In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Jocasta is about to star as Rizzo in the West End revival of Grease . Directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Dame Arlene Phillips, Grease is returning to the Dominion Theatre where it previously ran in 1993. Jocasta  recently originated the role of Lady Capulet in the West End production of & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre), whilst also understudying the roles of Nurse and Anne. In 2016...

For our 100th episode (!!) of In The Frame we chat to Simon Bailey about his incredible career on stage, and his current role as The Duke in Moulin Rouge.  Simon's West End credits include:  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 A...

For our 99th episode, we are so excited to share this conversation with Tina 's Chanel Haynes! Discovered by Quincy Jones while she was still a teenager, Chanel became a founding member of the gospel trio, Trinitee 5:7. As lead singer of the group, Chanel sold over 2.5 million albums worldwide and earned two Grammy nominations. The trio spent nearly two decades entertaining audiences around t...

Paige is starring as Luisa in the London revival of Zorro The Musical. Directed by Christian Durham, Zorro has has music by The Gipsy Kings and book and lyrics by Stephen Clark. The show originally ran in the West End in 2008. Paige made her theatrical debut as Rafeala/Alma in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the Union Theatre. She went on to appear in the ensemble of Oklahoma! at Ch...

Olivier nominee Cleve September is preparing to star as Ted Hinton in the original West End production of Bonnie and Clyde. Directed by Nick Winston, this marks Bonnie and Clyde 's West End premiere, ten years after the Broadway production. The show has music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black and book by Ivan Menchell. Cleve was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance as Phili...

Cherelle recently recreated the role of Dorothy in the Hope Mill Theatre's major UK revival of The Wiz . As a child, Cherelle attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School and made her West End debut as Young Nala in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. After venturing into the music world, Cherelle returned to theatre as an adult to star as Mary Wilson in the original West End cast of Motown The...

Blair is currently starring as Bob Gaudio in the UK & Ireland tour of J ersey Boys, having previously played the role at sea for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Blair's theatre credits include: Erik in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (London workshop), Shane in Game Night (Drayton Arms Theatre), The Beast in Beauty & the Beast (Corn Exchange Newbury), Prince Charming in Cinderella (Bristol Hippodro...

Jordan Luke Gage is currently one of the busiest performers in theatreland. He is about to complete his run in And Juliet ahead of starring in the West End premiere of Bonnie and Clyde. Having trained at Mountview, Jordan made his theatre debut as Marilyn in Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse). He joined the West End production of Bat Out Of Hell (Dominion Theatre) as an alternate for Strat, and later took...

Joseph Peacock is originating the role of Donny Osmond in the brand new musical, The Osmonds. With a story by Jay Osmond, The Osmonds tells the true story of the five brothers from Utah who were pushed into the spotlight as children and went on to create smash hits, decade after decade. The musical premiered at Leicester Curve ahead of a UK and Ireland tour. Having trained at Emil Dale Academy, Jo...

We're kicking off the week with an extra helping of In The Frame with Richard Winsor who is starring as Tony in the West End production of Saturday Night Fever. Richard previously played this role on tour across the UK and internationally ahead of bringing the show to the Peacock Theatre in London. Featuring the Bee Gees’ greatest hits, Saturday Night Fever tells the story of Tony Manero and...

On West End Frame's 10th Birthday, Matt Hemley from The Stage hosts a special episode of In The Frame, turning the tables and interviewing Andrew (Founding Editor) about the past ten years of West End Frame. West End Frame launched as a theatre blog in February 2012 and went on to become the UK's top independent theatre website, renowned for breaking theatre news, reviewing major theatri...

This week we're chatting to Sharlene Hector about transitioning into a new career in theatre, following many successful years in the music world. Last year Sharlene made her theatrical debut as Lorraine in Hairspray at the London Coliseum, also covering and playing Motormouth Maybelle. She is now touring the UK and Ireland as the alternate Effie White in Dreamgirls to huge acclaim. In the mus...

With her CV including roles such as Elphaba, Glinda, Eva Peron, Miss Adelaide & Lucy Harris, Louise Dearman is a West End icon. Louise is currently preparing to star in Mimma: A New Musical of War & Friendship which is being staged at Cadogan Hall for one-night-only on Monday 28th February. Louise made her theatrical debut as The Narrator in Joseph (UK Tour). Just a few of her other credit...

This week we're joined by West End LEGEND, Mazz Murray.  Mazz is currently starring as Donna in the West End production of Mamma Mia! , having previously played Tanya in the show. Mazz famously starred as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre for seven triumphant years. She made her theatre debut playing Patsy Cline in The Roy Orbison Story. Other credits include: Mama Mort...

We're back for a brand new season with London's current Veronica, Ailsa Davidson!  Having trained at Guildford School of Acting, Ailsa's theatre credits include playing Sarah Our House (Union Theatre), Miss Lynch and understudy Rizzo/Jan in Grease (UK & International Tour) and the award winning production of Lipsync (Edinburgh Fringe).  Ailsa has been receiving rave reviews for...

For the final episode of this series, we’re chatting to the amazing Cameron Blakely! Cameron originated the role of Gomez when The Addams Family  made its UK premiere in 2017. He is currently reprising his performance for the musical's latest UK tour. Directed by Matthew White, with choreography by Alistair David, The Addams Family has book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music and l...

Today we're chatting to David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts from SpitLip Theatre about their hit show, Operation Mincemeat The Musical. Following this year's sold out and acclaimed run, Operation Mincemeat returns to the Southwark Playhouse in January. Operation Mincemeat won The Stage Debut award for Best Composer/Lyricist, the Off-West End award for Best Company Ensemble and...

Ainsley Hall Ricketts is starring as Paul in Nikolai Foster's revival of A Chorus Line at Leicester Curve. A Chorus Line marks Ainsley's return to musical theatre, having spent the past few years working as a dancer and choreographer.  His theatre credits include: Motown The Musical (West End), understudy Joice in Barnum (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mr T in The Wedding Singer (UK Tour), C...

West End legend Anna-Jane Casey is currently starring in Rebecca Frecknall's brand-new West End production of Cabaret. She plays Fraulein Kost and Fritzie. For this production, the Playhouse Theatre has been transformed into The Kit Kat Club. The show also stars Eddie Redmayne as The Emcee, Jessie Buckley as Sally Bowles and Omari Douglas as Cliff Bradshaw. Just a few of Anna-Jane's exte...

Today we have a special bonus episode with drag superstar Karen From Finance! Karen is currently starring alongside Cheryl Hole, Kitty Scott Claus and Choriza May in TuckShop's West End all-drag pantomime, Dick Whittington. The production is running at the Phoenix Theatre for select dates across December and January. Karen was the standout star from the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race...

Vanessa is starring as Danielle in the UK premiere of Bring It On The Musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, Amanda Green and Jeff Whitty. The musical runs at the Southbank Centre over Christmas ahead of a UK tour in 2022. Vanessa's theatre credits include: Dynamite in Hairspray (UK Tour), Chiffon/Dance Captain in Little Shop Of Horrors (UK Tour), Martha Reeves in Motown (West End), Hansel...

Julie Jupp is playing Fairy Fuchsia in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hackney Empire. The show is co-directed by Clive Rowe and Tony Whittle. Just a few of Julie's theatre credits include: A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic In Camera), Man Of La Mancha (English National Opera), Groundhog Day (The Old Vic), Richard III (Trafalgar Studios), Urinetown (St James & West End), Merrily We Roll Along...

Djalenga is currently starring as Velma in the UK Tour of Chicago , having understudied the role in 2006 and 2012 in the West End. Djalenga's theatre credits include Bombalurina in Cats (Kilworth House), Lily St. Regis in Annie (West End & UK Tour), Rizzo in Grease (Curve / Dubai), Anita in West Side Story (UK Tour), Harley Quinn in Batman Live (US Tour), Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show...

Sha is starring as Eponine in the West End production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre. Having graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2021, Les Misérables marks Sha's West End and professional debuts. In her first interview, Sha discusses auditioning to play Eponine, her path into the industry and experiences of training at drama school during the pandemic... plus lots m...

Savannah is starring as Marmee in the London premiere of Little Women at the Park Theatre. Produced by Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre and Knockhardy Productions in association with Park Theatre, the musical is based on the 1868 novel by Louisa May Alcott. Little Women ran on Broadway in 2005 starring Sutton Foster. Savannah starred as Glinda in the West End production of Wicked at the Apoll...