In the 'House Seats'
by Craig Bartley
This podcast brings you interviews with people working in the entertainment industry discussing about all aspects of onstage performing or backstage production. Ideas as a prospective performer through to what an adjudicator, choreographer or casting director might look for when you are delivering your performance piece. Hosted by Craig Bartley who is a performer and choreographer, who has appeared in West End and Broadway productions ranging from 42nd Street (Original cast at Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Me & My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Follies (Palladium Theatre), Mack And Mabel in concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Man of La Mancha (Peacock Theatre) of which he recorded the cast albums for both ‘Mack And Mabel’ and ‘Man of La Mancha’. He also spent more than two and a half years playing the part of ‘Doody’ in the hit musical ‘Grease’ where he received the Golden Quiff Award for best performance, which was presented by the late Victoria Wood. He also ap
Episodes
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Ep 104: Adagio College of Performing Arts
Send us Fan Mail Listen to some of the students experiences from Adagio College of Performing Arts which offers a Fully Funded BTEC in dance or performing arts. The course is a two-year full-time course which sits at level 3 on the national framework and is equivalent to 3 A Levels. The course is...
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Ep 103: Kayleigh Thadani, West End performer, singer and dancer
Send us Fan Mail Kayleigh Thadani is a London-based musical theatre performer with an impressive West End career. She was part of the original West End cast of Disney's Aladdin, where she worked as a swing covering seven roles, and has since appeared in productions including White Christmas…
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Ep 102: Loraine Hastings, the new President of the IDTA for 2026–2027
Send us Fan Mail Loraine Hastings serves as the President of the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) for the 2026–2027 term. Her lifelong dedication to dance began at age three within IDTA schools, leading to a prestigious career spanning over 45 years as a qualified teacher, senior...
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Ep 101: Anna-Jane Casey, one of the West End's most celebrated performers
Send us Fan Mail Anna-Jane Casey is one of the West End's most celebrated performers, with a remarkable career spanning more than four decades. She made her professional debut at just 16 in Cats and has since starred in many of musical theatre's most iconic productions, including Cabaret, Kiss of...
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Ep 100: Simon Green, AKA Betty Legs Diamond
Send us Fan Mail Simon Green, better known by his iconic stage name Betty Legs Diamond, is a legendary British drag artist, dancer, and choreographer. Best known as the longtime star and co-creator of Blackpool’s world-famous Funny Girls cabaret, Simon has spent over three decades dazzling...
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Ep 99: Live from the BATD UK Stage and Ballet Scholarships.
Send us Fan Mail This episode comes live from the recent UK stage and ballet scholarships organised by the British Association of Teachers of Dancing where Craig was one of the judges. Here you can listen to some interviews with competitors and parents on what this event means to them and their...
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Ep 98: Surrey Dance Festival and the heats for the Miss Dance of Great Britain competition.
Send us Fan Mail This episode comes from the Surrey Dance Festival where some students had entered one of the heats for Miss Dance of Great Britain competition. These student give there feedback on their experience, the fantastic atmosphere at the theatre and also the support and camaraderie that...
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Ep 97: Bright Star Festival in Farnham, Surrey
Send us Fan Mail Craig was the adjudicator of this year's Bright Star Festival and he took some time out to chat with Lydsey, the organiser, along with some of the participants and teachers to understand what makes this festival different from others and what the dancers perceptions are of...
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Ep 96: Jonathan Andrew Hume, professional British screen and stage performer
Send us Fan Mail Jonathan Andrew Hume is a professional British screen and stage performer who is highly skilled in both acting and singing and is well-known for his work on Pride, Amazing Grace and 10,000 BC. On stage, he is famous for playing Simba in The Lion King musical, Kevin J, Ali and...
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Ep 95: Sam Underwood, leading TV, stage and film actor.
Send us Fan Mail Sam Underwood was born in Woking, Surrey and attended the Winston Churchill School. He trained at the Karen Clarke Theatre Group (now Summerscales Performing Arts). He was taught by vocal coach Phil Wisdom and attended Songtime Theatre Arts. He moved to the United States in 2006...
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Ep 94: Pia Fay Waller, Head of wardrobe
Send us Fan Mail Pia studied costume design at the Wimbledon College of Art and Design, which is part of the University of the Arts London, where she learnt a wide variety of skills including millinery, wiggery, pattern cutting and much more. She also gained a range of technical skills in machine...
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Ep 93. Derek Griffiths, legendary presenter, actor and musical composer.
Send us Fan Mail Derek rose to fame as a presenter of the legendary BBC children's show Play School in the 1970s. He was raised in London, the actor and musician and went on to perform in both theatre, film, TV and radio. His West End credits include: Sing a Rude Song, The Two Gentlemen of…
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Ep 92: Ria Jones, West End leading lady and international musical theatre star.
Send us Fan Mail Ria was born and raised in Swansea and was brought up surrounded by the rich heritage of Welsh music. Her mother was an Opera Singer and her father a successful cabaret entertainer, so it was inevitable at an early age that Ria Jones was destined for stardom. At 19 she became the...
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Ep 91: Luke Holman, Assistant Musical Director.
Send us Fan Mail Luke is a musical director, pianist and conductor based in London and has just completed the summer season at the Chichester Festival Theatre as the assistant musical director for the hugely successful, five star reviewed musical, Crazy For You. He was assistant musical director…
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Ep 90: Behind the scenes at Chichester Festival Theatre
Send us Fan Mail When Chichester Festival Theatre opened in 1962, it was Britain’s first modern thrust stage theatre. The brainchild of a local optician, Leslie Evershed-Martin, it was effectively ‘crowdfunded’ by local individuals and businesses: a theatre built by the community for the…
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Ep 89: Graham Michael, Company Stage Manager and photographer
Send us Fan Mail Since graduating from Guildhall, Graham has worked on a wide range of shows both in the UK and on tour overseas. He recently worked on Jesus Christ Superstar at Regents Park Open Air Theatre in 2021 and has just completed his position as company stage manager for Crazy for You at...
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Ep 88: Matthew Malthouse, Westend performer
Send us Fan Mail Matthew was brought up in the west coast of Scotland and trained at the Dance School of Scotland before starting his professional trading at Arts Ed in London. He left after one year as he was offered a part in a musical in Germany and from there his career took off. Matthew's...
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Ep 87: Kate Parr, actor, personal trainer and general workaholic
Send us Fan Mail This recording was done at Chichester Festival Theatre where Kate is currently playing the role of Patsy and is also understudy for Carly Anderson who plays Polly, the lead female character, in Crazy For You. This brand new production, which celebrates the work’s 30th…
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Ep 86: Deborah Laws, dancepreneur and owner of the Dance Business Lab
Send us Fan Mail After running a dance school for 27 years and a franchise theatre school for 12. Deborah made a break and invested in a business coach, studied marketing, retention, business strategies in relation to the dance world, customer services, finances, planning, social media, team...
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Ep 85: Live from Move It, the world's biggest dance event.
Send us Fan Mail This weeks podcast was recorded live at this year's Move It which is the world's biggest dance event where Craig was promoting Starquest Performers College, and takes place at London's Excel. Craig interviews Move It Event Creative Director, Tia Hassen and Lucy Newton of Cogo...
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Ep 84: Thanet Dance Festival
Send us Fan Mail Craig is at it again! Adjudicating at this year's Thanet Dance Festival which is based in Birchington in Kent.
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Ep 83: Chesham Festival
Send us Fan Mail We are back with season five and kicking off is Craig's interview with parents, teachers and performers at Chesham Festival in Bucks, UK which was held on 24–26 February 2022. A chance for students to compete again and for parents and teachers to get together and share experiences.
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Ep 82: Tim English, professional performer, director and vocational tutor.
Send us Fan Mail Tim English trained at Arts Ed and graduated with honours. He was recently resident director for Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre London and The Lion King UK/International Tour. His theatre credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Harry in Mamma Mia!…
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Ep 81: It's behind you. A big panto shout out for 2021.
Send us Fan Mail This week we give a big shout out to all the pantos that are going ahead this year around the UK. After a year without we thought a much needed reminder to support your local pantomimes would be the right thing to do. They are the life blood for keeping theatres and venues alive...
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Ep 80: Jack O'Neill aka Ava Cardo, drag entertainer, singer and panto star.
Send us Fan Mail A loveable live singing drag queen from the Midlands who brings glamour, comedy and a contagious energy to her performances. Singing camp classics, musical parodies and all the songs you forgot you loved, It’s Ava Cardo! After graduating drama school training at East 15 Acting...
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Ep 79: Kerry Ellis, West End and Broadway leading lady, recording artist and global musical theatre star.
Send us Fan Mail Kerry Jane Ellis is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16. Ellis made her…
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Ep 78: Andrée Bernard, TV, film & theatre actress & experienced voiceover artist
Send us Fan Mail Andrée’s best known from TV series Only Fools & Horses, Hollyoaks, Holby City, Poirot & Doctor Who. She has starred in many West End theatre shows including Hair & Kiss Me Kate. Andrée has worked extensively with writer/director Steven Berkoff over the past few years on new plays...
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Ep 77: Live from Maidenhead Dance Festival
Send us Fan Mail This weeks podcast comes 'live' from the Maidenhead Dance Festival in the UK. We get to hear teachers, parents and students views on performing and training as well as coping during lockdown. Also, the aspirations of the future performers.
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Ep 76: Pasha Kovalev, BBC strictly, professional choreographer and latin and ballroom dancer
Send us Fan Mail Pavel "Pasha" Kovalev, born 19 January 1980 is a Russian professional Latin and ballroom dancer. He started dancing at the age of eight and in 2001 moved to the United States with his professional dance partner Anya Garnis. In 2007, the couple competed on the third season of the...
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Ep 75: Emma Kate Nelson, actress, singer and dancer
Send us Fan Mail Emma Kate is a British performer. Actress, singer and dancer she performs mainly on stage in theater and opera but also in cinema. Recently Emma Kate was spotted on stage at The Monte Carlo Opera House in Kurt Weill's Street Scene. At the Grand Palais and at the Théâtre du…
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Ep 74: Javier De Frutos, director, choreographer and designer
Send us Fan Mail Javier De Frutos, Spanish Director, Choreographer and designer (born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1963) was named by the Evening Standard as one of 2016 most influential people in the UK. He is one of only three artists in the history of the Olivier Awards to have received…
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Ep 73: Robbie McMillan, West End and International dancer.
Send us Fan Mail Robbie trained in Brisbane, Australia and made his debut in the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance for television. From there he performed with the Paris Opera Ballet as part of their Australian tour. He was part of the Expressions Dance Company in Brisbane before...
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Ep 72: Kevin Wilson of Kevin Wilson Public Relations
Send us Fan Mail Kevin Wilson Public Relations is a small boutique West End PR agency that punches BIG! Kevin Wilson has a journalist’s instinct for a great story and how to sell it in a rapidly changing media landscape. An award-winning publicist (West End Publicist of the Year – Fringe Report...
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Ep 71: Hilary O'Neil, world renowned comedienne, impressionist and musical theatre star
Send us Fan Mail Acclaimed entertainer Hilary O’Neil has become renowned for her laugh-out-loud comedy and her incredible impressions. Starting out as a dancer with Ken Dodd at the London Palladium, she quickly moved on to join close harmony group “Stutz Bear Cats”, before leaving to pursue a…
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Ep 70: Thank you season 3
Send us Fan Mail In this week's podcast, Craig looks back at some of his guests who helped make season 3 and he also looks to the future and highlights some of the great shows that have just opened or are due to open this year. He also highlights Amelie which he saw and loved and he shares his...
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Ep 69: Live from the Ibstock Novice Festival.
Send us Fan Mail Craig is live from the Ibstock Novice Festival in Leicester this week, talking to a past student from Starquest Performers College, some of the young competitors and also owners of some of the school that have entered.
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Ep 68: Charlotte Gooch, West End and International leading lady.
Send us Fan Mail Charlotte trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts. Theatre credits include; Alex Owens in Flashdance (International Tour) Tina Sparkle in Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre London, The West Yorkshire Playhouse and The Princess of Wales Theatre Toronto) Dale Tremont in Top...
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Ep 67: Theatre procedure, Craig's point of view on theatres opening up.
Send us Fan Mail A short personal viewpoint on current procedure from Craig on theatres opening up.
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Ep 66: Adam Blanshay, world renowned and award winning producer.
Send us Fan Mail Adam Blanshay Productions is a London based theatre production company which produces, co-produces and manages a wide range of plays, musicals, comedies, digital content, and live event theatre across the UK, West End, Broadway and Australia. Produced over 60 productions…
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Ep 65: Terry Hyde MA MBACP, psychotherapist/counsellor
Send us Fan Mail Terry started dancing aged 6, won a 5 year scholarship to the RAD aged 10. He attended the Royal Ballet’s Upper School, joining the Royal Ballet at age 18. To expand his character work, he joined London’s Festival Ballet (now ENB) as a soloist, playing roles such as, Dr Coppelius...
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Ep 64: Ryan Jenkins, professional dancer, choreographer and director and owner of iD-Company.
Send us Fan Mail Ryan has worked in every area of the entertainment industry, most recently as creative director working with the government to represent the UK for British National Day at the Milan Expo 2015. He has worked with the biggest creatives in the world including; Matthew Bourne, Arlene...
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Ep 63: Stars of tomorrow
Send us Fan Mail What are a young persons perspective of dance and performing arts, what are their goals, dreams and aspirations and how is dance adding to their well being and confidence? In this podcast, Craig interviews a few of the young pupils who are training for their end of year...
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Ep 62: Steve Elias, professional performer, choreographer and director
Send us Fan Mail Steve is an ex rugby playing welsh tenor, with a BA (Hons) Performance Art Degree specialising in choreography from Middlesex University. Most recently Director of Musical Theatre at Birmingham Ormiston Academy. Performing highlights Mr Braithwaite in the original cast of Billy...
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EP 61: Carole Todd, director and choreographer.
Send us Fan Mail Carole's work as director/choreographer in the West End, includes: Dancing in the Streets (Cambridge, Savoy and Playhouse); Santa’s Christmas Adventure (Ambassadors); Gyles Brandreth’s Zipp! (Duchess); Girls Night Out (Victoria Palace); Elvis the Musical (Astoria, Prince of Wales...
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Ep 60: Kevin Bishop, editor, television producer and ex BBC guru.
Send us Fan Mail Kevin Bishop is a best known as a director and producer for the BBC Entertainment, working on shows staring for Victoria Wood (1989), and French and Saunders (1987) He started out as an associate producer for Candid Camera from 1974 before moving to director for shows such as...
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Ep 59: Daniel Boys, West End lead, TV and recording artist.
Send us Fan Mail Daniel won a Cameron Mackintosh scholarship to study at the Guildford School of Acting, where he graduated with a BA (Honours) in 2001. He was selected to perform in the first UK tour of Jonathan Larson's Rent, which meant leaving college early. He understudied the characters of...
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Ep 58: Kim Criswell, professional West End, Broadway and international leading lady.
Send us Fan Mail Kim's career has taken her from Broadway to the West End to the international concert stage, resulting in a most unusual career path unmatched by any other singer. She continues to specialize in musical theatre, bringing the classic American songbook to leading music venues…
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Ep 57: Helen Keane, hair and make-up supervisor
Send us Fan Mail Helen's started her career with a work placement at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester and since then she has gone on to work full-time in the professions. She has had a long working relationship with Cameron Mackintosh supervising the hair and make up for My Fair Lady, Les...
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Ep 56: John Barr, West End star and vocational teacher
Send us Fan Mail John made his West End Debut at the age of 12 in Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver’ at the Albery Theatre. His theatre credits include: Bull Connor in King The Musical (Hackney Empire, 2018), Lionel Bart in The Story of Bart (Tour 2018 & Mirth, Maud & Marvel -2017 & The Hippodrome 2014)…
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Ep 55: Sally Ann Triplett, professional West End and Broadway leading lady and pop star.
Send us Fan Mail Sally Ann Triplett is a British singer and actress and is one of only four singers to have sung for the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, first in 1980 as the lead female vocals of the six-piece band Prima Donna and then two years later as part of a double act...
About this show
This podcast brings you interviews with people working in the entertainment industry discussing about all aspects of onstage performing or backstage production. Ideas as a prospective performer through to what an adjudicator, choreographer or casting director might look for when you are delivering your performance piece.
Hosted by Craig Bartley who is a performer and choreographer, who has appeared in West End and Broadway productions ranging from 42nd Street (Original cast at Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Me & My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Follies (Palladium Theatre), Mack And Mabel in concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Man of La Mancha (Peacock Theatre) of which he recorded the cast albums for both ‘Mack And Mabel’ and ‘Man of La Mancha’. He also spent more than two and a half years playing the part of ‘Doody’ in the hit musical ‘Grease’ where he received the Golden Quiff Award for best performance, which was presented by the late Victoria Wood.
He also ap
Hosted by
Craig Bartley
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