In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Rebecca Lock is starring as Caz in Here And Now: The Steps Musical. The show about to kick off a tour, with Rebecca reprising her performance from the show's premiere run last year in Birmingham. Featuring the music of Steps, Here And Now is written by Shaun Kitchener and is produced by Steps and ROYO with Pete Waterman. The show is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with choreography by Matt Cole and Matt Spencer-Smith as musical supervisor, orchestrator and arranger. Rebecca's West End credits include: Emily Hobbs in Elf The Musical (Dominion Theatre), Carmen in Curtains (Wyndhams Theatre & Tour), Ms Fleming/Veronica’s Mom in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket & The Other Palace), Cheryl Gillan MP in Committee (Donmar Warehouse), Rosie in Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre), Carlotta Giudicelli in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Kate Monster/Lucy the S**t in Avenue Q (Noel Coward Theatre), alternate Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Jellylorum in Cats (New London), Oh! What A Lovely War (The National Theatre), Bertrande De Rols in Martin Guerre (Prince Edward Theatre) and Guest Soloist in the 30th anniversary of Sondheim's Side by Side (Novello Theatre). Some of Rebecca's other theatre credits include: Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock (UK Tour), Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins (International tour), Lilli Vanessi/Kate in Kiss Me Kate (Sheffield Crucible), Isabelle in Moonfleet (Salisbury Playhouse), Mrs Cratchitt in A Christmas Carol (LMTO), Widow Corney in Oliver! (Sheffield Crucible), Gabrielle in Dear World (Charing Cross Theatre), Baroness Schraeder in The Sound of Music (JY Productions/Jordan), Guest Soloist in Sondheim Women (St James), Iris in The Tempest (Theatre Royal Bath), Mary in Merrily We Roll Along (Theatr Clwyd), Svetlana Sergievsky in Chess (Princess of Wales, Toronto), Joan Aldrin in Moon Landing (Derby Playhouse), Gilda in Alfie (Watford Palace), Dorothy Fields Forever (King’s Head), Anna in After the Fair (Kings Head) and Nora in The Pirates of Penzance (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Rebecca starred as Mary Critchard in both workshop productions of Redcliffe by Jordan Luke Gage at The Turbine Theatre and The Other Palace. She was also one of seven actors to share the role of Mama Rose in Gypsy In Concert at Alexandra Palace. In this episode Rebecca reveals how she fell in love with Here And Now and why Caz is the hardest role she has played so far. She also reflects on working on Redcliffe, shares memories of performing Gypsy In Concert and discusses learning to say no and the path of her career... and lots more. Here And Now: The Steps Musical kicks off its tour on 29th August. Rebecca is playing Caz until November and the tour continues through to May 2026. Visit www.thestepsmusical.com [https://thestepsmusical.com/] for info, tour dates and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32 [https://www.instagram.com/andrewtomlins32/]  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk [https://westendframe.co.uk/] for more info about our podcasts.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Laura Dawkes can currently be seen starring as Princess Anna in Disney’s Frozen on Disney Plus. Upon graduating from Emil Dale, in 2023 Laura made her West End debut as Anna in Frozen at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and she continued with the show until it closed the following year. During her run, Laura filmed Frozen's live capture which has now been released on Disney Plus. Laura has also been in KIN and Cinderella, alongside various concert appearances. In this episode Laura discusses her path into theatre and how she auditioned for drama school by accident. She also reflects on her journey with Frozen, including what it was like to land such a huge leading role at the very start of her career and how she conquered the challenge. Laura also delves into what it was like to film the live capture and the amazing response to its release on Disney Plus. Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical is available on Disney Plus. Visit www.disneyplus.com [https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb] to subscribe. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32 [https://www.instagram.com/andrewtomlins32/]  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk [https://westendframe.co.uk/] for more info about our podcasts.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Pippa Cleary is In The Frame! Pippa is the only British female composer to have had three musicals produced in the West End - My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?), The Great British Bake Off Musical and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾.   Over her 16 year career, Pippa has worked in theatre, TV, animation, pop and advertising. She wrote the first original opening number for the 2023 Olivier Awards performed by Hannah Waddingham. One of Pippa’s latest projects is Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure which she is writing with Jake Brunger. The show is premiering at the Bristol Old Vic, directed by Paul Foster, for a festive run later this year.  Pippa made her West End performing debut in Rob Madge’s show Regards To Broadway which featured their original song 'All In Good Time'. In this episode Pippa had just returned from NYC and spoke all about My Son’s A Queer's run at New York City Centre and the journey she and Rob Madge have been on with the show. Pippa also discusses Treasure Island as well as where we’re at with new musicals in the UK, the path of her career and lots more. Treasure Island: A new Musical Adventure runs at Bristol Old Vic 4th December – 10th January. Visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk [https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/treasure-island-a-new-musical-adventure] for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32 [https://www.instagram.com/andrewtomlins32/]  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk [https://westendframe.co.uk/] for more info about our podcasts.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Amara Okereke is In The Frame! Amara is playing She in Echo by Susan Eve Haar at the King's Head Theatre. Following runs in Edinburgh and New York, Echo has opened in London directed by Abigail Zealey Bess. The psychological thriller delves into the ethics of reproductive technology, the performance of intimacy and the terrifying beauty of being made. Amara made her West End debut as Cassie in 13 The Musical. She went on to train at Arts Ed and then won Best Actress in a Musical at the 2018 Stage Debut Awards for her adult West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables. Amara’s other theatre credits include Laurie in Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre), Polly in The Boyfriend (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Wendla in Spring Awakening (Almeida). Amara starred as Eliza Dootlittle in the West End revival of My Fair Lady (London Colesium). She has made West End history twice as the first black actress to play both Cosette and Eliza Doolittle. More recently Amara played Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire (Sheffield Crucible). Her film and television credits include The Morning After (Amazon), Red Rose (BBC/Netflix), The Choral (Sony) and In The Lost Lands (Constantin Films). In this episode Amara speaks about the whirlwind process of Echo and why she’s loving "weirding people out"! She also delves into her incredible career, discussing some of the major roles she has played, life as a soprano and making history as the first black Cosette and Eliza Dootlittle. Echo runs at the Kings Head Theatre until Sunday 17th August. Visit www.kingsheadtheatre.com [https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/echo-q15t] for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32 [https://www.instagram.com/andrewtomlins32/]  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk [https://westendframe.co.uk/] for more info about our podcasts.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Roshani Abbey is starring as Jean Leslie & Others in the West End production of Operation Mincemeat. Operation Mincemeat premiered on the London Fringe at the New Diorama Theatre in 2019. The show quickly gained a devoted following, and played sold out runs at Southwark Playhouse and Riverside Studios. The musical transferred to the West End in 2023, winning Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards. In addition to its London run, Operation Mincemeat is also playing on Broadway and will soon launch a world tour, opening in Salford next February. Roshani's theatre credits include: Tahlia the Beautiful in Sleeping Beauty (Broadway Theatre Catford), Soloist in Criterion Theatre 150th Anniversary Gala (Criterion Theatre), Marie in In Clay in Concert (The Other Palace), Lucy/cover Juliet in &Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre), Rumi: The Musical (Concept album / London Coliseum) and Ensemble/cover Louise in Gypsy (Royal Exchange). She played Peggy/Maria in the West End production of Hamilton and went on to become a standby for all three Schuyler Sisters. Earlier this year Roshani returned to Hamilton to star as Eliza for a limited run on the UK & Ireland tour. In this episode Roshani discusses the whirlwind of joining Operation Mincemeat, their journey with the show so far and why it’s such a special moment. Roshani also reflects on their path into theatre after studying Mathematics at Imperial College and talks about their history with Hamilton - and lots more pops up along the way! Operation Mincemeat runs in the West End at the Fortune Theatre. Meanwhile the show continues on Broadway and is about to launch a world tour. Visit www.operationmincemeat.com [https://operationmincemeat.com/] for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32 [https://www.instagram.com/andrewtomlins32/]  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk [https://westendframe.co.uk/] for more info about our podcasts.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.