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In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame


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  • 8. S11 Ep8: KoKo Alexandra, Katherine Jackson in MJ The Musical

    01:13:00||Season 11, Ep. 8
    KoKo Alexandra is starring as Katherine Jackson and Kate in the West End production of MJ The Musical. KoKo is from Alabama and has been on an incredible journey so far in her career. After spending many years performing at sea on cruise ships and appearing on The Voice US, KoKo moved to London. She received huge acclaim for her performance as Lady Liv in Play On on tour and at the Lyric Hammersmith and later played Spirit of the Ring in Aladdin at the Palace Theatre in Newark. For the last year KoKo has been making her West End debut as Katherine Jackson and Kate in MJ and the show is now coming to the end of its London run. Since moving to the UK, KoKo has performed at The UK Theatre Awards, The Black British Theatre Awards, West End Live and Magic at the Musicals at the Royal Albert Hall.In this episode KoKo discusses why she moved to the UK and how she established herself on the theatre scene over here. She talks about her performance in Play On, her first experience of British pantomime and delves into all-things MJ.Follow KoKo on Instagram: @forever_kori You can see KoKo as Katherine Jackson in MJ The Musical at the Prince Edward Theatre until 28th February 2026. Visit www.london.mjthemusical.com for info and tickets.This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 

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  • 7. 350th Episode: Billy Nevers, Aaron Burr in Hamilton

    01:03:43||Season 11, Ep. 7
    We're celebrating 350 episodes with Billy Nevers!Billy has just completed his run as Aaron Burr in the UK and Ireland tour of Hamilton. Billy was part of the tour's original cast as Lafayette and Jefferson whilst also understudying Aaron Burr. He went on to takeover as Aaron Burr full-time for the final year of the tour. Billy's theatre credits include: Fred in Groundhog Day (Old Vic), Jesus Christ Superstar (Barbican/Regent’s Park Open Air), Wonderful Town (Opera Holland Park) and Turn Up, The Color Purple in Concert and Overture (Cadogan Hall).Billy was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Musical at the 2022 Black British Theatre Awards for his performance as Store Manager and Dewey in the London revival of Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). He was a swing in the original cast of & Juliet in Manchester and in the West End, and later returned to the show as Francois.Billy has co-hosted The West End Frame Show a couple of times, but this is his first time In The Frame! In this episode, Billy delves into his journey with Hamilton. He discusses his history with the show, what it was like to open the tour and how he came to take over as Burr and what the role meant to him... and lots more.Follow Billy on Instagram: @billylukeneversThis podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 
  • 6. S11 Ep6: Sam Glen, Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon

    50:53||Season 11, Ep. 6
    Sam Glen recently completed his run in The Book of Mormon. Sam's theatre credits include: Flute in Midsummer Mechanicals (Shakespeare’s Globe), Nigel in Ticket Time: 100 Word Plays (Oldham Coliseum Theatre), Billy in The Kitchen Sink (Oldham Coliseum Theatre), Charlie in The Visitors Book (Hope Mill Theatre), Billy Jenkins in A Letter to Boddah (Hope Mill Theatre), Curan in King Lear (Manchester Royal Exchange/Talawa Theatre Company), Curan in King Lear (Birmingham Rep/Talawa Theatre Company) and Marc (Mercutio) in Star Cross’d (Oldham Coliseum Theatre).He has worked extensively on screen, with his credits including Brassic, Doc Martin, Coronation Street, World’s End, Doctors, Greater Love Hath No Man, Shameless, The Street, Three Day Millionaire, King Lear: The Film and Two Wrongs.Sam was a contestant on the BBC1 reality show Let It Shine which was a casting search for the Take That musical. Sam made his musical theatre debut in the West End production of The Book of Mormon as the Standby for Elder Cunningham. He went on to take over the role full-time for the musical’s most recent UK & International tour.In this episode Sam discusses his musical theatre era and his journey with The Book of Mormon. He also delves into his path into the industry and how he’s navigated his career so far. Follow Sam on Instagram: @samglenuk This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 
  • 5. S11 Ep5: Lucie Jones, star of Les Misérables, 13 Going On 30, Waitress & Wicked

    36:08||Season 11, Ep. 5
    Lucie Jones is back In The Frame for her fourth episode, making her our most featured guest!There's lots to catchup about; Lucie has returned to the West End production of Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre) to reprise her performance as Fantine. She is also preparing to play her biggest solo show yet at the London Palladium on Monday 16th February. And it doesn’t stop there… because she’s doing all of that whilst pregnant with her first child!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). She has also played Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) and Fantine in Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre), the staged concert of Super You (Lyric Theatre) and Catherine in the Pippin 50th Anniversary Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Most recently Lucie played Geneviève in The Bakers Wife (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Jenna Rink in the world premiere of 13 Going on 30 (Manchester Opera House).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. She has played 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. She even played a set at Glastonbury in 2025!In this episode Lucie discusses her return to Les Misérables, what's going to be different about her London Palladium show as well as her pregnancy, the latest roles she's played, her favourite dressing room and lots more. Lucie plays the London Palladium on Monday 16th February. Visit www.lwtheatres.co.uk for info and tickets. You can also see Lucie in Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre.This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 
  • 4. S11 Ep4: Julie Yammanee, Ariel in Unfortunate

    49:21||Season 11, Ep. 4
    Julie Yammanee is playing Ariel in Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch.The show has played Edinburgh Fringe and toured, but now it's returning for another London run at The Other Palace in a newly reworked version, which is described as being "shorter, sharper, ruder, with a brand-new design and updated material". Julie is joining the cast for the first time. Unfortunate has book and lyrics by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx with music by Tim Gilvin.Julie just finished starring as Inga in Young Frankenstein at The Hope Mill and Liverpool Playhouse. Her theatre credits also include: Tom Watson & Thekla in Nerds (Edinburgh Fringe), Jerry’s Girls (Menier Chocolate Factory), Miss Geist in the world premiere of Clueless (Churchill Theatre Bromley), Emma Parker in Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick Theatre), I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical (Wilton’s Music Hall & Edinburgh Festival), Marie & Fairy Godmother in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Hope Mill Theatre), Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel (Kilworth House Theatre), Emma Parker in Bonnie and Clyde in Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Myrtle Wilson in Gatsby (Southwark Playhouse), Spamilton(Menier Chocolate Factory), Ivo van Hove’s Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), Julie Dimitri in And The Winner Is (Vaults), Aladdin (Hackney Empire), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK & International Tour), Here Lies Love directed by Alex Timbers (National Theatre) and Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (UK Tour).On screen Julie has appeared in Matilda (Netflix / Working Title) and A Christmas Story Christmas (Legendary / Warner Brothers HBO MAX). In this episode Julie discusses all-things Unfortunate as well as the path of her career, moving from Australia to the UK, learning to say yes and no, how she approached her role in Young Frankenstein and lots more.Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch runs at The Other Palace until 5th April 2026. Visit www.unfortunatemusical.com for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 
  • 3. S11 Ep3: Vivian Panka, Regina George in Mean Girls

    47:29||Season 11, Ep. 3
    Vivian Panka is starring as Regina George in Mean Girls.Following its London run, the musical kicks off its first ever UK and Ireland tour later this month. Tina Fey adapted Mean Girls from her 2004 film, collaborating with Jeff Richmond who composed the music and Nell Benjamin who wrote the lyrics. The show is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Vivian's theatre credits include: Alana Beck in Dear Evan Hansen (UK Tour), Heather Duke in Heathers (The Other Palace & Filmed Movie) and Judy Bernly in 9 to 5 (UK Tour).In this episode, Vivian discusses all-things Mean Girls, including which role she was originally submitted for, the audition process and her favourite Regina song to sing. Vivian also discusses the path of her career, including iconic moments, the impact of Heathers and lots more. Mean Girls opens in Manchester on 23rd February and tours the UK and Ireland until January 2027. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 
  • 2. S11 Ep2: Jamie Chatterton, Warner in Legally Blonde

    30:14||Season 11, Ep. 2
    Jamie Chatterton is playing Warner in Legally Blonde.Nikolai Foster is directing an all-new production, starring Amber Davies as Elle Woods, which opens at Leicester Curve in February ahead of a UK and Ireland tour.Jamie graduated from ArtsEd and went on to originate the role of Alan Osmond in the world premiere of The Osmonds musical (UK Tour). He then originated the role of Tom Fraser in The Little Big Things (Soho Place), which was also filmed for digital release and recorded a cast album. Most recently Jamie played Herr Zeller in Nikolai Foster's revival of The Sound of Music (Leicester Curve), and also understudied the role of Captain von Trapp.Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Jamie discusses why playing Warner is a full-circle moment and how rehearsals have been so far. He also talks all-things The Osmonds, The Little Big Things and The Sound of Music. Legally Blonde runs at Leicester Curve 7th – 21st February and then tours for the rest of the year. Visit www.legallyblondeshow.com for info and tickets.This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.