MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

In this second part of the occasional series of his trips to the great theatre cultures in the English Speaking World, David Kingsmill offers you four tip-top Broadway shows in order of "awesomeness"! But which will be his absolute favourite?  Let this gentleman guide you to his musical loves!  [Note: contains spoilers and strong language]

Robert and Olaf share their in-depth thoughts on a recent trip to Broadway where they say Something Rotten, On the 20th Century, An American In Paris, The Visit and Zorba.

Nick and Robert share their thoughts on the Royal Festival Hall production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - the rare performed Frank Loesser musical that made its way to London for one night only in a wonderful concert staging conducted by our very own Mike Dixon. Robert also then discusses his views on Something Rotten - a new musical comedy playing on Broadway set in Tudor E...

Thos explores more about WS Gilbert's claim to be the main pioneer of modern stage directing with the second of this two part conversation about the life of arguably the most important of the Victorian dramatists.  A man of many talents, lyrics were just part of a much bigger story for Gilbert - and Sullivan was just one of many collaborators, so enjoy this unusual analysis of one of the fathers o...

With acclaimed director Mike Leigh's much anticipated version of the Pirates of Penzance about to open at the ENO, MusicalTalk explores the seminal role played by WS Gilbert in pioneering the role of director on stage in the first place.   Think Gilbert was just the wordsmith to Sullivan's music?  Then think again as this rarely told story unfolds over the next two episodes!

Nick reviews Carrie - now playing at the Southwark Playhouse and Dom McChesney talks to Peter Jamieson about the the first outing of Carrie... and what went wrong! Dom also then talks to his friend Greg MacKellan about the musical - Nick and Nora.

Thos and Tim share their views  on the wonderful musical, The Scottsboro Boys.  If content dictates form, how have Kander and Ebb succeeded so well by subverting the latter to highlight the former? And how can a show designed to make people uncomfortable prove so engaging?  Find out in this episode… STRONG LANGUAGE!

Nick sits with Jonathan Cohen to share his thoughts on Gypsy at the Savoy starring Imelda Staunton. STRONG LANGUAGE!

We said to David Kingsmill, "Go West, young man!" – and he did!  Time and time again! So in this first of an occasional series, join David as he chats to Thos about the many musicals he saw in North America – something he loved so much, he did it again – and again!  And so will we!

Nick sits with Robert Gordon to discuss what they thought of the new musical by our friends Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger's new musical of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged Thirteen and Three Quarters - based on the novel by Sue Townsend of the same long title.

Nick sits with Robert Gordon to share their thoughts on Beautiful - the Carole King musical playing at the Aldwych Theatre, and the most unique (and amazing) production of Sweeney Todd that Nick has ever seen - now playing at Harrington's Pie and Mash on Shaftesbury Avenue. The world's first pop up pie production!

Thos discusses the new immersive musical version of Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray with its adapter and director, Dave Spencer – and finds subtext, seduction and symbolism.  Add in Icarus, Jekyll and Hyde, Karl Marx and a few painful puns, and you've got an interesting hour in the company of one of Victorian fictions most tantalising characters!  And hear an exclusive recording of a song from this stun...

This week MusicalTalk again at Oh What A Lovely War – exploring why it's a household name in the UK but not in America, and why there's no equivalent musical of the show for the Second World War.  Added to that, there's a flashback from Philip Headley recounting the original 1963 production and a look at why the show is somehow still controversial today.

Thos and Tim catch the legendary British musical, Oh What A Lovely War, at its original 1963 venue, the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, just as it is about to go on national tour.  Find out what they expected, what they got and what they thought of it all as they dissect and review this landmark show.

David Herzog returns to chat with Tim McArthur and other creatives involved in this cult American musical theatre piece, now playing at Above the Stag in London.

David Kingsmill talks to the wonderful Gillian Kirkpatrick about Happy Ending, a fearless and funny piece addressing the taboos of terminal illness.  He also explores how a play with songs like this differs from the more traditional musical and finds out the songs can still serve the narrative in a startlingly effective way.

Thos and Tim travel in time to 1930 and then 1935 to watch two early examples of British musical films, Elstree Calling and Radio Parade of 1935 -  and find them partially colourful, splendidly pacey and constantly surprising!  Did British musical film emulate the American model or find its own way in that first full decade of talking films?  Find out here...

Nick chats to the winner of OVER THE RAINBOW - Danielle Hope - about her hugely established career, her life after Dorothy and her new tour of The Sound of Music, as well as her upcoming new New York show 54 Below.

Join Eitan and Luis as they discuss three shows that address the "American Dream" in a trio of different ways - Assassins , Urinetown and Made in Dagenham . And Thos explains how one of the most American songs of all is really a 200 year old piece of British musical theatre!

Nick sits down with Rob Marshall (Director), John DeLuca (Producer) and Marc Platt (Producer) of Into The Woods - the Stephen Sondheim classic musical that is currently playing in the cinemas! Hear what the filmmakers have to say and hear from Professor Robert Gordon and Nick about their thoughts on the film.

Thos chats to Stuart Matthew Price and Timothy Knapman about their enigmatic new musical "Before After" which sold out before it even opened.  Are musicals universal or culturally specific?  Just one of the areas touched on as Thos finds out all about this most successful collaboration and learns about the genesis of this wonderful new musical.

In what is now a tradition, given that this is the second time we've done it, MusicalTalk invites you to relax yourself into the new year with a quiz and some songs from some of the shows we've been talking about over the last twelve months.  Put your feet up, your eyes front, and your cat out, and have a fantastic new year from everyone at MusicalTalk!

Nick and Thos sits down to discuss some of the highlights for 2014 for only two minutes per show! Join us for a final episode of the year and hear what Nick and Thos have to say.  What will be the theatrical highlight for 2014?

No, not Bing Crosby and the perennial festive favourite, but a delightful chat with Sue Casson about her five star show, Dreams of Peace and Freedom, and how you can see it, hear it or even sing it in 2015 – the centenary of Rupert Brooke's Death!

Nick and Robert discuss CATS - now playing at The London Palladium and Robert shares his thoughts on Apartment 40C - playing at the London Theatre Workshop.