Tea And Tonic

Theatre director and choreographer, Racky Plews, chats about growing up in a musical household, learning ballet, the piano and base guitar, going to Sylvia Young Theatre School and Arts Ed, learning her trade working on over 40 productions at fringe venue 'Upstairs at the Gatehouse', her joy at directing Green Day musical 'American Idiot' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', working on 'Royal Caribbean's' big budget shows at sea, creating an actor/muso production of 'Footloose' and directing a comedy web series in lockdown; all over a late night cuppa!

Actress, director, activist, mental health awareness advocate and yoga instructor, Summer Strallen, chats about learning to dance aged 2, going to Arts Ed and Laine Theatre Arts, musical theatre roles, her fond memories of performing in 'Guys and Dolls', lockdown, learning to listen to herself, slowing down and self-care, speaking out about her mental health, meditation and launching her online performance and wellness platform, 'The Strallen Collective' to help those in the arts.

Actor, presenter and writer, Neil Hurst, chats about his love for performing, singing in his local clubs as a teenager, leaving uni to take up a role in 'Evita', doing variety and summer seasons, working with his comedy idols, musical theatre tours, TV, 'Michael McIntyre's Big Show', 'Coronation Street' and co-writing a panto; all over a brew!

Actress, dancer and teacher, Charlotte Gooch, chats about being taught how to dance aged 3 by her aunt, a former prima ballerina, her 3 years of training at Laine Theatre Arts, getting her first professional job in the ensemble in 'Dirty Dancing' in the West End, performing the role of Penny in the show here and in Germany, 'Cats', 'Legally Blonde' and 'Strictly Ballroom', understudying Sandy in 'Grease', lead roles in 'Top Hat' and 'Flashdance', joining the 'Spinettes' and teaching in London; all over a herbal tea.

Director, choreographer, author and teacher, Gary Lloyd, chats about learning to dance aged 6, competing in ballroom, Latin American and disco, his passion for choreography as a child, training at Laine Theatre Arts, his first professional job in 'Cats', his year at sea, working through the night on his 21st, 'Starlight Express', being in a boyband, helping artists on 'Pop Idol' and 'X Factor', working with Take That's choreographer on 'Oh What a Night', Royal Variety and the Queen's Jubilee, the only time he was starstruck, the advice he gives his students, Thriller Live and writing a book; all over a builders brew and a tonic.

Actress and singer Carley Stenson chats about dancing from the age of 3, ballet training, singing competitions, her time at Winstanley College, getting Hollyoaks aged 17 and spending the next decade there, staying grounded, performing in a band, making her West End debut in 'Legally Blonde' and later securing the lead role, getting Les Miserables, proving herself and not being complacent and making long lasting friendships; all over a peppermint tea.

Actor, singer, writer, comedian and director, Gary Wilmot MBE, chats about how he started off doing impressions, winning 'New Faces' in the late 70's, performing on the Variety circuit, making his West End debut in 'Me and My Girl' at the Adelphi theatre in 1989, the range of musicals that followed, overcoming nerves, how the London Underground song came about for the Palladium panto, performing it for the Royal Family, writing a play and screenplay and being awarded an MBE; all over a coffee!

Actor, director, producer, choreographer and one half of 'Clever Little Films UK', Dawn Buckland, chats about her 4 years at 'Sylvia Young Theatre School' being the best days of her life, living her best life for a decade in 'Starlight Express' aged 17, why she turned down 'Billy Elliott' the first time round, understudying the leads in 'Mamma Mia', getting roles in films, 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Mamma Mia 2', 'Nativity the Musical' and making her own films; all over a brew.