The WhatsOnStage Podcast

Martin Guerre has a devoted following amongst musical theatre fans, originally penned by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the two creators of that little-known musical Les Misérables (whatever happened to that one?). Now, they're returning to passion project Martin Guerre to give the musical a new lease of life at the Old Vic, staged in the round. They join Alex Wood to discuss the project from their rehearsal room in south London.

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… 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.