MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

0731: Charles Brunton on the Bedknobs and Broomsticks' UK Tour

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick talks to actor Charlie Brunton about his starring role of Emelius Browne in the UK Tour of Bedknobs and Broomsticks! 

0730: Some Enchanted Matinee

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick talks to Jonathan and Stephen about experiencing South Pacific at the Chichester Festival Theatre.   

0729: Directing The Last 5 Years with Jonathan O'Boyle

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick talks to renowned theatre director Jonathan O'Boyle about his production of THE LAST 5 YEARS that is soon opening at the Garrick Theatre.  

0728: EdFringe 2021 - The Formats of the Fringe

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Thos looks at one of the most significant changes to fringe festivals in 2021 – the advent of the virtual productions!  Whilst they’ve...

0727: EdFringe 2021 - The Feeling of the Fringe

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the very welcome return of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – and this year it was somehow both a lot smaller and a lot bigger – with a mixtur...

0726: Adam Cooper Interview

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Andy Edwards talks to the current star of Singin' in the Rain Adam Cooper - discussing everything from Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake to working with Patr...

0725: Double Talking with David Zippel

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick and John talk to award winning lyricist David Zippel about his work for Cinderella, Hercules, Woman in White, City of Angels and other smaller wo...

0724: Singin' in the Rain

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick is joined by Dom as they discuss Singin' in the Rain - currently playing at Sadler's Wells. 

0723: Anything Goes... metaphorically and literally!

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick and Andrew discuss a manner of shows and topics including: Anything Goes, Mamma Mia (The Party), Amelie, Carousel, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Co...

0722: Gideon at the Hollywood Fringe

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Mike Shapiro as he updates Thos about his wonderful Hollywood Fringe adventure musical, Gideon and the Blundersnorp, which having been in a succe...

0721: Getting Hairspray at The Tuck Shop

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick talks to Jonathan Cohen about HAIRSPRAY - now playing at the London Coliseum and then sits down with producerr Chris Clegg to discuss Tuck Shop, ...

0720: A Grand Night For Singing with Kim Criswell

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thos talks to musical theatre royalty, the amazing Kim Criswell, about her new show, the wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein revue, A Grand Night for Si...

0719:  Half a Sixpence Redux

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos and Tim as they look in depth at the reworked version of the 1960s West End and Broadway hit, Half A Sixpence, which came to London in 2016 ...

0718: Leading Ladies: Cinderella, Amelie and Heathers

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick talks to Ryan and Dylan about three musicals currently playing in the West End: Heathers, Cinderella and Amelie! 

0717: Death Drop - A DRAGAtha Christie Murder Mystery

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As fans of murder mysteries here - it's nice to see this musical (with songs by Flo and Joan) celebrating drag culture in a mainstream production! Dea...

0716: You SHALL Go To The Theatre, Cinderella!

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Hutson chats to Andrew Keating about what it felt like to be back in a theatre seeing a brand new with lockdown starting to ease.  Hear Andrew's...

0715: Taking Breaths

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dom McChesney chats with Jodi Picoult and Timothy Allen Mcdonald about the creation of Breathe: A New Musical, which is premiering online - written in...

0714: And the Same To You With Bedknobs On

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the World Premiere of the stage production of the evergreen Disney film, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, coming to the United Kingdom this summe...

0713: The Ballad of Anne and Mary – Songs

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 713: The Ballad of Anne and Mary – Songs:   Join us for the last part of our special in-depth look at the fantastic free new musical pirate...

0712: The Ballad of Anne and Mary – Story

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We return to part two of our special in-depth look at the fantastic free new musical drama podcast, The Ballad of Anne and Mary, created by Laurence O...

0711: The Ballad of Anne and Mary – Development

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos over the next three weeks for a special in-depth look at the fantastic new musical, The Ballad of Anne and Mary.  In this first episode, he...

0710: Back to the Woods

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he revisits the much praised 2010 Regents Park Open Air Theatre production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, which is viewable to w...

0709: Like A Musical? Part Two

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this bumper edition of MusicalTalk crammed with great songs and fine chat as Thos brings us a brand new interview with talented writer, Ale...

0708: Like A Musical? Part One

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the five star revue, I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical – a must see for all fans of musical theatre – being made available for streaming, jo...

0707: The Return of Bobby Crush

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of our favourite interviews ever on MusicalTalk has been with British entertainment legend Bobby Crush.  Join original MusicalTalk Presenter Andy...

0706: Seeing eye to eye on Soviet Zion

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Shapiro chats with Giles Howe, co-creator of Soviet Zion, a new musical set in a remarkable socio-political experiment in WW2 Russia.

0706: Lizzie should Be More Chill

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a chilled discussion as Nick talks to Ryan about Lizzie, horror musicals, Be More Chill and songs being cut from cast recordings!

0705: The Last Show We Saw

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Nick and John take a look at shows that take things from the past and reinvents them for the future by talking about the shows they last saw...

0704: FarcicalTalk

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Nick and Dom as they discuss musicals based on, or featuring elements of, Farce!  Thankfully Dom and Nick still recognise each other at the end ...

0703: Peter Duncan in Conversation

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh from talking about the wonderful online production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Thos presents another chance to hear an in depth interview with it...

0702: Peter Duncan in Pantomime

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos and Tim as they discuss Peter Duncan’s highly enjoyable online pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk – and talk about how to capture the rau...

0701: When Worlds Collide - creating THEME PARK FAN: THE MUSICAL

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nick, during lockdown, decided to write a mad musical celebrating the UK Theme Park Community.  Join Nick with other members of the team as they disc...

0700: Behind the Scenes With MusicalTalk

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for a celebration as MusicalTalk reaches its 700th episode and to mark this milestone, we take you behind the scenes in a very special edi...

0699: Caroline, Or Change.

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to give your kitchen equipment dirty looks as we join Thos and Colm as they look at what makes the recent revival of modern classic, Carol...

0698: Porgy and Bess in London

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adamant that Porgy and Bess is an opera?  Well, it ain’t necessarily so as Thos and Colm chat about the recent English National Opera production of...

0697: Streets Ahead

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We start the new year with another look at 42nd Street, one of the evergreen stories of musicals – with a peek at the original 1932 novel by Bradfor...

0696: Merry Quizmas and a Happy New Earful For 2021

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It may be a reduced Christmas this year with the pandemic and lockdowns, but that’s no reason not to have a good old quiz and songfest here on Music...

0695: Streaming Back to 42nd Street (we wish!)

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dom and Nick are joined by John from New York to talk about more streaming options available - such as On the 20th Century, Upon a Mattress and 42nd S...

0694: Hyde-ing in 42nd Street: 

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s bumper episode, we look again at Jekyll Versus Hyde, the frankly brilliant adaptation of the evergreen story by discussing the musica...

0693: The Toxic Avenger Reassembled

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to get the geek as we join Thos and Tom as they chat some more about another Edinburgh Fringe musical theatre hit of recent years – The ...

0692: When Timpson (Almost) Met Spiderman

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Thos and Tom chat about two past Edinburgh Fringe comedies – Timpson the Musical, which hilariously imagines the birth of the high street favourite ...

0691: Taking an Eternity

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With 2013’s epic new musical, From Here to Eternity, recently revived on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Show Must Go On website, listen to Thos and Tim...

0690: My Chat, It Has Three Corners

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Colm and Thos discuss Drive By Shooting (A Street Art Opera), a brand spanking new ten minute opera that unexpectedly uses the model of the three hund...

0689: Everything Old is New Again

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos and Colm as they talk about The Secretary Turned CEO, a radical modern re-interpretation of Pergolesi's seminal comic opera of 1733, The Mai...

0688: A Grease-y Boyfriend History.

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Nick, Mike Dixon and Dominic McChesney for a fun discussion about Grease, its origins, the cut songs, the re-written songs and the songs not many...

0687: Gideon and Blundersnorp

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fancy seeing a new musical for free? Well, you’d best join Thos as he chats to Mike Shapiro about Mike’s latest show, Gideon and the Blundersnorp,...

0686: Return to the House of Edgar – Disinterring the Past

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Return to the House of Edgar – Disinterring the Past: Having recently heard about the future of the House of Edgar, MusicalTalk’s Pick of the Frin...

0685: Return to the House of Edgar – Divining the Future

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Divining the Future:  Thos chats with composer Thomas F Arnold, writer of The House of Edgar, MusicalTalk’s Pick of the Fringe 2018, about the futu...

0684: #VirtualEdFringe2020: How To Use A Washing Machine

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he talks to the people behind this unusual and appealing original musical, featuring a live string quartet, which follows two siblings ca...

0683: #VirtualEdFringe2020: The Fear

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he talks to the creators of one of the great new musicals from the Edinburgh Fringe of the last few years, The Fear, which follows the li...

0682: Zoomsical Theatre and Other Plot Twists of the Pandemic

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get your showtune fix when venues are closed and performers are quarantined? Tonia and Mike discuss ways to enjoy or create musical theatre...

0681: #VirtualEdFringe2020: Dreams of Peace and Freedom Redux

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

MusicalTalk’s Virtual Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues with an in-depth look at Sue Casson’s magnificent multi-platform song cycle about the li...

0680: #VirtualEdFringe2020: Nele Needs a Holiday – The Musical

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

MusicalTalk’s Virtual Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues with this exclusive interview with Nele Van den Broeck, star of the eponymous Nele Needs A...

0679: MusicalTalk’s Virtual Edinburgh Festival Fringe

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Missing the 2020 Edinburgh Fringe? Then fret no longer and join us as we serve up a bumper double-length episode launching the MusicalTalk Virtual Edi...

0678: Leanne Interview

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Edwards talks to Alton Towers performer Leanne about her new single - MY DAMAGE.  

0677: Nic Greenshields Interview

21 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Andrew Edwards as he talks to West End Leading Man - Nic Greenshields - who's performed in Les Mis, Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, The Bea...

0676: Singin’ In the Rain (and Friends)

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this information-packed and trivia-full episode, listen to Colm and Thos as they try to detect the golden threads linking three very different MGM ...

0675: Ten Point Reviews – The West End

07 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With online musical theatre available like never before, Thos has been watching a lot of it.  And we do mean a lot!  So, in the first of an occasion...

0674: Reasons To Be Cheerful!

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the musical that says exactly what it is, so join Thos as he reviews this most raucous, funny, raw, political, clever and surprisingly touching...

0673: Did Mae Go West? A Sextette Tete a Tete.

23 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he revisits the film that keeps giving – Mae West’s 1977 musical, Sextette, featuring songs from 250 years of history including by Th...

Remembering Dame Vera Lynn

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dom shares a short dedication to Dame Vera Lynn, who died today - 18th June 2020.  

0672: Dom and Mike Somehow Talk About "By Jeeves" for 75 Minutes

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s charming “By Jeeves” recently re-introduced itself to the world via a streamed performance. Dominic McChesney and Mike Sha...

0671: Creating and Celebrating SIX with Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss and Katy Richardson.

26 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hear from SIX's musical director Katy Richardson as Nick and Mike Dixon talk about the tech in the band, the Olivier Awards and what makes SIX so spec...

0670: Messages of hope from across the Industry

19 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Nick Hutson and Andrew Edwards as they play messages from many people from the industry offering their support, advice, tips, stories and backgro...

0669: Until the Curtains Rise

12 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick hands the mic over to Maryann Wright and Estee Stimler to talk about their fundraising effort - Until the Curtains Rise.  COVID-19 has wreaked h...

0668: Top 3 Career Defining Moments with Mike Dixon

05 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

West End conductor and Musical Supervisor Mike Dixon joins Nick to talk about Mike's top 3 personal career highlights! Hear how Arthur Laurents, Shirl...

0667: Alexander (Hamilton) the Great?

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Thos and Tim ponder that musical theatre monolith, Hamilton, and dissect its status as the "future of musical theatre" and whether or not its cultural...

0666: Chatting with Preston Nyman

21 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sits with Preston Nyman to discuss his upbringing in a theatrical household, revolving theatres, theme parks and why a certain little shop is so ...

0665: Oh What a Beautiful Streaming Opportunity.

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick chats to David Herzog about all the wonderful streaming options being offered to us and what it could mean for the future of theatre consumption ...

0664: Stephen Cole Interview

07 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Herzog returns, this time chatting with writer and lyricist Stephen Cole (Merman's Apprentice, Casper the Friendly Musical, Goin' Hollywood, et ...

0663: Stanley Silverman Interview

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Herzog chats with theatre composer Stanley Silverman (Up from Paradise, Elephant Steps, Hotel for Criminals, et al) about his incredibly diverse...

0662: Back to SIX and then Back to the Future

24 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick meets SIX convert Ryan to share their thoughts on it and we talk about Back to the Future - the musical that was recently playing at the Manchest...

0661: Kendall & Bauerfeld in Conversation

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he sits down with dynamic and talented writing duo, Jonathan Bauerfeld and Casey Kendall, to for an in-depth chat about The Twelve (also ...

0660: Legally Limbo Agogo

10 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mike and Thos sit down to talk about the three magnificent shows presented by the Royal Scottish Conservatoire last summer – perennial favourite, Le...

0659: Comedy B-Musicals – A Double Bill: Second Feature

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the second part of our two episode look into the cult B-Musicals, Vampire Hospital Waiting Room and Apocalypse Cruise Ship Love Affair...

0658: Comedy B-Musicals – A Double Bill: First Feature

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re a lover of the bizarre, the absurd, the hilarious or the just downright silly, then you’re in for a treat;  Join Thos for the first of ...

0657: Nicholas Parsons Remembered

11 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he recalls the time he interviewed British cultural legend, the late Nicholas Parsons, about his performances in Into the Woods, the Rock...

0656: The Odd Couples

04 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s tea for two with avuncular chatmates, Thos and Mike, as they look at two very different shows addressing the two very different ways that two v...

0655: You and I: Aye aye – it’s AI!

28 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hear from Cordelia O’Driscoll and Tom Williams, the people behind Buried, as they talk about their latest show, You and I, a touching and funny musi...

0654: Beetlejuice and Mean Girls on Broadway

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nick's Broadway adventure with John Sweeney continues... here they discuss Beetlejuice and Mean Girls. 

0653: Moulin Rouge and the Radio City Music Hall

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Nick from New York as he and John Sweeney discuss seeing Moulin Rouge and touring the radio city music hall on Broadway.

0652: Aladdin: See You Later Boys and Girls

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Herzog takes us on one more trip to Pantoland as his production of "Aladdin" takes its final bow. A trip to New York is also on the horizon...

0651: Remembering Jerry Herman

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To mark the recent passing of Broadway legend - we rebroadcast the full interview we did with Jerry from episode 20 of the podcast.  Join Nick and Th...

0650: Merry Quizmas and a Happy New Earful For 2020

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gadzooks, surely it isn’t the festive season again?  Well, yes – now you come to mention it – it certainly is! Which means it’s time for our ...

0649: Aladdin is Less Miserable

17 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join David as he talks to the cast of the Blackburn Empire Theatre’s Festive Pantomime, Aladdin, in his latest fascinating audioblog!  Oh yes, he d...

0648: Robot Teammate and Pockets

10 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mike sits down with Chris Bramante, Molly Dworsky, Branson NeJame, Kat Primeau, and Dave Reynolds — a.k.a. Robot Teammate — to discuss the Off-Bro...

David's Audio Blog (Part Two): "Aladdin" at the Blackburn Empire Theatre

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

David Herzog and the rest of the cast and crew begin rehearsals for the traditional pantomime and chat backstage about characters and preparing for op...

0647: The Boy in the Dress

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Nick and Robert as they travel to the RSC in Stratford Upon Avon to see The Boy in the Dress - their first big new musical since Matilda opened t...

0646: Mary Poppins, Aladdin & Juliet.

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this three parter episode - Nick talks to Andrew Keating about &Juliet, David Herzog gives us the first instalment of his panto blog from Aladdin a...

0645: Enigma

19 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he talks to Hedda Rustad Carlsen, composer and lyricist of Enigma, a new musical which tells the unrecognised story of female code breake...

0644: Barely Thirteen

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos, Mike and Ellen for a look at student favourite, Bare – the Musical, a modern high school take on Romeo and Juliet, before Thos surveys Ja...

0643: Paradise Lodge

05 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join Thos as he speaks to the people behind Paradise Lodge, the musical comedy based on writer Steve Cooper's experience of caring for his mother-in-l...

0642: BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen

26 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 642: BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen:  It’s an early Christmas present for all fans of the musical! As the BFI’s extended cele...

0641: Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With a run of this popular Edinburgh Festival Fringe show about to open in Cambridge, Thos sits down with Laurence T-Stannard to discuss his score for...

0640: Jon Robyns and West End Misfits

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nick talks to Jon Robyns about his new album - Musical Direction - as well as providing a song from the album for us all to enjoy and then we hear fro...

0639: Mamma Mia - The BIG Immersive Party

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thos and Nick talk about Big, that's now playing at the Dominion Theatre, the history of Mamma Mia and also about the new immersive Mamma Mia party th...

0638: From SIX to Post Modern Jukebox

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week Nick and Thos discuss taking an old fashioned story and telling it in a modern way as they look into SIX and then discuss how Post Modern Ju...

0637:  Jekyll Versus Hyde

24 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thos joins the hugely talented Laurence Owen and Lindsay Sharman to discuss their latest gothic horror comedy musical, the award winning Jekyll Versus...

0636: I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thos sits down with the talented and generous songwriter, Alexander S. Bermange, to discuss his stunning and brilliant show, I Wish My Life Were Like ...

0635: Ed Fringe Round-Up 2019: Josephine Baker and Other Movers and Shakers

03 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Josephine Baker and Other Movers and Shakers:  Join Thos and Colm as they look at some more of the great shows from this year’s Edinburgh Festival ...