MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

Robert and Nick share their thoughts on Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece - Assassins - that's now playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Thos and Tim help the hours creep on apace playing a musical theatre version of the Six Degrees of Separation.  Listen as they weave a path from seemingly disparate icons towards the legendary Gilbert and Sullivan, taking in Spike Milligan's front door and Puccini's mistress along the way!  Things are seldom what they seem!

Nick Hutson and Robert Gordon review and discuss the new British musical: Made in Dagenham, now playing at the Adelphi Theatre.

Dominic McChesney discusses, with Lynton Harris, the new musical of Baz Lurnham's Strictly Ballroom currently playing in Australia!

Nick, Robert and Olaf saw Imelda Staunton in the Chichester Theatre production of the musical masterpiece of GYPSY.   This is what we had to say...

Nick sits down with Robert Gordon to discuss MEMPHIS, now playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre.  Is this another doomed musical? We don't think so! Robert then shares his thoughts on his a recent states-side trip where he saw The Visit (one of the last Kander and Ebb musicals), Finding Neverland and A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder.

Nick Hutson talks with Reuben Kaye about their joint collaboration for London's biggest Cabaret show - The Cabaret Des Distraction, that's now playing at the Cafe Des Paris. Nick and Reuben talk about the acts within the show and also the songwriting progress - and, of course, you'll get to hear some of the songs, too!

Nick Hutson talks to Robert Gordon about seeing Forbidden Broadway's new(er) show at the Vaudeville Theatre, fresh from the Menier Chocolate Factory, and also we hear from Christina Bianco - the superbly talented impressionist who is now featuring in the show.

As this evergreen anthem celebrates its centenary, join Thos as he gets to bottom of its enduring appeal and sheds light both on the song and its composer, Ivor Novello. And find out what happened to its talented but unlucky lyricist.

Yes, it's time to reveal MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe 2014 and so join Thos as he investigates the winner -  Alba – A New Scottish Musical.  Hear a public question and answer session with the cast of this fine show and then lie back and enjoy a very detailed and in-depth interview with this up-and-coming musical theatre talent, Finn Anderson.

With just one week to go before MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe is revealed, David and Thos sit down to talk through some of the shows not yet discussed, as well as chew over some of the pitfalls to avoid when producing a show for Edinburgh.  Add in some newly recorded songs from the Out of the Lens album and insert the phrase "cheesy disco exuberance" and you have a show to remember!

Thos and David dissect several shows linked by the idea of variation - whether that be variations in format, story or score - and hear in depth about the new show, The Girl Who, a kind of "make-your-own-adventure musical".  If you chose to listen to this episode, turn to page 72.

David Herzog chats to Sasha Regan, David Albury and Victoria Serra about their production of Love Story, now playing at the Union Theatre.

Thos continues his odyssey through this Summer's fringe and chats about more shows that caught his eye (and ears) including Funny Girl, Austen and the Addams Family, and explores the relationship between a band and a musical director. It's not Six of the Best; it's not an Austen Seven; It's a big value Great Eight!   Oct Aye!

Thos and David explore the world of the shows that always come back for more – whether they be Cole Porter classics from the 30s or Frank Loesser gems from the 60s! Add to that the shows that keep being reimagined like Dracula and the imaginary ones that keep being shown such as the Drowsy Chaperone!  As the good Count might say – this is an episode you can get your teeth into!

Nick Hutson and Prof. Robert Gordon, along with Mike Dixon, talk to David Baddiel and Erran Baron-Cohen: the creators of INFIDEL The Musical - opening at the Theatre Royal Stratford East on October 4th.

In this informative episode, Thos looks in depth at the ever-expanding world of improvised musicals as he talks to four very different groups with remarkably different approaches to this new form of musical theatre.   He also pays homage to the fathers of the genre – The Showstoppers – and introduces himself to the enigmatic Harold and Martin! Who? Listen, find out and then belly dance with deligh...

In this lively and interesting episode, Thos surveys the musical representation of the first fifty or so years of that most tumultuous of times, the twentieth century.   Hear about musicals full of horror, tragedy, murder, injustice, war, disappointment….and a man jumping like a kangaroo!

This week, Thos dons his Inverness cape and takes us back to the foggy days of the Victorian era to talk about five excellent-but-modern Edinburgh Fringe shows based on works from that evocative period.  So sit down, quaff a laudanum and enjoy a muffin or two with Oscar Wilde and friends…

Join Thos to share in this fast paced lucky dip of bits and pieces all about the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe. Hear songs, extracts of interviews, question and answer sessions and round table discussions all about the musicals that you can still catch because they're still on.  It's almost like being there...

David takes a quick trip through the looking glass to speak to three of the performers of Iris Theatre's production of Alice Through The Looking Glass in Covent Garden.

The Fringe is well and truly underway but it's not all rumbustiousness and late nights for the intrepid Thos! Oh no!  Join him as he talks to director Matthew Gould and actor Toby Osmond about the genteel pleasures of Austen, the new Jane Austen musical from Rob Winlow. Universally acknowledged truths abound alongside songs from this fantastic new British musical.

Thos is, once again, the quiz master for our four hundredth episode.   Answering the questions are Davids Herzog and Kingsmill and Nick Hutson.  No teams here, just a mark out of 100! How do we do?

Thos chats to David Kingsmill about his new show for Edinburgh, Out of the Fringe - an intriguing two man piece about putting the "muse" into "musical".  Enjoy songs from the piece, learn about the curious parallel writing process used to create this story as well as pondering the difference between American and British rhyming!

It's songs galore in this episode as Thos talks to the talented Sue Casson about the three shows she's taking to Scotland this year for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Hear about the Happy Prince, Dreams of Peace and Freedom and the English Cabaret Hour – all this and a singing baker!