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

Nikita Johal (Now That’s What I Call A Musical / The Taming of the Shrew) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Nikita discuss Paddington (Savoy Theatre), The Line Of Beauty (Almedia Theatre) and The Mousetrap's 73rd Birthday Performance (St Martins Theatre) as well as the latest news about Wicked spin-offs, Kimberly Akimbo's UK premiere, The Stage magazine, casting for American Psycho and lots more.Nikita is starring as Wendy in Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure at the Greenwich Theatre. Last year she recorded an episode of In The Frame whilst playing Young Gemma in Now That’s What I Call A Musical on tour.Nikita's theatre credits include: Mandy and understudy Malika & Gold in Frankie Goes To Bollywood (UK Tour / Southbank Centre), Bianca/Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare In The Squares), The World Goes Round (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), Princess Caraboo in Princess Caraboo (Finborough Theatre), Yonah in Children Of Eden (Union Theatre), Wendla inSpring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre), Laputa in The Snow Queen (The Everyman, Liverpool), Selma Karamy in Broken Wings, (Theatre Royal Haymarket, The Other Palace & Beittidine Festival, Lebanon), Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty (Watford Palace Theatre), Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (Newbury Corn Exchange), Lily/Ladybird in What The Ladybird Heard (The Palace, West End & UK Tour), Understudy Neera/Bollywood Ensemble in Migrations (Welsh National Opera UK Tour), Asma/Kelly in The Wife Of Willesden (The Kiln & Boston/New York), Princess Katherine/Gower/Costable in Henry V & The Franklyn in The Canterbury Tales (Guildford Shakespeare Company), Maud in The Invincibles (Queens Theatre Hornchurch & The New Wolsey) and Fairy Sugarsnap in Jack & The Beanstalk (Evolution Pantomimes).Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure runs at the Greenwich Theatre until 11th January 2026. Please visit www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk for info and tickets. Follow Nikita on Instagram: @nikitajohal 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.  

In this special solo edition of The West End Frame Show, Editor Andrew Tomlins sits down moments after opening night of Paddington The Musical to share his review.Despite going in completely blind, Andrew quickly finds himself swept up in the show’s heart, theatricality and pure stage magic. He touches on the ingenious way Paddington is brought to life onstage, the fusion of inventive design with old-school stagecraft, and the musical’s timely message of acceptance.Andrew also discusses standout performances, jaw-dropping production moments and why this feels like a major new British musical.Paddington The Musical is booking at the Savoy Theatre until 25th October 2026. Visit www.paddingtonthemusical.com for info and tickets. Production photography for Paddington is by Johan Persson.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.  

West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, hosts a solo episode of The West End Frame Show!Andrew discusses Ride The Cyclone (Southwark Playhouse), Freaky Friday (Rehearsal Event) and Roam In Concert (Shaftesbury Theatre) as well as the latest news about Wicked For Good's box office records, Back To The Future, the Heathers tour, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Watermill and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.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.  

It’s time for the third and final instalment of our Wicked: For Good takeover of The West End Frame Show!In this episode, Andrew Tomlins and Lisa Martland rave about Cynthia Erivo’s sensational performance of “No Good Deed.” They also talk about the ‘fight’ scene, the reveal of the mysterious figure on the horse and the added context surrounding Elphaba’s relationship with Chistery and the flying monkeys.The conversation continues as Andrew and Lisa unpack the film’s final section, including Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s emotional rendition of “For Good” and the power behind the characters’ highly emotional final moment together. They also explore the meaning and emotional impact of the movie’s closing shot.Finally, Andrew and Lisa reflect on their overall thoughts of Wicked: For Good, and why it will be forever part of movie musical history. Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is a theatre journalist who has worked for theatrical publications such as Musical Stages, Musicals Magazine, Stage Faves and My Theatre Mates. She is the Founding Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com.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.  

We’re back with the second instalment of our three-part Wicked: For Good takeover of The West End Frame Show!Spoiler alert: In this episode, Andrew Tomlins and Lisa Martland dive even deeper into their thoughts on the new Wicked movie.They unpack the brand-new songs “There’s No Place Like Home” and “Girl In The Bubble,” and share their reactions to the film’s opening sequence. Andrew and Lisa also discuss Ariana Grande’s performance of “Thank Goodness / I Couldn’t Be Happier,” the reworked version of “Wonderful,” and the expanded storyline for Nessarose and Boq, including how “Wicked Witch of the East” has been changed for the movie.The conversation continues with a closer look at Glinda’s expanded character arc, as well as the intentions of Madame Morrible and The Wizard and how their dynamic with both Elphaba and Glinda plays out differently in the film.And all sorts of other stuff pops up along the way!Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is a theatre journalist who has worked for theatrical publications such as Musical Stages, Musicals Magazine, Stage Faves and My Theatre Mates. She is the Founding Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com.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.  

In our first of three special Wicked: For Good episodes, Andrew Tomlins and Lisa Martland sit down to share their first reaction to the new Wicked movie.This episode is (as much as possible!) spoiler-free. Andrew and Lisa talk about how they felt watching the film, how the stage story translates to the screen and the themes and messages that resonated with them.Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is a theatre journalist who has worked for theatrical publications such as Musical Stages, Musicals Magazine, Stage Faves and My Theatre Mates. She is the Founding Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com.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.  

Simon Bailey (Come Alive / Moulin Rouge) co-host The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Simon discuss Coven (Kiln Theatre), Midnight by Todrick Hall (Sadler's Wells East) and Limp Wrist & The Iron Fist (Brixton House) as well as the latest news about Wicked's new middle eastern tour, Gravity's tour with Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman and Rachel Tucker, StarKid, Hercules and more. Simon is currently in his second year as The Showman in Come Alive: The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular at the Empress Museum.Simon's theatre credits include: Crabbit and Harry Lime in The Third Man (Menier Chocolate Factory), Ram’s Dad / Big Bud Dean / Coach Ripper in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket & London Workshop), Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys (Piccadilly Theatre & UK Tour), Liam O’Deary in I Can’t Sing! (London Palladium), Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Gillian Lynne), Tom Watson/Officer Starnes in Parade (Southwark Playhouse), understudy Galileo in We Will Rock You (Dominion), Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s), Enjolras in Les Misérables (Queens), Passion (Donmar Warehouse) and Romeo & Juliet The Musical (Piccadilly). Simon originated the role of The Duke in the original West End cast of Moulin Rouge (Piccadilly Theatre). Come Alive: The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is booking at the Empress Museum in Earl's Court until 27th September 2026. Visit www.comealiveshow.com for info and tickets.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.  

Ksenya Gray co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Ksenya discuss Entertaining Mr Sloane (Young Vic) starring Jordan Stephens and Tamzin Outhwaite as well as the latest news about Paddington, the Black British Theatre Awards, Mischief's first musical, the Wicked movie special, I'm Every Woman starring Alexandra Burke and lots more.Ksenya is a social media manager and runs the social media company Storytellers. Her 2025 projects have included ⁠Saving Mozart, Falling In Love With Mr Dellamort, Marisha Wallace Live at the Adelphi, Sydnie Christmas Live In London, Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical, Your Lie In April's album release, Bettie Page: Queen of Pin-Ups and West End Unscripted.She has also been working with Kelly Young, Westway Music, Anthony Costa and Shona McGarty. Follow Ksenya on Instagram: @ksenya.gray 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.