The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat

Shaun Kitchener (writer of Here And Now: The Steps Musical) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Shaun discuss Musicals By Candlelight (The Actors Church) and Back To The Future (Adelphi Theatre) as well as the latest news about Wicked's performance at the Oscars, The Hunger Games stage show, The Producers, Into The Woods, Six, Pop Off Michelangelo! and lots more. Shaun is a playwright and screenwriter... and also an occasional journalist and DJ!Shaun's plays have included Positive which ran at the Waterloo East and Park Theatres and All That which ran at the King’s Head and was nominated for multiple Offie Awards including Best Play. For television he is a core writer for Hollyoaks. In addition to further work on stage and screen, Shaun regularly writes about pop culture for Metro and in his newsletter Absolutely! via Substack.Shaun is the book writer of the Steps musical Here And Now which premiered last year at the Birmingham Alexandra and is embarking on a major UK & Ireland tour from August.Follow Shaun on Instagram: @shaunkitchenerbentleyThis podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Mickey-Jo Theatre and Aeron James co-host The West End Frame Show on West End Frame's 13th birthday! Andrew, Mickey-Jo and Aeron discuss Hadestown (Lyric Theatre) as well as the latest news about Cynthia Erivo hosting the Tony Awards and being cast in Jesus Christ Superstar, Moulin Rouge's performance on Dancing On Ice, Pippin, Ballet Shoes and more.Mickey-Jo is a stagey YouTuber, international theatre critic and the most recognisable London based theatre influencer. Aeron is a freelance theatre PR, but also a YouTuber and all-round stagey content creator.Mickey-Jo's live chat show MickeyJoTheatre: Live! is returning to The Phoenix Arts Club for three shows on 16th March, 20th April and 18th May. The shows will see Mickey-Jo joined by musical theatre stars for an evening of interviews, musical performances, games and more. Each show will also spotlight a musical theatre composer. Visit www.phoenixartsclub.com for info and tickets.Follow Mickey-Jo and Aeron on Instagram: @mickeyjotheatre @aeronjamesukThis podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

This week Andrew hosts a solo episode of The West End Frame Show.Andrew discusses If/Then (Savoy Theatre), Cabaret starring Billy Porter & Marisha Wallace (Kit Kat Club), Jane by Matt Nalton & Jodie Steele (Other Palace Studio) and My Mother's Funeral: The Show (Yard Theatre) as well as the latest news about Patti LuPone, The Great Gatsby, Come Fall In Love: The DDLJ Musical and more. Andrew also reports back after the cast change performance of Six (Vaudeville Theatre).This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Join West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins for a bonus Show Talk episode!In this episode, Andrew discusses And Juliet (New Wimbledon Theatre, UK Tour), Ghost The Musical (Wycombe Swan, UK Tour), Scissorhandz (Southwark Playhouse Elephant), Hadestown (Lyric Theatre) and Mrs Doubtfire (Shaftesbury Theatre).This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Frazer Woolcott (understudy Fiyero in Wicked) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Frazer discuss Play On (Lyric Hammersmith) as well as the latest news about Jenna Bainbridge's historic casting in Wicked on Broadway, Wicked's wins at the Critics Choice Awards, Hadestown casting, The Great Gatsby and lots more.Frazer recently understudied Fiyero in the UK & Ireland tour of Wicked. He graduated from ArtsEd in 2023 and his credits also include performing at the Olivier Awards and in Doctor Zhivago In Concert at the London Palladium.Follow Frazer on Instagram: @frazerwoolcott This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Theatre journalist Lisa Martland joins West End Frame Editor Andrew Tomlins for a stagey catchup. Andrew and Lisa discuss Titanique (Criterion Theatre), Why Am I So Single? starring Collette Guitart (Garrick Theatre) and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Donmar Warehouse). They also delve into some recent theatre news, from Six's cinema release and new West End cast members to Stereophonic's transfer to the West End and the original Hadestown cast reuniting in London. Plus, they celebrate Eva Noblezada's casting as Sally Bowles in Cabaret on Broadway. Andrew and Lisa also remember The Vivienne who tragically passed away earlier this month at the age of 32.Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is the Founding Editor of one of the UK’s top theatre websites, www.musicaltheatrereview.com. Lisa is also Sub-Editor for Musicals Magazine.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. 

We're back with a special WICKED episode!Theatre journalist Lisa Martland (Musical Theatre Review) joins West End Frame Editor Andrew Tomlins to dive into the latest updates about the Wicked movie and stage production.First up, they break down all the big Wicked movie news—Oscar nominations (and snubs!), behind-the-scenes updates from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on the highly anticipated new songs and the latest records the film has shattered. Plus, they share their own personal reflections on the film's journey so far.But that’s not all! Andrew and Lisa discuss the exciting West End cast changes, with Emma Kingston, Zizi Strallen and Carl Man stepping into the iconic roles of Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero. They also talk about Wicked London introducing an alternate Elphaba and the new Broadway casting news that Lencia Kebede and Allie Trimm are taking over as Elphaba and Glinda, with Lencia making history as Broadway’s first full-time Black Elphaba.2025 is going to be positively emerald! Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is the Founding Editor of one of the UK’s top theatre websites, www.musicaltheatrereview.com. Lisa is also Sub-Editor for Musicals Magazine.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. 

Join theatre and lifestyle blogger Rachel Agyekum and West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, as they round up their top shows of 2024!Thank you for listening to The West End Frame Show in 2024 and for sharing your top shows of the year - we included as many of your contributions as possible in this episode. We're taking a little break in the New Year, but will be back in 2024 with lots more stagey catchups. Rachel founded Rachel Reviewed in 2022 and writes reviews for her website alongside creating reel reviews and other theatre-related content for Instagram and TikTok. This year she returned to MusicalCon, competing in Musical Mastermind at the ExCel Centre.Visit the Rachel Reviewed website www.rachelreviewed.com. You can also follow Rachel on Instagram via @rachelreviewed and @rachelagyefron. 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.  

Emmanuel Akwafo (Lyric Hammersmith Panto / For Black Boys) joins West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, to round up their Top Performances of 2024! Andrew reveals his top five stage performances of the year and reads submissions from West End Frame listeners whilst Emmanuel shares his top five shows of 2024. Thank you for listening to The West End Frame Show in 2024 and for sharing your top performances of the year - we included as many of your contributions as possible. We're back on Saturday to round up our top shows of the year. Emmanuel is currently playing Widow Twerkey in Aladdin at the Lyric Hammersmith, marking his third pantomime at the venue. Emmanuel originated the role of Pitch in For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy by Ryan Calais Cameron, performing the show at the New Diorama Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and Apollo Theatre. His other theatre credits include: Narrator in Sappho (Southwark Playhouse), Amiens in As You Like It (Globe Theatre), Mr Martin in The Bald Soprano (Leicester Square Theatre) and Jay in The Spalding Suite (Southbank Centre). This year Emmanuel directed the sold out premiere of his debut play Limp Wrist and The Iron Fist at the Brixton House Theatre. Follow Emmanuel on Instagram: @eman.akwafoAladdin runs at the Lyric Hammersmith until 5th January 2025. Visit www.lyric.co.uk for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins@AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.