Arts & Toast

Celebrating Community at Derby Feste Join us in Derby City Centre as we explore the creativity, community and culture of Derby Feste — a vibrant, free festival bringing live performance and entertainment to audiences of all ages. We hear from Cllr Gurkiran Kaur and street artists & performers, including Simple Cypher & Sur Mesure , about the importance of accessible arts, outdoor performan...

Danny Reubens on Dance, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Arts Education & Performing at the Royal Albert Hall In this episode, we’re joined by dancer and performer Danny Reubens for an insightful conversation about dance, performance, storytelling and life as a professional dancer. Danny talks about his career in the performing arts, his work with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures , performing i...

Tell Me Where It Hurts – Live at Nottingham Playhouse Award-winning theatre company Teepee Productions brings Tell Me Where It Hurts to Nottingham Playhouse on 15 October . Written by actor, writer and producer Tayla Kenyon, Kirsty sat down to find out about this powerful comedy-drama which shines a vital spotlight on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) . Balancing humour, heart and hard truths...

In this interview, we explore the delightful chaos of theatre production, where creativity meets absurdity. Three members of the cast, James Keningdale, Katherine Perkins & Tom Mitchell, share their experiences from rehearsals filled with laughter and unexpected moments, all while preparing for their newest show under the direction of Cal McCrystal. This interview is a behind-the-scenes look r...

Join Kirsty as she explores the joy, pranks and spirit of panto season with Buxton Opera House’s panto stars Catherine Pugh & Jamie Davis-Fletcher. The three share their insights on the enchanting world of pantomime, revealing the joy, laughter, and occasional chaos that come with it. The conversation takes a hilarious turn as they share stories of onstage mishaps. From unexpected ad-libs to c...

Kara-Ami McCreanor brings first-hand experience of the ABBA phenomenon to Repton’s 400 Hall Theatre on Sunday 27 September, as part of Mark Robert Petty Presents… The West End Sings… The Music of ABBA. Having joined ABBA Voyage in 2024, Kara-Ami has spent the past two years performing ABBA’s iconic songs to audiences from around the world. She now brings that experience to this special live celebr...

Alex Bourne talks to Kirsty Corbett of Arts & Toast Podcast about his enduring love of musical theatre, his career across major productions including Chicago , We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia , and the joy of performing live eight shows a week. Now appearing in Annie , Alex reflects on the camaraderie of touring, his long-standing friendship and on-stage chemistry with Claire Sweeney, and the f...

Were you at this weekend's Darley Park weekender? Full of Derby based love, iconic artists such as JLS, Katrina from Katrina & The Waves & Billy Ocean joined the people of Derby for a weekend of live music. Kirsty Corbett of Arts & Toast was able to catch up with two Derby based bands who were supporting this weekend's lineup including "Cassette Roulette" & "Public Eye" to find out...

Whilst in the middle of the UK Tour of "The Last Laugh" Simon Cartwright discusses his role as Bob Monkhouse with Arts & Toast's Kirsty Corbett. Simon chats about the profound influence Bob Monkhouse had on his journey into comedy, from first seeing him as a child to meeting him professionally and eventually creating a one-person play celebrating his life and work. The interview explores mento...

Kirsty Corbett from the Arts & Toast podcast joins David Turner from Derby Uncovered to discuss lif  & events at Derby Market Hall, where independent traders are working together to create events, attract visitors and build a stronger market community. They chat about upcoming events, the importance of supporting independent businesses and the challenges created by changes to footfall and...

Kirsty from Arts & Toast chats with Dea Matrona , the Belfast-based female duo making their mark on the music scene as self-producing, authentic and successful artists . In this honest conversation, they talk about their journey as musicians, the freedom and challenges of self-producing their own music , and why staying true to themselves is so important as artists. They also share some of the...

Kirsty from Arts & Toast chats with Martyn Walsh about an incredible 37 years with Inspiral Carpets , reflecting on the band’s journey, the music industry and everything that has changed along the way. Martyn shares his thoughts on how the music industry has evolved , from the early days of Inspiral Carpets to the very different landscape musicians navigate today. But despite all the changes,...

🎙️ NEW PODCAST: Tom from The Lottery Winners on music, ADHD, Robbie Williams & holding it in! 😂 Kirsty from Arts & Toast chats with Tom from The Lottery Winners about the freedom music gives him — and how stepping onto a stage allows him to unmask from ADHD, let go of expectations and simply be himself . They also dive into the band’s exciting upcoming support dates with Robbie Williams i...

🎙️ New Podcast Interview: Beans on Toast We caught up with Beans on Toast for a brilliant conversation about his love of Derbyshire , the places that inspire him, life on the road, and what keeps him writing and performing after all these years. Beans also talks about his upcoming live gig at Nottingham Arboretum — a unique outdoor setting for what promises to be a fantastic summer show. 🌳🎶 If y...

🎸 Tim Wheeler from Ash talks music, festivals & the future of the industry! At Y Not Festival in Derbyshire , we chat with Ash frontman Tim Wheeler about navigating the changing music industry , building a successful career as a musician, and why artists need to adapt to an evolving industry. Tim also explains why grassroots musicians need more support at UK music festivals and why giving eme...

Comedy folk favourites the Lancashire Hotpots join host Kirsty Corbett on the latest episode of Arts & Toast , as band members Dickie Ticker and Kenny Body reflect on almost 20 years of making audiences laugh through music. From playing to rooms filled with family and friends to discovering that complete strangers were buying tickets to see them, the pair share the highs, challenges and memora...

Looking for the best summer festivals in Derbyshire or searching for unique things to do in Buxton and the Peak District this summer? In this episode, I’m joined by Anna Brentzen , Drama Facilitator at Buxton Opera House , to explore the Outdoor Opera House Festival 2026 , taking place from 31st July to 3rd August 2026 in the stunning surroundings of Grinlow Woods and Poole’s Cavern . Anna shares...

Gloworm Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, marking a decade of creating affordable, unforgettable family experiences in the heart of the East Midlands. In this episode, Festival Director Richard Walpole shares the inspiring story behind one of the UK's most successful family festivals, revealing how a family-first approach has helped Gloworm thrive while many other events have strug...

🎭 Murder, mystery... and plenty of laughs? 👀 What happens when you mix a classic thriller with sharp comedy? According to actress Susan Earnshaw, you get a theatre experience that keeps audiences guessing—and laughing—from start to finish. 🎙️ In our latest podcast episode, Susan takes us behind the scenes of the Nottingham Thriller Season, sharing: ✨ Why comedy thrillers are becoming so popular...

Derby's Cinderella Pantomime Launches for 2026: Everything You Need to Know The countdown to Christmas has officially begun as Derby LIVE and Little Wolf Entertainment launch their spectacular 2026 pantomime,  Cinderella , promising another unforgettable festive season at Derby Arena. In this episode, we take a closer look at everything audiences can expect from this year's magical family pantomim...

West End producer, lyricist and musical theatre creator Mark Robert Petty joins Kirsty Corbett on the Arts & Toast podcast to discuss his exciting new mission to bring world-class West End entertainment to audiences in Derbyshire. Mark shares the story behind "The West End Sings… Elvis," an unforgettable live concert celebrating the music of Elvis Presley, coming to Repton School's 400 Theatre...

Discover the new Wearing Feelings: Childhood in Black and Bright exhibition at The Children's Country House at Sudbury Hall , a unique National Trust exhibition in Derbyshire exploring 150 years of children's fashion, clothing and childhood. In this exclusive interview, we speak with exhibition curators Megan and Catherine , who reveal how historic children's clothing tells stories of identity, em...

The Thriving World of Drumming: Insights from Professional Drummer Dan Hayward. As we delve into the world of drumming, one name stands out - Dan Hayward. A professional drummer with a rich background in theatre and various musical genres, Dan shares her journey and insights that resonate with aspiring musicians and seasoned professionals alike. From his first paid gig at 14 years old with an amat...

In this episode, we're turning our attention to the Eagle Awards, one of the region's most inspiring celebrations of achievement, recognition and community impact within the amateur dramatic community in Derby. Taking place at Derby Theatre on 18 July, the awards shine a spotlight on the individuals, shows and projects that are making a real difference across the East Midlands and beyond. I chat w...

In this episode of Arts & Toast , host Kirsty Corbett sits down with Buxton singer-songwriter Isaac Neilson , the independent musician attempting one of the most ambitious challenges in UK grassroots music: performing a live gig every day throughout 2026. This week marks the official halfway point of his year-long mission, Isaac reflects on what it takes to build a music career without industr...