In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Olivier nominee Aimie Atkinson is In The Frame!Aimie is preparing for the release of her album Queen which will be launched with a special solo concert in the West End on 23rd June at the Vaudeville Theatre. Aimie originated the role of Katherine Howard in Six The Musical in the West End, on tour and on the studio album. After reuniting with the original cast in 2022 for some special performances at Hampton Court Palace and in the West End, this year Aimie's performance as Katherine Howard was seen on the big screen when Six The Musical LIVE hit UK cinemas and broke records. As well as starring as Vivian Ward in the original West End production of Pretty Woman (Piccadilly Theatre/Savoy Theatre), Aimie's theatre credits include Rem in Death Note in Concert (London Palladium/Lyric Theatre), Lucia in Figaro (London Palladium), Daniela in In the Heights (King’s Cross Theatre), Serena in Legally Blonde (Kilworth House Theatre), Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing (UK tour), Chloe in Never Forget, Penny in Carnaby Street (Hackney Empire & UK Tour), Luisa in Zorro (UK Tour), Shelby Stevens in Steel Pier (Union Theatre), Vusuvia in Eurobeat (Edinburgh) and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Brighton Theatre Royal). In this episode, Aimie talks about her upcoming album and concert… and why she’s terrified about it! She also discusses the path of her career including how she previously left the industry, why she almost didn’t go to her Six audition and the reality of why hustling doesn't get any easier… and lots more along the way.Aimie plays the Vaudeville Theatre on 23rd July. Visit www.nimaxtheatres.com for info and tickets. Aimie's album Queen is released on 20th June. 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. 

Aidan MacColl is starring as Leonardo in Pop Off, Michelangelo! at Underbelly Boulevard Soho.Written by Dylan MarcAurele, Pop Off, Michelangelo! premiered at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival to huge acclaim and went on to play some concert performances at The Other Palace. The show follows childhood friends Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci as they navigate art, ambition and forbidden love in Renaissance Italy by becoming the greatest religious artists of all time.Aiden has performed in various pantomimes and at sea onboard multiple cruise ships. Pop Off, Michelangelo! marks their London musical debut. In this episode Aiden discusses the journey of Pop Off, Michelangelo!, what the show means to them and their journey in this industry so far - plus lots more along the way. Pop Off, Michelangelo! has extended its run at Underbelly Boulevard Soho to 13th July. Visit www.underbellyboulevard.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. 

Hadley Fraser is In The Frame! Hadley is preparing to play his biggest solo show yet at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 15th June, which follows the release of his most recent album Things That Come And Go.Presented in association with ADAMA Entertainment and WestWay Music, Hadley's show will feature guest performances from his wife Rosalie Craig (Company/The Light Princess) as well as original Six queens Natalie May Paris and Maiya Quansah-Breed.Hadley's musical theatre credits include Opening Night, City of Angels, Young Frankenstein, The Pajama Game and The Pirate Queen. He has played both Marius and Javert in the West End production of Les Misérables - he also appeared in the film adaptation and played Grantaire in the Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert at the O2 Arena. Hadley played Raoul in the 25th anniversary concert of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. Hadley has appeared in concert stagings of musicals such as Dirty Rotten Sounders, The Secret Garden, Chess, South Pacific, Carousel and The Light Princess.He is currently appearing in The Deep Blue Sea at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and has performed in other plays such as The Lehman Trilogy, 2:22 and many more. Hadley has worked on screen, most recently he played the Good King in Disney’s live action remake of Snow White.Last week Hadley came into the podcast booth before a performance of The Deep Blue Sea and to talk all-things theatre and the path of his career. In the episode, Hadley discusses his upcoming concert and delves into the premature closing of Opening Night, why he took time out from theatre after doing Pirate Queen on Broadway, how he ended up finding diversity in his career... and lots more pops up along the way!Hadley performs at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 15th June. Visit www.cadoganhall.com for info and tickets. His album Things That Come And Go is out now and you can see Hadley in The Deep Blue Sea at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 21st June.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. 

Olivier winner Michael Jibson is playing Steve in This Is My Family, marking his return to musical theatre.Written by Tim Firth, This Is My Family is having its London premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. The show is about a disastrous family holiday and won the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2013.Michael won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for originating the role of King George III in the London production of Hamilton. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical in 2003 for his professional debut as Joe Casey in Our House which was also written by Tim Firth.Most recently Michael played Victor Creel in the original West End cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. His other theatre credits also include: Roots (Donmar Warehouse), Road Show, Take Flight (Menier Chocolate Factory), Brighton Rock (Almeida Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Timon of Athens (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Comedy of Errors (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Canterbury Tales (RSC) and A Chorus Line (Sheffield Theatres).His television credits include Bodies, The Reckoning, The Crown, The Essex Serpent, No Return, Four Lives, Cobra, A Discovery of Witches, Honour, Quiz, Saints and Strangers, DCI Banks, Galavant, That Day We Sang, The Thirteenth Tale, Burton and Taylor, and Hatfields & McCoys. Michael's film work includes Last Night in Soho, To Olivia, 1917, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Hunter Killer, The Lighthouse (co-written and produced), The Riot Club, Good People, Les Misérables, Hammer of the Gods, The Bank Job and Flyboys.Recorded after a day of rehearsals, in this episode Michael discusses all-things This Is My Family and why he's excited to be returning to musical theatre and reuniting with Tim Firth.He also discusses how he forged the path for a diverse career, why he chooses musicals carefully and the attitudes towards musical theatre from both inside and outside of the industry. Michael talks about the impact Hamilton had on musical theatre and lots more pops up along the way.This Is My Family runs at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 12th July 2025.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. 

Keith Ramsay is playing Peanut in the UK premiere of Shucked.Following its run on Broadway, Shucked has opened at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre directed by Jack O'Brien. The show has book by Robert Horn, music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.Keith's theatre credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre); Eve: All About Her (Soho Theatre); Young Frankenstein (English Theatre Frankfurt); Preludes (Southwark Playhouse); Amour (Charing Cross Theatre); The Cereal Cafe (The Other Palace); Portia Coughlan (Old Red Lion); Julius Caesar (Shakespeare’s Globe); Doctor Scroggy’s War (Shakespeare’s Globe); Lost In Yonkers (Watford Palace Theatre); Billy (Union Theatre) and Peter Pan (Qdos).His TV credits include: Shetland; Dylan Moran’s “The Awkward Age”; Pistol; New Tricks; Doctors and Casualty.Keith won The Stage Edinburgh Award for Acting Excellence and David Johnson Award for Emerging Talent for Eve: All About Her.In this episode Keith discusses all-things Shucked as well his path into theatre and his decision to leave social media... plus lots more.Shucked runs at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 14th June. Visit www.openairtheatre.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. 

It's the 300th episode and Tony winner Jerry Mitchell is back In The Frame!Jerry has worked extensively as a director and choreographer in both the West End and on Broadway.He is currently nominated for Best Choreography at this year’s Tony Awards for his production of BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical - with music by David Foster - which is running to acclaim on Broadway. Meanwhile in London Jerry’s production of The Devil Wears Prada - with music by Elton John - is playing the Dominion Theatre and last year his production of Becoming Nancy had a regional run at the Birmingham Rep.Jerry is one of the producers for the upcoming off-West End run of the brand-new musical King of Pangea which opens at the King's Head Theatre in June. Written by Martin Storrow and directed by Richard Israel, King of Pangea follows Sam Crow following the loss of his relentlessly hopeful mother as he escapes to the imaginary island of his childhood. As a director and choreographer, some more of Jerry's shows have included Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Pretty Woman. He directed On Your Feet and choreographed Hairspray.Jerry has won the Tony Award for Best Choreography twice for his work on La Cage aux Folles and Kinky Boots. Additionally he received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award in 2023 in recognition of his support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (largely through creating Broadway Bares).Jerry was last In The Frame five years ago and is back for our special 300th episode!Jerry kicks off the episode with a discussion about why he's producing King Of Pangea and the challenges of bringing new musicals to the stage in 2025.Jerry also talks all-things BOOP!, including the development of the show and casting Jasmine Amy Rogers. He reflects on how he approached The Devil Wears Prada, after he took the helm following the show's original staging in the US. Jerry also chats about Becoming Nancy's journey and whether we can expect future life for the show. Plus lots more pops up along the way!King Of Pangea runs at the King’s Head Theatre 7th June - 6th July. BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical runs on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre whilst The Devil Wears Prada runs in the West End at the Dominion Theatre. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening to 300 episodes of In The Frame!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. 

Lucie-Mae Sumner is playing Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins.The show is back on tour across the UK & Ireland, following its most recent runs in the West End and Australia. Mary Poppins has original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman with new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The book is by Julian Fellowes and the production is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Lucie-Mae has a long history with Mary Poppins; she has previously performed with the show in the West End and on its UK and international tours as the understudy or standby for Mary. Lucie-Mae has now transitioned into the role of Winifred Banks for the show's current run.Most recently Lucie-Mae starred as Kathy Seldon in Singin' in the Rain (Kilworth House) and Ella in I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical (UK Tour).Some of Lucie-Mae's other theatre credits include: Kate McGowan in Titanic the Musical (UK and International tours), Roxie Hart in Chicago, Charlotte Parratt in Quality Street and Cecily in Travesties (all for Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Chester Lyman & understudy Jenny Lind/Chairy Barnum in Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), understudy Sarah in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour/Savoy Theatre), Annabelle in A Damsel in Distress (Chichester Festival Theatre), Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q (UK Tour), cover Jenny/Chairy in Barnum (Chichester Festival Theatre) and understudy Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act (UK Tour).In this episode Lucie-Mae discusses her history with Mary Poppins, including how it felt to conquer the role of Mary and what it has been like to step into the shoes of Mrs Banks. She also chats about working with Kyle Minogue on I Should Be So Lucky, how she approaches life as an actor, her memories of working with Cynthia Erivo on Sister Act... and lots more along the way.The Mary Poppins tour is booking through to January 2026. Visit www.marypoppins.co.uk for info, tour dates 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. 

Kellie Shirley is playing Joy in the London revival of Parlour Song by Jez Butterworth at the Greenwich Theatre. Kellie has worked extensively onstage, some of her roles have included Pauline in One Man, Two Guvnors (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Brooke in Noises Off (Frinton Summer Theatre), Beverly in Abigail’s Party (Park Theatre), Stella Stone & Gemma Charles in Great Britain (National Theatre) and many more. On screen Kellie is well known for her performances as Carly Wicks in EastEnders (BBC) and Sophia in Casualty (BBC), alongside countless other television and screen credits. Recorded after a day of rehearsals, in this episode Kellie discusses how she juggles parenting with her acting career, why she's excited to be back onstage in Parlour Song and the impact EastEnders continues to have on her life and career... plus lots more. Parlour Song runs at the Greenwich Theatre until Saturday 24th May. Visit www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk 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. 

Oliver Jacobson is currently playing Barman in The Choir of Man.The Choir Of Man is back in the West End at the Arts Theatre. The show features hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry, performed by an ensemble of singers and musicians.Oliver most recently played Oz in the first UK tour of Come From Away. Some of his other theatre credits include: Standby Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (The Mill at Sonning), Roger in Grease (UK Tour), Marvin Columbus in Columbus the Musical (Royal Caribbean) and Vicar/Ensemble in Spend Spend Spend (Union Theatre).In this episode Oliver discusses what it has been like to join the Choir of Man family and why he loves performing his number 'Piña colada'. He also reflects on his runs in The Book of Mormon and Come From Away and explains his path into theatre, plus more. The Choir of Man runs at the Arts Theatre until 31st August 2025. Visit www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk 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.