Should the Show Go On?

Welcome to Episode 8 of Should the Show Go On? This week I’m reunited with my wonderful old friend Joshua Barwick.Joshua and I go way back, so this episode is a proper trip down memory lane. We danced together, created together, performed in shows together and, unsurprisingly, got up to plenty of shenanigans along the way. Sitting down together after all these years felt like picking up exactly where we left off.We talk about Joshua’s journey through the dance world, the creations and performances that shaped him, the highs, the fails and the stories that inevitably come with a life spent performing — before following his career beyond the stage and into his work as a teacher.And one thing that really runs through Joshua’s story is a wonderfully simple philosophy: if you don’t try, you don’t get. Sometimes you have to put yourself out there, take the chance, risk the failure and see what happens.Of course, this being Should the Show Go On?, there are plenty of stories about things not quite going according to plan, lots of laughter, reminiscing, and there is even a little singing 🎶😂A joy to record. A look back at two lives that once shared a stage, and a celebration of where the performing arts can take us next.A huge thank you, as always, to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement for supporting the creation of this podcast.Enjoy the episode and remember: sometimes the show goes wrong… but the show goes on. ❤️🎨 Artwork by Steven Baker🎵 Jingle by Softfriend

Welcome to Episode 7 of Should the Show Go On? 🎙️This week I'm joined by the absolutely brilliant Emma Holt — performer, dancer, stunt woman extraordinaire, artist and all round force of nature. I am genuinely Emma's biggest fan. She's incredible, and she's also one of those people who can tell a story in a way that has you completely hooked, and usually crying with laughter. She has some of the best banter around, so as you can imagine, we laughed a lot recording this one.And Emma has STORIES.From sneaky biscuit eating, to shoulders completely out of control, missing items on stage, flying wigs and huge powerful rain machines and so many more, this episode goes in just about every direction possible. It is, quite literally, action-packed. 😂But amongst all the chaos and laughter, Emma also gives such a brilliant insight into the reality of being a performer, the things that don't quite go to plan, the moments where something entirely unexpected happens, and the extraordinary ability performers have to adapt, carry on and somehow make it look like it was meant to happen all along.Emma is funny, fearless, wonderfully honest and an absolute joy, I loved hearing her stories, and I loved recording this episode. Conversations like this, where we can laugh at the madness while also celebrating the artist, are one of the reasons why I wanted to create Should the Show Go On?Thank you, Emma, for coming on the pod and bringing your stories, your honesty and your truly excellent banter. Holty Forever ❤️A huge thank you, as always, to the amazing people from the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their generous support has made this podcast possible and allows these conversations to remain completely ad-free.Enjoy the episode, and thank you so much for listening. 🎭Artwork by Steven Baker.Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 6 of Should the Show Go On? 🎙️This week I'm so excited to be joined by the wonderful Anoushka Jago.I was genuinely so pleased when Anoushka agreed to come on the podcast. She's someone I've admired for a long time, and I knew she would bring kindness, honesty and a unique perspective to the conversation. She certainly didn't disappoint.From dancing through a broken foot to somehow becoming a bingo ball (yes, you really will have to listen for that one! 😂), this episode is full of stories that are funny, heartfelt and wonderfully human. We also talk about resilienceand the unpredictable nature of life as a performer.Anoushka speaks with such thoughtfulness and generosity throughout, and it was an absolute privilege to spend this time with her. Conversations like this are exactly why I wanted to create Should the Show Go On?A very special shout-out also goes to the one and only Anna Watkins, whose name comes up in this episode and who clearly holds a very special place in our hearts. ❤️Thank you, Anoushka, for trusting me with your stories, your humour and your honesty. I know listeners are going to love getting to know you.A huge thank you, as always, to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their generous support has made Should the Show Go On? possible and allows these conversations to remain completely ad-free.Enjoy the episode, and thank you so much for listening. 🎭Artwork by Steven Baker.Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 5 of Should the Show Go On? 🎙️This week I'm joined by two people I absolutely adore – the brilliant Denzil Bailey and Raymond Chai.From the moment we hit record, I knew this episode was going to be beautifully chaotic... and it absolutely delivered. There were so many moments where we laughed so hard that we actually had to edit some of the laughter out! I genuinely don't think my cheeks have ever recovered. 😂But beneath all the chaos and ridiculous stories is something really special. It was such a privilege to hear about both of their journeys into dance, the twists and turns that shaped them, and the careers they've built along the way. They each have their own unique story, but what really shines through is the friendship they've shared over the years. It's full of warmth, loyalty, mischief and so much love.Naturally, there are plenty of backstage stories too... from freezing on stage and bottles to the head and all the wonderfully absurd moments that only seem to happen in theatre. Thank you both for saying yes to the podcast, for making me laugh until I nearly cried, and for sharing your stories with such honesty, generosity and humour. Recording this felt like sitting down with old friends, and I hope that's exactly how it feels to listen.A huge thank you, as always, to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their generous support has made Should the Show Go On? possible and allows these conversations to remain completely ad-free.Enjoy the episode, and thank you so much for listening. 🎭Artwork by Steven Baker.Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 4 of Should the Show Go On? Some guests are simply too lovely not to have on the podcast... and if they happen to be staying at my house, they don't really have much choice. 😉This week I'm joined by the wonderful Jacob Wye—a long-time friend, an incredible artist, and someone I always leave feeling inspired after a conversation with.Recorded bright and early, this episode gently wanders through stories from the stage, including the unforgettable moment Jacob found himself facing the completely wrong way in front of an audience. We chat about learning to embrace the unexpected, harnessing chaos rather than fighting it, trusting flow, and why some of the best moments in theatre happen when things don't quite go to plan.It's a calm, thoughtful, and quietly funny conversation that I absolutely loved recording.As always, my heartfelt thanks to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their support has made this podcast possible and allows me to keep these conversations completely ad-free. I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed chatting.🎭Artwork by Steven Baker. Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Should the Show Go On? 🎙️This week I'm joined by the brilliant Alex Soulliere for a trip down memory lane.Alex and I first met at Rambert 8 years ago, and when we recorded this, we had not seen each other for 2 years! It was such a joy to sit down together. Of course, as with every great backstage conversation, things quickly take a wonderfully unexpected turn or two. From broken noses and physio sessions gone spectacularly wrong to the kind of stories involving farts and on-stage rivers, this episode is packed with laughter, nostalgia and the unpredictable reality of life in the performing arts.One of my favourite things about this podcast is that every guest brings something completely different. Alex brings a brilliant mix of humour, honesty and infectious energy, and it didn't take long before we were laughing our way through some unforgettable stories from our years in the dance world. It felt less like recording a podcast and more like two friends catching up, and I hope listening feels just as if you're sitting in the room with us.Thank you, Alex, for taking the time to share your stories, your humour and a little glimpse behind the curtain. It was an absolute pleasure.A huge thank you, as always, to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their generous support has made Should the Show Go On? possible and allows these conversations to remain completely ad-free.Enjoy the episode, and thank you so much for listening. 🎭Artwork by Steven Baker.Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Should the Show Go On? ☀️This week I'm joined by my very first duo on the podcast, the wonderful, hilarious and amazing humans Louise Bennett and Richard Bermange. Fair warning: my cheeks genuinely hurt for days after recording this one from laughing so much.We dive into two lifetimes of things going spectacularly wrong, from early dance disasters to unforgettable moments in professional life. Richard even turned up with an actual notebook full of dance catastrophes collected over the years, which tells you everything you need to know about where this conversation goes.It's packed with stories, laughter, unexpected twists and a reminder that, no matter how experienced we become, live performance always has a way of keeping us humble. A huge thank you to Louise and Richard for bringing such brilliant stories, generosity and so much laughter to the podcast.As always, my heartfelt thanks to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their support has made this podcast possible and allows me to keep these conversations completely ad-free. Enjoy, and thank you for listening🎭Artwork by Steven Baker. Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 1 of Should the Show Go On? 🎉We made it... the very first official guest episode!And I couldn't imagine kicking off this podcast with anyone better than with the wonderful and inspirational Brenda Lee Grech.From ballet to contemporary dance, film, television, leadership, teaching and beyond, Brenda has built an incredible career, but what makes this conversation so special isn't just where she's been; it's how openly and honestly she shares the journey, the challenges and, of course, the moments where everything went a little giggly.There's a running joke in this episode that if you ever stay at my flat, you have to record the podcast... and Brenda happened to be staying over, so she didn't really have much choice! Luckily for all of us, she said yes.What I already love about Should the Show Go On? is how each guest shapes it into something completely different. Every conversation has its own rhythm, its own stories and its own surprises, and Brenda has set the (ballet) bar incredibly high.A huge, heartfelt thank you, Brenda, for trusting me enough to be my very first guest. Your honesty, warmth and generosity made this the perfect way to begin, and I'll always be grateful that you said yes.My deepest thanks to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Their support has made this podcast possible and allows these conversations to remain completely ad-free. Enjoy, and thank you for listening🎭Artwork by Steven Baker. Jingle by softfriend.

Welcome to Episode 0 of Should the Show Go On?  Maybe it's a pilot, a sound check, a tech rehearsal, and arguably a questionable life choice.Joining me is James Müller, partner, fellow dancer, and the person who somehow gets roped into all of my ideas before they've been properly thought through. Together, we attempt to record the very first episode of this podcast from our home, with varying degrees of success.We chat about what Should the Show Go On? might become, why I wanted to start it, and what stories are still to come. Along the way, there are a few technical mishaps, some accidental chaos, and plenty of evidence that two dancers probably shouldn't be left alone with microphones.This is very much the beginning. I'm hoping to find a proper recording space soon and start inviting guests from the dance world to share their stories of mishaps, mayhem, resilience, and everything in between. But every show has to start somewhere, and apparently, this one starts in our living room.A huge thank you to the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement. Without their support, this podcast simply wouldn't exist. Their generosity has helped make it possible to focus on creating good conversations (and hopefully better sound quality), which is also why you'll hear no adverts here.Enjoy the chaos. The show, somehow, has begun.