The WhatsOnStage Podcast

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 director Indhu Rubasingham. Then, Alex Wood and David Gordon (plus squeaky chair) chew through the shows in question, with the season featuring West Side Story, a new Punchdrunk immersive production, Tracy Letts and Paul Mescal in Death of a Salesman and so much more…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 there’s important business at hand: as part of this second part of the autumn preview, they check in on musical classics in Manchester, multiple glitzy revivals about warring couples in the West End and even a stay in northern Scotland with Alan Cumming as Henry Higgins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of our bumper autumn preview, spotlighting some of the brand new work ready to wow on stages across the UK. From Bristol to Pitlochry, there's everything from Ceilidh musicals to plays about John Maynard Keynes to look forwards to... featuring some of the most exciting writers of the time including Ava Pickett, Ryan Calais Cameron and James Graham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 celebrating 15 years of the multi-award-winning musical's success across the globe, with the West End productions and tour still going strong. He also teases four new shows he's working on over the next few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 make a big splash on both sides of the Atlantic – with the likes of Annie Baker, Lynn Nottage and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins all wowing with new work. There's also a strong current of work coming from Scotland, with the Edinburgh Festivals proving a hotbed for exciting voices. Plus Mike Bartlett writes a future history play with King Charles III, proving theatre's unwavering prescience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 what the future holds as the production continues its life. Based on the true story depicted in the 2014 film Pride, the musical is set during the 1984 miners' strike. The story follows a group of lesbian and gay activists who form Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), an alliance which sees them support a small mining community in South Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 production of The Greatest Showman was unveiled. Plus more highlights from the Edinburgh Festival and a cracking season of radio drama from the BBC to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Royal Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks to discuss the gargantuan new musical's London run. What's more, he also caught up with the makers of Secret Cinema's Pirates of the Caribbean, running from February in Greenwich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 duo, reflecting on a decade at the Fringe, detail what it's like breaking new ground professionally as they tackle a long-form drama as a twosome, and how the Edinburgh Festivals have changed over the last ten years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Royal Shakespeare Theatre. But does it live up to the hype? Alex and Sarah discuss Dominic Cooke and Duncan Macmillan's efforts and what its future life might look like. Elsewhere, Sarah went to Regent's Park for a night under the (fake) moonlight at Cats, while Alex is trekking between theatres at the Edinburgh Festivals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Park with George. And as Alex sets off for Edinburgh, they discuss his top picks for the festival, the failure of Trainspotting and the death of Peter Gill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: The Mad King, to chat to the lead cast about their time bringing Westeros to the stage. Currently in previews in Stratford-upon-Avon, the new stage play is penned by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Joining the podcast are Tanisha Spring (who appears as Ashara Dayne), Elizabeth Ayodele (as Princess Elia Martell), Mariah Gayle (as Queen Rhaella Targaryen), Callum Woodhouse (as Lord Robert Baratheon), Michael Shaeffer (as King Aerys II Targaryen), Harmony Rose-Bremner (as Lyanna Stark), Luke Brady (as Brandon Stark), Noah Ritter (as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen) and Michael Abubakar (as Eddard Stark). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Sarah on foreign shores, Alex heads to the Old Vic rehearsal room to chat to stage and screen legend Roger Allam. Known for his TV and stage appearances in the likes of The Thick of It, Les Misérables and Frank and Percy, Allam is back on stage this summer in How The Other Half Loves at the Old Vic. And, apparently, he played a certain body part in an Ayckbourn radio play. Allam also touches on the topic of amplification and seeing his greats at the Old Vic when he was young. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Phelim McDermott has staged everything – gargantuan operas, intimate shows and even forays into the world of Studio Ghibli with My Neighbour Totoro. He now brings his show Tao of Glass to @sohoplace for a West End season – mixing puppetry, the music of Phillip Glass and pseudo-memoir in an experience hoping to redefine what a West End show can be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The year of the London Olympics and its successor sees theatre at a red hot peak. Sarah and Alex discuss plays from James Graham’s breakthrough to Lucy Prebble’s The Effect and Lucy Kirkwood’s era defining Chimerica. Plus The Audience with Helen Mirren and the groundbreaking The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this midweek bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Today, the Donmar Warehouse's artistic director Tim Sheader (fresh from directing Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium) reveals two brand new shows in his 2026 season – a new comedy involving Elvis' dead body, and a revival of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land. He also calls on more new comedies in UK theatre. After that, we head over to America where the stars of Hadestown discuss taking the award-winning musical to the big screen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Alex discuss Simon Stone’s new adaptation of The Orestia, out in the same week as Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, and another example of the huge appeal of the Greeks. They talk about the cult surrounding Jonathan Larson, the composer of Rent, and ask whether Andrew Lloyd Webber is right when he puts the early closure of Cats:The Jellicle Ball down to the impossibility of producing theatre in New York’s famous heartland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Producer Francesca Moody has brought some iconic shows to the stage: Fleabag, Baby Reindeer and Weather Girl amongst their number. This year, she's taking three new productions to the Edinburgh Fringe, even working with partners like Global Creatures, the minds behind the Moulin Rouge! and Muriel's Wedding musicals. Shedinburgh will also be shooting down south to the Young Vic for a London spell, in a big step forwards for the artist-led project. Moody also reflects on her programming strategy and always developing work with a long life in mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview double bill to end the week! Our main episode ran early to coincide with the barnstorming Palladium production of Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium, but we had to wrap up the week with something special. Firstly, you can hear award-winning director Thomas Kail discuss his work on the live-action version of Moana, now sailing into cinemas across the world. We also ask Kail if he'd ever give Hamilton the same treatment... secondly, we head to Pitlochry Festival Theatre where stage legend Frances Ruffelle is premiering I Can Die Too, a brand new play with music co-created with Alan Cumming and Sally George. Ruffelle unpacks the fascinating, metatheatrical new work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the buzz? Our main episode has landed a few days early to coincide with the opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium! Sarah and Alex discuss Sam Ryder's performance and the show's ability to awe on the largest stages. Elsewhere, it was a big, bold, exciting opening for Pride at the National Theatre, while Sarah and Alex mull over big news stories from the NT, RSC and Bridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress Nancy Carroll returns to the podcast while Alex Wood takes a break. She and Sarah talk about their theatre outings to The Guilty at the Donmar Warehouse and Springwood with Robert Lindsay at Hampstead and the MAMA (Many Actors Make Art) exhibition Nancy is organising. Plus as a theatre is named the Stoppard, Nancy reveals his favourite thing in rehearsals - and why Arcadia is a perfect play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! In a double bill, we head first to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to hear from three of the cast members of A Midsummer Night's Dream – Jenny Rainsford, Terique Jarrett and Mary Malone. The trio explain why Shakespeare's comedy is such a tried-and-tested hit at the beautiful outdoor venue.  Secondly, we hop to The Other Palace for the return of hit musical Hot Mess, which is currently celebrating a well-received second and expanded run at the central London venue.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've hit the 2010s! Sarah and Alex continue their odyssey through the top plays of the century, which in this episode has two central themes: plays about climate catastrophe and the gargantuan success of the Royal Court under Dominic Cooke. At the same time, playwrights like Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Alice Birch are entering the mix... while Laura Wade correctly predicts Partygate a decade early. And James Corden brings some cheer with One Man, Two Guvnors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregory Doran stops by on this bonus episode to discuss his production of Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis, performed by puppetry and narrated by Simon Russell Beale. As part of the chat, Doran also dives into the prompts behind his new book Walking Shadow, based on diary entries and experiences following the death of his husband, the legendary actor Antony Sher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awards season may be over but the theatre news does not slow down! James Graham is back with a brand new play landing direct in the West End, while news from New York sees that indomitable bear Paddington making its furry way to Broadway. Also - Judi Dench will have a theatre named after her, and there's great news from the Bush as part of its 2026 season. Plus, Sarah mulls over what she thinks of the Traitors being turned into a five-part-cycle stage play experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, Alex sits down with Stephen Lambert, one of the masterminds behind the hit TV series The Traitors, as well as writer John Finnemore and director Rob Hastie, who explain how exactly they plan to bring The Traitors to the stage – in a multi-show experience like nothing else seen in the West End. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're looking for our main episode, we released it two days early as the dust settled on this year's Tony Awards. That said, we had to get a bonus episode in to help with your weekly theatre fix, so below is our interview with the two stars of the forthcoming West End transfer of Cyrano de Bergerac, Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding, who will be returning to the roles of Cyrano and Roxane for the Noël Coward run of Edmond Rostand's play, adapted by Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson. In the interview, the pair discuss reinterpreting the role of Roxane, why a nose had to be shown on stage and the different rhyming structure bedded into the text. Oh – and if you're looking for the project Lester refers to, it's the Dartmouth Scar Experiment.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's this? The main episode of the week coming out two days early? As the dust settles on another Tony Awards season, Sarah and Alex have a lot to chew on – topics include Brits thriving on Broadway, the sacrifices mothers have to make to succeed in the performing arts and, after an incident at Inter Alia, the mobile phone etiquette debate. If that's not enough, they also pick the six summer shows they can't wait to see - with shows in Manchester, Stratford-upon-Avon, London and Chichester (if you're travelling south via the M6, M40, A3 and A27). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While Alex has been manning the fort back in London, Sarah has sailed over to the Great White Way for a small Broadway bonanza ahead of this weekend's Tony Awards. She observes the "Miller moment" that seems to be ongoing with productions of Death of a Salesman, All My Sons and Broken Glass all making headlines over the last year. After sampling the best New York has to offer, she makes some predictions ahead of Sunday's glitzy event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bumper episode, we are celebrating the world of new musicals with two great insights into the experience of staging new world. In the first part, we bring you our on-stage discussion with the music team of Redcliffe, Jordan Luke Gage's brand new musical having its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough. In part two, we head across the Atlantic to talk to Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts, the two "strangers" bring baked goods to the masses in the five-star musical Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), playing now on Broadway - ahead of this Sunday's Tony Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of their long-running series, Alex and Sarah end the 00s with a bumper exploration of two pivotal years for playwriting this century – with Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, Lucy Prebble's Enron, John Logan's Red, Lynn Nottage's Ruined and so many more to mull over. But which plays will be Sarah's top picks? And what have we forgotten from the month before? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years on from Waitress' Broadway bow, we had a virtual chat with composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles to discuss the lasting and profound effect of the show, from its much-loved numbers to its now-instantly recognisable characters. What's more, Bareilles is working on a brand new musical, and reflects on this second-time experience as she prepares to bring it to the stage.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another busy week Sarah and Alex sit down to discuss whether Peter Schaffer’s Equus is really the Adolescence of its day - and how relevant Brecht’s warnings about totalitarianism and war still feel. Plus a new report on theatre pricing prompts some new thinking Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we take an exclusive look at Jermyn Street Theatre’s newly announced 2026 autumn season, including the UK premiere of Simon Stephens’ A Slow Fire and a revival of Richard Eyre’s Ghosts. We discuss what A Slow Fire might bring to London audiences following its Dublin premiere, and why Kwame Owusu’s direction of Ghosts continues the theatre’s commitment to developing emerging voices alongside established writers. We also explore the remarkable growth of Jermyn Street Theatre over the past decade, now operating as an intimate central London venue into a theatre increasingly attracting major writers, ambitious productions and a wider profile within the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And who gives a Krapp about Beckett? Sarah and Alex have been ranging across the country, seeing shows in Bowness-on-Windermere and Brighton recently, but still find time to mull over the biggest news stories of the week – from the plans for Ian McKellen to return to the stage in a new version of King Lear at the Yard, and the National Theatre's report into the impact of streamed theatre. Plus, Sarah reminisces about her favourite performers who have tackled the title role in Krapp's Last Tape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex sits down with the two stars of Hit Machine – Josh Radnor (known for playing Ted in How I Met Your Mother) and Noah Galvin (of The Good Doctor, Theater Camp and Dear Evan Hansen fame) – who will be performing at the Soho Theatre this summer. The new play by Jonathan Caren follows two estranged brothers, one a record mogul and the other an aspiring musician. It features original music by multi-Grammy Award winner Ben Harper with direction by Daniel Bailey. Why do the two US TV stars find themselves in London? We find out... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK theatre fans had reason for cheer with Tuesday's Tony nominations, with recognition for Sam Tutty, Layton Williams, Lesley Manville, Luke Evans, Mark Strong, Rob Icke and many more, but does the full list reflect something more concerning about the state of Broadway? Alex and David mull on a very rocky season for the Great White Way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday saw the Tony Awards nominations being revealed - in a great moment for UK theatre, with 41 nominations. We chat to producer Sonia Friedman (Oedipus), star Lesley Manville (Oedipus) and writer Mark Rosenblatt (Giant) about the success of their respective shows – Friedman also reflected on a very exciting period coming up for her company as it prepares to open a wave of new productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a packed week of theatre news Sarah and Alex discuss Cynthia Erivo halting a show to stop filming —and Lesley Manville declaring war on photos. Is technology ruining or helping theatre? Plus: troubled waters at The Bridge, Broadway transfers and whether theatre could learn something from ParkRun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's bonus episode, Alex chats to Omar Elerian, the director and adaptor of Kohlhaas, a brand new work making its world premiere in the first week of the Brighton Festival. Elerian is also the co-founder of There & Then, a new theatre company that will bring a starry West End season of White Rabbit Red Rabbit to the Duchess Theatre this summer, with stars including David Tennant, Riz Ahmed, Luke Thompson, Jodie Whittaker and David Harewood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.