus episode: Pride musical finds a new London home!

Pride is moving down the Thames after its National Theatre run! We talk to director Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford about the musical's sell-out success and

195. Lin Manuel Miranda, The Greatest Showman - and reasons to be excited about radio drama

Alex and Sarah get back together to discuss Alex’s trip to D23, Disney’s huge fan event in California where the creator of Hamilton was celebrated and the West End produc

194. Bonus episode: The Greatest Showman at Disneyland with Samantha Barks and Oliver Tompsett

Surprise! Alex has made the trip to Disneyland to mark the West End launch of The Greatest Showman, coming to Theatre Royal Drury Lane next spring. He sits down with Oliv

193. Bonus episode: Why comedy actors can do anything with Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson

We head to the Edinburgh Fringe to talk to Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson, normally known as comedy duo Britney, who are performing in a brand new play, Jitters. The du

192. Game of Thrones: The Mad King reviewed, Cats returns and Edinburgh highlights

It's a bumper reviews special! In what might be the biggest theatre opening of the year, the world of Game of Thrones comes to the stage in a gigantic production at the R

191. Ariana Grande, Trainspotting's fate and top shows at the Edinburgh Festivals

In a busy week Sarah and Alex talk about Ariana Grande’s decision to step back from her projected stage appearance opposite Jonathan Bailey in Sondhem’s Sunday in the Par

190. Bonus episode: The cast of Game of Thrones: The Mad King join the WhatsOnStage Podcast for an exclusive chat

Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! A few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to take a very exciting trip into the rehearsal room for Game of Thrones: