MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

Nick talks to Jon Robyns and Hugh Wooldridge about the massive celebration of rock musicals coming up on May 12th to the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith - The best of Rock Musicals.   David Herzog talks to Blake Klein from Pint of Wine Theatre about "Queen of the Mist," a Michael John LaChuisa musical about the first person to successfully go over Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1901 and Michael Shapir...

Antonia sits with Nick to discuss the 2019 Olivier Awards along with mourning Crazy Ex Girlfriend's departure from the airwaves.  We also hear the next instalment in Mike Shapiro's development audio diary for his musical - The Bully Problem. 

Join Nick and Andrew as they share their thoughts on Waitress - playing at the Adelphi Theatre and also hear the first entry in a developer diary from Mike Shapiro on his musical: The Bully Problem.

In the second of a two part run, David Herzog chats to…well, practically everyone involved…about the wonderful new pieces of musical theatre writing presented by the RCA at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Legacy Series - A Mother's Song and The Book of Names. So cross the Atlantic and enjoy this enthusiastic and insightful episode about two inspiring shows.

In the first of a two part run, Thos and Michael Gordon Shapiro cast an impressed eye (or four) over the excellent annual presentations by the amazing Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  In particular, they have a lively and forensic discussion about the RCS's three 2018 offerings – the Scottish Premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and the fabulous pieces of thematic...

In this special episode of MusicalTalk - Nick talk to old presenter and composer Andy Abrams and Carrie Hope Fletcher about Andy's musical of BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER that was recently showcased at The Other Palace MT Fest.   We then hear from David and April Herzog's discussion with Demitri Lampra who is playing Don in the UK Tour of Kinky Boots.   Talk about old friends and new! 

Join Thos and Colm as they talk about what it takes actually to put on a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – a real insider's view of the nuts and bolts of what's involved.  And hear about six shows you could have seen, including (ironically) the smash hit, Six – the girl band musical about the wives of Henry VIII – where you take the ruff with the smooth!

This week we revisit Come From Away as Nick chats to the cast members - and those whom the cast members portrayed - at a press event for the musical held at the beautiful Canadian Embassy in London.  Hear from Rachel Tucker, Mary Doherty, Cat Simmons, Clive Carter and the show's composing and lyricist team Irene Sankoff and David Hein.   Come From Away is playing at the Pheonix Theatre in London....

It's a bumper episode discussing six very different shows, featuring five songs, with four guests, and three musicals about to open in two different cities, hosted by the one and only (at least, we hope there's only one) Thos!  Learn about an innovative production of fringe-favourite, Ordinary Days, as well as two brand new shows, the Limit and Botox or Bust, all opening very shortly in March - an...

Nick chats to Chris Hocking - principal of The Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick, West London about the school's history, heritage and vision.   Following that - Nick and Rachael talk about Come From Away - now playing at London's Pheonix Theatre.  

Episode 605: Propping Up the Barnum. What a year it's been for PT Barnum!  With a blockbuster musical film about his life, The Greatest Showman, and a London revival of the original 1980 Cy Coleman musical show, Barnum, his enviable show business legend lives on. But did the London production walk the tightrope between success and failure?  Join Thos and Colm to find out more and see if they give...

Nick and Rachael talk about the reaction that the news that Les Miserables is to change forever has caused amongst theatre fans and why they think it's not a bad thing...  They then talk about why Everybody's Talking abut Jamie didn't live up to the hype for them and then end the discussion talking about the UK Tour of West End singer - Ramin Karimloo. 

Nick, Antonia and Mike sit down to discuss their thoughts on the Mary Poppins sequel. 

Nick and Antonia discuss the massive amount of shows coming to London and beyond in 2019.  2019 promises to be an exciting year - with new shows such as Only Fools and Horses, Dear Evan Hansen and the returns of classics such as Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Doo-daa.  

David Herzog returns to bring us belated holiday cheer from the cast of "Cinderella" at Venue Cymru in North Wales. Hold David's terrified American hand as he embarks into the popular British world that is pantomime.

It's very rarely we get so many presenters in one place - but in the summer of 2018 - we managed it! In this episode there two different conversations stemmed from two very simple questions.   What're you listening to and What's a groundbreaking show? This opens up a menagerie of musical merriment!   Join Nick, Antonia, Thos, Dom, Jonathan and Mike for this very entertaining stroll! Bring your top...

Nick joins Rachael - to discuss a slew of musicals they saw toward the end of 2018 including Wicked, Matilda, Phantom of the Opera, Bat out Of Hell, Heathers and Fanatical - whilst gently skimming the surface of Lord of the Rings. Rachael also talks about Tanz Der Vampire - which she saw recently in Germany.  What went wrong with the English version of the musical?  Much, apparently.  

Apparently, it's Christmas time - so to mark the event, here's the now obligatory and much despised MusicalTalk festive quiz – a merry mix of quirky questions and superb songs, all helpfully hosted by that professional halfwit, Thos. It's a star studded, tuneful little oasis of musical fun in an otherwise miserable world!  Just sayin'!

2018 saw lots of musicals open in London that explored very modern themes - so, in no order, join Antonia and Nick as they discuss Chess, Hamilton, Bring it On, Chicago, The Band, Bat out of Hell, Strictly Ballroom, Everybody's Talking about Jamie, The King and I, Tina Turner, Fanatical, Little Shop of Horrors, Heathers, The Grinning Man, Caroline or Change, Spamilton, Company, Seussical, Nativity...

Nick recently shocked Tonia with news that he would be re-visiting Phantom of the Opera for the first time in over 15 years.  Listen to hear his thoughts, how it compares to Love Never Dies and what Tonia has to say about the minor flaws with the operatic accuracy the show has. 

The lovely David Herzog leads you a conversational journey through this summer's  Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a series of chats, interviews and songs as he meets the people who worked on Bark! the Musical and Chwedl, Fairytales from Wales.  And there's a most unusual conversation with a goat in a (probably) unique podcasting first!

Thos sits down with the incredibly talented Eliza Jackson to discuss her one woman show, The Voice Behind the Stars, about the life and career of the amazing Marni Nixon. In this fascinating discussion, Thos gets to marvel at the idea of speaking to the voice behind The Voice Behind the Stars - and we hear a short archive extract from Marni herself!

Missing this year's EdinburghFestival Fringe?  Of course you are, even if you didn't get a chance to visit!  But worry not, for Thos and Mike recorded a wide ranging conversation about just a handful of the shows they saw and loved at the Fringe this year.  Hear all about the magnificent Thor and Loki, Three Cheers for Maisy, A Gallant Life, Liz and the MusicalTalk Pick of the Fringe 2018, the Hou...

As the centenary of the Armistice is marked, Thos looks back at Oh What A Lovely War, the best-known First World War musical that didn't come out of the war! Take a trip into the MusicalTalk archive as Thos dusts down previous excerpts of conversations, reviews and interviews about this amazing show that showed that musical theatre could change public perceptions.

With the centenary of the end of the First World War looming, Thos sits down with Professor Michael Williams of the University of Southampton to revisit Ivor Novello's evergreen anthem, Keep the Home Fires Burning; they discuss the song's immediate and enduring appeal, and look at how it was marketed in America in 1917 when the USA joined the war. So turn the dark clouds inside out as the song com...