In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Charlotte Kennedy is currently playing Pamela and Natasha in Flowers For Mrs Harris at Riverside Studios.

Based on the novel by Paul Gallico, Flowers For Mrs Harris is a new musical by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff. This production, which marks the show's London premiere, is directed by Bronagh Lagan.

Charlotte appeared in the concert stagings of Honeymoon In Vegas (London Palladium) and South Pacific (Cadogan Hall). She played Cosette in Les Misérables (Sondheim) and most recently starred as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady on its UK & Ireland Tour, having understudied the role at the London Coliseum.

Flowers For Mrs Harris runs at Riverside Studios 30th September - 26th November 2023. Visit www.riversidestudios.co.uk for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

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Ben Adams has written a brand new score for Police Cops The Musical.

The show recently opened at the Southwark Playhouse following a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Ben also co-wrote the beloved musical Eugenius which premiered at the London Palladium ahead of two runs at The Other Palace and its most recent revival at the Turbine Theatre.

Ben is a member of the group A1 who won a BRIT Award in 2001 for Best Newcomer and have had two number one singles. He first ventured into theatre as a performer, starring in pantomime before playing Nick Hurley in the 2017 UK & Ireland tour of Flashdance The Musical. Most recently Ben returned to the stage as Galileo in the Norwegian production of We Will Rock You in Oslo, when he now lives with his family.

Ben continues to tour the world with A1 and the band Subwoolfer whilst undertaking various writing projects within the music world and beyond.

In this episode, Ben reveals how he ventured into theatre and ended up writing Eugenius and why he still has big aspirations for the show. He also discusses all things Police Cops, his writing process and lots more.

Police Cops The Musical runs at the Southwark Playhouse Borough until 14th October 2023. Visit www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

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

Kevin Clifton is In The Frame!

Kevin made his Broadway debut in 2009 with Burn The Floor before joining the West End production of Dirty Dancing. Kevin then joined BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer between 2013 and 2019, cementing himself as a household name.

After leaving Strictly, Kevin returned to theatre. His credits include: Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom (UK & Ireland Tour), Cosmo Brown in Singing' in the Rain (Sadler's Wells / UK & Ireland Tour), Stacee Jaxx in Rock Of Ages (UK & Ireland Tour), Robbie Hart in The Wedding Singer (Troubadour Wembley Park) and Artilleryman in War of the Worlds (Arena Tour).

This Christmas Kevin is making his pantomime debut as Abanazer in Aladdin at the Marlowe Theatre . Next year he will play Hugo / Loco Chanelle in the UK & Ireland Tour of Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

Follow Kevin on Instagram: @keviclifton

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

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

Obioma Ugoala is currently playing the Narrator in the musical adaptation of The Book Thief which is based on the best-selling novel of the same name. The show opens at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre before heading to Leicester Curve.

Obioma has had an incredible and varied career; in the world on musical theatre he was Kristoff in the original West End cast of Frozen (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), George Washington in the original West End cast of Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre) and Smokey Robinson in the West End production of Motown (Shaftesbury Theatre).

Obioma's credits for the RSC include Rugby / Robert in The Merry Wives Of Windsor, Rat/Shrew in The Mouse And His Child, Keeper in Richard II, Bullcalf / Fang in Henry IV Part Two, Vintner / Ostler in Henry IV Part One, Gower/Grey in Henry V and Bartholomew in Hamnet.

His credits also include Shorty in The Lost Love Speakeasy (The Lost Estate), Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (New English Shakespeare Company), Troubadour in Holy Warriors & Mardian/Scarus in Antony And Cleopatra (Shakespeare's Globe), Baloo in The Jungle Book Theatre & Razumikhin in Crime And Punishment (Glasgow Citizens Theatre) and Fantam Murillo in The Physicists (Donmar Warehouse).

Alongside all of that, Obiama has worked on screen and has written a booked called The Problem with My Normal Penis which was later renamed The Making Of A Man (and why we're so afraid to talk about it) for its paperback release. The book is all about the myths of race, sex and masculinity.

The Book Thief runs at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry 11th - 16th September and at Leicester Curve 29th September - 14th October 2023. Visit www.thebookthiefmusical.com 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.

Olivier nominee Gabrielle Brooks most recently starred as Ti Moune in the London revival of Once on this Island at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Next up, she's set to star in Mlima's Tale by Lynn Nottage and directed by Miranda Cromwell at the Kiln Theatre.

Some of Gabrielle's early theatre credits include understudy Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (UK & Ireland Tour), Our House (Savoy) and understudy Chenice in I Can't Sing (London Palladium). In 2015, Gabrielle was nominated for West End Frame's Understudy of the Year Award for understudying Nabulingi in the West End production of The Book of Mormon (Prince Of Wales).

In this episode, Gabrielle discusses her path in the inudustry, including the decisions she made which resulted in her career heading in some very exciting directions.

Some of Gabrielle's subsequent credits include: The Strangers Case (Liverpool Everyman), Red Snapper (Belgrade), Synergy Play Readings (Theatre503), Lazarus (King's Cross), Queen Anne (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Becca in Everybody's Talking About Jamie & Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (both Sheffield Theatres), The Way Of The World (Donmar), Twelth Night (Young Vic), Our Lady Of Kibeho (Royal & Derngate), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent's Park), Anna Bella Eema (Arcola) and J’ouvert (Harold Pinter).

Additionally, Gabrielle is one of the co-creators of Mawa Theatre Company, the UK’s first all-Black, all-female Shakespeare Company who most recently hosted a Monologue Slam at The Globe featuring classic pieces from Black and Black Mixed Race women.

Follow Gabrielle on Instagram: @gabby_bro

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

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

Olivier nominee Mei Mac is starring as Kim in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play by Kimber Lee.

The show recently completed its run at the Manchester Royal Exchange ahead of transferring to the Young Vic in September. Kimber wrote untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play in response to seeing the musical Miss Saigon; the piece addresses the East and South-East Asian stereotypes we see represented on stage and beyond.

Earlier this year, Mei became the first East Asian actor to be nominated for Best Actress at the Olivier Awards for her performance in the RSC’s production of My Neighbour Totoro.

Some of Mei's other theatre credits include: Dear Elizabeth (Gate), The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (Bridge), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park) and lots more.

Mei also works on screen, with her recent credits including East Mode (Comedy Central) and the Call The Midwife Christmas Day Special (BBC).

***Please note this episode contains some adult language which hasn’t been bleeped out.***

You can see Mei in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play at the Young Vic 18th September - 4th November 2023. Visit www.youngvic.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.

Cristian Zaccarini is currently play Ram Sweeney in Heathers The Musical at The Other Palace.

Cristian's other theatre credits include playing Sonny in Grease (UK & Ireland Tour), Pirate Queen (London Coliseum) and The Light in the Piazza (Alexandra Palace Theatre).

In this episode, Cristian discusses his path into theatre, including how he navigated leaving drama school early. Cristian also talks all-things Heathers and lots more!

Heathers concludes its London run at The Other Palace on 3rd September 2023. Visit www.heathersthemusical.comfor info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

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

Owain Arthur recently took over as Nathan Detroit in the London revival of Guys and Dolls.

Nicholas Hytner’s semi-immersive production opened earlier this year at the Bridge Theatre to huge acclaim.

Owain’s theatre credits include The History Boys (National Theatre / West End) and starring as Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors (West End / International Tour). He has also appeared in Romeo and Juliet (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Comedy of Errors (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Birdsong (West End).

Owain has worked extensively on screen, with his credits including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, A Confession, Hard Sun, 35 Diwrnod (35 Days), Death in Paradise, Hinterland, Babylon, Rownd a Rownd, The Palace, The Friday Night Club, London Kills, New Tricks, Cei Bach, Ddoe Am Deg, The One and Only Ivan, Coffee Wars, White Island, Willkommen im Krieg, Eldra, Mr Nice and The Patrol.

Guys and Dolls is booking at the Bridge Theatre until 24th February 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.

Debbie Kurup is playing Jaqueline in the London revival of La Cage aux Folles at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Written by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein, La Cage aux Folles centres around Georges, Albin and their son Jean-Michel as they re-discover the true meaning of family and putting yourself last so that the ones you love can come first.

Debbie recently starred as Cher in the UK premiere of The Cher Show (UK & Ireland Tour) to huge acclaim.

Some of her theatre credits also include: Bonnie & Clyde (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Prince of Egypt (Dominion), Blues in the Night (Kiln), Sweet Charity (Donmar Warehouse), Girl From The North Country (Old Vic/ Noël Coward), The Threepenny Opera (National Theatre), Anything Goes (Sheffield Crucible/UK Tour), The Bodyguard (Adelphi), Chicago (Cambridge/Adelphi), Sister Act (London Palladium), East (Leicester Curve), West Side Story (Prince of Wales), Tonight’s The Night (Victoria Palace), Rent (Prince of Wales/ UK Tour), Fame (UK Tour), Guys And Dolls (Sheffield Crucible), Pal Joey (Chichester) and Poison (Tricycle).

La Cage aux Folles runs at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 16th September 2023. Visitwww.openairtheatre.com 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.

Debbie Kurup is playing Jaqueline in the London revival of La Cage aux Folles at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Written by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein, La Cage aux Folles centres around Georges, Albin and their son Jean-Michel as they re-discover the true meaning of family and putting yourself last so that the ones you love can come first.

Debbie recently starred as Cher in the UK premiere of The Cher Show (UK & Ireland Tour) to huge acclaim.

Some of her theatre credits also include: Bonnie & Clyde (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Prince of Egypt (Dominion), Blues in the Night (Kiln), Sweet Charity (Donmar Warehouse), Girl From The North Country (Old Vic/ Noël Coward), The Threepenny Opera (National Theatre), Anything Goes (Sheffield Crucible/UK Tour), The Bodyguard (Adelphi), Chicago (Cambridge/Adelphi), Sister Act (London Palladium), East (Leicester Curve), West Side Story (Prince of Wales), Tonight’s The Night (Victoria Palace), Rent (Prince of Wales/ UK Tour), Fame (UK Tour), Guys And Dolls (Sheffield Crucible), Pal Joey (Chichester) and Poison (Tricycle).

La Cage aux Folles runs at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 16th September 2023. Visitwww.openairtheatre.com 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.