In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Ella Karuna Williams is playing Patty Newby in Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Ella is from the US and previously played Patty in multiple workshops of Stranger Things. She moved to London to make her West End debut in the show which opened at the Phoenix Theatre in December 2023. Stranger Things just won two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design.

On screen, Ella appeared in The Equalizer. She is also a singer/songwriter and recently released her debut EP, Silent Noise.

At 18 years old, Ella is our youngest ever In The Frame guest! In this episode she discusses moving to London, taking Stranger Things from workshop to full production, her path into theatre and lots more.

Follow Ella on Instagram @ellakarunawilliams and for info about Stranger Things: The First Shadow visit www.uk.strangerthingsonstage.com

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

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Email: [email protected]
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Whilst taking a hiatus from her run as Anne Boleyn in Six, Laura Dawn Pyatt is currently part of the ensemble of 42 Balloons by Jack Godfrey.

Laura first joined the cast of 42 Balloons when the musical had a concert run in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre. The show is now receiving its fully staged premiere at The Lowry in Salford and Laura is reprising her performance for this new iteration of its journey.

42 Balloons is inspired by the highly improbable true story of how Larry, and his partner Carol Van Deusen, convinced their friends and family to help Larry achieve his dream of flying. Featuring an 80s pop-inspired score, 42 Balloons questions how far you would go to make your dreams come true; is the sky actually the limit, and what happens if it doesn’t all go to plan?

Laura joined Six The Musical’s UK & International tour cast in April 2023, starring as Anne Boleyn. She has taken a break from the show to do 42 Balloons and is set to return to the company to finish off her run later in the year.

Some of Laura’s other theatre credits include performing with Bat Out Of Hell at the Big Night of Musicals (AO Arena Manchester), playing Claire in Ordinary Days directed by Julie Atherton (Cockpit Theatre), Dick Whittington and Jack & The Beanstalk (Royal & Derngate) and Eliza in Brass (Bernie Grant Arts Centre).

Laura has worked as a choreographer, performed in concerts, appeared on screen and been part of many other projects.

Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Laura discusses what it's like to be back in 42 Balloons, conquering her confidence with Six, navigating her career after leaving drama school without an agent and lots more.

42 Balloons runs at The Lowry in Salford 18th April - 19th May 2024. Visit www.42balloons.com for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

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Email: [email protected]
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Fresh from her runs as Elphaba and Fantine, Lucie Jones is preparing to play two solo concerts at Cadogan Hall in May.

Lucie is renowned for her solo shows; in recent years she has performed solo concerts at the Adelphi Theatre and His Majesty’s Theatre in the West End as well as on tour with the 50-piece Fulltone Orchestra.

Lucie has also launched the Lucie Jones Academy and is busy teaching workshops alongside industry friends across the UK and beyond.

Lucie burst on to our screens in the 2009 series of The X Factor (ITV) and has gone on to become one of the most renowned leading ladies in British musical theatre. She made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables and went on to play roles including Meat in We Will Rock You (International Arena Tour), Victoria in American Psycho (Almedia Theatre), Molly in Ghost (Asian Tour), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve & UK Tour), Holly in The Wedding Singer (UK Tour), Maureen in Rent (St James Theatre & UK Tour), Lou in Girlfriends (LMTO), Heidi in Title Of Show (Digital Production) and The Ghost Of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (Dominion Theatre).

Lucie had an acclaimed run as Jenna in Waitress (Adelphi Theatre / UK & Ireland Tour). Her most recent credits include starring as Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) and Fantine in Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre). Lucie also recently starred in the workshop of 13 Going On 30, the staged concert of Super You (Lyric Theatre) and is about to play Catherine in the Pippin 50th Anniversary Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Lucie represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2017 and released the album Lucie Jones Live At The Adelphi in 2020.

Marking her third time In The Frame, in this episode we rewind to Lucie's early days post X Factor and how she took control of her career early on. Lucie also discusses her final Elphaba show, her run as Fantine, hustle culture and the friends she has picked up throughout her career...and so much more!

You can see Lucie in concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 12th May 2024. Visit www.cadoganhall.com for info and tickets. For details about The Lucie Jones Academy visitwww.luciejones.com/academy

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

In addition to playing The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Jon Robyns is preparing to celebrate his 20 year theatre career with a very special solo concert.

Jon will play His Majesty's Theatre - home of Phantom - on Sunday 26th May in a show produced by West End Musical Productions.

Jon joined the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera last April. His West End credits include: Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (having previously played Enjolras and Marius), King George in Hamilton, alternate Huey in Memphis, Scrooge & others in Dickens Abridged, Galahad in Spamalot and Princeton & Rod in Avenue Q.

Jon's other theatre credits include: Robbie in The Wedding Singer (UK & Ireland Tour), Emmet in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve), Eddie in Sister Act (UK & Ireland Tour), Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Greenwich Theatre), Hollis in Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mark in Rent (Frankfurt) and alternate Chris in Miss Saigon (UK & Ireland Tour).

Jon is also a writer and last year premiered his musical Then, Now & Next – co-written with Christopher J Orton – at the Southwark Playhouse.

In this episode Jon discusses his upcoming solo show at His Majesty's and all things Phantom, as well as decisions he has made throughout his career, delving into writing musicals and lots more.

Jon plays His Majesty's Theatre in concert on Sunday 26th May. Visit www.lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/jon-robyns/ for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

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Email: [email protected]
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Alex James-Hatton is currently starring as Clyde in the UK & Ireland tour of Bonnie & Clyde The Musical.

The show features music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black and book by Ivan Menchell. Having opened on Broadway in 2011, Bonnie & Clyde received two West End runs ahead of this tour which marks the first time the musical has travelled across the UK & Ireland.

Alex made his professional debut covering JD, Ram and Kurt in the original cast of Heathers (The Other Palace / Theatre Royal Haymarket). His other theatre credits include: cover Elder Price in The Book of Mormon (UK & International Tour / West End), Lewis in Pippin (Charing Cross Theatre), Oscar Delancey in the UK premiere of Newsies (Troubadour Wembley Park) and Stranger Things: The First Shadow (workshop).

In this episode, Alex discusses raising a little hell as Clyde, landing his first principal contract, his path into theatre and lots more.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Sharon Rose is preparing to star as Anna in Love Steps at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham.

Written and directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour, Love Steps is a dynamic fusion of drama, poetry, dance and music.

Sharon most recently starred as the title role in Sylvia at the Old Vic following her celebrated run as Eliza in the West End production of Hamilton.

Sharon made her West End debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre). Her other credits include: understudy Diana in Motown The Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Radio 1 in Caroline Or Change (Hampstead Theatre). She originally joined Hamilton during the first year of its run at the Victoria Palace Theatre as a standby for Eliza/Peggy/Angelica, before later taking over as Eliza full-time.

Sharon made her big screen debut as Joanne Jangle in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey for Netflix, directed by David E. Talbert. She has also appeared in Silent Witness (BBC) and The Colour of My Room (Cleo Films).

In this episode Sharon discusses stepping outside of her comfort zone with Love Steps, what big decisions she has made to change the direction of her career and why Sylvia was such a special chapter... plus lots more!

Love Steps runs at the Omnibus Theatre 3rd - 20th April. Visit www.omnibus-clapham.org for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky is currently playing Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical at The Other Palace.

Rhianne made her West End debut in The Book of Mormon (Prince Of Wales) as a swing and 2nd cover Nabalungi. She went on to cover Zahara in Bat Out Of Hell (Dominion) before starring as Rizzo in the 2019 UK and Ireland tour of Grease.

Rhianne played Alline Bullock and understudied Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych) and starred as Catherine of Aragon in Six (Vaudeville Theatre).

In this episode Rhianne discusses her whirlwind run in Six, conquering Tina and why Kathryn Merteuil is a gift of a role, plus lots more along the way.

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical runs at The Other Palace until 19th May 2024. Visit www.theotherpalace.co.uk for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
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Timmika Ramsay has taken over as Miss Adelaide in Nicholas Hytner's revival of Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre.

After auditioning for the role four weeks after giving birth, Timmika is receiving rave reviews for her performance.

Most recently Timmika played La Chocolat as part of the original West End cast of Moulin Rouge (Piccadilly Theatre). Some of her other stage credits include Madagascar on tour and the title role in Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith.

On screen Timmika has appeared in The Other One for Tiger Aspect and BBC1 and The Larkins for ITV. She featured in eight episodes of BBC’s Horrible Histories, played Sabelle in Adult Material for Channel 4 and Leila in series 2 of Ghosts for BBC1.

Guys & Dolls is booking at the Bridge Theatre until 31st August 2024. Visit www.bridgetheatre.co.uk for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

We have an extra episode of In The Frame with Steve John Shepherd who is playing Draco in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre.

Steve's theatre credits include: Tammy Faye (Almeida); Describe the Night (Hampstead Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe); Plastic (Theatre Royal Bath); The Good Canary (Rose Theatre Kingston); A View From Islington North (Arts Theatre); Bomber’s Moon (Park Theatre/ Trafalgar Studios); Albion (Bush Theatre); Piaf (Donmar Warehouse/ West End); The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (National Theatre); Original Sin (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield); Twelfth Night (UK tour); Dangerous Corner (Leeds Playhouse/ West End).

He has worked extensively on screen, with some of his credits including Romance; The Best Man; Too Much Too Young; Star Wars Episode II; Now You See Her; Karen Pirie; Agatha Raisin; Hetty Feather; London Kills; Silent Witness; Taggart. Steve played Michael Moon in EastEnders between 2010 and 2013.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is booking at the Palace Theatre until 2nd March 2025. Visit www.harrypottertheplay.com for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
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Tosh Wanogho-Maud recently received huge acclaim for his performance as David Ruffin in the West End production of Ain't Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre).

His theatre credits include: Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis & others in The Drifters Girl (Garrick Theatre), Pharaoh in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Toronto), Joe in Show Boat (New London) and Jimmy in Dreamgirls (Savoy).

Tosh began his theatre career as a child, playing Winston in Whistle Down The Wind (Aldwych) before starring as Young Simba in The Lion King (Lyceum).

His additional theatre credits include Four Eyed Moe in Five Guys Named Moe (Newtown Abbey), Respect La Diva (Garrick), Rufus/cover Curtis in Save The Last Dance For Me (UK Tour), Sweet Smell of Success (Arcola Theatre), understudy Mufala/General in the original West End cast of The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales) and The Producers (UK Tour).

On screen, Tosh worked on Bridgeton and Jingle Jangle for Netflix, as well as BBC’s Roadkill. Tosh is currently writing his debut musical Visiting Hours with his partner Nick Gardner.

Tosh made his solo show debut with Songs + Stories for four sold out shows at Piano Smithfield. He's about to play four more performances on 28th, 29th, 30th March and 1st April. Visit www.linktr.ee/toshwm for tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.