In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Drew Gasparini has written the music and lyrics for Karate Kid The Musical.   The musical just had its UK premiere at New Wimbledon Theatre and is embarking on a UK tour.Drew is an award-winning songwriter, musical theatre composer, lyricist, playwright, and performer. He has written the scores for Night Shift (commissioned by Warner Bros.); Crazy Just Like Me (NYMF “Best of Fest” winner), and along with good friend/writing partner, Alex Brightman, Drew has written the scores for Make Me Bad (a musical psychological thriller), It’s Kind of a Funny Story (based on the Ned Vizzini novel), and The Whipping Boy (based on the Sid Fleischman novel). On London’s the West End, Drew’s song-cycle I Could Use a Drink(based on his musical theatre concept album) was performed at the Garrick Theater, and in April 2025, his musical We Aren’t Kids Anymore (starring Dylan Mulvaney, Melanie La Barrie, and Aimie Atkinson) played to sold out houses at the Savoy Theater.In 2019 Drew wrote the score for Super Bowl ad turned major publicity stunt, SKITTLES COMMERCIAL: The Broadway Musical (starring Golden Globe winner Michael C Hall) alongside book writer Will Eno. The project earned virtually every advertising award under the sun and was considered the most successful Super Bowl commercial of the year. In 2023, Drew was tapped to write the song for another major ad campaign for booking.com called Somewhere, Anywhere starring Oscar Nominee Melissa McCarthy. Drew’s songs have been heard in ads for Toyota, Ford, Dreyer’s Ice Cream, and more. He was also a songwriter for the cult-favorite TV series, SMASH season 2.Drew’s sheet music is some of the most popular amongst theatre students around the globe thanks to the success of his albums I Could Use a Drink (released in 2013 by Broadway Records), which continues to be a mainstay in the musical theatre canon—as well as his album We Aren’t Kids Anymore (released in 2020): the basis of the new musical of the same title which continues it’s development in the UK. Concerts of Drew’s music have been performed in six of the seven continents, translated into countless languages, in venues from The Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House. And in 2018 Drew performed a night of this musical with the 80 piece Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Norfolk, VA.Coming up: Drew is currently working on a meta-concept musical called The Unthought Known, and a new musical called Captain (again, with Alex Brightman), which is the gritty “true” origin story of Captain James Hook. Drew also just completed work on his first novel: a dramedy titled Fathomless Space, and is currently shopping it to publishers.Karate Kid tours the UK until August and then plays in Toronto from September. Visit www.thekaratekidthemusicaluk.com 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. 

Akmed Junior Khemalai recently finished his run as George Washington in the UK & Ireland Tour of Hamilton, after being a standby in the tour’s original cast.Akmed trained at Brit School and ArtsEd, and made his West End debut in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales). His theatre credits also include: Mandela (Young Vic) and the original West End cast of Ain’t Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre).In this episode, Akmed discusses how he discovered musical theatre, his Hamilton journey and the realities of experiencing disappointment and tough lessons in the theatre industry... plus lots more!Follow Akmed on Instagram: @akmed_khemalai 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 Eleanor Worthington-Cox is starring as Cilla Black and Cynthia Powell, John Lennon’s first wife, in the world premiere of Tom Wright’s play Please Please Me at the Kiln Theatre. Directed by Amit Sharma, the play tells the story of Brian Epstein, the influential manager often described as the “fifth Beatle”.Eleanor won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical when she was one of the original Matilda Wormwoods in the West End production of Matilda The Musical.As a child, her credits also include: Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Liverpool Empire), Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Blousey Brown in Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith) and Jess in Tomcat (Southwark Playhouse).More recently her theatre credits have included: Phaedra Cox in Jerusalem (Apollo Theatre), Lily in The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida Theatre), Alexandra Giddens in The Little Foxes (Young Vic), Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company) and Mary Page Marlowe in Mary Page Marlowe (The Old Vic).Eleanor starred as Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse and in the West End at the Wyndham’s Theatre, receiving an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical. The production was filmed and has been released internationally to huge acclaim. She has worked across film and television too, with projects including Maleficent, Cucumber, The Enfield Haunting, Hetty Feather, Action Point, Britannia, Gwen, The Irregulars and About A Bell.Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Eleanor discusses all-things Please Please Me including how she’s perfecting her portrayal of Cilla and why it's important for her to champion queer storytelling. She also reflects on the impact of Next To Normal, and her journey from Matilda to sustaining a career across stage and screen. Please Please Me runs at the Kiln Theatre until 29th May. Visit www.kilntheatre.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. 

Amelia Kinu Muus is starring as Christmas Eve in the West End revival of Avenue Q.The anniversary production is directed by the original director Jason Moore with the original Broadway puppets, conceived and designed by Rick Lyon. Avenue Q opened on Broadway in 2003 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The show first ran in the West End between 2006 and 2010.Amelia's theatre credits include: Cathrine Parr in SIX (Vaudeville), cover Lois Lane in Kiss Me Kate (Barbican), cover Tuptim in King And I (UK Tour & Dominion), Rachel Green in Friendsical (Edinburgh Fringe & UK Tour), Bella in Beauty And The Beast (Rose Theatre), Elegies For Angels, Punks And Raging Queens (Kings Head) and associate director and swing in Tokyo Rose (Southwark Playhouse & UK Tour)Her screen credits include. Cop in Choose Or Die (Netflix) and Magdalena in Der Teufel Im Spiegel (Servus TV).Avenue Q is booking at the Shaftesbury Theatre until 29th August 2026. Visit www.avenueqmusical.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. 

Robyn Rose-Li is starring as Terpsichore, one of the Muses, in Disney's Hercules.Inspired by the 1997 Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Hercules opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2025. The show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by David Zippel, and a brand-new book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. The production is directed by Casey Nicholaw and co-choreographed with Tanisha Scott.Robyn's theatre credits include: Fly More Than You Fall (Southwark Playhouse), The Baker's Wife (Menier Chocolate Factory), Tammy Faye (Almeida Theatre), Hairspray (London Coliseum) and The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre). She also appeared in Wonka (Warner Bros. Pictures).Recorded in Robyn's dressing room, in this episode Robyn discusses all-things Hercules and why this is such a big career moment. She also reflects on her journey into theatre, and shares memories from the shows she has been a part of. Hercules runs at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 5th September 2026. Visit www.herculesthemusical.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. 

Terique Jarrett is starring as Pharus Jonathan Young in Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney.Terique first did the show at the Bristol Old Vic in 2023 and for his performance won the Black British Theatre Award for Best Male Lead Actor in a Play. Now Nancy Medina's production has transferred to London for a run at Stratford East. Some of Terique’s other theatre credits include: Femi in Juniper Blood (Donmar Warehouse), Salty in Fangirls (Lyric Theatre Hammersmith), Franklin in Daddy: A Melodrama (Almeida Theatre), Gregory Cromwell in The Mirror and the Light (Gielgud Theatre), Si / Joe Crowell in Our Town (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale (Royal National Theatre), Ensemble in Motown: The Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre), Chorus in Mother Goose (Wilton’s Music Hall) and PC Ping in Aladdin (Leeds Carriageworks Theatre).His screen credits include: Lieutenant Poyle in Andor (Disney+), Storage Employee in Moon Knight (Marvel Studios), Isaac Portier in Find Me in Paris – Season 3 (Hulu, Cottonwood Media), Isaac Portier in Find Me in Paris – Season 2 (Hulu, Cottonwood Media) and Felix in Layla (Film4, Fox Cub Films, Significant Productions).Speaking in his dressing ahead of a two-show-day, in this episode Terique discusses why Choir Boy is such a special show and why he's over the moon to be bringing it to London audiences. He also discusses the path of his career, his love for musical theatre and how he's navigated a diverse career... and lots more! Choir Boy runs at Stratford East until 25th April. Visit www.stratfordeast.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. 

Adam Filipe is In The Frame!Last year Adam starred as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK & Ireland Tour) and also played Jon in Tick Tick BOOM! (China Tour).His theatre credits also include: Galileo in We Will Rock You (Campo Pequeno, Lisbon), Frederick Barrett in Titanic (UK Tour), Tony in West Side Story (Ljubljana Festival), Gino in MIMMA: The Musical (Teatro Verdi, Trieste), Robin Gibb in The Music of the Bee Gees (Malaysia Philharmonic, Petronas Towers), Duet Partner/Vocalist in Lea Salonga UK Tour (UK Tour), Houdini in Side Show (London Palladium), Jean‑Michel in R&H’s Cinderella (Hope Mill Theatre), The Man (emergency stand‑by) in Whistle Down the Wind (Watermill Theatre), cover Moses and Ramses in The Prince of Egypt (Dominion Theatre) and swing in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre).Adam has also done workshops and regularly performs in concerts alongside teaching stage combat and self-defence. In this episode, Adam shares his journey into theatre and his path to becoming a leading man. He also reflects on the whirlwind experience of playing Joseph, the pressures that came with the role, and other standout moments from his career... plus much more!Follow Adam on Instagram: @filipe.navidad 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. 

Ann Marcuson and Elliot Mackenzie are playing Mrs Winthrop and Dickon in The Secret Garden at York Theatre Royal.Marking the first major UK staging the musical in over a decade, John Doyle is directing this actor-musician production and working alongside Catherine Jayes as Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator.Ann and Elliot are reuniting onstage for this production, having previously performed together in the West End cast of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which won the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.Ann's theatre credits include: These Demons (Theatre503), Two Ladies (Bridge Theatre), The Mighty Walzer (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre/Gielgud Theatre), The Family Reunion (Donmar Warehouse), I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls (Watermill Theatre/Tricycle Theatre), Bloodhound, The Glass Slipper (Northern Stage), Little Wolf’s Book of Badness and Hard Love (Hampstead Theatre).Elliot's theatre credits include: Lord of the Rings, Whistle Down the Wind (Watermill Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK tour), Million Dollar Quartet (UK tour/India tour), The Misadventures Of Pinocchio, Dick Whittington, Aladdin (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Zog (Rose Theatre Kingston/UK tour) and A Christmas Carol (Rose Theatre Kingston).In this episode, Ann and Elliot discuss what it has been like to work on The Secret Garden, the art of actor-musicianship and their whirlwind journey with Benjamin Button.The Secret Garden runs at York Theatre Royal until 4th April. Visit www.yorktheatreroyal.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. 

Desmonda Cathabel has just finished her run as Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown.She’s now in rehearsals to star as Lily Turner in Rosie: A New Musical. The show will be performed as a one-night-only semi-staged gala at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 17th March.Rosie tells the true story of Miss Rosie Boote, who was raised in a convent in Ireland and dreamt of becoming a star on the West End stage in Edwardian London. The show has book, music and lyrics by Chris Broom.Desmonda is from Indonesia and came to the UK to train at the Royal Academy of Music. She won the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year in 2022.Desmonda was a quarter finalist in the ITV casting show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream. Her theatre credits include alternate Kim in Miss Saigon (Sheffield Crucible), Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin (UK & Ireland Tour) and From Here To Eternity (Charing Cross Theatre). Desmonda performed in Maria Friedman’s solo show at Crazy Coqs and the Menier Chocolate Factory, and was later directed by Maria in the star-studded Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends concert.Recorded the morning after her final performance in Hadestown, in this episode Desmonda discusses what it was like to say goodbye to the show and what playing Eurydice meant to her.She also delves into how she came to be involved with Rosie and why she loves new work, plus her path through the industry so far, Asian representation in theatre, reflections on Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream and lots more.Rosie plays the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 17th March. Visit www.rosiethemusical.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.